THE “TIMES” AND DR. CUMMING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 181, 8 March 1860, Page 4

THE “TIMES” AND DR. CUMMING.

“Is Saul, among the prophets ? ” is the involuntary exclamation that rises in one’s bps in reading the review in Thursday’s “ Times” of the apocalyptic writers. After being abused . land jeered at by all the leading reviews, from the Saturday Review and Athenaeum j down to the small-fry of literature, Dr.- Cumming is avenged, and no doubt consoled, by a sympathetic notice in the leading journal!! This review of the prophetic works of Elliott, Cumming, and Lord Carlisle/will be sure to give a fresh impulse to the believers in a literal or rather historic interpretation of the Apocalypse, and the adherents of the millennial • theory. The Times not only vindicates ‘ the > prophets ’ from the charges of fanaticism, hut 1 comes to the conclusion that the ‘ barometer 1 of Europe singularly, it may be accidentally—- ■ corresponds with these deductions from prophecy.’ The agreement between the various ; interpreters is certainly very remarkable. ; They all fix upon 1867 as a period of stupeni dious events. Zord Carlisle fixes upon that 1 year as “the close of this dispensation.” A i'number of prophetic writers, from Bishop ■ Newton down to Dr. Cumming, have come to • the conclusion that the “ week of- creation”— 6000 years—will be terminated by the mili lennial rest 'of 1000 years; that week, according to their interpretations of prophecy, " terminating in 1867. Those who" live ;in that year will, according to Daniel, as thus . interpreted, he specially “ blessed.” But t prior to that crisis great.events are to happen. s“lt is,” says the Times, : “a very general belief that we are on the verge of a gigantic

struggle; that France is to originate, ride, and, if able, overrule tlie storm ; that Englaud, because of her free thought, free speech, and Protestant religion, the spring of them all, is to have directed on her the concentrated fire of the whole of Europe.” England is, of course, to come out victorious in the conflict. The remarkable thing about the matter is, not that these guesses at the future should be ventured, and curious coincidences found, but that a secular organ like the Times should venture upon throwing its immense influence into the scale of the Millenarians. — Sheffield Independent.' . .