p. iiiThe following lectures are reproduced from brief notes, made by several shorthand writers, during the course of their delivery. They were not delivered with a view to publication. Their publication is due to the importunities of those who heard them, and others who heard of them. They were addressed, in almost a private way. to the believers of the truth in Birmingham (known as Christadelphians), with the object defined in the few printed announcements that were issued: viz., “to make known, in a simple and colloquial manner (for the benefit particularly of believers of the truth), the meaning of the symbols exhibited to John in the Isle of Patmos, in their bearing on the events of history and those mightier events in the near future to which they have all been leading.”
That the Author should be able to attempt such a work, is due to his having been privileged to have his understanding enlightened by the reading of Dr. Thomas s Exposition of the Apocalypse, in three volumes, known as Eureka. Apart from this, he gladly acknowledges he would not have been able for it. He does not mean by this that the understanding of the Apocalypse is dependent upon the acceptance of Dr. Thomas’s ipse dixit. Dr. Thomas has only done for the Apocalypse and the Scriptures in general what Sir Isaac Newton did for astronomy: he has invented nothing: he has simply discovered their meaning, by applying a correct process of reasoning to the facts, carefully observed and ascertained.
It is easy for anyone to understand astronomical phenomena after the results achieved by the labours of Sir Isaac Newton. The understanding, in such a case, is not dependent upon Sir Isaac Newton’s authority, in any way; but upon facts perceived and understood after Sir Isaac Newton has pointed them out. So it is easy to understand the teaching of Scripture. after the nature and evidence of that teaching have been demonstrated by Dr. Thomas. The one who so understands, does not depend upon Dr. Thomas’s authority or ingenuity for his understanding. He sees and understands the facts for himself; still, he will be happy to own, that if they had not been ascertained and exhibited beforehand, he might have remained as ignorant of them as all star-students were ignorant of the real science of astronomy before Sir Isaac Newton’s days.
Dr. Thomas has, in a scientific manner (that is, with calm accuracy), elucidated the significance of Apocalyptic symbolism, in the work referred to, which is, in every sense, an extraordinary work. The publication of this volume of lectures may serve to draw attention to that work, and to prepare the general reader for the understanding of it. In fact, it may prove a stepping-stone to Eureka. Some find Eureka too deep and diffuse to allow of their grasping it with the limited time for study at their disposal. It was to meet the wants of this class in Birmingham that this course of lectures was delivered.
They were listened to by a crowded audience, which remained crowded to the last night. A demand was made for their publication. That demand is now complied p. iv with; and thus a book is published, which has come into existence without any design on the part of the writer. Perhaps the design existed where the Ways of Providence have their roots and source. At all events, if any good service was done in the limited colloquial effort, in which the book had its origin, that service, in this form, will be extended far beyond anything that was contemplated in the original delivery of these Thirteen Lectures on the Apocalypse. To God be all the glory and the praise.
THE AUTHOR.
64, Belgrave Road, Birmingham,\ 27th October, 1880.