V. Lawyer Appeals to Bishops to Discern Times

Not only did the appeals of clergymen mark the tractates of the times, but we find the unique situation of lawyers appealing to clergymen. For example, JOHN HALCOMBE (1790-1852), English barrister and “Sergeant at Law,” magistrate of Middle sex and member of Parliament for Dover from 1831 to 1835, printed for private circulation a series of letters to the bishops of Great Britain and Ireland, under the title The Evidence of Unfulfilled Prophecy, Arranged and Examined (1845). Here he contrasts the common expectation of a “gradual diffusion of Christianity,” and the advent as a “distant” event, with the repeated warnings of “sacred prophecy” as to Christ’s soon coming. ^{114John Halcombe, The Evidence of Unfulfilled Prophecy, Arranged and Examined,” He warns that the age is speedily coining to its end, when the “time allotted” shall pass. Thus he appeals to the men of the cloth to discern the signs of the times and prepare for the “approaching time of our trial.” 115}PFF3 722.3

Since the popular “confident security” is “positively contradicted by the distinct revelations of Scripture,” Halcombe ad monishes the bishops to take heed to the “sure word of prophecy.” He warns that the age is speedingly coming ti its end when the time allocated shall pass. thus he appeals to the men of the cloth to discern the sings of the times to prepares for the approching time of our trial.” ^{115Ibid., pp. 6, 7.}PFF3 722.4