ON THE TRUE AGE OF THE WORLD. =Part I.= INTRODUCTION. 1. State of the World at the Birth of Christ—Tradition concerning his Advent—Its epoch determined from Prophecy. The Christian era was ushered into notice, by a state of peace among all nations, unprecedented in the history of the world. The temple of Janus at Rome was shut, after the lapse of seven centuries of incessant warfare. At this period, a very general belief prevailed among men, that the long-expected Saviour of the world was about to appear. Many incontestable proofs of this fact are to be found in ancient history. Soter or Saviour, had indeed become a common appellation among kings, both in Syria and Egypt; and the foreshortened shadows of coming events indicated the near approach of the “Desire of all nations.” Poets anticipated his happy reign; historians longed for the promised age of miracles; and philosophers panted for the Advent of a heaven-born Instructor of mankind. The epoch assigned, by universal tradition, for the epiphany of this wonderful personage, was the _Sixth Age_ of the world; or, according to the ancient Hebrew chronology, the middle of the _Sixth Millennium_ or _Chiliad_, of years from the creation of the world. Respecting the true origin of the assigned epoch, a considerable difference of opinion exists. It is, however, generally referred to the ancient tradition among the Jews, that the world was destined to last for a period of _seven millenaries_ of years, the first _six_ corresponding to the _six days_ of creation, and the _seventh_ to the _Sabbath_ or day of rest; and that previous to the last _millennium_, the Messiah should appear in great power and glory. Traces of this tradition may be found in the vaticinations of the Sybilline oracles, and in the writings of the Greek theogonists and cosmogonists. The prevalence of the same tradition in the time of our Saviour and his Apostles, had evidently led the disciples to associate, as contemporaneous events, the _first_ Advent of Christ, and the restoration of all things. See Matthew xxxiv. 2, and 2 Thessalonians ii. 1.