SPRING.

THE DESTINY OF MAN AND NATURE;

OR, THE IRON AGE AND THE GOLDEN AGE.

[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 100.]

CHAP. IV.

SECTION I.-WHERE ?

PROFESSORS of Divinity have been accustomed to settle the future in a most summary and compendious style. According to their scheme, the Son of God appears with flaming fire to burn up the solid crust of our old earth-raise from the dead all classes at the same time-drive down the wicked to hell-carry away the righteous to heaven. The planet earth, like the hulk of some dismasted vessel, remains to rock about in the ocean of space, or sinks into unfathomable darkness. They have often endeavoured to set this theory to music, but it never meets with deep response in the human soul. The cords of the human spirit are not consenting. Is it reasonable? In what part of the universe has sin made the most tremendous ravages? In what part of the creation has divine love shined out most resplendent in contrast with guilt and wretchedness? Where has the great conflict been carried onward between heaven and hell -light and darkness-truth and falsehood? The millions of martyrs that have lived in awful holiness, and died in serene glory— the angels that have been their ministering servants-the Son of God that here glorified our humanity, securing pardon by his blood,. and immortality by his resurrection-could they look with unconcern on the ruin of the world in which they laboured with visible power or invisible grace? Nay, verily! Dear to all the pure and holy among saints on earth or angels in heavenly places, is the earth where the war has been prosecuted for the recovery of man. Where sin has been revealed in the bitterness of its venom and malignancy, and God in the amplitude of his mercy and wisdom. It is reasonable to conclude that the place which has seen the commencement, will behold the triumph of Redemption, and share in the glory of an higher and happier economy.

"Fear

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. v. not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matt. iv. "Come ye blessed of my Father, enter into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. xiii. "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which dó iniquity, and

shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. xiii. "And they sung a new song, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." Rev. v. "And it came to pass when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much each man had gained by trading. Then come the first saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said, Well done thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." Luke xix. "But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me." ver. 27. "We give thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the Prophets, and to the saints and them that fear thy name small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Rev. xi.

These passages are in strict harmony with those at which we have already glanced in another aspect of our subject. The creation which groans and travails in pain, is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, and will then be a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. A purchased possession, an inheritance prepared for the people of God. It is fashionable to yearn for a mansion above the skies, a more etherial abode, a celestial dwelling place. But the parties who employ such language have no firm grasp on spiritual realities-no definite acquaintance with the constitution of the hunan mind, or the principles of Biblical interpretation. They apprehend not the dependence of the future on the present, or the connexion of the present with the past. Their heaven floats amid cloud and vapour without any substantial territory, or life-association. In short, theology as well as literature, has its spurious sentimentalities. We believe in a hereafter-heaven upon earth realised, in new society and new government-and are willing to leave the utopia of thereafter to all who seek translation into another planet.

If, in our scheme of a future age, triumphant over sin and death, we naturally seek for a centre from which volitions may flow, and glory radiate, where, save in our earth, can we fix the metropolitan city of the universe? Even now, powers and principalities come down from high places, as children come into a school to learn in, and by the church the manifold wisdom of God. How much greater will be their opportunity of enlargement when the purified are glorified, and the humbled and despised, robed in the purple and

gold of universal empire? dominion founded upon truth, justice, and love.

SECTION II-WBEN?

We have been commonly taught that at death the spirits of the faithful enter into heaven, and inherit fulness of enjoyment. In such lofty and glowing strains have their raptures and glories been described by preachers and poets, that we have often inquired whether the resurrection of the body was of a matter of any importance. Without regarding at present either the theory of the divines or the vision of the poets, we will seek the mind of the Holy Spirit concerning the period for the realization of the Christian hope.

"Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come." Thess. i. 9, 10. "For what is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" ii. 19. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." iii. 12, 13. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain shall not prevent (anticipate) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." iv. 13-18. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." v. 23.

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 2 Thess. i. "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." 1 Tim. vi. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day, and not to me only, but also, unto all them that love his appearing." 2 Tim. iv. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus ii. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time with

out sin unto salvation." Heb. ix. 27, 28. "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Col. iii. "For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil. iii. 20, 21. "Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty." 2 Peter i. 10 -16. "That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter i. 7. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John iii.

The passages we have quoted are one in spirit and substance. They distinctly mark the period of reward and glory. Even the demons, or spirits of the wicked dead, may teach us a lesson on this subject, for they said to the Lord,-" We know thee who thou art, thou Holy One of God! Art thou come to torment us before the time?" In truth, the scheme is a suicidal one which opens heaven and hell for the reception of departed spirits, and after a long period of punishment and reward, brings them to the throne of justice for trial! To avoid misunderstanding, I may remark, that I have no sympathy with Materialism, either on scriptural or philosophical ground. The spirits of the righteous are not sleeping, but restingwaiting for the resurrection morning-when all shall take possession of the inheritance at the same time. We however must not look to death, but to life, for our triumph. Powerfully exalted and animated by faith and hope, we spring clear over the chasm of being, and the gulf of darkness, into the shining city on the immortal side.

SECTION III.— -WHO?

The principles and ideas unfolded in the two previous sections, will receive confirmation and completion in the present. reveals to us our Great King in this manner,

Rev. xix.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he