progress and close of animal life, the tendency to dissolution existing in the animal system, and the pains and diseases to which it is incident, are all designed to illustrate moral changes in the mind. These are of two kinds, either those produced by regeneration and sanctification, if the mind is restored to holiness, or those produced by an increase of depravity tending to final and utter ruin, if the mind is not regenerated. In the Bible, the first class of changes, is spoken of as occurring after a new life of the mind has been produced by the Holy Spirit, and as finally resulting in the everlasting life of the mind, produced according to principles already stated, by an entire restoration to the knowledge and love of God. The other class of changes is spoken of as occurring during the progress of a mental disease, resulting in the everlasting death of the mind. The pleasure and everlasting joy resulting from the first class of changes, is illustrated by analogies derived from food, drink, light, cheering warmth, musical sounds, perfumes, and all the joys of social intercourse. The eternal pains resulting from the last series of changes are illustrated by analogies derived from hunger, thirst, devouring fire, thunder, lightning, storms, tempests, diseases, pains, darkness, and death. An examination of all the language of the Bible used on those subjects, would, without any explicit statement of the fact, lead to the conclusion, that this adaptation of the material system to furnish such analogies and illustrations, was a matter of forethought and design. An examination of the external material system, with which we are connected, including the solar system, the mineral, vegetable and animal worlds, would lead to the same result. But we are not left to mere inference; the statements of the Bible on this subject in particular cases, coinciding with the general use of language derived from the material world, plainly prove that in constructing the human body, and the external material system with which it is connected, God did design to illustrate the principles of the mind and of his moral government. This is

the foundation of all figures derived from the material world, and of the symbolical language of prophecy. It also explains the principles of quotation from the Old Testament, adopted by the New Testament writers, as taught by God. An examination and classification of the symbols used in the Old and New Testaments, in describing the origin and progress and future results of the kingdom of God, will furnish principles which will reduce the whole subject of symbolical, figurative, and prophetical writing, to a more perfect system, than has yet been arranged.

matter of deep

The circumstances of the human race, and the place. which they occupy in the great system, as taught in the Bible, are matters of deep interest. For there we learn that it is by his dealings with the human race, that God designs to remove a great amount of moral evil from the system, and to produce that moral influence, by which the whole system of holy beings shall be rendered forever safe from fear of evil. These ends are obtained by the sanctification and redemption of the church. For it is said by inspiration, that God created all things, to the intent that "unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." And it is evident that the history of the human race is a interest to all beings, holy and unholy. Those who are unholy, looking with dread to the final consummation to be produced by the redemption of the church; and the holy, rejoicing in view of the glories of that day, and praising God at the redemption of every individual who is to be numbered among the members of his church. It is also evident from the Brble, that those who are redeemed from men, will, on account of the manner of their redemption, and the peculiar character produced by it, be the future progress of God's and priests unto God forever. bolical; no words can describe that exceeding and eternal weight of glory which awaits those who become holy in this

qualified to assist in regulating government, being made kings This language is not hyper

world.

Nature does not teach this, but revelation does, for it is written, 66 eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. And it is not going beyond the explicit instructions of revelation to assert, that no order of created beings ever has occupied, or ever will occupy, a place so important as that assigned to those redeemed from the human race. For moral evil is not to enter again, and a second church is never to be redeemed, nor a second victory over moral evil to be achieved.

In organizing the system of grace, by which these results are to be obtained, God has disclosed the perfection of his own mode of existence. It is a perfection in God so to exist as to be able to illustrate and sustain all the principles of a perfect moral government, when benevolence demands it. But God does thus exist, for he exists in three persons. He can therefore sustain and illustrate the three great departments of moral government. These are the principles of law and justice, the principles of atonement, and the principles of moral renovation; these three persons are in the formula of baptism, called by the names, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This order of the three equal persons, arises from the relation of the departments which they sustain. The Father sustains the original principles of law and justice.

These would

condemn the whole human race. An atonement is needed in order that sin may be pardoned without diminishing the influence of the law, this the Son has made, and he illustrates the principles of pardon, and is the advocate who pleads the christian's cause, and repels the accusations of the accuser. An agent is needed in order to deliver the mind from the power of selfishness, and to restore it to obedience to the benevolent principles of God's government. This the Holy Spirit does by the truth. He illustrates the principles of moral renovation. These are the fundamental principles of

a perfect moral government. The original principles of law and justice, obviously take the precedence of those of atonement, and an atonement must obviously be made, or be seen in prospect, in order to justify regeneration. Hence in the order of nature the department of the Father precedes that of Christ, and the department of Christ precedes that of the Holy Spirit; although in applying the principles of grace, the influence of the Holy Spirit is felt, before faith in Christ takes place. In the formula of baptism, reference is had to the order of the three persons of the Trinity, according to principles of moral government. In the remarks of Christ to Nicodemus on these points, reference is had to the order in which men experience the influence of the Holy Spirit, and of the atonement, when they are prepared for the kingdom of God. To this also reference is had, when it is said that Christians are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The positive ordinances originate thus. The Father, as administering the principles of law and justice, elects and saves as many as the public good will permit, prepares for them a kingdom, and receives them to that kingdom. Thus it is written, "come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Then follows the day of everlasting rest which remaineth for the people of God. They are pardoned, through the atonement, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Hence the positive ordinances of christianity are three; one to commemorate the rest remaining for the people of God, and to prepare them for it; one to conmemorate pardon by the atonement; one to shadow forth the agency of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. There is therefore in the kingdom of God, a natural foundation for these and for no more. These at present are, the christian sabbath, the Lord's supper, and baptism. Before the coming of Christ, they were, the seventh day sabbath, sacrifices, and circumcision. The significancy was the

same as it now is. The circumstantials only were changed when Christ came. The principles are also unaltered. The multiplied rites of the Jewish ritual, had reference to only these three ordinances, as essentially distinct, and were designed to illustrate the truths connected with one of these three. These then are the essential ordinances of the kingdom of God, which the church is bound to maintain and illustrate. The church is a body of men professedly regenerated, organized by divine appointment to maintain and extend the principles of the kingdom of God. Officers are chosen whose duty it is to expound the word of God on the sabbath, to administer the other two ordinances, and to promote the best interests of society whenever occasion offers. This order of men is the Christian Ministry.

The principles and ultimate results of the great moral conflict between good and evil beings, can be easily derived from the remarks already made, as it regards the kingdom of God, the kingdom of darkness, the nature and circumstances of the human race, and the means of grace.

The principles on which the progress of the kingdom of God depends, must obviously be derived from the following

sources.

1. Correct views as it regards the nature and moral character of the human mind, and its relations to the moral government of God.

2. Correct views of the human body, as it regards its influence upon the mind.

3. Correct views of the exterior material system, as it regards its influence upon the human body, and through this upon the mind.

No one can deny that this world was made for man, nor that the mind of man is made for eternal existence. All things therefore which affect the mind must be considered, if we would form a correct system of mental education, to secure the eternal welfare of the human race and promote the interests of the kingdom of God.