rate professing Christian, will be found on the earth during the millennium? If not, his argument is inept. All such arguments proceed, as I have shown, upon exagge, rated views of the difference between the present and the millennial era. Premillennialists themselves are forced to admit that there will be tares among the wheat-bad as well as good-a mixture-on the earth during the millennium. They may "feign submission," but of the root of the matter, many, according to their own admission, will be destitute. And what is this but to allow that the only difference between that time and this will be one of DEGREE. Now, the New Testament brings out into bold relief, not differences of degree, but of kind. The grand distinctions held forth and dwelt on in the New Testament are two—the distinction between what we familiarly call NATURE and GRACE on the one hand, and between GRACE and GLORY on the other. Corresponding with these subjective distinctions in the successive conditions of THE CHURCH, is the sublime objective distinction between the FIRST and the SECOND comings of THE CHURCH'S LORD-the first in humiliation, to redeem her unto God by his blood, and translate her out of nature into grace; the second, in majesty, to "perfect that which concerneth her," and exalt her from grace unto glory. What has the millennium to do with such magnificent distinctions as these? Nothing. It is just the state of grace developed more widely and fully than in the early stages of the gospel. As such, it would never fall to be mentioned at all, save where it was the express object of the inspiring Spirit to hold forth prophetically the fortunes of the Church upon earth, and show it passing into the perfect and eternal state. In the Apocalypse, for example, we have a right, so to speak, to look for the millennium, if there is to be one at all. And there, accordingly, we do find it, but nowhere else. I have had occasion to observe, too, that the commencement and the close of this latter day will, in all likelihood, follow 454 "SOONS" AND "QUICKLIES" OF SCRIPTURE-CONCLUSION. the law of all the other great periods in the history of the Church, being gradual and uncertain; so cutting off every plea for slothful security, and keeping the Church in its fitting attitude of expectancy. "Ethiopia (or Cush) shall scon stretch out," or "hasten her hands unto God" (“???, Ps. lxviii. 31), said the Psalmist between two and three thousand years ago. But is it done yet? "Behold, I come quickly," said the Redeemer himself, nearly two millenniums since; but still "the heavens retain him," for "the times of restitution of all things spoken of by the prophets" have not arrived. These "soons" and "quicklies" of Scripture are not, it seems, to be measured by our impatient arithmetic. Events should have taught us this, but they have not; and those who are trying to learn the lesson, because they tremble at the word of the Lord, are charged with lulling the Church and the world to sleep-as if their motto were, "The Lord delayeth his coming." But "let God be true and every man a liar." "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever." CONCLUSION. Here I close this investigation. I have shown, I think, under a number of heads, that the premillennial scheme is at variance with the Word of God; that it proceeds upon crude and arbitrary principles of interpretation, while it shrinks from carrying out even these to their legitimate results; that as a system it wants coherence, and is palpably defective, making no provision for some of the most important events which are to occur in the history of our race; and that its bearing on some of the most precious doctrines of God's Word are painful and perilous. These are strong things to say. Could I have taken the 66 view of this system which many do who never examined it— that it is a harmless one, which it matters little whether we embrace or reject-I have too much dislike to oppose brethren in the common salvation to have sent forth such a volume as this. It is because I saw in it elements which at once fascinate the carnal and attract the spiritual, that I thought it of consequence to sift it. And none of the least of my motives in undertaking this inquiry, was the desire to rescue THE BLESSED HOPE" of the Saviour's appearing from the erroneous and repulsive circumstances with which this doctrine invests it, and which have had the effect of frightening away the Church from an expectation which nothing else can compensate the loss of. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me," is a sound dear to all that love his name. They "love his appearing," because they love himself. To put any thing in the place of it, is not good. Nor will it succeed; for those who preach him bringing his reward with him will prevail, as indeed they ought. 66 Nor is it in regard to the Personal appearing of the Saviour only that premillennialists will and ought to prevail against all who keep it out of sight. There is a range of truth connected with it, which necessarily sinks out of its scriptural position and influence, whenever the coming of Christ is put out of its due place. I refer to the RESURRECTION as a co-ordinate object of the Church's hope, and to all the truths which circle around it, in which there is a power to stir and to elevate, which nothing else, substituted for it, can ever possess. The resurrection-life of the Head, as now animating all his members, and at length quickening them from the tomb, to be for ever with Him—these, and such like, are truths, in the presentation of which premillennialists are cast in the mould of Scripture, from which it is as vain as it were undesirable to dislodge them. Pity only that they mar their own work. Many of them are dear to me in the Lord, and all the more for their warm affection to the appear ing of his Person, and the truths therewith connected. And, oh! will it not be gladsome when those who "have fallen out by the way" about his coming, shall be found together "walking with Him in white," their questions ended and their jarrings drowned in their common hallelujahs "unto Him that loved them?" And it will soon be. "A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me." "Though he tarry, WAIT FOR HIM." "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Meanwhile, "until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense." (Cant. iv. 6.) GENERAL INDEX. Adam, first and second, p. 53-55. Adrian, Pope, his brief, 1523, p. 236, 237. Advent, second, personal, expected on both sides, p. 11; commendable prominence figurative, to judge public bodies, civil and ecclesiastical, p. 428-442. Alexander, Dr A., p. 176, 397, 398, 402, 403. Alford, Rev. H., p. 145, 248, 435. Alsted, Professor J. H., p. 209, 210. Andreas, Cæsariens., p. 394. Antichrist, fall of, in relation to second advent, p. 31, 32, 167, 425–433. Ash, Dr, p. 216. Augustin, St, title-page, and p. 5, 6, 20, 62, 84, 85, 189, 202, 204. Auriol, Rev. E., p. 75. Austria, revolution in, p. 336. Baptism, with all the training connected with it, terminates at second advent, p. Barker, Rev. W. G., p. 117. Barnes, Rev. A., p. 215. Bengel, J. A., p. 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 40, 42, 54, 55, 60, 138, 181, 182, 183, 184, 189, 202, Begg, Mr J. A., p. 188. Bernard, St, p. 19, 31. Beza, Theod., p. 137. Bickersteth, Rev. E., p. 27, 56, 73–75, 78—80, 84–87, 99, 102, 106, 107, 108, 156-158, 161 Birks, Rev. T. R., p. 80, 85, 99, 102, 117, 134, 140, 145, 158, 159, 161–163, 166, 179, 180, Bloomfield, Rev. Dr S. P., p. 129, 137. Bogue, Rev. Dr, 299, 300. Bonar, Rev. A., p. 29, 79, 81, 82, 87-94, 99, 108, 188, 216–248, 278, 279, 282, 297, 298, |