Title: The New Eschatology - Showing the Indestructibility of the Earth and the Wide - Difference between the Letter and Spirit of Holy Scripture.
Author: Pegg, J. G. Broughton
Language: English
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Transcriber's Note.

Apparent typographical errors have been corrected.

Italics are indicated by _underscores_. Small capitals have been
converted to full capitals.

In the list of the publisher's other books, at the end of the work, the
first line of each entry sometimes comprises only part of the title and
sometimes extends beyond the title. The entire first line has been
italicised in the original. In this version only the title has been
italicised.



 THE

 NEW ESCHATOLOGY.

 SHOWING

 THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE EARTH

 AND

 THE WIDE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LETTER AND
 SPIRIT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

 BY J. G. BROUGHTON PEGG.

 [Illustration: Behold He Cometh with Clouds; The Word]

 PHILADELPHIA
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
 1872.


 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

 LIPPINCOTT'S PRESS,
 PHILADELPHIA.



NOTE.


This little work was published in England several years ago; but has
never before been republished in this country. It deals with those texts
of Scripture which have generally been supposed to foretell the
destruction of the material universe; and shows conclusively that these
passages have been entirely misunderstood by commentators; and that,
rightly interpreted, they have no reference whatever to the outer realm
of matter, but to the inner realm of mind; to the internal condition of
the church, the loss or destruction of heavenly charity, and the eclipse
of genuine faith, which it was foreseen and foretold would occur at the
close of the first Christian Dispensation.

It is proper to add, also, that, although the name of Swedenborg nowhere
occurs in the book, it is evident that the author was familiar with his
teachings, and viewed and treated his subject from the Swedenborgian
stand-point. But with the lovers of spiritual truth and the seekers
after a Spiritual Christianity, this fact--now that so many earnest
inquirers are beginning to read the writings of the Swedish seer--will
rather add to than detract from the interest and value of the work.

 AMERICAN EDITOR.
 PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 30, 1871.



 THE
 NEW ESCHATOLOGY.


_For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there
was no more sea_.--REV. xxi. 1.

While we blame the conduct of the Jews in adhering only to the literal
sense of the Scriptures, and by such adherence rejecting their Messiah,
we possibly forget that the Christian church has followed precisely the
same line of conduct; and that to this we are indebted for the greater
part of those absurd dogmas, which have so long exposed the Gospel to
the derision of its enemies. Had men properly discriminated between
those parts of the Sacred Volume which are _literally_ true, and those
which are only _apparently_ so, we should never have heard of the
doctrines of transubstantiation and Roman supremacy; nor of many other
equally absurd beliefs which the generality of Christians entertain. We
should not have seen a fallible and weak mortal exalted as Head over the
church of God; we should not have heard of a morsel of bread being
changed into the Lord's body; we should not have seen the Divine Nature
divided among three separate and distinct Persons; nor should we have
heard of the doctrine which we are about to bring under consideration.

But do not mistake me. When I assert that the Scriptures in the literal
sense sometimes speak only apparent truth, I by no means deny the divine
authority of the Sacred Record. The church whose doctrines I advocate,
most explicitly declares that the _whole_ of the Scriptures,--every
chapter,--every verse,--every word, nay, sometimes every _letter_--is
filled with the inbreathed wisdom of God. But when I say that apparent
and not _real_ truths are often laid down in the letter of the Word, I
affirm what every man who possesses any share of discernment will
readily admit. The fact itself is too plain even to require proof. Thus
we read that the sun rises, moves, and sets; which is certainly true in
_appearance_, but not in reality. Again we are told that the LORD
repents,--that He is weary, and that He turns away His face from man;
which, though correct as regards appearance, has no foundation in
literal fact; for though the Sun of Righteousness is said to rise upon
the soul, and to set when the mind is given up to evil, yet it is here
as in the case of the _material_ sun. In God "there is no variableness
nor shadow of turning;"--"He fainteth not, neither is _weary_;"--"He is
not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent;"
but as the earth, by turning to or from the sun, causes the appearance
of motion in that body; so the mind of man, by turning to the Lord, or
by departing from Him, causes an appearance of change in God; yet it is
not He that changes, but the mind itself.

And we may go still further. There are numerous passages in the Word of
God, which in the literal sense only, do not convey even _apparent_
truth. Among others the following, "Thou ridest through them with thine
horses." "He rode upon a cherub and did fly; He came flying upon the
wings of the wind." "He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me and I in him;" "for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed." "This (bread) is my body; this cup is the New
Testament in my blood." "If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and
cast it from thee." "I am the Door of the sheep." "I am the true vine,
and my Father is the Husbandman." In all these passages, and others
which will occur to every reader of the Scripture, the literal sense
conveys neither real nor apparent truth. The Lord does not really ride
through the sea, nor does he even _appear_ to do so. The flesh of the
Saviour was not to be _literally_ eaten. The bread which He held was not
really his body, nor did it even _seem_ to be so. And as in these and
similar instances, the outward letter of the Word conveys not its true
meaning, it is to be sought for in the law of correspondence; or in that
eternal connection which subsists between natural things and spiritual.

And upon this law of correspondence or analogy I must make a few
preliminary remarks. It is what the world in general terms _figure_, or
_metaphor_; but the New Church makes a distinction, and I will add,
a very just one, betwixt _figure_ (properly so called) and
_correspondence_. Figurative language is that in which a comparison is
drawn between one natural object and another; the analogy between which
exists only in the imagination, and has, therefore, no _real_ existence:
but correspondence is the representation of spiritual things by natural;
and the resemblance is not merely imaginary but real, consisting in the
proper dependence of the latter upon the former, as an effect upon its
cause. If we compare a mighty empire in its rise, glory, and decline, to
an oak springing up, flourishing for centuries, and then decaying, we
use _figurative_ language; since both the empire and the oak are
_natural_ objects, which have no _real_ connection with each other, and
between which the resemblance is only imaginary. But when the Creator is
likened to the sun, the language is no longer _figurative_ but
_correspondent_. It is not the comparison of earthly things with
earthly, but of spiritual things with natural. And the objects compared
have a real connection with each other, since the material sun depends
on its Creator as an effect upon its cause. Again, when the church is
described as the Lord's body, the language is correspondent and the
connection real; for the rise and prosperity of the church depended upon
the assumption of humanity by the Saviour; and it still hangs upon it as
the cause of its existence.

We further notice that all passages of the Word, the historical as well
as the poetical, bear within them such a correspondent or internal
sense. This will be placed beyond a reasonable doubt if we consider,
first, that "all Scripture," whether historical or prophetic, is,
according to the Apostle, inspired or _God-breathed_. And as the breath
of God is the infinitude of his love and wisdom, every portion of the
sacred Volume must be filled with it. Not only every book in general,
but every verse and every sentence;--for if we can find a single
sentence which does not contain within itself the infinite wisdom of
God, such sentence must either form no part of the Scripture, or the
assertion of Paul must be untrue. And secondly, the Word of God from the
beginning to the end is intended to "make us wise unto salvation." This
is the design with which every part of it was written. But we can only
become truly wise by being acquainted with our own state, and with the
nature of the Divine Redeemer. Whatever part, therefore, does not relate
both to God and to ourselves, cannot communicate saving wisdom; and
consequently, (if the Apostle be correct,) cannot form any portion of
the Sacred Volume. Now, independently of the passages which we have
before quoted, the greater part of what is called "the historical Word,"
consists, in its mere _outward form_, of the records of the Jewish
nation, their wars, and their policy. The prophecies themselves in their
literal and obvious meaning, refer to the rise and decline of earthly
states, and to the mutation of earthly empires. Either, then, such
records and prophecies must have an internal and correspondent meaning,
relating to spiritual and divine things, or if they have not, they
cannot be fitted to communicate saving wisdom, and so cannot be
accounted part of the Scriptures; seeing that the _Scriptures_ in every
part, are, according to Paul, filled with this wisdom.[1]

If, then, there _are_ parts of the Word of God, the true meaning of
which is not to be found in the literal sense; if that Word contains,
within the outward letter, a spiritual and internal meaning; and if we
are to resort to such meaning where the letter gives not the true one;
the next inquiry which arises is, How are we to determine when a passage
is true in the literal sense, or when it is only true in the
corresponding one? The answer is easy. When the outward meaning of any
passage asserts something at variance with reason,--or when it appears
opposed to the known character of God, then such meaning must be
abandoned, and the truth sought in the internal sense. This answer has
been admitted as correct by the Protestant churches, in their contest
with their Catholic neighbors. The latter argue that the words of our
Lord, "This is my body," are to be literally understood; while the
former very justly answer that, since such an interpretation is opposed
to reason and at variance with the nature of God as a God of truth, it
ought to be and must be rejected; and the words considered as
_figurative_, or as I have already termed it, _correspondent_.

I have now proved a few preliminary points: _First_, that there are some
portions of the Word of God, the true meaning of which is not to be
found in the letter. _Second_, that when the literal sense of a passage
is opposed to fact and reason, such literal sense is to be rejected. And
_third_, that in such cases the interpretation must be sought in the
correspondent or figurative meaning.

We turn now to what is commonly denominated "the End of the World;" and
on stating the generally received doctrine on this subject, we shall
quote the words of the celebrated John Wesley, both on account of his
piety and learning, and because the views which he maintains may be
fairly taken as those of the generality of Christians. First he observes:

"There shall be earthquakes, not in divers places only, but in _all
places_; not in one part only, but in every part of the habitable world.
In one of these every island shall flee away, and the mountains will not
be found. Meanwhile all the waters of the terraqueous globe will feel
the violence of these concussions. The sea and the waves roaring, with
such an agitation as had never been known before since the hour that
`the fountains of the great deep were broken up' to destroy the earth,
which then stood 'out of the water and in the water!' The air will be
all storm and tempest, full of dark vapors, and pillars of smoke
resounding with thunder from pole to pole, and torn with ten thousand
lightnings. But the commotion will not stop in the region of the air:
the powers of heaven also shall be shaken. 'There shall be signs in the
sun and in the moon, and in the stars;' those fixed as well as those
that move round them. 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.'
'The stars shall withdraw their shining,' yea, and 'fall from heaven,'
being thrown out of their orbits. And then shall be heard the universal
_shout_ from all the companies of heaven, followed by the _voice of the
archangel_, proclaiming the approach of the Son of God and man; and the
_trumpet of God_ sounding an alarm to all that sleep in the dust of the
earth. In consequence of this, all the graves shall open and the bodies
of men arise."

After the following judgment, (which Mr. Wesley thinks must last several
thousand years, considering "the number of persons who are to be judged,
and of actions which are to be inquired into,") he proceeds:

"Then the heavens will be shriveled up as a parchment scroll, and pass
away with a great noise. The very manner of their passing away is
disclosed to us by the apostle Peter, 'In the day of God, the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved.' The whole beautiful fabric will be
overthrown by that raging element, the connexion of all its parts
destroyed, and every atom torn asunder from the others. 'By the same the
earth also and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up;' the
enormous work of nature, the everlasting hills, mountains that have
defied the rage of time, and stood unmoved so many thousand years, will
sink down in fiery ruin. How much less will the works of art, though of
the most durable kind, the utmost efforts of human industry, tombs,
pillars, triumphal arches, castles, pyramids, be able to withstand the
flaming Conqueror! All, all will die, perish, vanish away, like a dream
when one awaketh."[2]

Such, in substance, is the doctrine of the Christian world; and
certainly if _fear_ and _terror_ were sufficient to drive men into a
state of righteousness, here are horrors enough to excite the fears even
of the most courageous. But not the eloquence of man any more than his
wrath, worketh the righteousness of God. It is not sufficient that a
doctrine be eloquently set forth; it must also have truth for its
foundation. It is not enough that Scripture be quoted to support it;
that Scripture must also stand in its proper connexion, and retain its
proper meaning; for if this be not the case, however eloquent the
preacher and however numerous the apparent proofs, the tenet can only
rank with that "wood, hay, and stubble,"--those unsubstantial and airy
doctrines, which, when tried by the fire of Divine Wisdom, are consumed
and pass away. And if we can prove, _First_, That the passages which are
quoted to support the doctrine before us, are _literally_ understood,
while nevertheless such literal sense leads to absurdity; _Second_, If
we can further make it appear that such a _literal_ application of them
makes them inconsistent with each other as well as with many plain
portions of the Bible; and again, that, even if we admit such outward
meaning to be correct, it gives no countenance to the doctrine in
dispute; while at the same time that doctrine is opposed to the end of
creation and the character of God;--if these propositions can be made
good, I trust it will appear, that the tenet itself has no countenance
from the Scriptures; and that the true meaning of the passages adduced,
must be sought for in the internal or spiritual sense of the Word.

The portions of Scripture on which the supposed destruction of the
universe is founded, are far from numerous. Some of them are already
quoted in the extract from Mr. Wesley; and previous to entering upon the
consideration of our first proposition, we shall point out a few of the
remainder. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, the stars
shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken; and
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall
send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather
together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other." Matt. xxiv. 29, 30, 31. "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled."
Matt. v. 18. "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus who is taken from you, shall so come as ye have seen Him
go into heaven." Acts i. 11. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father." 1 Cor. xv. 24. "The
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in
flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God." 2 Thess. i.
7, 8. "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which
the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein
shall be burned up." 2 Peter iii. 10.

But it is from the book of Revelation, that the principal part of the
proofs are drawn. A book _confessedly_ figurative in its language, and
which the wisest and most learned men have in vain striven to interpret.
One could hardly commit or imagine a greater outrage upon the common
sense of mankind, than that which the defenders of this doctrine have
committed, by first confessing the Book itself to be figurative and
inexplicable, and then adducing its language _literally_, in their
support, as if they had all at once found out that it was no longer
figurative but _literal_. If the visions of the Apostle are not literal,
but grand and representative images, then ought they not to be
understood in a literal manner, or if they are to be so understood, then
as plain and literal narrative they may be easily explained; and the
complaint which the receivers of this doctrine have so often made, that
it cannot be understood, is to the last degree frivolous and foolish.

And what makes the matter still worse is, that the passages they have
adduced are among the most highly figurative in the Apostle's
descriptions. The following are among them: "Behold He cometh with
clouds, and every eye shall see Him; and they that pierced Him; and all
the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him." i. 7. "And I beheld
when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as
blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth; even as a fig-tree
casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind; and the
heaven departed as a scroll, when it is rolled together, and every
mountain and island were moved out of their places." vi. 12, 13, 14.
"And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face
the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for
them: and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God." xx. 11,
12. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and
the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea." xxi. 1.

Such are the texts of Scripture by which the doctrine before us is
supported; the greater part of which have clearly no reference to the
subject, and the remainder being not the literal language of narrative,
but the _correspondent_ and mysterious words of prophecy. Yet, even
viewing them in their outward meaning, we can scarcely fail to be struck
with the wide difference which exists between them and the description
of Mr. Wesley. There is nothing in them of an earthquake, amidst some
general concussion in which every island shall flee away:--nothing of
"the air resounding with thunder from pole to pole, and being torn with
ten thousand lightnings:"--nothing of the connexion of every part being
destroyed, and every atom torn asunder from the others. We may therefore
fairly set these down as additional horrors, supplied by the imagination
of the writer, and unsupported by anything like Scripture proof. And
with regard to what remains, we will now see how far that _literal_
sense upon which it rests, will stand the criterion by which we are to
determine the meaning of Scripture. If the outward meaning is reasonable
and consistent, then it must be adhered to, and the doctrine is
established: but if, on the other hand, such interpretation leads to
absurdity, then, by the consent of every Protestant church, that meaning
must be laid aside; and with it, too, must be cast off the tenet of this
world's destruction.

But one cautionary remark must here be made. We are by no means
authorized to mingle together literal and figurative language. That is,
we have no right to interpret one part of a sentence literally, and
another as figure. The passages before us are either _literal_, or they
are _not_. If they _are_, then every part of them must be literally
understood; if they are _not_, then no part of them can be literally
interpreted. If, then, we adhere to the outward meaning, we must carry
that adherence to every portion of the text; for if we reject such
meaning in any part, we reject it in the whole; and the doctrine which
depends for support upon it, must fall to the ground.

Keeping this in view our first proposition is, that, to affix a literal
sense to the passages before us, is to give them a meaning at once
absurd and unreasonable. We might in proof of this, go through every
word in every text. It is declared in the letter that "the Lord shall
_descend_ from heaven;" but heaven is not a place connected either by
height or distance with the material world. Could we rise far into the
regions of space, and ascend for ever in the oceans of worlds, still, as
regards _distance_, we should be no nearer heaven than before. Where God
manifests Himself in the fullness of his love, there is heaven; but God
being a Spirit, can only manifest Himself thus in a spiritual region;
and such a region has no relation of space or distance with a world of
matter. Hence, therefore, a descent from heaven is not a literal going
down from a higher place to one beneath, and consequently must not be
_literally_ understood. Here the literal meaning fails at the very
threshold. At the first step we are obliged to seek for a figurative or
spiritual sense.

If we overcome _this_ difficulty, we have yet to encounter others. It is
further said that He shall descend with "a trumpet." Now modern
Christians ridicule the idea of visible habitations and outward objects
in the spiritual world. What then are we to make of the description
before us,--of this _trumpet_ with which the Lord is to descend? Is it
_material_, or is it _not_? If it is material, then heaven, in which
there are material objects, must be a material _place_; and the Being
who uses this material trumpet, must be a material Being; consequently,
we must materialize both heaven and its inhabitants. But if this trumpet
is not a _material_ one, then let the defenders of the literal meaning
tell us what is a spiritual trumpet? Whatever may be the answer, one
thing is certain,--that which is spiritual is _internal_; and if by the
words before us we are not to understand a literal trumpet, but
something spiritual signified by it, then the literal meaning of the
passage is not and cannot be the true one.

It is further declared that "The Lord shall come in the clouds of
heaven." The question again arises: What are we to understand by these?
The clouds literally mean those masses of vapor, which, arising from the
earth, are condensed and become visible in the atmosphere; and which
surround the earth at the distance of a few miles. If we keep to the
literal sense of the passage, these must be understood. But is it in
these that the Lord is to descend? Is six or eight miles above the
surface of the globe, heaven? Or can bodies which seldom rise beyond
this elevation, be properly called the clouds of heaven? Or is this the
glory with which the Lord is to be invested--the vapors which rise from
the material globe?

But this is not all. With Him the angels are also to descend. Now the
nature of angels is not material; they exist not in space, nor are they
included in its boundaries. How, then, we again ask, are spiritual
beings to descend in a _material_ vapor? It would degrade the subject to
carry these questions further; but every person's discernment will
enable him to perceive that by no means can the _literal_ clouds be
understood; and that these words must, like the former, be acknowledged
as _figurative_. Here, therefore, at the very commencement we are
obliged to _spiritualize_ both the _descent_, the _trumpet_, and the
_clouds_. Do what we will, the literal sense is absurd. And if we are
forced to allow that _part_ of the description cannot be literally
understood, it is fair to conclude that the remainder has also an
_internal_ meaning.

We shall soon perceive further proof of this. After it is declared that
the Lord shall come "in the clouds of heaven," it is added, as a
necessary consequence, "and then shall _all the tribes of the earth_
mourn, when they _see_ the Son of Man coming in the clouds." In
agreement with this are the words of John, "Behold, He cometh _with
clouds_; and _every eye_ shall see Him." If this be understood of an
event which is literally to take place, we must again believe an
impossibility. This world is a _round_ body; and that which is visible
to the inhabitants of one hemisphere, must be invisible to the dwellers
on the other. Those who live upon one part of its surface cannot, by any
possibility, see what is above the opposite part. This is a circumstance
of daily experience:--at twelve o'clock at midnight the sun is visible
to the inhabitants of the other side of this earth, and with them it is
noon-day; but at that hour it is invisible to us; nor can we, by any
possible means, obtain a sight of it. If, then, it be true that an
object visible on one side of a globe, is invisible on the opposite, we
inquire, In what situation must the Lord appear, that He may be seen at
one and the same moment from _every part_ of a round body? Where, or in
what part of the atmosphere must He be placed that _all the tribes of
the earth_, (those on its _opposite sides_,) may behold Him at the same
time? Such a position is not only difficult, but absolutely impossible,
unless the figure of the globe were changed; and to believe that such
will be the manner of our Lord's coming, is to involve ourselves in a
labyrinth of absurdities.

Aware of this difficulty, the writer whom I have already quoted supposes
that the inhabitants of this earth will be caught up in the air, and
_thus_ be enabled to behold our Lord's descent. "Perhaps," says he, "it
is more agreeable to our Lord's own account of his coming in the clouds,
to suppose it will be above the earth, if not 'twice a planetary
height;' and this supposition is not a little favored by what St. Paul
writes to the Thessalonians, 'The dead in Christ shall rise first.' Then
we who remain alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. So that it seems most probable, the 'great
white throne' will be exalted high above the earth." Such a method of
explanation only shows the difficulties into which the mere literal
sense has thrown its followers. Independent of the total absence of all
Scripture proof of these ideas, it may be remarked that, "twice a
planetary height," that is, twice the distance of the farthest planet
from the earth, is not the place of clouds; in such case, therefore, the
Lord would not come _in_ the clouds, but far _above_ them. Nor could He
be said to descend _from_ heaven; for as heaven, in the literal sense,
is the starry region, if He remained stationary in that region, it would
not be a descent _from_ heaven, but a descent _in_ heaven. And besides,
as the clouds, literally, are the vapors surrounding the earth, by
interpreting them to mean "twice a planetary height," the literal sense
is given up; and if this be rejected, the doctrine before us is
overthrown.

Once more we turn to the texts. Another event which is said to accompany
the coming of the Lord, is the falling of the stars from heaven to the
earth. "The stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall
be shaken." "The stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree
casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." When,
in disputing with the Romish church, we contend that the Lord's words
are not to be understood _literally_, we think it sufficient to prove,
that so understood they involve an absurdity. But fully as great an
absurdity is involved in the literal interpretation of the words before
us. The stars, though to us they appear but as shining atoms, are proved
beyond the possibility of doubt, to be equal to our sun both in size and
splendor. Each one of them is, in fact, a _sun_, as large and as
brilliant as that which enlightens our day. Now the sun exceeds our
earth nearly ten hundred thousand times in magnitude; _each_ star,
therefore, may be reasonably supposed to exceed the size of this globe
nearly a million times. As well, then, may we talk of ten thousand
worlds falling upon an atom, as of ten thousand suns, each of them a
million times larger than the globe, falling upon this grain of earth:
it is in itself as impossible as for a piece of bread to become the body
of the Lord.

But further; the _number_ of these bodies is beyond the power of human
calculation. Millions sink into nothing in computing it,--_thousands_ of
millions are nothing. Every part of the vault of heaven contains
myriads; and clusters of them have been observed which contain, within
themselves, myriads more. Could we penetrate into the depths of space,
as far as the eye could see--as far as thought could penetrate, we
should find suns and worlds till the mind was lost in the idea of their
multitude: and though we continued to move onward for ages, we should
still find ourselves but on the threshold of creation. These are not the
visions of speculation, but the facts of philosophy;--truths which
actual observation has placed beyond a doubt. Such are, literally, the
stars of heaven: myriads of myriads of suns, surrounded by ten thousand
times ten thousand worlds. And let the common sense of mankind decide,
whether all these can fall upon the surface of a globe not equal to the
smallest of them in magnitude.

But we have not yet done with this subject. Let us imagine it possible
that these innumerable and enormous bodies _were_ thrown out of their
stations, and by the hand of God launched towards our little world. What
would result if they only came within a short distance of it? (to say
nothing of their falling upon its surface.) It is well known to all who
are acquainted with philosophy, that each of the heavenly bodies
possesses a power called attraction, by which it draws towards itself
any smaller body that comes within its sphere. So powerful is this
attractive force that the sun alone draws all the worlds which move
around it, and keeps them from flying off, though some are at the
distance of eighteen hundred millions of miles! Each of the stars being
of the same nature with our sun, possesses equally this attracting
power. And were only a few of these bodies to be brought within a
certain distance of the earth, the force of their combined attraction
acting in contrary directions, would explode and scatter abroad, not
only this earth but every earth in the system: and long before they
could fall upon its surface, there would be no world for them to fall
upon; it would be dissolved, and its atoms scattered through the
universe.

Again, the Apostle Peter declares that "The heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and _the elements_ shall _melt_ with fervent heat." A
question, therefore, once more arises, what is meant by "the elements?"
Literally, they signify the most simple forms of matter, fire, air,
earth, and water. But how can these melt, or be melted?--Can _fire_ melt
with fervent heat? It may be dispersed in its pure form, that of heat or
caloric; but it is incapable of being melted. Can air, then, melt? It
may be expanded, but it will not _melt_, in the literal meaning of the
word. Can water melt? It may be raised in steam, and made to fly off in
vapor: it may, by the application of heat, be resolved into air, its
first principle; but it will not melt. There is, therefore, only one
element out of the four which is capable of being literally melted;
_earth may_, indeed, be vitrified, and rendered fluid. But how can _one
element_ be denominated _the elements_? And besides, the apostle seems
to exclude the _earth_ from the elements which are thus to melt; for he
mentions _its_ destruction, as subsequent to that of the elements. "The
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the _earth also_", that is, in
addition to these, the earth and the works that are therein, shall be
burned up.[3] Here again, the literal sense fails. We must either allow
what is not true, namely, that _fire_, _air_, and _water_, can be melted
by fire, or seek for an internal and figurative meaning.

I might pass thus through the whole of the language on which this tenet
is founded; and it would be easy to show that the circumstances are as
impossible in their literal meaning, as that a man should eat "the flesh
of his own arm," or that our Lord should literally be a _vine_ and a
_door_.

The very advocates of the doctrine are convinced of this. Hence they
have framed various and contradictory systems to explain the above
descriptions. One has asserted that the earth will at that period _be
rolled out_ of her orbit, and that this motion will cause an appearance
as if the heavens passed away. Another has enveloped the world in a
thick mist, by which the light of the moon, being changed, will appear
of a red color. A third has appointed a comet, which in its passage to
or from the sun, will approach this earth and involve it in flames. All
have seen the difficulties, and all have attempted to overcome them by
explanations; yet, after all, the task remains as arduous as ever. If we
will, in despite of reason, found a doctrine on the literal meaning of
the texts, we must adhere to that meaning; for to depart from it, is to
confess its insufficiency: and if, on the other hand, we resolve to
reject the literal sense in _one part_, we then acknowledge that it is
not the true one, and that another must be sought for. If we are obliged
to give up a literal falling of stars to the earth, and a literal
appearance in the clouds of the air, then we must give up also, a
literal burning and destruction of the universe; for if one part of the
sentence is to be understood figuratively, so is the other.

And that such destruction is a spiritual event, and not a natural one,
will appear still further from the following observation. When two
prophecies are found, couched in the same language, and nearly in the
same words, one of which prophecies has been fulfilled, while the other
yet remains to be accomplished; the manner in which the latter will be
fulfilled must be determined by the previous fulfillment of the former.

Now it is a fact, although very seldom noticed, that the prophecies
relating to the _first_ coming of the Lord, are expressed in the very
same language with those which relate to his second appearance. We need
only turn to the writings of the prophets to be convinced of this.
"Behold," says Malachi, "the day cometh that shall _burn as an oven_,
and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble,
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith JEHOVAH OF HOSTS. And,
behold, I send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the _great
and terrible day_ of the Lord." iv. 1, 5. Again, Isaiah: "All the host
of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together
as a scroll, and all their host shall fall down as a falling fig from
the fig-tree.[4] Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and
garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with _burning_ and _fuel of
fire_. For unto us a child is born." ix. 5. "Upon the servants and upon
the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit; and I will show
wonders in the heavens and in the earth, _blood_, and _fire_, and vapor
of smoke. _The sun shall be turned into_ _darkness_ and _the moon into
blood_ before the great and terrible day of the Lord come." Joel ii.
29-31.

This latter prophecy is expressly applied by Peter to the commencement
of Christianity. In defending his brethren from the charge of imposture
brought against them by the Jews on the day of Pentecost, he declares,
"This (the extraordinary inspiration of the spirit) is that which was
spoken by the prophet Joel; I will show wonders in the heaven above, and
signs in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun
shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." Acts ii. 16-20.

Once more, the prophet Haggai, speaking of the same period declares,
"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts. Yet once it is a little while and I will
shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land, and I will
shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will
fill this house (the latter temple) with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts."
Again, the prophet Joel before quoted, says, "Multitudes, multitudes in
the valley of decision; for the _day of the_ Lord is near in the valley
of decision. _The sun_ and _the moon shall be darkened_, and the stars
shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and
utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall
shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people. So shall ye know
that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then
shall Jerusalem be holy." iii. 14-17. "But who (says Malachi,) may abide
the day of His coming, or who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is
like a refiner's _fire_ and like fullers' soap." And to conclude this
magnificent imagery, Isaiah declares, "Behold, I create new heavens and
a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come to
mind;--they shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat of the
sun smite them; but He that hath mercy upon them shall lead them, even
by the springs of water shall He guide them."

With such descriptions of the first Advent of the Messiah do the
prophets abound. Let any one peruse with attention the writings of
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Joel, Haggai, and Malachi, and he will be
convinced of the truth of this remark. We will now notice the agreement
which exists between these prophecies relating to his first appearance,
and those which refer to his second coming. Both periods are called
"_the day of the Lord_;" and both are ushered in by "darkness and
gloominess." In both it is said that "the sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood;" and in both "the heavens and the
earth" are said to "pass away." In both of them the Lord is declared to
come "_in fire_," and the conclusion of both is "a new heaven and a new
earth."

Now _one_ of these periods is past. The first Advent of the Saviour to
which the above prophecies refer, is accomplished. And how were these
predictions fulfilled? Did the events _literally_ take place? Let
history answer. Though the heavens and the earth were to be shaken and
pass away, yet no commotion took place in the visible parts of nature.
The seasons ran their wonted course; the sun gave forth his usual light;
and the earth pursued without intermission her annual journey. Though
the moon was to be "turned into blood," yet no such disaster befell the
visible planet; her light shone as bright as ever. One solitary meteor
alone over the plains of Judea, announced to the Eastern sages the
coming of the Saviour. Though his approach was to be _in fire_, yet no
material flames accompanied his Advent. The fire of Divine Love alone
distinguished Him. Not one of all these predictions had anything
resembling a literal accomplishment. And now let us look to the
conclusion. If, when two prophecies are given, couched in the same
language, one of which is fulfilled while the other remains to be
accomplished, the interpretation of the second is to be judged of by the
fulfillment of the first, the following argument at once arises: Since
the prophecies relating to the first Advent of the Saviour are expressed
by the very same terms, and represented by the very same images as those
which refer to his _second_ coming, the meaning of these latter must be
similar to that of the others. And since not one of _those_ prophecies
ever received a literal fulfillment, so neither are we to expect a
literal fulfillment of those before us. In a word, since the events
predicted at the Lord's _first_ coming were not natural, but
representative images of spiritual things--of states of the world and of
the church; so those foreshadowing his second coming are representative
of similar things, belonging to the minds of men, and will never receive
a _literal_ accomplishment.

If, however, it be still maintained in opposition to this remark, that
they _must_ be understood literally, I will ask one question. Since the
words of the _Old_ Testament which describe the first appearance of the
Redeemer, are exactly similar to those of the _New_ which predict his
second coming; how is it that the former never received a literal
fulfillment? If it be replied, that this was figurative language, while
the latter is literal description; I again inquire, By what authority or
according to what rule is this distinction made? Why is the first to be
resolved into figure, while the latter is considered as literally true?
Such distinction between the two cannot arise from the _language_; this
is almost word for word the same. It cannot be made because the literal
sense is in one case _reasonable_, while in the other it is not; for in
both cases it involves numerous absurdities. It cannot be because the
one is prophecy and the other narrative; for both are the language of
prophetic declaration. On what authority, then, is the literal meaning
of the first _rejected_, while in the other it is retained and believed?
Why are not both to be understood alike, since in both the descriptions
are similar? There is no rule by which a distinction can be drawn.

I have now gone over the first proposition, and have proved that a
literal interpretation of the passages adduced involves absurdities as
great as that of transubstantiation; and that the absence of all literal
fulfillment in the case of other prophecies exactly similar, affords the
strongest reason to expect that in _this_ instance no literal
accomplishment will take place. That the language itself is that of
_correspondence_,--the representation of spiritual things by natural;
and as such it will receive a spiritual and not a natural fulfillment.

2. We now pass to the second point, namely that the texts supposed to
refer to the destruction of the material world are inconsistent with
each other; and are opposed to other clear and express declarations of
Scripture. In this case as in the former, we shall note the words in the
debated texts. In the passages brought forward to support the doctrine,
there are four ways mentioned in which the destruction of the heavens
(or visible starry firmament) is hereafter to take place. First, in one
passage of the Revelation, they are described as being "rolled away as a
scroll;" in another the stars are said to "fall from heaven to the
earth." In Peter's Epistle it is declared that they shall "pass away
with a great noise;" and in another place the same apostle says that
"the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved." Now these four
descriptions considered literally, contradict and destroy each other. To
dissolve is to separate into particles, and to return to their first
elements. But if the starry heavens are _thus_ to be destroyed, then
they can neither fall to the earth nor be rolled together as a scroll;
for that which is dissolved and reduced to its first elements, can be
destroyed no further except by annihilation. And if the heavenly bodies
are to be _thus_ dissolved, then no other kind of dissolution can affect
them. Again, if we take the other passage, "they were rolled away as a
scroll," we are placed in precisely the same dilemma. By their being
rolled away as a scroll, we must then understand that they will be
driven from their stations, thrown into confusion, and hurried afar into
the depths of space. But if they are thus rolled away they cannot
possibly "fall to the earth," for the two events stand in direct
opposition; in the first instance they must be hurled into space, far
beyond the earth's orbit; in the latter they must absolutely fall upon
her surface. And now we ask, Are the stars to be rolled away, or are
they to fall upon the earth? The literal sense of the Scripture mentions
both events; but if one occurs, the other (consistently with the text)
can never take place.

Suppose, however, we admit for the sake of argument, that the rolling
away of the heavens is an event separate from the destruction of the
stars. We again inquire whether this event will take place _before_ such
destruction, or _after_ it. If _before_ it, we come to the former
conclusion; for then the stars must fly off with the heaven in which
they are fixed. If _after_ it, then, as there will be nothing but _empty
space_ remaining, we ask how such empty space can be called _the
heavens_; and how empty _space_ without a single visible object, can be
"rolled away as a scroll!" In this instance, therefore, if we abide by
the literal sense of one passage, we must of necessity reject that of
the others.

But it is further said that all these events are to take place
_previous_ to the appearance of the Son of Man. "The sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And
then (immediately following these events) shall appear the sign of the
Son of Man in heaven." Now this prior commotion includes the dissolution
of all the elements, "The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat." Among the number of the
elements, _the air_ will of course be destroyed, for it is included
among them; and with the air those _clouds_ which depend upon it for
their existence and visibility. Yet, after this, when the clouds have
ceased to be, and when the heavens are no more, the Son of Man is to
appear in these very clouds and in the midst of this heaven! Here,
again, is an inconsistency in the literal sense of the passage. If the
heavens, and with them the clouds are dissolved, then it is impossible
that anything can appear _in_ what has ceased to have an existence. Or
if the Son of Man _is_ to appear in the clouds, then the heavens cannot
be destroyed previous to that appearance. Which way soever we turn we
are met by a difficulty. If we receive one of the passages in the
literal sense, we must either reject or spiritualize the other.

Again: at the time of our Lord's ascension, the two angels who appeared
to the disciples declared, "this same Jesus which is taken up from you
into heaven, shall _so come in like manner_, as ye have seen him go into
heaven." Acts i. 11. It would therefore appear that, if these angelic
messengers are worthy of credit, the _descent_ of our Lord is to be
exactly similar in circumstance to his ascent. Now, in his ascension
into heaven, there are several things which require notice. 1st: It was
_private_. He led his disciples from the city to the Mount of Olives.
2d: It was seen by none but his followers. The generality of the Jewish
nations did not even know that such an event had taken place; they
considered our Lord as a dead man; and hence when they accused Paul
before Festus, one part of that accusation was that he affirmed one
Jesus to be alive, who was (in their opinion) dead. Acts xxv. 19. 3d:
His ascension was a _solitary_ one. There is no account whatever that
any persons were _seen_ ascending with Him:--"_He_ was taken up; and a
cloud received _Him_ out of their sight." And, 4th: It was _unattended
by any outward pomp_. The Jews knew nothing of it;--there was no
alteration in the visible world; and even those who witnessed the event,
beheld nothing save a bright cloud into which he passed and disappeared.
The ascension of the Saviour was therefore to the world a _private_
occurrence, so far as privacy consists in general ignorance respecting
it. It was seen by none but his disciples; it was without pomp or show.
Of those who afterwards heard of it, numbers gave no credit to the
story. And the only visible proof that it had taken place, was the
effect which followed--the extraordinary out-pouring of the divine
influence.

And if we keep to the literal sense of the words, _this_ is to be his
descent from heaven: He is to come _in like manner_ as He went up. If,
then, this be the case, then such descent will be an occurrence unknown
to the generality of mankind, or only known by its following effects. It
will be unaccompanied by any destruction, and even by any commotion in
the realm of material nature. And many of those who hear of it may be
expected to deny it, according to his own words: "When the Son of Man
cometh shall He find faith on the earth?"

Such, according to the passage before us must be the manner of his
Second Coming: but let us, if we can, reconcile this with the former
descriptions. In the one case all nature is to be _destroyed_; in the
other it is to remain unshaken. In the former instance He is said to
descend with thousands of angels; in the latter, to come unattended. By
the first description, He is to be seen visibly by all; in the second,
He will be invisible to all except his followers. The two accounts thus
stand in direct contradiction to each other. If He comes again in the
same "manner" that He ascended, then the former passages cannot be
literally understood: or if He comes literally in the manner they
describe, the passage before us cannot be true.

I might here, as in the former case, go through every passage, and show
that each of them contains within itself accounts which are inconsistent
with those of the others: in one it is said that the Lord shall descend
from heaven in flaming fire: in another, in the clouds: in a third, on a
great white throne. In one it is declared that, before his face the
earth and the heaven shall flee away, and their place be no more found:
in a second, that _after_ His coming the departed shall rise from the
earth, and the grave and the sea give up their dead; consequently, if
the latter part be true, the earth will not pass away at the time of His
descent. In the whole there are inconsistencies which science, according
to the literal meaning, may disguise, but can never reconcile.

We now turn to the consideration of other passages which, taken even in
their literal sense, militate strongly against the doctrine in dispute.
After the destruction of the antediluvian earth by the flood, Jehovah
affirmed, "I will not _again curse the ground any more_, though the
imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again
smite any more every living thing as I have done." This _curse_ which
the Lord is here inferred to have pronounced upon the former world, in
whatever sense the terms be taken, was accomplished in its destruction;
and the end of that world by a flood of waters, completed its
fulfillment. The curse of the Lord, therefore, when pronounced upon the
earth, leads to its dissolution. But God Himself affirms that He will
not thus curse the ground any more,--that He will not again suffer it to
be destroyed, neither will He again smite everything living. The
declaration is absolute. It is not said that He will refrain from it
during a _limited period_, but that He will not do it _any more_--to all
eternity. Yet if the commonly received doctrine be correct, this
declaration of Jehovah must be untrue. If _again_ everything living _is_
to be smitten,--if again the earth is to be cursed with destruction as
complete, if not more so than the former one; then it cannot be true
that every living thing is _not_ again to be smitten, nor the earth
again to be cursed. In this instance the literal proofs clash with the
solemn declaration of God.

If, however, it be objected that these words refer not so much to the
_destruction_ of the globe, as to the _mode_ of that event, I reply that
no such qualifying language is found in the text. The words are general;
they are not "I will not again curse the earth _with water_," but I will
not curse the ground,--I will not destroy the earth "_any more_," either
in this way or in any other. "I will not smite any more everything
living as I have now done," by an universal destruction. And, in fact,
the promise that _a flood_ should no more destroy the world, would have
afforded little consolation to Noah, had he understood that another
destruction more awful than the former, was approaching, in which not
this world only, but the whole universe would perish; and when not the
greater part, but _all_ things living, would be destroyed, without the
preservation even of a remnant. The flood is certainly in the following
chapter referred to particularly as the more recent danger, and a
repetition of which would be most dreaded by the survivors; but the very
same declaration of Jehovah, which interdicts a flood of waters, equally
interdicts any other entire destruction:--"I will not in any way curse
the ground any more."

There is another subject upon which I must touch, but very briefly,
since the arguments arising out of it might be carried to a length far
exceeding my prescribed limits. The prophetic writings abound with
descriptions of what is called "the kingdom of David:"--a kingdom which
was to arise in the latter day, and upon which every blessing of heaven
was to descend. "In those days," says the prophet Amos, "I will raise up
the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches
thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the
days of old." ix. "And in the days of these kings (that is, literally,
in the latter times of the Roman power,) shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people; but it shall break in pieces, and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Dan. ii. 44. Again, the
same prophet: "I saw in the night visions, and behold one like unto the
Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of
days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him
dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away; and his kingdom, that which shall not be
destroyed." That these descriptions refer to the Redeemer, is evident.
Isaiah when predicting his approach, and the establishment of his
kingdom, says, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall
be no end upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it and
to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever." ix. 7.

Now the question is, to what authority or kingdom do these predictions
refer? That it is not to the general government of God, is clear,--this
had existed from eternity; but the dominion spoken of, was to commence
at a definite period of time,--"at that time," and "in the days of those
kings." The general subjection of all things to the Divine Being, is
also something arising out of his very nature, and is neither given nor
acquired; but this was something to be acquired. "The Lord God shall
_give_ unto him the throne of his father David:"--"The saints of the
Most High shall take the kingdom." Nor can it refer to the kingdom of
the just in glory, for the descriptions are such as can only apply to
the state of men on earth. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He
shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." Isa.
xl. 11. "I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them,
even my servant David." If, therefore, this kingdom be neither the
general dominion over all, nor the state of the righteous in eternity,
it can only relate to the kingdom of the church on earth. And that it
does so, is plain from the very terms used. David is, by almost all
professed Christians, acknowledged to have been a type and
representative of the Messiah; and the Jewish nation over whom he
reigned, most certainly prefigured the Christian church: the throne of
David is therefore the authority of the Lord in his church on earth, and
his kingdom is that church itself. Now this kingdom and this
throne,--this church and authority _are everlasting_; they shall "never
be destroyed;" they shall "not pass away;" they shall "stand for ever."
But if _the earth_ on which this church exists, is hereafter to dissolve
and pass away, the kingdom must pass away with it. For though it is true
that the just in heaven would still constitute a kingdom of the Lord,
yet that kingdom would no longer be "_the kingdom of David_." The very
declaration that the kingdom of the Lord _on earth_ will _never be
destroyed_, supposes as a necessary consequence, that the earth on which
it is erected will also continue to exist.

In agreement with this are the words heard by John; "There were great
voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms _of this world_ are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and He shall reign for _ever
and ever_." Rev. xi. 15. And over what is He thus to reign? Most
certainly over the kingdoms which He is here said to have obtained--the
kingdoms of _this world_; and over these He is to reign "for ever and
ever." But how is He to reign for ever over the kingdoms of the world,
if the world and its kingdoms are to be destroyed? Whenever the earth is
dissolved, the kingdoms of the world will be no more; and he cannot
reign over that which has no existence! If, then, the world and its
kingdoms are to be destroyed, He can never reign _for ever_ over them:
or if He will thus reign for ever over the kingdoms of the world, then
those kingdoms must exist for ever; and if the _kingdoms_ exist for
ever, _the world_ on which they are founded must exist for ever with
them.

And exactly in accordance with this assertion are the words of the
Psalmist: "He (the Lord) built his sanctuary in high places, like _the
earth_ which He hath established _for ever_." And those of
Solomon:--"One generation passeth away, and another cometh, _but the
earth abideth for ever_." The same is declared of the heavens: "His name
shall endure _for ever_; His name shall be continued _as long as the
sun_." Psalm lxxii. 17. "His seed shall endure _for ever_, and his
throne _as the sun_ before me; it shall be _established for ever as the
moon_, and as a faithful witness in heaven." lxxxix. 36.

Nothing can be more directly opposed to the common opinion than these
explicit declarations of the Bible. It is certain that these passages
refer to the visible earth and to the material heaven; and these it is
expressly declared are to continue not for a limited time, but for ever:
while in the passages adduced to prove the opposite, we are left to
struggle among difficulties, without any certainty that the visible
earth is at all intended, since even those commentators who believe the
tenet are compelled, in most instances, to abandon the proofs of it.

I have now established, as far as is necessary, my second proposition. I
have shown that the literal sense of the passages brought forward to
confirm the doctrine of the earth's destruction, are inconsistent with
each other, as well as with other parts of the Sacred Volume; and
therefore, that such literal meaning cannot be the true one. I have
shown that the words of Jehovah assert that the world shall not be
smitten any more. I have further shown that the duration of the kingdom
of God, runs parallel with that of the visible world, and that therefore
both must endure for ever. And lastly, that the sacred writers declare
in explicit language the endless duration both of the earth and the
heavens.

3. I now proceed to consider the third part of the subject: that the
passages brought forward, when taken in their proper connexion, give no
countenance to the popular doctrine, but on the contrary, afford evident
proofs that they have no reference to it. In doing this, I shall adduce
them one by one in the order they are laid down. And first, the passage
in the Gospel of Matthew: "Immediately after the tribulation of those
days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man coming
in the clouds of heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth
mourn when they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory."

I have already noticed the inconsistencies which arise from adopting the
literal meaning of the passage; and I now remark further, that in their
literal and obvious application, the words refer not to any destruction
of the world in general, but to the approaching overthrow of the Jewish
nation and polity. I admit that they have a spiritual reference to the
state of the Christian church of which the Jews were a type; but of this
we shall speak hereafter. It is with the literal meaning we have now to
do, since on the literal meaning the doctrine is founded.[5]

Our Lord had been addressing the multitude in the temple; and in that
address He had solemnly warned them of their approaching danger. On his
departure, his followers pointed to its stately and magnificent
buildings; and He again seized the opportunity to repeat to them the
prediction of its final destruction. Naturally anxious to learn the fate
of their country, and, perhaps, too uneasy on their own account, they
came to Him privately and asked, "When shall these things be?" and "what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the
age?"[6]--that is, the period of the Jewish government and religion. In
reply, He delivered the splendid prophecy before us; first warning them
against those pretenders to Messiahship, who, soon after His ascension,
overrun the land of Judea; and then going on to describe the miseries
which were coming upon the Jews, and the final overthrow of their temple
and city;--He delivers to them this prediction, not in the common
language of narrative, but, in the magnificent figures of the ancient
prophecy. A method of speaking which, while it pointed out the mutation
of earthly things, had a further reference to things spiritual. And thus
while He pointed out the overthrow of the Jewish power, He referred
likewise to the degraded state and corruption of the Christian
church,--the spiritual Jerusalem,--when, having lost its love or
charity, it sunk down into a state of formal observance as lifeless as
the departed spirit of Judaism.

In neither of these senses, however, does the passage point to any
destruction of the visible universe. If we take it in its outward
reference to the Jewish nation, then the darkening of the sun and the
withdrawing of the moon, together with the other parts of the
description, can only be representative images of their multiplied
distresses. This view of the subject is taken by most of those who have
commented on the words. "The sun shall be darkened," "that is, (says
one,) all their glory and excellency shall be eclipsed; all their wealth
and prosperity shall be laid waste;--the whole government, civil and
ecclesiastical, shall be destroyed; and such marks of misery found upon
them, as never were seen upon a people."[7] But among the believers of
the tenet in dispute, we presume there is not one more highly celebrated
for learning than Dr. Adam Clarke; yet he, in commenting upon this
passage, gives up all idea of a literal destruction. The following is
the doctor's explanation:

"'Immediately after the tribulation.'--Commentators generally understand
this and what follows, of the end of the world and Christ's coming to
judgment. But the word _immediately_ shows that our Lord is not speaking
of any distant event, but of something immediately consequent on
calamities already predicted; and that must be the destruction of
Jerusalem. The _Jewish heaven_ shall perish and _the sun_ and _moon_ of
its glory and happiness shall be darkened,--brought to nothing. _The sun
is the religion of the church; the moon the government of the state_;
and _the stars_ are the _judges and doctors of both_. In the prophetic
language, great commotions upon earth are often represented under the
notion of commotions and changes in the heavens. The fall of Babylon is
thus represented by the constellations of heaven withdrawing their
light, and the sun and the moon being darkened:--the destruction of
Egypt by the heaven being covered, the sun enveloped with a cloud, and
the moon withholding her light: the destruction of the Jews by Antiochus
Epiphanes, is represented by _casting down some of the host of heaven_
and _the stars_ to the ground. And this very destruction of Jerusalem is
represented by the prophet Joel, by showing wonders in heaven and in
earth,--_darkening the sun, and turning the moon into blood_. This
general mode of describing these judgments, leaves no room to doubt the
propriety of its application in the present case." (_Commentary on
Matthew._)

Thus, in the hands of one of the most learned advocates of the doctrine,
does one of its principal proofs vanish into air. According to his
showing, there is nothing in the whole passage referring at all either
to the material earth, or the visible heavens; and the whole is a
figurative account of the overthrow of the religion and government of
the Jews,--"the _sun_ and _moon_ of the _Jewish heaven_." We might
follow the doctor through the whole chapter, and show that in almost
every point he confirms what has been formerly advanced. "The sign of
the Son of Man was, (he says,) the signal manifestation of Christ's
power and glory," in the destruction of Jerusalem. The "angels sent
forth to gather the elect, the apostles and their successors in the
Christian ministry." The sound of a trumpet, "the earnest affectionate
call of the Gospel:" and "_the elect_," "the Gentiles who were now
chosen or elected, in place of the rebellious obstinate Jews." In the
same manner he explains the whole of this and the following chapter; and
in the latter declares that the whole of the accounts up to the
thirty-first verse, may be properly applied to the destruction of
Jerusalem. And here we may leave him; for if there is nothing from the
first verse of the twenty-fourth chapter, to the thirty-first verse of
the twenty-fifth, which relates to the destruction of the world, surely
nothing respecting it will be found in the remainder.

Thus does this passage, so often brought forward to add to the terror of
the world's dissolution, which has been sounded forth from pulpits and
re-echoed from the press, when calmly examined, prove to have no
connexion with the subject: but to refer to an event as different from
the general conflagration, as light from darkness.

But some may be ready to say, "Although it has not this reference in its
outward meaning, yet you have already confessed that it relates to
Christianity and the church; and is not the doctrine contained in this
internal application?" I answer, no! The doctrine only stands upon the
supposition that the heavens and the earth referred to in the passage,
are the literal and visible portions of nature. We have seen that in its
relation to the Jews, no such things are intended; still less,
therefore, can it point to these in its _internal_ meaning. As the sun
and moon in the literal application are, (to use the words of Dr.
Clarke,) "the sun and moon of the _Jewish_ heaven" or state, so in
spiritual reference, they are the sun and moon of the _Christian_
heaven, or state of the church; and, as pointing to spiritual principles
and spiritual states, have nothing to do with the outward machinery of
nature. As no destruction of the world, then, can be found in the
_internal_ sense of the prophecy, it is confessed, even by the advocates
of the doctrine, that there is nothing respecting it in the _outward_
sense. And if nothing is found relating to it either in the _spiritual_
or _literal_ meaning of the words, then it is not there _at all_; and
the passage as a proof of the dissolution of all things, must be
abandoned for ever.[8]

The next passage which claims attention, is that in the sixth chapter of
the Revelation; for the words in the first chapter being those of the
apostle previous to his prophetic visions, may be classed among the
apostolic passages of which we shall speak hereafter. The text before us
reads: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the
earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken
of a mighty wind: and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled
together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places."
In this part of the subject I say nothing of the evidently figurative
nature of the passage, nor of the absurdities before alluded to, as
existing in the sense of the letter; but I shall make one remark obvious
to the minds of all, and borne out by the connexion of the words
themselves. The vision of the _seals_ (as well as that of the vials,) is
one continued prophecy, which is not concluded until the breaking of the
seventh seal in the eighth chapter. Now the events above described,
whether representative or literal, happen under the _sixth_ seal; yet
the descriptions of the _seventh_ as well as those of the others, refer
to events which were to occur in the church and on this visible earth.
The sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand,--the prohibition of
the wind to blow on the earth,--the seven trumpets and their
consequences, evidently relate to states of the church in this world;
yet all these things which were to be transacted in the visible world,
happen _after_ the description above quoted.

If, then, various and multiplied events are described as occurring _on
the earth, after_ the heavens had departed like a scroll, and the
islands were moved out of their places, nothing can be more clear than
that the destruction of the earth is not here alluded to; for if the
world is to be destroyed under the _sixth_ seal, then no events can
happen _upon it_ under the _seventh_, since it will then have no
existence; but as such events _are_ described as passing _in the world_
under the _seventh_ seal, then that world cannot previously be destroyed
under the _sixth_ seal.

And in this opinion we are, as before, supported by the advocates of the
doctrine themselves. The sealing of the tribes is almost universally
acknowledged to signify the preservation of the church, under those
heavy and forthcoming calamities represented by the effects of the seven
trumpets. And as this preservation, and these calamities, occur _after_
the darkening of the sun, and the falling of the stars, the latter event
is generally supposed to prefigure (not the destruction of visible
nature, but) some great change in the political or religious
constitution of the world. The precise period to which this change is to
be referred, has, however, divided the opinions of the learned. Some
apply it altogether to the Jews, and suppose that their destruction in
Judea and at Jerusalem was so dismal that it was represented to John as
the darkening of the sun, and the moon looking like blood, and the stars
falling. Others apply it to the overthrow of Paganism and the
destruction of the heathen emperors; and accordingly by the earth
quaking,--the sun becoming black,--the moon becoming blood, and the
stars falling from heaven to earth, is to be understood the great
changes that were made in the Roman empire by the overturning of the
Pagan state. Others again apply it to "the great and horrible confusion
of the Christian world under Antichrist, when Christ the Sun of
Righteousness began to be obscured; that is, his doctrine darkened,--the
moon or church turned into blood,--the stars or pastors fallen from
heavenly offices, the Scriptures, like the heavens rolled up, forbidden
to be read, the mountains, (king and princes) in jeopardy,--and the
islands brought under Antichrist's yoke and tyranny." Very few venture
to apply it to what is commonly called the "end of the world;" and none
can do it without charging the apostle with inconsistency, by affirming
that it shall take place at a definite period of time; and then speaking
of events that are to occur in the world _after_ that time, that is,
after the world shall have been destroyed!

On this passage the commentator whom we have already quoted observes,

"A great earthquake," that is, "a most stupendous change in the civil
and religious constitution of the world." "The _sun_"--the ancient Pagan
government of the Roman empire, "_was totally darkened_; and like a
black hair sackcloth, was degraded and humbled to the dust. The
_moon_--the ecclesiastical state of the same empire, _become as blood_,
was totally ruined; their sacred rites abrogated; their priests and
religious institutions desecrated; their altars cast down; their temples
destroyed, or turned into places of Christian worship. The _stars of
heaven_--the gods and goddesses, demi-gods and deified heroes, of their
poetical and _mythological heaven_, prostrated indiscriminately, and lay
as useless as the figs or fruit of a tree shaken down before ripe by a
tempestuous wind. _And the heaven departed as a scroll._ The whole
system of Pagan and idolatrous worship, with all its spiritual, secular,
and superstitious influence, blasted, shriveled up, and rendered null
and void as a parchment scroll when exposed to the action of a strong
fire. And every mountain--all the props, supports, and dependencies of
the empire; whether regal allies, tributary kings, dependent colonies,
or mercenary troops, were all moved out of their places, so as to stand
no longer in the same relation to that empire and its worship, support,
and maintenance, as they formerly did. And _island_:--The heathen
temples, with their precincts and inclosures, cut off from the common
people, may be here represented by _islands_."[9]

Like the former passage, therefore, this is rendered nugatory as a proof
of the dissolution of the universe; and rendered so, too, by the
admission of its friends. As that referred to the _Jewish heaven_ which
passed away at the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, so this is
affirmed to apply to the _mythological heaven_ of the Pagans, which was
dissolved at the conversion of Constantine to Christianity; and to have
no allusion to the system of material nature. Here are two of the
strongest passages thrown aside as useless in the controversy; and we
shall quickly perceive that, when closely examined, the advocates of the
doctrine equally cast off, if not the whole, at least the greater part,
of the remainder.

Indeed, as I have already remarked, the connexion of the passage is such
as will by no means admit of any literal burning of the earth; so that,
even though its inapplicability to the subject had _not_ been allowed,
yet would the inconsistency attendant on such a meaning, have pleaded
loudly for its rejection.

We pass now to consider the next proof, which occurs in the twentieth
chapter of the same book: "And I saw a great white throne and Him that
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there
was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand
before God; and the books were opened," etc. In connection with this
stands the first verse of the twenty-first chapter: "And I saw a new
heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away, and there was no more sea."

Upon this passage we may repeat the remark which we applied to the
foregoing: that the events which follow this descent of the Saviour, and
which are stated as its consequences, are such as apply only to the
church of God on earth; and that, therefore, the words before us cannot
point to any dissolution of the universe. The immediate effects of the
passing away of the heaven and the earth, are the formation of a new
heaven and a new earth, and the descent of "the holy city New
Jerusalem." This latter event the celebrated Dr. Hammond declares cannot
refer to the state of glorified saints in heaven, but must signify some
peculiar benefit bestowed upon the church on earth. The expression
"descending out of heaven from God," at once determines its reference to
a state of things below; and it no doubt relates to the restoration of
Christianity to its primitive purity. In the very same manner does Dr.
Clarke explain the passage, though he evidently betrays a wish to find
within it a proof of the dissolution of all things. "The New Jerusalem,"
says he, "doubtless means the Christian church in a state of great
prosperity and purity:" and alluding to the description given of her, he
observes, that "it has been _most injudiciously_ applied to _heaven_."
If, then, the consequence of the passing away of the first heaven is to
usher in (not eternal glory, but) a prosperous state of the church on
earth, it must follow in course that such a passing away of the heavens
must refer to a change and alteration in the church, and not in the
natural world;--to the conclusion and departure of a state of darkness,
and the commencement of a new state of light and affection. As the
former _Jewish heaven_ of types and shadows departed at the first coming
of the SON OF GOD, and as the _mythological heaven of Paganism_ was
"shriveled up" at the triumph of the Gospel, so must the _modern
Christian heaven_ of ignorance and evil pass away at the Second Coming
of the SON OF MAN; and to it will succeed a _new heaven_ of purity and
peace.

In this application of the passage, we are supported by the explanation
of the above commentators. They agree in defining heaven and earth
figuratively, to mean the state of the world and of the church;--of the
Jewish world, when applied to the Jews;--of the Pagan world, when
applied to the Heathen: and by the self-same mode of interpretation, we
are justified in applying it to the _Christian world_ in its reference
to Christians. In no case can it be explained of the visible world of
matter; for the passages being acknowledged to be figurative, it must,
as in the other instances, bear the figurative meaning.

Having thus noticed the only two texts in the Revelations, which seem,
in the least, to bear upon the subject, I may be allowed again to repeat
my surprise, that persons should be found attempting to support a
doctrine by the literal sense of this book. Those among the advocates of
the popular belief, who have most carefully studied the prophecy,
protest their ignorance of its meaning and application. "I cannot
pretend to explain the book," says the writer above quoted; "I do not
understand it. I repeat it, I do not understand the book; and I am
satisfied, that not one who has written on the subject, knows anything
more of it than myself."--"What the prophecies mean, and when and _how_
they are to be fulfilled, God in heaven alone knows." It "is termed a
_Revelation_; but it is a revelation of _symbols_;--an exhibition of
_enigmas_, to which no particular solution is given; and to which God
alone can give the solution." "To pretend to say, (observes Calmet,)
what this new heaven and new earth mean, and what are their ornaments
and qualities, is, in my opinion, the greatest of all presumptions."
Yet, into this presumption do the generality of Christians fall, who,
amidst this candid confession of learned ignorance, bring forth with the
greatest confidence the literal sense of the book, to support a doctrine
which length of time has seemed to render sacred.

The words of the apostles now demand our attention; and with respect to
these we notice a fact which is necessary to the proper understanding of
their ideas; that is, that the apostles were themselves ignorant both of
the time when, and the manner how, the second coming of the Lord would
be accomplished; and that they have, therefore, when speaking upon this
subject, carefully abstained from giving any opinion of their own,
confining themselves entirely to the words of the Saviour, or
paraphrasing them without altering the symbolic images.

This circumstance in no degree detracts from that extraordinary
illumination with which the apostles were endowed. They were men raised
up by God, and filled with the Divine influence, in order that they
might propagate in the world, and among all nations, the religion of
Christ; but it does not appear that among the supernatural gifts which
they received, the gift of _prophecy_ was included, except in the case
of the apostle John. Yet, even if we allow, for the sake of argument,
that they did _possess_ this gift, it would by no means follow that they
perfectly understood their own predictions. It is the peculiar nature of
prophecy, that its proper meaning is not known until the time of its
fulfillment; and this was especially the case with the Jewish writers
who foretold the first advent of the Saviour. Although their predictions
seem now so clear and strong, yet both the prophets themselves and their
followers, were at the time ignorant of their precise meaning; and hence
arose the absurd notions which the Jews entertained of a temporal
salvation and an earthly Saviour. The gift of prophecy was, therefore,
except in very rare instances, accompanied by entire ignorance of the
manner of its fulfillment. It does not, however, appear that this gift
was bestowed in general upon the apostles; their knowledge of the second
coming of the Saviour was derived entirely from the words of the
Saviour; and of the express meaning of these words, as referring to a
future event, they were completely ignorant. In quoting his prediction
they, therefore, seem to have held a persuasion that this second coming
was very speedily to be accomplished. Thus they speak of the "day of the
Lord" as "at hand,"--of "the Judge standing at the door:" and Paul, in
particular, seems to have believed that some of the Christians of that
day, if not himself among them, would live to see its approach.

Whether this latter opinion be true or not, certain it is that the words
of the apostles had such an effect upon the first Christians, that they
were in momentary expectation of the appearance of the Lord. During the
first nine centuries after his ascension, a general idea prevailed that
his second coming would speedily take place; and when, after waiting
nine hundred years, they found their expectations disappointed, they
still looked to the one thousandth year to usher in this great event;
and so powerfully did this opinion operate upon the world, that rich and
poor flocked in great numbers to the Holy Land, there to await his
appearance. The wealthy sold their possessions, or gave them away to
charitable institutions; kings quitted their thrones, and subjects their
employment, under the impression that "the end of all things was at
hand," and that the world was of no further value. Such, then, was the
effect of a misapplication of prophetic language; and though nearly
nineteen hundred years have gone by, yet are the Christian churches
still following in the steps of their predecessors, holding the literal
sense of the Word in defiance of reason, and looking for the Lord's
personal appearance in the clouds of heaven, though common sense
proclaims its improbability.

But to return. From a comparison of the descriptions of the apostles
with the predictions of the Lord, it is easy to perceive whence they
quoted. In many instances the two accounts are almost word for word the
same; in others they are enlarged; but in none is the connexion of
events, or the prophetic symbols, disturbed. "The day of the Lord (says
Peter,) shall come as a _thief in the night_, in which the heavens shall
_pass away_ with a great noise." Here it is easy to perceive whence the
words of the apostle were drawn; for we have only to compare them with
those of our Lord, to be convinced that it was from these the
description is taken. "Heaven and earth (says the Saviour) shall _pass
away_, but my words shall not pass away." "Know this, that if the good
man of the house had known at what hour _the thief_ would come, he would
have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through."
Again, Paul declares, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the _archangel_ and _the trump_ of God; and the
dead in Christ shall rise first." Here, too, the prophecy is quoted from
the Saviour's declaration: "He shall send his angels with a _great
sound_ of a _trumpet_, and they shall gather together his elect from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Once more the Apostle
John says: "Behold, he cometh _with clouds_; and every eye shall _see_
him, even they that pierced Him; and all _the tribes of the earth_ shall
wail because of Him:" where the allusion is to these words: "Then shall
appear the sign of the coming of the Son of Man in _heaven_; and then
shall all the _tribes of the earth mourn_, when they _see_ the Son of
Man _coming in the clouds_ of heaven, with power and great glory."
"Behold, (says the Lord) I _stand at the door_ and knock;" "Behold,"
says the apostle, echoing the Saviour's words, "the Judge _standeth at
the door_."

It would exceed my present limits to enter fully into this subject.
Suffice to say, that in most passages the reference to our Lord's
predictions may be plainly discerned; and in all the prophetic
representatives are retained: The sun,--the moon,--the stars,--the
earth,--the heavens, darkness, dissolution, and fire--the very images
which are used by the Saviour, are likewise used by the apostles, and
used, too, with a reference to the _same period_--the last days of the
Christian church. If these images, when used by the prophets and by the
Redeemer, are figurative, then, as the same _images_ applied to the
_same period_, they are figurative when employed by the apostles. Or, if
the dissolution and burning of the earth described by the latter are
literal facts, then the burning of the earth and its dissolution
described by the former, are literal facts likewise; for the _same
images_ applied to the _same period_, must have the _same meaning_.

If, then, these observations be correct, and I see not how they can be
fairly controverted;--if the apostles did not, except in one instance,
possess the power of foretelling future events, and if their
descriptions of the second coming of the Lord are gathered from his own
words, or from the prophetic writings, then we must judge of their
meaning by that of the prophecies whence they are derived. This is a
plain and self-evident conclusion. If I quote the words of any writer,
the meaning of the quotation must be gathered from the works of that
writer; and more especially if I quote for a similar purpose, and
profess myself one of his disciples and admirers. The passages,
therefore, which occur in the apostolic writings, are by no means
decisive proofs of the doctrine in debate. As quotations and paraphrases
of the Lord's words and those of the prophets, they must, by every rule
of fair criticism, have a similar meaning. We have seen that the former
are, by the acknowledgment of the most learned writers, figurative and
correspondent; the just inference therefore is, that the latter, as
quotations and paraphrases of them, must be figurative also.

4. The last part of our proposition comes now before us, namely: that
the doctrine of the destruction of the universe is opposed to the end of
creation, and to the character of God as a Being of unbounded love and
infinite wisdom. I may here be told of the tendency of matter to
dissolution; of its mutability and constant change; of the elements of
destruction which nature herself engenders; and of all those by which
reason and science have sought to gloss over the popular tenet. But the
_mutability_ of nature is no proof of final dissolution. _Mutability_ is
liability to change, or a continual tendency to remove from one state to
another. Whatever is changeable, or whatever can experience alteration,
is, therefore, mutable. But this mutability attaches not to material
nature alone, but to all creation; the highest archangel in the highest
heaven, as well as every spirit embodied on earth, is a mutable
creature. The state of glory in the eternal world, as well as the state
of man below, is a state of _mutability_,--a state in which there are
continual changes either for the better or the worse. This will appear
plain if we consider that, whatever is immutable cannot be acted upon by
any higher power; for the action of such a superior cause supposes a
corresponding _effect_ and that effect supposes a _change_ in the object
acted upon, in one way or another; and, consequently, any object upon
which an effect can be produced, must be a mutable or changeable object.
Now, in the case of angelic beings, God, the First Cause of their
existence, is continually acting upon them by his love and wisdom, and
thus raising them eternally in the scale of blessedness: such alteration
of their state from glory to glory is a change,--an effect produced upon
them by an Almighty Cause; and this effect is at once a proof that
angels themselves are _mutable_ creatures, or liable to change. The same
may be said of the state of blessedness; it is continually receiving
fresh supplies of glory from the Fountain of life, and is thus
_changing_--becoming more and more blessed: and it equally applies to
the spirit of man. This, like the mind, is never "at one stay;" nor,
perhaps, does the state of the mind remain precisely the same for two
hours together. The angels of heaven, the state of the blessed, the
spirit of man, are all changeable. God is the _only immutable Being_;
for He alone cannot be acted upon or changed by any higher power; and
hence it is one of his exclusive prerogatives to be "without
variableness or shadow of turning." If, then, the angelic hosts, as well
as heaven itself, are mutable, while yet they endure for ever, the
mutability of nature is no proof at all that she, any more than the
former, is approaching dissolution.

"Nature herself," as one well observes, "effects her renovation from her
decay." Matter, though decomposed and subjected to ten thousand changes,
loses none of its essential properties; but continually assuming new
forms, gives variety to the world, without being at all altered from its
original nature. Indeed, it has been strongly asserted that there has
not been a particle of matter lost from the creation to the present
moment; changed every particle may have been, but still there is not one
wanting; and if this be the case, such continual change is no proof of
approaching destruction.

We are accustomed to look upon God as a Being of infinite Love; and,
perhaps, at this stage of the subject it may be well to inquire, what
motive induced the Lord first to create the visible universe; and what
was the end proposed in its creation. In the breast of the Divine Being
there could exist but one motive from which creation could spring; and
this was Love. But the Love of God being infinite, could only have
respect to an eternal work; hence the end of creation was to make as
many beings as possible happy, and this to all eternity. In order to
accomplish this, infinite _Love_ clothing or embodying itself in
_wisdom_, made the worlds. According to the words of the apostle, "By
the Word (or the wisdom of God,) were the heavens made;" intending these
as the habitations of rational beings, who after having passed through a
short state of probation, might finally enter upon a spiritual state and
enjoy perfect happiness. The wisdom of God, being the manifestation of
his love, in completing this work, arranged everything in the most
perfect order; and accordingly every part of the universe is formed in
the manner best fitted to promote the end of its existence,--the
everlasting happiness of man. In our own world, where evil has produced
a corresponding change in outward things, even that change itself is
good, since, while it reminds man of his corruption, it leads him to
seek a better habitation.

Thus far our assertions are easy of proof. GOD IS LOVE;--not merely
_loving_, but LOVE, the Spring and Fountain of all derived existence.
And love, even in its derivative form in the bosom of man, is an active
passion, continually seeking for objects on whom to bestow its
affection. As is the stream, then, so is the fountain: God being Love in
its Infinite Essence, must ever have sought to form creatures capable of
being rendered eternally happy; and hence the motive that led to
creation. But _love_ always manifests itself in the understanding or
thought; and by the thought is brought into outward action. It is the
thought or wisdom of man in which his love first takes a definite form;
this serves it for a guide, and directs its operations: and so again is
it with the Being in whose "image" we are formed. The manifestation of
infinite Love, is infinite Wisdom; and this brings the power into
outward act: by infinite Wisdom, therefore, as the acting form of
infinite Love, were rational beings and their varied habitations
created. But this perfect wisdom can never produce anything unlike
itself; for, as is the _cause_, so is the _effect_; hence the frame of
nature which that wisdom calls into being, must be like itself, the most
perfect and complete that could possibly exist. The _motive_, therefore,
which led to creation was _Love_; its _cause_, Wisdom; its _end_,
continued and eternal happiness.

And further, as the love and wisdom of God once operated in bringing the
universe into existence, so from that period have they been unceasingly
employed in preserving the creatures which they formed; for, as the
_end_ of creation was the "bringing of many souls into glory," so, to
the present, has that end been answered by the constant exercise of the
Divine protection over the universe of matter and its rational
inhabitants; that the one might continue a fit habitation for the
creatures of God; and that by the constant procreation of the human
race, a succession of men might be brought into being as candidates for
everlasting glory. But the expected dissolution of the universe, and the
end of human succession, will at once put a stop to this infinite
design. If, after a certain number of persons have been born into the
world, the procreation of man must end, then the purpose of creation
cannot be _infinite_; for that which has reference to a certain number
and a definite period of time, is not an _infinite_ purpose; and that
which is not an infinite purpose, is not the off-spring of _infinite
love_. Or, if the purpose of God in creation _did_ spring from infinite
love, then it must be an infinite purpose; and if the purpose of
creation be infinite, then it is not bounded by a few thousand years,
nor will it end with a few generations.

Nor is the popular doctrine more consistent with the character of God
than with the infinity of his designs. We have seen that _love_ was the
cause of the world's creation; but what motive, I ask, can lead to its
destruction? There is nothing in the Almighty contrary to love;
therefore, if it is destroyed at all, _love_ must be still the motive.
But love never works except for the good of its creatures; therefore, if
the universe is dissolved, it must be because such dissolution will
confer a benefit upon mankind. And the question then arises: What
benefit can mankind derive from the destruction of this material world?
The answer of some will be ready. "The world" they tell us, "has been
changed by sin, and it will be dissolved in order that it may be
restored to its pristine glory and beauty;--that a new heaven and a new
earth may spring from its ashes." But does the change here supposed in
the constitution of the world, require its dissolution? When sin entered
into the universe, and the mind of man was contaminated, an immediate
and corresponding effect was produced upon the world of matter; but the
production of that effect was not accompanied by a _dissolution_ of the
material system; it operated surely indeed, but slowly, and without any
outward destruction. Why, then, should not the change from evil to good,
be effected in like manner as the change from good to evil? When the
earth is "filled with the knowledge of the Lord,"--when all shall
experimentally "know Him from the least even unto the greatest,"--when
man is again restored to his former state of peace and purity, a
corresponding change must once more take place in his material
habitation; but that change requires no destruction of the world to
effect it. Similar causes produce similar effects; and as a change in
man from good to evil, produced an alteration in the system of the
world, but without any dissolution, so a change in the souls of men from
evil to good, must likewise produce an alteration in the earth, but
without dissolution.

But this destruction, it is said, is to usher in "a new heaven and new
earth." We are, therefore, justified in asking, for what purpose is this
new material system created? Since it is believed that the succession of
man will cease with _this_ earth, why should _another_ earth be formed?
Is another race of men to be created? This, the strongest advocates of
the doctrine do not even suppose. Is it, then, to be the habitation of
the righteous of the present earth? This, it cannot be, for the bodies
of the departed will no longer be material, but _spiritual_; and to
assert that a _spiritual_ substance can dwell and walk on a material
earth, however pure that earth may be, is to assert what every one sees
to be preposterous. Since, then, it will not suit the departed
righteous, and another race is not to be formed, why, we continue to
ask, will this new earth be created? Here we are left completely in the
dark; nor amidst all the reasoning of the advocates of the popular
doctrine, can we find a single clue to direct us to an answer.

And here the former inquiry properly comes in. Since there is nothing in
the nature of God contrary to _love_, and since that love only works for
the temporal or everlasting benefit of man, what motive can induce the
Almighty to destroy this visible universe? We have seen that the state
of mankind in time will not be improved by it; for a change in the
constitution of the earth has been already, and may again be, effected
without it: and, besides, whenever such an event takes place, time and
the temporal existence of man will be no more: and the eternal happiness
of the blessed can in no degree be increased by an overthrow of material
nature; for when the spirit has left this sphere, it has done with
matter, and no longer depends upon it for its feelings or its pleasures.
If, then, such a dissolution of the earth as Christians in general look
for, will neither benefit mankind in time nor in eternity, then it is
contrary to the character of God that He should bring such an event to
pass; for He never operates unless to effect some benevolent purpose;
and this will effect none, either here or hereafter.

The same reasons which induced the Almighty to call the universe into
existence, will therefore induce Him to continue its existence. The
desire which He felt to make as many rational beings as possible happy,
led to creation. The same feeling has preserved the world in existence
to the present moment. And as God is unchangeable, that desire must
operate as powerfully ten thousand ages hence, as it does now; and the
operation of that desire must, as a necessary consequence, lead to the
preservation of this earth, from which a succession of rational
creatures is to spring. If, then, at a future period the world is
destroyed, and the multiplication of the human race ceases, it must be
either because the Lord is unable to save more, or is unwilling to do
it. The first supposition is impious, and the other supposes a change in
the Almighty; for then that desire which led to creation must have
ceased to exist in the Divine bosom; the infinite love of God must have
ceased to operate; and of consequence, the Lord Himself must have
changed both his desires and his operations. The destruction of the
world is, therefore, opposed to the character of God, as a Being of
infinite Love and unbounded power.

We may now sum up the arguments which have been adduced.

1. When the literal sense of a passage of Scripture is opposed to common
sense and reason, such literal sense must be laid aside, as not
containing the true meaning. But the literal sense of those passages
which speak of a destruction of the earth, is both absurd and
unreasonable. Therefore the literal sense of these passages must be
abandoned, and does not contain the proper interpretation. Again: when
two prophecies are found couched in the same language, and referring to
a similar event, one of which is fulfilled while the other remains
unaccomplished; the manner in which the latter will be fulfilled, must
be judged of by the previous fulfillment of the former. But the first
prophecies relating to the first coming of the Lord, are exactly similar
to those which refer to His second coming; yet they never were
_literally_ fulfilled: therefore we have no just reason to look for a
literal fulfillment of the latter. 2. When any text of Scripture is, in
the letter, inconsistent with itself, or with other plain and express
passages of the Word, the interpretation must be sought for in the
spiritual meaning of the words. But the proofs of this earth's
destruction are inconsistent with themselves, and are opposed to other
plain and direct portions of the Word of God; therefore the meaning of
those alleged proofs must be found, not in the literal sense, but in
their spirit. 3. In the explanation of every part of the Sacred
Scriptures, a due regard must be had to the connexion in which it
stands; and any mode of explanation which tends to break such connexion,
or is at variance with it, may be beautiful but cannot be _true_. But
the connexion in which the passages referred to are found, is completely
at variance with the doctrine derived from them; nor can they in any way
support that doctrine until severed from this connexion. Therefore that
explanation which the generality of Christians gives them, cannot be
correct. 4. And, lastly, whatever doctrine is opposed to the character
of God, as a God of unbounded love and infinite wisdom, is not a
doctrine of the Bible. But the doctrine before us is thus opposed both
to his nature and perfections; therefore it cannot be true.

The arguments arising out of these propositions might be carried to a
great extent. If, however, they have been supported by reason as well as
Scripture,--if we have no right to expect a literal fulfillment of the
prophecy relating to the Lord's second coming; and if the literal sense
of the passages must be abandoned; then we have no reason to look for an
overthrow of the universe, and the improbability of such a destruction
has been fairly established.

Having thus gone through the principal part of the subject, and having
shown that the common interpretation, against which so many and serious
objections lie, cannot be the true meaning; I proceed, as a necessary
conclusion, to notice briefly the spiritual meaning of the prophetic
symbols used in the passages that we have noticed, and their connexion
with each other. That the whole of these passages relate to the
Christian church, we have already stated; and that they are of
importance to us, may be fairly inferred from their being found in the
Sacred Volume. It is, therefore, scarcely possible to conceive that even
learned and pious men have been able to perceive nothing within them but
earthly concerns,--mere temporal events; the destruction of Jerusalem;
the conversion (whether real or pretended) of Constantine; wars in
Italy; the irruption of the Goths; and the famine of the Antonines; as
if these events were either able, or likely, to give that saving wisdom
which it is the object of God by his Word to bestow. Everything in the
Sacred Volume is intended to contribute to our salvation; but
transactions like these do not tend to make us wiser or better. It is to
the Christian church, and to its principles and practice, therefore,
that these descriptions refer; and as they relate to the general body,
they apply to every individual of which that body is composed, and thus
demand our most serious attention.

The principal symbol used in these prophecies is, "the sun;" and this is
said to "become black," and to be "turned into darkness." Our first
inquiry, therefore, is, what principle in the spiritual world of
Christianity, corresponds with this luminary in the world of matter. And
in this inquiry we shall be aided, if we consider the functions it
performs. The sun is the source of all natural heat and splendor; and
without his influence, the worlds in the solar system, now glowing in
light and beauty, would be dead and unattractive masses of matter. He is
the cause of all vegetable and animal life: deprived of his beams,
vegetation would decay, and the animal kingdom sink in death. He is the
principal agent in the production of sight; the eye without him, would
be a useless organ. In a word, if we were called upon to name the most
important agent in the material world, our thoughts would turn at once
to the sun. Now, in the spiritual world, including both the church of
God and the individual spirit of man, what is that which produces the
same effects as the natural sun does in the system of matter? What is
the source of love and wisdom, spiritual heat and spiritual light?--What
is it that produces in the mind those fruits of righteousness which are
the characteristics of true religion? What gives to reason (the eye of
the mind) its power of discerning spiritual things? and invests the
soul, naturally dark and lifeless, with spiritual life and glory? It is
Divine Love that does this. This is the Sun of the spiritual
universe,--the Fountain of all heavenly light and life,--the Cause of
every good word and work. And in giving this meaning to the natural
image, we are supported throughout by the Sacred Scripture. The Lord is
called "the Sun," and, "the Sun of Righteousness." He is said to _rise_
upon the mind, when the spirit turns itself toward Him; and to _turn
away_ from man, when he departs from his Maker. In the same manner,
whenever the prophets or apostles were favored with a visible
representation of the Divine Majesty, they describe the face of God as
shining like _the sun_. Now the face of God is his Love. Hence the
Psalmist says, "Lift upon us _the light of thy countenance_, and cause
thy face to shine upon us." And this love of God is described as the
sun, rising, shining, and giving light. Thus, too, in the visions of
John, when the apostle beheld an image of the pure church of Christ, he
describes her as "a woman _clothed with the sun_;" or encompassed on
every side by the Divine Love. By the sun, then, in the internal sense
of prophecy, we understand the infinite and unbounded love of the
Almighty, which alone is the cause of life and light; and which gives
strength, support, and beauty, to the spiritual system of man.

Having obtained the meaning of this principal symbol, we shall be at no
loss to determine that of the other. "_The moon_," as regards apparent
splendor, is the second great luminary in the visible heavens. In
herself, however, she is a dark body, and possesses no power of
communicating light except by the reflection of the sun's beams. In this
case, therefore, we have to seek a second principle in the heaven of the
church, corresponding with this second light in the heaven of matter; a
principle which, though it enlightens and cheers the soul, has no
brightness in itself; but derives all its usefulness and beauty from a
conjunction with LOVE. And this principle we find in FAITH; that faith
which springs from charity. As the moon derives all her light from the
sun, so does true faith draw all its glory from love. As the moon
separated from the sun's influence, is dark and lifeless, so is faith
without love, dead and useless. And as the light proceeding from the
moon is but the rays of the sun reflected from her surface, so is the
faith that springs from a modification of the love of God, a reflection
of his infinite benevolence.

And here, again, the apostle confirms this idea. While he represents the
church of God as being _clothed with the Sun_, he also describes her as
standing upon the moon, or having "the moon under her feet:"--pointing
out the love with which she is continually encompassed, and the faith
upon which she is securely founded. Thus Paul, speaking of the universal
church of Christ, declares that it is "built upon the _foundation_ of
the apostles and prophets:"--that is, upon their doctrines, and upon the
truth which they made known; "Jesus Christ Himself," as THE TRUTH
Itself, being "the chief corner stone." Eph. ii. 20. With this, too,
agrees the sublime prophecy of Isaiah. When speaking of the church
restored to its full perfection and glory, he says, "_Thy sun_ shall no
more go down, neither shall thy _moon_ withdraw herself; for JEHOVAH
shall be thine EVERLASTING LIGHT and the days of thy mourning shall be
ended." ix. 20. That is: Thy love shall no more depart, neither shall
thy faith and charity decay; for God shall dwell in every soul by his
love, and his beams shall be reflected from every bosom.

We might go through the whole of those predictions which relate to this
subject; and in all cases we should find that this interpretation of the
figures not only makes a complete and consistent sense, but that the
passages so interpreted would stand in the most complete agreement with
the general tenor of the Scriptures, and with the hopes of the best and
wisest among men.

The third symbolic figure is, "the stars:" and these, as regards the
quantity of light transmitted to the earth, are secondary luminaries in
the visible system. They shine not with any borrowed radiance, but with
their own native splendor. And here, again, we must repeat the inquiry,
what are those luminaries in the _mental heaven_, which hold a secondary
place in the concern of salvation, to love and faith; yet shine, not
with reflected light, but with the real brightness of the Divine Glory?
The answer is easy: They are the doctrines of religion or the
_knowledges_ of truth;--those portions of the eternal reason, which THE
MANIFESTED TRUTH has Himself revealed. But some may be ready to observe,
that these are already included in the Faith of which I have just
spoken. A single remark, however, will obviate this objection. That
FAITH and the _knowledge of truth_ generally go together, is certainly
true,--even as the moon and stars shine at the same time. But to _know_
the truth is one thing, and to have faith in God is another and widely
different thing; as different as the light of the stars is from that of
the moon. And as the stars frequently shine when the moon is not seen,
so does the knowledge of truth frequently exist in the mind when true
faith has no existence. I am, therefore, consistent in declaring that
the _light_ of the stars,--the knowledge of doctrines, though a valuable
acquisition, is secondary in importance both to Christian _faith_ and to
Divine _Love_. Yet the doctrines or truths which are the objects of this
knowledge, are not derived from any source lower than divinity itself;
they are, as just observed, portions of eternal wisdom designed for the
guidance of the church of God; and derived from the "Father of lights,"
from whom proceeds "every good and every perfect gift."

In thus mentioning _doctrines_, (or the term which I have used as
synonymous, _truths_, for pure doctrines are but truths embodied) I by
no means refer to the tenets of a sect or party, but to the eternal
wisdom of the Almighty, as revealed in his word: and with respect to
this, the parallel between it and the natural image may be carried
through all its parts. As the stars are of the same nature with the sun,
and like him shine with their native and proper light, so is the wisdom
of God of the same nature with his love; both being essential attributes
of Divinity. As the stars, however, though in themselves splendid
bodies, communicate no heat to the earth, and are but of secondary
importance in comparison with the sun and moon, so does the mere
knowledge of truths, (although the truths in themselves possess the
nature of divinity,) leave the soul as cold and lifeless as before; and
is of far less importance in the spiritual system than the love of God,
or faith, its reflection on the soul. Carry the comparison as far as we
may, still the stars of the natural heaven correspond exactly to the
_truths_ of the church; and the light which they emit, to the
_knowledge_ of that truth.

And this interpretation of the symbol agrees, too, with the vision of
the apostle. The church clothed with the Sun of love, and standing upon
faith; the symbolic _moon_ had upon her head (the seat of intelligence
and wisdom) a crown of twelve _stars_;--denoting the knowledges of pure
truth which should ornament that church in her last state of peace and
holiness. So the great red dragon, who is described as fighting with
Michael and his angels, is said to have drawn the third part of the
stars from heaven;--pointing out the almost total extinction of real
truth in the corrupted Christian churches. We might again trace this
meaning in every passage where the natural image occurs, and we should
still find that the sense it gives to each of them is consistent both
with the Word of God, as referring to the great concern of salvation,
and with the connexion in which the passages are found.

In these symbolic representations we, therefore, perceive the three
sources of light in the Christian heaven, love, faith, and knowledge.
The first being the diffused affection of the Father of spirits; the
second, its reflection in the soul of man; the third, the truths of
doctrine which enliven and ornament the church, proceeding immediately
from the Source of all Wisdom. The glory of each is the same in
substance, as the light of the sun, moon, and stars, is the same in
nature; but it differs in degree, as the luminary whence it springs is
of more or less importance to the eternal happiness of man. Knowledge is
the least important; of itself merely, it produces nothing. Faith rises
above knowledge; yet even faith by itself is useless. Love is the chief;
this quickens, animates, and renders fruitful, the church of God, and
the soul of each individual member.

I press this interpretation on no one; yet I may say, without breaking
the bounds of Christian liberty, that it carries probability on its very
face. The parallel between the natural image and its spiritual
correspondent, is complete throughout; but this can by no means be said
of the various constructions which have generally been put upon them.
The sun, it is said, is the civil government of a state; and the moon,
its ecclesiastical policy. But in vain shall we attempt to draw a
comparison here between the natural figure and the object said to be
signified by it. The civil government of an empire is not the source of
all wisdom, love, and prosperity, as the sun is of heat, light, and
fruitfulness. It does not give to the ecclesiastical all its power,
glory, and beauty, as the sun does to the moon; nor would the church
become dead and lifeless if separated from the state, as the moon would
if severed from the sun. The pastors of the church, which it is affirmed
are the stars, do not, like the stars, shine with their own native
splendor. The comparison, therefore, does not in any degree hold good:
while in the meaning we have given above, consistency both with
Scripture and reason, as well as with the best interests of man, is
preserved throughout.

Now if this signification of the sun, moon, and stars, be correct, we
need not employ much time in fixing the meaning of the terms "heaven,"
and "earth," when applied to the church of God. _Heaven_, or the
atmosphere, is that in which the sun, moon, and stars appear; and by
means of which they produce their effects. It is the grand reservoir of
those particles, which, acted upon by the sun, and thus set in motion,
cause heat; and preserve on the earth, life and vegetation. And the
earth is that body, on the surface of which vegetation flourishes and
life appears. This at once points out the figures as applying to the
_inward feelings_ and _outward life_ of an _individual_; or, to the
internal state of the church and its outward forms and ceremonies. It is
in what the apostle calls "the inward man," that _love_, _faith_, and
_knowledge_ produce their first effects; and by operating upon the
feelings and affections of the mind, cause spiritual light and
heat--true wisdom and divine love. And these produce a corresponding
effect in the outward conduct, bringing forth "fruits meet for
repentance,"--the living forms and witnesses of religion. As the sun
shines in the atmosphere and produces fruit on the earth, so love shines
in the soul and brings forth effects in the conduct, either in the case
of an individual, or of the church as an assembly of individuals. By the
same rule of analogy we may perceive what is meant by _the clouds_.
These in the natural world, are vapors exhaled from the earth by the
heat of the sun; and which condensed into form in the atmosphere, serve
to perform their important functions. They temper and lessen in some
degree the heat of the sun; they serve to beautify the appearance of the
heavens; they are the great depository of rain, and the principal agents
in the production of tempests. That which corresponds to them must,
therefore, be something springing from the outward state of man, which
is the grand depository of truth (spiritual water), behind which the
glory of the Divine Love and Wisdom is seen, and which accommodates this
wisdom to the capacity of mankind. And this we find in the outward
letter of the Word of God. The historical narratives, the figures of
prophecy, the parables of the Saviour, are all images rising from the
world and the temporal state of mankind; and thus, like the _clouds_,
they have their origin from the earth. Within this outward body of image
and narrative are contained the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is
the grand source from which truth must be drawn. And the glory of God
shines through the whole, imparting to every natural form the splendor
of divinity. And as the material images of the Bible serve to
accommodate the wisdom of God to the capacity of his creatures, so have
they often been the cause of those convulsions in the church, which
seemed even to threaten her existence. "The _letter_" has often killed,
when unaccompanied in the mind with the "_spirit_ which giveth life." We
cannot, therefore, find in the figure before us anything which so
completely accords with its origin and design, as the outward letter of
the Word of God--the clouds of the Christian heaven.

The meaning of the principal symbols being thus stated, we pass to the
connexion which they bear to each other in the predictions of the
Saviour. We have already noted that the prophecy contained in Matthew,
and recorded by the other Evangelists, refers in its primary application
to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies; but in its more
extensive meaning it points to the state of the Christian church in her
period of decline and corruption, of which Jerusalem in her last days
was a fitting type. With respect to this it is declared "_the sun_ shall
be darkened"--the Divine Love obscured and lost; "and the moon shall not
give her light"--faith and charity shall sink in darkness; "and the
stars"--the knowledge of truth "shall fall from heaven,"--no longer
exist in the minds of her members; "and the powers of heaven"--the whole
internal state of the church "shall be shaken"--shall be thrown into
complete disorder and confusion. This meaning, to which we are led by
the connexion and correspondence of the natural symbols, points to a
time (not when the universe shall be destroyed, but) when true religion
shall have ceased to exist in the church:--"when the love of many shall
wax cold:" when true faith will no longer be found; and when
knowledge--the knowledge of genuine spiritual truth--shall have passed
away. The same things are described in the vision of the apostle. "There
was a great earthquake"--a shaking and disorder in the state of the
church; "and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon
became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell to the earth,"--the
knowledge of truth which once shone in the _mind_, sunk into mere
outward _creeds_ and confessions of faith; "and the heaven departed as a
scroll when it is rolled together"--the whole internal state of the
church was thrown into confusion, and every inward feeling of religion
perished.

The event immediately following is the appearance of the Son of Man in
the clouds, with a trumpet; and since it is confessed that a trumpet
signifies "the call of the Gospel," or as I would express it, the
manifestation of truth; and as the _clouds_ correspond to the _outward
form_ of the Word, the appearance of the Lord in the clouds and attended
by trumpets, must signify the manifestation of spiritual love and truth
in the letter of Scripture: and this is supported by what is afterwards
said to be the consequence; "a new heaven and a new earth,"--a new state
of the church both internal and external, both as regards inward
feelings and outward conduct.

That this interpretation is true, I call upon no one to believe; but
that it is probable will, I think, be confessed by all; and that it is
in perfect harmony with the infinite designs of God toward his rational
creatures, as well as with his character as a Being of infinite Love,
will be equally acknowledged. Whether there has been a period in the
Christian church (as there certainly was in the Jewish) when the above
description was applicable to her; when religion had sunk into mere
formality; when bigotry and intolerance both in priests and people, cut
up charity by the roots; when faith was a mere body from which the
spirit had departed; when the clergy were mere formalists, and the
people were sensualized; when sacred knowledge was neglected by the one
and unknown to the other: whether, I say, such a period _has_ yet
arrived, and if so, whether it was _eighty_ years ago, or eight hundred,
it is not my province now to inquire. My object is to show that the
images used by the sacred penmen have reference to such a state, and to
a subsequent restoration; and this I have shown by the rule or law of
analogy existing between spiritual and natural things, as well as by the
grand design of the Word of God in which those images occur.

And if it be probable that such is really the fact, then the design with
which I commenced my task is completed. If the natural sense of the
words of Scripture is absurd--if the best commentators themselves admit
that in their outward application the words have no reference to the
destruction of the natural world--and if, considered in their internal
meaning, they relate to the church, its decline, and restoration; then
there is no proof in the Scriptures of the dissolution of the visible
universe; but strong evidence that it will never take place.

Let us, however, before leaving the subject, take a hasty glance at the
two doctrines which have been presented. The first declares that after
creating the universe, and endowing it with life and beauty; after
forming man as a candidate for eternal glory, and after raising up a
church which it is said was to endure "for ever," God will at a future
time (for what reason, or to answer what purpose, is unknown,) destroy
the fabric he has created; throw the whole universe into confusion and
reduce it to ashes. That He will, for some reason equally unknown, put
an end to the human race, and no more bring rational creatures to
eternal happiness; that heaven will be closed, and not another candidate
admitted; and that the church will then cease on earth, and never again
be restored. And this supposition is founded on vague and mysterious
texts of Scripture, and on a literal interpretation of figures which the
most learned confess they cannot comprehend.

The other doctrine maintains that God, having created the world and
peopled it with inhabitants, will continue it in existence; and that
though religion will in the "latter ages" decline, yet at length "the
Lord will appear in the brightness of his glory," will destroy evil and
false-hood among men,--restore the world to its first state of purity;
and that it shall then for ever become one vast temple, from which a
ceaseless song of praise shall continually arise; while its inhabitants,
prepared and preparing for a higher state, shall pass in succession into
the eternal rest of God; and that the earth shall therefore be a nursery
for glory,--a place of trial for a continual race of candidates for
heaven.

This is a consummation worthy of the Creator,--worthy of the infinity of
his nature and perfections,--worthy of the plan of redemption which He
became incarnate to effect. It is agreeable to the dictates of the
soundest reason, and in accordance with the hopes and wishes of every
man who has not bowed down his reason to the idol of popular opinion.
While the opposite tenet sets reason at defiance, makes the Bible teach
what is practically absurd, and stands in opposition to the opinion of
some of the most learned among its own advocates.

We cannot conclude this little treatise more appropriately than in the
words of a writer often quoted in these pages.

"The doctrines or principles which I have stated and defended in this
work, I believe to be the truths of God. Those against which I have
argued, I believe to be either false or unproved. The doctrine which
cannot stand the test of rational investigation, cannot be true. We have
gone too far when we have said 'such and such doctrines should not be
subjected to rational investigation, being doctrines of pure
revelation.' I know no such doctrine in the Bible. The doctrines of the
Scripture are doctrines of _eternal reason_; and they are revealed
because they _are such_. Human reason could not have found them out; but
when revealed, reason can both apprehend and comprehend them. It sees
their perfect harmony among themselves, their agreement with the
perfections of the Divine Nature, and their sovereign suitableness to
the nature and state of man: thus reason approves and applauds. Some men
cannot reason, and therefore they declaim against reason, and proscribe
it in the examination of religious truth."

Men may incorporate their doctrines in _creeds_, or articles of faith,
and sing them in _hymns_; and this may be both useful and edifying if
the doctrines be _true_. But in every question which involves the
eternal interests of man, the _Holy Scriptures_ must be appealed to in
union with _reason_ their great commentator. He who forms his _creed_ or
_confession of faith_ without these, may believe anything or nothing, as
the cunning of others or his own caprice may dictate. Human creeds and
confessions have been often put in the place of the Bible, to the
dishonor both of revelation and reason. Let _those_ go away, let these
be retained, whatever be the consequence.

[1] See on this subject, "The Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures
asserted," by Rev. S. Noble:--a work well worthy the perusal of
every Christian, and which deserves a place in every library.

[2] See Wesley's Sermons. Sermon xv. "preached before the Hon.
Sir Edward Clive, one of the judges of his Majesty's court of common
pleas, in St. Paul's Church, Bedford, on Friday, March 10, 1758."

[3] Dr. Clarke has a very curious note on this passage. He supposes
that the "noise" will be occasioned by the action of electric fire, on
the watery particles of the atmosphere. These, being divided into
their two component _gases_, the one will ascend into the higher regions,
and the other float on the earth's surface. Thus, he says, the
account of the apostle is "philosophically correct." Whether this
be the _apostle_, or whether such account is correct in any degree, let
common sense judge.

[4] This passage in its mere outward application, refers to a
temporal overthrow in the land of Idumea; it has also, however, an
acknowledged relation to the triumphs of the Gospel, and the overthrow
of its enemies. Still, it makes little difference in the strength
of the argument, to which event it is referred. Such descriptions have
been given, they have been fulfilled, yet in no case literally. This is
all that need be proved.

[5] See Sir Isaac Newton,--Locke,--Dr. A. Clarke,--Burkitt, etc.

[6] See Dr. Adam Clarke's remark upon this passage.

[7] Birkitt's Notes on the New Testament.

[8] For further remarks on this text, see "Noble's Plenary Inspiration
of the Scriptures."

[9] Dr. A. Clarke, in loc.

THE END.



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