The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-03-25 00:00:00

THE WORLD AS IT SHALL BE ; OR .‘‘ THE GOOD TIME THAFb COMING." LECTURE, BY THE REV, DR. MINEILE, LAST NIGHT. For some weep say months,—the public have been loot forward to the concluding one of a h have livered by the various members of the Church of rgy of the town, in aid of the funds of gland Young Men's Institution. On ewer was to he the Rev. Dr. Ivi`Neile, this occasio ` The world as it shall be inn," was expected to be en- and power which lnctcr usual to bear upon the prophetical atre had been engaged for the being from 3d platform !ts were and yesterda some tho The fort looked r things; )had provided in time meeting most been so amply ounced to be opened at seven Long egan to Great Char! ending to it, pre y of the numerous oceasio ,erings in our E tering a e Amphitheatre the sight p ails crammed with udience, long he res- oni were graced by a preponder 'oral we noticed David 1., H. J. Webster, Esq., n Gibb, A. Steins, W.M. Fatloon, W. ). Cotter, Andrew Knox, Dr. Hume, and nearly S the town ielieve, but to call upon the the meeting e had no desire to al k from , of the c On the r q.. 1)t s. T. Robe uncomr elation, but to tome— Hodgson, Esq., S. T. B. Drinkwater, Esq., John Lawre Maynard. R. W. W. Butler, D. Jan The rev fall said, 't assure them that he might —when He would not red. the R quotin " Prim ; Hop Christian ( purpose undo to ( Ar 30 as in the affai In in the gr h of t appointed times Go, thus, without going back to ve theAbrahamic dispensa ning with the call of Abraham, and ending anon, be with the the Levitical dispensation, f Israel out of Egypt inning with the dal' of Pentecost, and end t of the Lord Jesus, and the " dispensation of the fulness of times, _ 'ond advent of Christ, and enduring for eve: . T-Tis kingdom there is no end. Hitherto, the " this world's history have been evil times, d of good struggling in stunted growth, sur by an uncongenial atmosphere. In this respect, sent time resembles its predecessors : there is a if good and evil, - inning with the se times of with a se round( vu predominating. So it must e, or Christian dispensation, ends. e Lora Jesus hire'seii .• VI 14 - there shall bewars and rumours of wars, nation shall rise -f nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there and -; nes and pestilences and earthquakes in divers He said, moreover— agains 3ut the end is not ye " Think not that I am come to send peace upon earth I tell you, nay, but rather a sword." He did indeed give peace, His own peace, to His own people—chosen out of the world, and separated from the world ' • and, therefore, speaking to them , He s aid— " M y peace I give unto you," whilst speaking generally He said, "Think not I am come to send neace upon earth." He did, and does, give peace to his own; but the contrast with this bright spot serves only to make the surrounding darkness more visible. The witnesses for Christ during the present period are not at home in the world at this time. The descriptions given in the New Testament, of their experience, their Lumber, and their character, prove, that so long as the New Testament continues applicable, evil will be in the ascerdant. The children of God are not of the world, even as Jesus was not of the world. They are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness, or the wicked one. On the supposition, entertained by so many, gy frequentl ffirrn t ,rd to it ad, by 1 ,aw, a church law, were compelled to pay who had pronounced the 1 church. (Cheers.) But e s tl (Lo r time longer. lit sinz to a we beer he charme ilighted, co eettiess ha' of Hope is heard , the pangs of disease, the ignorant, and the b trembling, it may be, and almost tern . mi; though the e Lrkness i lei:nation be min- the present pres- y thicken, and that man soul. bh and ensnared int of man, or y man with s e great o i of the great time th. t of God, t e for c real( down, and a time to build up.' s of men, here enumerated by Solornor, nd plan of God himself le accomplishment of eacl inted ti I do in terms sted improvement ince towards tically respor i appropriate lines from with cruelty,—and co that this dispensation is to enlarge itself by degrees into the universal blessedness predicted by the Prophets, and thus introduce the world as it shall be, and the good time that's coming, one consequence is inevitable. A. large portion of the New Testament must become obso lete, and cease to apply in the course of the process. As soon as Christians become a majority, it will cease to be true that the way of life is narrow, and few there be that find it. If the world become Christian, it will cease to be true that the Church of Christ is chosen out of the world, and separated from the world. The New Testament, in its multiplied descriptions of the number, character, and experience of the disciples of Christ, is evidently intended for the world as it is, and not for the world as it shall be. It invites us. indeed, to hope for the world as it shall be, and of course for a time when it will cease to apply. But in so doing it tells us of the coming again of Him who gave it, who of course has the right (but only He has or can have the right) to super sede it. The world is, as it was in the days of Noah. The multitudes erting and drinking, planting end build ing, marrying and giving in marriage, as if all this were to last for ever; and a little family believing the word of the Lord, and waiting for Him to do as He has said. The world must continue thus, till the second coming of Christ. -cause, " As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be I,e coming of the Son of Man. (Hear, hear, hear.) .very honest attempt, in the Lord's name and strength, to diminish the amount of evil, succeeds: but vain are all attempts to reverse the relative pm tions of good and evil during these present tir in some measure Omitting from view, for the present, the wide west heathenism,—the dark places of th. are filled views to alone, you'w . ili remember our Lord hims, Christendom alone. said, " Many are calle ' and all that an inspired nt dispensation is, that in it, as in its p there is a remnant according to t' What, then, are the general el cteristics of th times we live in ? read oppression and injustice guishing characteristics, on a large scale, of the time w live in. The exepn+;,.-- - the hireling still pine eptions are fe e slave still groans under the lash; the proud are still exalted ; the wily hypocrite succeeds in his schemes ; the covetous, in the hardness of an unfeeling heart. still increases his riches, and establishes himself in uurighteousness. pon his "pittance ; t " I see him now—the orphan was his prey, And this is his reward : great wealth he has In houses, lands, and flocks, and herds. I see Him trample on his fellows. Vain are laws, lie, which shuts his heart trations of this abound on every side to book, in a complicatio 1 variety, xity and tanding monument grmity of cram monument, did I say ? It ;cumulated with all the inge- of law to meet the probable ingenuity of crime le proceedings in all our courts of law, what ai ever-recurring proofs that ma wickedness dom or power . The demon of gain attac of man ; and, of cours, poorest are the the real and of Christ breathes pea Less, and exe ffectionate and s it not a little one ? and wi it not cry, day and r how long, how long come! d speak emsels workers of iniquity b0a0.. , the cry of the Chu Dirn first to the Word of God, O Lord ! h ? How What then is c confusion to the ungodly ; d ruin to the covetous and the h things wherein there shall be neither ig ppointment, neither oppression nor injustice, neither violence nordeceit, neither wrong nor robbery ; but where truth and honesty, d symnathy r, and love, will be universal and pre ) we expect that this char will be t d? Whyher hereont hich v , did E ge that the rectal, qa will be wl into tt f this I the commor of which lit her( Lie, even Aude of the moral do government of God. 13 heavily upon the thoughtful their habit to look out for the adjust orders ; not in the scene in which the: to transfer all of happiness awl immorality, from the scenes all our early asso ciations ; to tear up by the roots, deep as they may have shot into the soil, all the associations of infancy, and youth, and manhood, and age, to cut away all the ties of earthly education; of local and of moral disc:pline, by which we have be same di e exist( pressed , etations of our et( 'ent :incons eneles, ;n 'e have for :enery, ked to even an indis state, of whose na- cl and ( of found to be in is of revelation. Let us imagine a revolt in nee of a great empire. The Peoplc e, have thrown off the all to their Sovere ations and pur nd subversive d are occupied wit' suits Of their own, independent of the will of the authority of their Monarch. What manner of interference on his part would sound reason Would it he that, after much patience and .s, he should send a sufficient force to bels away to some penal settlement, ithfnl few home to the royal presence, and ;Hate and destroy the province itself ? ;e.) Would not such a winding up Iractical acknowledgement, that the rebel. wiled in the event, had neverthe ul, remonstanc carry all th brin (Loud applau amount to a lion, though q so far succe proved s to deprive the sovereign of one pro ons ? Would not the gap thus made ritory of the monarch be a st lm paratn co m para 11 of the rebel O wiaknes us, is it rea , nable tt e could be ilt ? (Hear, hear). Surely it is more in with the dictates of the most enlightened so situated, should exert ority in 1 a mona 'evolted province, not to ann „.... uy violence, but to restore by om ; not to erase the province from his territory, or his crown, but to re-establish allegi ance in the province itself; to make his laws felt where .v had been broken, and to establish tranquillity and where there had been rebellion and disaffection, rely be the nobler trophy. And what reason -s, revalation does most abundantly confirm— title'to it that this earth should be the scene of this re-adjustment. Concerning the world as it shall be, or the good time s may learn the most important lessons elation under these following heads :—First, a given in Paradise; secondly, a description prophecy ; thirdly, a specimen is gi o- I in the ministry of Christ ; fourthly, a caricature i s coming, w of r glimpse of us in the assumptions of Antichrist—(great cheering) ; and lastly, the principle of it is given us in the Ten Com mandments of God. (Hear, hear.) Now, the first is, that a glimpse of it was given us in Paradise. What the world was at first bears testimony to what it shall be at last. " God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." Man was very good. The image of God was stamped upon him ; and, as far as his ture could be, he was and holin Creator great design in all his works is the mani o of his own glory. (Hear, hear.) God's ted when the thing formed answers ch he formed it. Man in Para he was very rood. His intel- ctly the end for wi this re powers we nd comprehensive. He had _ of only of the creatures around him, animate and inanimate, the works of God, by which he was surrounded, but, as far as his nature. was capable of it, (and no more could be expected) of God himself, the author of his being in whom he lived and moved. He was qualified to appreciate the divine perfections of Jeho vah, who had made all things for himself, to proclaim his wisdom, grace,)and power. His moral powers corresponded with the intellectual. Whatever his understanding recog nised as right his will instinctively assented to and embraced as pleasant. God's law was in his heart; and his likeness to God very especially consisted in this, that without effort without conflict, without interruption, he was disposed to ess. The will of God was 31 what the Pole is to the was full of attraction ; and the heart of the righteousness and true holir to the will of unfallen AO d that attraction with love without effort spontaneousnes Thus, his moral r owers were very 111 the inferior His affections, passions, and _ culties of the soul—for there is subordination in ever _ hing—were handmaids to the great design. They eacl _ministered their part to this beautiful response to the will and law of his God. Lova stood before the altar, and pouring on the sacred incense, kept up the hallowed flame. Holy Fear, with reverential awe, bowed beforethe sanctuary told its raptures in hosannas of never-ceasing praise ; and sought on earth to join those songs which angelic beings Poured forth before the throne of God. Whit( conscience as yet unsullied, beheld as God's vice-gerent the hallowed service, and gave its approbation as tbe voice of God. Hope was not there. Man had nothing to hope for. He was full. His happiness was perfect. (Hear, hear). The inferior creatures were all very good : each in its kind answering perfectly the object of its creation ; and all in peaceful subjection to man, and har mony with one another. The wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the cow and the bear, the lion and the ox, all met in peace before Adam, to receive their names from him, and whatsoever he called each of them, that was its appropriate title. Their food, by divine grant, was limited to the herbs of the field. There was no occasion for the shedding of blood, or the infliction of the slightest pain, no touch of corruption, no trace or approach of death. The trees, and shrubs, and flowers were very good ; presenting proofs innumerable of the tenderness and loving kindness, as well as excoisite skill of film who made them all. There was no drawback, no disturbing phenomena, no shattering storm, or nipping frost, or blighting fog, to cause the least embarrassment .in the mind of their thoughtful human master of the character of God, that had made the scene. Oh ! what a glimpse of the world as it shall be, have we in this tran sient scene of the world as it was : it was pleasing to Him that made it, and He will never cease till He make it pleasing to Himself again. (Applause.) This lovely scene was transient it is true ; but transient though it was it was real. And brief as it was, it has left behind it this imperishable lesson, which should never be lost sight of—namely, that there is no necessary connexion between matter and sin, matter and decay, matter and death. The connexion we now so painfully experience is an adventitious one, brought in by sin, and to be driven out by righteousness. It is in no way inherent, whether the matter be that of the globe we tread upon, or that of which the human body is composed. The lesson, I repeat, taught by the portion of divine truth presented to our minds is this—that there may be matter where there is no sin, and that, therefore. those who imagine, that in order to get rid of sin, we must get rid of matter—that, in order to mortify sin, we must mortify matter—are in opposition to the truth of God. (Cheers.) Now, sir, in the second place, a steadier view of" the world as it shall be," is given to us in the sure word of prophecy. After a full admission, nay a copious de scription of the existing evils, under which the whole crea tion is still groaning and travailing in pain, the Divine Spirit expressly de c l ares th a t thi s same groan i ng creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. It was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected it, under hope, or into a state of hope. Adam, to whose government it was originally en. trusted, who was constituted its lord and master, was the offender. By his sin he brought a curse upon the whole earth,—" cursed is the ground for thy sake"—a curse, the effects of which have pervaded every department of nature, arming creature against creature in destruc tive enmity, and sweeping away whole generations of creatures, age after age, by death; a curse which has left in man just enough of what hevras to make him dis- satisfied with what he is, but not enough to enable him to make himself what he will be. (Cheers.) Hope is his present charmer. Ho has been cast down from a condi tion in which there was nothing left to hope for, all was so perfect, into a condition where all is so disappointing that his best joys are in hope. (Hear.) And now the hope is, that there is a better time coming ; an i so there is— there is. (Cheers.) But how so ? How. or by whom ? A God-Man has come to the rescue. A God-Alan has done all that is needful to render the restitution legal ; and at His appointed time He returns to make that resti tution actual. Of this restitution it has pleased God to speak by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been ince the world began—(Here there was a slight inter g to the densely crowded state ruption in the gallery, owi of that part of the building.) The CHAIRMAN expressed a hope that silence would be preserved in the gallery. The Rev. LECTURER observed,—They are there, sir, so crowded, that they cannot keep quiet altogether. (Cheers and laughter.) There is only one consideration for a case like this. You are fond of 'fair play. (" Hear, hear," and loud cheers.) Well, fair play in a house like this is, first come first served—(" hear, hear,") — and, if you find a house like this, as it now is, already so filled that you cannot get in without annoying your urs, in the name of fair play give it up as a bad go home. (Loud cheering and laughter, and fur ht confusion from the overcrowded state of the The Rirv. GENTLEMAN proceeded—There is a me coming—for silence. (Hear, hear, laughter, ed cheering.) I have just brought your minds job - and )se statements of the prophets, which declare the res on of all things here on earth. The heavens must re tbeLordJesus Christ until the time appointed for the '.f all things. It is in no way necessary that He actual possession of his kingdom ...chase. He des;- r having accomol' rest:tutior nto th, upon making th purchase kething different that aft, purchase, and finished that part of the work, he should retire from the scene, and put his friends upon a state of trial, a spiritual trial, during his absence, that He might live amongst those who are faithful companions of his to tzke possession of his For, you must remember, 1, too, that our Lord Jesus 7—he canbe but in reign when he returns kiagdom. (Hear. hear.) Christian Friend at a time, of the rc Tit the c 'so- I t this pres the too zreatest suff true Church A, but f Our sta- ture, is not übiquitou he returns to reign on ous over the face of the Lion now (what o shall rein that instrumentality doors of t Ct THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. ML'...' ... controlled into calmness, and the famishing multitude were fed and filled without toil. (Applause.) He is coming again, to deal with the whole earth, as he did with the poor demoniac at Decapolis : that so, the world being delivered from the frenzy of Satanic rebellion, may again occupy its right place of subjection at the feet of Jesus, clothed with righteousness, and in its right mind of holy love to God : the good time coming. I could enlarge on this branch; it is a glorious subject— one on which I take delight in preaching. (Hear, hear.) The miracles of the Lord Jesus are not only proofs of Isis divine mission, and not only emblems of his saving truth, but they are specimens of his royal power. They were the outgoings of that Majesty which could not be entirely hid even in the disguise of his humiliation. His time to assume the power of royalty was not, however, yet come. He bad other objects to attain. He hid when they desired to make him king ; he kept out of their way. He had to win his way to a righteous reign. He would not reign by mere power against law ; and law having been violated he would not take to himself his power to reign until he had satisfied the demands of law. He would not act against law, even against Satan. He was made of a woman, made under the law, and :Acted accordingly ; and his work, and our happiness in him, would not set before us an illegal escape from danger. The Christian's position was not an illegal escape from danger—if it were so, we should feel ashamed of it. But what was it then ? It was a legal gaol delivery. The law was satisfied ; the judge was satis fied ; the king was satisfied. Open, then, the prison door. (Hear). It was a noble, it was a glorious, it was a triumphant exit from a state of danger, and not an illegal escape. And, therefore, the time was not come for Jesus to threw off his disguise and take to himself the power to reign. He would not accept the proffered bribe of Satan to take the kingdoms of this world and rule over them, on condition of serving the devil. " All these are mine," said the devil to him, " and to whomsover I will, I givel them." "I will give th , :m all to you," said Satan, "if you will only worship me." He refused the bribe; "Get thee behind me, Satan," he said. It remained for another and a very different person to accept the bribe, and take all of the world that the devil would give him. (Cheers.) And this !cads me to my fourth head, which is, that we have a caricature of "the world as it shall be" presented to us in the assumptions of Antichrist. (Cheers.) But here we have a mystery to deal with, and must find Antichrist, not in an open avowed antagonist, but in a professed disciple of Christ. He is called " the son of perdition," a title given only to him, and to one other wha was like him. It is given to Judas Iscariot, and he was by profession a disciple of Christ, by office, a governor in the Church, by practice, a traitor. 'this is signi ficant. This teaches us where and how to look for Antichrist. I now quote from Bishop Jewel, who says:— " We may not look that Antichrist should say, I am Anti christ, I am that man of sin. I am the son of perdition, I am the adversary, and am contrary to Christ. He shall not shew forth himself in such a sort, he shall not so speak of himself. He is subtle and cunning, he shall deceive the learned and the wise: he sh ill cast himself into a colour of holiness: he shall fast, he shall pray, he shall give alms, and shew mercy: he shall walk as if he were a disciple of Christ : he shall counter feit an angel of He shall go before, and the world shall follow him. to shall the mystery of iniquity work. Iris life, his religion, his doctrine, shall be close and hid, and secret. Antichrist workettl in mystery. The learned and wise shall be deceived. They shall honour Antichrist unawares. They shall say, We defy him, and detest him, and yet shall fall down and worship him. This is a mystery. So secret shall his dealing be, it shall not be known to many," And again : " In matters of princes, if any man take upon him the name of an ambassador, or deputy to a prince, Furring no commission thereto, an.l in this boldness presume to levy and raise a power, and force the subjects to follow him : although he work all this under the name, and by the colour of the prince's authority (as in the manner of rebels to do) yet he is a traitor, and his doings are not well thought of, because he . dealeth in the prin - e's matters without warrant from the prince. Even so antichrist he shall cor 1 the name of Christ, yet will he do all thingi azainst Christ, and under pretence and colour of serving Christ, he shall devour the sheep and peOple of Christ ; he shall deface whatsoever Christ bath taught; house which Christ bath built. ----- " He shall be contrary to Christ : his faith contrary to the faith of Christ : and his life contrary to the life of Christ. Is any man desirous to know Antichrist? By this mark you may know him : he shall be contrary to Christ. To show you at large this contrariety in Christ and Antichrist would take a long time. It shall be sufficient we consider only some few wherein they are manifestly contrary, that by them judgment may be made of the residue. St. Paul saith : For by one offering he bath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' And again : We are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' What is he then that saith, I make priests to offer a daily sa crifice, for the sins of the people; by whom the offering up of the body of Christ is made every day'? He is contrary to Christ, he is Antichrist. St. Paul saith, God hath put all things under his feet, and gave him, to be the head over all things to the Church.' What is he then which saith. lam the head of the Church'?—which saith. ' All the Churches of God are knit in me : you must understand as I understand : you must hear with mine ears, and see with mine eyes : I will govern and direct you'? He is contrary to Christ: this is Antichrist. Christ ordained that the Communion should he ministered under both kinds: what is he then that delivereth it to the people but under one kind? He is contrary to Christ. He breaketh the first institution of the Lord's Supper : he is Antichrist. ..gist saith, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world. then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews : but now is my kingdom not from hence.' What is he then which saith: I tm Lord of Lords and King of Kings ; I have a right to both -4 .: my power and authority reacheth over all the king 'he world?' He is contrary to Christ ;he is Anti christ. ._ rist washed his disciples feet. What is lie, then, that giveth his feet to be kissed of kings and emperors? (Loud cheers.) He is contrary to Christ; be is Antichrist. Christ paid tribute to Caesar. What is he, then, that exempteth himself and his clergy from the temporal sword and authority? He is con trary to Christ; lie is Antichrist. Christ allowed marriage, and reproved fornication. What is be, then, that alloweth fornication, and ferbiddeth marriage? (Applause.) He is contrary to Christ ;he is Antichrist. Christ saith, Search the Scriptures.' And "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.' What is he then, which saith, Ye may not search the Scrip tures, for they will lead you into error ?' He is contrary to Chriq • he is Antichrist." (Cheers.) , and if t - , Now, t said, that there was a caricature of the world as it shall be in the assumptions of Antichrist. Seeing that the claims of Christ were greatly corroborated by miracles, Antichrist also lays claim to miracles : but they are lying wonders put f ,rth with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. (Hear, hear.) He lays claim also to universal dominion over the kingdoms of this world ; but it is usurped and unrighteous, a dominion given to him by Satan on terms which Christ rejected with holy indigna tion. When Pa . vin Rome was taken out of the way, and nominal Christians began to exercise temporal power, the devil saw his opportunity again, and ,offering the same bribe, he was not rejected :it was a bargain. (Hear, hear, and laughter). The grand delusion, the master conceit of Antichrist is, that his church is the church of the prophecies. Ignorance of the Jewish mystery lies at the bottom of this Romish conceit. (Cheers). The Roman Church in its infancy, received a solemn warning upon this point from the Apostle Paul, Rom. xi. 25-27: " For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved •, as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : for this is any covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Untaught by this, and seeing predicted in the word of God, a glorious, universal, holy church, under one head, a great priest upon his throne ; Antichrist has assumed it as his owe. His most distinguished advocates, in proof of the invisibility and immutability of his church, appeal with all confidence to such prophecies as these. (From Isaiah ii. v. 2.) : " - And the spirit of the Corcifdiali nest npon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding', the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." On this ground he assumes the divine right to clear the world of all his enemies. This shall be done by the Churcb of the Prophecies. Before the head of that church all opposition shall fall. "He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. They that dwell 1 the wilderness shall bow before him: all nations shall serve him. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve him shall pe rish •, yea those nations shall be utterly wasted. The faithful shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it; but the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgres sors shall be rooted out of it." (Hear, hear.) Compare this with the decrees of Antichrist, as follow : " Secular princes shall, if necessary, be COMPELLED, if they desire to be accounted faithful, that for the defence of the faith they shall publicly make oath, that they will endeavour, bona fide, with all their might, to extirpate from their king doms all heretics marked by the church, so that when any one shall be about to assume any authority, whether spiritual or temporal, he shall be held bound to confirm his title by this oath. And if any temporal prince being required•and admonished by the church, shall neglect to purge the kingdom i from the heretical filthiness, he shall be bound n the chain of excommunication by the Metropolitan and other provincial Bishops, and if he Filiall not make satisfaction within a year, it shall be signified to the Chief Pontiff, and then he may pro claim his subjects absolved from their allegiance, and bestow his kingdom upon good Ce.tholics, who (the heretics being ex terminated) shall, without any contradiction, possess the.land, and preserve it in the purity of the faith." What answer can be given to this? I wish those who are wil lingly ignorant of the Jewish mystery, and who therefore deny Jewish restoration, would consider this and see how they can answer the pretensions of Antichrist. With us theanswer is sim ple. Antichrist has stolen from the prophets, and applied to Gentiles and to Rome in this dispensation, what the propeets themselves distinctly tell us, belongs to Judah and Jerusalem in the time yet to come. Dr. Thomas Goodwin informs us, in his exposition of the Epistle to the Ephesians, that he was dis puting once with a Romanist, who urged this upon him, he said—" If the Church of Rome be not the true church, and the church to which all churches shall submit, which bath had all riches and glory, and honour, and power in the earth for hun dreds of years; how is it, how bath this ever been fulfilled to' you Protestants, that all nations have flowed to you? That you are a mountain set above all mountains? That abundance of prosperity bath been in you? Whereas, saith be, you have ever been in persecution ! What, I repeat, is the answer to this ? Dr. Goodwin says, " the truth is, there is no answer but one for it, and that is, that the time is yet to come." Yes, the good time is yet to come, of which Jehovah speaketh, when he In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that lialteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that ballet') a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation; and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth even for ever. And thou 0 tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion ; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." Under his beneficent sway we recognise the world as it shall be. But observe how the assumption that now is the time for it, supplies an apology for the usurpation and persecutions of Antichrist. It does in truth supply a defence, and by no means a contemptible defence, for the sincerity of those persecutions, at the outset, while yet it was possible for the Roman church to deceive herself with the notion that she was the Church of the Prophecies. (Hear, hear.) But no such apology can be pleaded for her now. (Hear, hear.) Because the Church of the Prophecies makes quick work of her enemies. Opposition to her is out of the question. Her victory is instantaneous and final ; and is immediately followed by universal and permanent peace. Swords are beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning-hooks, and war is learned no more. What has the Roman church to say to this? After centuries of conflict, her victory is not complete. Nay, she has retrograded in her power.(Cheers.) Her dominion over the world is not what it was. She dare not now speak as she did in the days of Gregory VII. or Paul 111. Why does not Pi us IX . treat Victoriaas Pius V. did Elizabeth? (Hear, hear.) A re hi s principles changed? No, in no wise. What then ? Hi s p o li cy. (Cries of " Yes. " ) Why so 't Because his power is le ss . (G reat cheers.) As a ministry of the Church of the Prophe c i es, t h e Church of Rome has proved a miserable failure. She h as m i staken her mission. She has not accom plished her errand. (Hear, hear.) She has not got rid of the heretics. (Loud applause.) She has not given the land to the faithful. (Hear, hear.) Had Rome been indeed the Church of the Prophecies, the Reformation could never have taken place. And had the Reformation brought in ,the Church of the Prophecies, Rome could never have survived. The Church of the Prophecies will do truly and thoroughly, what certain boasters of Rome have pretended to do. She will put an end to controversy. Has Rome done this? Nay, she has inflamed, and is still inflaming contro. versy all the world over by leer false assumptions. (Applause.) Thus, my Christian Frieods, whether we look into Paradise or Prophecy;—whether we learn. from the Godlike realities of I Christ, or from the Satanic pretensions of Antichrist;—every d it s w h e i,i r , e 4. ,e v we are blessed ee s dauvphepontll must be at length res t ore d . ‘ i ove e ras d erodd w f h. t llo h lertkgh b osi r ,on i dh g g h ist mi t tme neeildsthat's ru coroef allmt w h i ne e gr e. w o o ( Cn r ee e a r s s .) , :., a a n s d a greatly purposed, who wo u ld e l se , " In his dishyrinciple of the good time th a t's " Dishonor, and s P o er a . e wronged without red ress. "—(Ch eers. ) But, fifthly and finally, the P coming is given to us in the Ten Commandments. No more instructions are needed, in order to theintrodu...tion of the good time. As far as man is concerned, alt that is required is the will to obey. The Ten CommandmeOs obeyed, would give us in the essential principle of it, the world as it shall be. (Cheers.) Here our subject becomes eminently practical. Because the difference between the world as it is, and the world as it shall be, is not that the one is material and visible, and the other immaterial and invisible. If that were the case, none of us could at any time make the smallest approximation towards the expected good. We have no means of making the attempt, or even of fancying how the attempt could be made, to change the material into the immaterial, or the visible into the in visible. But the difference is this. In the world as it now is, dwelleth unrighteousness ; and in the world as it shall be dwelleth righteousness. At the change from the one of these to the other, we can all aim, and aim too with approximating success. Obedience to the ten commandments would do it. (Hear, hear.) It would banish all idolatry of any kind, all false gods, all graven images and pictures, as aids to wor ship. (Hear, hear, and applause.) It would put an end to all blasphemy of every kind, and to all Sabbath-breaking, and to all dishonour to parents and superiors, and to alt murder, and adultery, and theft, and false witness—nay more, it would banish from the heart all desire of evil ; it would introduce universal love. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Gad is love. He that dwelleth in love, that is, in law; dwelleth in God, that is, in happiness. The fulness of this blessedness is not, indeed, within our reach at present; but a foretaste of it is. And the foretaste enjoyed, cultivates a capacity for the enjoy ment of the fulness. The fulness waits for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. (Hear, hear.) On this point, I must once more quote from Dr. Chalmers. He says : " We have not to strain at a thing so impracticable as that of diluting the material economy which is without us—we have only to reform the moral economy that is within us." " It is this which signalizes the Christian from the Mahometan Paradise; not that sense and substance, and splendid imagery, and the glories of a visible creation seen with bodily eyes are excluded from it; but that all which is vile in principle, or voluptuous in impurity will be utterly excluded from it. There will be a firm earth, as we have at present, and heaven stretched over it, as we have at present; and it is not by the absence of these, but by the absence of sin, that the abodes of immortality will be characterised. There will be both heavens and earth, it would appear, in the next great administration ; and with this specialty to mark it from the present one, that it will he a hea vens and an earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.' " But, Sir, I feel that I must conclude. Fallen as we a.-e, and surrounded by objects fallen like ourselves, it is difficult for us to form any vivid conception of a state of things, all righteous, all very good; a state where every object without is absolutely perfect, and eve' y capacity within fully cultivated ; where every touch is science, and every string is harmony. Be hold the enthusiast in the arts, luxuriating before some beautiful production of the statuary or the painter! It is no passing, cursory, unheeding view he takes. No!. he is in his element. His cultivate taste is imbibing rapture. Every line, every feature, every shadow has its appropriate charm for him. He dwells on each in detail ; then upon the general effect ; then upon the comprehensive design of the-ar tist, the moral, the history, the poetry of the noble work. Sym bol, allegory, imagination, all are in active exercise, and a pic ture of Corregio, or Caracci, from its first faint outline,throu-h its gathering plot, to its final catastrophe, is traced anti crii cised like a play of Shakespeare; a statute of Phidias is read through and through like an ode of Pinder. Faint r faint illustration this I Estimate, oh, estimate, if you can, the ex quisite enjoyment of that scene where every visible object is God's work—all bear the unstained impress of the wisdom and love of God I There every faculty of man shall be cultivated into the most refined capacity for admiration and delight and praise: every touch divine science, every string immortal harmony: every trace, every feature, every line per fect in the sunlight of unsullied beauty : each in itsel a study ; combined, a volume of infinite wisdom and power and love; and crowning all, the light and life and glory of all, the , purchaser, deliverer, possessiir, upholder of all, Jesus the chiefest of ten thousand and altogether lovely 1 Estimate,i if you can, the delight of " the world as it shall be 1" Estimate, if you can, the happiness of "the good time that's coming!" (The Rev. Doctor resumed his seat amid prolonged marks of approval. 1 nrougnout ms powerful discourse he was listened to with profound attention, and repeatedly cheered on finish ing some of his most effective sentences. The concluding por tion of his lecture completely electrifierl his auditory, and the applause that followed the delivery of the peroration exceedcd anything of the kind we have ever experienced to have been produced by the power of eloquence.) Mr. SAMUEL HOLME rose, and was received with loud applause. He said be should be indeed most unwilling. to weaken the thrilling, the eloquent, and the solemn lecture which had just been delivered, by any remarks of his own, were it not that he purposed to conclude the few observations he was about to offer by a motion. We lived in extraordinary times ; events seemed to foreshadow the approach of some great event in the world's history of greater importance than any which had yet tran spired • and he had been thinking that we ought t o b e thankful to God, who, in all periods of extraordinary emergency, raised up extraordinary men to meet such emergencies. Such a man was the Rev. Dr. M'Neile— (loud and prolonged cheering)—a man fitted to be the leader of the Protestant feeling of a nation. (Cheers.) Whether the circumstances which were approaching might be for weal or woe, was known only in the councils of the Eternal. They had social, relative, and public du- ties to discharge as laymen ; they should support their clergy, who so nobly stood forward in the great emergency, and aid and assist them in their efforts in preserving to us the blessed word of the Most High God, and all the bless ings and privileges which were secured by it.. (Cheers.) Let them not deceive themselves ; a mighty struggle was approaching in this country. The period was not far dis tant. The banner on the one side would be, the eternal Word of God—on the other, the word of fallen man ; but we, who possessed the blessing of the Bible, knew to which side, in the long run, victory would incline. When he looked round on that great assembly, he could not but be forcibly struck with the fact, that we enjoyed blessings of no ordinary kind. It would be impossible there should be such an assembly as that in Rome for the purpose of discussion and hearing the Word of God expounded ; lrist was predominant, free dis cussion in this country would soon become stifled, and the Word of God extinguished. (Hear, hear.) They had now an act of duty to perform. They must all rejoice that the young men of Liverpool had set them so noble an example, by affording them the benefit of those lectures. They, thus, had done their duty, and merited their cordial support, and he hoped a blessing would recur to themselves for what they had done; a nd while he called upon them (the meeting) to join him in a vote of thanks, he would still have them to remember that it was God who was the author of all ; and while he pro posed that the thanks of the meeting should be given to the Rev. Dr. M'Neile for his able lecture, he would ask them to raise their hearts in thankfulness to God, and bless Him that He had given them such a man. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) The Rev. SAMUEL MIN TON briefly seconded the reso lution. The Rev. Doctor WNEILE, on rising to respond, was again hailed by loud and prolonged cheering. He begged to say one word in acknowledging their vote of thanks. This society of young men commenced under circumstances not favourable, in the estimation of some, for its future progress. At the commencement he was not altogether satisfied with what had been done, or the smallsat is fmeeting, eunderdelivered eir - c m u o m d s e ta o n f e d e o s in w g h it; and b e e n d d id at n a very o tthink an address which his youn g friends thoug ht rather dam agin g to their ardour. That, however, was not the object of it. His object was to give to their ardour a right direction, and to guard them from what might have endangered it at the time. That advice was taken in the spirit in which it was given ; progress attended their efforts, and the society now numbered 300 young men as its members. Let him ask 300 more to enrol their names, and thus record their thanks for the lectures which had been delivered for them. In conclusion, he could only say, that if they had had pleasure in listening to his lecture, it was not greater than the pleasure he had had in delivering it. (Loud and pro longed cheering.) The Rev. DAVID JAMES moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and after highly eulogising him as a citizen, a merchant, and a Christian, said he deserved to be placed in the house of the legislature of his country—(loud and prolonged cheering)—and he trusted by the mode of their expressing their high estimation of him that night, they would give him an assurance that when the crisis should arrive, when the banner of " Horsfall and Protestantism" should be unfurled, they would be prepared to rally around him, and place him in a position where he could advocate the claims of Liverpool and Protestantism—(cheers) — and represent justly, fully, and impartially the loyalty of this great town, as well as the best interests of every class of society within the realm. (Loud cheers.) He pro posed that they should give Mr. Horsfall their cordial thanks for the service he had rendered in presiding _over that great meeting. (Loud cheers.) Mr. BRODRIBB seconded the motion, Whilst they looked for the good time coming, let them remember that duties were theirs--the events God's. He called upon all to look forward, for their enemies were at work, and let them from that time henceforward labour indefatigably to forward the good cause. They would shortly be called upon to stand forward, and express what their feeling on the great question at issue was. Their chairman had al ways been ready, and would be again, to stand by them ; then most heartily did he second the vote of thanks. (Cheers.) Mr. HORSVALL said. he could only say that he thanked them most sincerely for the kind adoption of the resolu tion which had been proposed. He must express his re gret that their worthy friend should have made anything like a political allusion. He regretted it on many grounds. It placed him in a rather painful position, and one in which it was not quite correct to place a gentleman at such a meeting as that. They had met for one specific object, and he regretted that any observations were made of a different bearing to give anything like a political aspect to the proceedings. He felt at all times anxious to promote any good object, such as the object of that night ; but in preference to receiving any vote of thanks to him self, he would rather join in that cordial response which they had just now made, and which had been so well earned by their reverend lecturer. He begged to thank them for the great honour which they had confered on him. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The Rev. Dr. APNEILE again addressed a few words to the meeting, reminding them that the announced object for which they had assembled was of a strictly Scriptural tendency ; and, recalling their minds to this, he would call upon them to join in singing " Praise God from whom all blessings flaw," after which a prayer would be offered ; and he trusted that, with their minds so imbued, they would leave the building and retire to their respective homes. The hymn having been sung, and the prayer offered, the proceedings terminated about half-past ten. SHOP DECORATIONS.—The most simple an d p l eas i ng decoration we have seen in L iverpool, is that in front of Messrs. Wintle and Shaw's show-rooras, in Parker-street. It consists of a row of pots of evergreens and flowers, which, though quite common in I ; , aris, is new in Liver pool. It has a most pleasing effect to the eye of the pedestrian on the opposite sid,„ and the visitor to the in terior. We have paid a nisi ', to this establishment, and can assure our fair rea d er , , that there are many thi ngs within to delight the eyee• —see adv. , March 25, 1851. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] HOUSE OF COMMONS.-YESTERDAY. The Speaker took the Chair at 4 o'clock.—Sir William Gallway took the oaths and his seat for the Borough of Thirsk, in room of the late Mr. Bell.—Mr. J. B. Smith presented several petitions, from places in Scotland, in favor of an extension of the Franchise for counties.—A great number of other petitions were presented, on various subjects.—ln reply to a question from Mr. CAY. LEY, Sir G. GREY said he had not yet received any report, except from the Inspector of the District, of the coal.. pit explosion, which took place a few days ago, neat Glasgow, but he could not at present give any opinion upon the construction of the act, with regard to inspec tion ; but in proposing that act it war certainly his inten tion that an efficient inspection should be secured, with a view to the prevention of accidents.—Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to Lord R. Grosvenor, stated that either on Tuesday or Wednesday he would name the day when he would move the adjournment of the House for the Easter holidays.—Mr. RFYNOLDS, again referring to the case of Miss Talbot, stated that he had been assured by an eminent lawyer that the young lady was not a postulant, and in confirmation of his own assertions to that effect, made upon the authority of Dr. Doyle, he read a passage from the speech of Mr. Page Wood on the proceedings in Chancery, on Saturday. Under these circumstances he begged to state, no member' could say Miss Talbot was a postulant. At the same time he acquitted Mr. Craven Berkeley of any improper or pecuniary motive in his share of the transaction.—Sir B. HALL explained that he had only stated Miss Talbot to be a postulant, on the authority of the Catholic Bishop' of Clifton, who was one of the parties concerned to whom' he naturally gave credit. —The adjourned debate, on the motion for the second reading of the Ecclesiastical Titles' Assumption Bill was then resumed by Mr. W. FAGAN, who at considerable length opposed the bill.— The lion. Mr. SMYTHE eulogized the recent act of the Papal See as the first attempt to unite the grandeurs of an hierarchy with the recognition of the voluntary princi ple.—Mr. M. MILNES, after the closest investigation, and after considering the subject, not abstractedly, but with reference to existing circumstances, felt it his duty to endeavour to check papal innovations by supporting the ministerial measure.—Mr. SADLEIR replied at considera ble length tothe observations of Mr. Milnes, and defended the conduct of the Pope, Cardinal Wiseman, and others concerned in the late papal arrangement from various censures which' had been passed upon it —Mr. HENRY BERKELEY believed that the Pope had been encouraged to make the recent encroachments by the prevalence of Puseyite practices- in this country, and urged the neces sity of reforming the Church of England, by defining more strictly its forms and ritual, and making any depar ture from them penal. He should cordially support the bill.—Sir J. YOUNG' was convinced that it was essential to the safety of the Established Church of England and Ireland, especially of the latter, to afford complete tole ration to all who dissented from them; and be could not support the present measure because it restricted that toleration.—Mr. GRAFTON declaimed vehemently against the extension of the bill to Ireland, and entered into a very long and diffuse speech relative to Protestant ascen dancy and English mismanagement in that country.—Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY said he rose as an indignant Pro testant to repudiate the language which had been used on a former night by the member for West Surrey. (Mr. Drummond), and was proceeding to impute to that gentle man a belief in ghosts and other superstitious sentiments, when he was interrupted by some laughter and loud cries. of "question." The honourable member then briefly concluded his remarks , by expressing his intention to vote for the second reading of the bill.—Lord CASTLE.. REAGH characterised the government measure as impo tent and ill. considered, and believed, if passed, it would be found impossible to carry it into effect.—Mr. A. B. HOPE, whose voice was frequently drowned by loud ' cries of " divide, adjourn, &c." described the policy which dictated the present bill as a wretched system of suspicion and restriction, disgraceful to the mag nanimity of the country and repugnant to the prin ciples of toleration. (Loud cries of " divide, adjourn," &c.)—Lord J. RUSSELL said he hoped it would be con sidered that the discussion had extended to a sufficient length, 26 members having opposed, and 22 supported, the bill. He trusted if there were any other gentleman who wished to address the house he would be heard then. (Cheers.)—Messrs. Moore, O'Connell, Oswald, Reynolds, and' many others, amidst much confusion and loud calls for a divi sioa, demanded an adjournment, which was formally moved' by Mr. HOBIIOUSE. There were—For the adjournment, 64 against it, 350.—Mr, M. O'CONNELL th en move d that the House do now adjourn. —Lord J. RUSSELL said it was evident from the division, that whatever might be the opinion of the speakers, the listeners were perfectly satisfied. If the adjournment was insisted on, he should move that the House resume at twelve o'clock on Tuesday —This was carried upon' a division by 306 to 43.—Considerable dissatisfaction was ex pressed at this arrangement, and it was ultimately determined that the House should resume at half-past four this (Tuesday)" afternoon.—The House adjourned at two o'clock. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. The eleventh ordinary meeting of the members of this society was held last evening, in the Small Room of the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street. Amongst the gentle men present were Joseph Brooks Yates, Esq. ; Dr. In man ; Dr. Dickinson; Dr. Thompson ; George Padley, Esq.. M.R.O S.E., &c., &c. ICIr. JACOB exhibited a number of casts from nature, of reptiles ; the process is entirely new, being effected by means of elastic moulds. The same gentleman exhibited the copy of a bust from the British Museum, taken by the electrotype process. The specimen was an exceed ingly beautiful one; and by a casual observer would be taken to be an original. JOSEPH BROOKS YATES, Esq., the president, thanked Mr. Jacob, on behalf of the members, for having exhi. bited the specimen. He then presented to the institution, on behalf of his brother, James Yates, Esq., a model of the enciphalartus caffer, at present flourishing in the conservatory at Chatsworth. In shape the model pre sented somewhat the appearance of those conical edifices of confectionary we see in the windows of pastry cooks' shops, only that its surface is entirely covered with scales, resembling slightly the scales of the fir, though of smaller size. The model presented was about half the natural size, upwards of two feet high, and of proportionable circumference. The learned president elaborately detailed the relation held by the particular species before the meeting to the various branches of the same genus. He stated that much of the sago which is imported into this country is obtained from nuts produced by the tree ; each of the scales before spoken of containing two nuts. It is peculiar to southern Africa, and supplies the Hottentots with one of their staples of food. Ten or eleven years ago, Baron Ludwig, an eminent botanist of the Cape, presented the Duke of Devonshire with two large leafless trunks of the enciphalartus caffer : they were planted out, thet is not in a hot-house, where together they soon improved in appearance, and are now in a highly flourishing condition, though their age is supposed to be a century. A vote of thanks was passed to the donor. D. DICTUNSON made some very interesting remarks relative to the family of the plant. He showed that in some respects the enciphalartus caffer resembled the tree from which the palm oil of commerce was obtained ; it. the and m t e was interesting as a link between the leafless and the leaf bearing trees; and also a link between the trees of in remainsandi our n t own, his c f n o u r n t i r t y ascl proof b of the been found read theat t he present former me et. Occasion he drew attention to the various drawings of th e f ee t of insects e pointed as ted shownout pe by c the m enmicroscope, of the fl difference p rese.ti N mxN between addressed d d r ess the e dclimate someobservations a tthat to e ri od n h t d e sibl o with w- y a a view nd he i H n n g g o n theinconclusion anatomyo °f f a insects. paper On meat-fly, and went on to sho w th at t h e action of walking' was not the result of at mosp h er i c pressure. He had for the purpose of experi men t conf i ned a small fly in a pill box, in which was placed the t e blue meat-fly, luuci e date the purpose and use of the " b oss i s ” in the foot. a piece of glass, perfectly clear and free from dirt, and he watched its ineffectual attempt to get upon the glass ; but another surprising cir. cumstance was, that in the track of the fly he found the pollen of plants. How the fly got this pollen on its feet at this time of the year he could not say, but undoubtedly it had been on plants somewhere.. Another similar experiment was attended with the same result—the inability of the insect to climb beyond a cer tain point up the sides of a goblet. On the other hand, a fly placed under an exhausted glass walked as well as though the air pump had never been used. The Doctor proceeded to explain the operation- of walking by the anatomical conformity of the foot, as opposed to the theory of the atmospheric pressure. _ Dr. THOMPSON, the secretary of the society, observed that it had so happened that one of his little children called his attention to a fly, and ho knowing that Dr. Inman required some specimens, attempted and succeeded in capturing it, and he too confined the fly in a pill box ; and from what he observed, when he took it from its confinement, induced him to suggest that what Dr. Inman supposed to be pollen was nothing more than magnesia—(hear)—which was generally found in such receptacles as pillboxes.—Dr. Inman good humouredly replied that what he saw was certainly pollen. Dr. Thompson exhibited a model of the celebrated Indian chrystal Kohr Noir. In shape and size it is not unlike an egg, supposing, one-third part to be eut off. Dr. DICKINSON exhibited a copy of the celebrated work by Dr. Black on fishes. The president observed that although this work was upwards of sixty-five years old, it was remarkable that the colours of the illustrations were still retained. The President announced that Mr. Brougham, nephew of Lord Brougham, had applied to be received as a member of the society. He should lay the letter on the table, and it would be disposed of in the usual way. Mr. GEORGE PADLEY read a paper " On the Advan tage of Early Scientific Education." The author, in speaking of classical education, observed, generally,. it either almost exclusively formed the education of professional men, or was on the contrary almost solely neglected ; he did not wish to undervalue its advan tage, but he would not extend undue importance to it. Speaking of the sciences, he said it must not be supposed that mathematical science was essential to progress in na tural science ; on the contrary, some branches of the latter were perfectly simple, and did not require the aid of any other science whatever. We are unable, from limited space, to give more of the subject. A paper was to have been read by Mr. Spencer, on the " Origin of the Heroic Ballad," but we regret to say that Mr. Spencer was una• ble to attend, from indisposition. THEATRE ROYAL.—Mrs, Warner and Mr. Barry Sul livan, with an excellent company, have played a succes sion of leading dramas at this theatre during the pas! week. The present is announced 43 the closing one of Mrs. Warner's engagement, le earth by instrument instrum, now. (Hear, u.) The saints he is gathering call real Christians), are , His royal priesthood ; -..e ; ruling under Him over five or one city, as the case may be. To He is now exerting the mrit. I influence, which constitutes true religion in the 'on. And when that is finished, and inst. - is all ready, and the bride, the lamb's is prepared, and the elect are called, then he hastens kingdom, for all His lieutenants are ready to take over the earth, under Him as king of Jerusalem, 11 reign under Him in all the ends of the earth. eriaht with Ilin- H theirpostall and they sln us that the heavens at the sure word of prophecy informs the heavenly elements which sur ill with fervent heat, and the forks that are therein, shall be burnt But equally true it is, that in immediate connexion with this the same Divine Word adds; " Nevertheless" — that is, notwithstanding this staggering truth,—" we, according to his promise,"—we who have faith to rely on His promise in the face of any difficulty —we " look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth -less." As some help to our faith in this anticipation, the inspired writer invites attention to the nature of the preparatory distinction. This he does by connecting it with a distinction which has already t 1 taken place, and of righteousr ich he speaks in equally decisi "bei "The world that was iefore the deluge, '—apolelo. perished" av o stronge word is used to describe the ruin of the world that now is. The world that then was perished ; but there was no an nihilation. No ; for annihilation would be a speechless judgment; annihilation would be a practical confession that there had been a mistake in creation. But there was no mistake. The end was seen in the beginning. Nothing was made in vain; nothing can ever be annihi lated (Hear, hear, and cheers.) There was no annihi lation then, but there was a renovation after destruction by water ; and there will be no annihilation now, but renovation, after destruction by fire. There was no an nihilation in the one case, neither shall there be in the other. This material world remained, though somewhat altered, after it perished by water ; and this same material world will remain, though still more altered, after it has perished by fire. And yet on the strength of this scripture, and apparently on this alone, is based that common imagination among Christians, so admirably de scribed, and rejected as unscriptural, by Dr. Chalmers. I will read his words : "The common imagination of Paradise on the other side of death, is that of a lofty aerial region, where the inmates float in ether, and are mysteriously suspended upon nothing: where all the warm and sensible accompaniments which give such an expression of strength, and life, and colouring to our present habitation, are attenuated into a sort of spiritual element, that is meagre and imperceptible, and utterly u ninviting to the eye of mortals here below where every vestiee of materialism is left but certain unearthly scenes that ment, and certain unearthly ecstasies _ possible to sympathise." My chief object is t withdraw your attention from such TY' 3tified, unearthly anticipation, which lractical, in it. It is not the world as it shall le, aeria►, mvs lathing be :it is not the good time that's coming. You may de pend upon it, we shall have the world firm—( Hear, hear, and cheers)—firm to stand upon, and not aerial as the sphitualisers talk. (Hear, hear.) Ton may depend upon it we shall have bodies we can touch, as they touched his - -----, body who had said, " Handle me, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones." (Hear, hear, hear.) Purified by fire, " the world as it shall be," will be the abode of righteousness : the " ransomed possession" and restored dominion of the second Adam. He shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. He shall rescue the poor and the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. We read as follows in Isaiah, chap. xi, and at the sth verse : " Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith fulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together • and a little child shall lead them._ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain ; for the earth shall be full of the 'know ledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." And again, in Revelations, 5 v., c. 21, we find,— " And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all :pings new. And He said uuto me, Write : for these words Ire true and faithful." And in the 22 chqpter, at the 3 verse,— " And there shrill be no more curse : but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; and His servants shall serve Him : and they shall see His face •, and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there ' • and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever. And He said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true; and the God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." Such is the divine description of the world as it shall be • such shall be the good time that's coming. This is 4 blessed prospect, my dear friends, of " the good time that's coming;" is it not ? (Hear, hear.) I will tell you the reason it is not so exciting as the false promises of good things here. The reason is, these promises are made to the faith of God's elect ; and God's elect are not found in multitudes which fill Amphitheatres. Receive that word solemnly, and examine yourselves. You might all be found among those elect, and yet would be a very small remnant out of this place. But take heed of your selves, my friends, for there is much self-deception in these days. lam now on a serious and solemn subject, — one to enter fully into, it requires indeed faith in God's word, without corroboration from man's testimony, or even from personal experience. Concerning what are com monly called doctrines, you can have corroboration from external evidence, and you can have corroboration from personal experience : and therefore you may feel a certain amount of confidence in them without much of the sim plicity of the faith that rests upon God alone. But, when you amoroach prophecy, history fails and experience fails you. You have nothing for it but the word of God, and this is one reason why so few have confidence in infallible pro phecy. It requires that sort of faith that can take God's word without a voucher. Remember I told you that. Now, in the third place, a specimen of the world as it will be is g i ven us i n the ministry of Christ. See with what a sovereign touch the Saviour mastered the evil one in every department of his usurpation ; thus giv ing an earnest even in the days of his disguise, of what he will do effectually and universally in the day of his unveiled royalty. Adverse elements encountered him on the sea ; and on shore the most aggravated trophies of Satan's victory over man, were presented before him — the destitute and the diseased, the demoniac and the dead. And what followed ? What splendid specimens of his coming sovereignty ! The lame man leaped as a hart, the tongue of the dumb did sing. The dead were raised to life, and the devils were cast out. The pelting storm was words ; and the That is and where ? bereaveritent calamitie