The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-10 00:00:00

LECTURE AT THE UNION HALL.

to realise what was at a distance. If any one of those
present were to be called into Buckingham Palace to
be made a duke they should understand that very
well. Well, to him, the invitation to the kingdom of
God was not less real. The gospel said it was in-
tended to make kings and princes so that they might
remain for a thousand years. They were all heirs with
ClirM of his kingdom and glory. He (the lecturer)
believed that the earth would stand fast, and that
she would one day be covered with the knowledge of
the glory of the Lord, as she was covered with the
sea. Popular religion was a mixture of paganism
and christianity, for if they were to go back into the
history of Greece 500 years before Christ they would
Suet people believing that man would not remain on
the earth; that he would be taken away to brighter
spheres, and that he would revel in the society of the
Gods. Pythagoras and Socrates—both excellent men
—together with the latter's disciple, Plato, all be-
lieved it. The Cliristian belief in the resurrection of
the body owed its origin to that. But with regard to
the stability of the earth he would ask them whether
they would accept a doctrine which was a remnant of
paganism, or whether they would believe in the pre-
dictions of the prophet. He was glad to see that
there were ministers brave enough to standup and say
that the doctrine of men losing themselves in heaven,
kr., was nothing but paganism after all, but that they
would lire really upon this earth. Some would say
that it did not matter where they went. The apostle
said "Be ye not scornful. God had spoken, and to
say we did not care what he meant was to throw an
insult slap in his face; as he had spoken purely for
their benefit, and that of all mankind, and on certain
conditions they should inhabit it for ever. " The
righteous shall shine as;the sun in the kingdom of
their fathers." What kingdom was that, but Israel
restored. And, therefore, when the Light appears
they should be rapt in exstacy from the rising to the
, setting of the sun, as the prophet Malachi beautifully
expressed it. That time was coruing bye and bye.
The saints who took the kings places would remain
in their places for ever; for the prophets said when
the blessed took possession they should possess it for
ever. Did they not think the Prince of Wales would
be glad if he were told that his future kingdom would
last for ever. That was just what the kingdom of
Christ was to be. His kingdom consisted of no
gaseous materials It was not like as if it was thin
air. There would not be so many different languages
as there were now. When one nation was in power
now-a-days, other nations were influenced by it.
When Napoleon was in power it became quite popular
to learn French. He did not mean that there would
be but one language spoken, but there would be much
fewer than there were now. There would he five
cities speaking the language of Canaan. Hebrew
would no doubt be very popular indeed. Ten men
would be ready to go after one Jew, because the Lord
would be with him. Several women would be ready
to many one Jew, and keep him from working. That
langaage was figurative of the glory that was in wait-
ing for the Jews. Seine might say that day was a
long way off, but it looked like as if it were coining
directly. 'lke orientate had been holding a ronfer-
ence, and our learned have beeu urging upon tl e
people the importance of acquiring an insight into
Oriental literature and language. The Jews, then-
selves were transporting large numbers of people to
their own land to engage in agricultural pursuits.
What did this mean, but that they were very near the
time of the fulfilment of prophecy. The rule of the
King would then dawn upon us. It was one thing to
talk about the restoration of the Jews, but it was
difficult thiug to realise it. Then would lie realised
the grand promises of the bible. Where before was
want aunt, misery should he brought in comfort and
plenty. He should advise them to look at those
things while it was called to-day, because when once
the kingdom was set up there would be no more invi-
tations to the kingdom. Did they believe Jeitts
Christ? Jesus Christ was the same man who pre-
sented himself to the apostles. He was just the same
now that he was sitting at the right hand of Power.
He knew his power. It was the immortality of a man
nut of a ghost. He proposed to make them a sharer
in !his kingdom. Men had lived 400 or 500 years,
a4l when the causes of disease were thoroughly re-
moved men's livee would be considerably lengthened
ouj. They were invited to rule in that kingdom, not
to be one of the subjects. The saints were to be
made princes in their father's kingdom. If they
w.re to be made princes in their father's kingdom they
must not lose time. They must walk in the way of
righteousness. Those in high places would be asked
to step down. When they took up the bible they
should look at it in the same way that they would look
at a science with which they desired to become ac-
quainted. The great fact that a kingdom was to lee
established upon the earth, and that Jesus Christ was
to reign over that kiugdoni, would soon become ap-
parent to the unprejudiced searcher after truth. Ile
concluded a very interesting lecture, by urging those
pi., sent to divest themselves of any preconceived no-
tions or prejudices, and search the bible diligently,
and then the truth would be revealed to them.

A numerous and respectable audience listened at-
tentively to the lecture.
A second lecture was deliTered on Wednesday
evening last, the subject being, " Life in Christ; or
the the Doctrine of the Soul's Immortality, unscrip-
tuna. The conditions on which man may live for
ever." There was a good attendance.