hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John, xvii. 24). 8. Because the supposition of Christ dwelling on this sinful and corruptible earth, is altogether incompatible with the nature of his divine and glorified person, in which it is invariably stated he will next make his appearance (Matt. xxv. 31; Acts, i. 11; Rev. i. 7, &c.). 'Tis true we are told that the saints shall be purified and made white and tried (Dan. xii. 10); but I have yet to learn where it is predicted or foretold that the earth which we inhabit shall at some future period be renovated or made better than it now is or ever was since the fall. God first cursed the ground for man's sake (Gen. iii. 17), and it would be difficult to prove that God can ever bless what he hath cursed without admitting the possibility of his being a changeable and mutable Being. But the language of Scripture is plain and positive-" But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (not the milennium), but the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 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 Pet. iii. 7, 10). Now if they are burned up they must be destroyed, and as a necessity of consequence cease to exist. With respect to the " new heavens and the new earth" which Peter says the people of God look for (2 Pet. iii. 13), they are in my opinion expressions and phrases which refer wholly and solely to ultimate and eternal glory; hence saith Paul, “For our light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen which are temporal, but at the things which are not seen which are eternal" (2 Cor. iv. 17, 18). And it is said of Abraham that he "looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. xi. 10); and Paul designates the said city a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. v. 1). Therefore in vain shall we look for any other new heavens and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness-viz., the Lord our Righteousness! 9. My last reason is, because it is not said by John that Christ reigned with them, but that they reigned with him. And they lived and reigned with Christ 1000 years. The saints now live in and with Christ, but they do not reign with him. Then they shall both live and reign with him, for they "shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him spiritually 1000 years.' Now these are some of my reasons why I cannot entertain the idea that Christ will reign personally with his people on earth; but at the same time let it be borne in mind, that with all Milennarians, I believe that the saints during the 1000 years will enjoy a more holy, happy, peaceful, and flourishing condition than the church of God did ever so long enjoy in former times, but I do not think that this glorious condition of the church will be perfect and absolute, for Christ has positively assured his people that "in the world ye shall have tribulation" (John, xvi. 33). And Paul in confirmation of the same unerring declaration affirms, that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. iii. 12). Hull. NUMERIST. ADMITTANCE QUESTION AT THE GATE OF HEAVEN. Are you of the seed royal?-JEREMIAH, XLI. 1. BELOVED, you are aware there is great importance attached, and homage paid, to the princes and the kings of the earth, those who are, by reason of their honourable alliance, of the blood royal. But how much more to be desired, is affinity with the sovereign Lord of all, whose nature is holy and whose blood is divine. For what is honour among men, without holiness in the sight of God? What is royalty, without religion? What are court favours, without Christian graces? or princely possessions with poverty of soul? What avails relationship to any potentate but King Jesus? What is dignity of title, separate from the divine person of Christ? or the honours of earth to the glories of heaven? My soul shall make her boast of the Lord, and triumph in his love; depending wholly, and resting fully, upon his complete salvation; that I may, with the righteous, shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of my Father. On entering the vestibule of this holy habitation, death's door shutting the soul in eternity, ere the pearly gates of bliss are thrown back for admittance, the angel of the Lord will inquire,' "Are you of the seed royal?" Then will an abundant welcome and triumphant entrance be administered to those who bear the image and likeness of Christ; but the portals of heaven will be closed against the seed of the serpent, not being numbered among the children of the promise, who are counted of the seed of Christ. Canst thou, then, my professing brother in the bonds, claim relationship to the King of kings and Lord of lords; and, as Paul did, rejoice that, by lineal descendancy from him who was of the seed of David, of the seed of Abraham, thou canst trace the genealogy of thy right and title to part and lot with the real people of God? "Are you of the seed royal" by participation in the royal favours of him who sits upon the throne, and who is exalted to give grace and glory hereafter; so that you are led experimentally to know in what real dignity consists, and to separate the dross of earthly greatness from the pure gold of heavenly goodness? The dignity of Christian' royalty is founded upon the divine perfections of Christ, who raised himself far above all principality and power to honour and immortality, that we, in union with his person, might participate in his purity, partake of his nature, and possess his life divine. Thus "Are you of the seed royal" by virtue of a vital, indissoluble union to Christ; nurtured in the cradle of his covenant love; brought up under the distinguished patronage and protection of Zion's King; growing up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ; and being trained for his holy habitation above? Then let the royal apparel be brought, and, like Mordecai, have the crown royal set upon your head. "Are you of the seed royal," having a royal birthright to a royal born, with the impress of heaven stamped upon your brow; being born, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God? Canst thou believe in his preordained plan of salvation, and say thou art chosen before all worlds; sanctified by the Father, preserved in his Son, and called by the Spirit; set apart by the Lord; ordered to holiness, and ordained to everlasting life; redeemed from among men, ransomed from all sin, and rescued from endless woe; reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and saved by his life? Dost thou run the registry of thy title-deeds to the inheritance of the saints in light? "Are you of the seed royal," with the royal blood of King Jesus running through thy veins, rendering thee strong in the strength of the Lord; and with might by his Spirit in the inner man, hast thou power to subdue the great enemy of souls upon earth, even as he, our accuser before God by day and night, was cast down from heaven, being overcome by the blood of the Lamb? Are you of the royal priesthood of Christ's kingdom; endued with the mysteries of his will; a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones; so that a oneness exists between thee and him; a union of hearts; the essence of love; kindred spirits of the same inheritance; hoping in one Lord; having one faith, one baptism unto one Spirit with the Lord; whose very life is hid with Christ in God? Can you say, He dwelleth in me and I in him, from a saving sense of his abiding presence and blessing; the Spirit also bearing witness to the testimony of Christ, that we have been with him and in him from the beginning? (John, xv. 27). "Are you of the seed royal," of the household of faith, and, by sacred adoption into the royal family of God, chosen an heir to eternal glory, and called thereunto, that ye should inherit a blessing even upon earth; being crucified unto the world, and the world to you; bearing in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ, and suffering with him, that ye may also be glorified together? Then let this mind be in you which was also in him; maintaining your lot in honour; living in uprightness of heart and holiness of life; being called by the God of all grace to his eternal glory, that you may know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, that you may rise again in him and live for ever. "Are you of the seed royal," separate from sinners, hating even the garments spotted by the flesh; abstaining from the very appearance of evil; maintaining a single eye to the service of God, and an undivided desire for the promotion of his glory; living not to the world, nor fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in nature's ignorance, but purifying your soul in obedience to the truth, through the sanctification of the Spirit unto unfeigned love, having a good conscience towards God, upright before him, and honest in the sight of all Whilst some follow the fashions of the world, some its maxims, the Christian should engage in the pursuit of neither, but follow hard after Christ; from him he derives his name and also his nature. Seeing, then, the abomination done in the land, my brother, come out men ? from its pollution; beware of carnal confederacy; stand not in the way of sinners; sit not in the seat of the scornful; walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor talk with the enemies of the cross; for it is the evil communications of the mouth that corrupt the good manners of the heart. From such turn aside, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose god is not the Lord. Let your light so shine before men, that it may clearly be seen whose you are, and whom you ought and mean to serve; thereby testifying the possession of grace and power of the Gospel ruling your life and regulating your conduct. Also maintain an entire distinction from false teachers and ungodly professors, who are physicians of no value to the soul. Set your affections on things above, that it may be known to whom you belong; for all temporal blessings shall be added without seeking, if the kingdom of heaven be sought first. Let Christ, then, dwell in your hearts by faith and love; raising your thoughts above the world; lifting your soul on high; imparting the assurance of joys beyond the grave: for, as members of the mystical body of Christ, though in the world, we are separate from it; even as He, our glorious Head, was never of it. "Are you of the seed royal," a servant of the most high God; a soldier in the army of Christ, and fighting under the banner of the cross ? Then to you is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; and the word of his testimony shall make you more than conqueror through his dying love; keep you steadfast in the truth, and unwavering unto the end. Resist the devil, then, in the strength of the Lord, and he will flee from you ; for his principality is spoilt, his glory tarnished, and his power weakened. Now the arrows of the enemy, though swift to shed innocent blood, are not so sure as sharp; for the grace of Christ can resist the fiery darts of the wicked one, and faith repel his well-aimed blows. A soldier of the cross having on the breastplate of righteousness, with the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, can frown at the malice of the world; withstand the temptations of the wicked one; conquer the strength of the devil; and overcome the powers of hell. "Are you of the seed royal," with the saving strength of God's anointed causing thee to triumph in a precious Christ, whose right arm hath gotten thee the victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave? Also with the royal robes of Christ's righteousness covering thee as with a garment, whereby thou art rendered comely in the sight of him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; and by the sanctification of the Spirit art thou raised to newness of life, so that old things have passed away, all things become new; fresh and fragrant flowers deck thy brow; the glory of man is become as the flower of grass; the world lost all its spell of enchantment; bosom lusts abandoned; idol gods no longer worshipped; the trifles of time little esteemed; the pleasures of sense still less so; and Jesus, sweet Jesus, become the altogether lovely and only charmer of the soul? Oh! ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen, is there not an unspeakable blessedness in being encompassed about with songs of deliverance, such as sets the soul on a secret longing for Jesus and his glorious salvation? Are we not led by such experience to exclaim, Who, who can fathom or unfold the mysteries of redemption, or explain what are the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in the saints? My beloved brother or sister in the bonds of spiritual as well as natural love, are not the trees of the Lord full of sap, and hast thou not the continual going forth of desires to grow up a holy temple unto the Lord, fit residence for Deity itself to dwell in? Dost thou not aspire to angelic conformity to the image of Christ; to be clothed with his likeness above; looking for the coming of our Lord, and longing to behold him in bliss, where he shines in his own uncreated light, with an unclouded lustre, so that thy immortal spirit is illumed with a ray of his glorious light, and the soul lit up with the unextinguishable fire of God's everlasting love? Such, then, is the royalty appertaining to the seeking seed of Jacob, described by Peter as being "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people." They are chosen in the Lord out of all tribes, of every nation, kindred, people, and tongues; rendered royal, by rightful inheritance to the kingly dignity of a crown in glory; holy, inasmuch as they are united to Christ, for in him is no sin; and being ordained to holiness of life, that they should walk therein, are a people zealous of what God esteems good works. They speak as with the oracles of God, and being led and taught by the Spirit, they walk in the fear of the Lord, by faith and not by sight, holding communion and fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Thus is every saint of the most high God, of every tribe of the hundred and forty-four thousand whose names are written in heaven, sealed with the Spirit of holiness until the day of the coming of the Lord; when, covered with the garments of his complete salvation, and clothed with the white robes of his righteousness, having palms (the emblems of peace) in their hands, they enter heaven richly laden with the fruits of God's everlasting love; which, from the Garden of Gethsemane, was matured at the harvest of the crucifixion, when all was finished, and the good seed royal of the kingdom ripened for the Master's use. Then sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it; shout aloud ye people of his in all parts of the earth; lift up your voice, be not afraid. Break forth into singing, ye ransomed seed royal of the household of faith; fear ye not, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in the salvation of Israel. These are the generations of them that seek thee, that seek thy face, O Lord. "And oh! may I in seeking find That I'm of royal blood; Leave earth with all its joys behind, Chelmsford. JOSIAH. |