which the Millennary theory mainly depends. Now, if one part of the celebrated bulwark of Millennarianism, founded on this remarkable prophecy in the Book of Revelation, could admit of so serious a fracture, surely it behoves the advocates of that system to inquire whether there is not reason to apprehend, that the remainder of it is also composed of very fragile materials.

But, proceeded our Inquirer, not only does the Millennary hypothesis involve incredible future infractions of the composition and order of the earth's population, but also of that moral constitution under which the inhabitants of this

world are placed. It is impossible to conceive that the inhabitants of the invisible world, who, according to that hypothesis, will dwell on the earth during the Millennial and post-millennial eras, should, for hundreds of years, have intelligent intercourse with those of the earth, and not make disclosures, as to heaven and hell, quite incompatible with the present moral constitution of the world; and it appeared to him, that in the parable of Lazarus, our Lord had indicated the principle on which we are, at least by implication, forbidden to cherish either the desire or expectation of any such communications. Our Inquirer further observed, that it would require a volume to record

all the instances in which such a state of things. would tend to derange the moral order of the world; adding, that the passages of Scripture which, according to the Millennary theory, would require alteration, in order to adapt them to the alleged changes in the state of the earth's population, during the two above-mentioned eras, on the supposition of such disclosures as to the respective invisible states, could not but be also exceedingly numerous.

His MILLENNARIAN FRIEND here said, that the Millennial and post-millennial eras would constitute miraculous periods in this world's history, and it might, therefore, be reasonably expected, that many things would happen during the same, contrary to our present experience; such as our limited understanding might neither be able to grasp, nor to reconcile with its ordinary conceptions. When we have found the truth (added he), we should hold it fast, and declare it, maugre all consequences. On which our INQUIRER, in reply, said, that the Millennial and post-millennial eras might not, in themselves, necessarily involve any miraculous character affecting the present argument, unless the Millennary hypothesis should happen to be itself verified; and that, therefore, it was evident his Millennarian Friend might, as to

this particular point, be chargeable with begging the question. As to the obligation of holding fast and declaring the truth when found, there could not possibly be any difference in their views; but, when such incongruous and incredible consequences inevitably flow from particular interpretations of Scripture, he would appeal to his friend himself, whether there is not the strongest possible reason to conclude that the truth is not found. The human mind instinctively recoils when contemplating the consequences of the Millennary hypothesis. In the whole extent of external nature, it discovers nothing analogous to them. When the Apostle Paul meets the vain objector to the doctrine of the resurrection of the body from the dead, he immediately, in order to silence him, appeals to a beautiful and striking analogy, the recognition of which would, at least, be as general as the sowing of seed-corn; and it is obvious, that the force of the Apostle's argument essentially depends upon the certainty there is, that the phenomena attending the resurrection of the dead, will present nothing inconsistent with the analogies of the physical world. And our Inquirer thought the Apostle might be reasonably regarded in making this, as warranting us to make a similar appeal, whenever any doctrine is propounded to

our belief that affects the physical constitution of the material world; and to ask, in such case, whether it be analogous to the established principles and order of that constitution, or repugnant thereto? Our Inquirer added, it is obvious that no preternatural changes that will happen at the time of the consummation of all things, or end of the world, can at all affect the validity of the present argument.

His MILLENARIAN FRIEND, in reference to the remark of our Inquirer, that the alleged change in the moral constitution of the world, which, according to his interpretations of Scripture, will take place, respectively, at the beginning of the Millennial, and post-millennial eras, would render it necessary, that many passages of the Scripture should be altered, to adapt them to the then altered condition of things, said, that it did not appear to him that this remark had any force, inasmuch as all those passages of the Bible, which imply that the great majority of the inhabitants of the world are wicked, would, on that principle, at length require alteration; for it is evident, that when the prospects held out, even by the antimillennarians themselves, as to the future influence of the Gospel on mankind, shall be realized, all such passages of Scripture will cease correctly

Our

to describe the character of the majority. INQUIRER said, he could not admit that there was any weight in what his friend had advanced, since the case he had referred to, affected no principle, either in the physical or moral constitution of things, but was merely a question of numbers. Indeed, it was obvious, that numerous commands belonging to the abrogated Mosaic dispensation had long ceased to possess both their ancient obligation and use, and yet no principle of the Divine government had been, in the slightest degree, affected by the change.

Before the close of this Conference, his MILLENNARIAN FRIEND said, he had overlooked one idea which some of his best-informed brethren had suggested, and which he himself thought tended to remove many of the difficulties of the Millennary hypothesis pointed out by our Inquirer, viz. that our Lord might not reign with his glorified saints on the surface of the globe, but in some region of the air, and only be occasionally visible to its human inhabitants. Our INQUIRER observed, in reply, that if this suggestion were eventually realized, it would not, according to the Millennary hypothesis, be easy to discover in what the Millennial holiness, glory, and felicity of the world would consist; since its population, at the beginning of the