Sept. 1, 1865. confessed, rash and railing and angry words; but we look almost in vain on either for even an approximation to the right method of inquiry." necessarily implies the natural immor- M. M. THE ELECT AND THE GREAT What "the right method" may be is of course a matter of opinion. Professor Plumptre advocates the critical history of the doctrine, and doubtless this, if carried out with adequate learning and in a candid spirit, would be a most important and interesting line of inquiry. Still I am, for my own part, strongly of opinion that the question of the eternity of future punishment can not be fairly handled till the previous question to which I desire to draw attention-that, namely, of the natural immortality of man-has been settled. For, as Dean Sherlock candidly said long ago, “Whatever other difficulties there may be in eternal punishments, this will be an DEAR SIR,--Our Lord's prophecy conunanswerable one, that a mortal crea- cerning the course of events at His ture should be made immortal to be second coming, as related in Matt. xxiv, punished for ever. For eternal punish- does not authorise the belief so frequently ments can never be just, if the person maintained in THE RAINBOW of any who is to suffer them be by nature translation of the saints before the great mortal. For such punishments as ex- tribulation. If your readers will only ceed the proportion of nature must ex-turn to the passage, they will perceive ceed the proportion of justice too." My that time of trouble is shortened for the question, then, is: What evidence have elect's sake-all idea of a secret coming we, either from reason or Scripture, to is destroyed in verse 26, and the gatherprove that man is naturally immortal? ing together of the elect is placed or, in other words, that he will and must "immediately after the tribulation of those exist to all eternity, unless annihilated days," and during convulsions in heaven by a miraculous exercise of Divine and earth. It is strange that so clear a power? With the arguments com- statement should be misunderstood, or monly adduced from reason I am toler- that it can be conceived any special mark ably familiar; but while I quite admit, of favour from the great Captain of our nay, strenuously maintain, that, taken salvation to escape that fiery trial. The collectively, they amount to a high first Christians thought otherwise, and probability, if not a demonstration, that were emulous to obtain the martyr's man is to exist in a future state, they crown. "If we suffer we shall also reign fail altogether to prove the eternal with Him," but these are Laodicean duration of that state, or of his being times. itself. We must beware of a pitfall here, into which almost all writers on the immortality of the soul have either blindly or wilfully fallen: the failing to distinguish between a future life and an endless life, and regarding that which is a proof of the former as necessarily also a proof of the latter, which is by no means the case. We have, then, after all, to rely upon the testimony of Scripture, and here, perhaps, the question may be narrowed to this: Does the Scripture contain one passage which either explicitly asserts or I should not trouble you with these remarks were this merely a speculative theme-that it is an eminently practical one will at once appear to you. Instead of buckling on our armour and preparing to contend for the truth against the blasphemous sophistries, deceitful agencies, and terrible persecutions about to be organized by the first and second beasts, we are told of a secret rapture before the fiery trial, that believers in the Second Advent have nothing whatever to do with it,- by a singular misapplication of Scripture, that". we shall escape all these things that shall come to pass." Concerning these words, allow me to offer two remarks-first, an escape is not a rapture-secondly, our Divine Lord cannot contradict Himself. Having stated in Matt. xxiv. and parallel passages of Mark and Luke, that the saints' rapture will be AFTER the great tribulation, it cannot be before. We must look at the context, (Luke xxi. 34, 35), in order to understand what is the escape here intimated. "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." We are warned to watch and pray against those delusions and temptations so specious, having so fair a show, theoretic and practical, as "to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect." This is I conceive our Lord's primary meaning, there is also, I think, another on which I have not space to insist. May those few lines tend to awaken some from their dreams of security and peace; for I need not remind you, dear sir, of the essential glory of Christ's Gospel, that it enables His followers to rejoice in tribulation, and that they are counted worthy to suffer for His dear sake, shame-loss-poverty, and even death. In that faith and hope, believe me, dear sir, Your constant reader, J. B. IMPORTANT QUERY. SIR,-Will you kindly permit me to ask a question of those writers to THE RAINBOW, who assert so positively that the Church must be removed before Antichrist can appear, what passage or passages of Scripture so positively state that as a fact; or is it merely an inference, without any express declaration of God's word. Sept. 1, 1865. In the correspondence of last month on "the marks of Antichrist," fifth objection, the writer says the Antichrist belongs to another dispensation than the present, which he says has never been denied; that it is some time after the removal of the Church, that Antichrist is to appear, &c. I am not desirous to enter into any controversy, but simply asking for information upon such an important subject, and upon which I know others as well as myself feel anxious. I should therefore esteem it a favour if any brother would give me the answer in the words of Holy Scripture. Barnet. I am, sir, AN ENQUIRER AFTER TRUTH. ROMANS II. 26. SIR,-Would some of your correspondents offer an explanation of the above remarkable verse? It may seem at first sight to have little connection with prophetic subjects, but I am inclined to think it has much. For do not Gentiles stand before God under the grace of the covenants made with Noah and Abraham? See the apostle's argument in Rom. iv. 9, 10, and his declaration of God's further purpose of grace and ways in verses 16, 17, 18. As Messiah's " goings forth have been from old, from everlasting," (Mic. v. 2.) never has He in every land been without " a people to serve him." Thus Peter by the Holy Ghost said, "of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him." (Acts x. 34, 35.) Messiah's kingdom may contain more wonders in its origin, and glories in its manifestation than as yet the Christian public have attained to. A. Z. Sept. 1, 1865. Literature. Aids to the Divine Life, in a Series of who think that Napoleon III. is in Practical Christian Contemplations. reality scheming the conquest of Europe (Originally published by "T. S.," will find the able writer of this pamphlet 1680.) New Edition. Edited, with thinking with them. The remarkable a Preface, by WILLIAM MAUDE. publication concludes thus:Liverpool: Edward Howell. OUR talented contributor, Mr. Maude, to whom the readers of THE RAINBOW are indebted for many a fine thought, has carefully edited one of the precious gems with which sanctified intellect enriched the literature of the seventeenth century. To say that the little book is worth its weight in gold is to say nothing. Every sentence of it is rich in meaning; and the history of the publication, as given in the preface, is singular. Who "T. S." was is still a mystery, and is likely to remain so, but his "Divine breathings" in this invaluable little manual show that he was no ordinary man. The editor has modernized the spelling, changed obsolete words and forms of expression, and digested the one hundred contemplations, of which the work originally consisted, under twenty-one general heads. In the words of the editor, we commend this volume, small in size but not in value, to the prayerful perusal of the Christian reader. Cæsar. "Aut Cæsar aut nullus." The Sphynx. London: W. Macintosh. WHAT shall we make of this pamphlet ? We advise our readers who wish to see the supposed thoughts of a certain emperor to send four stamps to Mr. Macintosh, Paternoster-row, and they will get the pamphlet by return of post. The secret policy, the "dream," of the prisoner is sketched very cleverly. The M.S. was written five years ago, although only published last May; and we owe the author an apology for not bringing it under notice earlier. Those "When all the world is nearly in my hands, I'll bring it all to bear against Great Britain. "She is all scattered-I concentrated. Everywhere her commerce shall be attacked, her colonies invaded, her seaports stormed. Electric wires shall flash my orders at a given moment, rise in all climes, and crush Great Britain. She shall go down, and I will reign Builder and architect of my own fortune! supreme; supreme throughout the world. Happier than Napoleon's son, and greater; greater than he himself. I will transcend his glory. Never name shall be like my name. that great reality, like unto God, my power The image of all glory shall be my image. I, universal "But soft-I dream-I am but captive now! studies! "Well, well! all's one for that. I'll let time shape; and there-an end. Now to my "Thus he sat him down. He knew not it is writ: "This matter is by a decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may dom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He know that the Most High ruleth in the kingwill, and setteth up over it the basest of men!"" Metempsychosis. A Poem, in Two Parts. By A. T. H. B London: James Nisbet and Co. ON opening this book the first thing that meets the eye is a fearful picture of the burning church of the Jesuits, in Santiago, on the 8th of December, 1863, when "more than 2,100 persons were burnt to death." The preface gives a graphic account of the terrible calamity, extracted from the Weekly Dispatch, to which, we presune, it was sent by the author of the book from Valparaiso. The horrible impression made upon the writer's mind by the appalling scene as haunted him day and night; the shrieks pamphlet to the thoughtful, without in of the agonizing victims of Popish any way committing ourselves to his idolatry rang in his ears; and the dread- views at present :ful tragedy was repeated in his dreams. "Judaism and Philosophy are the two great His "indignation against the heartless authors of the catastrophe was increased springs of Christendom's corruption from the simplicity of Christ. Sabbath '-keeping by the fact that two of his dearest with a sort of half-Jewish exactness, instead friends were among the victims. of thankfully worshipping on the Lord's resurrection; a human To that just indignation the author has day,' the day of endeavoured to give vent by composing priesthood instead of simple Christian ministhe following rhymes." Such is the try; and Platonic notions constantly exorigin of the book before us, but whilst pressed in such unscriptural terms never dying soul,' indestructible, we quite sympathize with the writer's deathless spirit,' &c., tarnish the bright indignation, and understand the relief lustre of the Gospel, which declares CHRIST afforded by venting it into rhyme, we to be the Prince of Life,' the true giver of are sorry that his friends "advised" him immortality. I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish,' or be deto publish. Did they promise to pay stroyed. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the printer? This is the way to test the the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man "friendship" in every case of "published be lifted up, or crucified, that whosoever by request." The very first verse of believeth in Him might not perish,' or be Metempsychosis" satisfies us regarding destroyed, but have everlasting life. (John iii. 16.) the propriety of putting "a poem" on the title-page. Here it is : was or "There was a time-before CREATION (see Coloss. i.)-when Satan was not, and when God (i.c., the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) all in all, there was no evil; only good is eternal; will there not, then, be a time when evil shall be thoroughly destroyed, and God again be all in all? The writer believes that the infallible Word of God answers this question in the affirmative. (1 Cor. xv.) Creation was the bringing (by Divine power) of something out of nothing; Destruction is just the reverse of this." The Church of the First Born. A few The Second Death; or, Ultimate Destruction (After Ages of Torment) of Satan To know Mr. Pennefather is to love and all Evil Ones. Being an Essay on him, for he is one of the most amiable Immortality and Destructibility, ad- of men, and happily, this amiability of dressed to all Denominations of disposition is combined with clear views Professing Christians, from Roman of truth, both in relation to the disCatholics to Quakers, including all pensation of grace, and the blessed hope As a definition of the intermediate Bodies. London: Yates of believers. and Alexander, Horseshoe-court, Lud- Christian Church, this book is all that gate hill. can be desired. We wish that narrowminded people, both in the Established THERE is a great deal of momentous Church and among Nonconformists, suggestion in this short pamphlet. The would read it; but probably the gratifisubjects on which it reverently treats cation of this wish would be of little ought to be discussed, for, whatever it service, for such people are not in a may be, we are confident there is some- condition to understand a volume which thing wrong in the common notions breathes an atmosphere of holy love. respecting them. We give the writer's Thanks, dear Brother Pennefather, for prefatory remarks, commending his this refreshing volume! John Stuart Mill on Liberty. A will be submerged through some powerful volcanic action, imparted to the beds of coal." An awful prospect this! if it be true. AN outspoken, vigorous, trenchant pamphlet, in which Dr. Parker undertakes to show; 1, That some of the expressions (in Mill's "Liberty)" are not only ambiguous, but contradictory; 2, That some of the premises are not only unphilosophical, but untrue; and 3, That some of the opinions are not only superficial, but unjust. In controversies of this kind we take no part; but even the philosophical member for Westminster can hardly afford to pass unheeded the strictures of the minister of Cavendish Chapel ; for assuredly the latter gives strong reasons for his convictions whether you agree with him or not. A Key for Every Lock; or, the Apocalypse Read by the Light of the General, as Distinguished from the Special Principle. By the late Rev. C. J. YORKE, M.A., late Rector of Shenfield. London: Hatchard and Co., 187, Piccadilly. Ir will be two centuries next year since Edmund Calamy, an eminent Nonconformist minister, was gathered to his "IT is our belief," says Mr. Yorke, lives still to speak words of piety and fathers; but this precious little book "that the prophecy"-the Apocalypse-wisdom, to all who will listen to it. "in all its parts, that is, in all its sym- This is a beautifully got up edition. bolic pictures, is not continuous ; but, though methodical, detached; not special, but general." Upon this principle the book before us is written. We are not satisfied with it. Some of the notes are excellent, and the writing is clear and terse, but we are confident that this is not the "key for every lock." England in the Apocalypse. London: THE author of this pamphlet attempts to The Practical Consequences of Teaching any future Restoration of the Race. A Letter to a Friend, occasioned by the recent publication of I. Forgiveness after Death." By and Wright. III. "The Destiny of the Human Race" a Scriptural Inquiry." 2 vols. Crown 8vo. Simpkin and Co. London Houlston : Price Sixpence. WHOEVER the author of this very argumentative pamphlet may be, he thinks and writes with a force and a clearness seldom surpassed. We should rejoice to hear that his well timed letter had found its way to the hands of thousands of thoughtful men. |