SECOND ADVENT DOCTRINE VINDICATED.

A

SERMON

PREACHED AT THE DEDICATION

OF

THE TABERNACLE.

BY REV. S. IIAWLEY. 0

WITH THE ADDRESS OF THE TABERNACLE COMMITTEE.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOSHUA V. HUES,

14 Devonshire Street.

18 4 3.

1*

^lafi

DISCOURSE.

"I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it

shall be no more, until he come whose right it is ; and I will give it him."

Ezek. xxi. 27.

As Christ is the end of the Law, so is he the end of Prophecy. It all centres in him. This fact gives it its character, its interest, its importance, its glory. His work, as re- storer of what was lost by sin, is the point to which the prophecy directs and holds the attention. But the features of this work are only gradually unfolded. We have, first, a general and indefinite promise, an obscure hint, and then occasional predictions having no apparent connection or order; and, sub- sequently, others, definite and connected, bringing out all the parts of the work, and giving order, system, and beauty to the whole. We have the rough outline, and then the filling up — the chaotic mass, and then the shaping of the whole into order, harmony, and beauty. Often, in the proph- ecy, great events, though different in char- acter, and separate as to time, are grouped together, and presented to view as though really connected. But increased light, arising

from additional revelations, shows their true order. Sometimes we have the events prop- erly arranged, without any clues as to the times and seasons of their occurrence. These, also, at the proper time and place, are fur- nished.

But this method is only adopted in regard to the events of the distant future. All the light that is requisite at any one period, is abundantly furnished. The only light that could have been needed, in reference to the distant future, was enough to give form and direction to the faith, and to fix the hope of God's people. And this has steadily in- creased, as the periods towards which the prophecy directed the eye, have approached. The first great promise, made in Eden, con- tains, in the smallest limits, the whole truth and history of redemption. The whole of its mysteries, its successes, its reverses, its conflicts, its victories, its glories, are included in that single brief announcement. It com- prises, in miniature form, the most stupen- dous truths, the grandest displays of moral power, the most brilliant conquests, and the highest state of bliss and glory. The Bible is merely an expansion and illustration of that great promise. It will require an eternity to give us the idea in its fulness, richness, glory. But the truth it presented, like the shapeless and unorganized elements of the earth at their creation, was in a chaotic state. It was needful to give it form, order, symmetry.

It was needful to bring out the means by which, and the times and seasons at which, it was to have its fulfilment. This is the work of the Bible. But it was a gradual work. Its revelations become more and more clear, definite, and systematic. Its light grows brighter arifl. brighter to its completion. We have now the full plan, in all its parts. We have the events and their order, the truths and their classification. But these are not given on one page, or always in the same connection, and yet, in many instan- ces, they are presented in such succinctness, such order, as to make all plain to the care- ful reader.

The text is a prophecy unfolding the order of the most important events connected with the great work of Christ. It is one of the prophecies relating to order. It stretches - over a vast space of time, and fixes the mind upon two great crises or turning points that would occur during that period, and the state of things succeeding each. The first is, the entire subversion of the kingdom of Israel, succeeded by a long and gloomy period of desolation and dispersion; the last is, the coming of Christ to restore the kingdom, fol- lowed by the millennial state of bliss and glory. It involves, therefore, a fearful threat- ening, and a cheering promise. The first is to have its full execution before the other is fulfilled. For how long a period the threat- ening has been in process of execution ! More 1*

than two thousand four hundred years have passed since it commenced ! But the work of vengeance is not yet done. The kingdom is yet in ruins. He, to whom it belongs, has not yet come. And, to look for anything but overturning, change, desolation, and depres- sion until that time, is to disregard the Bible, and to cherish expectations most certainly to be disappointed. All this side of that point, will be, to God's people, a period of sorrow, darkness, affliction, and trial ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. When he comes whose the kingdom is, their days of mourn- ing will be ended, and the period of their joys and rejoicings will begin.

I propose on this occasion to discuss the following points.

I. The personal reign of Christ on earth.

II. The identity of the millennium with

THAT REIGN.

III. THE PREPARATORY EVENTS OF THAT REIGN.

IV. The privileges and enjoyments of that

REIGN.

V. The evidences that that reign is about to begin.

I propose to pass over this wide field of investigation, for two reasons. First, to cor- rect, if possible, the common impression that the only thing that distinguishes the believers in the personal coming of Christ near, is the time. This impression has not been made without effort. The opposers of our views

seem disposed to narrow down the matters of difference to this one point. To this we strongly object. We feel determined that the real points at issue between us shall be kept fully, and in their true light, before the public mind. My second reason is, that I may set before the hearer the true grounds of our faith, and the real basis of our hope. Those who oppose us, either deny or disre- gard our premises. In most cases, it is the latter. Where this is so, we can look for nothing but opposition. We claim to have a faith that is founded on evidence. And we think we are not so irrational, not so far gone in fanaticism, as not to know that our conclusions are no sounder than our premises — that our faith is no better than the evi- dence on which it rests. If they fail, or are proved unsound, the system must fail. If they stand, it will survive unharmed the fiercest and most desperate opposition. We wish, therefore, the question to be met on its merits, and to have a decision in the face of all our evidences. But a synopsis of these is all that I can hope to give in the present discourse.

The point in order is —

I. The personal reign of Christ on earth.

This point is vital to the system we advo- cate. In the system it holds a central posi- tion. On it must turn the whole question. For, though the question of time should be

8

decided in our favor, there would then be ground for difference respecting the events to be expected. The character of the reign looked for, must decide the character of those events. If it be once admitted that Christ is to come to reign personally, we cannot see how our view of the character of accompa- nying events can be disputed. A personal reign implies a personal coming, and the events of such a coming all must admit to be such as we expect. But if Christ is only to commence a spiritual reign, our view of those events must be acknowledged to be wrong, and opposed to the Bible. To this point, then, attention is invited.

1. The text I present as the highest proof of a personal reign.

To give it its full force, a little explanation is needed. Four points of inquiry are in- volved in it. The first two of these cannot be doubtful; the last two will require some consideration. The points are: 1. What was intended by that which was to be over- turned and destroyed ? 2. Who was meant by he that should come, whose it was by right, and to whom it should be given ? 3. What particular coming was referred to 1 4. What was to be the character of the com- ing ? If we find the first of these to be the kingdom of Israel; the second, Christ; the third, his second advent ; the fourth, a per- sonal coming ; all will be plain and incontro- vertible. As to the first two points of inquiry,

as already remarked, there can be no doubt. That the two subjects of the prophecy are the kingdom of Israel and Christ, all the candid and judicious allow. Indeed, it is so clear as to command almost universal assent. The whole prophecy, including the context, pronounces the doom of Zedekiah, and the kingdom over which he unworthily and wickedly reigned. He was the last king that ever sat on the throne of Israel. His character and fate are thus faithfully set forth by the prophet: " And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end ; thus saith the Lord God, Remove the diadem, and take off the crown ; this shall not be the same ; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high." Then follows the prophecy constituting the text, showing the destiny of the kingdom. "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it ; and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is ; and I will give it him."

The glory, dignity, and independence of the kingdom had before this passed away ; and now its entire subversion is decreed. The stroke by which it lost its sovereignty fell in the days of Manasseh. From his time to the period of the delivery of this prophecy, it rapidly declined in strength and glory. Though of divine origin and of ce- lestial model, it had wonderfully degenerated and fallen. From its subjects and rulers

• 10

God had received the greatest provocations. They became a nation of idolators. They despised the origin, the model, the rightful king of their kingdom. They desired a king- dom modeled after the governments of this world, and a king like the nations around them. This God permitted, in his wrath. But the supreme power of the kingdom, when secured, was, for the most part of the time of its subsequent existence, used for the wicked- est and vilest purposes. So perverted had it become from its original purpose, that God determined on its overthrow. But he was slow in the execution of his purpose, that space might be given for amendment and reform. The Assyrians assailed and weak- ened it; the Egyptians annoyed and dimin- ished it ; and the Babylonians took away its independence. But, despite these judgments and other means of reform, the nation waxed worse and worse. Its day had now' come. Its measure of guilt was full. The time of its overthrow and subversion had approached. The stroke fell in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, in the year 588 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar was made the instrument of this work. He commenced, and prosecuted with much zeal and skill, a siege against Jerusalem of eighteen months7 continuance, and took it, pillaged the temple, carried out the vessels of the sanctuary, burned it with fire, destroyed the palace, overthrew the whole city, and carried Zedekiah, and the

11

remnant that escaped the slaughter of the siege, to Babylon, where he met a terrible doom. Thus ended the dynasty of Israel. Never since that period has one set on the throne of David. Though the nation was restored, the crown has not been re- placed. One, by the name of Hyrcanus, assumed regal authority, but he was slain, and succeeded by Herod. The Chronicles thus mournfully close this account: " There- fore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age ; he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that es- caped of the sword carried he away to Baby- lon, where they were servants to him and his sons, until the reign of the kingdom of Persia." Soon after the commencement of the Persian reign, they were restored, but without a Icing. God's decree was not to be revoked. It had gone out of his mouth, and could not return, that the kingdom should be

AND BE

12

NO MORE, UNTIL HE SHOULD COME WHOSE RIGHT IT IS.

We now come to consider the only points that need elucidation and proof. These re- late to the coming intended, and the charac- ter of it. As Christ is, beyond all dispute, the one who was to come, and to whom the kingdom was to be given, it is necessary, first, to inquire whether his first or a subse- quent coming be meant. And this, it seems, will admit of a very easy answer. All allow that Christ, after his first coming, in some sense was to come again. The testi- mony of Scripture is so ample and explicit, touching this point, as to preclude all shadow of doubt. Whether the prophecy referred to his first or this subsequent coming, is now the matter of inquiry. A few considerations will make this plain to all.

1. It was not among the objects of his first coming, to reign. One fact will show this. There were two classes of prophecies, as well as two classes of types, unlike and opposite in their nature to each other, to be fulfilled by Christ. The first class set him forth as a man, of low and obscure origin, without per- sonal attractions; — as a sufferer; — as one subject to temptations, sorrow, trial, and other ills incident to life; — as an object of haired, scorn, reproach, and unceasing perse- cution ; — as one delivered to his enemies, to have a mock-trial, to be taunted, spit upon, and in various ways insulted, and at last to

13

be put to death, as the highest offender known to law ; — and as one who was to experience the gloom of the grave, and be raised, and, in due time, to pass into the heavens, and appear as a priest in the presence of God. The other class present him as the Lord of glory, clothed with majesty, coming in ven- geance to judge the world, and dashing his enemies to pieces as a potter's vessel, and swaying his sceptre over the whole earth; — as the one who should redeem his people from all their enemies, their sorrows, their afflic- tions, and introduce them into the renovated earth, and be their King forever and ever. The one class relate to his coming in humilia- tion ; — the other to his coming in glory. The one class describe him as a spiritual Redeem- er ; — the other as a physical Redeemer. The one class refer to him as a Prophet, Priest, Sacrifice; — the other as a Judge, Rewarder, King. The first class point to his coming to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord ; — the other to his coming to proclaim the day of God's vengeance. These prophecies and types, so entirely opposite in their character, could not be fulfilled at one time, or at one manifestation of himself. All can see that he could not appear in these opposite characters, assume these opposite forms, perform these opposite things, and receive such opposite treatment, at one and the same coming. But which class of prophecies and types did he fulfil at his first coming? All will say, the

14

first If so, his first coming was not to reign. His coming to restore the kingdom of Israel, must be looked for at a subsequent period.

2. Facts, known to all, clearly demon- strate, that the prophecy did not point to the first appearing of Messiah, as the period of its fulfilment. Nothing occurred at that time that approached towards a fulfilment of it. The kingdom of Israel was to be subject to overturnings, and cease to be, until Christ should come to receive it, to whom it be- longed by right. But when he came he did not receive it ; he refused the crown ; he left it, as he found it, in ruins ! And forty years after, the last vestige of it was by the Ro- mans destroyed, and its seat and capital utterly laid waste. And need I tell what has been its fate since? The world know what it has been. The withering decree of the Almighty is yet upon it. " NO MORE " are the two words of the prophecy that con- tain its history. Another coming, then, must be intended, or the prediction has failed. None of my Christian hearers will allow the latter.

3. The Saviour, just prior to his ascension to heaven, in reply to a question of the disci- ples, relating to the time of the restoration of the kingdom, gave them most decidedly to understand that the period of such restoration was far future. They inquired, — " Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom again to Israel?" There can be no doubt, I

15

think, that this question was put in view of the very prophecy I have taken for my text. All can see that it related to time. There could be no ground for mistake as to the event. Our Saviour, in his answer, confines himself to time. He gave them to under- stand that the event was certain. But it was not for them to know, then, the times and seasons which the Father had put in his own power. The event was far future, and there was no necessity of giving an immediate revelation concerning the time. But that they might be still farther assured as to the certainty of the predicted restoration, they were told by two heavenly messengers, that appeared as soon as the Lord had gone up beyond their sight, that the same Jesus who had gone up from them should so come in like manner as they had seen him go to heaven. All can see that this language ex- presses a personal coming in the strongest and most decisive manner. That is the coming intended by the prophecy, to restore the kingdom. The disciples wished to know if he would fulfil the prophecy, at that time, or at that coming, and he, in his answer, con- veyed clearly the idea that the period was future that was assigned for its fulfilment, and not then to be known. But that they might not despair of its fulfilment, two angels are despatched, while the disciples are gazing towards heaven to catch another view of their ascending Lord, to assure them of his coming

16

again in person. This must have dispelled all doubt. Then, their faith in the restora- tion of the kingdom, and the manner, had a firm and immovable basis. It is therefore plain that the question of the disciples, and the answer of the Lord, together with the declaration of the angels, afford the clearest evidence that the prophecy relating to the kingdom is not to have its fulfilment until his future personal coming. To say the least, it shows that his first coming was not to re- ceive the kingdom.

4. An additional proof of this is found in the fact that his first appearance was at the commencement of the supremacy of the fourth kingdom of Daniel's vision. That kingdom was one of the powers to be used in overturn- ing and subverting the kingdom of Israel. It did destroy the last remnant of it. And it was to have an existence of two thousand years' duration. All this long space of time would be necessary for it to pass through all its predicted changes. After its fall and ruin, Christ was to receive the kingdom. See Daniel vii. 9 — 14. That kingdom, in its last predicted form, yet continues. Israel's power is yet scattered and broken. Jerusalem is yet trodden down by the Gentiles, because the times of the Gentiles still continue. Da- vid's throne is not to be re-established until those times expire. When Christ first ap- peared, the Roman monarchy had but just begun its long, bloody, and terrible career.

17

It was but in its infancy. It was for many long ages to break and scatter the power of Israel. Christ's first coming, then, was not the one pointed to by the prophecy.

5. The New Testament, with great unifor- mity, represents Christ as waiting /or, and not as reigning in. his kingdom. The Father thus addressed him, — "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." Ps. ex. 1. Acts ii. 34, 35. And Paul testi- fies, that he, after offering himself for sin, " sat down on the right hand of God ; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Heb. x. 12, 13. And this same apostle assures us, that, when he comes again, he will come with his kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 1. Hence it is evident that he has not the kingdom which is his by right, and which he is to receive at his coming. It is not yet ready. The subjects are not all fitted, the territory is not yet prepared, the foes are not subdued, the dominion is yet in the hands of enemies. And his term of office as priest is not quite expired; he yet intercedes in heaven ; yet presents his own blood before the Father as a reason for the delay of justice. But he will soon relinquish that position, and take to himself his great power and reign. But, since he does not now reign in his kingdom, all must see that his first coming was not that referred to in the text.

These reasons, though but a few of those 2*

18

that might be offered, must satisfy all reason- able persons that the prophecy used for the text, did not have its fulfilment at Christ's first coming. We must then look for another coming as the period of its fulfilment.

And the next point of inquiry relates to the character of that coming. Was a spiritual or personal coming intended! And it seems that little need be said on this point, after what has been advanced. The arguments just offered to prove the coming intended, must also prove that the coming would be personal. If there were two classes of prophecies relating to Messiah's coming, in different characters, for different purposes, and under different circumstances, as has been shown, and the first class of which were fulfilled by his personal advent ; how can it be rational to maintain that the other class will have a fulfilment by any other than a personal coming? The events of the latter class can no more be accomplished without a personal manifestation, than those of the former. And to deny that the latter do not refer to a personal appearing, is to deny that the former do not. The prophecy teaches as plainly, and more frequently, that Christ is to come in majesty, to reign, as that he should come in the form of a servant, to suf- fer and die. And if a personal coming be not meant in the one case, it cannot, for the same reason, be so meant in the other. We must, to be consistent, deny that a coming

19

in person was intended in both, or in neither, of the cases. Which, as lovers of the Bible, should we do?

And the considerations, that the power of Israel is yet broken and scattered, — that the promise that he should come in like manner as he went to heaven, was made, by the angels, in connection with an inquiry respect- ing the time of the restoration of the king- dom to Israel — that Christ is to come to set up his kingdom at the conclusion of the reign of the Roman monarchy, which still contin- ues— and that the New Testament represen- tation is, that he is waiting for, and not reigning m, his kingdom — must go very far towards proving that the prophecy pointed to a personal coming.

Further, the idea of a spiritual coming of Christ, when an absolute coming is intended, has no foundation. A spiritual coming evi- dently supposes a spiritual absence, which is contrary to fact. Spiritually, the Lord Jesus has been with his saints from the beginning. He promised to be with his ministers to the end of the world. See Matt, xxviii. 20. In a similar manner is he with all his saints. John xiv. And since, in this sense, he is and has been with his people, and since in the proph- ecy an absolute coming to take the kingdom, is predicted, it is in the highest degree absurd to talk of a spiritual coming. This all must see and admit.

Another consideration will place this matter

20

in a still stronger light The part of the prophecy that has received its fulfilment, has had an exact literal fulfilment. The crown was literally taken away, the kingdom liter- ally overturned and subverted, and literally ', for ages, it has not been. Why, then, let me inquire, should we expect the other part — by far the more important and interest- ing part — to have any other than a literal fulfilment? How, in reason, can we look for any other than a literal coming, for a literal personal reign? Can we believe that proph- ecy has such a mixed and confused character as this? Such a thought does violence to that portion of the Bible, violence to reason, and is fraught with scepticism.

Again — A passage in Peter's address, given in the temple, soon after Pentecost, must be deemed sufficient to settle this question. After turning their attention to the fearful nature of their guilt, he thus exhorts the Jews : " Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.'' To encourage them, and to correct their ideas of the order of events, he immediately adds: "And he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you ; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts. hi. 19 — 21. Three things, in the light of this pas-

21

sage, must be plain. 1. That if all things, spoken by God through the prophets, are to be restored, the kingdom of Israel is one of them. 2. That the restoration of this and the other things, is to be effected by sending Jesus Christ. 3. That, until the time of this restoration, the heaven is to receive him. If this language does not prove, beyond all dis- pute, a personal coming, for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, it is not in the power of language to do it. And if it does not, with equal conclusiveness, prove that he did not come at the destruction of Jerusalem, or at any other period since, we should despair of seeing anything proved by the most direct testimony. The heaven was to receive him until the times of restitution, and no longer. Has he ceased to be a resident of heaven? There can be but one answer. And what has been restored of the u all things" spoken by the mouth of the prophets 1 Nothing. All is yet waste, and desolate, and in the hands of enemies. Christ, then, has not been sent ; the heaven yet is his residence. But that same heaven that now entertains him, and is filled with his glory, is to yield him up, no more to receive him. For his tabernacle shall be with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and he shall be with them and be their God and King.

We are, then, to expect that he will come personally, according to the import of the

22

prophecy, to take the kingdom of Israel, for so long a period broken and prostrate, and reign as a literal king. If he is to come per- sonally, as has been fully demonstrated, all will allow that he is to have a personal reign.

But one other thought, contained in the text, will strengthen the argument. It is the literal kingdom that he is to receive, that is his by right, and which is to be no more until he comes. This being so, it would be the height of unreasonableness to suppose, that there would be any other than a literal and personal reign.

But there are additional proofs of the personal reign of Christ on earth.

2. The concurrent testimony of Scripture is abundant and explicit, touching this point. Only a few of the more direct and decisive passages can be cited in this discourse. " There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.'' Numb. xxiv. 17, 19. " The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces : out of heaven shall he thunder upon them ; the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth: and he shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horn of his Anointed." 1 Sam. ii. 10. Though the heathen and the other wicked,

23

with their kings and rulers, combine to pre- vent his reign, it is said, in the second Psalm, " Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.'7 "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." Ps. Ixxii. 8. Zach. ix. 10. "Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.77 Ps. lxxxix. 35 — 37. This is the same throne that was overthrown in the days of Zedekiah, and which was not to be re-estab- lished until Christ should come. " Then shall the moon be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem^ and before his ancients gloriously.77 Isa. xxiv. 23. u For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder ; and his name shall be called Won- derful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with jus- tice, from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.77 Isa. ix 6, 7. " And, behold, thou shalt con- ceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be

24

great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto

HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID : AND HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER ;

and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke i. 31 — 33. " I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him do- minion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him : his dominion is an everlasting domin- ion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Dan. vii. 13, 14. "And the seventh angel sounded ; and there were great voices in hea- ven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." Rev. xi. 15. "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, (David,) that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne." Acts ii. 30. None can be so blind as not to see that four points, at least, are fully established by this testimony. 1. That Christ should reign. 2. That he should reign on the throne of David, in Mount Zion. 3. That his domin- ion should be over the whole earth. 4. That his kingdom shall be endless. These being settled, the notion of a spiritual reign must

25

be regarded as a delusion. A personal reign only can fulfil the prophetic representations and averments relating to his reign. To speak of his reigning spiritually on the throne of David, in Mount Zion, and exercising do- minion over the whole earth, and at the same time to be in heaven in person, is to speak too absurdly to be heeded. The Scripture does not so use language, to confuse and mislead. And it seems that it need not be inquired, whether such a reign as the plain letter of the prophecy leads us to expect, has commenced? Facts teach us too plainly the contrary, to allow such an inquiry. All must know that it is far otherwise. But if there were a doubt as to this matter, a resort to the Bible would soon remove it. The present position of the Saviour in the universe, the office he now fills, and the position he is to oc- cupy, are there clearly defined. One passage will impart much light on these points. "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit ivith me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. iii. 21. He then is on his Fa- ther's throne ; his own is in prospect. And this, with great uniformity, is the testimony of the whole New Testament. Peter quotes from Psalms to prove that he is at the right hand of God, waiting till his enemies be made his footstool. Acts ii. 34, 35. He says, Acts iii. 20, 21, that he is in heaven, to remain until the times of restitution. Stephen saw 3

26

him, just before his martyrdom, standing on the right hand of God. Acts vii. 55. Paul testifies, that, after God raised him from the dead, he " set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all princi- pality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet." Eph. i. 20—22. He says farther, Heb. x. 12, 13, that he is "on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." And much of the argument, in the epistle to the Hebrews, goes to show- that he is now officiating in the character of a priest. So it is most evident that he has not now his own kingdom; that he will not have it until the close of probation, as he is to officiate as priest until that time ; and that he is now connected with his Father's king- dom. And, sustaining this connection with his Father's kingdom, it is plain to be seen what kingdom he is to give up, and what throne to abdicate, at his coming, according to 1 Cor. xv. 24 This passage has been a source of great perplexity to many minds, but this view makes it plain and intelligible. His own kingdom is not to be delivered up, because the prophecy declares that it shall be eternal. God, in addressing the Son, thus declares the eternity of his throne: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever : a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy king-

27

dom." Heb. i. 8. The only kingdom, there- fore, he can deliver up, or throne he can ab- dicate, is that of his Father, with which he is now connected.

If, theiij as this testimony fully proves, the Messiah is now on his Father's throne — that his own is in prospect — that that is the throne of David in this world — that when it is re- established, the saints will be permitted to sit with him in it, — who can believe in any other than a personal reign ? It is difficult to see who can.

3. Analogy furnishes a strong and unan- swerable argument in favor of a personal reign. All the prophecies, relating to the Messiah, may properly be divided into three classes. These classes apply to his three offices, of Prophet, Priest, and King. These offices pertain to this world. The nature of them required that they should be sus- tained successively. They could not be held at one and the same time. The prophe- cies relating to the first twe, have been lite- rally fulfilled. There has not been, as it respects the prophetical and priestly offices, the slightest departure from the letter of the prediction. Christ has appeared, in con- formity with the letter of prophecy, and for its fulfilment, as a literal prophet and priest. And does not analogy demand, strongly de- mand, that he shall come, as the plain lan- guage of the prophecy shows he will, as a literal King? A man would be held a strange

28

prophetical expositor, who should maintain a literal fulfilment in the first two cases, and a spiritual fulfilment in the last ! This can find a parallel only in the popular view re- specting the restoration of the Jews. It is held that the Jews are to be literally restored, and, at the same time, it is maintained that the kingdom of Israel is only to be spiritually restored ! There is to be a literal restoration of the subjects, but only a spiritual restora- tion of the kingship ! To such absurdities and inconsistencies do false rules of inter- pretation conduct us.

4. To commence a reign, presupposes that there was a time when it was not in being. The prophecies fix the period of Christ's reign, as has already appeared, at a point yet future. But he has all along reigned spirit- ually, as all admit : a spiritual reign, there- fore, cannot be intended. All must see the force of this reasoning. If Christ has ever been reigning spiritually in the hearts of his people, and the prophecies all point to a fu- ture reign, as they evidently do, a different and more important reign must be expected; and what can that be but a personal reign ?

5. His reign, in the Scriptures, is connect- ed with events such as can take place only at his personal coming. These events are, the resurrection, judgment, destruction of the entire wicked, the conflagration of the world, and the new creation. All who believe in these events, believe they are to transpire

29

when Christ shall come personally. If, there- fore, it can be made to appear that the com- mencement of his reign is associated with these events, it will become evident that it will begin at his personal coming ; and must, consequently, be a personal reign. As this subject will come up again, under another head, I shall not here present but a passage or two showing this connection. And, since most believe that the events are so bound to- gether as to occur at the same general period, if it can be shown that the reign of Christ is connected with any one or two of them, it will answer every purpose in this part of the discourse. Paul connects it with the judg- ment and resurrection, in his 2d epistle to Timothy. " I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom" 2 Tim. iv. 1. A connection is clearly shown in the Apocalypse. " And the seventh angel sounded ; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." And, at the same time, it is added by the elders in heaven, — " And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward