[No. II.] ARGUMENT FROM THE BIBLE. MR. EDITOR,-Before proceeding to the argument from the Bible, it may be well to spend a moment in suggesting some practical tendencies of the doctrine I advocate. This is done to obtain a less prejudiced hearing. If Christ's personal appearing and the new heavens and earth are circumstances attending the true millennium, doubtless the event is not a remote one, but may be expected, in the language of St. Clement, every hour," and is now, emphatically, “at hand," 66 even at our doors." One of the first impressions such an event should make upon the heart is, to lessen our attachment to this world; our worldly-mindedness should cease, and we should "seek for the kingdom of God and his righteousness," with the conviction that all things of a worldly nature necessary would be added to us. Another tendency is, and should be, to give vigor to every benevolent enterprise. As we should "hasten to the coming of the day of God," so we should hasten to every work pertaining to it; "pulling the sinner as a brand from the burning," and doing by every sinner, every friend and foe, as the angel did to Lot in his escape from Sodom. We should drive the car of missions as if we had but a short time to complete our work in; we should work as in the time of harvest; work as for life; "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;" for we may not have passed the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come. "Let every man" at once "break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." Another thought. The bright features of that "world to come," "whereof we speak,' may cheer us, delight us, win us to duty, and fix our affections upon it, instead of this world. And who, I ask, would not desire to see it, and see it now? And may we not test our character, even in ascertaining whether we prefer the present world to such a state-such a heaven? Alas, for us, how many prefer misery here to a state thus glorious! But to the argument from the Bible. If the millennial state is anywhere spoken of, it is to be found in Daniel ii. 34, 35, and 44, 45. He says, "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet, that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." This is the dream; the interpretation is- " there "our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver," like unto Moses, "the Lord is our King; he will save us.' "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Now, Mr. Editor, it strikes me, if we can argue at all from these Scriptures, and they appear very plain, we may determine from them, with certainty, that the kingdom which God will set up "in the days of these kings," or in the latter days, shall be of such a character as, 1. To exclude all other kingdoms, all other "lawgivers," so that all others shall be as the "chaff of the summer threshing-floors"-" no place shall be found for them." If this be true, the kingdom of the devil cannot be there. Neither can his works be there; for to the existence of his works, his presence in the sense intended is essential. The devil can rule in no nation; for "all people, and nations, and tongues," serve Christ. He can rule in no heart, for no place is found for adverse kingdoms. They are destroyed. There can be then, as I judge, no unrenewed heart; for this has been essentially the devil's empire in this world. 2. These Scriptures testify, also, that this kingdom shall be both universal and perpetual. It shall stand forever, and shall not be left to other people; all opposing power is withdrawn, or destroyed. It is universal, for it fills the whole earth." "And the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." So permanent, indeed, is this reign of the saints, that "the tabernacle shall not be taken down" for a journey to any other country; nay, "not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed." There can be no backsliding, therefore"not a cord shall be broken, not a stake ever be removed;" nor short or long apostacy after a thousand years; but all as immutable as immortality. 66 3. Another characteristic is, the millennial state excludes war and death. They "shall learn war no more." The church shall war no more, as she did in the wilderness, or in Canaan. For "there shall be no Canaanite in the land." And of the church it shall be said, "her warfare is accomplished." And there shall pass through her no more the unclean forever. Nor shall individuals war any more. And from hence may we not judge that every "lust" shall cease, from which war springs? (James iv. 1.) And the inhabitants shall not say, "I am sick," from wounds, or aught else; for they "shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God, as the |