late, and which has tended exceedingly to draw away the minds of many pious people from the more sober and serious contemplation of matters of far deeper interest, and of incom- parably greater certainty. I object not to the consideration of any point contained in holy writ: but I deprecate the giving of such extraordinary and almost paramount importance to things which, to say the least, are extremely questionable, and which, if ever so fully established, would tend in no degree to quicken the soul in the service of its God. For, whether we are to enjoy the presence of our God and Saviour in heaven or on earth, it can make no difference in our present duties, nor can it add one jot or tittle to our present encouragements. And the grievous errors which have been broached by some who have been most zealous in propagating their Millenarian notions, are abundantly sufficient to keep all prudent persons from being drawn into their vortex u. Of this however we are certain, that " all the ends of the earth are given to the Lord Jesus for his possession," and that in the appointed season, which we hope is now fast approaching, " all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Yes, whether by his personal appearance, or by the operations of his Holy Spirit, " he shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his Ancients glo- riously x."]
2. At the last day to judge the world —
[Of this our blessed Lord himself has spoken fully. " The Son of man shall be seen coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." " He shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him: then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory : and before him shall be gathered all nations ; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats y." This is the advent spoken of also by St. Paul, who says, " The Lord himself shall de- scend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch- angel, and with the trump of God." " He shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire ; taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from
n The sleep of the soul, for instance : the worshipping of idols not being idolatry, provided the worshipper believe them to be God : and other things, which have been stated in conversation to the Author, too horrible to be mentioned ; but which, it is hoped, are pe- culiar to the individual who stated them, and not common to those who maintain the other sentiments. But God alone knows to what all this extravagance may lead. [Written May 1828.]
x Isai. xxiv.' 23. v Matt. xxiv. 30. and xxv. 31, 32.