I. THE PAINB AND JOYS ARE NOT, NECESSARILY, IN ANY BENSE MATERIAL. For (1) they exist in the intermediate state (Luke xvi. 23-26), where men have no bodies, the resurrection not having as yet taken place; and (2) they are described by contra- dictory material im~es, which would certainly not have been the case had the descrip- tions been intended literally. II. 'l'HE PAINS AND JOYS ARE OF VARIOUS DEGREES OF INTENSITY. For (1) we hear of "few stripes" and "many stripes," of rule over "five cities" and over "ten cities" (Luke xii. 47, 48; xix. 17, 19); and (2) we are told that the rewards and punishments shall be apportioned exactly according to men's deserts, and men's deserts vary infinitely by infinitesimal degrees. Jlf. TnE MAIN PUl."lSHMENT OF MANY MAY NOT CONSIST IN POSITIVE PAIN AT ALL. Medireval di·l'ines spoke of many souls in the place of punishment as suffering only the 1!:ena damni, or "sense of loss" inseparable from being shut out from God's presence, trom the presence of the holy angels, and from that of the spirits of just men made perfect. This is quite possible, and in no way contradictory to the statements of Scripture. IV. THERE MAY NOT IMPROBABLY BE AN AMELIORATION IN THE CONDITION OF BOME OF THE SUFFERERS. It cannot but be the case that the sufferers may bear their punishment with different degrees of patience, of obduracy, or of rebellion. As the determinedly rebellious would deserve, and may receive, an augmentation of punish- ment, so the more submissive and patient may conceivably have their burdens light- ened. The very act of submission lightens the weight of a suffe1ing, and a merciful God might be expected to show his approval of the submission by some positive alleviatiun of the pain. These are thoughts which may tend to mitigate the horror wherewith some persons regard the entire doctrine of eternal punishment, and prevent them from viewing it as incompatible with God's essential attribute of mercy. At the same time, it must be granted that the whole subject is mysteriuUB, and awful in the extreme-so mysterious and so awful that the greakst caution is needed lest we dogmatize upon it beyond-the teaching of Scripture. Here, if anywhere, the warning of the preacher applies, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou on earth: therefore let thy words be few " (Eccles. v. 2).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 5.-SpiritooJ, and '111nspiritual worship. I. THE ORAOLE OF JEHOVAH. "The heavens are my throne." What majestic poetry in that word I How sacred, then, the heaven I How profane, if once we rightly think of the force of what we say, to use the adjuration, "By heaven" l So Jesus teaches (Matt. v. 34; xxiii. 22). It is natural to "look up" when we think of God; and then to "look down" on the "things of earth," which is but hie footstool. "What manner of house would ye build for me?" 'l'he Infinite cannot be defined; God may not be localized. All forms may represent him; none can adequately set him forth. "Hie abode is not known; no shrine is found with painted figures; there is no building that can contain him"(' Records of the Past,' vol. iv. p. 109). Herodotus says that the Persians impute folly to those who raise statues and temples and al tare to the gods," because they do not think the gods to be of human nature, as do the Greeks" (i. 131; cf. Acts xvii. 24). But why should God despise the beautiful temple? Is anything more beautiful or true than the work of art? 'fo disparage art we hal'e to give way to dark superstition. Everything that proceeds from the mind God has made, he must delight in-it is his work. But, above all, he delights in the humble, throbbing, trembling human soul. "The most acCtlptable temple is a pioW! mind." The allusions which follow are to some of the darkest features of heathen worship-the animal sacrifice, and the animal worshtp-a form of religion hardly intelligible to ourselves, but once widely diffused in ancient times, and prevailing still in some parts of the world. According to the religion of Jehovah, man is made in the image of God, and in the logos or reason of man must be found the true reflection of him, To wo1'Bhip an animal must be to lower the intelligent and spiritual tone of oa. LXVI. 1-24.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 493