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The notion of a spiritual millennium was apparently the oscillation into the opposite extreme, from the excesses of the Anabaptists in Germany, and the fifth-monarchy men of our own country; which also has since been fostered by the expectations raised from the efforts of religious societies, till it has become the deliberate creed of many. Thus we understand how it can be used by our Its denial, Lord and St. Peter as a prophetical mark and sign of the last days. I do not mean to say, that only carelessness upon this subject is a mark; because that, I fear, has ever been too prevalent: but that the deliberate maintenance of a doctrine which Matt. xxiv. virtually says, "My Lord delayeth his coming," is a prognostic of the speedy approach of Messiah. Now we before

a sign of the last

days.

48.

First conclusion.

observed, that a man who holds the spiritual millennium cannot be expecting the advent of our Lord: is he not then saying in his heart, "My Lord delayeth his coming?" And of what is such a belief the forerunner? Shortly, then, to sum up our first conclusion if the church ought, according to

Scripture, to be "expecting the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour," such expectation being inconsistent with the belief of an antecedent spiritual millennium, it follows that the Bible cannot give any support to this latter anticipation; for the word of truth cannot warrant the maintenance of two opposite and irreconcilable opinions and we may add, that a doctrine Practical which is a sign of conversion; which is taught by the grace of God; which is a

mark of the highest spiritual knowledge; which is purifying in the greatest degree; which shews itself in all holy conversation and godliness; for which the crown is laid up; an expectation concerning a state for which the saints in heaven are longing ;-surely this is a holy doctrine, and a point of great practical importance. On the other hand, that ignorance, which is wilful—which betokens a child of darkness-which tends to looseness of walk, and will end in sudden destruction,-is to be reprobated, and carefully avoided.

In examining this point, I have confined

C

view.

myself to quotations from the New Testament, with the exception of Isaiah, lxiv. 1, which is applied to the second advent upon the authority of 1 Cor. ii. 9; and Isa. xxv. 9, upon the authority of 1 Cor. xv. 54.

19

CHAPTER II.

CHRIST'S CO-ORDINATION.

"And sitteth at the right hand of the Father."

"Millenna

improperly

rectly.

THOSE who expect the personal reign of The term Christ upon earth are not unfrequently dis- rianism" tinguished from such as look for a period of used. spiritual blessedness, by being designated "Millennarians:" but this is neither correct Not cornor just. It is not correct, because the term millennarianism is a note of time; but the distinction between the two opinions which I have stated is not a difference with respect to the fact of time: there is a difference with respect to the order of events; there is a difference with respect to the place of Messiah's abode for the thousand years; and there is a difference with respect to the nature of the kingdom for that period ;—that is, there are spiritual as well as personal Millennarians: hence it is incorrect to apply the

term to the one party, as contradistinguished Not justly. from the other. In the next place, it is unjust, because those who are looking for Messiah's advent are thus at once saddled with an opinion which does not necessarily belong to the doctrine, and which, moreover, Millenna- brings it into direct opposition to the creeds posed to the and standards of our Church; for the Nicene the Church Creed says, that Christ's kingdom shall have

rianism op

standards of

of England.

Edward

Sixth's Catechism.

no end-the Millennarian says that it shall have an end when the thousand years shall have expired. Edward the Sixth's Catechism,* also, has often been justly cited in support of Messiah's personal reign; but it would be incorrect to quote it in support of the mil

"Scholer. In the second parte we require, that hys kyngedome come. For we see not yet all thynges in subiection to Christe: we see not the stone hewed of from the mountayne wythoute woorke of man, which all to brosed and brought to nought the image whiche Daniell descriueth, that the onlye rocke Christe may obtayn and possesse the dominion of the hole world, graunted him of his father. Antichrist is not yet slayne. For thys cause do we longe for, and praye that it may at length come to passe and be fulfylled, that Christe may reign with his sainctes, accordinge to God's promises: that hee

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