Av. Dr. Gegu. with the Regards fthelathon.

THE

OR,

THE HEAVEN OF THE BIBLE:·

A Book of Consolation.

BY

JAMES M. MACDONALD, D. D.,

MINISTER OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PRINCETON, N. J.

FOURTH EDITION.

NEW YORK:

CHARLES SCRIBNER, 124 GRAND STREET.

MDCCCLXIII.
1

5797

1606

NOTICE.

The former editions of this volume having, for some time, been exhausted, the frequent testimonies to its value, especially in houses of affliction, induce the publisher to send forth a new edition, in the belief that it will be found adapted to the wants of bereaved families, now greatly increased, by the ravages of war.

NEW YORK, September, 1863.

ENTERED, according to Act of Cong ss, in the year 1855, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Barian bards

representativ

Early

Socrates and

moteraapi

CONTENTS.

L.

IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE.

Our limited knowledge of the present, past and future-The glory of heaven

not to be conjectured from the believer's adoption-Heaven an attractive

and profitable subject-Important caution-Apocalyptic descriptions-A

dangerous mode of interpreting sensible images-Passages from Augustine,

Baxter and John Howe-An apostle's ignorance,

II.

FALSE VIEWS.

9-25

Superiority of the religion of the Bible to every other-Its revelations of a

future life fitly crown the divin dispensations-The Bible ignored-Scandi-

navian bards and Druids-Aborigines of North America-Ancient skeptics

representatives of modern-Indian philosophy-Modification of Brahmin-

ism-Early Greek schools-Pantheism, ancient and modern identical-

Socrates and Plato-Cicero-Mohammedan paradise-Swedenborgianism and

modern "spiritualism"-Give back the uncorrupted Word of God!-True

views as divinely revealed,

26-52

A preceding caution not to be misinterpreted-The caution further urged-

Low and unworthy views of Christians-True glory of heaven, what-Divine

perfections displayed-Perfect subjection of all the inhabitants of heaven to

the will of God-The peace of that world never disturbed-God worshipped

in the beauty of holiness-No interruption to the perfect service-The works

of God understood-Progress in knowledge-LOVE-All confirmed in HOLI

ESS-Holiness indispensable as a qualification for heaven,
58-67