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PREFACE.

"Nevertheless, we according to this promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."-2 Peter iii. 13.

THE two principal objects of these Lectures or Scripture Readings, are to exhibit some of the momentous events which are to occur during the Thousand Years; and, that man, as the agent in the hands of the Almighty, has it in his power, by natural means, to give a literal fulfilment to certain of the prophecies alluded to, which will, in the progress of man's agency, give relief to the poor and needy, all over the world, where that agency shall be exerted.

There are many persons who affix to the plain words of our text, a spiritual, ambiguous, and mysterious meaning: To such persons, the following readings will be useless. Paul candidly acknowledges that we see as through a glass, darkly. Peter said of him, that he (Paul) wrote some things hard to be understood. With such things I do not intermeddle. Daniel also wrote of things hard to be understood, when he said, "And I heard, but I understood not: then said Dan. xii. 8. I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Thus wrote Daniel, a man greatly beloved: and shall we, unrighteous and wicked men of the present age, attempt to unseal that which has been closed up, and to understand that which he understood not?-God forbid! From these considerations, it may be inferred, and justly inferred, that the present readings from the Bible will not embrace its figurative, spiritual and dark sentences, but will be confined to the literal passages only.

In the words of our text, "we look for new heavens and a new earth." To the proper understanding of these very unambiguous expressions, it will be necessary to describe, from the Holy Scriptures, the several heavens and earths therein particularized. In doing this, in order not to interrupt the harmony of these quotations, the chapter and verse will not be referred to, unless these shall be called for by any of the audience. And should the brief quotations given, be unsatisfactory, the contexts will be read if required, and a pause will be made at every quotation.

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a few practical remarks and inferences. futes, hopean 7,*, Avsperadded, a description of the inhoutmurs of each of the three heaters.

Fint of the new heavens and new earth.-As the deseendants of Komh have never seen and never heard of a new honeye upon, and associated with this earth, excepting that spoken of by Peter, it seems not improper in us to call it the

at heavens, moreover, because it is called new in relafion to this earth and its inhabitants, it will be to us the first henvape. As this earth is the first, the new one must be the wecond earth. But it is presumed that it will be seen from the readings, that there will only be a new surface, which is to constitute the new or second earth.

Many changes and events of the most momentous description are to happen during the period of the Thousand Years, mentioned in Revelations. Of such vast importance will there changes be, that, in the language of Scripture, old things shall not come into mind.

The events alluded to, viz: the new heavens and new carth, and in dwelling richiestess; also, the first resurecton, the Yostórára virke. News Mew Jerusalem, and our on, the g" kovaʼsiqui em this earth, will be 26 us habitants. And,

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CHAPTER I.

The Kingdom to be on this Earth.

BUT when ye pray, (said our Lord,) after this manner pray ye:-Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Math, vi. 7. name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as

Is. xvi. 5.

Luke x. 9.

it is in Heaven. Now is come salvation, and strength, and Rev. xil. 10. the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no Is. ix. 7. end. Upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even for ever. (Fulfil the moral law.) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you into the 2 Pet. i. 11. everlasting kingdom of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And in mercy shall the throne be established; and He shall sit upon it in truth, in the Tabernacle of David. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve 2 Tim-iv.18. me unto His heavenly kingdom. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be Luke i. 32. no end. But I tell you of a truth, there be standing here, which shall not taste of death, (the second death) till they Luke ix. 27. see the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. Seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things Luke xii.31. shall be added unto you. Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (After the Luke xiv. 15 first resurrection. Christ after his resurrection, eat fish and honey-comb before his disciples.) The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the Lk. xvii, 34. other shall be left. How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. He spake a parable, because Lk. xviii. 24 they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus went about all Lk.xxiii. 42 Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom. Ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of Math.xix.28 his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (As it is now so, generally, the end is at hand.) And in the day of these Dan. ii. 44. kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying: The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall

Lk. xvii. 20.

Lk. xix. 11.

Math. iv. 23

And

" xxiv. i4.

Rev. xi. 15.

Rev. v. 9. reign for ever and ever.

34.

24.

2 Chron. ii. 12.

Is. xi. 6.

For thou wast slain, and hast re

deemed us unto God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our Micahiv.8. God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. They Is. xiv. 2. shall rule over their oppressors. Then shall the king say Mat. xxv. unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 1 Cor. xv. the world. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Ps. xxii. 28, Lord, and an house for his kingdom. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is the governor among the nations. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and Is. xxxv.5. the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unDan vii.18. stopped. The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. And Saviours shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount Lk. xxii.18 of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the 1 Cor. vi. 9. kingdom of God shall come. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extorJames ii. 5. tioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to those that love him?

Oba. i. 21.

CHAPTER II.

The New Heavens and the New Earth.

THE first earth is that on which we dwell, and we know by lamentable experience, that upon it there dwelleth no righteousness. But on the second earth that Peter looked for, there is to be righteousness, which will constitute the essential and sublime characteristic of the new or first heavens to be thereon established,

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