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present glorified nature wholly renders it improbable and impossible, that He should personally appear and reign on the earth.-Neither is it to be supposed, that those who are said to reign with Christ a thousand years, will literally rise from the dead, and reign here on the earth with Christ. For, if they are literally raised, their bodies must be corruptible and mortal, or incorruptible and immortal. The former does not comport at all with the description of the resurrection bodies of the saints, given in the Bible, and the latter, being only fitted for heavenly mansions, would be wholly unsuited to this earthly state. Christ's reign on the earth therefore, will be spiritual. He will most emphatically reign in the hearts and lives of men by His Spirit for a thousand years.The first resurrection, also, will be spiritual. There will be a revival of the prosperity, reign, and triumph of the cause of religion in those, who live on the earth. The martyrs, confessors, and eminent Christians will rise in their spirit, in the Christians of that day, as Elias rose in John.(c)

Q. 5. Will all Christians in the Millennium be perfectly holy, or arrive at sinless perfection?

A. They will not. It will be as true then as now, that no man liveth and sinneth not; though sin will not greatly abound.(d)

Q. 6. Will children in this time be born depraved, as they now are?

(c) Rev. 20. 4-6. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again, until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

(d) Eccl. 7. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

A. They will. It is agreeable to Divine constitution, that all of the human race should partake of the nature of fallen man.(e)

Q. 7. Will there be any pain and sorrows in the Millennial days?

A. There will. All will have more or less tribulation. It is incompatible with a state of probation, that men should be free from troubles and distresses.(f)

Q. 8. Will there be any need of a preached Gospel, and the administration of the sacraments in the Millennium?

A. There will. A preached Gospel will then as now, be the usual means of the conversion and sanctification of the hearts of men. Baptism will then be, as it now is, the initiatory ordinance into the Church, and the Lord's Supper is to be observed till Christ's second appearance-till He comes in judgment.(5)

Q. 9. When will the Millennium commence? A. The particular day or year, perhaps, cannot be ascertained. Probably it will begin before the seventh thousand years of the world commence. The prophecies of Daniel and of John the Divine, lead to this conclusion. According to these predictions, the Church is to be oppressed by Papal superstition and Mahometan delusion 1260 years. These are to commence, continue, and close together. The Papal superstition, most probably, commenced in 606, when Phocas constituted the Bishop of Rome, universal Bishop, and Mahomet

(e) John 3. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Job 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. (f) Job 14. 1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

(g) Matt. 28. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 11. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

began his infamous reign the same year. Add 1260 to 606 and it makes 1866, the probable time for the commencement of the release of the Church, and of the destruction of her enemies. About this time the Jews and Gentiles will be converted, and unite together in one body under Christ their spiritual head. Then will be the latter day glory of the Church-the season of Millennial blessedness. This is agreeable to the opinion of the most able and learned modern Writers on the prophecies.(1)

Q. 10. How long will the Millennium continue? A. Most probably a 1000 years literally. Some, however, have thought that it would continue a 1000 prophetical years, which, a day being put for a year, and reckoning 360 days in a year, would make 360,000 years.

Q. 11. How is the Millennium to be introduced? A. By the instrumentality of human means, accompanied with the blessing of heaven.

Q. 12. How ought the benevolent exertions of the present day to be viewed in relation to this subject?

A. They ought to be viewed as an indication of good. The Bible, Missionary, Education, and Tract Societies will be, no doubt, greatly instrumental in advancing the Millennial day.

(h) Dan. 7. 25. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand, until a time and times, and the dividing of time, that is, three years and a half, or forty-two months, which, reckoning thirty days to a month, (and this is according to prophetical computation,) make twelve hundred and sixty days, which prophetical days make twelve hundred and sixty years. Rev. 11. 2. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Ezek. 36. 24, 28. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land; and ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Isa. 11. 12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

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Q. 13. What will immediately follow upon the

close of the Millennium?

A. Satan will then be loosed a little while, probably as long a time before the close of the seventh thousand years, as the Millennium commences before the close of the sixth thousand.(i)

Q. 14. What is meant in Scripture by binding and loosing Satan?

A. They are figurative modes of expression, denoting, in the one case, the restraints, under which he is laid by God, and, in the other case, the permission or liberty, granted him by God to tempt and afflict mankind.

Q. 15. What will take place at the end of the seven thousand years?

A. The world will come to a solemn close, and be burnt up; Christ will be revealed from heaven in great power and glory, and sit in judgment upon angels and men, and award retribution for eternity, These awful and glorious events will conclude all the scenes of this world.()

Q. 16. What is the duty of Christians in view of the Millennium?

A. It is their duty to expect it, desire it, pray for it, and use all means in their power to introduce it.

(i) Rev. 20.7,8. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and shall go out to deceive the nations, which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

(i) 2 Peter 3. 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a . thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. 2 Thess. 1.7-10. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus. 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 the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed in that day.

THE

ASSISTANT TO FAMILY RELIGION.

PART III.

RESOLUTIONS, AND QUESTIONS OF SELF-EXAMINATION.”

Resolution 1. I will be grateful for the Light of nature, which makes known the existence and most of the perfections of God, and the present condition and many of the duties of man; and, though I must consider it but a partial and imperfect guide in truth and duty, yet I will endeavour to act according to its dictates.

Question of self-examination.

Do I study the works of God to learn His character, and my duty?

R. 2. I will be grateful for the Holy Scriptures, which contain a full and perfect revelation of the Divine mind and will, and are substantiated as of heavenly origin by the most convincing and abundant evidence; and I will take them for the rule of my faith and practice, study much to understand their sacred contents, and test all my religious principles and conduct by them.

Q. Do I, especially when infidelity is prevalent, and errours are published, daily resort to the Bible as my

*It is to be understood and remembered, that all resolutions should be made in dependance on the grace of God, and not in one's own strength. It may be useful to read these resolutions, and questions of self-examination, frequently, and statedly, as at the close of every day, week, month, and year.

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