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sequently made "an evil report."* But these attempted expositions are mere conjectures.

The most extended account of "fallen angels" may be found in Milton's grand epic, "Paradise Lost,"-the poetry of which is sublime, but the Theology ridiculous.

So manifestly absurd is the idea that immaculate beings rebelled against God and fell from their high station of purity and enjoyment, that it seems almost a work of supererogation to refute it argumentatively. If holy, angelic beings, exalted above us in nature and capacity, degenerated and became subjects of sinful torture, what security have we that our holiness and bliss shall hereafter be permanent? What guaranty have we that mankind, who, according to Paul, are "made subject to vanity," will always be suffered to remain in heaven, provided they all reach there?

DID THE APOSTLES BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL DESTRUCTION OF THE MATERIAL EARTH.

Two different answers to this interrogatory are given by different classes of professed Christian believers. By Protestant sects generally, with the exception of Universalists and a few others, it is answered affirmatively. This side of the question is sometimes sought to be proved by the citation of the following passage:

"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a

* See Numbers, xiii. 81, 32. ↑ Romans, viii. 20.

great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."*

This passage, however, (with several others which occur in the book of Revelation, equally emphatic and similarly employed) is by Universalists interpreted figu ratively, and supposed to refer merely to social, political and ecclesiastical changes and disruptions, which are symbolized by the expressions, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat," &c.

There is something rather amusing in the gravity with which some scriptural commentators have expatiated upon the subject of Peter's language when literally rendered. Dr. Clarke enters into this matter quite philosophically, and gives us considerable information in regard to the precise mode of operation by which our poor old mother Earth is to lose her identity, and finally become very fair and youthful. His observations are very profound; and although of considerable length, their vast

2. Peter, iii. 10-13.

importance should claim our devout and serious consideration-that is to say, if they are true.

"The heavens shall pass away with a great noise. As the heavens mean here, and in the passages above, the whole atmosphere, in which all the terrestrial vapors are lodged; and as water itself is composed of two gases, eighty-five parts in weight of oxygen and fifteen of hydrogen; or two parts in volume of the latter, and one of the former: (for if these quantities be put together, and several electric sparks passed through them, a chymical union takes place, and water is the product; and, vice versa, if the galvanic spark be made to pass through water, a portion of the fluid is immediately decomposed into its two constituent gases, oxygen and hydrogen ;) and as the electric, or ethereal fire, is that which, in all likelihood, God will use in the general conflagration; the noise occasioned by the application of this fire to such an immense congeries of aqueous particles as float in the atmosphere, must be terrible in the extreme. Put a drop of water on an anvil, place over it a piece of iron red hot, strike the iron with a hammer on the part above the drop of water, and the report will be as loud as a musket: when, then, the whole strength of those opposite agents is brought together into a state of conflict, the noise, the thunderings, the innumerable explosions, (till every particle of water on the earth, and in the atmosphere, is, by the action of the fire, reduced into its component gaseous parts) will be frequent, loud, confounding and terrific, beyond every comprehension but that of God himself.

The elements shall melt with fervent heat.

When the fire has conquered and decomposed the water, the elements, the hydrogen and oxygen airs or gases, (the former of which is most highly inflammable, and the latter an eminent supporter of all combustion) will occupy distinct regions of the atmosphere, the hydrogen by its very great levity ascending to the top, while the oxygen from its superior specific gravity will keep upon or near the surface of the earth; and thus, if different substances be once ignited, the fire, which is supported in this case not only by the oxygen, which is one of the constituents of atmospheric air, but also by a great additional quantity of oxygen obtained from the decomposition of all aqueous vapors, will rapidly seize on all other substances, on all terrestrial particles, and the whole frame of nature will be necessarily torn in pieces; and thus the earth and its works be burnt up.

All these things shall be dissolved. They will all be separated, all decomposed; but none of them destroyed. And as they are the original matter out of which God formed the terraqueous globe, consequently they may enter again into the composition of a new system; and therefore the apostle says, ver. 13, We look for a new heaven and a new earth: the others being decomposed, a new system is to be formed out of their materials. There is a wonderful philosophic propriety in the words of the apostle in describing this most awful event."*

* Clarke, on New Testament.

As the subject of the above extract from Dr. Clarke is of a kindling

The views of William Miller correspond very nearly with those of Dr. Clarke, in regard to the transition. process by which the Earth is to be rejuvenated. He says: "The earth, being cleansed by fire, will, like the phoenix, be revived from its own ashes. The destruction of the wicked, the end of death, sin banished, it will lighten the world of a load of crime which has made it reel to and fro like a drunkard; the internal fires will have spent their force on all combustible matter, and have gone out; volcanoes will cease; earthquakes, tornadoes, and whirlwinds can no more be experienced or needed, for the cause is gone; the earth or the heavens can no more be shaken, 'that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.' Hebrews, xii. 27-29. Then, when this earth shall become new, by being cleansed and purified, the New Jerusalem will 'come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.' Rev. xxi. 2, 3."*

nature, I might here introduce, with much propriety and without the least exhibition of pedantry, the hackneyed reference-phrase "in loco," with the addition of foco and matches!

* Lectures on the "Second Coming of Christ about the year 1843." Edition published in 1841, p. 23.

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