make the subject plainer than by citing the language of the Judge himself: 'Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.' The same time is presented in various ways in the New Testament. St. Paul, speaking of it, says, 'Now once in the end of the world [aion, age] hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.'* Then was the time alluded to by the Judge in the following highly figurative language: 'Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.'t And that we might rest assured that such misery and destruction would never again be known in our world, the Judge has declared, 'For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.' Gladly would we dwell here, but we must leave the subject with a few more observations. We have shown, imperfectly we admit, the manner, the object, and the time of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Judge of the world.

In closing this number, however, we feel it to be a duty we owe to the cause of this Judge, to state distinctly, that while we believe in a judgment which took place amid the closing scenes of the old dispensation, we have no idea that this is all that we are to understand by the office of Judge being assigned to the Saviour. For the word signifies not only to try and determine a cause, but to rule and + Matt. xxiv. 29.

* Heb. ix. 26.

Ib. 21.

govern.* We believe that Jesus came to establish a kingdom in the human soul, and that in that kingdom, 'all judgment is committed to the Son.' There he is to rule and govern. There he maintains supreme authority. There he will build up and complete a kingdom which shall last when all earthly thrones and dominions shall have passed away. A very excellent divine, speaking of the manner in which this Judge rules by his gospel, says, 'Its influence enters into the secret closets, and visits the inward council chambers of the soul, and there it reasons of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come." O could we get admittance to this secret parley, what should we there see? what an influence should we there see exerted? When criminal desire claims indulgence; when lust burns; when anger rages; when revenge seeks retaliation; when envy rankles; when pride swells; when covetousness gripes the heart, and ambition moves the soul; in short, when any one or more of the unholy passions stirs up the soul to any thing unlawful, then who is that, with aspect so dignified, with authority so commanding, and with eloquence so persuasive, standing amidst the dark and mutinous group, commanding and entreating, threatening and promising, expostulating and reasoning, until every wicked and corrupt Felix, and every proud and wanton Drusilla, trembles? O it is the genius of the gospel of Christ! She stands there, from morning till night, and from night till morning, restraining, and sometimes changing, the

*Psa. lxvii. 4. Heb. x. 30.

wicked purpose of the heart.'* Did our limits permit, we would gladly dwell on the glories of the reign of this Judge; but we must break off in the very midst of a subject the most glorious that ever entered the heart of man. For we are told that Jesus shall 'judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'t '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 the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.'‡

Such will be the grand results of the reign of Jesus. Such was the object the Great Father had in view, when he committed all judgment into the hands of his Son. How glorious! Compare, for a moment, the work assigned to Jesus, as revealed in the word of God, to that which human creeds have usually ascribed to him. According to these, there will be a separation between the nearest friends on earth, and while some are forever to bewail their existence, others are to rejoice over the torments even of their own children! What a shocking view to take of the moral government of that pure, and lovely, and benignant Spirit that presides over the universe! It cannot be. Heaven forbids it! Such a termination of the great plan of Deity would clothe the universe in sackcloth! The very angels of heaven would weep!

* From a Sermon before the Vermont Legislature, by Rev. W. FISK, 1826.

† Mic. iv. 3.

Isa. xi. 6.

No. A voice comes up from the very depths of the heart and contradicts it. Revelation is against it. A vast plan is formed in the divine mind; that plan is 'to gather together in one all things in Christ.' In reaching this great and sublime object, the Lord of the universe has seen fit to make his Son not only a Saviour, but a Judge. The great work is commenced, and in the fulness of time it will be completed; 'and when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.'*

* For a more extended view of this whole subject, see Observations on our Lord's conduct as a Divine Instructor, by WILLIAM NEWCOME, D. D., p. 202, et seq. Charlestown, 1810. Also a labored sermon in the Religious Inquirer, vol. iii. p. 35, et seq. For a practical view of the subject, see some excellent observations in a work entitled Universalism Illustrated and Defended,' by Rev. O. A. SKINNER, chap. xiv. p. 229. Boston, 1839.

XLV. KING.

Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.' Luke xix. 38.

THUS exclaimed 'the whole multitude of the disciples.' Thus, as the King of Zion 'came nigh even at the descent of the mount of Olives,' did they 'rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.' It was the last journey of the King of saints to Jerusalem. And yet his enemies could even deny him the small triumph of coming into the city upon an ass's colt, attended by a company of poor people, 'spreading their clothes in the way.' How admirable was the reply of the King: 'I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.' How different was the appearance of the King of Zion from that of the kings and conquerors of earth! One comes attended by the poor and despised of the world; the other, surrounded with all the pomp and splendor that courts and pageantry can impart. One comes in meekness and humility; the other in pride and haughtiness. One goes to meet his fate as a malefactor; the other to ascend a throne. One, to establish a kingdom in the human heart; the other to rear an outward kingdom among men. One, 'when he came near, beheld the