because of the deplorable fact itself, but also because I know men otherwise estimable, who are, unconsciously let me hope, concealing from view one of the most glorious of God's revealed purposes under the fogs of a bewildering metaphorical theology. Dispense with the fifteenth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, because you do not understand how the dead are raised? Better logic than this should be expected from men who generally take refuge from supposed difficulties in the light of their own intellect, whilst they admit the supernatural in relation to the Atonement and spiritual influence. Are there greater difficulties connected with some departments of the supernatural than with others? Are not all God's ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts? Men who believe in salvation through Christ, and yet refuse to believe that the dead in Him will be raised at His coming, are inconsistent; at least if we may accept Paul's logic on the subject. He says: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Let us be consistent in our faith. "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Let us have the Gospel as full as God has made it, the complete triumph over death in the resurrection of the members of that wonderful body of which the risen Christ is the Head. It was "by the word of the Lord" that Paul wrote thus to the tried Thessalonians. Well might he add, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." They are words of great comfort, of exceeding joy! Adoringly we gaze upon our Lord as the Resurrection as well as the Life, and the Resurrection just because He is the Life. The one is the glorious result of the other. His resurrection is the first-fruit of the Divine harvest of immortals in whom God is to find His eternal satisfaction, to see the issue of His infinite grace and wisdom, and the proof that-His great purpose realised the dark wave of moral evil that rolled over the fair young world has not left so much as a stain behind. For the rising of Christ from the dead was the crowning miracle of a long series, proving that this was the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God, the appointed Heir of all things, the King of kings and Lord of lords, and above all, the Head of His body, the Church. 1. To raise the dead. 1 Thess. iv. 13-16. First, the just, John v. 29, 25; vi. 40, 44, 54; 1 Cor. xv. 23; afterwards, the unjust. Rev. xx. 5; Acts xxiv. 15; John v. 29. Then all men at the end. Rev. xx. 11-15. Then follows the New Creation. Rev. xxi. 1-8. 2. To judge the world. 3. To save His people. Acts xix. 31; Matt. xxv. 31-46. 4. To destroy the wicked. 2 Thess. i. 8, 9; ii. 8; Is. xi. 4; lxiii. 1-4; lxvi. 15, 16, 24. 5. To restore all things. Acts iii. 21; Rev. xxi. 9—xxii. 6. To reign for ever. Is. xxiv. 23; Jer. xxiii. 5; Luke i. 32, 33; 1 Cor. xv. 25; Rev. v. 10. I. THE JUDGMENT. Gen. There is a just God who is the Judge of all the earth. xviii. 25; Ps. 1. 6; lxviii. 5; lxxv. 7; lxxxii. 8; xciv. 2; Heb. xii. 23; Jer. xi. 20; Deut. xxxii. 4. II. The affairs of men are not in the present time administered according to the laws of justice. Eccl. iii. 16; iv. 1; viii. 11; James v. 6; Mic. iii. 11; vii. 3. III. Therefore there must be a future judgment. Eccl. iii. 16, 17; Ps. 1. 4; Heb. x. 30; Rom. iii. 5, 6; Isa. xxviii. 16, 17; Rom. ii. 3. IV. God has appointed Jesus Christ to be the Judge of the world. Lets xvii. 31; Rom. ii. 16; John v. 22. V. When Christ was on earth He was not the Judge, but was judged by wicked men. John xii. 47; iii. 17; Luke xxiii. 1-11; Matt. xxvi. 57, 65. VI. Hence Christ will judge the world when He shall come again. Ps. xcviii. 7-9; 2 Tim. iv. 1, 8; Jude 14, 15; John xii. 48; 2 Pet. iii. 7; Heb. ix. 27; Matt. xxv. 31-46. VII. He shall judge the good, the bad, the living, the dead-The Jews, the Gentiles and evil angels. 1 Sam. ii. 10; Ps. vii. 6; xevi. 13; Joel iii. 12; Rom. ii. 1-16; Job xxi. 29-30; 1 Pet. iv. 5; Rom. xiv. 10; 2 Cor. v. 10; Matt. xxv. 41; 2 Pet. ii. 9; Daniel vii. 9-14 ; Luke xi. 31, 32; Jude 6; 2 Pet. ii. 4. VIII. He shall judge men according to their thought, their words, and their acts or deeds. Rom. ii. 16; Eccl. xi. 9; xii. 13, 14; Luke xiv. 13, 14; Matt. xii. 34-37; xvi. 27; Rom. ii. 6; Rev. xi. 18; xxii. 12. IX. This judgment consigns the wicked to eternal condemnation, and destruction like that of Sodom. Ps. xi. 6; Is. lxvi. 15, 16, 24; Mark iii. 29; Matt. xxv. 41, 46; Jude 6, 7; 2 Thess. i. 6-9. And gives to the righteous eternal salvation, glory, life, and inheritance. Heb. v. 9; ix. 15; 2 Tim. ii. 10; 1 Pet. i. 3-9; v. 10; Matt. xxv. 46; Rom. vi. 23; Jude 21; Heb. ix. 12; Luke xxi. 27, 28. X. The day of Judgment will come suddenly and unexpectedly to the wicked. Dan. xii. 10; 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4, 10; James v. 9; 1 Thess. v. 1-6; Matt. xxiv. 36, 42, 44; xxv. 13; Mark xiii. 82-37; Luke xvii. 26-30; xxi. 34-36; Acts xxiv. 25. XI. Hence men are commanded to repent. Acts xvii. 30; 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18; 2 Pet. iii. 9. THE DESTINY OF THE WICKED. What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel? I. They shall not live for ever. John v. 39, 40; 1 John v. 11, 12; iii. 36; 1 John iii. 15; Is. lv. 3; Ezek. xviii. 23; Deut. xxx. 19, 20. II. They shall die. Ezek. xviii. 4, 31, 32; Rom. vi. 21-23; vii. 5; James i. 15; Rom. vi. 16; viii. 13; Rev. xxi. 8; Rom. i. 32; Rev. xx. .13, 15; Rev. ii. 11; xx. 6; James v. 19, 20. III. They shall perish. Job xx. 4-7; Ps. xcii. 9; Ps. lxviii. 2; xlix. 20; lxxiii. 27; 2 Thess. i. 9, 10; Ps. xxxvii. 20; 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16; John iii. 14-17; Luke xiii. 2-5; 2 Pet. iii. 9; Ps. ii. 10-12; 2 Pet. ii. 12; Acts xiii. 40, 41. IV. They shall be cut off. Ps. xxxvii. 9, 22, 28, 34, 38; Ps. xciv. 23; Nahum i 15; Prov. ii. 21, 22. V. They shall be destroyed. Job. xxi. 29, 30; xxxi. 2, 3; Ps. cxlv. 20; Rom. ix. 22; Ps. lv. 23; Ps. v. 6; Is. i. 28; Prov. xiii. 13, 20; Phil. iii. 18, 19; Rom. iii. 16-17; Prov. xxix. 1; Matt vii. 13; x. 28; Acts iii. 23; 2 Pet. ii. 12; Ps. cxliv. 6; xcii. 7; xxxvii. 38; 1 Tim. vi. 9; Ps Ixxiii. 3, 17, 18; 2 Thess. i. 9, 10; Rev. xi. 18; 1 Thess. v. 3; Prov. i. 27. Ps. 1. 3; xi. Rev. xxi. 8; Heb. Matt. xxv. 41, 46; VI. They shall be consumed. Zeph. i. 1-3; Ps. xxxvii. 20; lxvi. 16, 17; Ps. lix. 13; lxxi. 13; Is. xxix. 20; Ps. civ. 35; Heb. xii. 29. VII. The agent of punishment is fire and brimstone. 6; xxi. 8, 9; cxl. 10; Matt. iii. 12; xviii. 8, 9; x. 26, 27; Matt. xiii. 40-42; Rev. xx. 9, 14, 15; Jude 7; Luke xvii. 29.30; Matt. xiii. 30; Ps. xcvii. 3; Mal. iv. 1-3; Is. xxx. 27, 30, 33. VIII. Their punishment shall take place, not at death, but at the coming of Christ. Job. xxi. 29, 30; John xii. 48; Matt. xxv. 31, 32, 41; 2 Pet. ii. 4, 9, 17; Jude 14, 15, 6; Matt. xiii. 47-50; 2 Thess. i. 7-10. IX. They shall be as though they had not been. Ps. lviii. 7-11; Is. xxix. 20; xl. 23; xli. 11, 12; Ps. xxxvii. 10; Obad. 15, 16. X. Endless life only obtained through Christ Jesus. John xi. 25 John iii. 15; x. 28; xvii. 2; Rom. vi. 23. THE STATE OF THE DEAD. Man giveth up the spirit, (lit. expireth), and where is he? I. They are not with. Christ in Heaven. John iii. 13; John viii. 21; John xiii. 33; xiv. 3; Acts ii. 34; 1 Thess iv. 16, 17. II. They are not in xxi. 30; 2 Pet. ii. 9. III. hell fire - (If so what need of a judgment?) Job They are in their graves. John v. 28, 29; Acts ii. 29. one place. Eccl. iii. 20. In the dust. Gen. iii. 19; xxii. 15; Job vii. 21. IV. That place is one of darkness, silence and repose. x. 21, 22; Ps. lxxxviii. 12; Eccl. ix. 10. All in Dan. xii. 2; Ps. Job iii. 11-19; V. They sleep. Deut. xxxi. 16; 2 Sam. vii. 12; 1 Kings ii. 10; 1 Kings xi. 21, 43; 2 Kings xx. 21; 2 Chron. xxxii. 33; 2 Chron. xxvi. 23; Job iii. 13; Job vii. 21; xiv. 12; Ps. lxxvi. 5; Matt. xxvii. 52; Acts vii. 60; Acts xiii. 36; 1 Cor. xv. 6, 18, 20, 51; 1 Thess. v. 10; 2 Pet. iii. 4. VI. powers. Ps. vi. They praise not the Lord, and exercise no mental 5; Ps. lxxxviii. 10-12; Ps. cxv. 17; Ps. cxlvi. 4; Eccl. ix. 5, 6, 10; Is. xxxviii. 18, 19; Job xiv. 21. VII. Death is an enemy-Satan hath the power of death-Christ shall destroy both. Job ii. 4; Is. xxxviii. 2, 3; Deut. iii. 23-26; Phil. ii. 27; 1 Cor. xv. 26; Heb. ii. 14; Rev. xx. 14; Hos. xiii. 14; Is. xxv. 8. VIII. God only has immortality, and incorruptibility, and life. 1 Tim. vi. 16; 1 Tim. i. 17; Ps. xxxvi. 9; John v. 26; John xi. 25. Man is mortal. Job iv. 17; (vii. 1, 17; x. 5; xv. 14; xxv. 4, 6; Ps. viii. 4; x. 18; ix. 19, 20; xc. 3; ciii. 15; cxliv. 3-in Hebrew). He must seek immortality (Grk. incorruption). Rom. ii. 7. Or perish in corruption. 2 Pet. ii. 12. IX. Immortality shall be put on at the appearing of Christ. xv. 53, 54; 2 Cor. v. 4. CORRESPONDENCE. "THEM THAT SLEEP IN JESUS." DEAR SIR,-I should be glad if you would allow me a few words on the subject, "Them that sleep in Jesus." What does this mean? Why are men at such a loss for a sure and satisfactory understanding of God's Word? What is the true nature of man? The right answer to this question will disperse all the confusion and darkness which obtains in the mind of Christendom in reference to death, and by which the plain statements of Scripture are so obscured. "Thou art dust." "Thou" refers to the whole man, and not to a part-therefore Adam is in the dust to this hour. What death was to Adam, it is to the race; therefore all who have died have returned to dust. "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish." Consequently there is no half-alive state. Consciousness is gone. "The dead praise not thee, neither any that go down into silence." Should not one clear statement of God's Word be satisfactory?"A word to the wise is sufficient." Man is incapable of being divided into soul and body, the fact of the case being demonstrably this, that the body and soul together form the man. Are departed saints in heaven? Certainly not. They sleep in Jesus. Where? Why in the grave, and out of the grave they will be called at the coming of the Lord. "We who are alive and remain," said Paul," shall not prevent them which are asleep," for at the voice of the archangel and the trump of God the dead in Christ shall rise first (need one add where from ?) then the quick and the awakened dead shall be caught up together to meet the Lord (they had not met Him before), and so shall we ever be with Him. The departed saints, therefore, come out of their graves, and not from heaven at the coming of the Lord, according to Scripture. Christ said at the first, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth (as all the righteous dead do), but when He saw that His disciples misunderstood Him, then said He plainly, "Lazarus is dead." Did He mean that he was half alive somewhere? Certainly not, and He went to the grave to find him, and from thence He called him. What is the true nature of man? We may speak of him as composed of body and soul, but what is the relation of the soul to the body? The body is the organism, the soul is the function of that organism, or the whole mental outcome of the complex organ of the brain. Christ is our great Example and Pattern in all things. He was the Word made flesh. And when He died, He lost His life, that is to say, He laid it down. According to that, He said, "I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again," and He did so on the morning of the third day, rising triumphant, from where? Why, from among the dead. "Behold, I am He that was dead, and I am alive for evermore." It follows then, necessarily and inevitably, that this widespread notion which obtains throughout Christendom, and has obtained for so many centuries, about a twofold existence, one part resting in the grave, and the other living, feeling, acting elsewhere, is nothing else than a delusion, having not an atom of support from the Scriptures or from the ascertained facts of man's nature. I had the blessing and fortune of being presented with some copies of your VALUABLE Magazine of Christian Literature, the RAINBOW. On perusing them I was strengthened with the true Spirit and Doctrines of the Word of God. Having myself benefited, I began to impart its doctrines to many Christian friends. Much excitement is produced. Many are benefited by it. Discussion is made in our native newspapers, and wonderful progress is gradually acquired in theology. "May the Lord be ever praised and His name be glorified." Dear Sir, I beg and pray you to have the pleasure and be kind enough as to send me a copy of the said Magazine monthly on gratis to us. Further, I pray you to have the benevolence and mercy as to favour us with some volumes of the old numbers, as they are specially required to give us thorough and finite teachings of the subjects contained therein. I think if a periodical of the same in our vernacular-the Tamil-is started up here, it will bring forth great and immeasurable good. Poor and blinded children shall grow in true Christian life and doctrines. For this I can, and am willing, through the Lord's help, to be the Tamil Editor. But until its value is felt amidst many, we could hardly support its publication, as we are very poor and badly off in our pecuniary affairs. Hence cannot and will not, I pray, some benevolent children of God render some pecuniary aid towards its publication until a good number of subscribers is had and the Magazine prospers? I believe a donation of £100, in two instalments, is quite sufficient towards its maintenance. If we will ask you to favour us with a missionary and you be pleased, I dare say you will not decline, which |