verses, where our translators have rendered it "manner."*

From this it is evident, that "to judge" is, in the language of Scripture, very commonly "to reign;" and, while it may be applied to any exercise of regal authority, it does not appear to me to express any one in particular. When, therefore, I read, that those who suffer with Christ" shall also reign with him," I take it to mean the same as that, "thrones shall

* The true meaning of the word seems to be, "a rule or regulation," applying to any thing, modified by the subject to which it is applied. The judgment of a King was the "manner" of exercising his royal function; or, perhaps, as Houbigant has said, it expressed "indolem ipsam regiæ potestatis." Applied to the Priests, it was the "due order" (1 Chr. xv. 13) of performing their office according to the law; or, perhaps, only a "custom" (1 Sam. ii. 13) or regulation established among themselves. When applied to the tabernacle, or temple, it was the "fashion of it" (Ex. xxvi. 30, 1 Kings vi. 38, Ezek. xlii. 11), or the rule or plan by which it was built; and, therefore, in a great variety of places, which did not admit of any less general terms, our translators have rendered it by "manner." That what we understand by a judgment or judicial decision of a litigated question, was included in the idea, is obvious; and the word is frequently used to express it; yet in many, perhaps most, of the places where it is rendered judgment, it really means rather the ordinance of a ruler, than the decision of a judge.

be set and judgment given to them"-when it is said, "the saints shall judge the world," it seems to be equivalent to saying, that they

shall reign on the earth," when our Lord said, “I appoint unto you a kingdom," it was that they should "sit on thrones judging."

Let me not be understood as denying the fact of a general judgment in the sense in which we commonly use that word. All that I am contending for is, that although there will be such a judgment, yet that is not all that we ought to understand by the words which relate to judgment and judging in the Scripture. What we commonly understand by judging, is a part of the royal office in every monarchy, though in all human governments it must needs be executed by deputies; and it may be so, if it please God, in that great judgment. He to whom all judgment is committed, may appoint that judgment to others whom he may render capable of exercising it; but I must say that I see no proof or probability of this; and that it does seem to me highly improbable, that in that judgment, men should be in any proper

or intelligible sense, judges or assessors with the great Judge of all.

Another point is worthy of our attention. If the saints expect a kingdom, and reign, they are not themselves the subjects of that kingdom.

Undoubtedly, men and angels-all created beings are, and ever must be, subjects of the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, in the sense of inferiority and subjection, to sovereign and infinite power. Again, it may be truly said, that believers in Christ are the subjects of that kingdom of grace, which he rules as Head over all things to his Church. This dispensation, however, is "the patience of the saints:" it is in this period that they suffer with him. When they reign with him, in whatever other sense they may be subjects, they cannot be the subjects of that kingdom which they rule. Let me repeat, that I am not so absurd as to deny their infinite inferiority in all states and circumstances to him who is God over all, blessed for ever: I only mean to state, they do not form, (if I may so speak) the population, but the government of that kingdom. If they

inherit a kingdom, and reign, they must, in respect of that kingdom, have subjects; and these, I imagine, will consist of "the nations of the saved," of whom I have already spoken, or of the race of man redeemed by the Saviour of the world from all the consequences of the fall, and replaced in a world restored to its original goodness by the "restitution of all things."

ESSAY IX.

THE REGENERATION.

Restoration of the World-Redemption, Restitution, Regeneration— Baptism and Conversion not Regeneration.

NO one, I think, will charge me with mis representing the common opinion of Christians in this age and country if I express it thus: "That when our Lord shall come to judge the world, the whole race of mankind, the quick and the dead, shall be assembled before him; that he will proceed at once to award to them their respective destinies; that, immediately, those who shall be accepted for his sake will be translated to a state of eternal happiness in heaven, and those who have not become heirs of the kingdom of God, under the offered grace of the Gospel, will be cast into hell; and that the material world