give this and the above passages a spiritual interpretation, and what violence you have done to the true doctrine of Christ's coming, to say nothing of the abuse of common sense. The Thessalonian brethren were troubled and alarmed, because they understood the apostle to teach that Christ was coming to be spiritually manifested in their hearts! What an occasion of trouble and alarm this! And again, to you that look for him to come spiritually the second time, he shall come without sin, appearing spiritually. O, from such a wind of doctrine, good Lord deliver us! 1 Thess. 1: 10. And to wait for His son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come; 2: 19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing; are not even ye in the presence of Christ at his coming? 3: 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints.

We have quoted out of the multitude of texts, a sufficient number to establish the doctrine of Christ's literal and personal coming, at the end of the world, and the last day, and no person that is acquainted with the plan of redemption, and has not a false theory to maintain, will venture a contradiction. Christ has never been absent spiritually, and consequently in this sense cannot make his second appearing. The nature, circumstances, and object of this second coming, as I have shown, forbids the idea of a spiritual coming. If we are to understand his coming to be spiritual, we are to understand that he is not coming at all; for a spiritual manifestation is not Christ coming. There is not one single event predicted to take place at the coming of Christ, that has or can be accomplished by a spiritual advent, be that what it may. None but a personal and literal descent of the Lord Jesus Christ in the

clouds of heaven, can fulfil the scriptures concerning this event; and none but His actual appearing and presence can accomplish the redemption of his people. Yes, dear reader, be not deceived. God is not mocked: the Lord himself shall descend from heaven: this same Jesus that you have seen go up into heaven, shall so come in like manAmen; even so come, Lord Jesus.

ner.

IMMORTALITY, ETERNAL LIFE.

Immortality and Eternal Life is a doctrine of the Christian faith next in order, following the coming of Christ and the resurrection. As we have noticed, man has no immortality in his present state. He is never addressed in scripture as an immortal being, or as possessing an immortal soul. When the body and spirit of life are united, man is pronounced a living soul, but no where said to be immortal. Adam was a candidate for immortality; or, in other words, he would have possessed the elements of immor tality had he obeyed God. The tree of life would have furnished these elements; and had he continued obedient, he could have had access to this tree, and all his posterity, and so had eternal life, or lived forever. But after he transgressed, God said, Lest he put forth his hand and eat also of the tree of life, and live forever, we will send him out of the garden, and guard the tree of life, to keep it from him. Consequently God could execute the penalty of his law. Adam not possessing in himself the element of immortality, must now die, and all his posterity. To say that man would not surely die, that he possessed an immortal soul that could not die, would be to deny God and believe the serpent.

Let all persons understand, that when they believe and

advocate the doctrine of a "never-dying soul," they believe a lie, and advocate the doctrine of the old serpent. If God had given Adam immortality or an immortal soul, he could never have executed the penalty of his law; for Adam could never have died. The meaning of immortal, or immortality [athonatos] is deathlessness. It is a quality rendering the possessor, not subject to disease, pain, or death. Though the soul may sin, yet it cannot die if it is immortal. Neither can it suffer pain, in this or the future state. All therefore that believe and advocate the immortality of the soul, believe and advocate the universal salvation of all men. Hence when this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Now having put on immortality, they can defy disease, pain, and death, and exultingly sing the song of victory and triumph.

Grant that all men possess inherent immortality, or that all will put on immortality at the resurrection, and you admit that all men will be saved, and that all can sing But this is not true. Man is destitute of this

this song. divine quality and attribute. By his transgression he lost all the means God had given him to perpetuate his existence and obtain eternal life. Christ therefore is to be the Redeemer the restorer of this quality-this life and immortality. He is now the tree of life to the world, and is accessible to all that seek to partake of Him. And just as certain as Adam died when deprived of the tree of life in the garden, just so certain will all die eternally-and perish for ever, that do not come to Christ, and eat of Him.— Therefore, Christ says, This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will arise him up at the last day. John 6: 40. I am the living bread that

came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 3: 14, 15, 16.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

How clear and positive the doctrine that man has no immortality in himself, and that he is to seek it through Christ; and that Christ is the tree of life, and we must all come to Him, and eat of Him, or die eternally-perish.When God took away the tree of life from Adam and his posterity, he saw all must die eternally, unless some other provision was made, and life again restored. And he so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son as a Redeemer, and substitute for this tree of life. So that now men need not perish, but if they will they may have immortality and eternal life. O, reader, stop! stop, I entreat of you, and reflect upon this amazing exhibition of the divine goodness, in the outstretching of His arm to save the human race! What love, what compassion, and mercy to a rebellious world! O that the goodness of God might lead you to repentance. The provision is ample, Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour. It is now only to look, believe, obey, and live. Why then will you die? O turn ye, turn ye, believe and live. He that believeth on the Son hath life everlasting: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3: 36. But how shall we believe on the Son? John 5: 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hear. eth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me hath

everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.— When?-at the judgment-but will then be passed from death unto life. Repent and believe the gospel. You are now Learing the gospel while I am speaking to you; do you believe it? And will you practice it? John 10: 27, 28.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me : And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.

It is plain then, that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; and as He is the tree of life, we must come to Him; take His yoke and learn of Him, or perish for ever. Rom. 6: 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 5: 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness [Christ] shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. This glorious doctrine of life and immortality is too important to be misunderstood, and hence Christ and the apostles have brought it clearly to light in the gospel, and all may understand it if they will. If we say we shall live for ever, and now have immortality inherent in us, so that we cannot perish, or become extinct, we give God the lie, and declare we have no need of his Son to give us eternal life.

The soul that sinneth it shall die.-God. The soul that sinneth it shall not die; it shall live for ever, or have eternal life in misery.-Man. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.-Paul. The wages of sin is not death, but eternal life in misery without Jesus Christ.-Man. He that hath the Son hath life, he that hath not the Son hath not life. -Christ. He that hath not the Son hath life inherent in himself, and will live for ever without Jesus Christ.-Man. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal