WHEN the great apostle of the Gen- | light," this great truth is exhibited tiles was a prisoner in the custody of Felix, the Roman governor of Casarea, and was sent for by that person to "hear of the faith in Christ,' we are told that Paul "reasoned with him "concerning righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.' This record shows that in the estimation of the apostle there was a reasonableness in the idea of a future judgment, and that, independently of the disclosures of revelation, it was to be expected that the Supreme Governor of the world, who now permitted men almost with impunity, as Felix did, to violate his laws, would, in a future state, punish them for their guilt, as well as reward and honour his own suffering and afflicted people. This simple deduction of reason, which has affected mankind more or less in all ages and nations, and led them, when they reflected on their crimes, like Felix to tremble, is abundantly confirmed and illustrated in the revealed will of God. Under the Old Testament dispensation this truth was so far made known that the pious Hebrews believed in the "L resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust," and in the divine adjudication of each. But in the gospel dispensation, when Christ has "brought life and immortality to VOL. 1,-N. S. *D in the fullest and most impressive manner. The Lord Jesus Christ himself repeatedly referred to it in his discourses in the most awful terms. The inspired apostles constantly taught it in their discourses and writings; and the manner in which they inculcated it evinced that they regarded that event as the most solemn and momentous connected with the history of the human race. How impressive are allusions like these ;-God "hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." "For we must all appear at the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Solemn and searching are the emotions which they awaken in the reflective mind! Among the terms selected to de features of this day it is most properly called "the day of Christ!" signate this day one of the most in- | see him." Such being one of the teresting and significant is that which calls it "the day of Christ," "the day of the Lord," "the day of the Lord Jesus." This phrase indicates that with the proceedings and results of that day, the great Redeemer must have an intimate connection. It is not only the "great day,' "the day of judgment," but it is "the day of Christ. Let us inquire why such a description is suitable and proper. One of the reasons for the description may be that on that day the Lord Jesus will be revealed in all the majesty and glory of his great name. He appeared on earth in a lowly form, when he came to be "a man of sorrows," and to suffer for our sins. That was the time of his humiliation, when he "made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant." Then, "he was despised and rejected of men," and "set at nought" by the vilest and meanest of mankind. That was the period when he displayed his compassion in stoop ing from his throne, and submitting to the ignominious death of the cross So profound was his humiliation, and so greatly did he vail his Godhead in our flesh, that men have even doubted the reality of his divine and exalted nature and dignity. They have wilfully overlooked the grandeur of his compassionate miracles, and the bright shining of the Godhead in his discourses and in his transfiguration on the holy mount. The infinite and almighty power of the Son of God will be displayed at this all important day. Manifestations of his divine power were frequently given while he was upon earth. Innumerable were the miracles that he performed. He healed the sick, he gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, feet to the lame, and life to the dead. His own resurrection from the grave was a fine illustration of his divine power. But at that great day, when he shall come forth from heaven in his glory, the displays which he will give of his almighty energy will assume a character and evince a might which will fill all the intelligent creation with astonishment and awe. He will raise the dead! All the dead from the first man, Adam, to the last of his race who has fallen under the stroke of death. How countless the millions of the human race! How multiplied their generations! How inconceivable the mystery of that power which shall raise them from their dust! It will be like a second creation, a creation of the whole race at once! "They that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth." The slumbers of thousands of years shall end. The spirit of each shall re-animate its former body, only in a new and changeless form. "He shall change,' But the great day of Christ will the once vile bodies" of his saints, for ever put all such doubts to flight."that they may be fashioned accordHe will then be "revealed from ing to his glorious body, according heaven." He will "come in his to the working whereby he is able glory." Invested with all the splen- even to subdue all things unto himdours of the eternal throne, and sur- self." That which was sown in rounded by the glorious hosts of corruption " shall be "raised in inheaven as his attendants, the homage corruption," that which was sown in of the entire creation, angelic, human, dishonour" shall be "raised in glory," and material, will attest the majesty that which was sown in weakness' and confess the dignity of the Son of shall be "raised in power," and that God. "He will come in the glory which was sown a natural body" of his Father," and "every eye shall shall be "raised a spiritual body.” for us. 66 66 66 John, who had the scene presented to him in vision, said, "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the Idead which were in them.' All the dead will rise in obedience to Christ's almighty word,-the wicked with bodies suited to their fearful doom. 66 He will change the living! The same resistless and universal energy shall be exerted on all that are "alive and remain." They will be changed," and this divine work, this awful display of infinite power, will be the transaction of a moment! So says the inspired apostle : "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed," He who once stood at the grave of Lazarus, surrounded by a host of deeply interested spectators, and said with a loud voice, "Lazarus come forth," will then from his throne in the heavens, surrounded by all the glorious hosts above, speak to a sleeping world, 66 Awake, and come to judgment;" and the countless millions will rise and be ranged at his bar. What infinite power! What a manifest propriety in this day being denominated the day of the Lord Jesus, as then his almighty energy will be universally felt and displayed! How strikingly will the day of judgment also illustrate the unlimited knowledge of the Lord Jesus. "Lord thou knowest all things," said Peter, when questioned by him as to his love. As if he had said, "Thou searchest the heart, thou knowest the hidden secrets of the mind, and therefore thou knowest that I love thee." The same knowledge of every individual of the immense assembled throng will be essential to the execution of the work of that day. There must be a knowledge of every action, of every motive, of every thought, of every privilege, of every favour enjoyed or abused by every one. The mind of mortals recoils at the idea of such amazing knowledge. But it belongs to him who "shall judge the secrets of all hearts," and "reward them according to their works." At that day all will be sensible that they are individually before the Great Judge, that "all things are naked and open" unto him, and that his judgment is according to truth. No "idle word " will be forgotten, nor "cup of cold water given to a disciple," lose its reward. As every action, thought, and purpose, go to make up the character, so all will be brought before the review of him who is "the judge of quick and dead." Nor less remarkable will that day be for its demonstration of the universal authority of Christ. Who attend him as his servants? All the holy angels are with him. Who "meet" him with joy and gladness "in the air," as their Lord? "The Church which he has purchased with his own blood." And who are they that with dread reluctance obey his summons and stand tremblingly at his bar? Those who hated him, those who persecuted him, those who denied him, those who said "we will not have this man to rule over us." Then will be fulfilled the oath: "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory, and all they that are incensed against him shall be ashamed." His authority will then be universally acknowledged, and while those who insulted his majesty, despised his gospel, and refused his grace, will then see the folly and the sin of their course; they will also acknowledge themselves to be the subjects of his government and be conscious that they are at the absolute disposal of his resistless will. and power." The day of judgment, the last day, is then emphatically the day of Christ. It will be the day of his triumph, of his glory; the day when all in heaven, and earth, and hell will proclaim him Lord and King. That awful and glorious day will manifest the inviolable fidelity of Christ. Fidelity consists in the entire performance of every word. Christ will then fulfil his words of grace and of justice too. Will there be among the "multitude which no man can number one of his people that will be overlooked? Whose faith and obedience, whose sufferings How intensely solemn, and how and patience, whose devotedness and deeply interesting will be the translove will be forgotten? Not one. actions of that day! When we atAll will be there. Prophets and tend a court of justice, and a single apostles will be there. Martyrs and fellow creature is tried for his life, confessors will be there. Every how solemn and interesting are the humble believer, even the thief from proceedings! We mark the course the cross will be there. All will en- of the evidence, and watch the dejoy his presence and receive his grace. meanor of the prisoner. We feel And will any unbeliever be over- that his destiny trembles in the balooked in that day? Any titled lance. Our breath is at times suprebel? any obscure traitor? Not pressed, and the intensity of our conone. "For God will bring every cern absorbs all other feelings. We work into judgment and every secret tremble and weep as the fatal verthing." Will there be a single pro- dict is given and the solemn sentence mise unfulfilled, or a single threaten- is pronounced. But when the whole ing? Not one. Christ is faithful. world is judged, when the issues of "He cannot deny himself." His eternity are before every one; when name is Jehovah, he "changes not." Christ the Lord is judge himself, and "Heaven and earth shall pass away, "the heavens declare his righteousbut his words will not pass away." ness," how unutterably awful is the scene. On his lips depend our doom, to endless life or endless death! Finally, that day will be the day of Christ because he will then have completed the great work which he undertook to perform. This work was to restore order in a revolted world, to "destroy the works of the devil." Then, when he has glorified his own people and destroyed the last enemy, death; when he has raised his saints to a happy immortality, and placed them in eternal allegiance and brought them to a happy nearness to their God; and when he has consigned "the unbelieving and abominable" to their own place, and the fallen angels are bonnd in "everlasting chains in the blackness and darkness forever;" then he shall say, "It is done; I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last." His work will then be completed. "He will have put down all rule, and all authority, tion can conceive, or what pen de- | scribe them! Either the profound and lofty joy of the expectants of perfect bliss; or the prostrate and withering fear of the expectants of endless pain? They are alike indescribable. How fearful the thought that those who live in the same town, attend the same place, hear the same sermons, reside under the same roof, may experience the opposite emotions of each section, and part forever! How important are our present opportunities. Reader, now Christ calls, hear him. Now he offers mercy and peace, receive the heavenly gifts at his hands. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." May it be so to you! KIRKBY WOODHOUSE CENTENARY. We have much pleasure in presenting to our readers the following document. Though not filled with details of surpassing interest, it contains facts which show the humble and devoted followers of Christ have been enabled to labour and to suffer for the truth's sake; and how numerous are the vicissitudes through which, in this militant state, even a small congregation of the faithful may be called to experience. We shall be glad if some other of our churches, as the period of their centenary arrives will follow the example of our friends at Kirkby Woodhouse, in gathering up the main facts of their history, and after using them for their own instruction and edification, forwarding them for insertion in the pages of our Magazine.-ED. On Lord's-Day, July 10th, 1854, two sermons were preached by the Rev. R. Stanion of Wirksworth, in aid of the Sabbath-schools connected with the above place of worship. The congregations were exceedingly large, and collections much the same as on former occasions. On Monday following, the Centenary of the above chapel was celebrated as follows:The Rev. J. Wood of Mansfield preached in the morning from Isaiah lvii. 15. The attendance in the morning was rather thin, owing mainly to the unfavourable state of the weather. In the afternoon the meeting was opened by brother J. Wood giving out a hymn, after The The following is the substance of the Report which was read on the occasion :— "In presenting you with a short history of the introduction, rise, and progress of the glorious gospel of the |