THE RESURRECTION.

Therefore, behold, the time cometh when "all that are in their graves, shall hear His voice"—even the voice of God—and the angel shall sound the trumpet, and its tones of melody and the voice of love will move earth and seas, from centre to circumference, and awake into immortal life the decayed bodies and mouldering dust of His sleeping children. "For the dead in Christ shall rise first," and "blessed are they who have part in the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power." "They shall have a right to the tree of life." See the myriads of sepulchres and graves opening, and saints rising in the light of the "glory of God," and millions of the sheeted dead—who have slept beneath the bosom of "deep blue seas;" in the depths of oceans, or were swept away by floods and flowing rivers—rising and riding in triumph upon the swelling, bright-crested waves which sparkle in the resplendent glory-light of heaven.

"See these all arrayed in white,Brighter than the noon-day sun."

These come forth at their Creator's call, and now at His bidding, the happy reunion of the long separated partners—souls and bodies—takes place, and the vast realm resounds with shouts of triumph and songs of praise. While the "Morning Stars" who sang thepeanof Creation, and the angelic host—who celebrated in the hill-country of Judea, the advent of the Saviour on earth to ransom fallen man—join in melody and again swell the loud anthem, "glory to God in the highest!" Then shall be repeated the saying which was written, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And, ascending again with their resurrected glorified bodies, the voice of the archangel Gabriel—who sounded their resurrection trumpet—will be heard from the portal of heaven, throughout the vast domain. BEHOLD THEY COME!

We would fain close this chapter with these delightful reflections, and leave the minds of all free from fearful apprehensions, and happy in the contemplation of a future resurrection to the enjoyment of a blissful immortality and eternal life. But the Laws of God are stern and inflexible in their requirements; His judgments sure; His revelations plain, and all are in duty bound to contemplate them.

We have told you that at Hiscall"the righteousshall come forth to a resurrection of life." And now we have to record the fact that—at Hiscommand—"the wicked shall come forth to a resurrection of damnation." To contemplate or depict the scene startles the mind, and baffles and beggars the human intellect.

We fancy a death-like silence prevails throughout the earth and seas, and the vast domain of Heaven. Songs of triumph, and shouts of joy, of both saints and angels, have ceased for one hour of eternity. The Judge ascends His throne, from which to issue His command. The four and twenty Elders remove their glittering crowns of gold, and bow before Him. Moses and Elijah, and all the prophets, apostles, and martyrs are there. There the redeemed of the Lord—whom no man can number—are assembled with legions of angels. All bow before the Lord, and "there is silence in Heaven." Hark! the command was given! The voice of the final judgment-trumpet; in thunder tones, waxes louder and louder! and seems to shake heaven itself, with its surrounding universe of worlds. It is the trumpet-voice of the "WRATH OF GOD" summoning the wicked of a sin-cursed world, to arise and come to judgment.

See! the Earth is convulsed from the centre to its circumference, and is "rocking to and fro, as a drunken man." Graves are opening on every hand, and from all the Earth, from deep dark seas and oceans' depths,behold the pale,ghastlymultitudes coming forth, filled with terror and dismay. Mountains are sinking, and valleys rising, like surgings of contending billows; and their rocky foundations, though ten thousand feet deep, are breaking into fragments! A tempest of God's fiery indignation is smiting the Earth! Hear the muttering thunders of the judgment storm! see the dread lightnings flashing amidst the surrounding gloom! The internal magazine-fires of the Earth are belching forth their molten lava, which is lifting the deep foundations of seas and oceans into mountain-peaks, and rollingfiery billows. See! behold! the Universal conflagration of the world! seas, oceans, and all the Earth, one vast sheet offlame. While the angel (which John saw) "standing in the Sun" calls in thunder tones, ARISE YE DEAD AND COME TO JUDGMENT! And then swears by Him, that liveth forever and ever, "Time shall be no longer."

The unnumbered millions of resurrected bodies of the wicked would fain refuse a reunion with their long lost souls, and fall back and be consumed or annihilated by the raging elements. But now, for the wicked there is no place of safety. They refused the refuge once freely offered them in the "cleft side of the Redeemer," and trifled away their days of grace, and now the stern reality of the threatened judgment is upon them. Their souls, perhaps, have already suffered forthousands of years in fiery torments, and now death and hell give up their dead to a reunion, that all may receive their final sentence from the "Judge of quick and dead" to depart and "dwell in everlasting burnings."

In their direful extremity they would fain "flee from the presence of God." Hear them calling upon the fiery whirlwind-tempest of rocks, and moving mountains "to fall on them, and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," and crying aloud, "Behold! the great day of His wrath has come; who shall be able to stand?" Yet these fragments of a convulsed and dismembered universe are restrained from performing such office of mercy, and by the Word—which created them—are hurled back into the raging chaotic storm, to "melt with fervent heat" and mingle with the elements in the convulsive throes of awrecked world, which is being consumed by the"spirit-fires" of Jehovah's wrath.

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and they were judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire; and the same shalldrink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation. And I saw an angel standing in the Sun. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the Sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire; and men were scorched with great heat. And they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever."

The contemplation of the final judgment, and the sentence to be passed upon the wicked, is truly a solemn one, and should startle every mind, But oh, how few, comparatively, seem to stop and reflect upon this momentous subject? And yetallare rapidly hastening on to their final doom. Few are aware of the vast numbers that are passing from time into eternity—even each year, each month, each day each hour, or each minute.

We will here state the numbers, as well ascertained, or approximated, by the ablest staticians of the world. They tell us there is one death for every second of time, 60 every minute; 3,600 every hour; 84,400 every day; 2,595,000 every month; 31,140,000 every year, and a number equal to the entire population of the globe,viz.:one thousand millionsevery thirty years. And we are forced to the conclusion, that by far the larger portion of adults pass away without any conscious knowledge of the plan of salvation, or a tenable hope of heaven.

Reader, stop and reflect. No matter what your age, your condition of health, or in life, you, too, must soon know the realities of your future; your eternal state of existence.

We have heard the remark from the ungodly, that if they failed to reach heaven, they would, at least, "be with a large crowd." Yes, we have no doubt of it. For we read of "legions of devils," and there will also be legions fromearthto be tormented by them. Now we appeal to the reason of every intelligent mind, can you expect to enjoy happiness in your eternal existence, amid devouring flames?

We learn that devils are fallen angels. Once they enjoyed happiness in that heavenly world, and were, doubtless, God's messengers; oft sent to different regions of His empire to do His pleasure. Yet viewing the grandeur and glory of God, it appears that the great Dragon—who had the control of many angels—enlisted them to sustain him in some unlawful usurpation. This was resisted by Michael and his angels, "and there was war in heaven." Michael and his angels prevailed, and the great Dragon, "that old serpent called the devil, and satan, was cast out, and his angels were cast out with him;" "neither was their place found any more in heaven." These, we learn, are the wicked spirits, which go to and fro, up and down, through the earth, tempting man to sin, and to do wickedly. Satan is theprince of the powers of darkness, and he and his minions are ever arrayed against the prince of life and salvation. And man as a free moral agent—having life and death set before him—is left the free choice as to whom he will serve. If your choice be the God who created all things by the word of His power, and whose glory is the light of eternal day, serve Him. But if Baal, the prince of darkness, whose reign is terror and death, then serve him. "Ye cannot serve two masters at once."

Remember! When death shall come and claim you for its victim, with the cessation of mortal life, there is cessation of all the sensations and faculties of yourhuman nature. You will not be moved upon to the enjoyment of pleasure by human passions or desires. These, as realized here, will forever cease, and the spirit can no more be controlled by flesh and blood, nor by human desires. Yet that immortal principle—the soul—will be susceptible of ineffable happiness, or of intense misery. Will it be any comfort or pleasure to you to know that others are, like yourself, doomed to suffer eternal torments? to witness their agonies, and hear their wailings in that pandemonium of the lost? Think for a moment, of the rich man—Dives—who realized those torments. No hope for him in the future; his day of probation had passed; his eternal state was fixed; yet he prayed Father Abraham to send Lazarusback to this world, to warn his five brethren, lest they also should come to that place of torment. Remember, that as death leaves the body, so judgment finds the soul, for the prophet has warned you that,

"There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest."

"The Lord shall endure forever, he hath prepared his throne for judgment." "We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." "Then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God."

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, * * * and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

"Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;" * * * "an entrance shall be administered unto you abundantly;" * * * "enter ye in through the gates into the city;" * * * "enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

"Then shall he say also unto them on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." "These shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."

Our pilgrimage on earth is one of unrest, is one of toil, sorrow, and affliction. Here we have no abiding place, "no continuing city." Our "days on earth are few, and are full of trouble." There is no permanency here. From the time of the first infant breath and short unconscious slumber on a mother's bosom to the latest hour and moment of life, we are ever restless and moving onward, and endure all the disquietude and sufferings of mind and body incident to our mortal existence. The original sin of our first parents, blighted all hope of permanence or enduring happiness on this earth. At the time of their fall, God pronounced as to our existence here, saying: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground; for out of itwast thou taken: dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." "And the spirit shall return to God who gave it."

Yet to the true and faithful followers of the blessed Redeemer—who ransomed the world by the pouring out of His own blood, and opened up a way whereby we may escape the further penalties of a violated law—rest will come by-and-by. "There is rest for the weary," and mansions prepared for them in the "City of God," in that better world. Remember, the Saviour said:

"I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may also be. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. The same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." "Whosoever will, let him come." "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of thewater of lifefreely." "They shall live for ever and ever."

There the redeemed of the Lord shall, with their blessed Saviour, "inherit the kingdom," where the glory of God illumines the "city," and throws its radiance over all the vast realm. O what a delightful place for a permanent "Home!" How singularly differentit contrasts with our residence on earth. Here we have to endure toil, pain, and death; there, rest, happiness, and eternal life. See here the care-worn, weary husband, toiling and striving against contending billows and waves of misfortune, to earn a support for a helpless, dependent family; perhaps his strivings are the more difficult because of pain of body or anguish of mind. Disease in some form may be preying upon his vitality, even through long years of existence, and he knows that it will eventually conquer, and consign him to his grave. Or, if bodily health prevails, the mind may be tortured and distracted at witnessing the sufferings of a beloved wife, or children, as one by one they are smitten down or snatched away by death; or still more poignant the grief and anguish he endures because of the alienation of affections, or family tumults, of strifes and contentions. See that wife and mother lingering by the bedside of a devoted, yet now dying husband, or clasping to her tortured and heaving bosom the lifeless form of a beloved child, and yet powerless to save the one or call back the other. These are the heart-strugglings in the tempest of life. Soon they will be over. A few years more, at most, and then all will be still; this mortality will be silent in the grave.

But of that "home in heaven." "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God." There love, peace, and joy forever reigns. There is the "full fruition"and realization of "the hope of the glory of God." There "their lines have fallen to them in pleasant places." There they realize "fulness of joy," and their heritage "pleasures for evermore." There they find "that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." There they have a home in an enduring city, whose foundations are eternal. There the palms of victory; and crowns of glory. There they walk the gold-paved streets of the city, or wander at pleasure in the 'Garden of the Lord,' or amidst forests green, or pleasant groves. There the crystal fountains play their sparkling waters in the light of eternal day, and the "river of life" flows "from beneath the throne of God," onward and onward, meandering through, and encircling the vast realm of that heavenly empire. There perennial spring, and never-fading flowers. There old age and decrepitude are never known, but all clothed upon with "garments of righteousness," will live and dwell in perpetual immortal youth, through the ever-recurring cycles of endless eternity. Angels of God are there. The Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs are there; ministers of God are there; some of our kindred friends are there; others of them willsoonbe there. The redeemed of earth, who were accepted of the Lord are there, and the remainder of the "ransomed hosts," are now pressing on, or coming after, andwill all be there, and form an innumerable company whichno one can number, each can form pleasant associations there, never to be broken up, "For nothing shall disturb in all the holy mountains." Reader, are you striving for thatHAPPY HOME?

The Sun is held by all Philosophers and Astronomers to be the central pivot of the solar system, and theloadstone power of attraction, which governs, steadies, and controls all its surrounding planet-worlds in their orbits. So great is its power of attraction, that a counter-balancing force was necessary to keep the machinery of Nature in order. This force is produced by the attracting power of the various planet-worlds, placed in proper positions in surrounding space, and thus furnishing thecentrifugal, to counterbalance thecentripetalforceascribedto the Sun, by which means our earth, and the other planets, are kept whirling in their elliptical orbits, and thus each prevented from being drawn by the superior centripetal or attracting power of that globe into certain destruction by the fires of theSun.

This is the hypothesis, we believe, of every Philosopher and Astronomer of the present day.

Now let us examine this hypothesis, and see if it does not foreshadow and sustain our own.

In the first place, it istruethat the"loadstone power of attraction" is there: but it iswithinwhat all denominate theSun, and bythisthe surrounding planets are controlled. But this poweris not the Sun. For what all denominate the Sun, is that which gives out light and heat. The Sun isfire,heat, andbrightnessor light. Fire, or heat, isethereal; has no such power of attraction: but on the contrary, is repelling and dissipating. There is no solid substance in fire; it is an invisible agency—save when it is concentrated. It would be an unreasonable hypothesis to conclude that the fires of the Sun were fed on combustible material. The Sun may have been just the same as it is now, for untoldbillions of years—possibly from all eternity—and God, by His Word has revealed the fact that it will continue forever—even as long as His throne. Hence, if produced by combustion, its material would be constantly wasting away, and, as Prof. Olmsted says, "the products of combustion would obscure its light." Therefore, as there is no tangible source, and all agree that God Himself was, and still is its source, we hold that our hypothesis, that it is a fixed volume ofPhotospheric-ethereal, orspirit-fire, is correct. That it is one of Jehovah's attributes; ever existing and performing its offices in creative and enduring Nature; never increasing nor diminishing.

Now, this being the only reasonable, and—as webelieve—correct hypothesis, of the origin, nature, and element of theSun—the Sun being the brightness we see in looking at it—whereandwhat is the loadstone power of attraction, which reaches out millions of miles into space, and controls vast worlds, steadying each in its own orbital path, while they are flying round at the rate of from fifty thousand, to one hundred thousand miles an hour? We think the answer plain, and that all can comprehend it. This Earth is a solid body, andall suchpossess, within themselves, the power of attraction. Therefore, the laws of Nature reveal the fact to us, thatthe great central and controlling power of attractionattributed to theSun, is the vastInner Globewe have been contemplating; a globe, or world, more than a million times the size of this Earth. Leading Astronomers have agreed on the existence of such a body within; and far separated—by a non-luminous atmosphere or void—from the outerphotosphere of ethereal fire. That globe we hold is—beyond a doubt—the "HEAVENLY WORLD" spoken of throughout the Holy Scriptures, and is the final and eternal home of the righteous.

We see wisdom displayed, and find law and order in every thing we comprehend which pertains to God and Nature. Phenomena, which for long ages were mysteries, are now, through the lights of science, being fully comprehended and made plain to all. And, byreasoning from analogy, new arts and sciences are comprehended, while each additional light gained flashes upon some other hidden mystery, and reveals in it nothing butlawandorder, in all its arrangements.

The progress made of late in the arts and sciences is wonderful indeed; yet this is only the progress of the mind of man, and the enlightenment of his intellect. And we believe that the next decade of years will developfactswhich might startle the minds of the wisest of to-day to contemplate.

That vast world—surrounded by the Sun—controls this Earth and its other surrounding planets. From that world, and Sun—in its offices—we derive every blessing while on Earth, and we cannot doubt but that when we find our future,IT WILL BE THERE. The righteous to dwellwithinwhere, we have shown you, the Sun does not or cannot shine; but where theglory of Godis the light of the holy place, and yet we have the evidence that one of the offices of theSunwill be the punishment of the wicked who cannot enter thatHeavenly World.

"Whoso is wise will observe these things." Psalms, cvii.

* * * * * *

Gentle reader, we are about to take our leave of you. We have penned the lines which compose this volume at short intervals obtained recently from a laborious professional life. Our mind has been duly impressed with the correctness of the views we have advanced. Indeed, to disbelieve them, would seem to disbelieve Divine revelations, and let the mind become again shrouded with impenetrable mystery in regard to the place of our future habitation, and of the manner and mode of the spirit's transit thither after the death of the body. All should remember that they will be held accountable for the light and knowledge they receive.

We feel fully assured that our hypothesis as to the location of Heaven—as also that of Hell—is well founded and fully sustained by God's own revelations,both as recorded in the Bible, and as seen in visible nature. As to the "Spirit of God as fire," we have presented such evidence as Divine revelations have furnished us, and only added to these such asreason, as the perceptive faculties of all, do or may comprehend, and we do not see wherein theChristian Worldcan found any objections to our conclusions.

That there might be culled from the Bible a few passages which may seem not to reflect our views is natural, when we consider how it is interspersed with the views and versions of various historical writers in the chronicling of events. But we believe Divine revelations furnish sufficientpositive evidenceto sustain us; such evidence as thereasonof every enlightened and reflecting mind will comprehend and approve. We believe this knowledge should—nay, doubtless,will—have a salutary and beneficial effect upon the minds and hearts of all. We now leave all as apersonal matter with you. That youwill have a futureyou cannot doubt. We therefore beseech you to remember "that God will not be mocked" with impunity; neither can he be deceived.

"For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he alsoreap. He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting."

Hear the Preacher of God (Eccl. xii. 13, 14):

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

* * * * *

It might reasonably be expected that as we have advanced a new hypothesis as to the location ofHeaven, and also ofHell, that we should also give our views as to what we deem the correct faith and principles of thetrue Christian Religion. You will see in our "Preface" that we have not designed to make our book sectarian in behalf of any one of the different Protestant organizations. And, not being a minister of the Gospel, we leave the great and important work of thus directing the mind to those whose rightful mission it is to instruct. True, our views upon this subject are foreshadowed in these pages, but webelieve the time has now come when there should be ageneral reviewby all leading Divines. That they should take under consideration all new lights afforded by the sciences—especially the science of Astronomy—and bring these to bear with philosophical reason upon Divine Revelations and Bible truths; and thereby comprehend more fully the nature of God, and his requirements of man in order to salvation. We think that by such action on their part, that most, even if not all of the minor sectarian differences of opinion can be removed, and that all can unite as one great Family of the Church of God on Earth; and that mysteries which have hitherto shrouded the minds of the masses—as to the necessary faith and practice in a true religion—may thereby be removed, and all the world of mankind be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, and "know the Lord, whom to know aright is Eternal Life."

We know that, at first thought, this may seem to be a great undertaking; and, however desirable, some may entertain doubts as to its accomplishment, and therefore hesitate to move in the matter; yet we believe that it can, and, sooner or later, will be accomplished,and that the final results will prove worthy the life efforts of every Christian minister on this Earth.

Neither ministers, their flocks, nor the entire human family now on the Earth, have long to live, nor time to delay in this great matter. One decade oftenshort years, and aboutone third of all now livingwill have passed away, whilethirty yearswill close the drama of life withone thousand millions, or most of the present inhabitants of this globe, and all must find their future state of existence. Many of us can look back over thirty years past, and realize that the time has beenshort. So, also, will be the few remaining years allotted to any of us. Therefore, it becomes all to heed well the warning voice of Him who hath said:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

All the different church organizationscannot be rightin their present faith and practice, however lenient they may profess to be toward each other, or evenhopethat such is the case. This were impossible. God has designed to establishone true universal Churchon this Earth, andHe will do it, though it should sweepaway every such organization now in existence, and even obliterate their every land-mark. We do not say that there is not now in each, more or less, of the germ oftruth, nor that from these scattered fragments may not yet be gathered that which shall constitute the body and life of the whole. There may be a struggle first with the powers of darkness, yet thisGreat Church will be established and prevail.

The lights of true science, which are revealing more fully God's own revelations, we believe, willforcea change to a moreuniversal system of religion. The mind will comprehend more of the Great Jehovah, and of His will and plan of salvation. Therefore, we believe it to be the duty of all Christian ministers to move in this matter. They should investigate and comprehend all the new lights afforded them, and thereby be enabled to make plain the revelations of God; remove all mystery; establish His Eternal Truth, and teach all minds and hearts to "look up through Nature to Nature's God."

This will not be the work of only a day, or a week, nor yet of any one individual; but the work oftime, with theunited effortsof leading minds of the age, andwe hope that its commencement will not long be delayed.

It must be acknowledged that theplansof salvation, as now taught by the many different Protestant Church organizations, are all, more or less, mystery to the outside world. Hence,Infidelityhas in this highly colored reasons—at least to sustain their assertions against thetruthof theChristian religion, and so also have theJews. This fact no one can reasonably deny. The mind of man—his thinking,reasoningfaculty—must be convinced by evidence before he can be brought to believe, and in this great and important matter hemust believebefore he will act.

TheMindmust be left free anduntrammelled, and governed only byenlightened reason. This should be the course pursued by all teaching ministers.Light,Liberty, andEternal Lifeshould be the watchwords of those who stand upon the "Walls of Zion!" The mind must be taught toloveGod in all His Immaculate perfections, and to serve Him through that love which "casteth out all fear." St. Paul says, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and ofLOVEand of a sound mind." John tells us, "There is no fearin love; but perfect love casteth out all fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." And yet inPERFECT LOVE, we shallalwayshave the "fear of God before our eyes;" we shall ever fear to offend Him, and thereby fulfil every commandment given ustofear Him. But "he that dwelleth in God, dwelleth in love."

We believe that if the Christian ministry throughout would properly present the claims of God to theloveof the human heart, there would soon be a turning of the masses to Him, such as has never been witnessed since the beginning of the world.

That by the teachings of so many different creeds, their widely different faith and doctrines, the mind of man in general has become bewildered; and that mystery, deep, dark, almost impenetrable, hangs—more or less—over all, we cannot deny. See the numerous different Church organizations, founded and presided over by men of intellect and learning; each claiming to be established byScriptural authority!and yet in their faith and teachings, all conflicting, more or less, with each other. We cannot doubt the honesty and sincerity of these ministers, nor of their church members; yetmay not many of them be "blind leaders of the blind?" To each of these, all other organizations, faith, and doctrine seem a mystery; and if a mystery to those who are striving after light and truth in the way of life and salvation, is it not far more of mystery to those outside, who have not been educated into any system of religious belief? The truth is,enlightened reasoncondemns this exhibition as the "Church of God," for it has become "a stumbling block" in the road to truth and the way of salvation. When we go to the founders and leaders of these different organizations, and ask, why all these conflicting elements? the majority of them will answer, remember that Christ hath said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches," and add a garbled quotation from the writings of St. Paul, "Great is the mystery of godliness."

Now there is but onetrue vine, and all its branches will bring forth the same "good fruits of righteousness" by which all shall be known. And as tomystery, let us see what the great apostle of the Gentiles did say.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in the flesh, justified in theSpirit, seen of angels; preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory."

There we have all of it, and, taken together, it explains itself to every intelligent mind, and thus, properly comprehended, removesall mystery, and implies the necessary faith and plan of salvation.

FORESHADOWINGS.

The "signs of the times" are pregnant with coming and wonderful events. The rapid progress of mind, the developments through the sciences—which are now throwing flood-lights upon Divine revelations, and giving to the enlightened world a more comprehensive knowledge of the Great Jehovah, and of His wonderful works—are all potent with argument of the necessity that the effort for aUNITED CHURCHshould speedily be made. A partial comprehension of these wonderful developments, without further aids, may tend to throw doubt and suspicion upon the minds of many, as to whether or not any of the Christian organizations have comprehended the true plan of salvation. Whilst a divided church, a divided ministry, and their oppositeteachings can but tend to strengthen such doubts, bewilder the mind, and lead toInfidelity.

Now it rests with leading spirits and teachers ofeveryChristian denomination—whetherProtestantorCatholic—to say whether this advance shall be made in behalf oftrue religion: the Church of God, and the salvation of souls, or in the interest of Satan, the opposing enemy; whether this advance shall be trueChristianity, orInfidelity; whether the upbuilding of the Kingdom of Christ, and hastening the time when He shall reign in the hearts of all; or, by indifference and default, permitting the upbuilding ofBabylon, and the reseating of the "Scarlet Woman,"andthus tenfold intensifying the great andfinal struggle.

There is atrue philosophyin religion, and by instructing the mind to comprehend this, the final happy results will ensue.

We often hear ministers praying for the time to come "when the world shall be converted to God; when all shall know Him from the least unto the greatest." They claim the promise that such a timewill come, and yet can but see that wickedness is gaining ground, and that within their church organizationsthey do not numberone third of the population—even in what are denominated Christian countries, nor do they keep pace with the increase of population, and yet they seem contented with their "little flocks."

Ye ministers of the "Living God," if ye have come to "Mount Zion" by faith and prayer, and "holy living," we call upon you to unite your efforts in the spirit ofbrotherly loveandChristian unity, and show to a "perishing world" that you are inearnestin your Master's cause, and that you desire the salvation of thewhole human family, else He may say to you, "I will come quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place."

In regard to the theory we have advanced as to the location of Heaven, we leave you, and all, to examine the revelations of God through the lights of science; Nature around you, and withreasonbearing upon the fact that God, the Great Jehovah, the Creator of all, though aSpirit, is not amyth; and that reality, law, order, and system universally prevail throughout all His works, and with these He governs His Universe.

God's own revelations, the lights afforded through the sciences, Nature around us, true philosophy and reason, all confirm our hypothesis. Cut loose now from this, and we can anchor nowhere, save in a blind incomprehensible faith, ever floating and drifting as in asea of ether, and surrounded by impenetrablemysteryandgloom.

All hold and teach that the spirit, when it leaves the body, flies away frommortalityand Earth, and goes to the place prepared for it by its Creator. The celerity with which spirit moves we do not now know, but the reality and law of its flight does exist, and this by God's own arrangement and established agency in Nature. That such agency is continually with us, and ready at all times for the use of disembodied spirit, we cannot doubt—nay, possibly its principle or element isinandofus, from the first moment of our existence, through all subsequent time, and will continue to all eternity to come.

Thebloodis the life of man, its element or stimulæ of life iselectricity, let this but escape from the blood, and with it the soul or spirit has fled, and the body is left to moulder back to dust. We find electricity to bea principle ofimmateriality; an element offire, which pervades all things, in a greater or less degree, not only solids and fluids, but also atmosphere or air.

Now let us consider this element which God has permitted man to comprehend as existing in nature, and yet veils it from our sight, and, although he permits us to use it for beneficial purposes, yet we can never see or comprehend more than itseffects, for, in itself, it isetherealand no mortal eye can behold it. Man has not only been permitted to comprehend that the principle of electricity does exist in Nature, but also to measure, by time, its rapid flight. Thus, with proper appliances, this Earth can be belted with it in aboutone tenthpart of a second of time. It would seem to almost annihilate time, and space, as its flight is nearly 300,000 miles a second—being more than one third swifter thanlight.

In preceding pages, we have dwelt upon the distance of our Earth from the Sun, and also distances to various planets, and to some of the fixed stars, andnebulæ, far away in sidereal regions. We have given you the conclusions of the most scientific Astronomers throughout the world. Their measurement of distancesby light have been shown to approximate correctness, and the truth of their deductions we cannot doubt. They have explored regions so far remote, that it is rendered certain that it has requiredlight several hundred thousand yearsfrom the time it left its native Sun, to reach our Earth, and that these rays travelling from thence, are now successively arriving and beaming upon the eye when it is placed to the telescope. Indeed, from one cluster of suns, or nebulæ, beyond the "milky way," it is computed that the light derived from thence has been 700,000 years in transit, although travelling at the rate of 192,000 miles a second.

Now all these facts are astounding, and must impress every reflecting mind with force. All can see that Astronomers, by the aid of that wonderful gift of God to man—the telescope—have looked abroad, and have penetrated and surveyed with the eye space far remote in sidereal regions, to the extent of which it would require 300,000 years forelectricityto reach at a flight of 300,000 miles a second, and yet they have not discovered any thing greatly different from our own planetary system, nor any object or seeming phenomenon they could denominateheaven. Without a solutionof these facts, is not the mind bewildered andlostin the hazy contemplation? If heaven is stillfar out beyond, what period or measure of Eternity may it requite for the spirit, or soul to reach it after leaving the body? Knowing that there is stern reality, regulated law, order, and motion in all pertaining to Jehovah, His creations and government; even themind of faithstaggers, and must founder in the contemplation of conceptions so mighty and so mysterious.

You have taught us to believe that heaven is a "fixed place," and has a "permanent locality," but while accepting this through faith, you have failed to give us apermanent thought. Therefore, notwithstanding all our hopes and desires,mysteryandgloom, dark and impenetrable, have shrouded the mind's eye of faith; leaving no light but an excited and restlessimagination, and we call upon you to givefaithandhopearesting-placesomewhere else than floating inethereal regions, and wandering about withblind chance through illimitable space.

Our hypothesis locates heaven just wherewe believe it is, andto itthe spirit can ascend, onangel-wings of electricity, in a fraction of eternity equal to onlyfive minutes of time. And, although discoveries through thelights of science directed our mind thither, and assisted its comprehension, yet we believeDivine Revelations alone sustain our views, and thus afford the mind a resting place wherefaithandhopecan anchor, and be founded in reality, inimmutable andETERNAL TRUTH. The laws of Nature, the controlling influence of that world, our perceptive faculties andreason, all proclaim that it must be so. Its protecting fires shield it from mortal sight, yet proclaim to us through ten thousand blessings showered upon our earth,'tis there!'Tis There!!

Are any ready to ask why the "glory-light" of that heavenly world, represented as "far above the brightness of the Sun" cannot be seen? Such inquiry must exhibit a lack of knowledge respecting the nature of God, theGreat Spirit; as also of any proper conception of the immortal spirit of man. That light isfor spirit alone, and cannot be seen by mortal eyes, and that which is darkness to us while our sight is veiled with mortality, so far as relates to that heavenly world and our future, becomes—after the death of the body—transcendentbrilliancy, and the light of the "glory of God."

We have abundant evidence of this fact. Remember that when the Great Jehovah made His presence manifest on Mount Sinai, although the mountain burned with fire, yet—to mortal vision—all the surroundings were filled with "thick clouds and darkness." Yea, "clouds and darkness were made His pavilion," and, to mortal eyes, "are the habitations of His throne."

The light of the "glory of God" is for spirit alone, anditsradiance will make even the light of theSundarkness to thespirit-eye. It is possible that should He unveil Himself, and throw a flash of Hisglory-lightupon this world, it would in an instant of time destroy the whole race of man, and every living thing, for He hath said, "No one shall see me and live."

We have on record evidences sustaining our views in regard to such effects, should the light and brightness of His face or glory be revealed. See the effects of the light of His glory, even in a veiled form, when the Son of God made himself manifest from heaven (that bright world we have been contemplating, wherein he is enthroned, and where all the righteous shall dwell)to Saul of Tarsus; although He did not unveil himself, yet "a light above the brightness of the Sun at mid-day shone around, and Saul fell to the earth smitten with blindness." Yes, this glory-lightis darknessto mortal eyes; and when beheld by spirit, the light of theSunmay even be darkness. See again its effects upon St. John, the revelator, when, catching but a glimpse of the Son of man in the midst of the golden candlesticks, he "fell at his feet as dead." Ah, it is possible that all seemingnatural lightto us, while in mortality, may become asdarknessto our spirit vision; and we are assured by the word of God, that none shall see the light of His glory save those who seek regeneration throughLOVEandFAITH, for the wicked shall go intoouter darkness, and dwell forever in death, while the righteous shall enter into and enjoy eternal life.

Our hypothesis is a pleasing one for the contemplation of every Christian, and yet cannot interfere in the least with the doctrines of any who believe there is a heaven. And he who believeth not in either God or heaven, has lost the intellectual dignity of man in proper conceptions, and knoweth not even now "what manner of man he is."

We have given something tangible upon which to fix the mind, and which will inspire hope; something ofrealitythat all may contemplate. Remember that we are not forbidden to investigate, nor yet form conclusions founded on reason; neither is it declared that we shall notknowthe location of our future home.

From all that man can comprehend of nature,reasonteaches him to look for and find—if not in life,after death—his future home somewhere in connection with our own planetary system. This system is large and grand enough to justify all our aspirations, and satisfy all our hopes and desires. The extent, grandeur, and glory of the heaven we have contemplated, will fully satisfy the immortal mind of man, even as it does the "angels of God," and its King and Ruler, and we may all consider ourselves fortunate to get there.

We have written our book, and thrown out these suggestions with purest of motives. From the first conception of the idea of heaven being where, in mind, we locate it, we have felt impressed with the correctness of our views; so much so, that it impelled us tomake the effort to give them to the world, believing that in doing so we should advance the true theory which would sustain Christianity, and cause it to spread and triumph over all opposition; give "to faith thathopewhich is an anchor to the soul," and draw the hearts and minds of all toloveGod, and yet in that lovefearto offend Him.

We have refrained from consulting the clergy or ministers ofanyand every denomination in this matter, desiring simply to give our own views. We now ask of you all a prayerful and thorough examination by the evidences of Divine Revelations and all other lights afforded you; and if you discard our views as to the location of heaven, becarefulandexplicitin giving usyour hypothesisas to the one you are inviting us to, andlocate itwhere themind of reasoncan contemplate it, and wherehopemay span the voyagethe soul must maketo reach it after the death of the body.

We desire the salvation of the entire human family. We believe that God has provided a way and plan of salvation by which all should gain a true and saving knowledge of Him; and we haveappealedto Christian ministers to unite their efforts in prayerful investigation of His revelations through all new lights afforded them, and to point out to all, the plain path ofdutyandsafety—but not in any wise labor under the false or mistaken belief that they can stand assole mediator, or umpire, between God and the souls of men, and, at their own will or pleasure, mete out to them eternal happiness or misery. Such as do this"are blind leaders of the blind," and their doctrine afatal delusion.

We believe in a living, teaching ministry; and, where heart and life is fully consecrated to God and His cause, all such may feel that they are divinely called and commissioned. We hold that such a ministry should be sustained, and that all should give liberally out of their abundance, to secure them against want or contingencies which might retard or prevent their usefulness.

But our appeal is now to you, in regard to your ownindividual responsibility. Each has an immortal soul, which must be saved or lost. No one, save Christ Jesus our Lord, can stand as mediator in behalf of any to insure salvation or heaven. Popes, bishops, ministers, and priestsare but men, and are mortal like ourselves. They may, by application to study and investigation, gain light and knowledge—nay, should do it, so as to instruct us in the way of life and salvation, but further than this they cannot go. We have no evidence, neither in the Old or New Testament Scriptures, where, by intercession ofman alone, salvation or heaven was ever obtained by an unbelieving heart.

We see that, under the earlier dispensation, Moses was the chosen servant of God, and divinely commissioned asHigh-Priestto the children of Israel. Yet when they sinned, and Jehovah's wrath was kindled against them, Moses madedirect intercessionin their behalf, and even plead, saying: "If thou wilt not forgive them, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Hear the answer of the Lord: "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book; * * * * mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sins upon them." Thus, although His judgments were stayed for a season, because of His covenant, yet their final execution was certain.

We are assured by the Scriptures that there is "One God" and "One Mediator," and we may go to God through faith in thisOne Mediator, and that all who go thus shall obtain eternal life. We have record of the efficacy of this faith in the application of the dying thief. When he had signified his belief, hear the answer of the Saviour: "To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Oh, how plain the plan of salvation!

All nature proclaims there is a God. His revelationsproclaim an eternal existence of the soul. We all know that wemust die. However disappointed we may be in our earthly hopes or fears, yet as to the certainty of death none will be disappointed—it is sure to come. When the angel of death is commissioned to summon us, soon "the pale horse and his rider" will be at the door; then there can be no delay. "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." "And the soul shall return to God who gave it." "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

What can youloseby giving your heart to God? What may you not lose by neglecting to do it? It isall gainandno loss. May you all yield to the gentle drawings of the spirit, which now whispers to your heart in loving tones with accents ofmercy, and your spirits finally be gathered in the fold of angels' wings, and by them borne to the Paradise of God, where His glory is the light of eternal day.

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