reader will carefully consult them, he will see that the following facts are perfectly obvious.

1. Mankind are frequently spoken of as standing before God, appearing before God, and as being in the presence of God, when no reference is had to a future world; and, when all of this took place in the present world.

2. It was a common mode of speech among the Hebrews, when anything remarkable took place, or when any particular interposition of divine Providence was manifest, to represent those who saw it, as standing before God, and as being in God's presence.

3. It was supposed by the Jews that God's presence was in a particular manner in the temple of Jerusalem, in the city of Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea.

4. The Jews are spoken of as being in God's presence, when nothing more is meant than that they were in the enjoyment of their national rights and privileges in the land of Judea. And they are spoken of as being cast out from God's presence, when nothing more is meant than that they were banished from the land of Judea, from the temple and holy city, and carried captives to Babylon.

5. When, therefore, John saw in a vision, "the dead, small and great, stand before God," Rev. 20: 12, it by no means follows that he saw them literally stand before God; nor that this standing before God took place in another world.

6. When it is said of the Jews that they should "be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power," it does not follow that they were to be punished in another world, nor be banished from God's presence there. The following extract from Balfour's Second Inquiry will present this subject in its true light.

"By the presence of God, or presence of the Lord, in scripture. is sometimes meant his being everywhere present. Thus, David says, Ps. 139: 7, 8, 'Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven thou art there; if I make my bed in hell (sheol), behold, thou art there,' &c. Admitting, for argument's sake, that hell is a place of endless punishment, how could the wicked even there be out of God's presence? Yet, in 2 Thess. 1: 9, the Jews are said to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the

Lord. Again; I find the phrase presence of the Lord, refers to heaven, or the dwelling-place of the Most High. Christ is said to have gone into heaven, now to appear in the presence of God for us.' Heb. 9: 24. And it is said, Luke 1: 19, 'I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God.' But how could the wicked be punished with everlasting destruction from God's presence in this sense? For surely no one will say that they were ever in heaven, and like Gabriel stood in the presence of God. But, again, the phrase face of God, or presence of the Lord, refers to some places where people went to worship him, and where he met with and manifested himself to them. Thus Jacob, at Penuel, Gen. 32: 30, says, 'I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.' See Job 1: 6-12, and 2: 1-7, for examples of the same phrase, presence of the Lord. Unless there was some particular place where God was manifested in the days of Cain, how could it be said, 'and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod (or vagabond, as in the margin), in the east of Eden?' Gen. 4: 16; and verse 14, it is added by Cain, Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid.'

"It is very evident that the presence of the Lord was in a peculiar manner among the children of Israel. See Ex. 33: 14—17; compare Isa. 63: 9, and Ps. 51: 11. The tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple at Jerusalem were considered by the Jews as the peculiar residence of Jehovah. There he abode, and there they performed all their religious services to him. Jehovah was the God of the Jews; their land his land, and the temple there was considered the place of his immediate presence. In the temple at Jerusalem, God is said to dwell between the cherubims. Ps. 80. The show bread placed there is called the loaves of the presence or faces.' And, viewed in this light, the following texts have great beauty and force. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.' 'Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.' Ps. 95: 2, and 100: 2 1 Chron. 16:27. But that the land of Judea, and particularly the temple, was considered by the Jews as the place of God's peculiar presence, is manifest from Jonah 1: 3, But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish, from the

presence of the Lord.' Where he believed the Lord's presence to be, we learn from chap. 2: 4, 'I am cast out of thy sight; but I will look again toward thy holy temple.' In short, whether the Jews were in their own land, or in captivity, when they prayed or performed acts of worship to their God, their thoughts and their faces were directed towards their temple at Jerusalem. See, in proof of this, Dan. 6: 10; 1 Kings 8; Ps. 5: 7.

"But there are still some passages which deserve our particular notice, because they clearly decide what is the meaning of the phrase, presence of the Lord. The first is, 2 Kings 13: 23, And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast them from his presence as yet.' This was spoken of the Jews; and just notice, that God speaks of destroying them, and casting them from his presence. What he here says, that as yet, he would not do to this people, in the following passage we find that he did do. 2 Kings 24: 20, For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.' The same is repeated, Jer. 52: 3. God's presence was enjoyed by the Jews in Judea, and in their temple service. To be cast out of God's presence, is to be banished from Judea into captivity, and from all the privileges which the Jews enjoyed in their land, and temple worship. This was the same as destroying them. They were thus destroyed or cast out of God's presence for seventy years in their captivity at Babylon. But they were brought back from this captivity, and again enjoyed God's presence in their own land. At the time Paul wrote the words in Thessalonians, the time was drawing near when they were to be again cast out of God's presence, and dispersed among all nations. Paul adopts the very language of the above passages, used in speaking of their former captivity, to describe the judgments of God which awaited them in their being cast out of their land, their city and temple destroyed, and they destroyed with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. The Jews now are just as certainly destroyed from the presence of the Lord, as they were during the seventy years' captivity in Babylon. How, then, can any man affirm that Paul meant, by this phrase, either annihilation or endless misery? If the Scriptures are allowed

to interpret themselves, Paul only describes the temporal destruction and banishment of the Jews, and in the very language by which the prophets had described their former punishments. It is added by the apostle, and from the glory of his power;' or, as some render it, his glorious power.' Should this be understood of Jehovah, the God of Israel, it is certain his glorious power was displayed among the Jews. Should it be understood of Christ, it agrees with what is said of him; for at the destruction of Jerusalem he is said to have come in the glory of his Father; and he was then to be seen coming with power and great glory. Matt. 16: 27, and 24: 30"

CHAPTER XV.

ON THE PHRASES KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, KINGDOM OF GOD, A KINGDOM, THE KINGDOM, ETC.

SECTION I.

All the passages in the BIBLE wherein the phrase KINGDOM OF GOD

occurs.

Dan. 2 44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Matt. 6: 33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things [food and clothing] shall be added unto you. Matt. 12: 28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Matt. 21: 43. Therefore, say I unto you [the chief priests and elders], The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Mark 1: 14, 15. Now, after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 10: 14, 15. But when Jesus saw it [that his disciples rebuked them that brought little children unto him], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Mark 12: 34. And when Jesus saw that he [the scribe] answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Mark 15: 43. Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which