to Dr. Channing, in which they will find the following remarks upon the above vision: "If this be not spiritual worship, I am unable to produce a case, where worship can be called spiritual and divine." In commenting upon Philippians 2: 10, 11, he says, things in heaven, earth, and under the earth, is a periphrasis for the universe, and this universe, as he shows by his comments upon John's vision, worships Christ with spiritual and divine worship. That is, the worship is spiritual and divine, and the UNIVERSE are the worshippers! CHAPTER V. * THE FIVE POINTS' OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, &c. 1. God wills the salvation of all men. Proof:-1 Tim. 2: 4. "Who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth." 2. God purposes the salvation of all men. Proof:- Eph. 1:9, 10. "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.” 3. God promises to save all men. Proof:Acts 3:25. "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed." *The Five Points were originally from the pen of Rev. T. Whittemore; but are here inserted, with additions, by S. B. E. 4. God makes oath that he will save all men. Proof: Isa. 45: 23, 24. "I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear, surely shall say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." 5. God sent his Son to save all men. Proof: John 3: 17. Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.". . Thus it is seen that what God wills, he purposes; what he purposes, he promises; what he promises, he makes oath to; and what he makes oath to; he sends his Son to accomplish. "For God sent not his Reader, shall the will of God be done? See, for an answer, Dan. 4:35. " He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" ·· Will God's PURPOSE be executed? See Isa. 46:10. "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Will God fulfil his. PROMISES? See 2 Cor. 1:20. "For all the promises in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." [God is true; therefore every promise of God is true, and, consequently, each must have its due fulfilment. See Clarke on the above quoted passage.] Will God make good his OATH? See Heb. 6: 17, 18. "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong .consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." [If God had sworn by any thing finite, that thing might fail, and then the obligation would be at an end; but He has sworn by what is infinite, and cannot fail; therefore his oath is of eternal obligation. Clarke, on the above text.] Will Jesus accomplish the work he came to do? See Isa. 53:11. "He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied.". John 17:4. "I have finished the work that thou gavest me to to do." [Our Lord speaks of having completed the work which God had given him to do; and he looks forward to that time when, through the preaching of his gospel, the true God should be known and worshipped by the whole world! See Dr. Clarke on this passage.] This view of Clarke is in unison with the sentiment expressed by St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Philippians, chap. 2:9-11. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name : that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." And Christ, himself, says: John 12:32. " And 1, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Additional Proofs of the Validity of God's Promises. Numb. 23: 19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Ps. 18:30. The word of the Lord is tried. Ps. 89:34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Ps. 119: 89, 90. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. |