thousand years. From whence, I asked myself, were all these rebels to proceed, if all the wicked were lying as ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous? Can the elect fall into sin and be deceived again? But when I apprehended the real statements of Scripture I was no longer perplexed. During the millennium, the nations of the earth will enjoy a pure theocracy under Christ and the first-born; for these last are to live and reign with Christ a thousand years, their dwelling being with their Redeemer, and their dominion over men in the flesh, yet over men enjoying every privilege which human nature can enjoy whilst in the natural body; and this for a thousand years, or perhaps thousands of thousands, constituting probably the last form or order of things on earth, whilst nature subsists under its primitive laws. And then, all that ever I told you, my dear Henry, of a state of paradise, of a bright world, of holy, happy children, of the earthly Jerusalem restored, of the presence of the Shepherd-King, of sleeping in the woods, and wandering in sweet fields, may, and will come to pass, and more also than we can conceive; yet, perhaps, after many years of happiness, in which the experience of evil may have been very small, the last awful lesson will be permitted, Satan will be loosed, and the whole human race still dwelling in the flesh, perhaps, will be led to see, that in the last days of the earth, the weakness and folly of man is the same as in the first, the deduction from this example being, that man's only safety is in such a union with his Maker, as cannot be broken, cannot be disjoined, but is to continue for ever and ever as long as God endures."

"Go on, uncle," said Henry; has seemed to open to you ?"

"what more

"Follow the Revelation," said Mr. Dalben; "what ensues after the battle but the casting of the devil into the lake of fire, the second resurrection, the judgment of the dead, and the condemnation to suffering till the end of the age, of all those who are not found in the book of life? At this time, probably, occurs the melting of the elements with fervent heat, the earth itself becoming that lake of fire in which her rebellious children are to suffer."

"For a while, or for ever?" asked Henry. "Look forward," answered Mr. Dalben, "and compare the beginning of Rev. xxi. with 2 Peter iii. 13, Nevertheless,' says Peter, 'we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.' As the ark rested on the mountain when the waters abated after the flood, so when the earth shall rise from her ashes, and when the first form of things shall have passed away, then shall be heard a sound more melodious than the fabled music of the spheres, even the voice of mercy; and the holy city, even the multitude of the redeemed, shall come down from God out of heaven, and the voice shall say, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. And there shall be a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb, and in the midst of the street of that city, and on either side of that river, the tree of life, which bare twelve fruits, and yielded her fruit every month,

6

and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' And then, my Henry, and perhaps not till then, shall we see the Bride, the Church, in her true and perfect form,- that of the nursing mother, who, with the Spirit, will invite all that are athirst to come and drink, and drink freely."

"All that are athirst!" said Henry; "then may we not hope that the rich man will have that which he desired-even water to cool his tongue ?"

"Not in drops only, or through the administration of a creature like himself, but from the fountain opened for all sin and all uncleanness,' replied Mr. Dalben; "but," continued the old gentleman, "allowing my idea of the work of the Church or Bride to be just, and that it will be her sweet and gracious employment to administer in some far distant period, of the leaves of the tree unto the nations which are wounded, afflicted, and hitherto accounted accursed, she will not then, in her state of derived beauty and imparted light, attribute to herself such life-giving and healing prerogatives as only belong to her glorious Bridegroom, but will find it her delight and crown of joy to obey his will, and exercise his high behests. But, my Henry," continued Mr. Dalben, "I am running on as if I feel that my time with you would be very short; and, indeed, it will be short, but I have given you much to think of; remember, however, that you receive nothing as from my authority. It is full time now for all visible churches to cease from man, and I earnestly entreat you, my dear boy, as you love me, not

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to admit a single opinion of mine, because it is mine."

"I promise you, sir, at least, I hope I may promise you this much," replied Henry; " and in order not to burthen my mind with opinions which I have not leisure to digest, I hope to commit all you now say to me to a commonplace book for further consideration."

Mr. Dalben approved this plan, and having taken one or two turns in the shrubbery, leaning on Henry's arm, they returned to the house, and Henry not having slept the night before, was glad to retire early to bed.

CHAPTER XVII.

Shewing that Henry Milner is a genuine hero.

As Mr. Dalben did not often come down to breakfast, Henry, whilst taking that meal, found himself alone with Maurice, who had returned so late that he had not seen him before he went to bed.

The boy was growing rapidly, and was become a handsome youth. He had lately taken to attend to his dress, and was more smart and footman-like than formerly in his manners at the table; but Henry never liked his appearance less. He could scarcely fancy him the same simple, affectionate, troublesome, dirty boy, whom he so much loved in the days which were gone; but this change had been so sudden, that it surprised Henry, though he could but attribute it to the late unfortunate journey. He was himself by no means aware of almost as great a change wrought in his own manners by one term at Oxford; he was not sensible that he himself was become more manly, in externals at least, and that his mind was considerably opened in