Morning Star

For the Morning Star.
The Coming of Christ yet Future.
So say Universalists. Be not astonished, and I will show you that they do both by their practice and writings.
1. Some professing universalism do attend to the ordinance of the Lord's supper; all then who attend to the ordinance show conclusively that they either deny plain scripture instruction, or believe that Christ is yet to come, for the Apostle Paul, when instructing in this matter, says, 1 Cor. 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord's death till he come." We learn from the instruction of the apostle that the showing forth the death of our Lord till he come was the great object of this important institution. Therefore he who attends to this ordinance, professedly acknowledges the future coming of Christ.
2. Some of their writings (stereotyped editions.) are plain upon this subject. I refer the reader to Mr. Whittemore's Guide to Universalism. Page 86th, he says, "He (Christ) had ascended into heaven bodily; the heavens would contain him until the times of the restitution: and then he would visit the earth bodily again. Now, when shall he visit the earth again bodily? Answer, at the resurrection of the dead." (This argument of W's. shows that he is not a progressive resurrectionist.) He (W.) then quotes two passages of scripture to show his argument in relation to the second coming of Christ correct. (Acts 1:10, 11. 1 Thess. 4:16) Now Mr. Whittemore has, in the foregoing argument, established just what Christians believe as it regards this Bible truth. But he ought to have referred to one place more, which would have set the matter at rest. But ah! that would have destroyed his book of lies and sophisms, and he would have got no money for distorting his conscience. Therefore I will present it to the reader. (2 Thess. 1:7-10,) "And to you who are troubled rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power." At the 10th verse, we are told when this shall take place, viz., "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." I ask, candid reader, if you believe Christ has already made his appearance, according to these solemn expressions of scripture, and that he has come to be glorified in his saints? No, you do not—you cannot believe it. Mr. W., in another place of his Guide, page 189th, adverts to 2 Thess. 2:10, and tries to throw his Jerusalem plaster over it; but says not a syllable in relation to the 10th verse, by way of explanation, and in his wind up, not seeming satisfied with his own explanation, refers the readers for a full explanation to a man who can deceive them better than he; or at least that Mr. Balfour may have some little chance to sell his books.
2 Thess. 2:1-2, "Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." These passages give conclusive evidence that the apostle had no reference to Jerusalem; for if he had, the apostle might have spoken in safety, "it is at hand." Let the reader turn to 2 Thess. 1st and 2, and he must be satisfied that the coming of Christ spoken of is yet future.
May we be prepared, that when he comes he may be glorified in us.
S. P. M.