earth blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke," "that the mountains shall melt," "and that the earth is burnt up," and many more similar expressions, that have been previously quoted. I have already endeavored to show that these and similar passages in the divine word, cannot be understood as teaching that the material world will be literally destroyed; and if the interpretation there given is seen to be in accordance with truth, the quotation of these passages by the apostle certainly cannot be adduced as authority for an opposite doctrine. That doctrine is true which results from a just and reasonable interpretation of the word of the Lord. Such an interpretation I have endeavored to give in regard to the passages referred to. Let the reader judge for himself, whether the views presented are according to the truth. As a rational and accountable being, it is his right and duty to judge of religious doctrines, and determine whether they are true or false. To give up this right, is to surrender into other hands the use of that freedom and rationality with which the Lord has endowed him. It is to make himself a slave to those who, from a love of self, and to gratify the pride of their own self-derived wisdom, seek to exercise spiritual dominion over the conscience and judgment of other men.
But the reader will, perhaps, be disposed to ask, have we any good reason to believe that Peter and the other Apostles understood the "words of the prophets" in the same sense in which we explain them? Did they understand their intenal, spiritual meaning? Before attempting to answer this question, I must premise, that, though it should receive an unqualified negative, the question in regard to the true interpretation of the prophecies would remain unaffected; for in order that the true meaning of the word of the Lord may be received into the understanding, it must be seen in the light of reason. The mind must act freely, seeking only to be led by divine love and guided by divine truth. It cannot acknowledge the absolute control of any
