PART FIRST.
THE THEATRE OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
SECTION FIRST.
The Popular Doctrine.
A general impression—Bishop Pierson—Passage from Exposition of the Creed—Thrilling descriptions—Passage from Young's Night Thoughts—Such views unsatisfactory to many minds.
The human mind appears to be deeply and generally impressed with the expectation of a day of judgment, or of moral retribution, when every man will be rewarded according to his works. This impression is so deeply engraven upon the inmost perceptions of the mind, and is so fully confirmed by the word of the Lord, and the dictates of reason, that it may justly be regarded as the general belief of mankind. But when we pass beyond the simple reception of this doctrine in a general form, and inquire when and how this judgment will take place, we instantly find ourselves surrounded by opposite and conflicting opinions. The most popular and general impression appears to be that the last judgment will take place on this earth, and that it will be accomplished by the Son of God, who will personally descend from heaven for that purpose.
This doctrine is very clearly expressed in its old and popular form, in the following passage which I copy from Bishop Pearson's Exposition of the Creed. This work is esteemed as very high authority and is regarded as strictly orthodox, especially in the Church of England and in the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country. This will be evident from the fact that it has long been used as a standard theological text book. The passage which follows is the closing paragraph of a long and critical exposition of the seventh article of the Creed.
