The Saint's Place of Reward.—
By Editor
A minister writing in a widely circulated daily says that another minister has made some startling discoveries in the realm of theology. After years of patient investigation he has succeeded in locating heaven and hell, and from this time forth neither saint nor sinner need be ignorant as to where he will spend eternity. Heaven, so the Cincinnati divine informs us, is to be located on the earth, after it shall have been properly disinfected and purified by fire. All of this is treated lightly, as tho it were a good joke. Why should not God tell His children where they should spend eternity. We all know that man does not live long here. Is this the end of existence? If there is a future, where is it to be? In reply we would simply say that if "theology" had taken the Bible for its standard, there would be no question as to the place of reward, the time of reward, and the condition of the place of reward. Neither is this a new discovery, as Mr. Thomas B. Gregory would have us believe. It is as old as the Bible, as old as God's purpose; for He tells us,—and He stakes His very existence in its fulfilment,—"Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it; He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited. I am Jehovah; and there is none else." Isa. 45:17. Jesus declares, quoting from Psalm 37, "The meek shall inherit the earth." Matt. 5:5. That psalm tells us when this shall be. "For evil doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever." "Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." All this and the time of fulfilment is clearly set forth in a multitude of passages in the teachings of Christ and His apostles. That renewed heaven and earth will be spiritual but not the less gloriously real, even as the people who inherit its glory.