THE

Destiny of the Human Race.

"As it is owned, the whole scheme of Scripture is not yet understood; so, if it ever comes to be understood before the restitution of all things, and without miraculous interpositions, it must be in the same way as natural knowledge is come at-by the continuance and progress of learning and liberty; and by particular persons attending to, comparing, and pursuing intimations scattered up and down it, which are overlooked and disregarded by the generality of the world. For this is the way in which all improvements are made; by thoughtful men's tracing on obscure hints-as it were, dropped us by nature accidentally, or which seem to come into our minds by chance. Nor is it at all incredible that a book, which has been so long in the possession of mankind, should contain many truths as yet undiscovered."-Butler's Analogy, p. 2, c. iii.

"Correct not my writings out of your own opinion, or out of contention; but from the reading of the Divine Word, or by unshaken argument. Should you lay hold of anything in them that is true,-in being so, it is not mine; but by the understanding and the love of it, let it be both yours and mine. Should you, however, detect anything that is false,-in the error, it may have been mine; but henceforth, by guarding against it, let it be neither mine nor yours." -Augustine.

THE

Destiny of the Human Race:

A SCRIPTURAL INQUIRY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE."

"The times have changed. *#
* At this moment we may be quite sure
that no scheme of religious belief will be able to hold its footing abroad in the
world, or beyond the walls of closets and saloons, which does not, in some intel-
ligible and coherent manner, make provision for securing our peace of mind in
regard to the present lot, and to the prospects, of the human family."-Isaac
Taylor.

"Even now, after eighteen centuries of Christianity, we may be involved in
some tremendous error, of which the Christianity of the future will make us
ashamed."-Vinet.

Printed by J. & W. Rider, 14, Bartholomew Close, London.

PREFACE.

TH

HE prefent Work, like its predeceffor, will be found to confift largely of papers which, during the last three years, have appeared periodically in an editorial form. This circumftance, it is hoped, may be regarded as a fufficient apology for the continued use of the first person plural.

The Introduction will fully explain the object and character of the publication.

To those who are fo forgetful of the conditions on which alone truth can advance in the world, as to confider any disturbance of long cherished opinions an unmitigated evil, this book cannot fail to be distasteful; for it proceeds on the affumption that everything in the Bible worth knowing is not yet in our