Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/199

 he has been created is that he may become an inhabitant of heaven. He, however, cannot enter into that kingdom unless he become a recipient of the principles of goodness and truth; and these, because they are Divine, are perpetually expanding in the human mind, and they will go on for ever increasing in their purity and loveliness. In this we may perceive another image of the Divine infinity and eternity; but heaven itself is this image in a pre-eminent degree. As the Divine residence, it is infinite, and, therefore, it must be adapted for the reception of an indefinite number of inhabitants; and because it is so adapted, it is reasonable to conclude that the purpose will be realized. All the adaptations of God are with a view to special ends; and, doubtless, He has given immensity to heaven in order to provide for the reception and happiness of an immense population. How plain is it that all things of heaven must have respect to what is infinite and eternal, and thus to multiplications without end! This result is consequent upon the fact of heaven being the essential dwelling-place of God. If, then, the human race were to cease, the Divine work would be limited to a certain number, and thus all proof of the Lord's having respect to infinity would be absent.

This earth is inhabited by some hundreds of millions of the human family, and it is well known that many thousands are born into it and are removed from it every day. Births and deaths are momentary occurrences. This evidence of increase and mortality has being going on from the earliest times. Indeed, a whole generation of mankind passes into the spiritual world in somewhat less than fifty years: and surely, from amongst these, during every fifty years, a vast number will find a place in the heavenly kingdom. How immense must be the number thus accumulating.