hearts and lives-our dispositions, motives and cherished purposes!
Considered, therefore, as to its influence on the believer's life and character—viewed as to its obvious practical tendency—which of these doctrines appears most worthy of acceptation, the Old or the New? Which has the nature of infinite Wisdom and Love most legibly impressed upon it? Which appears most in harmony with the Divine character and attributes as revealed in nature and the written Word? Which looks most like heaven-descended truth, and which most like the vain imaginings of men? Which is calculated to exert the most salutary influence on the soul of the believer? The reader needs not our answer to these questions. He can answer them for himself.
IV.
THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF HEAVEN.
FEW terms are of more frequent occurrence in the Gospels, than heaven and the kingdom of heaven. And precisely what they mean, would seem, therefore, to be a matter of some practical importance to every believer of the Gospels. What is heaven, viewed as to its essential nature? Dr. E. H. Sears asks this question near the commencement of his Foregleams of Immortality; and immediately adds:
