s% : jnu *. y>tfte..r> A *.:ifcX y.-iSte-^ v*^ ♦♦**> o «5\.iiifc>* k * o G° \.i«£>/ o *oV* "* ,0*' .•!_•.. *c c* * *.T»° & o ».,i»* A o-' L. L. PICKETT. ERRATA. Chapter XL, "As to Eating and Drinking," 233 to 238, should come after Chapter XII. , "Earth Renewed and Perpetuated," which, as the reader will readily see, is but a continuation of Chapter X. The Renewed ILartH, Or The Coming and Reign of Jesus Christ. "The times of the restoration of all things." — Acts 3:21. By Evangelist L, L. PICKETT, Author of Sundry Books, Editor "The King's Herald" and "Bible Truth Library." PRICE, ONE DOLLAR. I D i . * ■ PICKETT PUBLISHING CO., Lotti8Vil.ee, Ky. Greenville, Tex. 1 DEC 7 1903 4^ Copyright 1903, by L. L. Pickett. Introduction. BY REV. JOHN B. CULPEPPER, Dear Readers: When the "holiness wave" struck Georgia it caught my ear and eye and challenged my atten- tion as a proposition to go deeper and do more for me, my home, my church and my State than we had yet realized. After listening to a little local controversy, I determined to know what wise men had said. So I ordered a box of literature — $151 worth of books, setting forth the doctrine and ex- perience from the beginning. These books con- tained the mature thought and rich experience of the church, irrespective of denominational affilia- tion. I was surprised, immeasurably, to find that this was not only a Bible doctrine, but was the feat- ure of early and all real Methodism. Before I read those books through, I was satisfied that a man who did not believe in the "baptism of the Holy Spirit," subsequent to regeneration — that one who did not believe in what we Methodists call "the second blessing;" w T hat Baptists call "the rest of faith;" what Episcopalians first called "the higher life;" what Moody called "endueinent for service;" what Andrew Murray calls "the surrendered 1; what some, like Meyer, denominate "the fullness life," is in antagonism with true theology, accurate 4 Introduction. history, and sound experience. From that hour, twenty years ago, I have steadily adhered to what I so well learned then. Similarly have I been affected by the literal re- turn and Pre-Millennial reign of my Saviour. In the first instance I was prejudiced against the doc- trine of holiness, as I understood it to be taught. Careful, and, I think, prayerful, investigation overcame prejudice and error. In this matter of Pre- or Post-Millennialism, my dense ignorance was most in my way. The name had never at- tracted me. I got confused with "Adventism," "Millennial-dawnism," and many other irrelevant subjects. A little investigation interested me. More in- vestigation alarmed me for myself and others. As I proceeded, it became clear that the first followers of Christ looked for Him back — that the early church were, without exception, Pre-Millennialists — that many of the wisest and best of men in all subse- quent generations have held this view; that it makes the Bible harmonious and consistent; that it is the greatest of incentives to holy living, and is without parallel as a spring to missionary zeal and activity. I hail every good book on this and kindred themes. This volume can only do good. When asked for an introductory word, I hesitated, out of pure, personal regard for the author. But, know- ing him as I do, after living by him two years, after being in many religious meetings with him, and after having business association with him for Introduction. 5 a number of years, I can say that if deep, personal piety, much prayer, healthful conscientiousness and painstaking candor are to be counted, then this book goes forth on a fruitful mission.. To each and all of my personal friends, as well as the generous public, I hereby formally introduce this volume, begging that you give it a close read- ing. CONTENTS. Introduction 3 Proem „ 9 CHAPTER I. The Pall of Man— Its Extent . 13 CHAPTER II. Extent of the Redemption 29 CHAPTER III. The Present Evil Age 42 CHAPTER IV. As to the Kingdom 67 CHAPTER V. Times of the Gentiles 107 CHAPTER VI. A Study of the Millennium 117 CHAPTER VII. The Millennium — A Phase of the Judgment 164 CHAPTER VIII. "This Same Jesus'' 183 CHAPTER IX. Perpetuity of the Earth 191 CHAPTER X. Perpetuity of the Earth. — Continued 8 Contents. CHAPTER XI. As to Eating and Drinking- 233 CHAPTER XII. Earth Renewed and Perpetuated 239 CHAPTER XIII. Effect on the Animal Creation 262 CHAPTER XIV. Objections Considered „ . . . . 278 CHAPTER XV. Question Department „ 294 CHAPTER XVI. Importance of This Doctrine 305 CHAPTER XVII. Spiritual Results 317 APPENDIX. Where Are the Dead? <>..,.. 322 Proem. This is my third book on our Lord's second com- ing. When my mind was first turned to the subject, and my heart richly blessed by it, I quickly brought out "Gur King Cometh," which, though faulty somewhat in teaching, at least in two of its chapters, because of my limited study of the sub- ject, has, nevertheless, sold several thousand copies and proven helpful to many hearts. (It has been recently revised by the elimination of the two chapters, which I felt to be unsound in teach- ing, and the substitution of others that will, I believe, prove of much practical benefit to its readers.) Next came "The Blessed Hope," which went into a more thorough discussion of this sub- ject. I have not seen fit to change any of its teach- ings, for I believe them thoroughly sound. The present work, however, carries the reader further, and is in some sense supplementary to ' 'The Blessed Hope." I have found it necessary to cover some of the ground in these pages that I had gone over in ' 'The Blessed Hope. " The arguments, however, are differently constructed and present the subject from different angles of vision. Even in these pages there is some repetition, especially of proof texts. This seems a necessity, since related sub- jects or phases of a subject frequently overlap. And, indeed, the Bible itself gives us "line upon io Proem. line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little." It is no doubt profitable to the reader to have a text turned over and examined from differ- ent standpoints, and a new setting may enforce its teachings, when a former presentation has failed. No apology, therefore, seems necessary for this repetition. I have not written here, nor do I in any of my books, for the carping critic, but for the great com- mon people, the class that heard our Lord gladly. I believe that they will appreciate and profit bjr these pages, into which I have poured both my brain and heart, for I should hate to write a book in which my heart was not engaged. I have quoted very little in these pages from Pre-Millennialists, but have given considerable space to extracts from our brethren of the other school. This is done for two reasons. (1) That it may be shown that I have presented their views aright I have let them speak for themselves. (2) That the absurdities of their scheme of inter- pretation may be apparent. Some of my remarks on the subject, that is, my strictures upon their teachings, may seem a little caustic. I would not wish to be severe toward any man or set of men, for many of them are, indeed, brethren beloved. Their errors, however, are hurtful to experience, damaging to correct Scripture exegesis, and per- versive of New Testament Christianity. I do not hesitate, therefore, to condemn without measure what I believe to be an unscriptural and hurtful dogma, and am fully responsible for every utterance Proem. 1 1 in these pages. In the light of God's Revealed Word, Post-Millennialism has no foundation, no support whatever, and I feel ready to sustain this proposi- tion anywhere. The views presented in these pages, touching the continued population of the earth beyond the Judgment, will doubtless be new to many of our readers. There is, indeed, very little in current literature touching this phase of the question. We believe, however, the case has been made out from the Scriptures. We ask for a candid, prayerful, thorough reading of the book, and a careful inves- tigation of its teachings. We have striven faith- fully to present only truth. In so far as we have succeeded, we believe God will bless the effort. Whatever mistakes or errors may have crept into these pages, I trust the reader may be enabled to detect and discard. For the truth, let God be praised; for the error, if any, let the unworthy writer bear the full blame. May the blessings of the triune God rest alike upon writer and reader. In love of the truth, and in Gospel fellowship, I remain the friend and brother of every true child of God. L. L. Pickett. Wilmore, Ky., May, 1903. The Fall of Man—Its Extent. This earth was made for man. It was given as his home and inheritance from the beneficent Cre- ator. Adam had complete lordship of earth, and every living creature on it. It was well adapted as the place of his residence, a holy, happy, sinless and deathless world. It was a mark of God's in- finite love .and compassion, a token of peculiar favor. God pronounced everything that He had made "good." Gen. 1:31. There was on the earth no sin and none of the consequences thereof. Be- fore the fall of man the earth was an Eden and God planted the garden "eastward in Eden." So beau- tiful and fertile was it that every need of man's life and every legitimate appetite could be proper- ly and fully supplied without toil or effort. While our first parents maintained their purity, they con- tinued to abide amid the boundless blessings of this garden. When there was no sin on earth, there was, as a consequence, no disease, no death, no poverty and no hardship, no devouring famine and no wasting pestilence. There were no sor- rows, no afflictions, none of the numberless evils that to-day blight the world because of sin. But man transgressed, his sin involved his expulsion from the garden, his moral debasement, his phys- ical, spiritual, and eventually his eternal death. In losing holiness, Adam lost all the Edenic happin< 14 The Renewed Earth. and glory, and entailed a fearful curse upon his entire progeny. The effects of the fall are not confined to man! , The curse rests upon the entire earth, both animate and inanimate. Yea, more, the whole creation is in some sad way involved in anguish and trouble through the dire and destruc- tive effects of the primal transgression. The very earth itself is, in some unexplainable manner, en- tangled with the evil and with the debasing conse- quences of the sin of our foreparents. God said to Adam: ; ' Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, say- ing, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake: in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ' 'Thorns also and thistles shall it bring" forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou re- turn unto the ground: for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return/' Gen. 3:17-19. This is a remarkable passage. It throws light upon many subjects. It displays to a remarkable extent the fearful consequences and disastrous . effects of the transgression. Through it we learn "the exceeding sinfulness of sin." It would seem that no sane man would continue in sin when he sees its widespread, its awful, its indescribable effects. Surely it is only evil, and is worthy of the most intense and deathless hatred. By means of sin, darkness fell upon the earth, and gross dark- ness upon its inhabitants. Because of sin, holiness was driven from the earth, innocence was ex- The Fall of Man— Its Extent. 15 changed for guilt, and death overcame life. But for the redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, earth might have been turned into hell. We might observe the effects of the fall: I. Upon Man. Having been made the lord of creation, he for- feited his standing with God and his dominion of the world very largely, and this all because of sin. Having violated the laws of God, man has been forced throughout the ages to bear the sad conse- quences of his sin. He sees its evil effects on the world about him, and feels its sting in his own body. We may be sure that our first parents were a beautiful pair. Look at them in the garden that God planted ! How erect their carriage, how per- fect their form, how entrancing their features, what exquisite beauty, what attractive personality and individuality; with clear eye, beautiful features and entrancing expression, Adam and Eve, free from sickness and pain, walked in happy fellow- ship with each other, and in blessed communion with God, until the sad and fearful hour when, through the enticements of the serpent, they de- parted from God, and fell, with a crash that has re- sounded through the centuries, to the very depths of degradation, of horror and a final hell, except through redeeming grace. We are glad that the grace of God will save the sinner, and the wonder- ful power of our Lord Jesus Christ will eventually restore everything belonging to this earth to pristine beauty and happiness. 1 6 The Renewed Earth. The Scriptures teach that man, like God, is atri- unity, i. e., he is a being, consisting of three essen- tial and distinct personalities, so united and blended as to become but one man. God himself is a trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, one God ; so man possesses in himself this triunity of being, body, soul and spirit. The destructive effects of the fall reached the entire being, perverting the will, cor- rupting the affections, thereby poisoning the inner and destroying the outer life. Sin in man takes effect, first, in the inner life. It springs up in the imagination, pollutes the thought, breaks down the faith, and, working outward, produces all man- ner of impurity and wickedness, the most debasing and damnable. When once the spring is poisoned, the stream flowing from it becomes corrupt. So the heart of man, becoming wicked and perverse, is as a filthy fountain, sending forth streams of impuri- ty. The whole man is thereby debased, and the character debauched and polluted, even unto the destruction of soul and body. Theologians tell us that man is totally depraved. Whether the propo- sition is true has been debated by many able tongues and pens. We suppose that total depravity refers to the relation of man to his Maker; it is the utter perversion of the soul. Nothing of God and holiness, of pure and spiritual life, remains in the totally depraved man. There may be certain good desires and impulses, certain kindly deeds, in the unrenewed heart. But there is none of God, none of that holiness that belongs to the character of our infinite Creator, left in the hardened life of the The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 17 unrenewed man. In this sense, and to this extent, he is certainly totally depraved. Bible descriptions of the wickedness of the human heart, are graphic, certainly true, and consequently overwhelming. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5. We all know what the imagination is, how it is a picture-chamber of the soul. There thoughts breed, pictures are created, desires are begotten, and conduct is formulated. We read in Proverbs, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (23:7.) And this is certainly true: "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." From a cor- rupt and debased heart will proceed a wicked and debauched life. Paul tells us that "evil communi- cations corrupt good manners." 1 Cor. 15:33. A man of filthy speech is a source of poison to any one who lends him a listening ear. A corrupt pic- ture is debasing to him who looks thereon. No one should hang a picture in his home or carry it with him in such state of dress or undress as he would be ashamed were the picture that of his mother, sister, wife or daughter. I am bound to believe that the nude in art is inexcusable — a source of moral debasement and spiritual putrefaction. A book that is full of vile suggestion is one of the devil's strongest agencies for the pollution of heart and life of men. Some of us have known preachers, even, who delighted in telling "smul anecdotes." Such men are a foul blot upon their 1 8 The Renewed Earth. profession. A man of impure speech simply ad- vertises to the world the state of his heart. There will never be any soot up the chimney except there be lire in the fireplace, and there will never be any filthy speech upon the tongue except there be pol- lution in the heart. An impure heart is necessa- rily a stranger to a holy God. The perversion of the heart means the corruption of the life, conse- quent death of character and the final damnation of the triune being. "The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence. "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was cor- rupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." Gen. 6:11,12. Universal wickedness and consequent violence proceed from the corrupt fountain of the deceitful heart, which is ' 'desperately wicked." Jer. 17:9. For a full-length portrait of the total depravity of man, read the first and third chapters of Romans. The Master also portrays the exceeding sinfulness of the human heart in the following language: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." Mark 7:21,22. All sin originates in the heart, but it does not all stop there. It pours forth as a destructive stream through the entire being, body, soul and spirit. Not only does sin debase the spiritual life and breed all manner of wickedness in conduct, The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 19 but it has brought a chain of untold evils upon the body of man. Death, with disease in all its horrid forms, results from sin. But for transgressions there never would have been an ache or pain, a chill or fever, an ague, a consumption, a neuralgia or rheumatism, a sorrow, an affliction or anguish of any kind. Observe the bent form of decrepit age, the twisted body of the suffering rheumatic, the empty sleeve of him whose arm has been am- putated. See the hollow chest of the consumptive, or the pallid cheek of the long-time sufferer, and remember that sin is the source of all the trouble. The body of man was made not only as the tem- ple of his spirit, but also of the Spirit of God. Beyond doubt Adam was a noble specimen of the divine handiwork. The exceeding loveliness of the first pair would, no doubt, be an astonishment to mortals of our day. But sin has changed it all. Behold, ye who have forgotten God, and see what the fall has done for our race! See that form, once so erect and beautiful. It is now bending with age. Those limbs, once so lithe and perfect are now fal- tering, halting, trembling and tottering toward the grave. Those eyes, once so bright and clear, are now fading, and present a lackluster appearance. Those nerves, once so strong and vigorous, are to- day racked with pain. The blood, once so healthy and pure, to-day courses sluggishly through the veins. That hair, once so luxuriant and beautiful, is now turning gray, or falling away. Those mus- cles, once so powerful, are now weak and trem- bling. Thus, throughout this beautiful temple of 20 The Renewed Earth. God, this handiwork divine, we find death and dis- solution. He who was made to live forever, even as the angels of God, is now, with staff in hand and halting step, tottering onward to the grave. But for sin there never would have been a wound or bruise, an ache or pain, in limb or head, in ear or eye, in muscle or in tooth. But for sin, never would weeping mourners have gathered around the cot of the dying, or marched in solemn procession to the cemetery, there to deposit the remains of a loved one in the cold and silent grave. But for sin, there never would have been an un- supplied want, an unsatiated appetite, a sorrow of heart or a tear of sadness. Many of the greatest afflictions of men are in the heart, in the affectional nature, rather than in the body. The hair has been known to turn gray in a single night, from fright or uneasiness. The great- est sufferings of the race are internal, such as be- reavements, anguish of heart, remorse of conscience — how this does gnaw the heart-strings ! And these aches of heart, these troubles of spirit, cannot be relieved by the anaesthetics of the physician. There are sorrows that sting for time, and blight, appar- ently, for eternity. But they all are the offspring of sin, the consequence of the primal transgression of God's holy law. A drunken son may be shot down in a debauch, he lingers in pain for a few hours and dies, but the mother carries the agony of a breaking heart, of shame and sorrow indescribable, through rolling years. The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 21 II. The Human FAkiLY. If we broaden our view from the individual to the family, the community, the State or the na- tion, yea, to the limits of the world, we find the same sad results of the fall. Man everywhere is under the curse, through its dire effects the home is blighted, the offspring are demoralized, the commu- nity is afflicted, anarchy sweeps the State, and war desolates the nations. The scythe of the destroyer cuts down the countless millions of the race, be- ginning even with the unborn, and sweeping on through all ages and ranks to the decrepit old man. Not alone wast thou involved, O Adam, but thy un- born offspring fell with thee! Sin disturbs all con- ditions. No power can stay its ravages, no wealth can exempt from its sufferings, no philosophy can relieve its pains and aches. Through it, the sage goes trembling to the tomb, even as the fool; the monarch becomes food for worms as certainly as the lone wanderer on the islands bare; tears flow as freely in the mansion as in the hovel; the heart bleeds as surely in the palace of the capitalist as in the hut of the poor. Osin! thou infernal spirit, born of the pit, how long wilt thou hold sway over a desolated and suffering race! O death! thou child of sin, thou grandchild of Beelzebub, how long wilt thou continue to mow down the suffering victims of man's fall and transgression! III. The Brute Creation. In some sad, inexplicable way, the poor dumb brutes have become involved in the consequen 22 The Renewed Earth. of the fall. Through no sin of their own, they have, nevertheless, fallen under the sad effects of the sin of their liege lord. Adam's transgression, sad to think! did not stop in its effects with him, or with his descendants after the flesh, nor does it ye t. There is a remarkable passage in the writings of Paul. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ,; For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willing- ly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; ^'Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Eom. 8:19-22. The word "creature" here is quite frequently rendered by critical scholars "creation." See Re- vised Version, Rotherham, etc. Thus the passage may be broader in its meaning than we have usual- ly considered it. I do not care to enter into a full discussion of it in this place. The whole creation, so far as its relation to this world is concerned, is under the sad effects of the fall. It certainly in- volves the whole brute family; in fact, this is clear to any observer. We find them not only subject to death, but to injustice, to cruelty, always inexcus- able and at times well-nigh indescribable. The faithful horse is frequently over- worked, half-fed. insufficiently watered, and then, adding injustice to injury, it is not infrequently left unblanketed and The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 23 unsheltered in the severest weather. The affec- tionate watch-dog is often half-starved, and at times even receives stones and kicks in return for the kindness and affection displayed toward his master. The height of cruelty, of wicked and re- fined cruelty, is reached in the vivisection room. Many of our readers may not understand the term ' 'vivisection." It refers to a practice in surgical colleges, where animals are dissected while yet alive. The helpless dumb brute is fastened and cut to pieces little by little, that the practitioner and student may examine the nerves and various structure of the inner parts of the body. A horse, a cat or dog, is thus at times left to suffer until, from sheer pain and exhaustion, death comes to its re- lief. A foot is cut open to-day, and every nerve dissected and analyzed; the jaw will be slit to-mor- row, the side opened next day, another foot the clay following, and thus it continues, with no relief, not even an anaesthetic administered, until the agon- ized sufferer, friendless and helpless, after days that seem to the poor victim more than weeks, breathes its last from sheer exhaustion, unmixed suf- fering and indescribable pain. And all this folly and wickedness is practiced under the plea of "science." Inexcusable, pernicious cruelty, palmed off on the world in the name of science! Such process can only result in a hardening of the feelings of the surgeon and a debasing cruelty on the part of the student. But it is one of the many sad effects the original transgression of God's law. Indeed, the curse is on the animal creation, the 24 The Renewed Earth. world over. War and strife between the various members of the brute family is one of the results. It seems as though they have become so rapacious under the effects of the fall that they are not satis- fied to be oppressed at the hand of man, but they must fight and devour, tear and rend each other. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain. Why? Because of the fall of man, whom God appointed earth's sovereign and lord. But, thank God ! redemption looms in the distance, relief lies just ahead. The suffering creation shall see "the manifestation of the sons of God." IV. The Earth. The very ground itself is under the curse. Reader, had you observed this fact? Please notice the sentence as pronounced from the lips of the Al- mighty: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee." Gen. 3:17-19. "Cursed is the ground!" What a marvelous thing ! how strange ! And yet it is God who speaks, and every word in this awful sentence is confirmed by history and before our own eyes. Men have sought to locate the garden of Eden. Bishop Keener, I believe, has endeavored to establish the fact that it was in South Carolina. Others have naturally located it in Asia, the cradle of the hu- man race. Near to it we find Ethiopia, Assyria, the Euphrates and other well-known geographical points. But where the garden may have been lo- The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 25 cated counts for little. We are told that God planted it ''eastward in Eden." Gen. 3:8. Eden is evidently, therefore, larger than the garden. Who knows but that Eden represents the entire earth, while the garden was a select spot, for the habitation of the first pair in their innocence? It does seem that the whole earth in those days of pristine purity and glory was Edenic. None of the effects of the fall were to be seen upon it anywhere. This was a pure, holy, happy, sinless and unsuffer- ing world. But, how sad to say, the whole of this earth is involved in the fall of him who was ap- pointed to have dominion over it, the first Adam. When Jesus returns to reign on earth He shall come as "the Son of man," the unf alien Head and representative of the race. Among the effects of the fall upon the earth it- self we may readily see and easily determine the following: (a) Disease. In the present order of things, disease, dire, death-dealing disease, lurks in the water we drink, in the air we breathe, yea, in the very earth upon which we tread. Its miasmas and pestilential vapors mean death to man. From the earth itself spring forth our agues and fevers, our neuralgic affections and our rheumatisms, our coughs and consumptions, our cancers and running sores, our bubonic and other deadly plagues of every kind and description. Death lurks in the soil, hides in the shade, hangs in the vapor and "rides on every passing breeze." 26 The Renewed Earth. (b) Fruitlessness. It is certain that Adam and Eve did not have to toil for their living before they sinned. They were as free from care as the bird that warbles its flute-like note of praise to its Creator from tree- top in May morning. God fed and clothed them — such clothing as they needed in the time of their innocence — and no toil on their part was required; but after the transgression the sentence goes forth, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." The curse in this place is not upon man — that has been pro- nounced elsewhere — it is, instead, upon the earth. Upon the soil, which had. once provided him abun- dant sustenance without toil, he is now forced to labor diligently in order to provide that which he shall eat. It is highly probable that in Edenic conditions the fertility of the earth was so marvel- ous that a very small plot of it, perhaps an acre, would produce more than could be consumed by a large family. Its comparative fruitlessness is the result of the curse, and thereby man is forced to earn his bread by diligence, by toil and labor and pain. (c) Nauseous weeds. Not only did the earth cease its fertility in those spontaneous fruits that were adapted to man's sustenance in his innocent condition, but it forthwith manifested a peculiar and hith- erto unheard of fertility, viz., in the production of thorns and thistles and briers— of those hurt- The Fall of Man — Its Extent. 27 ful, noxious, nauseating weeds, that foster disease and bring trouble to man, hindering the growth of useful fruits, vegetables, and the like. Thus the curse works in a double way upon the vegeta- tion of the earth. It is rendered much less pro- ductive of useful things, of such as are suitable for food, and on the other hand, very fruitful has it become in the hurtful, poisonous things, such as were utterly unknown in Eden. The seeds from which we harvest our bread have to be planted in prepared ground, and cultivated with sweat and toil, while the thistles and the thorns grow spon- taneously. To this day, man's living is procured by a ceaseless fight with the noxious weeds which came because of the curse. How the farmer has to plow for his wheat, his corn, his fruits and veg- etables, his rice, cotton, hemp, and other useful products! But who ever has to sow thistles, or plant thorns, cockleburrs, crab-grass, etc., etc.? The curse answers the whole question. It is upon the whole earth, resting on the ground everywhere, and alike upon man and beast. Yet other features of this material curse may be found in the earth. We refer to earthquakes, storms of every kind, the hurricane, the cyclone, the tornado, the whirlwind, etc. Never was there a devastating cyclone in the happy Eden bowers, or a destructive earthquake in those blissful days. Had the race remained true to God, destrucl would have doubtless been to this day as unknown on earth as in the Holy City above — the deathless home of God and the unfallen angels. 28 The Renewed Earth. Thus we see the dire effects of the fall every- where, on man and beast, in earth and air and sky. Shall the race ever be restored, and the earth freed from the curse? It certainly shall. Thank God! Extent of the Redemption. 29 CHAPTER II. Extent of the Redemption. Having considered the extent of the fall, we will now take a brief glance at those Scriptures which promise a restoration of the earth. We observe that the Word of God holds out a full redemption from the curse. The Scriptures which portray the triumph of Christ are numerous and full of en- couragement. Observe the following Scriptural promises: 1. World-wide dominion of Christ. (Psa. 72:8-11.) "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring pres- ents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. "Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him." Among all nations He shall be acknowledged King; the sceptre of His authority shall be recog- nized on land and sea, even to the utmost extent of the world. The rich, together with the poor, shall serve Him; kings, with peasants, shall do Him homage. 2. God's house shall be exalted. In the prophecy of Isaiah we read, "The mountain of the Lord's 3