OPINIONS OF GREA T A UTHORS 77 



port from any passage wherein man is referred to 

 that there can be no parallel. 1 



John "Wesley, in speaking of a general restoration 

 of all animal life, says : " Nothing can be more 

 plainly expressed. Away with vulgar prejudice 

 and let the plain Word of God take its place. 

 They (the animals) shall be delivered from the 

 bondage of corruption into glorious liberty, even a 

 measure, according as they are capable, of the lib- 

 erty of the children of God. A general view of 

 that is given in the eighth chapter of Eomans. 

 Then the following blessing shall be given, not 

 only to the children of men, for there is no such re- 

 striction in the text, but to every creature accord- 

 ing to its capacity : ' God shall wipe away all tears 



1 There is a plain distinction made by using in contrast the words 

 creature and they with man and ourselves. It is a plain observation 

 from nature, as well as revelation, that every inferior creature in 

 the universe travails in pain, and not only they, but we ourselves, 

 we of the human species, groan within ourselves, waiting for the 

 redemption of our bodies from the evils they now labor under. 

 The creatures or lower animals were made subject to vanity or sin 

 "through our offense," and groan under the curse of man's dis- 

 obedience, but in due time these poor creatures shall be delivered 

 from the bondage of corruption and be restored along with man to 

 happiness. There shall be a "restoration of all things as God 

 hath promised by the mouth of all His holy prophets," when the 

 new heaven and the new earth are to be inhabited. 



