[THE following is a copy of a Bill, written by the late Rev. ROWLAND HILL, which was stuck up at RICHMOND, on Saturday, 4th of June, 1774, close to the Play Bill for that day. The design of which was to divert the minds of the gay and dissipated from the vain amusements of the THEATER, and to fix their attention to the awful circumstances which usher in and succeed “The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.”] ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.3
BY COMMAND OF THE KING OF KINGS. (1) And at the desire of all who love His appearing. (2) AT THE THEATER OF THE UNIVERSE. (3) ON THE EVE OF TIME, (4) WILL BE PERFORMED The Great Assize OR DAY OF JUDGMENT. THE SCENERY. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.4
Which is now actually preparing, will not only surpass everything that has yet been seen, but will infinitely exceed the utmost stretch of human conception. (6) There will be a just REPRESENTATION of ALL THE INHABITANTS of the WORLD, in their various and proper colours; and their costumes and manners will be so exact, and so minutely delineated, that the most secret thought will be discovered. (7) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.5
“For God shall bring every Work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be GOOD, or whether it be EVIL,” Ecclesiastes 12:4. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.6
This THEATER will be laid out after a new plan, AND WILL CONSIST OF PIT AND GALLERY only; and, contrary to all others, the GALLERY is fitted up for the reception of persons of High (or heavenly) Birth, (8) and the PIT for those of Low (or earthly) Rank. (9) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.7
N.B. - The Gallery is very spacious, (10) and the Pit is without bottom. (11) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.8
To prevent inconvenience, there are separate Doors for admitting the company; and they are so different, that none can mistake that are not willfully blind. The door that opens into the GALLERY is very narrow, and the steps up to it somewhat difficult: for which reason there are seldom many people about it. (12) But the door that gives entrance to the PIT is very wide and very commodious, which causes such numbers to flock to it, that it is generally crowded. (13) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.9
N.B. - The Straight door leads towards the right hand, and the Broad one to the left. (14) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.10
It will be in vain for one in tinseled coat and borrowed language to personate one of HIGH BIRTH in order to get admittance into the upper places, (15) for there is One of wonderful and deep penetration, who will search and examine every individual; (16) and all who cannot pronounce SHIBBOLETH (17) in the language of Canaan, (18) or has not received a white stone and a new name, (19) or cannot prove a clear title to a certain portion of the LAND of PROMISE, (20) must be turned in at the left door. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.11
The Principle Performers, are described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 9; Matthew 24:30, 31; 25:31, 32; Daniel 7:9, 10; Jude 14-19; Revelation 20:12-15. But as there are some people much better acquainted with the contents of a PLAY-BILL than the WORD OF GOD, it may not be amiss to transcribe a verse or two for their perusal:- ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.12
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel,” but “to be glorified in his Saints.” (21) “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” (22) “And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” (23) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.13
Of this Grand and Solemn piece will be opened by AN ARCHANGEL with the Trump of GOD!!! ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.14
“For the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised.” - 1 Corinthians 15:52. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.15
PROCESSION OF SAINTS ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.16
In White, with Golden Harps, accompanied with Shouts of Joy and Songs of Praise. (24) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.17
AN ASSEMBLAGE OF ALL THE UNREGENERATE
THE MUSIC will chiefly consist of CRIES. (26)
accompanied with WEEPING, WAILING, MOURNING,
LAMENTATION, and WOE. (27).
TO CONCLUDE WITH AN
Oration by the Son of God. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.18
It is written in the twenty-fifth of Matthew, from verse 31 to the end of the chapter. (But for the sake of those who seldom read the Scriptures, I shall here transcribe two verses,) “Then shall the King say to them on his Right Hand, ‘Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Then shall he also say unto them on his Left Hand, ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared (not indeed for you, but) for the Devil and his angels.’” ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.19
After which the Curtain will drop,
Then! O to tell!
Some rais’d on high, and others doom’d to hell! (a)
These praise the Lamb, and sing redeeming Love, (b)
Lodged in his bosom, all his goodness prove; (c)
While those who trampled under foot his grace, (d)
Are banished now forever from his face; (e)
Divided thus, a Gulf is fixed between, (f)
And everlasting closes up the scene. (g) ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.20
(a) John 5:28, 29. (b) Revelation 5:9; 14:3, 4. (c) Luke 16:22, 23. (d) Luke 19:14, 27. (e) Matthew 25:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:9. (f) Luke 16:26. (g) Matthew 25:46. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.21
*“Thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” - Amos 4:12. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 130.22
TICKETS FOR THE PIT at the easy purchase of following the pomps and vanities of the Fashionable World, and the desires and amusements of the Flesh, (28) to be had at every flesh-pleasing Assembly. “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” - Romans 8:13. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.1
TICKETS FOR THE GALLERY, at no less rate than being converted, (29) forsaking all, (30) denying self, taking up the Cross, (31) and following Christ in the Regeneration (32) - to be had nowhere but in the Word of God, and where that word appoints. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.2
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” “And be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Matthew 11:15. Galatians 6:7. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.3
N.B. - No money will be taken at the door, (33) nor will any Tickets give admittance into the Gallery but those sealed by the Lamb. (34) “Watch, therefore, be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. - Matthew 24:44. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.4
(1) Revelation 19:16. 1 Timothy 6:15. (2) 4:8. Titus 2:13. (3) Revelation 20:11. Matthew 24:27; 25:31, 32. (4) Revelation 10:6, 7. 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.5
(5) Hebrews 9:27. Jude 15. Psalm 9:7, 8. Revelation 6:17. 2 Corinthians 5:10. (6) 1 Corinthians 2:9. (7) Matthew 12:36; 25:32. 1 Corinthians 4:5. Romans 2:12, 16. (8) John 3:3, 5. 1 Peter 1:23. Romans 8:14. (9) James 3:14, 15. Romans 3:18. (10) John 14:2. Luke 14:22. (11) Revelation 9:1, 2; 19:20. (12) Matthew 7:14. (13) Matthew 7:13. (14) Matthew 25:33. (15) Matthew 7:21-23; 22:11. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.6
(16) Psalm 44:21. Jeremiah 17:10. 2 Timothy 2:19. John 10:14. (17) Judges 12:6. (18) Isaiah 19:18. Zephaniah 3:9. (19) Revelation 2:17. (20) 2 Corinthians 13:5. Galatians 3:29. Hebrews 9:1, 8, 9. (21) 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10. Matthew 24:31. (22) Daniel 7:10. (23) Revelation 20:15. (24) Revelation 14:2, 3; 15:2, 3, 4. (25) Matthew 13:49, 50; 25:32, 41; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. (26) Psalm 112:10. Revelation 6:16, 17. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.7
(27) Luke 13:28. Matthew 13:50. Revelation 1:7. Ezekiel 2:10. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.8
(28) James 4:4. 1 John 2:15-17. 1 Timothy 5:6. Ephesians 2:2, 3. (29) Matthew 18:3. Acts 3:19; 8:18-24. (30) Luke 14:33; 18:28-30. (31) Luke 9:23; 14:27. (32) Matthew 19:28, 29. (33) Acts 8:18-24. (34) 2 Corinthians 1:22. Ephesians 4:13, 14; 4:30. Revelation 7:3. ARSH March 11, 1858, page 131.9