Horatius Bonar was a "rationalist" theologian, not an atheist at all. In 1870, many British citizens seemed to be remembered forever by their names and titles, such as 7th Earl of Something; Bonar's point is that this does not really count.

As for naive ideas about afterlife, sitting on a cloud and watching the earth like a TV show, surrounded by 72 virgins - you may be surprised how many theologians of many religions failed to subscribe to that, without calling themselves atheists.