The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24

; settle down upon the thus and so, and ordt
Of events which may occur after His coming
1t is better, think, to project no theories
and to erect no systems.
What pregnant words are those of tina
master of wisdom, Lord Bacon, viz: "An
other error is the over early and peremptor
reduction of knowledge into arts and meth
DDS, from which time commonly receive
small augmentation. Method, or system
carrying show of total and perfect knowl
edge has a tendency to generate acquies
cence." "a system" says Macintosh
(which attempts task so hard as that o
subjecting vast provinces of human knowl
edge to one or two principles, if it present
some striking instances of conformity to su
pericial appearances, is sure to delight th
framer, and for time to subdue and capt.
vate the student too entirely for sober reaec
tion or rigorous examination. In the frs
instance consistency passes for truth. Wher
principles in some instances have proved
sufficient to give an unexpected explar a.io
Of facts, the delighted reader is content t.
accept, as true, all other deductions from the
principles. Specious premises being as
sumed to be true, nothing more can be re-
quired than logical inference, and mathe
matical forms pass current as equivalent tc
mathematical certainty"
These prophecies, have been in the habit
of thinking, express something it has not ye'
entered into the mind of man to conceive.
1t may be that their actual fulfllment is ne.
cessary in order to our comprehension OF
their meaning. The disciples, after the re-
aurrection, remembered the predictions. Of
their Lord, and understood what before was
incomprehensible. But the bare admission
that prophecies may be fulfilled after the
coming of the Lord, is quite different thing
from claiming thatitis so, and, what is more,
pretending to fix upon the nature and form
Of their fulfllment by Interpretation.
That Dr. Brookes takes one.sided view Of
the Church of Christ, l do not think can be
successfully denied. Surely her condition is
lamentable enough, without making it ap.
pear worse by partial representation in por-
tentous words. The fearful, and almost
apostate picture be draws naturally goes,
however, with his theory. 1t would not be
finished without it. Ga the other hand, l
am inclined to think his opponents are dis
posed to take rather too pleasing q view of
things. 1t were better, perhaps, not to in
terpose even our notion of that "falling
away" between to-day and His coming
That falling away" before the end cometh,
need not necessarily be understood as imne-
diately preceding His coming, unless its wide
spread character should seem to confirm it.
This may have already occurred. And yet,
if any man thinks now, or at any time, that
he perceives "falling away" it will work
him no harm if he is warned thereby, the
more to swatch"
l am of the opinion, then, that it is the
duty of the humble man of God to regard
the coming of bis Lord just as possible TO-
morrow, to might, today, as at any other
time and so to "watch!''
1t is his privilege to "look" with longing
4" for that blessed hope," the send of our
Redemption when the Lord shall change
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like
unto his own glorious body, according to the
working whereby He is able even to subdue
all things unto Himself" Obviously he will
find nothing inconsistent With these exercises
in the admission and feeling that the coming
of his Lord may not be yet for very long
time, as men estimate times length. And
as the servant is commanded to be "always
abounding in the work Of the Lord" he will
find no more conflict between daily attitude
of expectancy and daily fidelity to duty, than
is found between practical belief of election
and human responsibility. He will watch
for His sudden appearing, and labor as il
that greatest Of all events were far distant
And yet be does realize by faith that " the
time is short" For should the glorious
event even not transpire to day, and he "fall
asleep in Jesus" he knows that in the morn.
ing he shall "awake in His likeness, and be
satisfied"
The glorious appearing of our blessed Re-
deemer then, as the point of the consumma.
ton of our redemption, (body, soul and spir
it, is doubtless the highest objective point
of Christian hope; but it is not the only one
There is nearer and simpler one, aid there
fore more accessible to the greater part o.
Gods people. 1t seems to arise more i'm
mediately out of the earliest and ordinary
exercises of faith in Christ as our deliverel
from sin, and our companion in life. 1t ii
simply the souls entering into rest" tb'
being with Christ where there is no more sin
without solicitude for what shall follow, Of
one thought of the body and of visible, gle
rious accompaniments. suppose the hop
of every Christian dwels upon both point
in different degrees; for the one involves th'
other. When "looking for that blesse.
hope by regarding the possibility of H.
coming to-day, the one becomes more prom
inent; when remembering bis sore oLhct
with sin, and further, that He my "giv
his beloved sleep, it seems happiness enougl