Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-03-21

A2 % Church Sunday
~SS morning. T h e
my reverend speaker
WN began by saying
" thatamong Gods
promises none are more comfort
ing, or bear upon their wings
higher hopes than that of Christ>s
personal return. In every age it
has been q bow in the clouds,
elevating the thoughts of the
church, inspiring her heart with
fresh trust and nerving her arms
for greater and more prolonged
service. Continuing, Mr.. Wallace
went on to add that what ever view
may be taken of the second advent
of Christ, it cannot but be admit
ted to be one of the most prom
ment of the scripture doctrines.
1t is found in many Of tie parallels
and in the direct teachings, ex-
iortations and promises of our
Lord and yet it seldom arrests
earnest attention o%rlnspiles serious
thought. This doctrine is not to be
avoided because it has been misen-
terpreteu and converted into a basis
for untenable notions as has been to
greater or less extent almost every
other doctrine of scripture; but in
view of what it has been and is to
many most earnest and c~onsecrated
Christians, it is worthy of special
study and ofbeing fed upon as a
source of strength. And first, as
regards the time of ChriSt's coming,
it is expressly stated that This
Gospel shall be preached in all
the world for a witness to all ma
tons and then shall the end Gomez
Math. a: IA, and it is probable that
the fullfllment Of this prophecy is
all that stands between Us and the
event itself. Note the words of the
Lord. He does not say the gospel
must be preached for the conver-
sion of the world, and that when
all men are converted the end shall
come. The gospel is to be preach
ed, but that does not mean CONVEX
sion. In an age like the present,
when the gospel Is being proclaim
ed in almost every nook and corner
Of the world, Christ's descent from
heaven might take place at any
moment. The conclusion there.
fore necessarily is, that while the
time for that event is unknown i,
is nevertheless imminent. "Watch
ye, therefore," While we are not
to fix a time for the coming of the
Son of man, we are to look for it.
pray for it and prepare for it. TIC
put that coming off into the far fu,
ture would be to rob watching anC
preparing of all meaning, but i
that coming be regarded as likely
or, even as possible to happen Al
any moment, the reasons for ex.
hortation to watchfulness and prep
aration are evident.
Let us now turn to what is re.
vealed as connected with this com,
ing. First, there is the resurrec
ton of the dead. eff we believe
that Jesus died and rose again
even SO them also which sleep II
Jesus will God bring with him, fol
this we say unto you by the wore
of the Lord, that we, which art
alive and remain unto the coming
of the Lord, snail not prevent then
which are asleep; for the Lord him
self shall descend from HEAVIER
with a shout, with the voice of al
archangel and with the trump o
God, and the dead in Christ shall
rise first. Then we which arr
alive shall be caught up togethe:
with them in the clouds to NEE
the Lord in the air and so shall W,
be ever with the Lord. WherefoE
comfort one another with thes,
: words" First Thes. 4: AIS
What a hope is here presented IL
those that think that Christ ma,
shortly come, unlock the tomb, re
animate its occupants, and receive
them to himself and at the sam,
time glorify the living. 1t il
enough to thrill all hearts will
Joy unspeakable, for then shall
come to pass the saying death i
swallowed up in victory" No ont
wants to die and mould. The gray,
even to the Christian is clothes
with lonesomeness. But to b.
changed, to be translated Xix
Enoch or Elijah, to go at once f
meet GCd without death and vast
ing, would make every fibre Of tn
soul thrill with joy. The yer.
hope of such a thing clothes liz
with new interest. From what ha
been SAID it will be readily seel
that the view of Christ's comin'
presented is decidedly premillen
NAL.
We will now look into some G
+ the practical effects of this doctrine
one of the most prominent of whicl
r is comfort in affiiction. But t
|, him that is devoted to this world
it is a trumpet call of danger
tEIIrr -. e. G L. --,