The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-30
THE GREAT EXPEt;rATION.
tSelected for The Times.)

second coming of the Lord.
Sometimes it seemed as if they looked
to see, almost Immediately, the opening
sky and His descending form. At other
times. with a more general faith, they
seemed to anticipate what has come to
pass the slow and spiritual occupation
of the human heart by the spirit of Jesus;
to be uuickened at some future day and
brought to some great contamination,
which it is impossible to describe. but
which, when it comes will center about
Him, and crown Him King of Kings and
Lord of Lords.
Sometimes one of these thoughts, and
sometimes the other, is expressed But
whatever the form their expectation as
sumed, the great fact remained that they
were always expecting. Their look was
always forward, and they found album
their expectancy, which they described as
the coming of the Lord "maranatha,
1.-The Lord will come. 1t was their Gus
tom to greet each other with that salu-
tation.
We cannot probably imagine how COM
pletely this habit of expectation had pos
session of their lives. 1t must have given
color and meaning to everything they
did. Every step they took in life brought
them little nearer to that great end and
purpose. They set out on a voyage, and
as they turned their eyes away from the
they seemed to be sailing out to meet the
coming Lord Two of them parted from
the others, not knowing when or where
they would meet again, and they said to
themselves wherever it is it will be but
in the nearer presence of the Lord" One
OF them moved into a new dwelling, and
as he entered the door of his future
home, its very rooms became sacred to
him, because in them he might welcome
Christ.
Now is our salvation nearer than when
we first believed These words expressed
the feeling and the power which was al
ways in their hearts and on their tongues
Ever since the time of the Apostles this
great hope has always been the inspra
ton of the Christian world. The noblest
souls have always believed that larger
and fuller light will be given. The prom
Use of Christianity is as yet but partially
fulfilled. All that has as yet been done In
all the Christian centuries is only the
sketch and prelude of what is to follow.
This has been the faith OF every Chris
tan reformer. Great souls who loved the
past as much as any others, have yet
cut loose from them, and with this hope
sailed out into unknown seas. 1t is not
wilfulness; it is really the profoundest
faith.
And as the noblest souls have thought
of the world history so true and earnest
men think of their own lives. The power
of life lies in hope-in this hope, THE
Lord is at hand
These thoughts naturally arise on this
the last Sunday of 1900 The year which
came to us all fresh and young twelve
months ago is worn and weary now. AT
such a time it is not mere hablt-lt is
something higher-Which makes US pause
Il, >
old, between the living and the dead, and
strain our ears to listen as they speak in
passing Can we not almost hear the
words they say? Do not our hearts beat
quicker as we face the all unknown flu
ture? What does it hold in its mysterious
depths? To most of you-shall not say
TO all Of you?-have come IN TINS past
year some new experiences. Some OF you
have known what it is to be poor tor the
first time. Perhaps some may have known
for The first time what it is to be rich.
Some have had the sharp discipline OF
sickness and pain. To some death mas
for the first time entered your famiiy'
and the circle is broken. TO others mas
come the new joy of family life. And
Cod has sent His little messengers TO
bind your hearts anew ana 10 teach you
The solemnity of living. 10 some nave
come deep spiritual changes, unseen by
mortal eye. but known ana registered III
Heaven. All these crowd INTO the mlnd
&c u,o stand on the threshold of the new
,..,r and wondering say. What will it
bring to us; what VIII goa oo ioi "s anu
with us this new year
We look forward and say, Something
will happen; some change Will come; II
may be fuller life; it may be death"
What will God do this year? How will
He come near to man-to you and me?
we talk about God sending messengers
IN us. If our religion is real thing. we
feel God actually coming to us Himself
in all the unknown things which will
hanpen to us before another New Years
Day.
After all. that is everything. To know
there is no accident: to know that He or
ders all, the least as well as the greatest;
TO know that He is always coming to us;
to know that nothing can take place
which is not His coming; to know and
feel that. it to find the most trivial life
made solemn. the most cruel life made