Arizona republican., 1904-05-09

. ~. Amen: even so come. Lord Jesu-."
 Our knowledge in the matter must depend entirely on the revelat' on of the Wold. Experience or history carnot help us. Speculation is dang srcus. We must be careful not to go beyond the plain teaching of the word. VI h fur nishes all needful information as to the fact and purpose of Chr'ss's co nj E. Christ is to come in person ard in vs- ible form. lie Is to come in glory and attended by tho an~els and the SD rit, of the departed. He is to ccma fer judgmert-to st upon the throne D, his majesty, bringing to its consum- nation this present age and usheIi1G in the new and eternal age.
 But as to tte time of all this, I te- lieve that God has properly left us in ignorance. Tae teaching is that it shall be sudden and unexpac. ed, at a time when men arc not looking, as a thief in the night. Our Lord was not permitted to reveal, and in his hun al limitation did not himself know the time of his return. While the apostles believed it to be soon. yet Peter re- minds Us that "one Gay is with tn, Lord as a thousand years and thou sand years as one day" and Paul was careful to explain that the Lo.d could not be immediately at hand, fer cer- tain events must first take place, in- volvinG the intervention Of time and we know that wellnigh twenty cen turics have intarve- eG. The teaching seems to be that the time is ret fiXel except in the consciousness of Ire Father, that it is dependant upon cer- tain conditions. We know that it was SO in the case of the first co7-i1g. Ttat was in the fu!lrees Of time and the r. ress of time was when all things wee ready. We are bidden to pray fer the speedy coming of the Lord as if our prayers may make some difference Locking for and hagte ming un tn coming of the day of God We may have more to do than we think W tn fulfilling the necessary condition cf hi coming.
 Our attitude toward this prophecy of cur Lords return is the important thing for us. Tn what the Bible tells US of tke future the Dur~ orc is fo- tte effect uC1n the present. We are to prepare for the future by present tight eousnesr. We are to rear in mind and expect Christs return because of th4 effect of such expectation on our pre- sent living. A servant works b-ttes' when he is momentarily expecting a vi E. it from his master. The antici ci1ation Of his masters look of pleasIre and word of Conmendation is powerful i1- centive to faithiulness Chris would have us live every day as thoug1 t were our last. The Eurd O. every exhortation growing out Of the Gn- nouncement of the Lords coming is, "l3c ye therefore ready" L-ok at the text a moment. The announCem nt 'the end of all things is at h1nd,' is followed by a string of instruct ons ami eNhortations as to what to do row in view of that fact-hOw to be ready
 First. "I3e sober" I do not know a more practical piece Cf advice thln this The announcement of the near approach of our Lord is liaD'e to set
 men Into sort of Insane panic. Often under the spell of the thought that the Lord was at hand, have men abandoned themselves to the most foolish pra- = tices So in Pauls day the Shes lorians stopped their work, became busyrodies and lived discrderly. So in the last century the Millerites dispo cd of their property nd prepared their white ascension robes. Suppose that we knew that the Lord would come this week. The tremendous pressure of the thought would be apt to drive us int0 some foolish preparation. Be sober. It were best that the Lord should fir you faithfully engaged in your daily work. The lest preparation fer to- morrow, whether the morrow is to be grent or earth or in rheaven. is to make the most of today. To be sure. present ! things are to close at Christs com nS a.,d vet it is faithfulnes5 in the hand linc of these very present trans ent things that will most plea-e the Mai ter. Our home in Tempo will then e 1 cxcnanged for our mansion in oul I Fathers house. and yet cur r5acir l for that mansion will be shown hy ou manuer of life In this temporary resi- ! dence and our improvement of ooHd- 1 tiors hera. To keep cur town clean 9ne
 Sanitary. to make it attractive to thT | eye and fitted for comfortable liElnB | 10 make it a safe place for our ch Id
 ran. to build uo it's schco's and sup | press it's institutions of V.ce-an this ! would be a part of the sober, praotica l preparation for the coming of Chi
 here. Anything that wi@ely elevate
 the present life and make it bette
 worth the living is a part of the sobe-
 prepara ton for the Lords coming.
 Second, Watch with prayer O
 watch and pray" as it is Flu, e SC
 where. Watch what The heavens
 for he frrt sign of his coming Ma
 Rsthar watch yourself and the car
 Watch for the temptations that yo'
 may not be caught in one of them
 There are places and situations wher it would not bee seemly for the Lor'
 to come upon us. Watch opportuni
 ties, that he may have no reason t
 charge us with burying our talent il
 2 napkin. Watch and pray, for ma cannot do his best without praye; an conscious dependence upon Gcds he,I