The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-12-13

WHAT 00V' "
N8486MAaMAMkM Meant
There is much confusion as to what
" meant by the Second Coming oil
Christ, and yet the scriptures clearly
teach that he Is coming again In q
personal and visible sense. What 9th
or Interpretation can be given to the
words @. the angels spoken to the
waiting disciples on Mt. Oliyet just
after the ascension of our Lord? "fe
men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner
as We have seen him go into heaven"
(Acts l:11.)
All the orthodox creeda OF the
church have taught this, although
there Is q difference of opinion among
good Christians as to the time when
he shall come,
For example, the scriptures speak
of a thousand years when peace and
righteousness shall prevail over the
earth, known mostly az the millenni
UNI; and there are those who think
that the Lord will not como until
after that period. while others be-
lieve that he will come before 1t.
This latter Ia my judgment. for
cannot see how there "a be a NIL
lennium until he Comes to introduce
md nnkp II q D0cEihilitV
This Judgment is based upon the
teaching OF both the Old and New
Testaments, but specifically upon our
Lords command to Watch" because
we know not the day nor the hour
when he shall return.
A friend Of mine used to spend his
summers In New Hampshire. and one
day he said to, his little children that
business called him to Boston. They
were very much disappointed to have
him go, and he cheered them up by
saying that he would return again. and
that they should watch for him, AS
a consequence, his train had hardly
drawn out of the station when they
ran to their mother and asked her to
wash their hands and faces, and comp
their hair, that they might run down
again and wait for the incoming train
on which they expected him to return,
This they did continually at train time
from day to day, until he did return;
so that afterwards their mother said
she had never known them TO show
( such an interest In soap and water Ia
their lives. 1t Is for a result not ur.
like this that our Lord would keep
us in the spirit Of expectancy, for as
the apostle John says, Every man
that hath this hope in him purifeth
himself, even as he is pure" list
John 3:3.)
Sometimes it Is asked what Is the
practical value Of preaching on the
Second Coming OF Christ? We have
already stated one answer to that
+ question In the effect of the hope on
the personal character of the believer
but in addition to that 1t can be said
that there is not a single Christian
grace or virtue named In the New
Testament with which that hope Is
not connected. Three hundred times
is It mentioned there, thus showing
us its Importance In the Christian
scheme, and the need Of giving It Its
rIghtful place in all our Christian
thinking and doing.
Andrew Bonar's Crown.
That dear old Scottish saint. An.
Grew Bonar. once visited this country,
and when he was returning they gave
him a farewell meeting In New York,
Several e~ulogistic speeches were
made, and one speaker in closing said
Brethren, think Of the crown Of
righteousness which the Lord. the
righteous Judge, shall give him at
that day" And when he sat down,
DR.. Bonar arose, and walking to the
front Of the pulpit. concluded that quo,
| tation from Paul's second letter TO
Timothy adding, And not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his
appearing" There are at least three
crowns that are promised that faith.
full believer IN the life to come. but
this crown belongs alone to them who
love our Lords appearance Arc VIC
counted in that blessed number?
do thou my soul keep watch. beware
lest thou In sleep sink down
Lest thou BE- given DER to death. and lose
the golden crown"
And yet how shall we watch ex.
cent by living a life daily in the will
| Of God. But how do men know the
win OF God except as they learn of II
in the Bible where 1t has been re.
yealed? Nor is the simple reading OF
the Bible enough, unless the Holy
Spirit shall interpret II 10 our under.
standings, and apply It to our hearts
This he does in answer 70 our suppl.
cations. hence ! exhort you to a life
| of real plety