Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-23

MGanf
4AoIu 10 49,. confusion as to what
is meant by the Second Coming of
Christ, and yet the scriptures clearly
teach that he Is coming again In a
personal and visible sense. What 9th
er Interpretation can be given to the
words of the angels spoken to the
waiting disciples on Mt. Olivet just
after the ascension Of our Lord? "Ye
men of Galilee, why stand We gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall 80 come in like manner
az We have seen him go into heaven"
(Acts 1:11.)
All the orthodox creeds Of the
church have taught this, although
there is a difference OF opinion among
good Christians as to the time when
he shall come.
For example, the scriptures speak
of q thousand years when peace and
righteousness shall prevail over the
earth, known mostly as the millenni-
UNI; and there are those who think
ludt Tic ASOlu WAL 4ON NOAAS AASAA
after that period, while others be-
lieve that he will come before it.
This latter is my judgment, for
cannot see how there can be mil
lennium until he comes to introduce
and make 1t a possibility.
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
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. Az
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 comb
! 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 in
their lives. 1t is for a result not IN
| like this that our Lord would keep
/ IN, YnIy.it ~ fnT q
the apostle John says, Every man
that hath this hope in him puriieth
himself, even as he is pure" (1st
John 3:3.)
Sometimes 1t 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 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 it's Importance in the Christian
scheme, and the need of giving 1t its
rightful place in all our Christian
thinking and doing.
Andrew sonar's Crown.
That dear old Scottish saint, An
drew Bonar, once visited this country
and when he was returning they gave
him a farewell meeting In New York.
! Several eulogistic 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 Pauls second letter to
Timothy adding, And not to me only,
hut 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. Are we
counted in that blessed number?
]
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-
cept by living a life daily in the will
of God. But how do men know the
will of God except as they learn of it
in the Bible where it has been re-
vealed? Nor is the simple reading of
the Bible enough, unless the Holy
Spirit shall interpret it to our under
standings, anG apply it to our hearts.
This he does IN answer to our suppli-
cations, hence I exhort you to a life
of real piety