The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-03-09

~ sXSSxN&X g ably avoid
~ were such a
81 course possible In
IEM#A ~ fairness, for the
IMSw y %.%M#M%E#MI data are SO dubi-
ous rs Ia meaning
in important places that | have been
unable 10 reach such conclusions as
amount 10 positive convictions" Such
IN expression OF bcwilderment should
at least suggest the need Of sympathy
and patience I'm setting forth our views
on this subject.
There are some things, however,
which are evident. First Of NIL, this
theme has prominent place In the
New Testament, being referred 10 3OS
times, or In one verse out of every -,
AgaiR the early church evidently
thought her Lord might return at any
time; If such an attitude were taken
more than nineteen centuries ago, II
would seem 10 be even more appropri-
ate now.
Charles II. Spurgeon expresses him
self i'm these sensible words: Read
for yourselves and search for your
selves for still this stands FIRST and Is
the only thing | will insist upOn-the
Lord viii come. He may come now;
he may come tomorrow; he may come
in the first watch of the night, or the
second watch, or he may wait until
the morning watch, but the one word
he gives MS all is, watch Watch
Watch = that whenever he shall come,
we may be ready TO open 10 him, and
TO say, In the language of the hymn,
IIallelujahl
Welcome, welcome Judge divine'
$50 far as | know we are scriptural
and therefore perfectly safe In our
advent"
Waiting.
First, we are "to await for his Son
from heaven" U Thess. :10).
Let us wait hopefully. The Thessa.
lonlan Christians were troubled ms 10
their dead friends. lest they should
miss one Of the glorles Of the kingdom
10 be set up when he returns. But
Paul bids them I'm the fourth chapter
OF his first epistle, not 10 sorrow, for
the Lord will bring their friends with
him. He explains that the Lord shall
descend from heaven and, the very
first thing, will raise the sleeping
saints; then he will catch them up In
clouds, together With the living ones,
10 meet him in the air, and so they
shall be together, forever with the
Lord. They are 10 comfort one nm.
other with these words.
Let us wait actively. 81. Peter
speaks of fastening the coming Of the
day Of God UT Pc. 3:12 X. V. marg).
This we can do by being pure, living
with our lOins glrt and labOrlng 10 ox-
tend the Kingdom. John Wesley was
once asked how he would spend the
time If he knew he were 10 die that
night. He replied: "How, madami
Why Just as ] intend 90 spend II now.
! should preach this night nj Glou.
Ccster. and again at five tomorrow
morning: after that ! should ride 90
wv ~ Il'N'il III lll' bll'i b'''
md meet the societies In the evening.
! should then repair 10 friend Martins
house, who expects 10 entertain me,
converse 0nd pray with the family as
usual. return 10 my room at ten
o'clock. commend myself 10 my heav-
enly Father, lie down TO rest and wake
up In glory" Putting the coming OF
the Lord in the place Of death we have
here the correct attitude Of the Chris
tinn.
Looking.
Another word Is used in Titus 2:13:
looking for that blessed hope and
the appearing OF the glory ~ our great
God and Savior, Jesus Christ" This
word, like the word swatch" expresses
our earnest expectation Of an event
which may occur at any time. II Is
n favorite position with popular thco-
lOgans today that Christ viii never
return 10 this earth. But even some
who expect his return and expect II
before the millennium tell us that GER
tain events must occur before Christ
can come back. Yet the one thing
which seems 10 be made clear by the
New Testament Is the fact that
Christ's coming may be at any time.
Loving.
The final word Is :ound In II Tim
othy 4:s: and not 20 me only, but
unto all them also that love his mp
pearing." Holy Samuel rutherford
well expresses this attitude. He says,
81 dare not challenge himself. but his
absence is like O mountain Of iron on
my very heart. o. my Lord, come
over the mountains at one stri1el O
time, run, run and hasten the mar
rlage day-for love Is tormented with
ielaysi"
Reader. DO you love his appearingl