VI. Che Advent of the Lord the Present BY THE REV. WILLIAM BROCK, M.A. 66 1 THESS. iv. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." THE doctrine of the second coming of Christ is, in every way, a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. It is pre-eminently practical. Both in the discourses of our Lord and in the apostolic writings it is made the subject of warning and of encouragement; it is connected with our hopes and fears, and it is used as the motive to every Christian duty. When we are exhorted to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” this is the motive which is employed: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."* When we are stirred up to watchfulness, and prayer, and holy preparation, the motive is the same. So does our Lord himself speak to us: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and yourselves like unto men that "wait for their Lord."+ Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." So, in like manner, do Hist apostles speak: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."§ "The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." Again, when we are encouraged to cherish holy and heavenly tempers, the nearness of Christ's advent is the motive which is made use of. It is thus that moderation and Christian forbearance are enforced : moderation be known unto all men : "Let your * Tit. ii. 13. + Luke xii. 35. Rev. xvi. 15. § Rom. xiii. 11. 1 Pet. iv. 7. P the Lord is at hand.": Just so with regard to patience and long-suffering: "Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." In fact, whether it be to heavenly mindedness that we are exhorted, or to the cultivation of purity of heart, or to a holy consistency in our walk and conversation, the second coming of Christ is made the ground of the exhortation. Seeing we look for such things, we are urged to be diligent that we may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Thus, then, is the doctrine of the Second Advent scripturally proved to be a most wholesome doctrine, because it is so practical: but it is also very full of comfort. It is the hope of the Church in this weary world. The coming of her Lord is the bright spot in her future prospects upon which her eye loves most especially to rest, and upon which it may rest with entire satisfaction. For in that event are * Phil. iv. 5. + James v. 7, 8. See Col. iii. 2—5; 1 John iii. 2, 3; 2 Pet. iii. 11, 12. bound up her Redeemer's glory and her own "perfect consummation and bliss." You have already heard, in the course of these Lectures, that the advent of Christ is connected with the glory of the Church-the restoration of Israel-the regeneration of the nations and the deliverance of creation. All these are " things hoped for." We look for them at the second coming of our Lord; and seeing we look for such things, therefore are we glad, and therefore do we rejoice "with joy unspeakable and full of glory." The anticipation of these things, the conviction that they will most certainly come to pass, and the hope that they may be "near even at the doors,"this is our greatest consolation in this present evil world. Yes, to know and to believe that Jesus will come again, and that at His coming He will be "glorified in His saints and admired among all them that believe"-that He will "take Israel from among the heathen, and gather them on every side and bring them into their own land;"-to be assured that Israel, thus restored, will become in the Lord's hand as "life from the dead" to the nations, and that the creation itself shall be delivered from the "bondage of corruption," so that at His coming the heavens shall rejoice and the earth be glad, the floods shall clap their hands and the hills shall be joyful together before the Lord this, I say, is a subject of unfeigned thankfulness. The belief of it is "quietness and assurance for ever." Well may we say of these things that they are very full of comfort to the Church of God, and well does the apostle admonish us in the text, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." This, brethren, is our appointed subject for this closing Lecture-"THE ADVENT OF THE LORD THE PRESENT COMFORT OF THE CHURCH." In bringing it before your notice, I propose to consider, I. For what reasons the doctrine of the Lord's Advent is the present comfort of the Church. II. Under what circumstances that comfort is found to be especially needful. May the Spirit of truth, and peace, and comfort, be with us! May He guide us into |