BY THE REV. W. WILSON, D.D., CANON OF WINCHESTER. LONDON: WERTHEIM AND MACINTOSH, PATERNOSTER-ROW. WINCHESTER: H. WOOLDRIDGE. PREFACE. Ir there be one topic which, more than another, may be considered common to all the Lectures included in this little volume, it is the expectation of future glory, as awakened in the mind that looks for the Second Advent of our Lord. And is not such an expectation warranted by the whole strain of Divine Revelation, and more especially by the joyful anticipation of the prophets," The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ?" Isa. xl. 5. But of what glory do the prophets speak? The "glory of Jehovah" was a phrase well understood by His ancient people; and in reference to their use of it, we are necessarily led to think of a visible glory, seen in the pillar of a cloud, sometimes manifested, at other times withdrawn from the congregation. "The glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." Exod. xxiv. 16, 17. "The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD HAD FILLED the LORD's house." 2 Chr. vii. 2. The use of the expression, "filled," needs to be noticed, to prepare us for the right understanding of prophetic language: compare Num. xiv. 10, 21, "And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory." Ps. lxxii. 19. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Hab. ii. 14. These visible manifestations are for the present withheld, that men may realise the spiritual presence of God more by faith, and attain a more profitable knowledge of the glory of God in Christ, in order to have access to a reconciled Father. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. iv. 6. This access was typified by the admission of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies, where the Divine presence was visible. But the type, and the present spiritual application of it, will be fully realized when "the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them." Rev. xxi. 3. "And I saw no temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the |