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He will come in his glory. Whilst an unthinking and unbelieving world is rejecting still his great salvation, that event will break on mankind in a day when they are not aware, and in an hour when they think not. All things shall be going on in their accustomed order: the merchant busied in his schemes of commerce and speculation; the senator intent upon the affairs of legislation; the pleasure-seeker eager as ever to slake his thirst with waters whereof whosoever drinks shall thirst again; the money seeker, pressing all the magnificent energies of mind and body into the pursuit of the gold which is dug out of the earth; and all, save the elect people of God, immersed in the things of time and of sense to the neglect of the unseen and eternal. Preachers shall be testifying of the goodness and forbearance and long-suffering of God; the ambassadors of Christ shall be pleading as though God did beseech men to be reconciled to Himself; but, for the most part, they will have to exclaim as with the prophet of old, "Who hath believed our report ?" Ungodliness may become more daring than ever, infidelity assume a bolder attitude, and every form of antichrist continue with more deadly hostility to oppose the progress of divine truth. The taunt of the scoffer of the last days shall be heard on every side-" Where is the promise of his coming?" But meanwhile in the midst

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of an infidel generation there will have been a cry from the elect people of God, "Why tarry the wheels of his chariot ?" The voices of the martyred dead shall join in the loud complaint, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ?” From many and many a saint the cry shall be heard, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly," till at length the slumbering world shall be startled by the approach of the Son of Man, and the recompence to be showered on the redeemed, no less than the judgments to be executed on them that obey not the gospel, shall combine to establish the truth of the saying, "Shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily."

And who can tell whether we may not be standing now upon the very margin of these events. Who can tell how near we may now be to the time when the cry "Behold he cometh," shall pass from lip to lip, and from tongue to tongue, of all the inhabitants of earth? Are we prepared for His approach? Have we entered into covenant with God through believing on his dear Son? Have we fled to his cross, there to be sprinkled with his atoning blood-there to be clothed with the merit of his obedience unto death-there to be sanctified

Now

by the gift of his Holy Spirit? Oh rest not, I
entreat you, in mere profession. Many will be
able in that day to say, "Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name, and in thy name done
many wonderful works?" to whom He shall an-
swer and say, "I never knew you." It is a day
of religious profession: for the most part it costs
a man no reproach to call himself a disciple of
Christ, but mere profession will not save the soul;
there must be devotion of heart to the Saviour-
there must be separation from the world-there
must be holiness of life and conversation.
while the message of love and mercy sounds in
our hearing, may every careless and impenitent
soul be roused to seek the Lord while he may be
found. By many a providence—by many an invi-
tation of his own word-by many a precept-by
many a warning God calls you to repent and be-
lieve the Gospel. The very reason of this pro-
longed day of grace is because the Lord is long-
suffering, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should be converted and live. To every
false professor the message comes: "I counsel
thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou
mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear."

To the believing people of God we say, continue

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in prayer: watch and pray for the coming of Christ. This is our hope-this is our confidence,

He will come and save us. He will come and take us to Himself, that where He is there we may be also. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace without spot and blameless. Rise to the dignity of your noble inheritance. Expectants of your Lord's coming, let the world be trampled under foot, and as your treasure is in heaven let your heart be there also.

LECTURE VIII.

THE GRADUAL RIPENING OF THE WORLD FOR THE HARVEST.

BY THE REV. W. DALTON, B.D.
VICAR OF ST. PAUL'S, WOLVERHAMPTON.

Parable of the Busbandman.

MARK IV. 26-29.

"And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that But when the fruit is brought

the full corn in the ear. forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."

THE parables of our blessed Lord and Saviour are a copious spring of instruction to all who receive the kingdom of God as little children. To those who thus possess the docile spirit, there is in this portion of Scripture a depth of meaning, and an

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