DISCOURSE XVIII.

THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH.

KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT THERE SHALL COME IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS, AND SAYING, WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? FOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELL ASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY WERE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE

CREATION. 2 Peter iii. 3, 4.

AMONG the opinions which existed among the Apostles and early Christians, traces of which appear in the New Testament, is the expectation that Christ was to return personally to the earth during the lives of the first propagators of Christianity. This, of course, cannot be placed among the positive doctrines of Christianity, as no such event ever took place. I propose in the two following Discourses to consider this whole subject. It is one of great interest. Gibbon has made it the occasion of one of his solemn sneers at the origin and propagation of the Christian faith. "In the primitive Church," says he, "the influence of truth was very powerfully strengthened by an opinion which, however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, has not been found agreeable to experience. It was

universally believed that the end of the world and the kingdom of heaven were at hand. The near approach of this wonderful event had been predicted by the Apostles, the tradition of it was preserved by their earliest disciples, and those who understood in their literal sense the discourses of Christ himself were obliged to expect the second and glorious coming of the Son of Man in the clouds, before the generation was totally extinguished which had beheld his humble condition on earth, and which might still be witness of the calamities of the Jews under Vespasian or Hadrian. The revolution of seventeen centuries has instructed us not to press too closely the mysterious language of prophecy and revelation; but as long as for wise purposes this error was permitted to subsist in the Church, it was productive of the most salutary effects on the faith and practice of Christians, who lived in the awful expectation of that moment when the globe itself, and all the various races of mankind, should tremble at the appear. ance of their divine judge."

In treating of this subject, I shall first inquire, Are there traces of such an expectation in the New Testament? Was such a doctrine taught by Christ? How came the Apostles to entertain it? Did they teach it as a positive doctrine, a part and parcel of Christianity; or did they refer to it as an opinion, concerning which they themselves were by no means certain ?

That the Apostles themselves cherished such an expectation cannot, I think, well be denied. I begin with Paul. To the Corinthians he writes: "So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of

our Lord Jesus Christ." Now the most obvious construction of this passage is that which makes it refer to an event which was to take place in that age, within the lifetime of at least some who then belonged to the Christian Church.

To Titus he writes: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." This certainly describes an event which was expected to take place at any time, and might even be daily looked for. The connection of the appearance of God with the ppearance of Christ has a bearing which is important, but which I cannot now stop to develop.

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To Timothy he writes: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season. ... For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." This was written when Paul was now an old man, and did not expect to live long; and although it seems to express a doubt whether he should live to see the second coming of Christ, he seems to speak of other Christians, his contempora

ries, who would still live on in the constant expectation of that joyful event.

To the Philippians he writes: "For our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Who they were to whom the Apostle refers as destined to be changed, we may learn by reference to the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians. There it is said: "Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." There is a passage to the same Epistle to the Thessalonians.

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self shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord."

Language could scarcely be stronger to prove that Paul anticipated the return of Christ to the earth in his own day, or at least within the lifetime of some who then composed the Christian Church.

Let us now see what were the sentiments of the other writers of the New Testament. Of them, take first the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the tenth chapter he says to the Hebrews: "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the

will of God, ye might receive the promise; for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." In the same chapter he likewise says: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching."

A day which they saw approaching could not be far off, and that coming must be near for which they were exhorted to wait with patience.

Let us examine the writings of Peter, that we may learn what were his expectations. He exhorts the Christians to whom he writes: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." In another place he says: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." The revelation of Christ's glory does not seem to be a thing to be made known to them at death, but during their natural lives.

But there is a passage still more decisive: "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." An event for which they were continually to watch, could not have been any other than one which was expected to take place, at least, in that age.

Let us now turn to the Apostle John. In his First Epistle he says: "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confi