LECTURE X.

THE ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS IN THE PROSPECT OF THE SECOND ADVENT.

BY THE REV. MOURANT BROCK, M. A.,

CHAPLAIN TO THE BATH PENITENTIARY.

1 THESS. V. 8, 9.

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation: for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

IN proclaiming the Gospel of the grace of God, the minister of Christ has a twofold object in view: one, the conversion of souls, the other, the edification of believers. In regard to the former, Christ commands, "Go ye and teach all nations." In reference to the latter, he directs, "Feed my sheep." On this twofold work of the Christian

ministry "every scribe instructed unto the kingdom" will keep his attention diligently fixed. He will strive to be the honoured instrument of bringing souls to Christ, and, when so brought, of building them up in the faith. He will remember that conversion is only the commencement of the life of God in the soul of man; that that life requires constant attention and support, and, that in proportion as its powers and faculties are developed, in the same proportion must they be met, directed, and supplied by the ministry of God's holy Word. Hence, a large portion of the attention of the ministers of the Gospel will be directed to the edification of Christ's body, the Church. They will not be content merely with bringing souls into the fold, (though this is a blessed work indeed), but, they will also endeavour, when thus brought, to feed them with food convenient for them that they may grow thereby. They will search the written Word to find what doctrines are most suited to believers, and these they will fully lay before them, that they may grow up into Christ in all things. And thus, knowing the exceeding preciousness of the Church, that she is the spouse and body of Christ, they will by all means seek her edification.*

* In preaching the Gospel, the relative amount of attention to be bestowed on believers, and others, is a subject of much

With this view it is, even for your edification, Believers, that the glorious subject of the Lord's Second Advent has, now, for the third year, been formally brought before you. For, this doctrine, whilst it is profitable to awaken the careless, is chiefly used in Scripture for the quickening, sanctifying, and comfort of believers.

May it, for these several uses, be abundantly blessed to you; and may the preaching of a coming Saviour find a cheerful response in your hearts, and a suitable consistency in your lives, to the praise of Him, who hath called you to His kingdom and glory.

In reference to our present subject, the whole previous context, it will be seen, refers to the Second Advent. Believers are there comforted by the prospect of meeting their deceased Christian friends at the Lord's coming; whilst the state of the ungodly at that period, and the aspect of the righteous in regard to it, are severally noticed. Thus, in the "salvation" mentioned in our text, the mind is led to that full and complete salvation which shall be manifested when the Lord shall come in his glory.

It does not, however, in this course of Lectures, fall to my lot so much to direct your

interest and importance. Perhaps, the former are generally too much neglected in the ministration of the Word.

attention to the Advent of our Lord as to THE ASSURANCE OF THE BELIEVER in the prospect of that Advent. The subject of ASSURANCE, therefore, is that to which your attention will, at present, be chiefly directed; a blessed subject indeed! and may God the Spirit abundantly bless its consideration to the souls of his people.

In the text selected for our meditation, we notice,

I. A CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."Us who are of the day."

II. THE SALVATION ΤΟ WHICH THEY ARE APPOINTED." Salvation by Jesus Christ." And,

of

III. THEIR ASSURANCE OF THIS SALVATION, which we have principally to speak, and which embraces the remaining part of the text.

May God, in compassion to our ignorance and weakness, vouchsafe to instruct and strengthen us by his holy Word!

That which first claims our attention is,

I. THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD, as here given.

They are described as being " of the day." Here, at least, are included the three following particulars:-KNOWLEDGE, HOLINESS, and GLORY. 1. KNOWLEDGE.

"The children of the day" have the light of

understanding. "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." So also the Apostle John, "The Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding." Thus, believers possess a Divine illumination, a light from the everlasting hills, an irradiation from God's Holy Spirit, which shines into their hearts. They are "the children of light, and of the day;" and, as such, possess the clear light of knowledge. They know whence they are, and whither they are going. They know that "the whole world lieth in the wicked One." As in Egypt of old, whilst all was darkness around, the Israelites had light in their dwellings, so is it now. They have light, and they give light. “Ye," saith our Lord, "ye are the light of the world." This is their privilege and their office ;—they receive, and they impart light. Whilst, on the other hand, in regard to the world, it is written, "The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not."

2. HOLINESS is also implied by the term, "of the day."

From the deeds of darkness Christians have become separate. They have "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty ;" and having received