Jesus is wont to meet His people in anticipation of their final gathering in His presence and kingdom. This is the lesson which the apostle teaches us Heb. x. 25: "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." "Until," then, "the daybreak and the shadows flee away," we will be found in the continual use of appointed ordinances. Has He not said, "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." (Ps. cxxxii. 14.) Here then let us dwell: so shall our souls be strengthened and refreshed, to pursue our journey, and to meet necessary trials. And when the signal is given for the waiting saints to be gathered, we shall rejoice at the summons, and not have to exchange either our company or our employment. "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face; now we know in part, but then shall we know even as also we are known."

LECTURE V.

THE JOY OF CREATION AT THE COMING OF THE LORD.

BY THE REV. W. WILSON, D.D.,

CANON OF WINCHESTER, VICAR OF HOLY ROOD, SOUTHAMPTON,
AND RURAL DEAN.

PSALM C.

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

It was not till after his resurrection, that Jesus spake to his disciples, expressly and in detail, of

"the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts i. 3.) There were, undoubtedly, reasons for this, some of which may be traced to the fact, that till then they were not prepared to receive the information. On the occasion of Christ's royal entry into Jerusalem, in fulfilment of Zech. ix. 9, "Thy king cometh unto thee," we read, "These things understood not his disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.” (John xii. 16.)

It is a truth, which the experience of most of us has confirmed, that the mind of man is exceedingly backward to lift itself up to the knowledge of the glories of Christ's kingdom. It is not given to all to know "the mystery of the kingdom of God." (Mark iv. 11.) It is a knowledge which requires preparation of the heart; there must be previous instruction, an instruction which seems not at once to point to the full truth. The hearers of our Lord were taught by parables, which, while they have the whole truth in view, inculcate subordinate truths, necessary to be known, as well for present peace, as for further advancement in the perception of all mystery.

We cannot, therefore, feel surprised that the

I

right apprehension of the nature of the mediatorial kingdom is so little appreciated by the present generation. It calls for a rising up out of previous conceptions in which the Church has been long occupied, somewhat after the manner of the disciples of the Lord during his ministry to the Jews. They have regarded too exclusively the character and offices of the Saviour in his humiliation. The Church has been the preacher of his sufferings, losing sight of the glory that should follow. The sum of the experience, as it has been the height of the endeavours, of those who seek the kingdom of God, is to know Christ and him crucified; to attain to a "fellowship" in his death and sufferings, rather than to know "the power of his resurrection," and to "sit with him in heavenly places," and to cultivate the hope that purifieth, in the knowledge that "when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

age

Divine wisdom provides for the Church in every the word in its season. It may give to some the knowledge withheld from others, till God has prepared their hearts, and then causes the word to go forth, in the fulfilment of a purpose for which it is especially sent.

My Christian brethren, I would that we may all be duly sensible of the need of full preparation

of heart-as for me, to speak on the subject assigned to me, so for you, to hear what I sincerely pray the Holy Ghost to enable me to say, in entire accordance with Scripture, on CREATION's JOY AT THE COMING OF THE LORD.

It must not be overlooked, that we are not prepared to hear or understand this subject aright, if we have not yet felt that joy which is now a part of the kingdom of God, and have not known our personal interest in the Saviour. Oh, let me press upon you the appropriation of the apostle's assurance, “I know whom I have believed." Lift up your hearts to this without delay, without reserve. Jesus, exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, waits to be gracious. Own him, and he will own you, by vouchsafing some foretastes and pledges of that unspeakable joy, of which now "we can only know in part and prophesy in part." Jesus may say to us, as he said to his disciples, even while they were hanging on his lips with more than usual anxiety, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." (John xvi. 12.) Oh, glorified Jesus, let thine own Spirit take away from us all slowness of heart to believe, all ignorance and contempt of thy word, and fit us to hear and receive the testimony of that word concerning thy kingdom and glory.