shall then, at least, become perfect copies and transcripts of their glorious divine Original : "We know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." "I saw," says St John, "the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." + Let us only remark, in closing, that the best preparation for His second coming to judge, is to rest, with firm believing trust and confidence, in His first coming to save. "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Seek to be now forming the character you would wish to have completed and perfected, when the Advent shall take place :-" Let every man that hath this hope in him purify himself ever. as He is pure."§ Whatever your earthly duties be, do them nobly, purely, faithfully,-keeping, amid the rough tear * I John iii. 2. + Rev. xxi. 2. § 1 John i. 3. and wear of a work-day world, a conscience void of offence. Not like some of the enthusiasts of the Pauline age, who, in the erroneous anticipation and interpretation of that Advent, deserted their posts of duty, and surrendered themselves to an existence of dreamy contemplation: but rather, in the midst of your laborious callings, glorify in these the Lord who redeemed you,— prosecuting your prescribed path, whatever it be How Only remembering thus to pursue, with the loins girded and the lamps burning, and being like those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. With such a glory in reversion, what are earth's pomps and vanities? do its riches, and honours, and ambitions pale into utter nothingness before the approaching blaze of that advent throne! "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." + Blessed is he, who, in whatsoever calling he be called, therein abides with God. Thus remaining expectant in this glorious Rock * Luke xii. 35, 36. + Rev. xvi. 5. cleft, we can mark the rainbow-arch which spans the sky of the future, connecting the cross with the crown; and say, in lowly believing confidence, with one of the Church's noblest watchers, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day!"* * 2 Tim. iv. 8. Christ reigning over His Church for ever. "Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom."—Daniel vii. 27. "Because I live, ye shall live also.”—John xiv. 19. "Shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."-Rom. v. 17. "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."-Rev. v. 13. "HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER."-Rev. xi. 15. ... "And now, O Saviour, what a superabundant amends is made to Thy glorified humanity, for all Thy bitter sufferings upon earth. How do I, by the eye of my soul, see Thee both attended up in that heavenly progress, and welcomed unto the highest heavens, by all the host of those celestial spirits; no small part of whose perpetual happiness it is to see Thee in Thy exaltation; sitting at the right hand of Majesty: there they enjoy Thee; there they sing continual hallelujahs to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."-Bishop Hall, 1652. "Lest we should imagine that Christ should ever cease to be King, or so interpret this Article, as if He were after the day of judgment to be removed from the right hand of God, the ancient Fathers added those words to the Nicene Creed, whose kingdom shall have no end,' against the heresy which then arose, denying the eternity of the kingdom of Christ."-Bishop Pearson on the Creed XVII. "This is the confidence that we have in Him" "HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER."Rev. xi. 15. 'HE contemplation of the sublime themes THE which, in the preceding pages, have occupied our thoughts, would be incomplete, without adverting, however briefly, to the grandest and most glorious Rock-cleft of all-the confidence which the believer enjoys in the anticipation of the reign of the glorified Redeemer in the midst of His triumphant Church, throughout the ages of eternity. In the preceding views of Christ's character and work, and of the official relation in which He stands to His people, He has been brought before us as the shadow of a Great Rock in a weary land." During their wilderness travel, when the fierceness of the desert heat, the sirocco |