The Blessed Hope

“This is the rest ivhercwiih ye may cause the weaty to rest, and this is the refreshing” —

“Ojat ilrssfti Ijopr, ant( tfjc glorious apprnrtng of tfje great ©otr anti our Safaiour 3rsus GTfjrist.” — Titus ii. 13.

3rf)e blcssrti
P?ape.

This is rest under God’s Palm-trees of promise, with a glorious vista seen through their branches. Their fronds form, so to speak, a framework for the believer’s distant but “blessed hope” — (as Bishop Middleton translates our motto-verse) — “The glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, our great God and Saviour.”

That ’ second coming ’ was to the early Christians the theme of habitual contemplation — their cherished harbour of refuge in the midst of environing storms: “And to wait for His Son from heaven” (i Thess. i. 10); “The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thess. iii. 5); “Stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh “(Jas. v. 8). Moreover, it is well worth noting, that, in the inspired Epistles, it is not the day of death which is spoken of or looked forward to by the Church with jubilant expectation, but the day of Christ’s appearing. Need we wonder at this? Death is no pleasing theme: though the Christian’s last enemy, it is an enemy still — ‘the King of terrors.’ But the ‘■’■ Parousia’” — - the Advent of the Divine Saviour — is identified with final triumph over death; when “this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality; and the saying shall be brought to pass as it is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (i Cor. xv. 54). Not only so, but that “vile body” (itself a part of the redemption-purchase) will come forth from the dishonours of the grave, fashioned like to the glorious body of its glorified Redeemer.

How many anguished, bereaved mourners have had their grief calmed and their tears dried by this sublime antidote of the great Apostle, as he points them on to the second coming of their Lord, and associates that coming with the restoration of their beloved dead! “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (i Thess. iv. 13, 14). At that blessed season when “the tabernacle of God shall be with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be wath them, and be their God;” amid these revived friendships and indissoluble reunions, “God” — the God on the throne — the Brother-man — “shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev. vii. 17).

Nor is the anticipated joy of that Day altogether a personal and selfish one. No small element of it is the believer’s joy at the glory which will then encircle the brow of his adorable Lord. It will be the public enthronement of Jesus of Nazareth. He will come “to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired of them that believe” (2 Thess. i. 10). All the humiliations of His first coming — the manger — the carpenter’s home — the unsheltered head — the nights of wakeful anguish — the scorn, and taunt, and jeer — the piercing thorns — the bitter cross — the ignominious sepulchre — all, all now exchanged for the shout of welcome; — “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him!” (Isa. XXV. 9). How often among His own people on earth is He dishonoured; wounded in the house of His friends — the unsullied beauty of the Master tarnished with the blemishes and inconsistencies of the disciples. But not so on that Day. Even these marred, blotted, imperfect images and reflections 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 shallsee Him as He is” (i John iii. 2). “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” (Rev. xxi. 2).

“Let every man that hath this hope in him purify himself even as He is pure” (i John iii. 3): amid the rough tear and wear of a work-day world, keeping a conscience void of offence; “having the loins girded, and the lamps burning; and being like those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord” (Luke xii. 35, 36). “Blessed is he that watcheth “(Rev. xvi. 15). Blessed is he, who, in whatever calling he be called, therein abides with God. Thus remaining expectant under the shadow of the desert palms, 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). Yes, it is” to them also that /00k for Him, He shall appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.” The assembled Jewish worshippers /oolrd for the reappearance of t/iei’r High Priest, when He was ministering in the Holy of Holies. They waited anxiously in the outer porch to see the veil withdrawn, and the Intercessor of the nation come forth, to pour upon the multitude, with outstretched hands, the old benediction, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upoji thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace (Num. vi. 24-26). Not till then were the imposing services of that high day of Hebrew festival completed. Do we know and love the significancy of the type? Are we on the outlook for our Priest and King returning from the heavenly Presence, to say to the waiting myriads of His redeemed Church, “Co/ne, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundatiofi of the world” 1 It was a gladdening sound to the Jewish multitudes in their Temple area, when they heard the music of the silver bells on the hem of the High Priest’s garment, giving intimation of his approach, ‘■’■Blessed are they who know the joyful sounds ‘■^Blessed are those servants who, when their Lord cometh, shall be found

WATCHING;”

“The watchers on the mountain

Proclaim the Bridegroom near,
Go, meet Him as He cometh,

With Hallelujahs clear!
The marriage feast is waiting,

The gates wide open stand:
Up, up! ye heirs of glory,

The Bridegroom is at hand!”

“my soul waiteth for the lord more than they that

WATCH FOR the MORNING: I SAY, MORE THAN
THEY THAT WATCH FOR THE MORNING.”