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due season?" "Blessed is that servant whom His Lord when He cometh shall find so doing." Lu. 12:43.

Ah! brethren, post-millennialism is hiding this STAR OF HOPE from the church, and incurring thereby a responsibility that God alone can estimate. The Church is languishing because of this neglected truth.

We beg of you to Dr. Hugh McNeill:

Solemn Warning.

heed the following solemn words from "My reverend brethren, watch, preach the coming of Jesus. I charge you, in the name of our common Master,-PREACH THE COMING OF JESUS; solemnly and affectionately, in the name of God, I charge you,PREACH THE COMING OF JESUS. WATCH ye, therefore, lest, coming suddenly, He find the porter sleeping."

Pre-millennialism has a vital life in it, and gives the disciple a real love and relish for the Word of God, which opens up to him like a new book.

"Pre

Even Dr. Brown recognizes this, and he says: millennialists have done the Church a real service by calling attention to the place which the second advent holds in the Word of God and the scheme of divine truth."

Many have we heard say, "Why, the Bible is another book to me since I accepted this truth." And though one is almost lost in the unfolding majesty and infinity of God's plans revealed therein, yet do we find it such a storehouse of truth and comfort, that continual study ever gives us richer food.

It is the MOST PRACTICAL DOCTRINE in the Christian faith, for "every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ) purifieth himself even as He (Christ) is pure." 1 John 3:3. And do we not want PRACTICAL HOLINESS?

Again, this doctrine when received into the heart is a mighty power to separate one from the love of the world. And were it thoroughly believed and preached in the Church, she would readily give of her substance so liberally that we should not be begging for money to sustain our missions.

*The Second Advent, Page 13.

It was this doctrine that inspired the sainted Bliss, and gave his songs such favor. How all of us love to sing "WHEN JESUS COMES," or "HOLD THE FORT FOR I AM COMING." The Church and the people want this truth, and God wants them to have it, we are assured, by the manifest interest and attention with which He blesses its presentation.

CHAPTER XIV.

SOME OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED.

No. I. It Discourages Missions.

It is objected that this doctrine discourages missions. This is not true. The missionary spirit among the evangelists of to-day is a sufficient answer to this. And let us name, among the missionaries who held this faith, Ben Ezra, Joseph Wolf, James McGregor Bertram, L. D. Mansfield, Gonsalves, Dr. Kelley and Hewitson.

"This was the hope that inspired Heber, the great missionary bishop of the English Church, who gave us that glorious missionary hymn, 'From Greenland's Icy Mountains,' and who spent his strength and rested from his labors 'on India's coral strand!'

"This was the hope that energized Gutzlaff, the opener of China, and Bettleheim, the opener of Japan; that inspired the noble Duff, who, under its influence, woke moderate Scotland from its lethargy, and was the pioneer of his indomitable race in India. This was the hope that inspired and cheered and everjoyed McCheyne and our own Poor, and Lowrie, and Rankin, and Lowenthal, and a host of others."

Mr. Lord affirms that among missionaries of all denominations, there is as great proportion of pre-millennialists, as there is among the ministry at home. They earnestly labor, as did the apostle, to save some from the wrath to come.1

(1) Rom. 11:14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

1 Cor. 9:22. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1 Thes. 1:9. For they them

selves shew of us what manner
of entering in we had unto you,
and how ye turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true
God;

10. And to wait for his Son
from heaven, whom he raised
from the dead, even Jesus, which
delivered us from the wrath to
come.

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No. II. It Discourages Work.

This is most

It is objected that it discourages work. inconsistent and untrue, for the very essence of the doctrine is to WATCH, WORK AND WAIT, and to work NOW for the night cometh when no man can work.2

No. III. So Many Unsaved Friends.

Some object that they have so many unsaved friends, they cannot wish Jesus to come.

WORK THEN, for we read "all that my Father giveth me shall come to me" (John 6:37-39), and whosoever will may come.3 Knowing the terror (fear) of the Lord, let us persuade men. 2 Cor. 5:11.

The Antedeluvians would not heed the preaching of Noah, and even Lot's kindred (his sons-in-law) would not go with him out of Sodom. So there will be those who will not accept of Christ. But of all who believe in Him1 not one will be lost. The Israelites were often led to repentance, in the midst of adversity and calamity, and so if our friends will not be entreated to accept of Christ now, it is perhaps possible that they may do so under the visible judgments of God, during the Tribulation.

But whether they will or not, let us consider, that the great mass of humanity are engulfed in the maelstrom of sin, which is sweeping its millions down to graves of de

Jas. 5:20. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

(2) John 9:4. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

See also page 143.

(3) Rev. 22:17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

(4) John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

(5) John 10:27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Mat. 7:13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

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struction (Mat. 7:13), and compared to them, in numbers, the true believers are but a handful. In the Millennium all this will be changed, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9), and all men shall bow to the righteous scepter of King Immanuel.6

We would not sacrifice the hundreds of lives upon a passenger train, to save the life of even a FRIEND who willfully exposed himself to danger upon the track; and are not all men our brothers? and shall we not yearn to save them from the tide of spiritual death? Oh! then, let us cry with the Holy Spirit: "Even so come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20. For when He comes the work will be cut short in righteousness.7

No. IV. My Kingdom Is Not of This World.

It is objected that Jesus said: "My Kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36. True! not of the spirit of the world (1 John 2:15-17); just as believers are not of the world. John 15:19. The correct rendering of the passage is, "My Kingdom is not (EK) out of this world." That is, it does not emanate from this world. He is not (K) out of this world.8 Both He and His Kingdom are from above. But it will be set up on this earth, in accordance

(6) Isa. 45:22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

23. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Phil. 2:10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Luke 1:32. He shall be great,

and shall be called the Son of
the Highest; and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne
of his father David:

33. And he shall reign over
the house of Jacob for ever; and
of his kingdom there shall be
no end.

Also Rom. 14:11; Mic. 4:1-7.
(7) Rom. 9:28. For he will
finish the work, and cut it short
in righteousness: because a short
work will the Lord make upon
the earth.

(8) John 8:23. And he said
unto them, Ye are from beneath;
I am from above: ye are of this
world; I am not of this world.
(9) Col. 3:1. If ye then be
with Christ, seek those

risen

3

S

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