the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

2 Thess. iii. 5, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

Phil. iii. 20, "For our conversation [moλírevpa, citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

Tit. ii. 11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

2 Pet. iii. 11, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Are men waiting and looking for events which they have no expectation will occur till after their death, and, it may be, thousands of years after? The original word in the first extract for waiting is the very strong ảπekdéXoμal, which (except in one doubtful passage) is only

used, in the New Testament, to express ardent waiting for the coming of Christ or the blessings of his kingdom. The same word occurs three times in the following remarkable and sublime passage, which personifies the whole creation, and represents it as groaning and travailing in eager expectation and desire for the deliverance which the coming of Christ would bring. An attempt to explain the passage fully would draw us too far from our present purpose; but it may not be improper to remark, that the word in the original for creature is the same which is afterwards more happily, as well as more strictly, translated creation.

Rom. viii. 18, "For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; (21) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now: (23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (24) For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

ed

V. In precepts, exhortations, consolations, &c., foundupon the nearness of these events

Examples will here be cited from all the Apostolic writers. The force of some of these quotations might

be shown more fully, if our plan admitted more extended remarks; and a few have been cited rather in illustration than in positive proof. Still it is difficult to conceive how any unprejudiced person can simply read these extracts, and yet believe, if he deems the Apostles honest, that they regarded the events, whose nearness and even immediateness they so often and so emphatically urge, as perhaps thousands of years off. If we were reading the bold figures of impassioned poetry, we might interpret somewhat differently; but here all is prose, and most of it plain, practical prose.

1. PAUL. — Phil. iv. 4, " Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

2 Thess. i. 4, "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: (5) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer (6) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; (7) And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels."

Rom. xiii. 7, "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (8) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. . . . (11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is

our salvation nearer than when we believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

Rom. xvi. 20, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

1 Cor. iv. 5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

Eph. v. 15, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Col. iv. 5, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time [ròv kaιpòv é§ayopašóμevoi, buying off from all inferior pursuits the brief and uncertain opportunity allowed you for doing good]."

Heb. iii. 13, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

Heb. x. 23, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised: (24) And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works: (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.

Heb. x. 35, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye

might receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

In v. 37 of the last extract, our version has not preserved the peculiar intensity of the Greek ἔτι μικρὸν ὅσον oσov, "like," says Professor Robinson in his Lexicon, ὅσον, "Engl. yet a very very little while."

2. JAMES. - v. 7, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh [yyike, hath drawn nigh, is at hand]. (9) Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door."

3. PETER. - 1 Pet. i. 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of