the crucial moments of his life. What will he do about it?

Let us hear a parable. Two men were journeying in the Valley of the Colorado. They were strangers to each other. They walked so near that they might easily have spoken or clasped hands; but they did not. Ere long they parted and went their several ways. Each climbed the steep diverging paths and presently saw each other again; but they were now on opposite sides of the Great Cañon of the Colorado. They seemed not far apart; but between them lay a bridgeless chasm. So shall it be when this probationary life is over. Here a man walks in the Vale of Mercy, side by side with Christ. He may at any moment grasp his outstretched hand and enter into an eternal friendship with him. But death is the great separator. It ends probation; it fixes, formulates, crystallizes character; it decrees "He that is unjust let him be unjust still, and he that is holy let him be holy still." Thus there is to be "a great gulf fixed," separating those who are in the kingdom from those who are forever afar off.

It may be that someone is saying, "So far as I know I am ready to meet any requirement in order to salvation. I feel that, while not far from the kingdom, I am not in it. What must I do?" There is only one answer, and a very simple one: Accept Christ. You have informed yourself of the truth of the Gospel; and you are satisfied as to the right thing to do. Your mind is convinced, your conscience convicted; your will alone is at fault. There is nothing between you and the kingdom but your refusal of Christ. Take him, and with him the assurance of pardon, “Thy

sins be forgiven thee." Take him, and with him the inspiration to an earnest life. Take him and with him the strength of his friendship, which is as a strong staff to lean on. Take him and with him the invaluable franchise of citizenship in the kingdom of God.

The word "opportunity" is from ob-portus, that is, opposite the bay. A few years ago the Oregon was wrecked just outside the harbor of New York. You are, my friend, within sight of heaven just now. All that remains is to cross the line; to say, "I will! By the grace of God, I do!"

XXVI

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

In which Jesus announces his glorious Return to reign from the River into the Ends of the Earth.

Irma: Fr. I come quickly.”

Trùm: “Amen; Come, Lord Jesus."-Rev. xxii, 20.

THE doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is not deeply emphasized in our time, but the early disciples made much of it. You will find it in the last words of Paz: I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."-It is in the last words of Peter: "There shall come in the last days scoffers saying, Where is the promise of his coming? But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing: that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day; and he is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish. But the Day of the Lord will come!"-It is in the last words of James: "Be ye patient, therefore, unto the coming of the Lord, as the husbandman waiteth for his fruits. Be patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh!"-And it is in the last words of John, sole survivor of the Old Guard of Apostles, who from his desert home in Patmos heard his Lord calling "Behold, I come quickly!" and answered "Amen! Even so come, Lord Jesus!" Thus the early Christians strengthened themselves in "the glorious hope." Their morning greeting was Maranatha, "He cometh!"

I want to make a clear statement of the things which we know definitely concerning the great doctrine. Let me begin by frankly saying that there are many things we do not know about it. We want to stand on terra firma, and receive only so much as is authoritatively revealed in the Word of God.

First, He will Surely Come.

At this point our information is without if or peradventure. Jesus said, "When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" He will surely come. Our faith may tremble, but his word abides. His second advent was announced at the time when he was received up from among us. The disciples had come to Olivet by appointment to meet him. The Great Tragedy was over; and he had risen from the dead. He had announced beforehand that he would meet them at this mountain, and they were there awaiting him. No doubt they conversed in low murmurs as to the sacred memories of the past: for, whichever way they looked there were his footprints. They wondered among themselves whether he was now about to establish his sovereignty on earth; when, on a sudden, he stood among them, and, lifting his hands, uttered his usual greeting, "Peace be unto you." He then spoke to them at length of the coming

XXVI

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

In which Jesus announces his glorious Return to reign from the River unto the Ends of the Earth.

Jesus: "Yea, I come quickly."

John: "Amen; Come, Lord Jesus."-REV. xxii, 20.

THE doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is not deeply emphasized in our time, but the early disciples made much of it. You will find it in the last words of Paul: "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."—It is in the last words of Peter: "There shall come in the last days scoffers saying, Where is the promise of his coming? But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day; and he is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish. But the Day of the Lord will come!"-It is in the last words of James: "Be ye patient, therefore, unto the coming of the Lord, as the husbandman waiteth for his fruits. Be patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord