archangel, but "the Lord Himself."

III. The words "ONCE" and "THE SECOND TIME" in Heb. ix. 28 are conclusive. "Christ was once offered to

bear the sins of many and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time," etc. All the words,

and even the smallest words protest against any figurative interpretation. All the actions and verbs point to

the same conclusion. They are all acts requirin g the presence of a person to perform and accomplish them.

The Dead in Christ are to be raised: the Living saints are to be changed: Judgment is to be administered, and

False Christs are to appear. Unless all these things are figurative then all the prophecies of Christ's coming

must be understood in the plain, literal sense in which a child would understand them. They were not given

by any man's unfolding, nor by or for any man's interpretation. They are God's own interpretation of what

would be else unknown to us, and are to be received in their plain, grammatical sense with childlike

simplicity and faith.

In Sermon No. 7 we shall consider the wondrous Covenants made by God with Abraham and David. To

them, these covenants were prophecies. How did they understand them? Literally! The oath concerning

them was "My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips" (Ps. lxxxix. 34). But

this is what man dares to do! In reading the part fulfilment of the Covenant in Luke i. 32, 33, man d oes not

hesitate to interpret half of it literally, and the other half figuratively, so as to make it accord with his reason.

His name was indeed "called Jesus," etc., but as to His reigning over the house of Jacob on the throne of

His father David, that is carnal, that is unreasonable, that is unlikely, and therefore man sits in judgment on

God, and alters the thing that is gone out of His lips!

While we thank God that He has given us such an abundance of "exceeding great and precious promises,"

let us re member that He hath said concerning them, "these are the true sayings of God." "Hath He said and

shall He not do it."

Among His last words, He said (John xiv. 1-3), "If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto

Myself." "If I go," meant literally going; and so "I will come again," must mean literally coming. May we not

repeat His own sure words "If it were not so I would have told you." He has not so told us, and therefore it

must be true. He very last word from Heaven, closing up all Revealed Truth confirms and ratifies all His

many promises, "Surely I come quickly," and if we have not ceased to expect Him, or ceased to desire Him,

our eager, heart -felt response will be, "Even so, come Lord Jesus."