when He shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (I John ii.

18. If our faith be tried, it is that it "might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of

Jesus Christ." (I Pet. i. 7).

19. We are bidden to "rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." Why? "that when His

glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (I Pet. iv. 13.)

20. If we are exhorted to "watch unto prayer," it is because "the end of all things is at hand." (I Pet. iv. 7)

Here are twenty examples, and a hundred might easily be given. But these will be sufficient to show that the

doctrine is no mere visionary enthusiasm, or fanaticism; but is one of the most practical of all the truths

revealed in the Word of God.

But there is one aspect which we must consider at greater length, and that is its connection with Missionary

There is nothing more urgently and frequently laid to its charge, than that this doctrine tends to paralyse

missionary effort. But "the tree is known by its fruit," and so far from this being the case, we find one among

the Primitive Churches which is indeed a Model Church, the church of Thessalonica. It received abundant

and almost unqualified praise; and it was emphatically a missionary church. "Ye were ensamples (the apostle

writes I Thess. i. 7, 8) to all that believe, in Macedonia and Achaia, for from you sounded out the word of the

Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad."

And this church was all this because of the Christian character of its members. That character was formed

on "all truth," and hence it was not deformed. It was perfect in its threefold completeness. (I) They had

"TURNED to God from idols, (2) to SERVE the living and true God, and (3) to WAIT for God's Son from

Heaven" (I Thess. i. 9, 10). Yes. They waited for God's Son from Heaven. Not for Death, or Providence, or

Titus, or the World's conversion, or the Restoration of the Jews, or for the reconstruction of the Roman

Earth, but for God's Son from these two Epistles to the Thessalonians. One verse in four! a dozen passages

in four or five pages which speak of the coming of God's Son from Heaven! Every chapter contains a

reference to it (I Thess. i. 10; ii. 17-20; iii. 11-13; iv. 13-18; v. 1-6, 13; 2 Thess. i. 6-10; ii. 1-12; iii. 5). No wonder

it was a Model Church!

Again, there are facts which none can gainsay. The Early Christians were characterised by two things, (1)

their doctrine was intensely Millenarian and (2) their practice was intensely Missionary. They waited and

looked for the Lord, and "they went everywhere preaching the Word." And the period in the later history of

the Church was marked by the absence of these two things which generally go together. A man may have a

missionary spirit and yet not look for Christ's return. But it is impossible for one who "waits for God's Son

from Heaven" not to do his utmost to "sound forth the word of the Lord in every place."

Did not the Saviour tell us that it was "the wicked servant" who said in his heart "My Lord delayeth His

coming"? Did He not warn us of the three great dangers which flow from the "Evil" heart that cherishes

such a thought? (1) Self-indulgence: he begins "to eat and drink with the drunken." (2) Self-assertion: he

begins "to smite his fellow-servants." And (3) Self-delusion: "the Lord of that servant shall come in a day

when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of." (Matt. xxiv. 48-50. Luke xii. 45, 46.)

No! Our Lord's coming when held in the power of the doctrine, is the greatest possible incitement to

Missionary work, and to Pastor fidelity, integrity, and zeal. Look at I Pet. v. 2-4 "Feed the flock of God which

is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a

ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock! and when the Chief

Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." And 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2 (R.V.) "I