Advancing the Second Advent

 From the Bibles that have marginal readings it will appear that these words admit of a different construction--“Looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God.” Practically it comes to the same, whether we hasten to Christ or cause Christ to hasten to us. But the intention is that we should do both--“Hasting unto,” and ourselves “hastening,” “the coming of the clay of God.” But now the question presents itself--“Can anything which a man does really ‘hasten,’ by a single moment, the Second Coming of Christ?” It is a question which, in fact, loses itself in a far greater one--“Can the acts of the Almighty, which are all pre-determined from all eternity, be affected by anything which His creatures do?” In every age Christians are to be praying and labouring for the extension of the gospel over the whole earth. And so labouring and so praying they may command results. The Church shall grow, souls shall be saved, God shall be glorified. But, nevertheless, all this is only the earnest of a better dispensation--the falling drops which tell that the shower is coming. “But can mortal wishes, or mortal feelings, accelerate that ‘day of God’?” Assuredly. God has oftentimes, in His mercy, changed His times for His people’s sake. Many things have gone back. Death has retired for fifteen years. The destruction of a city has been postponed indefinitely. Great calamities, threatening a king and his people, have been handed down to the third and fourth generations. But, has anything, with God, gone forward? “In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days.” What does that “shortening” mean? That the day of deliverance was put forward “for the elect’s sake.” Then here is a great and happy event “hastening “on for man! What, then, must we do “to hasten the day of God”? 1. Pray for it. What is the promise, ought always to be, emphatically, the prayer of the dispensation. 2. Let the Church live in love and union, in order that a united Church may attract her Lord to “come.” 3. Make great efforts for the evangelisation of the world. 4. Cultivate personal holiness. Will He “come” until His Bride has put on her jewels? And when she is decked, and when she is meet indeed, can He stay away? (J. Vaughan, M. A.)  

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