August 15

What manner of persons ought ye to be? — 2 PETER iii. 11.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. — MATT. xxiv. 42-44.

OUR Lord assured his disciples that he would rise from the dead, ascend to heaven, and when he had prepared a place there, would return and receive them to himself. After his ascension angels came down to repeat the promise. Peter preached it to the wondering Jews. Stephen saw heaven opened and Jesus ready to descend. The Thessalonians waited for the sublime event. Paul proclaimed it the "blessed hope." The Epistles present their exhortations in view of its near approach, — one book is devoted to its details, while the last message the ascended Lord sends down to earth is, "Behold, I am coming quickly," and the recorded prayer of the Church when truly listening is, "Even so come, Lord Jesus."

He is coming, not when men think, nor in the seasons and periods they have fixed, but unexpectedly. Therefore as a Christian discharge your responsibility. See that you really have life, for this sudden advent will break up the great house of Christendom, reveal the emptiness of much profession and the faithlessness of many stewards.

J M Haldeman

Be ye as they that wait Always at the Bridegroom's gate; Even though he tarry late, Watch, brethren, watch.

H. BONAR