THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.
By L. E. Milne
Living as we are, down here in the closing scenes of this world's history, how important that we heed the injunction of the apostle, to establish our hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Oh! we must be established in the present truth. We must have it deep in our hearts, and it will cause us to hunger and thirst after righteousness; and the promise is to such, They shall be filled. Blessed promise to the hungry and fainting soul. Oh! for more faith in the exceeding great and precious promises of God. We must draw near unto the Lord with full assurance of faith. We must be in earnest. We must have a mind to work and seek the Lord with all our hearts, and he will be found; and love, peace, and joy shall be ours. We may be very intimate with our dear, Heavenly Father. He is always ready to attend to our wants, and he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. The love of God is boundless; who can measure it? 'Tis past finding out. Jesus, our blessed Advocate ever lives to plead for us. Ye doubting ones, draw near! Jesus speaks. 'Tis the voice of my beloved! Hear his melodious voice: “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. Praise his holy name! this great salvation is full and free. Draw near, ye thirsty souls, and drink from the living fountain. Quench your raging thirst from the wells of salvation and it shall be a well of water in you, springing up into everlasting life. Oh! endless life! Oh! bliss beyond compare! Oh! immortality! Can it be ours? How ravishing the thought! To dwell forever with Jesus, our adorable Redeemer in that beautiful city, which hath no need of the light of the sun, nor of the moon, for the glory of God does lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. We shall not hunger nor thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on us, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed us, and shall lead us unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. Oh! blessed hope, soon to be realized! The day is dawning. Already its orient beams are discerned in the distant horizon. Lift up your heads, ye saints, and rejoice. Our Lord, for whom we have waited, is soon coming. Up, and adorn thee! Be clothed in your bridal attire. Get on your shining raiment. Trim your lamps, for behold the bridegroom is coming! I long to see his glory, to behold his lovely countenance. When he gathers his jewels, I must be there. I must walk the glittering streets of the beautiful city, and join in that song of triumph, Unto Him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory forever and ever. Away ye worldlings, nor dim the bright vision. Tell me not of earth's glittering store. No time for trifling now. Ye live in pleasure and vanity now, but when you see Jesus coming with all the bright angelic hosts, fear and trembling will seize upon you; your faces will gather paleness, and you will wail because of him, who cometh to take vengeance on those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.