The Second Advent a Scripture Doctrine
By A. J. Gordon
"You cannot unthread this doctrine out of the Sacred Book, and have a living Word left. As well unthread the nerves out of the body, and have a living organism left. And you cannot unthread it out of the faith of the church without driving the knife to the heart of thousands of its godliest confessors. Say what men may, one thing stands well attested through the ages, that wherever this belief in the Lord's literal return has gotten possession of men's hearts, it has invariably exalted the authority of the Word of God, emphasized all the doctrines of grace, lifted high the cross of Christ, exalted the person and work of the Spirit, intensified prayer, enlarged beneficence, separated believers from the world, and set them zealously at work for the salvation of men."—Goodwin "When those that upheld the banner of truth had almost lost heart, and Protestantism seemed failing, John Knox accepted the invitation from the true-hearted ones, and left Geneva for Scotland. When he landed, quick as lightning the news spread abroad. The cry arose everywhere, 'John Knox has come!' Edinburgh came rushing into the streets; the old and the young, the lordly and the low, were seen mingling together in delighted expectation. All business, all common pursuits, were forsaken. The priests and friars abandoned their altars and their masses and looked out alarmed, or were seen standing by themselves, shunned like lepers. Studious men were roused from their books; mothers set down their infants and ran to inquire what had come to pass. Travelers suddenly mounted and sped into the country with the tidings, 'John Knox has come!' At every cottage door the inmates stood and shouted, wondering, as horseman after horseman cried, 'Knox has come!' Barks departing from the harbor bore up to each other at sea to tell the news. Shepherds heard the tidings as they watched their flocks upon the hills. The watchers in the castle challenged the sound of quick feet approaching, and the challenge was answered, 'John Knox has come!' The whole land was moved; the whole country was stirred with a new inspiration, and the hearts of enemies withered." O, if that was the effect of the sudden presence of a man like ourselves,—a man whom we will rejoice to meet in the kingdom, but only a man,—what will the land feel, what will earth feel, when the news comes, "The Son of man! The Son of man! His sign has been seen in the heaven! O wise virgins, with what joy will you go out to meet him!"—A. J. Gordon.