"Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" Mal. 3:2. It is indeed true, that when he comes again, it will be to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man, to gather the wheat into his garner, but to burn the chaff with fire unquenchable. To send forth that tremendous edict, Those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me. Would it not be wise to consider in time whether you are able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against you with twenty thousand; or else to desire conditions of peace. These conditions he not only freely offers you, but has sent his servants to beseech you in his stead to be reconciled unto God. For he hath made him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Let no feeling of past sin, however aggravated, deter you from coming, since it is written, that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Be no more a stranger and a foreigner, but, accepting his offer, become a fellow-citizen with the saints, a member of the household of God; be content, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the saints of God, to confess yourself a stranger, and a pilgrim on the earth, and with them to look for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Perhaps, though not altogether regardless of divine things, you have been going about to establish your own righteousness, and have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Perhaps you have been saying in your heart, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are," or "I am rich, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." No wonder, under such circumstances, that you do not desire to hear the Lord's coming. If you think you can do well enough without him; if your salvation depends not on your union with him that is to come; if you feel not your present wretchedness, you cannot desire to exchange your "mourning for joy, or your spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise." If such you are, I beseech you to consider in time the sentence passed upon the guest whom the King perceived to be without a wedding garment; however you may be self-satisfied now, before Him that is coming you will be speechless, and the most appalling sound that ever vibrated in your ear, will be the words, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away." Realize to yourself the idea of his speedy approach. His faithful messengers are saying, "Come for all things are now ready." He has provided for you the garment in which he expects you to appear, "even the righteousness of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe;" unto all as a gift, and upon all as a covering.—Word of Warning, No. 13.