THE COMING OF THE LORD.
By B. F. Merritt
LAST JANUARY, an evening was appointed by the Evangelical Alliance, for prayer to be made by all Christian people for the soon coming of the Lord. It is certainly meet that such prayer should be made, but from how many longing hearts did the prayer arise, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly? When we look upon this sin-cursed earth, and see how the tide of sin and woe is rolling on, and when we are assured that the only hope for the cessation of these evils is the return of our Lord, should not all who love him pray for his coming? To pray for the speedy coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, embraces much. It means an end to man's probation. It means the decisions of the day of Judgment to be given. It means that the doom of all be forever sealed; that the oppressed people of God shall be free, and triumph gloriously. It means the awakening of the saints from their sleep in the earth, to be clothed with immortality, and be forever with the Lord, and the glad meeting of long-separated friends, and their reaching home to live forever. It means that we may see Him who was nailed to the cross for us, crowned King of kings and Lord of lords; and that we who are his disciples may soon be received with all the blood-washed throng into those mansions the loving Saviour has gone to prepare for us. It will be the glad fruition of the blessed hope that has sustained God's people all through the dark and stormy night of time. It means the dawning of eternal day, the bringing in of everlasting joy. Oh, glorious day of his appearing! We wait with joyful anticipations its approach and note with gladness every token that declares it near. Let all the people of God, in response to his declaration, "Behold, I come quickly," respond, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
B. F. MERRITT.