Christ's Advents Personal.
By Editor
The Hebrew Leader in this wise:— "Our Christian brethren have insisted that we have waited [and are still waiting] for a flesh and blood Messiah who shall localize himself in Judea and bring back the scattered tribes to a temporal rule and state, but we ourselves have never believed anything of the kind." Mr. Felix Adler advances it as his opinion that the higher conditions of life constitute the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy, and the furthering this end in intimate union with their fellow-men as the highest dictate of religion. There is something chilling and dreary beyond all question in such a view of the lofty, soul-inspiring prophecies. It is no wonder many of our Jewish friends reject this specious Rationalism as the sum and substance of the gospel prophecies and promises. —Christian at Work. We offer our hearty assent to this. We could never be satisfied to substitute any degree of "higher life" in Adam's race at large, for a personal Christ; a crucified, risen, and glorified Messiah. Now will not the Christian at Work consistently "right about" and try to correct the faith, or rather the errors and unbelief of those who assert that the second coming of Christ is nothing but the proclamation of the gospel, and the conversion of the people? At the present time it is giving "aid and comfort" to those who spiritualize away the second advent. We fail to see any consistency in its effort to correct the blind mistake of the Jew in spiritualizing away the first advent. The Saviour himself said, "If I go away I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that [in order that] where I am, there ye may be also." To what but a personal coming can this refer? The angel said, "This same Jesus, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." And Paul, speaking of the second advent, said, "The Lord himself shall descend." If this means only a diffusion of gospel knowledge, or the acceptance of the doctrine of Christ by the people, with what grace can we chide the Jew for denying a personal Messiah? "Let not then your good be evil spoken of." The prophecies were not fulfilled by a mystical or figurative Messiah, and we are not prepared to admit that "this same Jesus," even "the Lord himself," is a mere figure of speech. Our faith grasps a more tangible Saviour than a figurative one; our consciousness refuses to appreciate a Christ in symbol only. But if symbols must be accepted for the personality of Christ, then let the Protestant cease to ignore the mass of the Catholics. They have carried out the idea to where the common people can grasp it. But we want "the very same Jesus," "the Lord himself." And in this we shall be satisfied, together with all "that look for him," and "love his appearing." "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus." This prayer, breathed by the beloved apostle in the fulness of his inspiration, will be answered. We wait in patience, hoping for that coming glory.