THE NOBLEMAN'S JOURNEY.
By G. Greenwell
"And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said, therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." Luke xix. 11, 12. 1. When this language was uttered, a high solemnity was preparing. The Lord, from whom nothing in the human heart was concealed had the approaching spectacle before him in all its natural beauty, dramatic spirit, and moral consequences. He was about to receive a triumphant welcome into that city which was both the glory and the shame of the earth. He knew how the whole city would be moved with the demonstration of his meek majesty and heavenly grace. He knew how ready they were to give him the crown and the purple of empire, and raise the war cry of ancient days. He knew how intensely his own disciples desired his human elevation, and how confidently they anticipated the immediate erection of a great kingdom in which they might have conspicuous renown. Profundly conscious that his mission could only be accomplished in that city, by the gloom and anguish of a strange tragedy, he seeks to correct their feverish transport by the parable of the nobleman's journey. The reader who desires to understand his situation, must peruse the entire chapter. If he has but sufficient power of intellect and moral association, Jerusalem, the city of God, will rise before him as if by enchantment. An eager, adoring crowd of people wave in the air their palm-tree banners, and with spontaneous music, ring out, Hosannas to the coming King. But when that triumphal cavalcade and jubilant song was ended, the meditative soul would begin to inquire for the import of the parable. We can imagine such reflective people saying to each other, Is the hope of Israel to be immediately realized; or does the teacher wish us to understand that he must undertake a long journey before the glorious kingdom can be reared? But whether or not such inquiries prevailed then, we, in our day, can understand the parable. The nobleman has been long absent in a far country, but he will certainly return again. There has been a period of moral probation, and there will be serious inquisition and solemn responsibility among friends and enemies. But when will he return, and how will he return? His return is described in the most graphic manner by the Prophet Daniel:—63 "I behold till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him, thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."—Dan. vii. 2. The student will perceive, in perusing the chapter from which these fragments are quoted, that the mysterious horn out of the beast, with iron teeth, cannot be subdued until the saints of the Most High take possession of the kingdom. And the saints cannot take possession of the everlasting dominion until the Son of man comes in the clouds of heaven, to receive the worship and obedience of all languages and nations. The horn will prevail against the saints, until the nobleman their king, returns, and his princes are manifested in unfading splendor. Never, till then, will the horn of Anti-Christ cease its ravages. Until then, the eyes will continue to burn and flash with infernal lustre, and the mouth will still be haughty in the utterance of blasphemy towards God, and rancor against man. By consequence we cannot have our rest until the Lord appears a second time without a sin offering to the salvation of all who obey him. He is coming to be glorified in all his saints, and admired by all that believe and trust in him. The lightning of his presence will scare away all agents of evil and impurity—but the light of his countenance will steep in mellow repose the people that have desired his spirit and manifestation.—G. Greenwell.