Modern Phenomena of the Heavens.
By Editor
WHAT we have published on this subject is from a tract of 48 pages by Henry Jones, published in 1843. Many of our readers have but recently had their minds called to the subject of the Second Advent. Such will be much interested, and we trust strengthened, by these facts relative to modern phenomena of the heavens. But we have not published them for this class alone. It will be cheering to all our readers who love the appearing of Jesus, to again examine those signs by which we were to know that the coming of the Lord was near, even at the doors. Infidelity says, that nothing may be known relative to the period of the Second Advent. Faith rests with confidence upon the words of our Lord:—"Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [margin, he] is near, even at the doors." Matt. xxiv, 32, 33. This was the great object of our Lord, in naming the signs of the Advent, that his Church might know that his coming was near. It was not to perplex his people, but that they might know, and warn the world, as did Noah, of its approaching destruction. We ask those who think we are to know nothing of the period of the Advent, What is the design of the foretold signs? Let them give any other reason, if they can, than that the church might know that the Advent was near, and warn the world. But how near? Why, "even at the doors." A friend of ours might be coming, yet a thousand miles off; he might be near, yet twenty miles off. But if he should be "near even at the doors," we should at once rise, open the door, and welcome our friend into the house. We may now know that our Lord is coming, that he is near, and more, that he is "even at the doors."—Are we ready to welcome our dear Saviour? Does the fact that he is at the door, fill us with joy? Reader, do you love this world more than you love the appearing of Jesus? If you do, your case is a fearful one. The judgment is upon you, Christ is coming; he is at the door. O, get ready to welcome the dear Saviour.