An Advent Thought

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1859

An Advent Thought.

"I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am there ye may be also."

When the Saviour comes to his people at the hour of sense, every eye shall then see Him, and they also who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. The same Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives, shall descend in like manner as his disciples saw him go up to heaven. How inconceivably glorious will be this advent of Christ to his people! Before, He came "to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself;" now, he will appear "without sin unto salvation." Before, he came an infant of days, a weeping babe in Bethlehem's manger; now, he will come as the Eternal Son of the Eternal God. The first time, he is seen in the humble garb of an obscure Galilean, attended by a few despised fishermen; the second time, he is recognized clad in the robes of divine majesty, and attended by a countless retinue of bright immortals. Faith has wept over him wearing a crown of thorns, and carrying the reed of mockery; sight now rejoices in the brilliancy of the crown of glory on his head, and of the scepter of universal power in his hand. Before, he came to be mocked, and scourged, and buffeted, and spit upon, and nailed to the accursed tree, but in this hour of his return he is armed with the terrors of unappeased justice, and scatters desolation and dismay among his enemies. This advent of Christ to his people will be witnessed by an intelligent universe. What a glorious change, what a joyful transfer! to be placed at the right hand of the Judge, to be fellow heirs and brethren of the Lord Jesus. This is the day when by all such shall be heard a sound of joy, the voice of Jehovah calling his elect from the four quarters of the winds, and when thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers, those ministers of his who do his pleasure, widening their shining ranks to receive the redeemed of Christ's blood, shall marshal them heavenward as Heralds of the sky; wherein one choir, the ransomed of the Lord shall unite in a strain of the sweetest concord, and what was once separate from God and far from holiness, shall fill up the chorus of their song of victory to the Captain of our salvation. Here is the portion laid up for the righteous, stretching into infinity, and widening by additions of interminable extent, surpassing the conjectures of knowledge, and transcending the swelling energies of an immortal hope. Here is the portion: who of us will claim the inheritance? To the disciples of Jesus the inquiry at the return of the advent season breathes the sweetest consolation and the truest joy. But to them only. For others, the tempest is gathering in the heavens.—Protestant Churchman.