In regard to God's dealings with man since the fall, or rather, the flood, there have been three great epochs: first, the period before Christ came, died, and rose; secondly, the present interval; and thirdly, the age, after He comes again. There were many subdivisions during the first period, when God tried man in unwearied patience, to see if good could be got from him. The cross of Christ closed this. Not that God did not know the result; but it was for his glory that man should be thoroughly put to the proof. The rejection of Christ was. In a very real and solemn sense, the world's judgment, its judgment morally, however God may delay the execution of it. Therefore is the believer, the Christian, said not to be of the world, as Christ is not, and is called to go out to meet the Bridegroom in regard to God's dealings with man since the fall, or rather, the flood, there have been three great epochs: first, the period before Christ came, died, and rose; secondly, the present interval; and thirdly, the age, after He comes again. There were many subdivisions during the first period, when God tried man in unwearied patience, to see if good could be got from him. The cross of Christ closed this. Not that God did not know the result; but it was for his glory that man should be thoroughly put to the proof. The rejection of Christ was. In a very real and solemn sense, the world's judgment, its judgment morally, however God may delay the execution of it. Therefore is the believer, the Christian, said not to be of the world, as Christ is not, and is called to go out to meet the bridegroom.