MY DEAR BROTHER, As there was a little enquiry made for Scripture proof in reference to a statement in a paper of the last Prospect: "Evidence of the Lord's Coming to the Church being quite distinct," &c., I will endeavor to supply it. The statement was to this effect, viz. the connection between the Lord's actual coming, and the Church being ready. My judgment respecting that depends upon truth, which was advanced in a previous paper, "The Church hasting the Coming of the Lord." I there stated that one reason why the Lord had revived that blessed hope in the Church was, that He might have the Church's communion with Himself in it. It is, I think, worthy of remark, that in both cases, whether as respects the Lord's coming to the Church, or to Israel afterwards, there is a direct promise of a testimony, and preparation beforehand. The closing words of the Old Testament, that is, of earthly prophecy, are, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." How great the grace of God thus to prepare His people! And remark the divine wisdom in which that word is thrown upon the heart of His people, (verse 4,) “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto Him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgments." For this is the way, even the path of obedience, in which His people must ever wait for their Lord. As also, I think, that blessed word in Isaiah 26:8,8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. (Isaiah 26:8) shows: "Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee." And so when John the Baptist came before the first coming of the Lord, "in the spirit and power of Elias," it was “to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." (Greek.)
And so with regard to the Church; for I should not doubt that in great part, at any rate, the Lord had the Church in the parable of the ten virgins, we find that, whilst the general standing of the Church at first was "to wait for His Son from heaven," "all going forth to meet the Bridegroom;" yet there is special revival of the hope before the Bridegroom actually comes. "At midnight the cry arose."
If, therefore, it has been the Lord's will thus to arouse His Church again to that blessed position, and that not only that it may give forth its testimony to others, but also may be in communion with Himself about this blessed hope; then, of course, He will effect this object; He will have ready for Himself "a people prepared." It is not my object to put the preparation of the Church at all as an object between us and the Lord's coming, but simply to throw that thought deeply upon our souls, viz. our duty to be in a true, waiting, holy position before Him. “Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open to Him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching." I do believe, and cannot help feeling, that there is a connection between the state and position of heart of the Church on earth, and the return of the Bridegroom. It is meet that the heart of the Bride on earth should answer to that of the Bridegroom in heaven.
I would say, May the Lord give us grace to go on, and be found watching! And I would say, if we saw the mind of Christ in this respect, what a tone and character it would give to any of our ministrations in the Church! When we see what He is now doing in this time-state with the Church. "He is sanctifying it with the washing of water by the word THAT He may present it to Himself a glorious Church," &c. With this object His eye is resting upon it. I would notice further, it is interesting to see the little remnant at the first coming. “There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple." (Luke 2:25-2725And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (Luke 2:25‑27).) So also Anna, the prophetess, “spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."
Believe me
Yours truly in the Lord, G.