heart and mind becomes sanctified under the power of the gospel, by being supplied with holy objects to work upon; but the mode of working remains the same. Faith works by motives, as truly as the natural will; though the motives are derived from a different class of objects. By faith Moses refused, choosing, for he hoped.* He refused Egypt, choosing Christ, for he hoped for glory. Without faith, he would have refused Christ, choosing Egypt; for his hope would have been worldly wealth and distinction. The mode of the mental operation, and the consequent practical influence over the life, is the same in both cases; and if hope be, as we have seen it is, the mainspring of active energy in the natural heart, so it is also in the regenerate. Who, with the Bible in his hand, can hesitate to admit that the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ is held forth as the grand object, the morning star, nay, the rising sun of the believer's hope? And does it not therefore follow, by undeniable consequence, that the doctrine of the Second Advent is truly a practical doctrine ?

God hath done all things well for us. By the gracious power of the Holy Spirit, given unto us freely, according to the distinguishing purpose of everlasting love, our hearts are drawn to contemplate Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. The world is crucified to us, and we unto the world. Thus we become detached from the inordinate affection of things below. But this is not enough. We need an object of attachment. And we have it in

*Heb. xi. 24-26.

Jesus Christ, and Him coming again. Thus hath God provided for us, in the cross, a power of separation from this fallen earth; and in the crown, a power of attraction towards the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Let us joyfully avail ourselves of both; and while, looking back unto Jesus crucified, we experience and cultivate the constraining love of Him who first loved us, let us look forward also, and realise the quickening energy of what the apostle Paul calls “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ."*

The Second Advent practical! What saith the Scripture ? Is watchfulness a Christian duty? "Watch, therefore," saith the Lord, "for ye know not the day, nor the hour, when the Son of man cometh." Is patience a Christian duty? "Be patient, therefore, brethren," saith the apostle, "unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."‡

Is moderation in the use of all the possessions and enjoyments of this world, a Christian duty? Hear another apostle-" Let your moderation be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand."§ In a word, Is the path of Christian duty the path of universal obedience? Hearken to a third and

* Titus ii. 3.
James v. 7, 8.

+ Matt. xxv. 13.
§ Phil. iv. 5.

fourth apostle-"Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise (laying hold of that promise, the food of the faith which worketh by hope; we, so believing and hoping, according to his promise) look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth rightAnd every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he (Jesus) is pure.” †

eousness.

Go, then, beloved brethren, and, reposing the sure and quiet confidence of your souls on the word of the Lord, plough, and sow, and water, and wait, in HOPE, for "faithful is he who hath promised, who also will do it." And, "he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry."

EVEN SO, COME!

* 2 Pet. iii. 11-13.

THE END.

+ 1 John iii. 2, 3.

EDWARD HOWELL, PRINTER, LIVERPOOL.