莱尔主教upper_room-第59章
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As He takes it； is 'Hold it fast；
Suffer me not to lose my way；
And bring me home at last。'〃
III。 Let us consider； lastly； what was King David's hope for the
future。 That hope； beyond doubt； was the glorious advent of the Messiah
at the end of the world； and the setting up of a kingdom of
righteousness； at the final 〃restitution of all things〃 （Acts 3：21）。
Of course king David's views of this kingdom were dim and vague
pared to those which are within reach of every intelligent reader of
the New Testament。 He was not ignorant of the ing of Messiah to
suffer； for he speaks of it in the 22nd Psalm。 But he saw far behind it
the ing of Messiah to reign； and his eager faith overleaped the
interval between the two Advents。 That his mind was fixed upon the
promise； that the 〃seed of the woman should〃 one day pletely 〃bruise
the serpent's head；〃 and that the curse should be taken off the earth；
and the effects of Adam's fall pletely removed； I feel no doubt at
all。 The Church of Christ would have done well if she had walked in
David's steps； and given as much attention to the Second Advent as
David did。
The figures and parisons which David uses in speaking of the advent
and future kingdom of the Messiah are singularly beautiful； and
admirably fitted to exhibit the benefits which it will bring to the
Church and the earth。 The Second Advent of Christ shall be 〃as the
light of the morning when the sun riseth； even a morning without
clouds； as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining
after rain。〃 Those words deserve a thousand thoughts。 Who can look
around him； and consider the state of the world in which we live； and
not be obliged to confess that clouds and darkness are now on every
side？ 〃The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain〃 （Rom。 8：22）。
Look where we will； we see confusion； quarrels； wars between nations；
helplessness of statesmen； discontent and grumbling of the lower
classes； excessive luxury among the rich； extreme poverty among the
poor； intemperance； impurity； dishonesty； swindling； lying； cheating；
covetousness； heathenism； superstition； formality among Christians；
decay of vital religion；these are the things which we see continually
over the whole globe； in Europe； Asia； Africa； and America。 These are
the things which defile the face of creation； and prove that the devil
is 〃the prince of this world；〃 and the kingdom of God is not yet e。
These are clouds indeed； which often hide the sun from our eyes。
But there is a good time ing； which David saw far distant； when this
state of things shall be pletely changed。 There is a kingdom ing；
in which holiness shall be the rule； and sin shall have no place at
all。
Who can look around him in his own neighbourhood； and fail to see
within a mile of his own house that the consequences of sin lie heavily
on earth； and that sorrow and trouble abound？ Sickness； and pain； and
death e to all classes； and spare none； whether rich or poor。 The
young often die before the old； and the children before the parents。
Bodily suffering of the most fearful description； and incurable
disease； make the existence of many miserable。 Widowhood； and
childlessness； and solitariness； tempt many to feel weary of life；
though everything which money can obtain is within their reach。 Family
quarrels； and envies； and jealousies break up the peace of many a
household； and are a worm at the root of many a rich man's happiness。
Who can deny that all these things are to be seen on every side of us？
There are many clouds now。
Will nothing end this state of things？ Is creation to go on groaning
and travailing for ever after this fashion？ Thanks be to God； the
Second Advent of Christ supplies an answer to these questions。 The Lord
Jesus Christ has not yet finished His work on behalf of man。 He will
e again one day （and perhaps very soon） to set up a glorious
kingdom； in which the consequences of sin shall have no place at all。
It is a kingdom in which there shall be no pain and no disease； in
which 〃the inhabitant shall no more say； I am sick〃 （Isa。 33：24）。 It is
a kingdom in which there shall be no partings； no moves； no changes；
and no good…byes。 It is a kingdom in which there shall be no deaths； no
funerals； no tears； and no mourning worn。 It is a kingdom in which
there shall be no quarrels； no losses； no crosses； no disappointments；
no wicked children； no bad servants； no faithless friends。 When the
last trumpet shall sound； and the dead shall be raised incorruptible；
there will be a grand gathering together of all God's people； and when
we awake up after our Lord's likeness we shall be satisfied （Ps。
17：15）。 Where is the Christian heart that does not long for this state
of things to begin？ Well may we take up the last prayer in the Book of
Revelation； and often cry； 〃e quickly； Lord Jesus〃 （Rev。 22：20）。
（a） And now； have we troubles？ Where is the man or woman on earth who
can say； 〃I have none〃？ Let us take them all to the Lord Jesus Christ。
None can fort like Him。 He who died on the cross to purchase
forgiveness for our sins； is sitting at the right hand of God with a
heart full of love and sympathy。 He knows what sorrow is； for He lived
thirty…three years in this sinful world； and suffered Himself being
tempted； and saw suffering every day。 And He has not forgotten it。 When
He ascended into heaven； to sit at the right hand of the Father； He
took a perfect human heart with Him。 〃He can be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities〃 （Heb。 4：15）。 He can feel。 Almost His last
thought upon the cross was for His own mother； and He cares for weeping
and bereaved mothers still。
He would have us never forget that our departed friends in Christ are
not lost； but only gone before。 We shall see them again in the day of
gathering together； for 〃them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with
Him〃 （1 Thess。 4：14）。 We shall see them in renewed bodies； and know
them again； but better； more beautiful； more happy than we ever saw
them on earth。 Best of all； we shall see them with the fortable
feeling that we meet to part no more。
（b） Have we troubles？ Let us never forget the everlasting covenant to
which old David clung to the end of his days。 It is still in full
force。 It is not cancelled。 It is the property of every believer in
Jesus； whether rich or poor； just as much as it was the property of the
son of Jesse。 Let us never give way to a fretting； murmuring；
plaining spirit。 Let us firmly believe at the worst of times； that
every step in our lives is ordered by the Lord； with perfect wisdom and
perfect love； and that we shall see it all at last。 Let us not doubt
that He is always doing all things well。 He is good in giving； and
equally good in taking away。
（c） Finally； have we troubles？ Let us never forget that one of the best
of remedies and most soothing medicines is to try to do good to others；
and to be useful。 Let us lay ourselves out to make the sorrow less and
the joy greater in this sin…burdened world。 There is always some good
to be done within a few yards of our own doors。 Let every Christian
strive to do it； and to relieve either bodies or minds。
〃To fort and to bless；
To find a balm for woe；
To tend the lone and fatherless；
Is angel's work below。〃
Selfish feeding on our own troubles； and lazy poring over our sorrows；
are one secret of the melancholy misery in which many spend their
lives。 If we trust in Jesus Christ's blood； let us remember His
example。 He ever 〃went about doing good〃 （Acts 10：38）。 He came not to
be ministered unto； but to minister； as well as to give His life a
ransom for many。 Let us try to be like Him。 Let us walk in the steps of
the good Samaritan； and give help wherever help is really needed。 Even
a kind word spoken in season is often a mighty blessing。 That Old
Tes
