320 tssA't TOWARD 114E lSRCT. r and so there was less need to insist upon the joys and sorrows of the separate state. As the patriarchs and the Jews of old, after the Mes- siah was promised, were constantly expecting his first coming, almost in every generation, till he did appear, and many modes of prophetical expression in scripture, which speak of things long tò come, as though they were present, or just at hand, gave them -some occasion for this expectation so the christians, of the first age, did generally expect the second coming of Christ to judg- ment, and the resurrection of the dead, in that veryage wherein it was foretold. St. Paul gives us a hint of it in 2 Thess. ii. 1, e. " They supposed the day of the Lord was just appearing." And many expressions of Christ, con- cerning his return or coming again, after bis departure, seemed to represent his absence as a thing of no long continuance. It is true, these words of his may partly refer tohis coming to destroy Jerusalem,- and the coming in of his kingdom among the gentiles, or his coming by his messenger of death, yet they generally, in their su- preme and final sense, point to his coming to raise the dead,. and judge the world : And from the words of Christ, also, concerning John, chap. xxi. 22. " If I will that he' tarry till I come;" it is probable, that the apos- tles themselves-at first, as well as other christians, might derive this apprehensionof his speedy coming. It is certain that whenChrist speaks of his coming, in general, and promiscuous and parabolical terms, whether with regard\to the destruction ofJerusalem, or the judg- ment of the world, he saith,. Mat. xxiv. 34. "Verily, I say to you, this generation shall net pass, till all these: things be fulfilled." And the apostles frequently told the world,, the corning of the Lord was near, Phil. iv. 5., " The Lord is at hand." Heb. x. 25. " Exhorting one another somuch the more, asyou see the dayapproach- .ing." And that this is the day of the comingof Christ, verse 37. assures uá, " For yet a little while, he ,that shall come will come, and will not tarry." ' Rom. xiii. 11, 2. " Now it is high time* to awake out of sleep. The night is far spent ; the day is at . hand." i Pet. iv. 5. "To him who is ready to judge the quiek and the dead." Verse7. " The end of all things is at hand." James v. 8, 9. " The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. .Behold
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