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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 very
age
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
to
his
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
apprehension
of
his
speedy coming.
It
is
certain that
when
Christ
speaks
of
his coming,
in
general, and
promiscuous and parabolical
terms,
whether
with
regard
\to
the destruction
of
Jerusalem, 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
so
much the more,
as
you
see
the day
approach
-
.ing."
And
that
this is the day
of
the
coming
of
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."
Verse
7.
"
The
end
of
all
things
is
at hand." James
v.
8,
9.
"
The
coming
of the Lord
draw
eth
nigh.
.Behold