SECTION XLIV.

Chap. xiii. ver. 14-23.

SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING.

14. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,

The destructive Roman army; called abomination by Christ, because they were idolaters, and had the figures of their idols on their standards.

14. (Let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains:

15. And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house:

16. And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

17. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck n those days!

18. And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

19. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

20. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

God did also deliver other Jews for their sakes: for the days of vengeance were shortened on account of the elect, and many escaped with them. Those whom the world hates, God's faithful children and servants, are its preservers.

21. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not :

22. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

It is a great mystery that God should suffer such signs and wonders to be wrought. But none would be deceived by them, who were not first blinded by their own hearts.

23. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things..

If we perish it is not for want of warning.

In this section Christ paints in lively colours the miseries that were coming on the Jews; God's own people, and of whom it had been said, whosoever touched them, touched the apple of his eye, Zech. ii. 8, that is, that it wounded himself in a very tender part. But sin was found upon them, and they must smart for it: yea and suffer deeper than others. Let the false Christian remember this; and that a hotter hell is preparing for such.

SECTION XLV.

Chap. xiii. ver. 24-37.

CHRIST WARNS US TO BE PREPARED FOR HIS COMING.

24. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25. And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers in heaven shall be shaken.

that are

26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Mr. Adam interprets these verses as referring to the consummation of all things: the editor considers them relating to the destruction of Jerusalem; though he thinks that destruction was intended to shadow forth a still wider destruction, when the frame of the world shall be broken to pieces.

28. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is

near :

29. So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

31. Heaven and earth shall pass away ; but my words shall not

pass away.

The word of Christ, this generation shall not pass away, limits the time to the destruction of Jerusalem. For that generation did not pass away till the gospel was fully preached from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum.-Edit.

32. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Did not Christ know the day, or the time?—Yes, but it was no part of his office when he was in the world to make it known. Just as St. Paul says, 1 Cor. ii. 2, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified;" that is, I determined not to speak of anything else.

33. Take ye heed, watch and time is.

pray: for ye know not when the

Christ not only warns us to take heed, but tells us how, namely, by watching and praying. Have your eye upon your work under Christ, and upon the time of your death, as duly as if your life was every moment in danger of being surprised. And remember that watching will avail you nothing, without prayer. Who is a Christian? He who watches and prays? Is he who does not watch and pray, no Christian ? No, no more than he is in heaven just now. this comes home to any one who reads these words, let it; and let such an one pray to God to cut him to the heart, and bring him as an humble believer to Christ for pardon and salvation. But take notice, that by praying I do not mean saying, or hearing prayers at church merely, though it

If

were twice every Sunday: but praying in secret, and with the heart, at all times, as a beggar does for an alms.

34. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

And yet

The departure of Christ from the world makes us think as little of him, as if he would never return. how near may the hour of death, or the hour of his return, be! Have you ever reflected what your proper work in this world is? Do you read the scripture to know what it is? Did you ever say to yourselves, I must have faith in Christ, and possess a faithful heart towards him, or I am undone ? The porter whom Christ has commanded to watch is the minister of religion, who is to watch for you, and you are also to watch for yourselves.

35. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

We generally show that we are not of Christ's mind, since we make our ignorance of the time when Christ shall come to call us away, a reason why we neglect to watch.

36. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

If he should come to you this very hour, would not this indeed be sudden, and a great surprise? Most men die suddenly, let them be overtaken by death whenever they may, since they do not look for it a day beforehand. Therefore let us awake out of sleep, and think it high time. 37. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Do we think that these words of Christ would take more effect upon us, if we were to hear Christ himself speak them? He does indeed speak them, even to us at this and every moment; he tells us so himself; I say unto all, Watch.

SECTION XLVI.

Chap. xiv. ver. 1–9.

A WOMAN POURETH OINTMENT UPON CHRIST'S HEAD.

1. After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

2. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

These reasonings of Christ's enemies were overruled for accomplishing the prophecies which went before concerning the death he should die.-Edit.

3. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Are you so poor that you have nothing costly to bestow on the Saviour? No. Have you not a heart? Give him that, and whatever you do for him will be this box of ointment. If you could give him the world without it, he would despise both the gift and the giver.

4. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made ?

The best acts of one who is devoted to Christ are liable to be found fault with, by an envious and graceless mind.-Edit.

5. For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.

The objection to the act seemed plausible, yet it was not the real one, but a pretence. Alas! how often do we endeavour to impose on ourselves and on others by feigned words!-Edit.

5. And they murmured against her.