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appearing." Here then is the character of the recipients, those that are heirs of this reversionthey love the appearing of Christ. They love his manifestation in the gospel, as dying for sinners, as accomplishing the redemption of sinners by the sacrifice of himself, as taking away sin by his one offering; satisfying justice, and atoning the offended dignity of Jehovah, by making a perfect and full propitiation for guilty men; they love his appearing. And now, do you love to hear of Christ? Do you love to behold him, as in a glass-to contemplate his many excellencies; his divine glories; his condescension; his humiliation; his suffering unto death; the sorrows of his soul; the sufficiency of his atonement; the finishing of his work; the perfection of his righteousness; the acceptance of his offering; his rising again from the dead; his appearing in glory? Do you love him? Is this that which you prefer above every other knowledge? Is it, in fact, that you cannot enjoy peace in your mind, but as you can realize the appearing of Christ? Is his suffering unto death the ground of your confidence that you will share eternal glory? Are you willing, in order that you may find him, that you may behold him, that you may love him in his appearing in the gospel, to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus your Lord? My friends, deal faithfully with yourselves; are you

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willing to make every and any sacrifice rather than give up Christ? Do you count him the chief amongst ten thousand, and the altogether lovely? Oh, what think you of Christ?

Before you settle the matter, that this crown is not for you, that this inheritance cannot be yours, you know that Christ is altogether excellent, altogether worthy, altogether sufficient; you know that he, in his worthiness, and in his sufficiency, is offered to you without money and without price. Have you embraced him? Have you said to your soul that he is the true God and Saviour-that he is mighty to save? Have you laid your help upon him as able and willing? Do you seek to be justified in his righteousness, and pardoned through the shedding of his blood? Then you love his appearing; then you are amongst those for whom this crown is prepared.

But those who love his appearing are those who long to see him manifested, made known unto others, as well as to themselves; to have Jesus made to be known, to appear in his true and mediatorial character, to have his own relationship in the world. He is King, they wish to see him reign; he is Lord, they wish to see his will accomplished; he is Saviour, they wish to see sinners saved by grace-they love his appearing. Oh, it is a happiness to live and love him, and relish a discourse that sets forth Christ! They are willing to endure any sacrifice,

that they may promote the manifestation of Christ after this manner.

When they think of such and such a one, ready to go as an ambassador unto the heathen, as a herald of peace to far distant lands, to proclaim the glad tidings of great joy, and to make the Saviour known; they not only bid him God-speed, expressing sympathy at his departure-they uphold him with their prayers, and they contribute to him of their substance, that he may make the appearing of Christ known among the heathen, that he may advance the kingdom of Christ among poor idolaters. And when tidings come from far distant lands, that the heathen have cast their idols to the moles and to the bats; that they have yielded themselves as living sacrifices unto God; that, renouncing all reliance on boasted reason and human merits, they have humbly sought admission into the Christian fellowship; that they have begun to proclaim Jesus amongst those who are ready to perish round about them; these tidings are as cold water to the thirsty soul; they rejoice they love his appearing.

But there is an appearing of Christ yet more glorious-when he shall come to be admired in all them that believe; when he shall come to be glorified in all his saints; when he shall come to gather out of all nations his elect, and to take them to dwell with him, and to manifest himself amongst

them. Then will be the glorious appearing of Jesus; when, without sin in his people, or a sin-offering in himself, he will come unto salvation, to the glorious manifestation of his saving power, his redeeming love, his triumphant grace. Love his appearing:

when he will come to take us away from sin; when he will come to put an end to all the unfruitful works of darkness; when he will come to finish the great object of his life and his works, and to present, not in tragic scene, not in mock representation, the eternal world; but to unfold things not seen as yet, manifest divinity in himself, unveil divine counsels and grace and power in his people, and to be glorified in all them that fear him.

Do you love his appearing? and for this purpose are you willing to endure all the separations that this life can realize? With the Apostle, are you ready to say, "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, which is far better"? Is there friend or brother, husband or wife, parent or child, houses or lands, that come between you and Christ? Do you cling to them? With whom would you wish to abide? Would you rather go to Christ than possess all earthly riches? Would it be joyful and welcome news to you, were you told, To-night you go to Christ, to-night you put off the body, tonight you enter into glory, to-night you behold his appearing? Oh! if such be the character of your

minds, if in truth you love his appearing, then the crown of righteousness that we have spoken of is an inheritance prepared for you.

What friends of Jesus will refuse such a crown? It is offered to you; will you push it away and refuse to wear it? It has been again and again offered to you: not man's hand hath lifted and held it forth; not angel's or cherubim's form hath appeared to present it to you; but God in Christ hath appeared reconciling the world unto himself, and he hath employed us, as his messengers, in his stead, to pray you to be reconciled unto God by the death of his Son; to behold Christ as your Saviour, waiting to be gracious to you. Now, this day, this moment, we are authorized to say, This is the time of love, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Oh, may God prepare us all, by a reception of Christ, for that Crown of Righteousness which fadeth not!

Printed for John Snow, 35, Paternoster Row.

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