EXPOSITION OF PART OF THE 24TH AND 25TH CHAPTERS OF ST MATTHEW: TOGETHER WITH THE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN, THAT IS, THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. BY I. W. LILLINGSTON, Esq. LOCHALSH, NORTH BRITAIN. "And, while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." ACTS, 1st Chapter, 10, 11. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, "Teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our 3aviour Jesus Christ; "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." TITUS, 2d Chapter, 11-15. EDINBURGH: JOHN LINDSAY & CO., ST ANDREW STREET; JAMES NISBET, LONDON; DAVID BRYCE, GLASGOW ; AND R. M. TIMS, DUBLIN. MDCCCXXXVIII. 415. ΤΟ ALL THEM THAT LOVE CHRIST'S APPEARING, IS THIS TRACT AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, CONCERNING WHOM ST PAUL says, in the 2D EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY, 4TH CHAPTER AND 8TH VERSE, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” EXPOSITION. ST MATTHEW, 24TH CHAPTer. LET us observe, that in the 3d verse of this 24th chapter of St Matthew, the disciples asked our Lord two questions. The first 1 And Jesus went out, was, "When shall these things be?" viz. the temple: and his disciples destruction of the temple, &c. The second "What shall be the sign of thy question was, coming, and of the end of the world?" and departed from the caine to him, for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There Our Lord proceeds to answer these questions in succession; but first he gives a warning, shall not be left here which is clearly addressed, not merely to those one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown then present, but to his church, through the down. 3 And as he sat upon various succeeding ages, to the time of his the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto coming again. (Note A.) him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these This warning is contained in the 4th, and ten things be? and what following verses, viz. to the end of the 14th; shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end and he concludes it by saying, "And this gos of the world? 4 And Jesus answered pel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the and said unto them, world, for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come." (Note B.) Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, say. ing, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. We shall see afterwards, from the 30th verse, that though the gospel is preached for a 6 And ye shall hear of witness to all nations, not one tribe of the earth wars and rumours of |