probable that they apply to a second siege of Jerusalem, which is yet to take jjlace, when Israel has returned to their own land — and to a second tribulation on the inha- bitants thereof, which shall only be stopped by the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such a view of this passage may sound startling to some.'*' But those who doubt its correctness would do well to study the last chapter of the prophet Zechariah, and the last chapter of Daniel. These two chapters contain solemn things. They throw great light on the verses we are now reading, and their connection with the verses which immediately follow.
It now remains for us to consider the lessons which this passage contains for our own personal edification. These lessons are plain and unmistakeable. In them at least there is no darkness at all.
For one thing, we see that flight from danger may so7netimes he the positive duty of a Christian. Our Lord Himself commanded his people under certain circum- stances " to flee."
The servant of Christ undoubtedly is not to be a coward. He is to confess his master before men. He is to be willing to die, if needful, for the truth. But the servant of Christ is not required to run into danger, unless it comes in the line of duty. He is not to be ashamed to
* I think it well to say, that Irenaeus, and Hilary among the fathers, and Ferus in the sixteenth century, all refer the fulfilment of this part of our Lord's prophecy to the end of the world, when . a personal Antichrist shall appear. Hilary considers that the verse ■wliich speaks of " the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place," will be fulfilled by the rise of a mighty personal Antichrist, who shall be worshipped by infidels. In connection with this verse, 2 Thess. ii. 4, deserves attentive study.
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use reasonable means to jirovide for his personal safety, when no good is to be done by dying at his post. There is deep wisdom in this lesson. The true martyrs are not always those who court death, and are in a hurry to be beheaded or burned. There are times when it shows more grace to be quiet, and wait, and pray, and watch for opportunities, than to defy our adversaries, and rush into the battle. May we have wisdom to know how to act in time of persecution ! It is possible to be rash, as well as to be a coward — and to stop our own usefulness by being over hot, as well as by being over cold.
We see, for another thing, that in delivering this pro- pliecy, our Lord makes special mention of the Sabbath. " Pray ye,'' he says, " that your flight be not on the Sabbath day."
This is a fact that deserves special notice. We live in times when the obligation of the Sabbath upon Christians is frequently denied by good men. They tell us that it is no more binding on us than the ceremonial law. It is difficult to see how such a view can be reconciled with our Lord's words on this solemn occasion. He seems intentionally to mention the Sabbath, when He is fore- telling the final destruction of the temple and the Mosaic ceremonies, as if to mark the day with honor. He seems to hint that, although His people would be ab- solved from the yoke of sacrifices and ordinances, there would yet remain the keeping of a sabbath for them. (Heb. iv. 9.) The friends of a holy Sunday ought carefully to remember this text. It is one which will bear much weight.