time for parting words, or a change of mind, wlien the Lord appears. All shall be taken as they are, and reap according as they have sown. Believers shall be caught up to glory, honor, and eternal life. Unbelievers shall be left behind to shame and everlasting contempt. Blessed and happy are they who are of one heart in following Christ ! Their union alone shall never be broken. It shall last for evermore. Who can describe the happiness of those who are taken, when the Lord returns ? Who can imagine the misery of those who are left behind ? . May we think on these things and consider our ways.
The last thing that demands our attention in these verses, is the practical duty of tvatchftdness in the pros- pect of Christ's second coming. " W^atch,"' says our Lord, " for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.'' Be ye ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."
This is a point which our blessed Master frequently presses upon our notice. We hardly ever find Him dwelling on the second advent without adding an in- junction to " watch." He knows the sleepiness of our nature. He knows how soon we forget the most solemn subjects in religion. He knows how unceasingly Satan labors to obscure the glorious doctrine of His coming again. He arms us with heartsearching exhortations to keep awake, if we would not be ruined for evermore. May we all have an ear to hear them.
True Christians ought to live like vv^atchmen. The day af the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. They should strive to be always on their guard. They should behave like the sentinel of an army in an enemy's land.