14 But when ye shall see the abom- ination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Juda?a flee to the mountains :
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing 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 in those days !
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 For in those days shall be afflic- tion, such as was not from the begin- ning of the creation which God crea- ted 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 short- ened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ ; or, lo, Tie is there ; believe Mm not :
22 For false Christs and false pro- phets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ve heed : behold, I have foretold you all things.
We are taught in these verses the lawfulness of using means to provide for our own 'personal safety. The lan- guage of our Lord Jesus Christ on the subject is clear and unmistakeable : " Let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains — let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house — let him that is in the field not turn back again — pray ye that your flight be not in the winter." Not a word is said to make us suppose that flight from danger, in certain circumstances, is unworthy of a Christian. As to the time prophesied of in the passage before us, men may differ widely. But as to the lawfulness of taking measures to avoid peril, the teaching of the passage is plain.
of a minister, and only holds out the promise of special help in special times of need.
It would be well for the Church if this was more remembered than it is. At present it may be feared this promise is not unfrequently made an excuse for ministerial idleness, and undigested sermons. Men seem to forget, when they enter the pulpit, that what costs no- thing is worth nothing, and that the "foolishness of preaching" and foolish preaching, are widely different things.