liever afiraid. Readiness for the return of Christ to this world implies nothing which is impossible and unattainable. It requires no angelical perfection. It requires no man to forsake his family, and retire into solitude. It requires nothing more than the life of repentance, faith, and holiness. The man who is living the life of faith in the Son of God is the man whose " loins are girded/' and whose " light is burning." Such a man may have .the care of kingdoms on him, like Daniel, — or be a servant in a I^ero's household, like some in Paul's time. All this matters nothing. If he lives looking unto Jesus, he is a aervant who can " open to Him immediately." Surely it is not too much to ask Christians to be men of this kind. Surely it was not for nothing that our Lord said, " The Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not."
Are we ourselves living as if we were ready for the second coming of Christ P Well would it be if this question were put to our consciences more frequently. It might keep us back from many a false step in our daily life. It might prevent many a backsliding. The true Christian should not only believe in Christ, and love Christ. He should also look and long for Christ's appear^ ing. If he cannot say -from his heart, "Come, Lord Jesus/' there must be something wrong about his soul.
Notes. Lvxe Xn. 32—40.
32. — [LitUe flock.] The Greek word which we render " flock," is a diminutiYe, meaniDg literally " little flock." The addition of the adjective which we translate "little," increases the tenderness of the whole expression.
[It i$ your Fathet's good pleasure.] This would be rendered literally, " Your Father is well pleased." It is the same ex- pression which is used in the well known places, Matt iii. 17 ; xTii &. Mark i. 11. Luke iii. 22. Let it be noted that our Lord