affords time for the weeping and rejoicing which is here de- scribed. Nor is it quite clear that the day during which our Lord lay in the grave was a day of rejoicing to His enemies, if we may judge their anxiety to prevent, if possible. His resur- rection from the dead.
21. — [A woman, etc.] This verse is an illustration of the whole state of the Church between the first and second advents of Christ. It was to be a time of pain, anxiety, and desire for de- liverance, from which the only cessation would be at the per- sonal return of Christ.
We are distinctly told in Rom. viii. 22, that " the whole crea- tion groaneth and travaileth in pain until now." It is the nor- mal state of things while Christ is absent. The second coming of the second Adam can alone restore joy to the world. The Church in Rev. vii. 2, is compared to a woman " travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." The wars and disturbances of the world are called in Matt, xxiv, 8, the beginning of " sor rows ; " and the word " sorrows " there means literally " the pains of a travailing woman."
The whole idea of the verse seems to be that the interval be- tween Christ's first and second advent will be, to the Church, a period of pain, sorrow, and anxiety, like the state of a woman expecting her delivery, — that the end of this period will be the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ the second time, — and that when our Lord does come the second time, the joy of the true Church will be so great, that the former sorrow and tribulation will be comparatively forgotten. The joy of seeing Christ will swallow up the afflictions of His absence. (Compare Rom. viii. 18—22 ; 2 Cor. iv. 17.)
22. — [And ye now therefore, etc.] I apply to this verse the same principle of interpretation that I have applied to the preceding ones, I think our Lord is speaking of the sorrow and pain which believers would feel during the interval between His first and second advent, " You are now entering on a period of pain, sorrow, and tribulation. But fear not. It shall not be for ever, I will return and see you again. In that day your heart shall be filled and satisfied with joy, a joy which no one can ever take from you, a joy which shall be for ever."
I cannot bring myself to believe that this " see you again " can possibly refer to the short period of forty days between the resurrection and the ascension ! Above all, I feel strongly that the words, " Your joy no man taketh from you," could cer- tainly not be applied to the times of trouble, and tribulation, and persecution even unto death, which the primitive Church passed through in the beginning of its existence. The sensible joy of the primitive Church, beyond doubt, was often taken away, as when Stephen was martyred, James slain with the Bword, and Peter put in prison. The second coming of Christ is the only time of uni^^ersal and unbroken joy to which be-