Beyond the death-bed and beyond the grave, she sees resurrection. Beyond the broken hearts and severed bands of time, she realizes and clasps the eternal love-links ; beyond the troubles of the hour, and be- yond the storm that is to wreck the world, she casts her eye, and feels as if transported into the kingdom that cannot be moved, as if already she had taken up her abode in the New Salem, the city of peace and righteousness. Beyond the region of the falling leaf she passes on to the green pastures, and sits down under the branches
10 THE ANTICIPATIONS.
of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Losing sight of the bitterness of absence from the beloved of her heart, she enters the bridal-chamber and tastes the bridal joy ; keeping festival even in the desert, and enjoying the sab- bath rest amid the tumults of a stormy world.
CHAPTER H.
THE NIGHT-WATCH.
We are not of the world, though we are in the world. So " we are not of the night/' though we are in the night. We are " children of the day;" we belong to the day, and the day belongs to us, as our true heritage, though it has not yet dawned. Hope rests there; and though deferred, will not always tarry, nor when it comes will it shame our trust. " When the desire com- eth it shall be a tree of life."
Night is around us still ; but it is not merely one of weeping, it is also one of watching. No sorrow is to make us less watchful ; nay, much more. So far from tribulation throwing us off our guard, it
12 THE NIGHT-WATCH.
should lead to added vigilance. It pre- vents our falling asleep, as we should cer- tainly do were all peaceful and prosperous. It makes the night more cold and bitter to us, thereby rendering us more weary of it, and more eager for the day. Were the night air mild, and the night sky clear, we should grow contented with it, and cease to watch for day -break.
This is our night-watch. To this the Master has appointed us during his absence. " Watch ye therefore ; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crow- ing, or in the morning : lest coming sud- denly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark xiii. 35 — 37.) It is the prospect of morning and of the Master's return that keeps us watching, — especially in these last days, when watch after watch has come and gone, and he has not yet arrived. " His going forth is prepared as the morn-
THE NIGHT-WATCH. 1$
ing" (Hos. vi. 3) ; and that morning can* not now be distant.
The church must fulfil ner night-watch. Whether long or short, perilous or easVj she must fulfil it. It is watching to which she is specially called ; and sadly will she belie her profession, as well as disobey her Lord, if she watches not. She need not think to substitute other duties for this, as more needful, more important, or more in character. She dare not say, " I love, I believe, I pray, I praise, why should I also watch ? will not these do instead of watch- ing, oris not watching included in these ?" Her Lord has bidden her watch, and no other duty, no other grace, can be a substi- tute or an excuse for this.
She is to believe ; but that is not all ; she is also to watch. She is to rejoice ; but that is not all ; she is also to watch. She is to love ; but that is not all ; she is also to watch. She is to wait ; but that is not all ; she is also to tvatch. She is to long ;
14 THE NIGHT-WATCH.
but that is not all ; she is also to watch. This is to be her special attitude, and no- thing can compensate for it. By this she is to be known in all ages, as the watching one. By this the world is to be made to feel the difference between itself and her. By this she is specially to show how truly she feels herself to be a stranger here.
Men ask her, Why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? Her reply is, " I am watch- ing." Men taunt her, and say, Why this unrestfulness ? Her reply is, " I am watch- ing." Men think it strange that she runs not with them to the same excess of riot. (1 Peter iv. 4.) She tells them, " I am watching." They ask her to come forth and join their gaiety, to come forth and sing their songs, to come forth and taste their pleasures, that thus they may teach her to forget her sorrows. She refuses, saying, " I dare not, I am watching." The scoffer mocks her, and says, Where is the promise of his coming ? She heeds not,
THE NIGHT-WATCH. 15
but continues watching, and clasps her hope more firmly.