The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 89

follow them. Ago.in addressed to the dis- as in the dflys when the dnrk cloud wo.s ciples in the first insto.nce, but with a far gathering over the doomed cities of the more extendC'd referenci,. In the early do.ys ple.jn 11.nd Abraham wo.s praying, will be of Christianity such false reports were ex- entirely given up to their pursuits, their ceedingly frequent; false Messiahs, too, pleasures, and their sins. They will 11.rgue from time to time sprang up; unhealthy that the sun rose yestorcb.y 11.nd on m11ny visions of an immedio.to return disturbed yesterdays; of course it will rise to-morrow. the pe11-ce and broke into the quiet, steady Perfect security will have taken possession work of the Church. Nor hav., these dis- of the whole race, just as, on a smaller see.lo, turbing visions been unknown in lo.ter ages was the case in the days of Noah nnd of of Cbristinnity. Denn Alford has a curious Lot, when the floods came and the fire, o.nd comment here. He sees in the words of did their stern, pitiless work; so will that this verse a warning to all so-<:ialled exposi- day of the second coming of Messiah, with tors and followers of expositors of prophecy its bloody and fiery dawn, assuredly come who cry, "See here l or, See there 1" every on man when he is utterly unprepared. time that "\>e.r breaks out or revolutions Ver. 30.-Even thus shall it be in the do.y occur. when the Son of man is revealed. " Is re- Ver. 24.-P'or o.s the lightning, that light- vealed," that is to say, he has been present eneth out of the one part under heaven, all along, through those long o.ges of wait- shineth unto the other pa.rt under heaven; ing; only an impenetrable veil has hid him so shall al.so the Son of man be in his day, from mortal eyes. In that day will the veil .. Yes," went on the Master," let not delusive be lifted, "e.ud they shall look upon me expectations interrupt you or tum you aside whom they have pierced" (Zeeb. xii. 10). out of the narrow way of patient faith, for Vera. 31, 32.-In that day, he whioh shall my coming will, like the lightning, be be upon the house-top, and his stuff in the sudden, and will gleam forth on every side. house, let him not oome down to take it away: There will be no possibility of mistake then." and he that is in the :field, let him likowise Ver. 25.-But :first must he su.1fer many not return baok. Remember Lot's wife, The things, and be rejected of this generation. Lord, with this striking imagery, describes, But, and here again be repeats "as a not the attitude which men who would be solemn refrain to all his teaching," the saved must assume when he appears with warning to his own of the fearful end fast power and great glory-there will be no time coming on him. If he is to come again then to shape any new way of life-but it with glory, he must fir~-t go away with pictures the attitude they must always main- shame, persecuted, forsaken, by the genera- tain, if they would be his servants, towards tion then living. The suffering Messiah the things of this world. His servants must must precede the g"lorified Messiah. After be ready to abandon all earthly blessings at this rejection and suffering wonld begin a moment's notice; none bnt those who have the period e.lluded to above (ver. 22) as been sitting loosely to these will be able, the time when men should long to have when the sudden cry comes, at once to toss him only for one day in their midst. During away all, and so to meet the long-tarrying this period Messiah should continue invisi- Bridegroom. The reminder of Lot's wife- ble to mortal eye. How long this state was e. very familiar story to Jews-warned all to continue, one century or-- (eighteen would-be disciples of the do.nger of the have already passed), Jesus himself, in his double service, God e.nd the world, and how humiliation, knew not; but he annonnced likely the one who attempted it would be to (vers. 26-30) that a gloomy state of things perish miserably. on earth would b~ brought to a close by his Ver. 33.-Whosoever shall seek to save reappearance. Ah I "wlien the Son of man his life shall lose it ; and whosoever shall cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" lose his life she.ll preserve it. Very deep Vera. 2G-28.-As it was in the days of must have be('n the impression which this Noe (Noah) ... e.s it was in the day& of Lot. saying made upon tbci early Church. So The prominent sin of the antediluvian, he literally did many interpret it, that the reminds them, was senmality in its varied wiser and more thoughtful mon in the con- forms. The torch of religious feeling will gregations during the days of persecution have waned in that unknown and possibly bad often to prevent persons of both sexes diJrtant future when Messiah shall reap- recklessly throwing away thei.l' lives iu the pear, and will be burning with a pale, faiut conflict with the Roman authorities. Very light. The bnlk of man.kind will be given many in the first three centuries positively np to a sensuality which the Ligher courted martyrdom. culture then generally reached will have Vere. 31, 35.-I tell you, in that night thore been utterly powerless to check or even to shall be two men in one bed ; the one sho.ll modify. Men, just 8.8 in the days when.the be taken, and the other shall be left. Two ark waa building and Nonh Wlill preachmg, women &hall be grinding together j the ono 01t. xvn. 1-87.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 91