HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-5.-0'erlainty of the time of the second ndvent. There is a natural ouriosity to know "the times and the seasons" connected with an event so transcendently important to the human race. "But of the timos and the seasons ye have no need that I write unto you." I. Goo BAS TIMES AND SEASONS IN HIS OWN POWER, It is solemnly true that II to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun" (Eccles. iii. 1). God has "det,·ru,ined the times before appointed" (Acts x:vii. 26). His Son came "in the fulness of time" (Gal. iv. 4). There is ofteu a curious periodicity in the great time- intervals marked in sacred history. II. Goo HAS HID FROM KAN THE PRECISE DA'!'E OF THE BEOOND 00111:RG, " Of that day awl that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Fat.her" (Mark xiii. 32); "It is not for you to know the times !Lnd the seasons the Father bath put in his own power" ( Acts i. 7). Ill. THE DAY OF THE LoRD WILL BE PEBn;CTLY UNEXPECTED. 11 The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 1. It is the day of the Lord, as it is II the day of t/,e ,-;on of mat1." "The day of God;" " the day of redemption," involving that or the body BB well u the soul; "the last day," the day which winds up the destinies of the universe. 2. It will be sudden and unexpected. It will be " as a thief in the night," who comes without previous warning at. such an hour as we are not looking for him. This is true, even though there may be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and distress of nations, and men's heart.a failing them for fear (Luke xxi.). These will be the first signs to break up the calm, but the wicked will not see them in their true light. There is nothing in the simile of the thief to justify the opinion that Jesus will com4 in the ni~ht. IV. THE SECURITY OF THE WICKED. 11 For when they shall say, Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a wornan with child; ancl they shall not escape." 1. Their condition is one of" peace," inner quiet, and "safety," external tranquillity. 2. Their fate. "They shall not escape." It will be with then as with the men in the days of Noah and Lot (Matt. x:x:iv. 36---39). The catastrophe will be as inel'itable and as full of fear as in the case of a II woman in travail." V. THE PREPAREDNEBB OF THE RIGHTEOUS. This lies in their character. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1. 'I'Aey were "not in darkness." They were II sons of light, sons of the day." Darkness is the characteristic of the wicked. (1) There is darkness in their understandin 6. ( 2) There is darkness in their hearts. "Their foolish hearts are darkened." (3) They walk in darkness, and therefore stumble and go ai;tray. (4) They live in darkness (Ps. cm. 10), they belong to "the kingdom of darkness" (Col. i. 13); they are under "the world-rulers of this darkness" (Eph. vi. 12). (5) But the darkness does not hide them from God's vengeance. 2. Believer, are "sons of light." 11 Sons uf the day." (1) They walk in the light (1 John i. 7); for "he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John viii. 12), (~) Tl,ey are iu fellow~hip with God, for they cannot have it and walk in dark1ws, (1 Jotiu i. 6, 7). (3) They II have cast off the works of darkness, and put on the uu. v. 1-20.] 'l'HE FIRST EPIS'fLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. lOfl
armour of light" (Born. xiii. 12). (4) They are in fellowship with all believers; for "be that walkcth in darkness hateth his brother" (1 John ii. 9).-T. C.