ADVENT.

"The patient waiting for Christ."-2. Thess. iii., v.

WHAT a very different way we have of thinking about the Second Coming of Christ from what the first Christians had! Practically, we say "My Lord delayeth His Coming" "Where is the promise of His Coming; for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the foundation of the world."

The blessed Apostle could not say of any congregation now, much less of any church, "I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by him; in all utterance and in all knowledge, so that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The truth is we have forgotten that the Office of the Church of Christ on earth is to prepare men for the Second Coming of Christ. The great Spiritual truth of Her betrothal is that on which rests Her mission to prepare Herself for perfect union with Her Lord.