Sermon 1817. The Ascension and the Second Advent Practically Considered

(No. 1817)

Delivered on Lord's Day Morning, December 28th, 1884, by

C. H. SPURGEON,

At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which alsosaid, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shallso come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."— Acts 1:10, 11.

FOUR GREAT EVENTS shine out brightly in our Savior's story. All Christian minds delight to dwell upon his birth, his death,his resurrection, and his ascension. These make four rounds in that ladder of light, the foot of which is upon the earth,but the top whereof reacheth to heaven. We could not afford to dispense with any one of those four events, nor would it beprofitable for us to forget, or to under-estimate the value of any one of them. That the Son of God was born of a woman createsin us the intense delight of a brotherhood springing out of a common humanity. That Jesus once suffered unto the death forour sins, and thereby made a full atonement for us, is the rest and life of our spirits. The manger and the cross togetherare divine seals of love. That the Lord Jesus rose again from the dead is the warrant of our justification, and also a transcendentlydelightful assurance of the resurrection of all his people, and of their eternal life in him. Hath he not said, "Because Ilive ye shall live also"? The resurrection of Christ is the morning star of our future glory. Equally delightful is the remembranceof his ascension. No song is sweeter than this—"Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast receivedgifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

Each one of those four events points to another, and they all lead up to it: the fifth link in the golden chain is our Lord'ssecond and most glorious advent. Nothing is mentioned between his ascent and his descent. True, a rich history comes between;but it lies in a valley between two stupendous mountains: we step from alp to alp as we journey in meditation from the ascensionto the second advent. I say that each of the previous four events points to it. Had he not come a first time in humiliation,born under the law, he could not have come a second time in amazing glory "without a sin-offering unto salvation." Becausehe died once we rejoice that he dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him, and therefore he cometh to destroy thatlast enemy whom he hath already conquered. It is our joy, as we think of our Redeemer as risen, to feel that in consequenceof his rising the trump of the archangel shall assuredly sound for the awaking of all his slumbering people, when the Lordhimself shall descend from heaven with a shout. As for his ascension, he could not a second time descend if he had not firstascended; but having perfumed heaven with his presence, and prepared a place for his people, we may fitly expect that he willcome again and receive us unto himself, that where he is there we may be also. I want you, therefore, as in contemplationyou pass with joyful footsteps over these four grand events, as your faith leaps from his birth to his death, and from hisresurrection to his ascension, to be looking forward, and even hastening unto this crowning fact of our Lord's history; forere long he shall so come in like manner as he was seen go up into heaven.

This morning, in our meditation, we will start from the ascension; and if I had sufficient imagination I should like to pictureour Lord and the eleven walking up the side of Olivet, communing as they went,—a happy company, with a solemn awe upon them,but with an intense joy in having fellowship with each other. Each disciple was glad to think that his dear Lord and Masterwho had been crucified was now among them, not only alive but surrounded with a mysterious safety and glory which none coulddisturb. The enemy was as still as a stone: not a dog moved his tongue: his bitterest foes made no sign during the days ofour Lord's after-life below. The company moved onward peacefully towards Bethany—Bethany which they all knew and loved. TheSavior seemed drawn there at the time of his ascension, even as men's minds return to old and well-loved scenes when theyare about to depart out of this world. His happiest moments on earth had been spent beneath the roof where lived Mary andMartha and their brother Lazarus. Perhaps it was best for the disciples that he should leave them at that place where he hadbeen most hospitably entertained, to show that he departed in peace and not in anger. There they had seen Lazarus raised fromthe dead by him who was now to be taken up from them: the memory of the triumphant past would help the tried faith of thepresent. There they had heard the voice saying, "Loose him, and let him go," and there they might fitly see their Lord loosedfrom all bonds of earthly gravitation that he might go to his Father and their Father. The memories of the place might helpto calm their minds and arouse their spirits to that fullness of joy which ought to attend the glorifying of their Lord.

But they have come to a standstill, having reached the brow of the hill. The Savior stands conspicuously in the center ofthe group, and, following upon most instructive discourse, he pronounces a blessing upon them. He lifts his pierced hands,and while he is lifting them and is pronouncing words of love, he begins to rise from the earth. He has risen above them allto their astonishment! In a moment he has passed beyond the olives, which seem with their silvery sheen to be lit up by hismilder radiance. While the disciples are looking, the Lord has ascended into mid-air, and speedily he has risen to the regionsof the clouds. They stand spell-bound with astonishment, and suddenly a bright cloud, like a chariot of God, bears him away.That cloud conceals him from mortal gaze. Though we have known Christ after the flesh, now after the flesh know we him nomore. They are riveted to the spot, very naturally so: they linger long in the place, they stand with streaming eyes, wonder-struck,still looking upward.

It is not the Lord's will that they should long remain inactive; their reverie is interrupted. They might have stood theretill wonder saddened into fear. As it was, they remained long enough; for the angel's words may be accurately rendered, "Whyhave ye stood, gazing up into heaven?"

Their lengthened gaze needed to be interrupted, and, therefore, two shining ones, such as aforetime met the women at the sepulcher,are sent to them. These messengers of God appear in human form that they may not alarm them, and in white raiment as if toremind them that all was bright and joyous; and these white-robed ministers stood with them as if they would willingly jointheir company. As no one of the eleven would break silence, the men in white raiment commenced the discourse. Addressing themin the usual celestial style, they asked a question which contained its own answer, and then went on to tell their message.As they had once said to the women, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen;" so did they nowsay, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shallso come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." The angels showed their knowledge of them by calling them "menof Galilee," and reminded them that they were yet upon earth by recalling their place of birth. Brought back to their senses,their reverie over, the apostles at once gird up their loins for active service; they do not need twice telling, but hastento Jerusalem. The vision of angels has singularly enough brought them back into the world of actual life again, and they obeythe command, "Tarry ye at Jerusalem." They seem to say,—the taking up of our Master is not a thing to weep about: he has goneto his throne and to his glory, and he said it was expedient for us that he should go away. He will now send us the promiseof the Father; we scarcely know what it will be like, but let us, in obedience to his will, make the best of our way to theplace where he bade us await the gift of power. Do you not see them going down the side of Olivet, taking that Sabbath-day'sjourney into the cruel and wicked city without a thought of fear; having no dread of the bloodthirsty crew who slew theirLord, but happy in the memory of their Lord's exaltation and in the expectation of a wonderful display of his power. Theyheld fellowship of the most delightful kind with one another, and anon entered into the upper room, where in protracted prayerand communion they waited for the promise of the Father. You see I have no imagination: I have barely mentioned the incidentsin the simplest language. Yet try and realize the scene, for it will be helpful so to do, since our Lord Jesus is to comein like manner as the disciples saw him go up into heaven.

My first business this morning will be to consider the gentle chiding administered by the shining ones:—"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up unto heaven?" Secondly, the cheering description of our Lord which the white-robed messengers used,—"This same Jesus"; and then, thirdly, the practical truth which they taught—"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seenhim go into heaven."

I. First, then, here is A GENTLE CHIDING. It is not sharply uttered by men dressed in black who use harsh speech, and upbraidthe servants of God severely for what was rather a mistake than a fault. No; the language is strengthening, yet tender: thefashion of a question allows them rather to reprove themselves than to be reproved; and the tone is that of brotherly love,and affectionate concern.

Notice, that what these saintly men were doing seems at first sight to be very right. Methinks, if Jesus were among us now we would fix our eyes upon him, and never withdraw them. He is altogether lovely, andit would seem wicked to yield our eyesight to any inferior object so long as he was to be seen. When he ascended up into heavenit was the duty of his friends to look upon him. It can never be wrong to look up; we are often bidden to do so, and it iseven a holy saying of the Psalmist, "I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up"; and, again, "I will lift up mineeyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." If it be right to look up into heaven, it must be still more right to lookup while Jesus rises to the place of his glory. Surely it had been wrong if they had looked anywhere else,—it was due to theLamb of God that they should behold him as long as eyes could follow him. He is the Sun: where should eyes be turned but tohis light? He is the King; and where should courtiers within the palace gate turn their eyes but to their King as he ascendsto his throne? The truth is, there was nothing wrong in their looking up into heaven; but they went a little further thanlooking; they stood "gazing." A little excess in right may be faulty. It may be wise to look, but foolish to gaze. There isa very thin partition sometimes between that which is commendable and that which is censurable. There is a golden mean whichit is not easy to keep. The exact path of right is often as narrow as a razor's edge, and he must be wise that doth not erreither on the right hand or on the left. "Look" is ever the right word. Why, it is "Look unto me, and be saved." Look, aye,look steadfastly and intently: be your posture that of one "looking unto Jesus," always throughout life. But there is a gazingwhich is not commendable, when the look becomes not that of reverent worship, but of an overweening curiosity; when theremingles with the desire to know what should be known, a prying into that which it is for God's glory to conceal. Brethren,it is of little use to look up into an empty heaven. If Christ himself be not visible in heaven, then in vain do we gaze,since there is nothing for a saintly eye to see. When the person of Jesus was gone out of the azure vault above them, andthe cloud had effectually concealed him, why should they continue to gaze when God himself had drawn the curtain? If infinitewisdom had withdrawn the object upon which they desired to gaze, what would their gazing be but a sort of reflection uponthe wisdom which had removed their Lord? Yet it did seem very right. Thus certain things that you and I may do may appearright, and yet we may need to be chidden out of them into something better: they may be right in themselves, but not appropriatefor the occasion, not seasonable, nor expedient. They may be right up to a point, and then may touch the boundary of excess.A steadfast gaze into heaven may be to a devout soul a high order of worship, but if this filled up much of our working timeit might become the idlest form of folly.

Yet I cannot help adding that it was very natural. I do not wonder that the whole eleven stood gazing up, for if I had been there I am sure I should have done the same. Howstruck they must have been with the ascent of the Master out of their midst! You would be amazed if some one from among ourown number now began to ascend into heaven! Would you not? Our Lord did not gradually melt away from sight as a phantom, ordissolve into thin air as a mere apparition: the Savior did not disappear in that way at all, but he rose, and they saw thatit was his very self that was so rising. His own body, the materialism in which he had veiled himself, actually, distinctly,and literally, rose to heaven before their eyes. I repeat, the Lord did not dissolve, and disappear like a vision of the night,but he evidently rose till the cloud intervened so that they could see him no more. I think I should have stood looking tothe very place where his cloudy chariot had been. I know it would be idle to continue so to do, but our hearts often urgeus on to acts which we could not justify logically. Hearts are not to be argued with. Sometimes you stand by a grave whereone is buried whom you dearly loved: you go there often to weep. You cannot help it, the place is precious to you; yet youcould not prove that you do any good by your visits, perhaps you even injure yourself thereby, and deserve to be gently chiddenwith the question, "why?" It may be the most natural thing in the world, and yet it may not be a wise thing. The Lord allowsus to do that which is innocently natural, but he will not have us carry it too far; for then it might foster an evil nature.Hence he sends an interrupting messenger: not an angel with a sword, or even a rod; but he sends some man in white raiment,—Imean one who is both cheerful and holy, and he, by his conduct or his words, suggests to us the question, "Why stand ye heregazing?" Cui bono? What will be the benefit? What will it avail? Thus our understanding being called into action, and we being men of thought,we answer to ourselves, "This will not do. We must not stand gazing here for ever," and therefore we arouse ourselves to getback to the Jerusalem of practical life, where in the power of God we hope to do service for our Master.

Notice, then, that the disciples were doing that which seemed to be right and what was evidently very natural, but that itis very easy to carry the apparently right and the absolutely natural too far. Let us take heed to ourselves, and often askour hearts, "Why?"

For, thirdly, notice that what they did was not after all justifiable upon strict reason. While Christ was going up it was proper that they should adoringly look at him. He might almost have said, "If ye see mewhen I am taken up a double portion of my spirit shall rest upon you." They did well to look where he led the way. But whenhe was gone, still to remain gazing was an act which they could not exactly explain to themselves, and could not justify toothers. Put the question thus:—"What purpose will be fulfilled by your continuing to gaze into the sky? He is gone, it isabsolutely certain that he is gone. He is taken up, and God himself has manifestly concealed all trace of him by bidding yondercloud sail in between him and you. Why gaze ye still? He told you 'I go unto my Father.' Why stand and gaze?" We may underthe influence of great love, act unwisely. I remember well seeing the action of a woman whose only son was emigrating to adistant colony. I stood in the station, and I noticed her many tears and her frequent embraces of her boy; but the train cameup and he entered the carriage. After the train had passed beyond the station, she was foolish enough to break away from friendswho sought to detain her; she ran along the platform, leaped down upon the railroad and pursued the flying train. It was natural,but it had been better left undone. What was the use of it? We had better abstain from acts which serve no practical purpose;for in this life we have neither time nor strength to waste in fruitless action. The disciples would be wise to cease gazing,for nobody would be benefitted by it, and they would not themselves be blessed. What is the use of gazing when there is nothingto see. Well, then, did the angels ask, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"

Again, put another question,—What precept were they obeying when they stood gazing up into heaven? If you have a command fromGod to do a certain thing, you need not inquire into the reason of the command, it is disobedient to begin to canvas God'swill; but when there is no precept whatever, why persevere in an act which evidently does not promise to bring any blessing?Who bade them stand gazing up into heaven? If Christ had done so, then in Christ's name let them stand like statues and neverturn their heads: but as he had not bidden them, why did they do what he had not commanded, and leave undone what he had commanded?For he had strictly charged them that they should tarry at Jerusalem till they were "endued with power from on high." So whatthey did was not justifiable.

Here is the practical point for us:—What they did we are very apt to imitate. "Oh," say you, "I shall never stand gazing up into heaven." I am not sure of that. Some Christians are very curious, butnot obedient. Plain precepts are neglected, but difficult problems they seek to solve. I remember one who used always to bedwelling upon the vials and seals and trumpets. He was great at apocalyptic symbols; but he had seven children, and he hadno family prayer. If he had left the vials and trumpets and minded his boys and girls, it would have been a deal better. Ihave known men marvellously great upon Daniel, and specially instructed in Ezekiel, but singularly forgetful of the twentiethof Exodus, and not very clear upon Romans the eighth. I do not speak with any blame of such folks for studying Daniel andEzekiel, but quite the reverse; yet I wish they had been more zealous for the conversion of the sinners in their neighborhoods,and more careful to assist the poor saints. I admit the value of the study of the feet of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision,and the importance of knowing the kingdoms which make up the ten toes, but I do not see the propriety of allowing such studiesto overlay the common-places of practical godliness. If the time spent over obscure theological propositions were given toa mission in the dim alley near the good man's house, more benefit would come to man and more glory to God. I would have youunderstand all mysteries, brethren, if you could; but do not forget that our chief business here below is to cry, "Beholdthe Lamb!" By all manner of means read and search till you know all that the Lord has revealed concerning things to come;but first of all see to it that your children are brought to the Savior's feet, and that you are workers together with Godin the upbuilding of his church. The dense mass of misery and ignorance and sin which is round about us on every side demandsall our powers; and if you do not respond to the call, though I am not a man in white apparel, I shall venture to say to you,"Ye men of Christendom, why stand ye gazing up into the mysteries when so much is to be done for Jesus, and you are leavingit undone?" O ye who are curious but not obedient, I fear I speak to you in vain, but I have spoken. May the Holy Spirit alsospeak.

Others are contemplative but not active,—much given to the study of Scripture and to meditation thereon, but not zealous forgood works. Contemplation is so scarce in these days that I could wish there were a thousand times as much of it; but in thecase to which I refer everything runs in the one channel of thought, all time is spent in reading, in enjoyment, in rapture,in pious leisure. Religion never ought to become the subject of selfishness, and yet I fear some treat it as if its chiefend was spiritual gratification. When a man's religion all lies in his saving his own self, and in enjoying holy things forhis own self; there is a disease upon him. When his judgment of a sermon is based upon the one question, "Did it feed me?" it is a swinish judgment. There is such a thing as getting a swinish religion in which you are yourself first, yourself second,yourself third, yourself to the utmost end. Did Jesus ever think or speak in that fashion? Contemplation of Christ himselfmay be so carried out as to lead you away from Christ: the recluse meditates on Jesus, but he is as unlike the busy self-denyingJesus as well can be. Meditation unattended with active service in the spreading of the gospel among men, well deserves therebuke of the angel, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"

Moreover, some are careful and anxious and deliriously impatient for some marvellous interposition. We get at times into asad state of mind, because we do not see the kingdom of Christ advancing as we desire. I suppose it is with you as it is withme,—I begin to fret, and I am deeply troubled, and I feel that there is good reason that I should be, for truth is fallenin the streets, and the days of blasphemy and rebuke are upon us. Then we pine; for the Master is away, and we cry, "Whenwill he be back again? Oh, why are his chariots so long in coming? Why tarries he through the ages?" Our desires sour intoimpatience, and we commence gazing up into heaven, looking for his coming with a restlessness which does not allow us to dischargeour duty as we should. Whenever anybody gets into that state, this is the word, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing upinto heaven?"

In certain cases this uneasiness has drawn to itself a wrong expectation of immediate wonders, and an intense desire for sign-seeing.Ah me, what fanaticisms come of this! In America years ago, one came forward who declared that on such a day the Lord wouldcome, and he led a great company to believe his crazy predictions. Many took their horses and fodder for two or three days,and went out into the woods, expecting to be all the more likely to see all that was to be seen when once away from the crowdedcity. All over the States there were people who had made ascension-dresses in which to soar into the air in proper costume.They waited, and they waited, and I am sure that no text could have been more appropriate for them than this, "Ye men of America,why stand ye here gazing up into heaven?" Nothing came of it; and yet there are thousands in England and America who onlyneed a fanatical leader, and they would run into the like folly. The desire to know the times and seasons is a craze withmany poor bodies whose insanity runs in that particular groove. Every occurrence is a "sign of the times": a sign, I may add,which they do not understand. An earthquake is a special favourite with them. "Now," they cry, "the Lord is coming"; as ifthere had not been earthquakes of the sort we have heard of lately hundreds of times since our Lord went up into heaven. Whenthe prophetic earthquakes occur in divers places, we shall know of it without the warnings of these brethren. What a numberof persons have been infatuated by the number of the beast, and have been ready to leap for joy because they have found thenumber 666 in some great one's name. Why, everybody's name will yield that number if you treat it judiciously, and use thenumerals of Greece, Rome, Egypt, China, or Timbuctoo. I feel weary with the silly way in which some people make toys out ofScripture, and play with texts as with a pack of cards. Whenever you meet with a man who sets up to be a prophet, keep outof his way in the future; and when you hear of signs and wonders, turn you to your Lord, and in patience possess your souls."The just shall live by his faith." There is no other way of living among wild enthusiasts. Believe in God, and ask not formiracles and marvels, or the knowledge of times and seasons. To know when the Lord will restore the kingdom is not in yourpower. Remember that verse which I read just now in your hearing,—"It is not for you to know the times or the seasons." IfI were introduced into a room where a large number of parcels were stored up, and I was told that there was something goodfor me, I should begin to look for that which had my name upon it, and when I came upon a parcel and I saw in pretty big letters,"It is not for you," I should leave it alone. Here, then, is a casket of knowledge marked, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Cease to meddle with matters which are concealed,and be satisfied to know the things which are clearly revealed.

II. Secondly, I want you to notice THE CHEERING DESCRIPTION which these bright spirits give concerning our Lord. They describehim thus,—"This same Jesus."

I appreciate the description the more because it came from those who knew him. "He was seen of angels"; they had watched him all his life long, and they knew him, and when they, having just seen him riseto his Father and his God, said of him, "This same Jesus," then I know by an infallible testimony that he was the same, andthat he is the same.

Jesus is gone but he still exists. He has left us, but he is not dead; he has not dissolved into nothing like the mist of the morning. "This same Jesus" isgone up unto his Father's throne, and he is there to-day as certainly as he once stood at Pilate's bar. As surely as he didhang upon the cross, so surely does he, the self-same man, sit upon the throne of God and reign over creation. I like to thinkof the positive identity of the Christ in the seventh heaven with the Christ in the lowest deeps of agony. The Christ theyspat upon is now the Christ whose name the cherubim and seraphim are hymning day without night. The Christ they scourged ishe before whom principalities and powers delight to cast their crowns. Think of it and be glad this morning; and do not standgazing up into heaven after a myth or a dream. Jesus lives; mind that you live also. Do not loiter as if you had nothing atall to do, or as if the kingdom of God had come to an end because Jesus is gone from the earth, as to his bodily presence.It is not all over; he still lives, and he has given you a work to do till he comes. Therefore, go and do it.

"This same Jesus"—I love that word, for "Jesus" means a Savior. Oh, ye anxious sinners here present, the name of him who has gone up into his glory is full of invitation to you! Will younot come to "this same Jesus"? This is he who opened the eyes of the blind and brought forth the prisoners out of the prison-house.He is doing the same thing to-day. Oh that your eyes may see his light! He that touched the lepers, and that raised the dead,is the same Jesus still, able to save to the uttermost. Oh that you may look and live! You have only to come to him by faith,as she did who touched the hem of his garment; you have but to cry to him as the blind man did whose sight he restored; forhe is the same Jesus, bearing about with him the same tender love for guilty men, and the same readiness to receive and cleanseall that come to him by faith.

"This same Jesus." Why, that must have meant that he who is in heaven is the same Christ who was on earth, but it must alsomean that he who is to come will be the same Jesus that went up into heaven. There is no change in our blessed Master's nature, nor will there ever be. There is a great change in his condition:—

"The Lord shall come, but not the same As once in lowliness he came, humble man before his foes, A weary man, and full of woes."

He will be "the same Jesus" in nature though not in condition: he will possess the same tenderness when he comes to judge,the same gentleness of heart when all the glories of heaven and earth shall gird his brow. Our eye shall see him in that day,and we shall recognize him not only by the nail-prints, but by the very look of his countenance, by the character that gleamsfrom that marvellous face; and we shall say, "'Tis he! 'tis he! the self-same Christ that went up from the top of Olivet fromthe midst of his disciples." Go to him with your troubles, as you would have done when he was here. Look forward to his secondcoming without dread. Look for him with that joyous expectancy with which you would welcome Jesus of Bethany, who loved Mary,and Martha, and Lazarus.

On the back of that sweet title came this question, "Why stand ye here gazing into heaven?" They might have said, "We stayhere because we do not know where to go. Our Master is gone." But oh, it is the same Jesus, and he is coming again, so godown to Jerusalem and get to work directly. Do not worry yourselves; no grave accident has occurred; it is not a disasterthat Christ has gone, but an advance in his work. Despisers tell us nowadays, "Your cause is done for! Christianity is spunout! Your divine Christ is gone; we have not seen a trace of his miracle-working hand, nor of that voice which no man couldrival." Here is our answer: We are not standing gazing up into heaven, we are not paralyzed because Jesus is away. He lives,the great Redeemer lives; and though it is our delight to lift up our eyes because we expect his coming, it is equally ourdelight to turn our heavenly gazing into an earthward watching, and to go down into the city, and there to tell that Jesusis risen, that men are to be saved by faith in him, and that whosoever believeth in him shall have everlasting life. We arenot defeated, far from it: his ascension is not a retreat, but an advance. His tarrying is not for want of power, but becauseof the abundance of his long-suffering. The victory is not questionable. All things work for it; all the hosts of God aremustering for the final charge. This same Jesus is mounting his white horse to lead forth the armies of heaven, conqueringand to conquer.

III. Our third point is this, THE GREAT PRACTICAL TRUTH. This truth is not one that is to keep us gazing into heaven, butone that is to make each of us go to his house to render earnest service. What is it?

Why, first, that Jesus in gone into heaven. Jesus is gone! Jesus is gone! It sounds like a knell. Jesus is taken up from you into heaven!—that sounds like a marriagepeal. He is gone, but he is gone up to the hills whence he can survey the battle; up to the throne, from which he can sendus succour. The reserve forces of the omnipotent stood waiting till their Captain came, and now that he is come into the centreof the universe, he can send legions of angels, or he can raise up hosts of men for the help of his cause. I see every reasonfor going down into the world and getting to work, for he is gone up into heaven and "all power is given unto him in heavenand in earth." Is not that a good argument—"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"?

Jesus will come again. That is another reason for girding our loins, because it is clear that he has not quitted the fight, nor deserted the fieldof battle. Our great Captain is still heading the conflict; he has ridden into another part of the field, but he will be backagain, perhaps in the twinkling of an eye. You do not say that a commander has given up the campaign because it is expedientthat he should withdraw from your part of the field. Our Lord is doing the best thing for his kingdom in going away. It wasin the highest degree expedient that he should go, and that we should each one receive the Spirit. There is a blessed unitybetween Christ the King and the commonest soldier in the ranks. He has not taken his heart from us, nor his care from us,nor his interest from us: he is bound up heart and soul with his people, and their holy warfare, and this is the evidenceof it, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Then, moreover, we are told in the text—and this in a reason why we should get to our work—that he is coming in like manner as he departed. Certain of the commentators do not seem to understand English at all. "He which is taken up from you into heaven shall socome in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven,"—this, they say, relates to his spiritual coming at Pentecost. Giveanybody a grain of sense, and do they not see that a spiritual coming is not a coming in the same manner in which he wentup into heaven? There is an analogy, but certainly not a likeness between the two things. Our Lord was taken up; they couldsee him rise: he will come again, and "every eye shall see him." He went up not in spirit, but in person: he will come downin person. "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." He went up as a matter of fact: not in poetic figure and spiritualsymbol, but as a matter of fact,—"This same Jesus" literally went up. "This same Jesus" will literally come again. He willdescend in clouds even as he went up in clouds; and "he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" even as he stood aforetime.He went up to heaven unopposed; no high priests, nor scribes, nor Pharisees, nor even one of the rabble opposed his ascension;it were ridiculous to suppose that they could; and when he comes a second time none will stand against him. His adversariesshall perish; as the fat of rams shall they melt away in his presence. When he cometh he shall break rebellious nations witha rod of iron, for his force shall be irresistible in that day.

Brethren, do not let anybody spiritualize away all this from you. Jesus is coming as a matter of fact, therefore go down toyour sphere of service as a matter of fact. Get to work and teach the ignorant, win the wayward, instruct the children, andeverywhere tell out the sweet name of Jesus. As a matter of fact, give of your substance and don't talk about it. As a matterof fact, consecrate your daily life to the glory of God. As a matter of fact, live wholly for your Redeemer. Jesus is notcoming in a sort of mythical, misty, hazy way, he is literally and actually coming, and he will literally and actually callupon you to give an account of your stewardship. Therefore, now, to-day, literally not symbolically, personally and not bydeputy, go out through that portion of the world which you can reach, and preach the gospel to every creature according asyou have opportunity.

For this is what the men in white apparel meant—be ready to meet your coming Lord. What is the way to be ready to meet Jesus? If it is the same Jesus that went away from us who is coming, then let us be doingwhat he was doing before he went away. If it is the same Jesus that is coming we cannot possibly put ourselves into a postureof which he will better approve than by going about doing good. If you would meet him with joy, serve him with earnestness.If the Lord Jesus Christ were to come to-day I should like him to find me at my studying, praying, or preaching. Would younot like him to find you in your Sunday-school, in your class, or out there at the corner of the street preaching, or doingwhatever you have the privilege of doing in his name? Would you meet your Lord in idleness? Do not think of it. I called oneday on one of our members, and she was whitening the front steps. She got up all in confusion; she said, "Oh dear, sir, Idid not know you were coming to-day, or I would have been ready." I replied, "Dear friend, you could not be in better trimthan you are: you are doing your duty like a good housewife, and may God bless you." She had no money to spare for a servant,and she was doing her duty by keeping the home tidy: I thought she looked more beautiful with her pail beside her than ifshe had been dressed according to the latest fashion. I said to her, "When the Lord Jesus Christ comes suddenly, I hope hewill find me doing as you were doing, namely, fulfilling the duty of the hour." I want you all to get to your pails withoutbeing ashamed of them. Serve the Lord in some way or other; serve him always; serve him intensely; serve him more and more.Go to-morrow and serve the Lord at the counter, or in the workshop, or in the field. Go and serve the Lord by helping thepoor and the needy, the widow and the fatherless; serve him by teaching the children, especially by endeavoring to train yourown children. Go and hold a temperance meeting, and show the drunkard that there is hope for him in Christ, or go to the midnightmeeting and let the fallen woman know that Jesus can restore her. Do what Jesus has given you the power to do, and then, yemen of Britain, ye will not stand gazing up into heaven, but you will wait upon the Lord in prayer, and you will receive theSpirit of God, and you will publish to all around the doctrine of "Believe and live." Then when he comes he will say to you,"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." So may his grace enable us to do. Amen.

PORTION OF SCRIPTURE READ BEFORE SERMON—Luke 24:49-53, Acts 1:1-12.

HYMNS FROM OUR OWN HYMN BOOK—17, 319, 346.