THAT BLESSED HOPE TO COME!

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." -Titus 2:13 [KJV]

Pause, my soul, over these sweet and solemn words. Is Jesus my hope? Surely then it is a blessed hope; for all blessings are in Him. Art thou looking for His appearing? Pause, for the thought is solemn. How shall I know?

Suppose this moment the trumpet of the archangel was to sound, "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment;" my soul, art thou ready? Pause once more. Do I long for Jesus' appearing now, in the conversion of every poor sinner? Do I rejoice to hear, at any time; that a soul is born to God? If so, is not this looking for his appearing? 

Again—Do I long for Jesus appearing in the after-manifestations of His grace to the souls of the people?—for this is to rejoice with them that do rejoice, and to prove a family interest. Again- Is Jesus precious to me, and do I long for the renewal of His visits, as the earth longeth for the rising sun?

When I read His word, sing His praise, call upon His name, mingle in the congregation, go to His table; is His appearing upon all these occasions precious now, and are His love-tokens sweeter to my soul than honey, and the honey-comb? 

If, my soul, thou canst bear a cheerful testimony to these things, and, canst truly call them blessed now; surely the hope of Jesus's second coming is blessed also, and thou canst well subscribe to the apostle's words; for His appearing being now gracious, will then be glorious, in the appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

-preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.) 

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