EXPECTATION OP THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST. 



101 



** I offer these few remarks in order to help in making clear the 

 great difference in character between the first and second advents." 



Dr. C. Fox writes : " One's own researches in prophecy have 

 been rather spiritual than material, for one feels it has two distinct 

 and definite spheres. Some are sure to be most drawn to the literal 

 and others to the spiritual in Scripture, and so in its very large and 

 weighty sphere of prophecy, but the exceeding truth and value of 

 this in no degree invalidates the other, or its being equally such. 

 Only, to this the attention of each class has not been, usually, 

 given or called. 



" Through want of cultivation of the spiritual, in so materialistic 

 and practical an age, in fact, now the regard paid to the literal mean- 

 ing of prophecy exceeds immeasurably that given the spiritual, to 

 our great hurt. The vast majority in the Churches dwell in the 

 Outer Gentile court, far below^ our privilege and our call, as brought 

 nigh, whether or not, of outward Israel, since the case spiritually 

 of all men is one. It were much to be desired this failure might be 

 perceived. 



" Another trait of the prophets is that they boldly uttered much 

 they could not have understood ; and a David, Ezekiel or Daniel 

 must have often had this test put to their fidelity to the Afflatus, 

 and nobly did they bear the trial ; for some of the most important 

 predictions of the Saviour must have seemed irrational and the 

 temptation been strong to omit the strange sentences interjected, 

 and the comments, perhaps of ridicule and censure, by the hearers, 

 not less than the awful acted illustration enjoined, also unswervingly 

 and wonderfully borne. How^ well is it the irrelevant verses of 

 Our Lord's birth or death were faithfully given with what was 

 intelligible and in sequence ! For they stand forever as priceless 

 Gospel testimonies." 



Author's Eeply. 



Lieut. -Col. MoLONY, in reply, thanked the Chairman, Lieut. -Col. 

 G. Mackinlay, Rev. J. E. H. Thomson, and Dr. Schofield for their 

 kind appreciation of his paper. He agreed with the Chairman that 

 there are numberless other fulfilments of prophecy, and said that he 

 had always been much struck with the predictions of the Destruction 



