“These things” meant the signs of which he had just been speaking, especially the Roman army surrounding Jerusalem; and the event that was to follow so closely was the destruction of that city, and the dispersion of the Jewish people. For though our Lord, in speaking of this, did also carry on the thoughts of the disciples to his second coming and the end of the world, yet he is not alluding to that here; for he expressly says, "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Some of those who heard him would be still alive at the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place between thirty and forty years afterwards. He warns them, and all his followers who should be then living, to take notice of the signs which were to go before that great event, and to act accordingly. As soon as those signs appeared, they were to leave the city, and thus to escape a share in its destruction. Let them carefully watch those signs, therefore; for as surely as the budding fig-tree foretold the summer, so surely would the city be soon destroyed, and the nation scattered, when once they should appear.

All took place according to our Lord's words. The signs of which he spoke did appear, the Roman army came against Jerusalem, and, in no long time after, the city was taken and destroyed. The disciples of Christ, or at least the greater part of them, acted on the warning he had given them, and left the city in time to escape its destruction. Thus his words were fulfilled, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Kingdoms were shaken, cities were destroyed, great commotions took place in the world, yet nothing could change what he had said. All that he foretold came true.

And so will all else that he has foretold. Every prophecy that has been fulfilled is a pledge and assurance that all other prophecies shall be fulfilled in their time; and the disciples of Christ accordingly are to give heed to his word, and to what is happening around them, and to mark the signs of the times.

Especially we ought to do this with regard to the second coming of our Lord. In this prophecy the two great events of which he speaks, the destruction of Jerusalem and his own coming, are so linked together, that there is some difficulty in knowing when he is speaking of the one, and when of the other, and when perhaps of both. The disciples, who heard him speak, themselves no doubt felt this difficulty; and little did they think that eighteen hundred years at least would pass between the happening of the two things thus foretold together. But this very difficulty is not without its use. The very mingling of the two events in the same prophecy must have led the disciples to look upon both as equally certain; and still more should it lead us, now that one of them has taken place, to feel sure that the other also will take place in its time.

The two events are spoken of in the same prophecy; yet, in one important respect, there is a difference to be observed. With regard to the destruction of Jerusalem, our Lord said that the generation of men living when he spoke should not all have died before it should take place; but with regard to his own second coming, and the end of the world, he said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Thus, at the 36th verse, he seems to make a change. He had been speak

ing of what should take place within the lifetime of some then living; now he speaks of that which should take place quite as certainly, but no one knew when, none but the Father. In applying the lesson of the parable to ourselves, we must bear in mind this differ

ence.

Yet we may apply the lesson to ourselves, and that most profitably, with regard to the coming of the Lord; but not so much with reference to its time as to its certainty.

We are to mark the signs of the times; for the coming of Christ will as surely follow them as summer followed the budding of the fig-tree; not so quickly, but as surely. There have been, and still are, many different opinions as to the signs of the coming of the Lord. There have been probably in all ages serious Christians, who have thought that they saw in events that happened in their day signs of his approach. There are many who think thus now. These thoughts and expectations are not to be lightly regarded, still less to be turned into ridicule. Even if we do not share them, we should nevertheless be led by them to deeper thought and more watchful preparation. The Lord will come. It may be, that these very expectations in the minds of his people are among the signs of his coming. Let us mark them accordingly.

But, putting aside the question of time, we should give earnest heed to all the signs which tell that he will surely come. Ancient prophecy, his own words, the state of the world, the case of the Jewish nation, wrong that is to be set right, war that is to be changed into peace, and a thousand things around us that pain

and grieve us, but that, as far as we can tell, will never be greatly mended till he come-these are so many signs to us, more or less sure, of his coming. We should mark these things, and ponder them in our minds. We are not meant to live carelessly, wrapped up in our own little concerns of the day, and unconcerned about the great things that are to be. As far as the word of God gives light, let us walk in that light. As far as we can find scriptural ground for seeing in things that happen the signs of our Master's coming, let us mark those things narrowly and seriously. While we must beware of indulging baseless fancies and vain imaginations, and above all of twisting Scripture to suit them, let us look to it also that we fall not under our Lord's reproof of the Pharisees and Sadducees, "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times ?"

Eighteen hundred years have passed since our Lord spoke of his coming, and still he has not come, and still his words hold good-"Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven." For all the time that has passed, we are still in the same position as the disciples-servants waiting for our Lord, knowing that he will come, and that he may come soon, but not knowing when. But this we are clearly told, that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night," and that, to some at least, he will come suddenly. Whatever views may be held on other points, in this there seems no room for difference among the servants of Christ. He says to us all, "Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Season after season has the fig-tree budded, and the summer come. Eighteen centuries ago our Lord's

words about Jerusalem were fulfilled; and still the wandering Jew remains a standing witness to the truth of prophecy, and still we look for "that day and that hour" which "no man knoweth." Let us look for it humbly, watchfully, diligently; with a sure hope, a full trust, a solemn yet glad expectation. Let us see that our loins be girded about, and our lights burning; let each servant be about his work; and oh! let each one of us make sure that he is a servant of Christ indeed. Let none put off seeking a Saviour till the Lord shall come in his glory. Let none say in his heart, "My Lord delayeth his coming." Let none disregard the warning voice and the signs of the times; lest, coming suddenly, he find them sleeping.