Vol. 2

CHAPTER XIII. 205Those natural lights, with which they pleased them«selves so much, are now become nothing but darknessto them ; and they see that the power andstrength on which they relied, are no other thanweakness itself. ," 26, And then they shall see the Son of mancoming in the clouds, with great power and glory."There is nothing so worthy of Jesus Christ asthat day of his power and glory : there is nothingso dreadful to a sinner, who has laboured only todeserve his wrath. To such a person, the day ofhis death is this terrible day of the Lord. At thattime the devil leaves him no more faith than justenough to foresee the rigour of the divine judgment,and all these preparations for the day of vengeance." 27. And then shall he send his angels, and shallgather together his elect from the four winds, fromthe uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost partof heaven."O desirable day for the elect ! O happy re-union,so long expected, by which Christ will gather themtogether, and join them in the unity of his body, hisSpirit, and his glory ! The wicked shall see nothingof this but what shall grieve and afflict them ; andcause them, at the sight of the happiness of the elect,to say within themselves, " We fools accounted theirlife madness, and their end to be without honour:how are they numbered among the children of God,and their lot is amonxj the saints !"*'28. Novv learn a parable of the fig-tree; Whenher branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves,ye know that summer is near : 29. So ye, in likemanner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,know that it is nigh, even at the doors."