Vol. 2

618 ST. LUKE.fear these times, rn which Christ seems to be withdrawn; and let us establish and strengthen ourselvesin his doctrine and love, that we may not have themisfortune to be surprised in our weakness." 23. And they shall say to you, See here ! or,see there !go not after them, nor follow them."It is not to the bare name of Christ, but to hisdoctrine and precepts that we must adhere, sincethere are false Christs and false gospels. Let usnot follow him whom men point out to us, but himwhom God points out in the Scriptures, and autho-There are false churches as wellrizes by miracles.as false Christs: and the true spouse is known bythe same marks with the true Bridegroom. It isenough for a church not to be so ancient as Christ,to make it a false church." 24. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out ofthe one part under heaven, shineth unto the otherpart under heaven ;in his day."The brightnessso shall also the Son of man beand quickness with which Christwas made known in the world by the preaching ofthe gospel, may very justly be compared to lightning.As it is one and the same lightning which shinethfrom the one part under heaven to the other: so itis the same faith, the same Christ, and the sameChristian society ; and this universality is one of theproperties of the true faith, the true Christ, and thetrue church. That which is now done successivelyby faith,will be done in an instant, when the Son ofman shall visibly appear to all mankind, in order tojudge the world. Now is the day of men, it willbe then the day of the Lord.