When we become what we have heard





Hi all. Life is a parable of our changing hearts. We know that Christ is here always ready to answer to our many moods---always passing and repassing along the dusty ways of our life. And though this should always fill us with a Divine thankfulness and contentment, yet it should also fill us with a Divine discontent---discontent with ourselves. We should wait with the groaning creation for the manifestation of the sons of God. For only when we reach the stature of that perfect manhood shall we cease merely to catch glimpses of our Lord passing on His pilgimage down the centuries, shall we come and see where He abides, and behold His glory. Only so shall we have the conditions for his final Advent. Our Lord has already, not once or twice, but many times, returned to earth, but He is longing to come in a still more resplendent glory, if only His own people were more ready for His reception, if only His Church were grown more like Him, more fit for seeing Him face to face.

"The whole life of the good Christian," says St. Augustine, "should be a holy longing." We are needing to revive that faded Advent-longing in the heart of the Christian Church today. There could not be a more clamant need for it than there is in the world at present. Could there be prayer more urgently requiring to be taken upon our lips, and breathed with all the passion of faith than this: Thy Kingdom come. Prince of Peace, take to Thyself Thy great power and reign.

Father, let Thy kingdom come,---Let it come with living power; Speak at length the final word, Usher in the triumph hour.

As it came in days of old, In the deepest hearts of men, When Thy martyrs died for Thee, Let it come, O God, again.

Break, triumphant day of God! Break at last, our hearts to cheer; Eager souls and holy songs Wait to hail Thy dawning here.

Empires, temples, scepters, thrones, May they all for God be won; And, in every human heart, Father, let Thy kingdom come.

Tim