§56.
Search then, the
Scriptures, if you can, and so fill up this sketch. Learn to look for
the Second Advent and Judgment.
Let this, then, Christ-loving man, be our
offering to you, just for a rudimentary sketch and outline, in a short
compass, of the faith of Christ and of His Divine appearing to usward.
But you, taking occasion by this, if you light upon the text of the
Scriptures, by genuinely applying your mind to them, will learn from
them more completely and clearly the exact detail of what we have said.
2. For they were spoken and written by God, through men who spoke of
God. But we impart of what we have learned from inspired teachers who
have been conversant with them, who have also become martyrs for the
deity of Christ, to your zeal for learning, in turn. 3. And you will
also learn about His second glorious and truly divine appearing to us,
when no longer in lowliness, but in His own glory,—no longer in
humble guise, but in His own magnificence,—He is to come, no more
to suffer, but thenceforth to render to all the fruit of His own Cross,
that is, the resurrection and incorruption; and no longer to be judged,
but to judge all, by what each has done in the body, whether good or
evil; where there is laid up for the good the kingdom of heaven, but
for them that have done evil everlasting fire and outer darkness. 4.
For thus the Lord Himself also says: “Henceforth
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ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the
right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven in the glory of
the Father.” 5. And for this very reason there is also a word of
the Saviour to prepare us for that day, in these words: “Be
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ye ready and watch, for He cometh at an hour
ye know not.” For, according to the blessed Paul: “We
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must all stand before the judgment-seat of
Christ, that each one
may receive
according as he hath done in the body, whether it be good or
bad.”
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Matt. xxvi.
64
.
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Cf.
Matt. xxiv. 42
; Marc. xiii.
35.
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2 Cor. v. 10
; cf.
Rom. xiv.
10
.