To which end may God of His mercy bring us, and all we love. Amen.



SERMON IV. THE LORD COMING TO HIS TEMPLE



Westminster Abbey. November, 1874.

Malachi iii. 1, 2. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His
temple. . . . But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall
stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like
fuller's sope."

We believe that this prophecy was fulfilled at the first coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that it will be fulfilled again, in that
great day when He shall judge the quick and the dead. But it is of
neither of these events I wish to speak to you just now. I wish to speak
of an event which has not (as far as we know) happened; which will
probably never happen; but which is still perfectly possible; and one,
too, which it is good for us to face now and then, and ask ourselves, If
this thing came to pass, what should I think, and what should I do?

I shall touch the question with all reverence and caution. I shall try
to tread lightly, as one who is indeed on hallowed ground. For the
question which I have dared to ask you and myself is none other than
this--If the Lord suddenly came to this temple, or any other in this
land; if He appeared among us, as He did in Judea eighteen hundred years
ago, what should we think of Him? Should we recognise, or should we