It is over thirty years ago since I first saw the truth as to the Lord's second coming. I saw it was the solution to the difficulties which man's mind had created by attempting to link the predictions about a glorified Messiah with the circumstances of earth, while in man's hand and responsibility. It threw heavenly hopes and promises open, and also gave consistency to God's past and future dealings with the earth.

I took it up whole-heartedly. What a banner for pilgrimage and conflict was this coming glory ! I held it as a choice banner, and was ready to suffer and endure for the hope's sake, and did so.

Thirty years are past:and where am I now as to it ? Well, I will speak the truth. Thirty years of wilderness and conflict have made a change-a great change. After the experience I have had of self, and of circumstances, and of God, I should sum all up in these words:-It is a very different thing to have the coming of Christ as one's choice, one's self-welcomed to-morrow, and to find oneself where all is ruined within and around-failure upon failure-but in the presence of the God who puts the return of His Son as the time when He means fully to introduce us into the glory He has prepared for us, as for those of whom He has said, "I will be merciful to those to whom I will be merciful, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." I have less movement in feelings of joy and hope, but more calmness of repose and anticipation; less thought about the contrast between the thing hoped for and the circumstances which are present, but more sense of the wonder-fulness of God's ways, who, through the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, should prepare such an end, in which many a sinner under Adam the first, and myself among the number, will find themselves shortly caught up to be forever with the Lord, and in the Father's house. I trust that in the weaning from self and circumstances, which I have in measure had, tastes, habits, ways, as well as affections and thoughts in accordance with the glory of God, have been formed by Him in me.

The above was published first in Bible Treasury of July 1857, now more than 60 years ago. This makes 90 years or more since "W" first learned the truth as to the second coming of our Lord, and the dear brother has doubtless long since "fallen asleep." But "he being dead, yet speaketh." And inasmuch as it was just thirty years ago that the present writer first learned of the Lord's return for His Church, he desires that the above testimony may reach his own heart and that of others as well. Have we, fellow-Christians, learned what "W" learned ? Have we indeed the spirit of the "weaned child ?" Ps. 131:2. C. Knapp