Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/138

 the fulfilment of 's commandment of love; for it was for this purpose that He has commissioned the Ministers and Stewards of His word and sacraments. St. Paul tells us, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of ; till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the of  unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto Him in all things which is the Head, even ; from whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. iv. 11–16.)

4. And now, having reviewed the privileges with which we are favoured in 's Holy Church, until His coming again, we are solemnly warned in the Epistle of the fourth Sunday, as before in that of the first, of His near approach; "The is at hand." And if we indeed lived answerably to our privileges as members of 's Church and household, we should be able to await the fulfilment of the promise in the spirit of calm confidence and joy, which St. Paul describes in the verses that follow; "the peace of which passeth all understanding," "keeping our hearts and minds by ." The passage which is chosen for the Gospel, places us at the point of time when was on the eve of appearing as "the Lamb of  which taketh away the sin of the world." He had been baptized, and was now returning from the wilderness; for it was "the next day," we read, that the Baptist pointed Him out to the notice of His disciples. He was already standing among them, though they knew Him not, ready to baptize them with the and with fire. And so now, in these latter days, the Heralds of 's second coming are warning the people that He is at hand, and like the Baptist, referring to the Scripture for a proof that they are duly commissioned to prepare His way before Him. Like Him they tell the Church of a "salvation ready to be revealed," of "times of refreshing" to come "from the