A Present to His Royal Highness - The Prince of Wales — Page 14
14 fulfilled? Would he not, in that case, have said, they shall appear from the Earth, but I shall come from Heaven, so that there can be no mistake? Why does he ask his disciples to endure and to wait? Why does he not say, accept him who comes from Heaven and reject all others? Why does he appoint any other sign but this? If he was to descend from Heaven, why did his disciples ask him, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” Was this not sign enough that he would come down from heaven with a host of angels? and could there be any mistake about him? The truth is that Jesus was wont to talk in parables, and his words had only this meaning that his second advent would be like unto the second advent of Elias, that is, another would appear in his spirit and power; and so indeed has it come to pass. Let him who hath eyes see, and let him who hath ears hear, lest he should be left waiting and be shut out from the kingdom of heaven like the Jews of old who sought to put a literal construction on the scriptures and thus lost a rare opportunity. Gracious Prince! (May God be with you and open your heart to the acceptance of truth!) as related above it was appointed that one should come in the spirit of Jesus and not that Jesus should himself come down from Heaven. To know him, therefore, we should ponder over the words of the prophecies and should search for their true meaning like the diver who dives even unto the bottom of the ocean to seek for pearls, and not like him who, in his heart denying all heavenly laws, looks towards the Heavens that pearls may be showered on him; lest it should happen that when there is a cry made that the bridegroom cometh we should run in search of oil, like the virgins who took no oil with them, and the bride-groom should enter the house