it affects Now there is a twofold nearnesse under which we are to look for the coming of the day of God First the nearnesse of its approche to us and Secondly the nearnesse of our approche to it 1. We are to look for the coming of the day of God in the nearnesse of its Approche to us This has ever been the great sin of the secure world that men look on the coming of the day of God as a thing remote Yea our Apostle Peter foretold that this would be the great sin of these last days so in some few verses before our Text 2 Pet. 3.3 4. knowing this first that there shal come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promisse of his coming c. And this prodigious piece of Atheisme which Peter presageth would befal these last days seems to have given the original occasion of the following discourse touching the second coming of our Lord Yea and that which is yet more remarquable is this that the nearer the day approcheth the more remote secure sinners by their unbelief make it to be Thence Peter dwels much on this argument that the day of Christs coming is near So v. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promisse Again v. 11. Seing al these things shal be Greek are dissolved c. He speakes in the present tense to shew the nearnesse of this day So that to look for the coming of the day of God is to look on it as near to us Thus Paul Phil. 4.5 The Lord is at hand And Hebr. 10.37 For yet a little while and he that shal come wil come and wil not tarrie The like Jam. 5.9 Behold the Judge standeth at the dore And if those primitive Saints looked on the coming of the day of God as near how much nearer then ought we to look on it Oh! with what swift wings doth it post towards us How soon wil winged time rush hinto Eternitie The last words that ever Christ spake or wil speak to the end of the world in a way of Gospel Administration were to assure us that he would come quickly Rev. 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen This Amen is a seal for ratification and confirmation to assure us that our Lord wil quickly come Lo do not the Heavens begin to open and make way for the coming of the Lord of Glorie May we not by a spiritual eye of faith see him coming in the clouds May not a gracious heart hear the last Trumpe ringing in its ears Is not that fire already kindled which ere long wil turne the whole globe of Heaven and Earth into flames Is not the Judge of quick and dead at the dore And ought we not then to look on the coming of the day of God as near 2 We are to look on the coming of the day of God as near in regard of our approche to it by Death Though the coming of this day should be never so remote in regard of the last jugement yet it is most certain that our approche to it by death is most near Alas who knows how soon any of us may behold our particular day of jugement staring us in the face Do we not al begin to die assoon as we begin to live Is not death as essential to us as life What is our present life but a coming into and going out of this world What is this present earthly Tabernacle we live in but our Inne our Hospital our Leper-house How soon wil a little time eat us out of our possession Doth it not then nearly concerne us to look dayly for death And is not this a main part of our looking for the coming of the day of God This was Pauls frame Phil. 1.23 Phil. 1.23 For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better To depart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contains various emphatic notions proper to the sense It signifies 1. To loosen or relinquish our chains as prisoners 2. To depart from our Inne to our home 3. To weigh anchor and set sail 4. To loosen the cords of our Tents as Soldiers 5. To be resolved into our first elements as bodies corrupted So that Pauls longing desire was to depart from his bodie as his prison his Inne his Tent c. And why That he might be with Christ This made him so willing to be dissolved that so he might be taken into a more intimate union with his Lord for whose coming he so much looked He looked on the dissolution of his bodie to be but the conjunction of his soul with Christ Death was in his eye but a dore to life He knew death would take nothing from him but his prison his chain his clog his shame his sting his poison his burden his miserie This made him to look for the day of death as the day of his espousals and coronation So that it 's evident to look for the coming of the day of God implies our looking for death which is a great approche thereto And may we not take up this as a general observation that none have more lively expectations of the coming of their Lord than those who have most fresh and affectionate expectations of death And on the contrary do not they alwayes put far from them the coming of the day of God who put far from them thoughts of death such an essential and intimate connexion is there between these two Ah! think how soon your breath wil grow cold your eye strings break your soul stand trembling at the dores of your lips and take flight at the windows of your eyes and then you cannot but look for the coming of your Lord. Doth not the frailtie of life specially in these days engage us to look for death And are any more fit to live than those who think most of and prepare for dying Should we not whiles on earth so live as alwaies dying that so we may when death comes live alwayes with our Lord Is not life and death the same thing to him that daily lives in the expectation of and preparation for death Oh! then why should we not ever live in the expectation of death which wil join our soul and Christ together 2. Another Adjunct of the coming of the day of God is its Vnexpectednesse This is fully expressed 2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord wil come as a thief in the night We al know the coming of a thief is unexpected yea the nearer he is the lesse usually he is expected Such wil be the coming of our Lord as he himself informes us Luke 12.39 40. If the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched Be ye therefore ready also For the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not We find this exemplified in the parable of the Virgins Mat.
Let your Thoughts and Affections ever worke according to the Dignitie of those objects you expect at the coming of your Lord and your Relation to them Hast thou a clear apprehension of thy Lords approche and some Assurance of an Interest in him O! then how should thy Love by al manner of vehement exercices both of desire hope Joy and satisfaction move towards thy Lord Or doest thou behold the coming of thy Lord but want a prevalent assurance of an Interest in him what an holy awe and filial fear of thy Lord what hatred and Indignation against sin oughtest thou to have 4. Make frequent suppositions of thy Lords Approche and thinke what thoughts thou wilt then have of things Remember with what swift wings time posteth away and Eternitie hastens towards thee Make such suppositions as these What if this night I should hear the midnight-crie Behold the bridegroom cometh how am I prepared to meet my Lord Can I look him with confidence in the face Wil my soul then be able to passe the fiery trial without being consumed 5. Do nothing but what thou wouldest do if the Lord were come This wil give thee much confidence in looking for the coming of thy Lord. They who mesure al their Actions by that day wil not care how soon it come Such as keep their spirits in an absolute submission to the Divine wil both as to doing and suffering are in the fittest posture to entertain their Lord. The reason why the most of men are so averse from looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God is the Irregularitie of their Actions which they know wil not bear the trial of that day 6. Contend daily with invincible Resolution and violent efforts towards the coming of the Day of God Go forward in the strength of the Lord with invincible courage and vigorous activitie to meet your Lord and remember what difficulties you meet with in your way wil be made up in the enjoyments that follow Alas what is it that keeps our souls at such a distance from the coming of the Day of God but the Formalitie and Dâ—â—dnesse of our Spirits in our race Is theâ—e much deadnesse in thine heart whereby thou art hindred in thy race And is there not much life in Christ to quicken thee then adhere to him draw from him of his fulnesse Grace for Grace that thou mayst run with speed the race set before thee Dread a loitering formal spirit as much as Hel. 7. Muse and consider much on the glorious effects which follow the coming of the day of God Remember that thy present thirsty desires wil then be turned into a love of Fruition and complacence How soon wil the Saints present tears be changed into eternal joys O! what an excellent thing is Heaven Doth it not as much or much more excede our present apprehensions as our present apprehensions excede our present enjoyments What are al present enjoyments whether spiritual or temporal but shadows in comparison of those celestial enjoyments Yea al we here enjoy is scarce a picture of that glorious state O! what a blessed day wil that be when the Saints shal leave though not their Natures yet al their imperfections both natural and sinful When al their Spiritual Darknesses Errors and Douts shal end in the beatific Vision of God as he is face to face When al their Rebellions of heart shal end in a perfect conformitie and subjection to the Divine Wil When al their unlawful passions and exorbitant Affections shal end in a regular harmonie and motion when al their Deadnesses in Duties shal end in the most vigorous and lively exercices of al manner of Graces When al their convulsions and terrors of Conscience shal end in complete assurance of Gods Love when al their Distances and Estrangements from God shal end in perfect Union and communion with God When al their troubles disgusts and dissatisfactions in this world shal end in perfect Rest and Satisfaction O! what a glorious blessed Day wil this be How would the serious and lively views hereof by faith fixe the heart in looking for and hastening to the coming of the Day of God 8. Familiarise thoughts of death unto thy soul and never rest satisfied ' til thou hast brought thine heart to a wel-grounded chearful willingnesse to be dissolved None look for and hasten to the coming of their Lord so much as they who daily wait for their change O! how welcome is death when it comes to those who daily look for it Who live better lives than they who continually thinke of death What more effectually engageth men to die unto althings of time than daily expectations of Death They who look for the dreadful hour of Death and Jugement how much do they despise al the dreadful things of this life Remember that death comes not the sooner for your expectation of it But the more you look for it the better prepared you wil be to entertain it when it comes You wil die out of choice not merely from necessitie I shal conclude with a great saying of that holy man Mr. John Rowe p. 124. of his life when he drew near to death why said he should we not be willing to die Christ came from Heaven to Earth to free us from sin and miserie and why should not we be willing to go from Earth to Heaven to be freed from sin and miserie FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior at the first Shop in Popes-Head-Alley at the three Bibles Who sells all sorts of Divinity-Books c. to Chapmen or others TWelve Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at Magarets New Fish-street 1. Precious Remedies against Satans devices Or Salve for Believers and Unbelievers sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that slight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in Spirituals or decaving that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on 2 Cor. 2.11 2. Heaven on Earth Or a serious Discourse touching a well-grounded Assurance of mans everlasting happinesse and blessednesse discovering the nature of assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty Questions on the 8. of the Romans 32 33 34 verses 3. The unsearchable Riches of Christ Or Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes 〈…〉 two and twenty Sermons from Ephes
25.6 And at midnight there was a crie made Behold the Bridegroom cometh The Bridegrooms coming at midnight argueth that our Lords coming shal be when least expected For men at midnight are usually in their deepest sleep So then to look for the coming of the day of God is to look on it as that which wil come when least expected Oh! what a surprise wil it be to slumbering virgins to hear that midnight crie behold the bridegroom cometh Yea how many wise Virgins wil be found slumbering and so not expecting this great day Is it not therefore the dutie of al to look for the coming of the day of God as that of a chief in the night who cometh when least expected 3. We may consider the coming of the day of God in its Consequents which are various but at present we shal mention only two namely the final Jugement and Eternitie and in this regard 1. To look for the coming of the day of God implies a looking for the last Jugement Oh! what a great day wil that be when sin shal no longer go masqued nor Godlinesse disgraced How wil Grace then shine forth in its own native glorie and beautie How wil al the fuel with which men now feed their lusts be then turned into fuel for Hel-fire and stings of Conscience With what an insatiable hunger and thirst wil the sensual glutton and drunkard be then tormented What a vexatious fire wil burne both bodie and soul of the lascivious unclean wretch Wil not every lust then have its proper torment shal not the secure Conscience then be filled with â—morses and stings How wil the avariciâ—s greedy worldling then perish with want What confusion and shame wil surprise the â—â—oud ambiâ—ious man Wil not then the foolish Christian appear to be wiser than the most â—afty politician Shal not the poor believers â—â—le habit shine more than the rich mans scarâ—â—t and glittering robes Wil not the contemt â—f this World be of more value than al the â—reasures of it Shal not the tears of the peâ—itent soul then bring more comfort than al â—he mirth and joy of this world Wil not an â—â—oly life then give more satisfaction than al â—he licentious humors of this life O! what 〈◊〉 glorious day wil the day of Jugement be How wil althings be set at Rights then Shal â—ot every mans work then be made manifest â—â—s 1 Cor. 3.13 Oh! what a glorious manifestation wil there then be made of al the hidden things of darknesse whether good or bad So 1 Cor. 4 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both wil bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and wil make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shal every man have praise of God Here the Apostle cals us off from our present uncharitable censures of things secret to a looking for the coming of the day of God and that righteous jugement which shal then be made of the most hidden things Hence it is evident that a great part of our looking for the coming of the day of God consists in our looking for the day of Jugement which wil follow thereon 2. To look for the coming of the day 〈◊〉 God implies a deep fixed regard to Eternitiâ—â— as an essential consequent thereof Eternitâ—â— indeed is a great word But O! how muâ—â— greater is the thing it self How far shoâ—â— are al our Expressions and Affections of Eternitie Had we right notions of that eternaâ—â— state we should not thinke of it without aâ—â— extasie or rapture But alas alas Eternitiâ—â— is too big for our poor shallow apprehensionsâ— How soon are our short capacities swalloweâ— up when we dive into this infinite Abysse anâ— Ocean of Eternitie And yet without a regard to it we neither thinke nor affect noâ— act any thing as we ought Eternitie gives forme and spirit both to the life of Grace and Glorie We had better never be happy than be happy only for a time If those glorified Saints in Heaven were not assured oâ— an Eternitie to be happie in their happinesse for a time would render them the more miserable in the end Time renders althings little or nothing but Eternitie althings great Eternitie sums up al time in formal Being without succession If thou art one moment happy in Eternitie thou art for ever so Take away ten millions of years from Eternitie and you take away nothing Millions of years make not the least moment of Eternitie Cast but an eye on Eternitie and al the goods and ils of time wil appear to be pure nothings Alas how little difference is there between the ils and goods of this life if we regard Eternitie Yea wil not the crosses and sorrows of this life if sanctified appear to be great blessings and unsanctified blessings great curses to one that has an eye of faith fixed on Eternitie He that looks with a steady â—eye to Eternitie wil count his losses in this life for Christ great gains his sorrows mater of â—oy his reproches his glorie his miseries his blessings yea death it self his dore to life Surely they who have Eternitie in their eye can see nothing in this world agreable or great There is no real happinesse or miserie but what is Eternal Hence al that look for the coming of the day of God must also look for Eternitie For without regard hereto the coming of the day of God wil signifie but little Al our thoughts Intentions Inclinations designes Affections and Actions run into Eternitie and subsist there assoon as they have a being wherefore our main worke is to cast an eye of faith after them and oft to consider what account we shal be able to give of them at the coming of our Lord. Faith is great with Child of Eternitie and the more we live by faith in the expectation of Christs coming the more we wil live in the believing views of Eternitie Oh! how little wil althings of time seem to him who has his eye fixed on things eternal So 2 Cor. 4.18 while we look not at things that are seen but at things that are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal A sight of things Eternal darkens al the glorie of things temporal So much for the Object SECT 3. The Gospel the Medium through which we by faith look for the coming of the day of God Also the several Acts of faith in looking for Christs coming 3. ANother requisite in natural Vision oâ— Sight is the medium through which we look Now the Medium through which we look for the coming of the day of God is the Gospel and the Promisses thereof Such is the imperfection of our present state as that we cannot see things Divine but in a glasse and that darkely if compared with the intuitive Vision of Saints glorified So 1 Cor. 13.12 But now we see through a glasse darkely but then face to face
which shal be reveled at his second coming is most efficacious to keep the soul in love to God What is al our love to God but the Reflection of his love to us And hence the more the love of God to us is apprehended is not our Love to God the more increased And whâ—n do we apprehend more of the love of God than when we most intently look on the mercie of our Lord at his second coming What more naturally breeds love than the contemplation of the thing beloved And do not al our beloved objects lie wrapt up in the mercie of our Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Platonic at his second coming what better preservative can there be of our first love the love of our espousals than to have the second coming of Christ always in our eye Did not our wanton hearts forget Christ our absent husband and his returne were it possible that they could gad abroad so much after other lovers as now they do No No Expectation of Christs second coming would dash out of countenance al adulterous thoughts and wanton dalliances with the Idols of time It would maintain in us pure virgin chast love towards Christ and that upon this ground because it knows that al those that love not our Lord Jesus lie under the most dreadful curse that ever was Thus 1 Cor. 16.22 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha i. e. let him be accursed til the Lord come to pronounce his last doom This curse as we before hinted alludes to the great and terrible excommunication of the Jewish Church which began with the first words of Enochs prophesic so famous among them and mentioned Jude 14 15. The Lord cometh And the Apostles sense seems this That whosoever loves not our Lord Jesus Christ shal be obnoxious to al the Plagues and Miserie denounced by Enoch against ungodly sinners The very apprehensions of this dreadful curse has kept many a poor believer in the Love of Christ What! saith the believing soul are al that love not our Lord under a Maranatha must they indeed remain accursed til our Lord come and thence for ever O! then farewel al other lovers what doest thou mean O my soul by entertaining beloved Idols is not the judge at the dore Must I not give an account for al adulterous glances on this alluring world The soul that always eyes the coming of his Lord carries his picture in its bosome thence is dayly inflamed with love to him as lovers are wont 3. Believing views of Christs second coming worke in the soul an holy fear of God which is another main branch of Godlinesse So in the old Testament the whole of Godlinesse and divine worship is oft exprest by fear And its certain nothing breeds a more reverential fear and awe of God than deep lively expectations of the second coming of our Lord. This seems contained in our Lords exhortation Mat. 10.28 And fear not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kil the soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both bodie and soul in hel As if he had said Alas what mean you by being so solicitous and fearful about your present life ought you not rather to fear your Lord who at his second coming wil destroy both bodie and soul of wicked men This also seems to be the import of Pauls Admonition 2 Cor. 5.11 2 Cor. 5.11 knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men The terror of the Lord i. e. when we must appear before his jugement fear We persuade men To what why to an holy fear and awe of God The proper affection suited to things terrible is fear and oh what an holy fear of God doth the expectation of that terrible day worke in Believers Were it possible that men could be so regardlesse and fearlesse of God as they are had they but the coming of the day of God more frequent and lively in their eye 4. Spiritual sights of the coming of our Lord have a Soverain influence for the calling off our hearts from al inordinate regard to and love of this present world And oh how much of the power of Godlinesse consists herein Doth not a principal part of the divine life consist in our spiritual death unto and alienation from this dirty world may we count him a Godly man who is drowned head and ears in the cares and concerns of this life Surely true pietie brings a man to a general privation of the goods he doth possesse that so Christ may be al in al. He is the true Godly man who amidst al the comforts of this life admires loves and enjoys nothing greatly but God And oh how much doth a real sight of the coming of our Lord in al his glorie darken the glorie of this fading world and deaden the heart unto it What more effectual to draw off the heart from this lower world than our dayly drawing nigh in thoughts and affections to the coming of the day of God He that looks for a crown at the coming of our Lord wil contemne al the shadows of this lower world Such as are much taken up in the contemplation of that coming world wil not think themselves obliged to give this present temting world one good look or act of love hope and friendship Thus 2 Pet. 3.11 2 Pet. 3.11 Seing then that al these things shal be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be c. As if he had said wil our Lord indeed ere long come to judge the world and shal al the beautie Glorie and excellence of this sensible world be involved in that universal conflagration ought we not then to have our hearts crucified to al these inferior goods suppose a Citizen of London should be assured that within a few days his house should be involved in flames would he thinke ye be at any great charge to adorne or beautifie his house or lay up his choisest treasures and goods therein Would he not rather entertain himself dayly with thoughts of removing elsewhere Just such is our case are we not assured that ere long this visible world wil be in flames about our ears ought we not then to cal off our Affections from it and look out for a Citie which hath foundations Surely this was Abraham's practice Heb. 11.9 10. as we are told Heb. 11.9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promisse as in a strange Countrey dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promisse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut illi quorun vitè vagas plaustra trabuat donos Grot. In tabernacles or moveable houses such as had no firme foundation but were drawen on wheeles here or there as the owners pleased But why did Abraham Isaac and Jacob dwel in tabernacles had they not a promisse of and thence a right unto Canaan where they dwelt
but in Salcm i. e. peace or the soul which is kept in order and peace Hence he is a Godly man indeed who hath got the Art and Skil of ordering his heart and conversation aright With such a soul God dwels and to him he sheweth his salvation So Psal 50.23 And to him that ordereth his conversation aright wil I shew the salvation of God Now nothing has a more soverain efficace for the ordering our hearts and lives aright than deep constant expectations of our Lords approche O! what an exact order are such mens souls and conversations in who daily expect the coming of their Lord how harmonious are their thoughts how uniforme and equal are their Affections What a sweet concent and exact mesure is there in al their ways This seems implied in that great Admonition of our Lord Luke 12.35 36. Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he wil returne from the wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately The girding of the loins and burning of their lights with their waiting for the returne of their Lord do al implie a good order of heart and life and whence springeth al this but from serious thoughts and expectations of our Lords coming The Allusion seems to be unto the custome of Servants who when they were under expectation of their Lords returne were mighty careful to set althings in order and preparation for him Lively thoughts of Christs coming preserve the soul in its due order by making Eternitie near If we have tidings that a person of great qualitie is coming to visit us how are althings immediately set at rights what care is there to put every thing in its place So here when the soul lies under deep impressions of the near approche of the Lord of Glorie how studious and exact is it in setting al its thoughts Affections motions and ways in order what a sweet Uniformitie and agrement wil there be in its thoughts how regular and consonant wil its affections be what a beautiful Decorum wil there be in its Actions and motions This is evident in persons on their death-bed who having lively views of Eternitie and their near approche thereto are most careful to set althings in order Thence 2 Kings 20.1 When Hezekiah was sick unto death Esaias by Gods appointment bids him set his house in order for he should die Indeed it is natural and most commun for Christians at the approche of death to set althings both of soul and estate in order and why because then they have deep apprehensions of the near approche of their Lord. So that had we as we ought to have such lively views of our Lords coming at al times what an admirable order harmonie and concent would there be in our hearts and conversations 11. Heart-affecting views of our Lords coming have a prevalent Influence on Christian Vigilance or Watchfulnesse which is another great piece of Godlinesse The Life and power of Godlinesse is much maintained by a spiritual watching over our hearts and ways Usually the more or lesse vigilant we are the more or lesse Godly we are None thrive more in Godlinesse than such as are the most curious observers of their own spirits Inclinations affections and conversations on al occasions as to tentations and duties But Oh! how dangerous is a sleepy profession What a world of evils attend a slumbering professor how soon do short sleeps harden And what more commun in these last days than spiritual slumbers even among Virgin prosessors Yea how apt are Christians to be over-taken with slumbering fits even under the greatest dangers and duties And whence comes this to passe but from putting far off the coming of their Lord Thus it is with the ten Virgins as wel wise as foolish Mat. 25.5 Mat. 25.5 while the bridegroom tarried they al slumbred and slept This refers to these last days of the world in which our Lord premonisheth us that the great sin of professors would be spiritual slumber and securitie arising from the bridegrooms tarrying i. e. their not apprehending the nearnesse of his approche Whence it follows by natural consequence that the more clearly and fully we apprehend the Bridegrooms approche and the nearnesse thereof the more vigilant and watchful we shal be There are two main parts of Christian vigilance 1. To watch against sin and Tentation 2. To watch unto dutie Now both of these are greatly promoted by lively expectations of our Lords approche 1. Fixed contemplation of our Lords coming is a prevalent means to keep the soul vigilant and watchful against sin and tentations thereto Thus Mat. 24.42 43. Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come But know this that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come be would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up This Paul applies to our Christian vigilance against Tentation 1 Thes 5.2 6. 1 Thes 5.2 6. v. 2. For your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night He refers to the foregoing Admonition of our Lord which was communly received in al the Churches And what doth he infer hence v. 6. Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober He brings in the unexpected coming of our Lord as a forcible motive to provoke al Christians unto Christian vigilance against Tentation What is the reason that many professors are so soon overcome by smal tentations and hardened in sin but because they watch not against them And why is it that that they watch not against sin and tentation but because they expect not the coming of Christ 2. Frequent and affectionate expectations of our Lords coming are exceding powerful to keep the soul vigilant and watchful as to dutie Continual vigilance over the worke God cals us to is a great marque of Godlinesse He is a Godly man indeed who watcheth al occasions of doing good and of being faithful in every relation and service God cals him unto And what greater incentive or argument have we to excite us hereto than dayly expectations of our Lords approche Mat. 24.44 46. Having exhorted them and us to watch v. 42 43. he addes v. 44. Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as you thinke not the Son of man cometh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For this cause i. e. because your Lord cometh as a thief in the night therefore watch al opportunities of being found in ways of dutie Whence it follows v. 45. who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household Câ—istus hac inteâ—rogatioâ—is orma 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give them meat in due season Here is quis for qualis or quantus Who i. e. What a faithful and prudent servant is
Affections 3. For Believers not to mind the coming of their Lord is a sin against the strongest and deepest obligations Doth not this oppose al our Covenants Resolutions Experiences Ordinances yea the bloud and heart of our dying and exalted Savior Was not this one main end of the death and exaltation of Christ that believers might live always in the expectation of him 4. What a World of other sins are maintained by our not looking for our Lords approche What more prevalent to feed Idol-lusts How is Conscience cast into fits of spiritual slumber hereby as Mat. 25.5 What a world of sloath deadnesse and formalitie is nourished hereby How much Instabilitie confusion and distraction of spirit is caused hereby 5. Yea how cruel and injurious are such to their own souls What a sting and poison doth this put into every affliction How doth it embitter the sweetest mercies Yea doth it not open a dore to al tentations and leave men shiftlesse under the greatest difficulties 5. Let us then al be exhorted henceforth daily to look for and hasten unto the coming of our Lord. And to provoke our hearts hereto let these following motives be duely considered by us 1. Is not that great day our time of Rest and do not al mind their Rest specially after hard labor and a tiresome journey would not al fain be at home when night comes What is this world but our Wildernesse 2. Consider the nearnesse of your Relation and the manifold engagements you stand in unto Christ Are you not maried unto Christ and doth not the law of mariage require that you daily expect the coming of your absent husband Remember you are not maried to the clay-Gods of time but to Christ who has laid infinite obligations on you daily to expect his returne 3. Consider also Christs Regard and Affection towards you Though his Bodie be in the supreme Heaven yet is not his eye of pitie and care yea and his heart with you Doth he not long for you and wil you not also long for him 4. Remember also what Influence this looking for your approching Lord hath on your heart and ways O! What Vigor and Strength doth it infuse into al that you do or suffer How much is the heart hereby fortified against al tentations and difficulties This wil be wings and spurs to the soul in every dutie The more you eye your home the more active wil you be in your way 5. Is not this likewise your Glorie and triumphe to turne your back on althings of time and daily to look for and hasten to the coming of your Lord Are you not hereby advanced into the highest forme of Christians yea taken up into the very spirit and life of Heaven Have you not hereby a beginning of Heaven a stampe of Glorie on your hearts and lives 6. Remember that al you do for your souls without a regard to the coming of the day of God is nothing You neither mind nor affect nor act any thing to purpose longer than you mind your Lords approche What is al your Religion without this but a dreaming sleepy loitering formalitie Al your Actions and passions for God which refer not to this day are lost 7. To look for and hasten unto the coming of your Lord puts you into a state of Libertie and freedome it makes you free-borne Citizens of Heaven as Phil. 3.20 Whereas al others are chained to the Idols of time prisoners to their lusts of servile ignoble spirits Nothing brings so much Amplitude and Libertie of heart and ways as daily looking for that great Day 8. Remember the judge standeth at the dore you are on the brink of Eternitie and dare you sleep or loiter when the judge is so near Is it not prodigious folie to lie dreaming on the precipice of Eternitie If you look not for the coming of your Lord is it not a black marque that wrath and jugement look for you Have you not sufficient cause to question your Interest in Christ if you altogether neglect and disregard his second coming 9. Know that your choisest comforts peace hopes Graces with the whole of the Divine Life depend greatly on your looking for and hastening unto the coming of your Lord. Christ wil never honor you with much peace joy and Grace if you wil not honor him with looking for and hastening unto his second coming 10. Future Blessednesse is entailed on our present looking for and hastening unto the coming of our Lord. Thus Heb. 9.28 And to them that look for him shal he appear the second time without sin unto salvation So that you see Christ wil appear to none in a way of salvation but such as look for him 11. Doth not the whole Creation excepting the secure sleepy world look for the coming of our Lord as Rom. 8.19 20 21. and wil you not do the same 12. Lastly To be altogether unmindful of your Lords approche argues a lifelesse senselesse heart Is not the expectation of your Lords approche your safest sweetest richest noblest life Oh! then what a sad death is it to be deprived either in part or in whole of that which is your highest life To be dead to Christ and his second coming which brings eternal life what a miserable death is this Is not al life dead and gone if your looking for your Lords returne be dead and gone To give a few Directions for our better looking for and hastening unto the coming of our Lord. 1. Make the promisse the mesure of thine expectations and let thy spirit be unsatisfied til thou hast got some assurance of an interest in the good things promissed at the coming of thy Lord. As the promisse alone can give being to thy faith and hopes so the Assurance of an interest in the things promissed gives life and vigor to thy looking for and hastening unto the coming of thy Lord. Thou canst not hope for the coming of thy Lord without a promisse neither wilt thou hasten towards it without some persuasion of an Interest in the things promissed Leave not soul-concernes under any hazards or peradventures Rest not satisfied in any condition ' til you are sure you can look Christ in the face when he comes without fear or shame In order hereto cast up your accounts daily and never be satisfied without some assurance your sins are pardoned 2. Be ever parting with the Idols of time Let no false God or Image of Jealousie loge in your heart Remember the Lord usually conveigheth his most deadly poison through the sweet wine of prosperitie O! how many by having their eyes dazled with the glorie of this world have lost the sight of their Lords approche How soon are our eyes misted and hearts bewitched with the golden pleasures of that heart-inveigling Idol the World Oh! at what a distance ought we to keep from the wals of this Pest-house what have we to do with this dirty Idol which the degenerate Sons of Adam Worship and adore 3.