1 defire of this event. The faints take pleasure in the prospect of it, and accordingly are described by the Apostle Paul (2 Tim. 4.—8.), by this very circumftance. They are fuch as "love his appearing." If the faints under the old difpenfation longed for the manifeftation of our Lord in the flesh, how much more ought we to long for that more glorious appearance which he fhall make in the end of the world. The Atheist rejects this doctrine altogether; the profane fcoffer fays, "Where "is the promise of his coming?" Carnal finners are afraid of it, when alarmed with the rebukes of confcience: as when Paul preached of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. But to the godly it is not matter of terror, but of delight. Nay, they would even haften its approach, if it were in their power. A believer, when his heart is right, will fay, like the mother of Sifera, when she cried through the lattefs, Why is his chariot fo long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot ?" At the fame time, 3dly, This expreffion imports a patient waiting for his appearance, in fpite of all difcouragements. couragements. Love makes the believer to long; but faith enables patiently to wait for his Lord's coming. What though he dwells. in an unkind world, wounded with sharp affictions, harraffed with temptations, and oppreffed with a body of fin and death? Yet all this notwithstanding, he ftill looks and. waits with patience and refignation. He knows that the fecond coming of his Lord will abundantly compenfate all his prefent delays and difcouragements. And "that this "trial of their faith, being much more pre cious than of gold that perifheth, though it "be tried with fire, fhall then be found unto "praife, and honour, and glory." But the moft effential part of the character of thofe to whom the fecond appearance of our Lord fhall be comfortable, is, in the 4th and last place, An habitual preparation for this event. They will endeavour "to have "their loins girded about, and their lights "burning, and themselves like unto men that "wait for their Lord, that when he cometh "and knocketh, they may open unto him "immediately." The beft evidence which we can give that we truly look for him with faith faith and love is, our being diligent, that we may be found of him in peace, without fpot, and blameless. As the proper improvement, therefore, of all that hath been faid, let me address to you this concluding exhortation. "Give all diligence to make your calling and "election fure."—" Take heed to yourselves, ❝left at any time your hearts be overcharged "with furfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and fo that day come up66 on you unawares. "_" Let your whole "conversation be fuch as becometh the gof"pel of Chrift." Never think “that you "have already attained, either are already "perfect ;-but forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to those "things which are before, prefs towards the appear, ye may also appear with him in glory." Amen. END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. 1 |