118 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 10.
3. He comes to crown us. Certainly there is a longing for this day and coming ; for what is his work ? He comes to crown the saints : 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.' Then he comes to put the crown of righteousness upon our heads, and invest us with all the fruits of his purchase; then the godly Christian comes to have his crown: 1 Pet. v. 4, 'When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away.' He that hath been careful to honour God in his relation, then the great Shepherd comes to put the crown of glory, which fades not away, upon his head.
Are the children of God always in this frame, as to desire his coming ? Many tremble at the thoughts of it, and can have no com- fort, for want of assurance of God's love ; and many times the saints do not feel such inclinations, and such ardent and strong desires.
I answer : —
1. The meanest saint hath some inclination this way ; he cannot but desire Christ should come into his heart and bless him, in turning him from his sins ; and that he should come to judgment, since com- fort and rew\ard is more naturally embraced than duty. Whoever is begotten to God, is ' begotten to a lively hope,' 1 Pet. i. 3 ; his heart is carried this way, though not with so much strength and lively motions as others are. Yet I grant,
2. Sometimes there may be a drowsiness and indisposition, when their lamps are not burning, when they are grown careless and fallen asleep ; as the wise virgins slept, as well as the foolish, by a sluggish security. And the saints may find themselves indisposed, possibly by the remission of their w^atchfulness ; they may contract an indisposi- tion, yet there is a spirit stirring this way, which begins with the new birth, and still continues, though it doth not always alike put forth itself. A wife desires her husband's coming home, yet it may be all is not in such good order. Now, all Christians desire the coming of Christ ; but they are not so watchful, therefore are not so lively. Secu- rity brings deadness, until God awakens them by some sharp affliction. The needle that is touched with the loadstone yet may a little be discomposed and turned aside, but it settles again. This is the right posture and frame of a gracious soul, to be thus earnestly bent and carried out after the coming of Christ.
3. I answer again : The church doth really and heartily desire this coming, though they may tremble at some circumstances of it. When we think of this great clay, and of the book that shall be opened, and the impartial proceedings, there is some degree of bondage still left in the saints, that doth a'little weaken their confidence and bold- ness. 1 John iv. 18 we are told : ' Perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment.' Until our graces are perfect, there is something of fear.
APPLICATION.
Use 1. To reprove those that do not desire the coming of Christ, but put off the thoughts of it. Why ? Because it casts a damp upon their fleshly rejoicing ; which put far away the day of the Lord, the
Mat. VI. 10.] the lokd's pkayer. 119
evil day ; it is so to them : Amos vi. 3. They wish it would never come, and would be glad in their hearts to bear Kuch news. Why ? For Christ's coming is their torment and burden ; they look upon it as a day of vengeance and an evil day, therefore are loth to entertain the thought of it. Saith Austin, ' Canst thou pray that the kingdom of God may come, when thou art afraid the kingdom of God should come ? ' A carnal man cannot say the Lord's Prayer without being afraid ; they tremble at the remembrance of it ; they are afraid it should be true, and afraid to be heard. If it might go by their voice, Christ should never come. The voice of corrupt nature is, ' Depart from us ; and what can the Almighty do for them ? ' Job xxii. 17. Or if they do desire it, it is but in a slight, formal manner ; as those in the prophet that would see the day of the Lord, yet they could not bear it : Amos v. 18, ' Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord ; to what end is it for you ? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.' They little consider what they are doing, and what is their danger, when they are making such a prayer to God, ' Thy kingdom come.'
Use 2. For trial. How are you affected towards the coming of Christ ? Are you carried out with such an inclination and bent of heart, as the day of your perfection, and the day of your solemn enjoy- ment of God, requireth ? Is the bent of your heart carried out to things to come ? If there be looking, then there would : —