1. The sanctifying Spirit is given us for this end, to stir up love to God : John iv. 14, ' The water I will give him shall ^ be a well of water, always springing up unto eternal life.' It is not in the heart a dead pool, but a living spring. And the same is intimated, John vii. 38, ' He that believes in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water ; this he spake of the Spirit.'
2. The ordinances were a])pointed for this end. The word, to re- present God amiable to us, both for the goodness in him and the good- ness proceeding from him, especially in our redemption by Christ ; and also for those rich preparations of grace he hath made for us in another world to blow up this holy fire ; and this is the end of the sacrament. All the dainties that are set before us in the Lord's Supper do all taste and savour of love. Our meat is seasoned with love, and our drink flows into our cup out of the wine-press of love. Whv do we eat
04G THE SEVENTH SERMON. [2 TlIES. III. 5.
of the criicilieJ body of Christ, but that wo may remember Jesus ' wlio loved us, and ji^ave himself for us?' Gal. ii. 20. And also the drink that is provided for us at this feast is the blood of Christ : Rev. i. 5 * Who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.'
3! All the providences of God tend to this end, that we may love God ; all God's mercies are as new fuel to keep in this fire. ' I will love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication,' Ps. cxvi. 1 ; ' And thou shalt love the Lord, who is the strength of thy life, anil the length of thy days,' Deut. xxx. 20. All the mercy we have from God is to refresh and revive our love, that it may not languish and die ; nay, all the sharp corrections God sends are to re- cover our love to God: Isa. xxvi. 9, 'My soul hath desired thee in the night,' saith the prophet, ' and early have I sought thee.' And when was that ? — ' when thy judgments were abroad in the world,' when great and sharp afflictions were upon them.
SERMON VII.
A7kI into the ixdient loaitimj for Christ. — 2 Thes. III. 5.
The words are a prayer ; and tlie apostle prays here for those things which are most necessary to Christians — love to God, and patient waiting for Christ.
I come now to handle the second branch.
The point is this : —
Doct. That when the heart is bent by love to God, we need also the direction of his grace to keep it intent upon the coming of Christ.
Four things I must speak to : —
I. What this patient waiting for Christ is.
II. Tlie connection between it and the love of God.
III. That it hath a great influence upon the spiritual life, or keeps religion alive in the soul.
I v. The necessity of God's concurrence hereto : ' the Lord direct your hearts into the patient waiting for Chiist.'
I. What is this patient waiting for Christ ? I answer — It is the grace of hope fortifying our resolutions for God and the world to come, that we may continue in our duty till our work be finished and our warfare ended. The act of hope is three ways expressed : — Some- times by looking, which notes a certain expectation : Titus ii. 13, * Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour.' Sometimes by loving or longing, wliich notes a desirous and earnest expectation : 2 Tim. iv. 8, 'Not to me only, but to all that love his appearing.' Sometimes by waiting, which notes a patient expectation, 1 Thes. i. 10. lie makes it there the fruit of our conversion ; he saith, we are ' turned to God, that we may wait for his Son from heaven.' This last notion is expressly mentioned in the text, the others are implied ; as looking, there can be no waiting for that we
2 ThES. III. 5.] THE SEVENTH SERMON. 247
do not look for ; and longing, for delay is only troublesome to them that earnestly desire his coming, and build their hopes upon it. Faith adds certainty, and love earnestness; and both give strength to patience. Let us open all these things. As —
1. Looking for the coming of Christ: Phil. iii. 20, 'Our conversa- tion is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.' It is not a matter of conjecture, but of faith. Reason saith. He may come ; but faith saith , He loill come. Nature will teach us it is very likely, for a guilty conscience fears the judge ; and the course of things is so disordered in the world, that there needs a review. But scripture tells us, it is very certain that ' he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry,' Heb. x. 37. Therefore, in the eye of faith it is sure and near. As Rebecca spied Isaac at a distance, so faith looks upon Christ as if he had begun his journey, and were now upon the way, and makes the believer stand ready to meet him and welcome him. Though it come not to pass presently, the thing is promised, and the time certainly determined in God's eternal purpose, which is enough for faith.