III. It hath a great influence upon the spiritual life, and keeps reli- gion alive in our souls. That will appear if you take cither word in the text, waiting or patience.
1. If you take the first notion, waiting or looking, as it draws off the mind from things present to things to come.
[1.] Looking to the end of things giveth wisdom: Deut. xxxii. 20, ' Oil, that they were wise, that they would consider their latter end.' It is not so much to be stood upon who is happy now, but who shall be happy at last. If men would frequently consider this, it would nuich rectify all the mistakes in the world. If we would inure our minds not to look to things as they seem at ])rcsent, or relish to the fiesh, or appear now to such short-sighted creatures as we are, but as they will be judged of at the last day, at Christ's appearing: how soon would this vain show be over, and the face of things changed, and ■what is rich, and pleasant, and honourable now, appear base and con- temptible at the latter end 1 Then shall we see that there is an excel- lency in oppressed godlincs.s, that exalted wickedness and folly is but shame and ruin. Do but translate the scene from the world's judg- ment to Christ's tribunal, and you will soon alter your opinions con- cerning wisdom and folly, misery and hap])incss, liberty and bondage, shame and glory ; the mistaking of which notions pervert all mankind, and there is no rectifying the mistake but by carrying of our mind seriously to the last review of all things : for then we shall judge things not by what tliey seem now, but by what they will be hereafter. Solomon tells us, Prov. xix. 20, ' Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.' That is true wisdom, to.
2 THEti. 111. 5.] THE SEVENTH SEKMON. 251
l)e found wise at last. Time will come when we shall wish and say in vain, Oh, that we had laid up treasure in heaven, that we had lahourcd for the meat that perisheth not, that we had esteemed despised holiness, that we had set less hy all the vanities of the world, that we had imitated the strictest and most mortified believer, for those are only esteemed and have honour in that day. More particularly —
(1.) It would much quicken us to repentance : Acts iii. 19, ' Re- ])ent and he converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the day of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' All things shall be reviewed at Christ's coming, and some men's sins remain, and others are blotted out. None but those that are con- verted and turned to God can expect that benefit. Unless we be recovered from the devil, the world, and the flesh, and brought back again in heart and life to God, there will be no escape. Now those that wait for this day should prepare for it, that they may stand in the judgment with comfort. The wicked shall have judgment with- out mercy, but the believer shall be accepted upon terms of grace. Days of torment shall come to the one from the presence of the Lord, and days of refreshing shall come to the other. The state in the world of believing penitents is a time of conflict, labour, and sorrow, but this trouble and toil is then over, and they shall enjoy their rest. Consider these things, Where would you have your refreshment, and in what ? Many seek their refreshing now either in brutish pleasures, and sit down under the shadow of some earthly gourd, which soon withers ; but those that seek their refreshment in the enjoyment of God shall then be satisfied. Nothing certainly makes us so solicitous about a serious reconciliation with God as the consideration of this day.
(2.) It engageth us to holiness, and puts life into our obedience. We that look for such things, ' what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness? ' 2 Peter iii. 11. Men are secure and careless, either because they do not believe this day, or do not seriously think of it. Could we bring ourselves to this, to think and speak and do as having judgment and eternity in our eye, we would be other manner of persons than ever we have been. What ! believe this day, and be so careless ! It cannot be. We would not beat down the price of religion to so low a rate, nor serve God so loosely, if we did wait for the coming of Christ, who will bring every- thing into the judgment, whether it be good or evil. We could not then satisfy ourselves in such a negligent profession and practice of godliness.
(3.) It would produce a more heavenly temper and conversation. That is evident from the apostle's words : Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversa- tion is in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour.' Looking for this salvation and this Saviour, it breeds in us the heavenly mind. He comes from heaven to bring us thither ; for he comes to receive us to himself, John xiv. 3. Therefore if we be not heavenly, our practice will be a contradiction to our faith. You believe that there is a God and a Christ and a life to come ; that this Christ came from God to bring us to God, that we may enjoy him in the life to come ; and thereupon you renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, and give up yourselves to God, believing that this Christ will come again