[2.] There is an utter unsuitableness of heart to them. Things present, that suit their fancies and please their senses, carry away their hearts. Ps. xlix. 18, ' Wliilst he lived he blessed his soul ; and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself.' Men bless themselves, and the carnal world applauds them in a sensual course and way of living. They measure all happiness by their outward condition in the world, and please themselves with golden dreams of contentment ; and this being seconded with the flattery and applauses of the deceived world, they are fast asleep in the midst of the greatest Koul-dangers, and so go down into hell before they think of it.
2. Come we now to the regenerate. Such the apostle looks upon the Thessalonians to be. They need to have their hearts directed to the patient waiting for Christ, for these reasons : —
[1.] Because we have too dim and doubtful a foresight of these things. How dark a prospect have even the best of God's children of the world to come ! We may speak of others as unbelievers, but God knows how doubtful our own thoughts are about eternity and Christ's coming ; how little we can shut the eye of sense, and open that of faith, and say truly with the apostle, 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' We look not at the things that are seen, that are temporal ; but to the things unseen, that are eternal.' Alas ! we have no through sight into another world. The best Christians have need to have their eyes anointed with spiritual eye-salve, that their sight may be more sharp and piercing ; to beg ' the spirit of wisdom and revelation, to open the eyes of their mind, that they may see what is the hope of Christ's calling,' Eph. i. 17, 18. There are too many intervening clouds between us and eternity, that darken our sight and obscure our faith.
254 THE SEVENTH SERMON. [2 TlIES. III. 5.
[:*.] Our lliouj^lits of these things are strange and dull, and too rare and unfrotjui'ut. ]lo\v seldom have we any serious thouglits of his coming, and how unwelcome are they to our hearts ! It was a com- j)laint against Israel, that they did put far away the evil day ; but tiie comi)laint against us may be taken up thus, that we put far away the good day, when all our desires and hopes shall be accomplished and Siitisfied. The atheistical world deny it, and we forget it. iSolomon saith to the sensual young man, ' Remember, that for all these things God shall bring thee to judgment.' Young men forget or put off these thoughts, lest, like cold water cast into a boiling pot, they should check the fervour of their lusts. But, alas ! grave men, good men, forget these things. When Christ had spoken of his coming to judgment, he saith, ]\Iark xiii. 37, * What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.' Watching is keeping up this attentiveness to his second coming with all Christian vigilance and endeavour. But few regard the charge : therefore ' the Lord direct your hearts,' &c.
[3.] Because our affections are so cold, and we are no more affected with it, but as if we were senseless of the weight of these things. Some dead and drowsy desires we have, but not that lively motion which will become hope and love. If nature say, ' Come not to torment us before the time,' grace should say, ' Come, Lord Jesus, oh, come quickly.' We are not only to look for his appearing, but to love his appearing. Where are these desires, that Christ would either come down to us, or take us up to himself, that we may live with him for ever ?
[4.] This prayer need to be made for the renewed too, because Christians think of it with too much })erplexity and fear, Is the eight of a Saviour unwelcome to you ? or should the drawing nigh of your redemption be a comfort or a terror ? Why do you then believe in Christ, and choose liis favour for your happiness ? We thought that this had been all your hope, and your desire, and your great comfort; and shall your hope be your torment, and beget horror rather than joy ? Oh, beg the Lord to direct your hearts, that you may ' hope to the end for the grace that shall be brought unto you at the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ,' 1 Peter i. 13. We do not only wait for glory, but for grace ; and shall not this be a comfort to you ? [5.] We need to pray this prayer, because our preparations are too sh-nder for so great a day. Serious ])reparation is necessary. It is (k'.scribed 2 Peter iii. 14, ' Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless;' that is, in a state of I'cconciliation with God. But we live too securely and quietly, in an unprepared state. If we have the habitual preparation, we do not keep up the actual l»reparation by clarifying and refining our souls from the dregs of sense, by honouring God in the world with greater earnestness, that when our Loid comes, he may find us so doing. We do not stand ' with our loins girt, and our lamps burning,' tiiat when the Lord knocks we may o])en to him inunediately. We do not keep up the heavenly desire, the actual readiness. The return of a husband after long ab.scnce is nK»re welcome to the wife than to a harlot ; but she would have all things ready for his reception and entertainment.