3. That it is earnestly desired by all true Christians. That is of chief respect here ; for the apostle conjureth them by all that is dear and sacred in their most holy faith ; and upon this I will mainly spend the first part of this discourse. I shall prove it by these two choice pieces of scripture, which describe the communion of the church with Christ, or the dispensations of Christ to the church ; the one concerneth God's internal, the other his external government — the Canticles and Keve- lations. The book of Canticles is ended with this desire, vote, and wish : Cant. viii. 14, ' Make haste my beloved, and be like a young hart or roe upon the mountains of spices.' The bride's last and great suit to the bridegroom is ' make haste,' as to his coming in glory to judge the world; not that Christ is slack, but the church's affections are strong. They that go a-wlioring after the world neither desire his coming, nor love his appearing ; but the spouse would have all things hastened that he might return. He cannot come soon enough to set the world to rights and complete their happiness ; it is that only that will perfect their consolation, and therefore would have the blessed and longed-for meeting hastened. In the other book, of the Keve- lations, see how it is closed : Rev. xxii. 20, Christ saith, ' Surely I come quickly ; ' and the church, like a quick echo, saith ' Even so, come, Lord Jesus ; come quickly.' It taketh the word out of Christ's mouth, and presently improveth the promise into a prayer, and so Christ's voice and the church's voice are unisons. The acclamation of the saints answereth to his proclamation. Christ saith, ' I come,' as de- siring to meet with us. The church answereth, * Even so, come,' as
8 THE FIRST SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 1, 2
desiring his fellowship and company. When once faith apprehendeth the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus to judgment, love presently desireth it, as the most comfortable thing which we can ask of him ; that is the farewell suit of the church to Christ. If he will grant this, all complaints, and sorrow, and sighing will be no more.
Now I shall give you reasons why this is desired by all true Christians.
1. In respect of him who is to come : his person, that we may see him who is our great Lord and Saviour. All that believed anything of Christ desired to see him ; those that lived before his coming in the flesh : John viii. 56, ' Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad ; ' and the same affection possessctli us\hat live after his coming in the flesh. We know him by hearsay, we have lieard much of liim ; he wooeth us by a proxy, as Eliezer, Abraham's servant, did Rebekah. Now, Christians would fain see him of whom they have heard, and whom they loved, and in whom they have believed : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen, ye love, and^ in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.' They do not see Christ, but they have a taste of his goodne.-s : 1 Peter ii. 3, ' If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.' They have felt liis comforts and live by his life ; all that is wanting is but ocular vision, that they may see him face to face ; therefore they long for his coming.
The excellency of Christ their head shall then be fully revealed ; therefore it is comfortable to his saints to think of his second coming. It is called, ' the revelation of Christ,' 1 Peter i. 13. Christ is now under a veil, retired within the curtain of the heavens. The wicked often ask. Where is now your God ? and our own unbelieving hearts are apt to question the glory of his person and the truth of his pro- mises, when his most faithful servants are under disgrace. Christ is a glorious king, but little of his glory is seen in the world ; therefore they desire that he may appear in glory and royalty ; we pray that his kingdom may come.
2. The persons desiring ; there is somewhat in them to move them to it.
[L] The Spirit of Christ: Pvev. xxii. 17, ' The Spirit in the bride saith. Come;' the Holy Ghost breedeth this desire in the church. Nature saith. It is good to be here ; but this is a disposition above nature. The flesh saith. Depart; but the Spirit saith, Come. The great work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together ; he cometh from the Father and the Son to bring us to the Father by the Son ; his business is to marry us to Christ; the promise being passed, the spouse longeth to see her beloved. It is the Spirit kindietli a desire in us of his second coming, when the marriage that is now contracted shall be consummated; when tlie queen shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework, and shall enter into tlie palace with him, there to abide for ever. Well, then, though guilty sinners would have Christ stay away still, and if it might go by voices, the carnal world would never give their voice this way, ' Even so, come. Lord Jesns, come quickly;' no, they are of the devils' mind, ' Why art thou come to torment us before the time ?' Mat. viii. 29. Thieves and malefactors,