3. The church doth really and heartily desire Christ's coming, though they tremble at some circumstances of his coming : there is a degree of bondage that hindereth much of our confidence and boldness: 1 John iv. 17, 18, ' Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment ; he that feareth is not made perfect in love.' While we are imperfect there may be some fears how it shall go with us in the judgment. The day of judgment may be considered in esse rei, or in esse cognito, — the success of the day itself, that we may stand before Christ in the judgment, or in our apprehension of it, that we may think of it with boldness, confidence, and desire. All sincere persons shall speed well in the judgment; but while we are thus weak and imperfect, we have little confidence of our sincerity. Certainly the more holy we are, the more we are emboldened against judgment to come ; therefore we must every day get a conscience soundly estab- lished against the fears of hell and damnation.
4. To be of such a temper as not at all to value, and prize, and delight in it, quencheth all sense of godliness and religion. Surely they are not touched with any fear of God who wish it would never come, who would be glad in their heart to hear such news ; they have the spirit of the devil in them who count his coming their burden and
2 ThES. II. 1, 2] THE FIRST SERMON. 11
torment; they cannot say the Lord's Prayer without a fear to be lieard, and pray, ' Thy kingdom come,' when they desire it may never be ; the thought of it casts a damp on their carnal rejoicing ; and he that is afraid lest his prayers prove true, can never pray heartily ; no, not with a moral sincerity.
Use. To press us to keep up a firm belief and an earnest desire of Christ's coming; this will make you heavenly-minded : Phil. iii. 20, 21, 'For our conversation is in heaven, where we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.' It will engage you to fidelity in your duty ; for every one of us must give an account of himself to God: 1 John ii. 28, * And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, v/e may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' To watchfulness as well as faithfulness: Luke xxi, 36, ' Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.' Yea, to diligence, that you may clear up your title and interest: Heb. ix. 28, 'And to them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation;' 2 Peter iii. 14, 'Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.' Oh, therefore, let this be a precious truth to you, which you would not forego for all the world ; if others tremble at the mention of it, still carry it so that it may be your comfort and solace. In short, believe it strongly, think of it frequently, prepare for it diligently, improve it fruitfully, to all holy conversation and godliness, yea, to get oil not into your lamps only, but vessels, — grace in your hearts, as well as profess yourselves to be Christians.
Doct. 2. That when Christ shall come, all the saints shall be gathered together unto him.
For evidencing this, let me clear to you, that at the day of judg- ment there shall be : —
1. A congregation.
2. A segregation.
3. An aggregation.
They are all intended, but principally the last.
1. A congregation: Mat. xxv. 32, 'Before him shall be gathered all nations ;' and not only all nations, but all persons: 2 Cor. v. 10, ' We must all {collective) appear before the j udgment-seat of Christ, that every one {distrihutive) may receive according to the things done in his body,' &c. All that have lived from the beginning of the world unto that day shall, without exception of any one single person, from the least unto the greatest, appear before the tribunal of Christ ; no age, no sex, or nation, or dignity, or greatness, can excuse us. In the world some are too high to be questioned, others too low to be taken notice of, but there all are brought forth to undergo their trial ; there is no shifting or avoiding this day of appearance : Adam will there meet with all his posterity at once. Take all the distinctions of man- kind, infants, and grown persons ; I mean infants who die before they are in an ordinary way capable of the doctrine of life (the scriptures are written for grown persons, the case of infants is more obscure), those of them who are born within the church, God is their God:
12 THE FIRST SERMON. [2 ThES. II. I, 2.