Use 1. Let us not fix times. Many of the ancients were too bold this way, and avc are apt to it. Lactantius peremptorily said, the world would endure but two hundred years after his time. So many will fix the time of the calling of the Jews, and the destruction of Antichrist without evident grounds and reasons. What God hath revealed is enough to bear us out in our duty and suffering. In other things let us patiently wait ; we see reason to do so, when we con- sider how many men have proved false proi)hets.
2. Let us not put off the time, and set it at too great a distance. Distant things, though never so great, will hardly move us ; that which men put off they do in effect put away ; they put far off the evil day, they would not let it come near their minds to have any operation upon them. Look, as the stars, those vast globes of light, by reason of the distance between us and them, do seem but as so many spangles, so we have but a weak sight of what is set at a great distance, and their operation on us will be but small ; the closer things are, the more they will Vvork upon us. One that looks upon what God hath revealed of this as sure and near, is more affected with it than others are. Therefore set yourselves at the entrance of that world, where you must everlastingly be, and watch and be ready. They that put it off, are apt to loiter in their work. If Christ's coming be not near at hand, certainly the time of our departure is at hand, and it will not be long ere it come about. But this is but introductive to the doctrine of Antichrist. Therefore I come to the second thing.
Secondly, The effect that this error might produce, trouble and un- settledness of mind : ' That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or troubled.' In the words there is a twofold metaphor ; the one taken from a tempest, or sea-storm, as the word jjlainly implies, ' that ye be not shaken in mind ;' and the other word is taken from the sudden alarm of a land-fight, which breeds trouble.
Doct. 1. That errors breed trouble of mind : they do not only trouble the church's peace : Gal. v. 12, ' I would they were even cut off which trouble you;' but they hinder tranquillity of mind: Gal. i. 7, 'There be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.'
How do errors hinder tranquillity of mind ? Partly because it is an unsound foundation ; it can never yield solid peace. We only find rest for the soul in a true religion, and there where it is purely pro- fessed ; others are left to great doubts and uncertainties. The Lord seems to direct us in this course when we are upon consultation about the taking U[) of a religion: Jer. vi. IG, ' Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souks.' Soul-rest is only found in God's way, and where it is most clearly professed. Partly because whatever false peace is bred there, it will at last end in trouble. The apostle compares seducers, Jude 13, to ' raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame ;' and we arc told of the locusts that came out of
2 ThES. II. 2.] THE SECOND SERMON. 19
the bottomless pit, Rev._ ix. 5, that they ' stung like scorpions.' Every erroneous way of religion is comfortless; yea, their doctrine breeds anxiety, and vexes the spirit ; for they have no true way of quietin<'' the conscience ; let us therefore detest error, because it is so much our interest. It is the property of truth to beget a delectation of mind ; it is ' sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.' Ver-iim est bonicm intel- lectus — truth is the good of the understanding. Now when we under- stand truth satisfyingly, it breeds an incredible delight ; when we have been in some perplexities, and begin to find out a truth : Pro v. xxiv. 13, 14, ' My son, eat thou honey, because it is good, and the honey- comb, which is sweet unto thy taste i so shall the knowledge of wisdom be when thou hast found it.' Honey is not so sweet to thy taste as this is to thy understanding. When a man hath found out any truth, though it be but a natural truth, it breeds its oblectation : much more spiritual truth ; it is very pleasing to the understanding, and most of all when spiritual. Truth is obeyed and practised ; for the understand- ing gives us but a sight of it, but obedience gives a taste thereof Our Saviour saith, Mat. xi. 28-30, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' If you will but come under Christ's blessed yoke and sceptre, and that way of religion he hath recom- mended to you, you will find an incredible peace, joy, and oblectation in your mind.