218 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 6.
perfect holiness and perfect freedom. We never find Christ a Saviour to the uttermost .till then ; to the glorified spirits he is but a Saviour in part, some fruit of sin is continued upon the body ; but then body and soul are united and perfectly glorified to enjoy God in heaven. Christ then cometh to make an end of what he had begun. He first came to redeem our souls, and then our bodies from corruption ; the body is a captive in the grave when the soul is set at liberty ; it is held under the power of death till that day. The butler was not afraid to go before Pharaoh, because Joseph told him he should be set at liberty. ' Lift up your heads,' it is a day of redemption, Luke xxi. 28. Christ cometh to loosen the bands and shackles of death ; to think and speak of that day with horror doth ill become him that looketh for such great privileges. 3. Provide for that day. It is called ' the great and notable day of the Lord,' Acts ii. 20. It should be the whole employment of our lives to prepare for it ; but how shall we provide for that day ? I answer — By making peace with God in and by Jesus Christ. When Jacob heard that Esau was coming with a great power and force, he sendeth to make peace with him. We hear of a great day coming, when ' the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, and all his holy angels with him.' (1.) Let us compromise all differences be- tween us and him. We are advised so to do : Luke xiv. 32, ' While he is yet a great way off, he sendeth an embassage, and desireth con- ditions of peace.' We need not send to the Lord ; God maketh the offer to us : let us lay down the weapons of our defiance, and accept of the terms proposed. (2.) If you would provide for this day, clear up your union with Jesus Christ ; he is the judge, and ' there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ/ Kom. viii. 1. Will the head condemn his own members? If we ' abide in him/ we shall be able to look him in the face ; ' we shall have boldness in that day,' 1 John ii. 28. Then, though it be a great day, it will not be a terrible day to us. (3.) Frequent communion with him at the throne of grace. When familiar friends meet together after a long absence, what a sweet interview is there ! what mutual embraces and endear- ments pass between them ! So acquaint yourselves with Christ afore- hand, Job xxii. Common acquaintance with him in external worship will not serve the turn : Luke xiii. 26, ' We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and heard thee in our streets ; ' and yet Christ saith, ' I know you not.' There must be a holy intimacy and sweet experience of him ; you must know him in the Spirit. (4.) By holy conver- sation, both as to the matter and end of it ; for the great end of this day is that grace may be glorious. Other things are honoured in the world, as power, and strength, and cunning, and civil endowments, but then eminence in grace cometh to be crowned : 2 Peter iii. 11, ' We that look for such things, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holiness and godliness of conversation ? ' There are two words there used, holiness and godliness : the one relateth to the matter of our actions, that we should do things good, and just, and pure ; the other, to our end and aim. We must do all this as in and to the Lord, making him the supreme end of all that we do. (5.) We may press you to heavenliness in your choice. Where lieth your treasure ? If the enjoyment of the world be your chiefest good, that
VeR. 7.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 219
will be of no use to you in that day ; in a disdain to our choice, all worldly things are burnt before our eyes ; but if your happiness lieth in heaven, thither you are going to take full possession of it. At the last day wicked men cannot murmur ; God's judgments are but their own choice. If the goats be placed on the left hand and the sheep on the right, it is but according to their preposterous affections here in the world : Prov. iii. 16, ' Length of days are in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour.' Eternity is the right- hand blessing. Now, if you despise a blessed eternity in compa- rison of those left-hand blessings, riches and honour, no wonder that your own measure is recompensed into your bosoms. (6.) Love the brethren. This is the great day when all the saints meet together, and how can we expect to meet them with comfort if we should not love them ? 1 John iv. 16, 17, ' That we shall have boldness,' &c. It will be a joyful meeting when those whom we have loved, prayed for, fasted with, and (if necessity did require) relieved, shall then be found in such esteem and honour. (7.) Mercifulness to the poor ; see Mat. xxv. 35, 36, with 42 and 43. Christ hath told us afore- hand what questions he will ask when he cometh — Have you fed ? Have you visited ? Have you clothed ? &c. It is good that we should be prepared with an answer. (8.) Faithfulness in God's ordinances, and the matters of his house. Our Lord is gone, but he will come again to take an account how matters have been managed during his absence. The usual period which is fixed to ordinances is the Lord's coming to judgment : 1 Cor. xi. 26, ' Ye do show forth the Lord's death till he come ; ' and 1 Tim. vi. 14, ' Kept his commandment without spot until the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.' He hath left his ordinances in his church as a pledge of his coming, and to keep the great pro- mise still afoot ; therefore above all things they should be kept pure and uncorrupt.