Ohs. 4. The next note is from the coupling of these two : ' The love of God,' and 'looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life.' Thence observe, that love to God will put us upon looking for Christ's second coming, when this mercy is to be dispensed to us. See the like connection elsewhere, 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ.' Two reasons may be given of it : —
1. Love allayeth fear, 1 John iv. 18. Of whom should a Christian be afraid at that day ? Of the devil ? He is held in chains of dark- ness, and judged by the saints together with Christ. Of Christ ? Shall the members be afraid of their head ? the ransomed of their Kedeemer ? the beloved of their Saviour ? Oh ! but then he cometh as a judge. But it is to plead their cause, to right their wrongs, to revenge their enemies, to reward their services. If he be then your judge, he hath ever been j^our advocate hitherto, and surely he that hath interceded for you will not condemn you.
2. Love quickeneth desire : 2 Peter iii. 12, ' Looking for and hastening to the coming of the Lord;' see Cant. viii. 14, Eev. xxii, 20. A harlot would have her husband defer his coming, but a chaste spouse thinketh he can never come soon enough. They that go a-whoring after the world, neither desire Christ's coming, nor love his appearing ; but ' the Spirit of the bride saith, Come.' They that love God look for it, Phil. iii. 20, long for it, 2 Tim. iv. 8 : they 'love his appearing.' Corrupt nature saith, 'Depart,' Job xxii. 14; but grace saith, ' Come.' The children of God would fain see him of whom they have heard so often, and so much, and of whose sweetness they have tasted. They know him by hearsay and by spiritual experience ; but they would fain see his person.
Use 1. This now informeth us what a difference there is between a
348 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 21.
cliild of Grod and wicked men. They wish this day would never come, and would be glad in their hearts to hear such news. The thought of Christ's coming is their burden and torment. They have the spirit of the devil in them : ' Art thou come to torment us before our time '? Mat. viii. 29. They cannot endure to hear or think of it. If it might go by voices whether Christ should come or no, would they give their voice this way, and say, 'Come, Lord Jesus; yea, come quickly'? If thieves and malefactors should have the liberty to choose whether the assizes should be kept or no, would they ever fix it, and look for and long for the time of its approach ? No, no ; but a child of God is waiting and looking for this happy time.
Ohj. But now here is an objection. Are Christians always in this frame ? What shall we say then to those weak ones that tremble at the thought of it for want of the assurance of God's love, and the best saints that do not always feel such an actual inclination and strength of desire ?
Sol. I answer — The meanest saint hath some inclination this way. Can a man desire that Christ should come into his heart, and not come to judgment ? Since comfort and reward is more naturally em- braced than duty, the first work of grace is to raise us up to this hope, 1 Peter i. 3 ; but yet sometimes there may be a drowsiness and indis- position, and then their lamps may not be kept burning, Luke xii. 35, 36. The wise virgins slei3t as well as the foolish, Mat. xxv. Oftentimes they find themselves indisposed for his coming by careless carriage, remission of their watch, and scattering their love to the creature ; yea, much of their old bondage may remain through the imperfection of their love ; for it is ' perfect love casteth out fear.' A wife desireth her husband's coming home, but it may be all things are not ready, and in so good order as they should be. All Christians desire the coming of Christ, but sometimes they are not so exact and watchful, and therefore their affections are not so lively.
Use 2. Here is a note of trial whether we love God or Christ. How do we stand affected towards his appearing ? The world cannot satisfy Christians ; they look beyond it. In things to come we are apt to feign, and because we have not a sufficient sense of them, we think we have an afi'ection to them when we have them not. If there be looking, there will be preparing. When you expect a great estate for your children, you breed them accordingly; or rather thus, a man that expecteth the coming of a king to his house will make all things ready. Surely you look for nobody when you are not fitting and pre- paring yourselves. What have you done against this great day ? Do you 'judge yourselves'? 1 Cor. xi. 31. Do you get into Christ, Kom. viii. 1, that you may be interested in Christ's righteousness against you come to undergo Christ's judgment ? What purging of heart and life ? 2 Peter iii. 11. Art thou in such a case wherein thou wouldst be ' found of Christ' ?