Use 1. Let us improve this to the particular use of Christ's coming, either in a way of mercy to his people, or in a way of judgment.
1. In a way of mercy. The Lord tarrieth sometimes when men think he should come sooner : John xi. 6, Jesus loved Lazarus ; and he abode still two days in the same place that he was when he heard that he was sick. Let there be no misconstruction. It is not want of love, nor want of power : he could raise him up when he was ready to stink. He may delay our help till a fit time come, wherein his glory may shine forth, and the mercy be more conspicuous. To come late is many times the best time. God keepeth back his best blessings for a while ; and detaineth them long in his own hands before they come unto us. Therefore wait his leisure. Expectation is tedious, and rockoneth every minute. Strong desires are importunate; and usually we go by an ill count: not by eternity, but time. The timing of all things is in God's hand ; not left to our foolish fancies, but his wise ordering. The dial sometimes goeth before the sun ; so doth our time before God's time. We would make short work for faith and patience ; and so our graces would not be found to praise and honour. In all such cases let us remember —
[1.] The Lord hath chosen the fittest time, Eccles. iii. 11; it will not
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come one jot too soon, or too late ; but the fittest time for him to give and us to receive.
[2.] God is very precise in keeping his time: Exod. xii. 41, 42, 'And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the host of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord, for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.'
[3.] God stayeth for us, rather than we for him. Christ will come before we are ready. The great let of mercy was, the people's hearts were not prepared.
[4.] Every delay will bring some advantage. There is somewhat more of ourselves, and somewhat more of God to be discovered : some intervening experience that is worth the having, before full and final deliverance conieth, Isa. xl. 31 ; Ps. cxxxviii. 39.
2. In a way of judgment. Sometimes Christ raiseth the cry, and giveth notice of great changes. It concerneth us to take notice of this voice, that we may not be taken unprovided : Amos iv. 12, ' Thus will I do unto thee ; prepare to meet thy God, 0 Israel.' When God threateneth, we had need make serious preparation how we shall prevent or bear the stroke of an angry God. It is good counsel : Luke xiv. 31, 32, ' When a king goeth to war against another king, he sitteth down and considereth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassador, and desireth terms of peace.' There needs in such cases serious prepara- tion. The work will be the more difficult when the storm is broken out upon you.
Use 2. We may improve this as to his coming to us by death, or rather our coming to him. The end of time and all things in it arc near to every particular person. Christ and we are to meet shortly ; it should be our care to meet him by true and serious repentance, that we may meet him with joy. We are frail creatures, and within a very little while death will summon us to appear before the Lord ; and when you die, you are speedily to come to your trial. Now are all things ready ?
1. Is Christ your bridegroom? Was there ever a solemn covenant struck between you and him, as Hosea iii. 3, by renouncing all other husbands, and giving up yourselves to do his will ?
2. Are your lamps burning, your graces kept in exercise, and shin- ing forth to the Lord's glory ? Are you in a constant and continual readiness to have immediate communion with Christ, or to set sail into the world to come ? It should be a cheerful thing to you to depart hence, Phil. i. 23.
3. Have you oil in your vessels ; such a deep and powerful work as will keep up this affection ? Are these things in you, and ' abound in you'? 2 Peter i. 8-11. What hast thou that others have not, that shall never see God's face ? Can you say as Christ, John xvii. 4, ' I have glorified thee upon earth ; I have finished the work thou hast given me to do ' ? Have you been adding one grace to another, so
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that now you have nothing to do but to wait for the crowning of all?