156 SERMONS UPON KOMANS VHI. [SeR. XXVII.
fire ; not by annihilation, but a change of qualities ; only for the better, as that was for the worse.
6. What use this restored world serveth for, we need not anxiously enquire ; whether to be a jierpetual monument of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the creator (the creating of the world served for this end, so may the renewing of it) ; or whether it shall be an habita- tion for the just during the judgment, which is by some conceived to last for a thousand years ; and at first consumed by a purging fire, and afterwards utterly destroyed by a consuming fire ; we shall enquire in the following verses.
Doct. 3. That tliis estate of things ought earnestly to be desired and expected by us. For to this end the apostle mentioneth the earnest expectation of the creature, and the day principally concerneth us ; and therefore it is the duty of God's children to look for this day. There are two choice scriptures that describe the communion of the church with Christ, and the dispensations of Christ to the church ; and they both conclude with a desire of his coming. One is Cant. viii. 14 ; the other is Kev. xxii. 20. The first place, ' Make haste my beloved, and be like a young hart or roe upon the mountains of spices.' Christ is not slack, but the church's affections are strong ; "make haste," my be- loved ; that is the bride's last and great suit to the bridegroom, his coming in glory to judge the world. The wanton prostitute would have her husband defer his coming ; but the chaste spouse thinketh he can never come soon enough; they that go a-whoring after the world, and are wholly taken up with the world, neither desire his coming, nor love his appearing : but the spouse would have all things hastened, that he may return ; either come down to them, or take them up to himself; it is that day only can perfect a believer's consolation ; they do what they can to have the blessed and longed-for meeting hastened. In the other place Christ saith, ' Surely I come quickly ; ' and the church like a quick echo, saith, ' Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly.' It tnketli the word out of Christ's mouth. There is the same Spirit in Christ and the church ; for it is Christ's Spirit which resldeth in the church ; and therefore Chrst speaketh in a way proper to him, ' Behold I come quickly,' in a way of promise ; and the church, in a way proper to her, ' Even so come.' And Christ's voice and the Church's voice are imisbns ; our acclamation answereth to his proclamation: Christ saith, ' I come,' as desiring to meet with us ; ' even so come,' as desiring his fellowship and company. The saints look for his coming, Titus ii. 13, by faith and hope; and long for his coming, love his appearing, 2 Tim. iv. 8, in a way of love.
Now his coming must bfe desired by us :
[1.] With earnestness and hearty groans : 2 Cor. v. 2, ' For this we groan earnestly.'
[2] With constancy, not for a fit. The Spirit in the bride saith, ' Come,' Rev. xxii. 17. The new nature stirreth up these desires in us ; as soon and as long as he worketh in us, there is a bent this way ; we should always stand ready to meet him.
[3.] With patience. Here is earnest desire and waiting in the text : 1 Thes. i. 10, ' We wait for his Son from heaven.'
VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 157
Use 1. Is to reprove those that never look after this estate.
[1.] That have nothing to incline them to look higher than the world ; that are under the power of a carnal nature, that wholly bendeth them to earthly things, Phil. iii. 19 ; that are well enough satisfied with the happiness of beasts, to enjoy pleasures without remorse ; have not sense and care of the world to come. Those wliose happiness is terminated on things of the present life are so far from christians, that they are scarce men.
[2.] That have much to divert them from it ; namely, unpardoned and unmortified sin. If thieves and malefactors might have liberty to choose whether there should be an assizes, would they give their vote that way ? Would they look and long for the time ? They are not fire-proof, or such as may abide the day of refining: 2 Pet. iii. 11, ' Seeing all these things must be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness ? ' They are not at peace with God, ver. 14.
Use 2. To press believers to live in the constant expectation of this glorious day ; to make us heavenly : Phil. iii. 20, ' But our conver- sation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour.' Live as if it were always present, which by faith we look for ; this will make us faithful, 2 Tim. iv. 7 ; persevere to the end, 1 John ii. 24 ; make us press forward, and make us long to be at home : 2 Cor. v. 8, ' For we are confident, I say, willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.