(2.) They have a conscience witnessing of their sincerity, though they have many failings. And the testimony of conscience giveth
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great boldness and confidence : 2 Cor. i. 12 ; 1 John iii. 21 ; and 1 John iii. 19, ' Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.' Conscience is privy to their constant, uniform, self-denying obedience, and this testimony it of greatest stead to them at the last : Isa. xxxviii. 3, ' Remember, Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart.' He dareth appeal in a dying hour for his sincerity and care to please him. A good or a bad conscience is the beginning of heaven or hell ; the checks of an accusing conscience are the first bitings of the worm that never dieth : and the approbation of a sincere conscience a preface of the joy of the blessed.
(3.) They know it shall go well with them in that day. There are two causes of fear and shame : knowing for certain that it shall go ill with us, or not knowing it shall go well with us. Now they that are under any of these conditions cannot groan, cannot desire a change of state. Did you ever know a guilty malefactor long for the judge's appearance, and send to him to hasten his coming ? Indeed those who are confident it shall go well with them, they desire the assizes, and are weary of lying in prison, and long to be delivered. Now those that are absolved from guilt, and have sin weakened in their hearts, they know it shall go well with them in the other world, partly by the promise of God, who hath assured the justified and the sanctified of a heavenly inheritance. That is the drift of the whole gospel ; for to this end Christ died, that he might first reconcile them to God, and then present them holy and unblamable and irreprovable in his sight, Col. i. 21. First sanctify and cleanse them from the stain and guilt of sin, and then present them to himself ; clothe them with the fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints, Eph. v. 26, 27. The justified and sanctified may draw near to God in heavenly glor}'. Partly by the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts, Eph. i. 13, 14, and 2 Cor. i. 21, 22, sealing up to them their own interest to the promise, or their right to the heavenly inheritance, and that in due time they shall possess it.
Use. Is to press us to get ready, and to be clothed, that we may with comfort expect and long for the day of our translation.
1. The first motive is in the word ' found.' It is often used with respect to the day of judgment — 'Found naked;' and in 2 Peter iii. 14, and Mat. xxiv. 46, ' Blessed is that servant whom, when his Lord cometh, he shall find so doing.' It is a blessed thing for a servant to be found at his work ; so Phil. iii. 9, ' That I may be found in him, not having my own righteousness,' which alludeth to the day of our general or particular doom. Now this word implieth three things. (1.) That there will be an exact search and scrutiny after every one of us. Wrath maketh inquisition for sinners, and every man will be found out, naked or clothed. There is no hiding in the throng of mankind. In a par- ticular judgment God said he would search Jerusalem with candles, Zeph. i. 12; drag sinners out of their lurking-holes : much more in the general judgment we shall be found. (2.) The word ' found,' inti- mateth a surprise. God may break in upon us sooner than we are aware of ; as usually he cometh to the greatest part of mankind un- thought of, unexpected : 2 Peter iii. 10, ' The day of the Lord will
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come as a thief in the night.' They do not look for such a day, or not prepare for it, but are found by it. (3.) We remain in the state wherein we are found. They that are found naked at their death shall remain naked to all eternity. There is no change of condition in the other world; as death leaveth us judgment findeth us: Luke ii. 14, ' On earth peace.' Now you may be reconciled to God, you may agree with your adversary quickly, while you are yet in the way. But in the other world, men are in termino, in their final condition. Well then, gather up this first motive ; escape the knowledge of God you cannot. You will be found to be what you are, naked or clothed ; and you may be sought after and found sooner than you are aware. And when Christ hath found you in an unprepared condition, what will you do ? How will your naked, trembling soul dread to depart out of the body into nu unknown world ?
2. My next motive shall be from the words 'naked and clothed.' Other qualifications than Christ's renewing and reconciling grace will not serve the turn. It is sin which rendereth us odious to God ; it is sin that keepeth us out of heaven ; it is sin that makes us uncomfort- able in ourselves, and hinders our own joy and peace. The condition of one that is yet in his sins is I'epresented by nakedness, upon a two- fold reason. Because it rendereth us loathsome to God, and ashamed of ourselves. Well then, will you be naked, remain in your natural deformity ? How, then, can you appear before the bar of your judge, or look God in the face with any confidence ? Joseph washed himself, and changed his garments, when he was to appear before Pharaoh ; and is there not a greater reverence due to God ? Oh ! therefore, since you are blind and miserable and naked, get clothing ; that is, get the spots of sin washed off by the frequent application of the blood of Christ, your polluted natures changed by the Spirit of Christ. This is the clothing which must render you acceptable to God, and will make you comfortable in yourselves, so that you will not shun his presence, but desire it. It is said of the spouse: Ps. xlv. 15, 'Her clothing is of wrought gold ; she shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework, and then with gladness and rejoicing shall she be brought into the king's palace.' The more we get rid of sin, and are beautified with holiness, the more amiable and lovely in his eyes ; and because of likeness and suitableness, the more we delight to come to him ; yea, the more we shall long to be admitted, not only to present communion, but to constant habitation with him. And when we are brought into the presence of God, it will be a welcome day to us, at the death of every particular saint, or at the day of our Lord's second coming, when we shall have no imperfection, spot, or wrinkle, or want of anything which may perfect our glory. Then we shall ])ut on immortality and incorruption, and this body of flesh shall be like to Christ's glorious body, and then there will be great rejoicing. Oh, then, see that you be clothed !