[3.] It is a day of congregation or gathering together. The saints are now scattered, they live in divers countries, towns, and houses, and
VeR. 13.] SEKMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 213
cannot have the comfort of one another's society. But then all shall meet in one assembly and congregation. It is said, Ps. i. 5, ' The ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous,' There will be a time when Christ's church shall be gathered all together into one place. As the stars do not shine in a cluster, but are dispersed throughout the firmament for the comfort and light of the world, so are the saints scattered up and clown in the world according as they may be useful for God ; but then, when the four winds shall give up their dead, and the saints shall be gathered from all the corners of the world, this shall be the great rendezvous. Look, as the wicked shall be herded together, as straw and sticks are bound in a bundle, that they may set one another a-fire, drunkards with drunkards, adultererers with adulterers, and thieves with thieves : Mat. xiii. 40-42, ' As therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be waiHng and gnashing of teeth.' The wicked shall be sorted with men like themselves, and so increase one another's torment ; so shall all the world of the godly meet in one assembly and congregation, and never separate more. In this life we cannot enjoy one another's fellow- ship for divers reasons ; God hath service for us in divers countries ; but such a happy time shall come when we shall all make but one body ; therefore the saints are still groaning and longing for that happy day, we for them, and they for us ; not only the saints upon earth that are left to conflict with sin and misery, but the saints in heaven are still groaning, as the souls under the altar : Rev. vi. 9, 10, ' How long, 0 Lord ! holy and true.' Look as those in a shipwreck that have gotten to the shore stand longing and looking for their companions, so glori- fied saints that have gotten safe to shore, still they are longing and looking when the body of Christ shall be made perfect, and all the saints shall meet in one solemn assembly. This is the communion between us and the saints departed, they long for our company, as we do for theirs. Here the tares are mingled with the wheat ; and besides the persecutions of the wicked, their very company is a burden. Jacob's cattle and Laban's are together, but then they shall be separated, and the saints shall be gathered together, and sit as judges of them, giving their vote with Christ in their condemnation.
[4.] It is a day of glorification to Christ, and therefore the saints long for it ; a day when Christ shall be honoured, and get to himself a glorious name, God got himself a great name when he drowned Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the sea ; oh ! what will it be when he shall cast all the wicked into hell ! Now Christ will come to show the fulness of his majesty, the terror of his wrath, and to glorify his justice upon wicked men. Christ showeth his majesty every day, but we have not eyes to see it ; our eyes are dazzled with worldly splendour, but then all mists shall vanish. The saints, that love the glory of God, must needs long for that time when Christ shall be seen in all his glory, when God shall be dishonoured no more, and the kingdom of sin and Satan have an end, and wicked men shut up under their everlasting state. And then from the saints, God hath perfect glory in them and from
214 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. XVI.
them : here God hath not his perfect glory from us nor in us. This is the comfort of God's chiklren, that God is glorified in their glory, that they may live to praise him for ever, without weakness and distraction : and that is the reason of those expressions, ' To whom be glory for ever and ever.' They delight in their own glorious estate, because they shall ever be in a capacity to bring glory to God. Nay, then, God shall be glorified in all his counsels and decrees, in the wisdom of his pro- vidence, and in the course of his judgments ; for in the day of judgment the full history of the world shall be brought before the saints, whereas now we see it but by pieces.
4. Why the saints look for Christ's appearing, is the profit of this expectation which they shall receive ; partly as it engageth to a heavenly conversation : Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour.' Where should we converse most but where Christ is ? Now where is Christ but in heaven ? And therefore our minds should be ever running upon it, our eyes ever looking that way, and our hearts ever longing for him. Partly as it engageth us to faithfulness in our relations ; there is a day coming when we shall give an account for the duties of our relations, because that is the particular sphere of our activity : 2 Tim. iv. 1, ' I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appear- ing, and his kingdom.' Paul there presseth Timothy to discharge the duty of a minister, and so for a master of a family, and for a servant, Your relations are not things of chance, but they fall under the special care of God's providence, and therefore you must be accountable for them. Here God hath confined you by the wisdom of his providence to serve the great ends of your creation ; therefore, whatever is omitted, you are to give an account of your relations; magistrates, ministers, masters, servants, all of their several relations. Partly as it calms the heart against the injuries and molestations of the present life: 1 Peter ii. 23, our Lord Christ 'when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously;' so you must learn of him ; when you meet with trouble and hard usage, and unworthy dealing in the world, commit yourselves to God; the judge is at the door, and he will review all things again. Look, as Paschalis, a minister of the Albigenses, when he was burnt at Eome, cited the pope and his cardinals before the tribunal of the Lamb, thus do you. Partly as it engageth to persever- ance. If a man hath followed a distressed and afiiicted party for a long time, if nothing comes of it, he tires ; but remember, if we follow Christ here, all our pains will be recompensed to us : 1 John ii. 28, ' Abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' Christ will come, and that with salvation to them that look for him ; therefore let me be faith- ful in my duty.