Object. 1. But how can we look for it, when weknow there are some signs that precede the coming of Christ ? Therefore certainly he is not like to come in our days. Will he alter the prefixed time of his approach, and change the Jaccls of that great journey.
A72S. (i.) Though Christ keepeth his pace, jei it is good for us to alter ours ; though we cannot hasten his coming, yet let us be always
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14, 215
ready : 2 Peter iii. 12, ' Looking for and hastening unto the coining of the day of God.' It is good for us to get ground upon our fears and our sins, and to declare our readiness to meet with Christ. Every day we live in the world is a day lost in heaven, (2.) If any age had cause to think Christ would come, certainly we have. It was not far off in the apostles' days ; they were called the last days ; but ours are the v-ery dregs of time. When we see an old man weak and feeble, aches and diseases of the present life increase upon him, we say, Certainly he cannot live long ; so if we look upon the temper of the world, sure it cannot endure long ; Christ will come to set all things at rights. One forerunner of Christ's coming are the dreams and delusions that are abroad. Mundus senescens patiiur pliantasias — As the world grows old, it is much given to fancies, as old men are to dotage and dreams. (3.) If Christ come not in our days, yet death is at hand : Heb. ix. 27, ' It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment.' Every man's particular judgment follows upon his departure out of the world, and then the general judgment follows, as death finds him, either among the sheep or goats. Judas died sixteen hundred years ago, yet as he died so shall he be found. After death there is no change of state ; therefore your business is always to be ready to depart in peace, and hasten to an eternal state.
Object. 2. How can this be the property of God's children to desire his coming ? Are they always in this temper and frame ? Many weak ones tremble at the thought of it for want of assurance of God's love ; it is the terror and bondage of their lives to think of Christ's coming ; and sometimes the saints do not actually feel such an inclination and strength of desire.
Ans. (1.) The meanest saint hath some inclination this way. Can a man desire that Christ may come into his heart, and will there not be such desires that he may come to judgment, since comfort and re- ward is more naturally embraced than duty ? The very first work of grace is to raise and beget this hope : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope.' (2.) There may be sometimes a drowsi- ness and indisposition when their lamps are not kept burning : Luke xii. 36, ' And be ye always ready, as those that wait for their Lord.' When they are fallen asleep, they may for the present wish tliat Christ may not come and take them in this condition ; as the wise virgins slept as well as the foolish ; so God's own children many times find themselves indisposed for his coming. Carelers carriage weakens their hope and the remissness of their watch, yet in all there is a spirit this way, which beginneth with the new birth. A wife desires her husband's coming home, but it may be all things are not ready and in so good order as they should ; so all christians desire the coming of Christ, but sometimes they are not so exact and watchful, and therefore their af- fections are not so lively. Drowsiness creeps upon their hearts, and then God rouseth them by afflictions.
Object 3. But is this the property of God's children, when we see carnal men, sometimes out of weariness of the present life and trouble of the world, will even long for his coming, and wish for death ?
Ans. That is an offer of nature after ease, this is a desire stirred up by the Spirit. Sometimes God's children in their passions desire to be
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taken out of the world ; as Jonah : chap. iv. 8, ' He fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live ; ' and Elijah : 1 Kings xix. 4, ' He requested for himselt that he might die, and said, It is enough, now, 0 Lord, take away my life ; for I am not better than my fathers.' But this is but a shameful retreat from duty, and the heat and burden of the day, and the labours of the present life; these are froward thoughts, not sanctified desires, words of a feverish distemper, not of affection, but it comes from the sickness and weakness of their souls. But this I speak of is a sohd looking for, desire, and longing for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.