Third point. That to true christians he will come in the quality of a saviour ; not as a rigorous judge to condemn us, but as a saviour to free us from all misery.
1. It showeth the way of our getting to heaven. It is in a way of salvation, which is the recovery of a thing or person lost ; so Christ came to seek and to save that which is lost ; as a physician saveth another that cureth him of a disease which otherwise would be mortal. The
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shepherd saveth the sheep that snatcheth it out of the lion's mouth. A prince that rescueth the captive subjects saveth them out of the enemy's hands. There are none brought to heaven but by a saviour who recovereth us out of our lost estate, saves us from sin, and all the con- sequences of sin, that maketh us everlastingly blessed. Thus he saveth us satisfactions, merito, et efficacia — by satisfaction, merit, and power.
[1.] By satisfaction he saveth us from the guilt of sin, the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, which is our great encouragement to wait for his coming : 1 Thes. i. 10, ' To wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who hath delivered us from wrath to come.' We could never have heart nor hope to think of his coming beneficial to us without this.
[2.] By his merit he procureth the favour of God, and all those bless- ings which are bestowed upon the people of God. Having expiated sin, he obtained the grant of pardon and life in the new covenant. He hath purchased for us the image and favour of God and eternal happi- ness : 1 Thes. iv. 9, 10, ' For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.'
[3.] By way of efficacy and power, inasmuch as by his Spirit he doth effect and work in us all those things which belong to salvation; so it is said, Titus iii. 5, ' He hath saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost ; ' 2 Tim. i. 9, ' He hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling ; ' Heb. v. 9, ' He is the author of salva- tion.' There are many adjunct causes, but he is the principal: 'We are saved by his life,' Eom. v. 10. The merit of his humiliation, the power of his exaltation.
2. I shall show what is the work of his second coming. It is to perfect our salvation. Then he shows himself a saviour indeed when he giveth us eternal life and our full happiness. The high priest, after he had been within the veil, was to come out again and bless the people ; so Christ shall appear the second time : Heb. ix. 28, ' To them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.' If we continue waiting and looking, and do rest upon his undertaking, and in the meantime be performing the duties required of us, he will come as a saviour.
3. This coming is certainly and earnestly looked for by the godly. It is good to observe how differently this coming of Christ is enter- tained. It is questioned by the atheists ; it is dreaded by the wicked and impenitent ; but it is lovingly expected by the godly. For the first, see 2 Peter iii. 3, 4, ' There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of his coming?' They would eternally enjoy the pleasures of the present world, and therefore labour to banish out of their hearts all thoughts of this great day, and take up all obvious prejudices, to smother the belief of it. They would be glad in their hearts to hear such news-, that Christ would never come. Now their wishes easily commence into their opinions. Christ's second coming is their horror and torment, which they would willingly get rid of. For the second, it is dreaded by the wicked and impenitent : Acts xxiv. 25, ' Felix trembled ' when Paul 'reasoned of judgment to come.' There is reason for it; for
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Christ cometh to them as a terrible judge: 2 Thes. i. 8, 'In flamino- fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' That coming is described as light and as fire. To the third, to the godly, it is not matter of tenor, but joy and delight; not like the handwriting on the wall to Belshazzar, but like comfortable tidings to the waiting soul. They look for it, Titus ii. 13, they long for it, 2 Tim. iv. 8. He cometh to them as a saviour, to put an end to all their miseries.
But more particularly let us explain this looking. It implieth faith, hope, and patience. Faith addeth certainty to hope, hope earnestness to faith, and holy love strength to patience. For because we believe and hope, we patiently wait for the coming of Christ; or rather take in love also, and make patience an act of hope.