Use 1. To press you to look for Christ from heaven as a saviour.
To this end —
1. Seek reconciliation, and be at peace with God: 2 Peter iii. 14, 1 Wherefore, seeing we look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace.' Others tremble at the mention of his coming; the guilt of sin maketh this day terrible to us. When you have gotten an interest in Christ, and some sure and comfortable hope of absolution, you will cheerfully expect his coming ; then he cometh as a saviour : Job xix. 25, ' I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall siand at the latter day upon the earth.' He cometh as a saviour, not as a severe judge. If you have made your peace with him, there will be a happy meeting at the last day.
2. Be not only reconciled, but renewed and sanctified, as well as justi- fied ; for ' The Spirit and the bride saith, Come,' Rev. xxii. 17. The Holy Ghost, by residing in the hearts of the faithful, bieedeth this desire. Nature saith not, Come ; this is a disposition above nature. Carnal nature saith, Stay away still. If it might go by voices, whether Christ should come or no, would carnal men give their voice this way ? ' Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.' The voice of corrupt nature is, * Depart,' Job xxii. 14. They are of the mind of the devil : ' Jesus, thou Son of God, art thou come to torment us before the time?' If thieves and malefactors might have the liberty to choose whether there should be an assizes, do you think they would look for, and long for the time of its approach ? Till we are renewed we have no inclination to or desire of these things.
3. Labour for some measure of consolation as well as sanctification : Rom. viii. 23, ' Ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.' The first-fruits are the beginnings of heaven. These being but a little, bear a like proportion with eternal glory, as the first-fruits with the harvest, and do assure us as an earnest of full possession. Well, then, as Daniel looked towards Jerusalem in his prayers, Dan. vi. 10, so let us often look to heaven, and remember we have a saviour there, who will one day come from heaven.
Use 2. Prepare for it, make all things ready. There must be strict
VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 167
and heavenly walking, that we may ' have boldness in that day, and may not be ashamed at his coming,' 1 John ii. 28. Causes of shame are either nakedness : 2 Cor. v. 3, ' That we may not be found naked,' that is, destitute of all grace. Folly, or perverse or unadvised choice, when we are blinded by the delusions of the flesh ; or when we make a worldly choice, this will appear to be folly and shame : Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee ; and then whose shall these things be which thou hast provided ? ' Or hypocrisy, when our cheating and fair pretences shall be discovered : Mat. xxii. 12, ' Friend, how earnest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? and the man was speechless.' Or unfaithfulness, when we have not discharged our trust : Luke xix. 22, ' Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.' Or unthankfulness for great benefits, such as we have received by Christ : Horn. ii. 4, ' Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and long-suffering ? ' Despising not only the mercies of common providence, but the blessings of the covenant: Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? '
But who will have boldness at that day ? Such as are united to Christ : Kom. viii. 1, ' There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.' Such as are by that union assimilated and made like Christ: 1 John iv. 17, ' That we may have boldness in the day of judgment ; because as he is, so are we in the world.' If we continue in that blessed and gracious estate faithfully, without defection and apostasy : 1 John ii. 28, ' And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' That are not ashamed of Christ's despised ways, but while we are in the world do faithfully promote his kingdom : Luke ix. 26, with xxi. 16, ' Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his glory.' Who per- severe in the conflict : 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge5 shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing.'