And therefore let me enti-eat and beseech you, with the apostle Paul, to * look to the end,' look to the main chance that can come in this world, and that shall come hereafter. It is wisdom to look to the end. A man tliat buildeth an house will think of the end, that is, dwelling and habita- tion, that he propoundeth. We are for everlasting communion with God ; we are to be perfect, as in grace, so in glory. Heaven is our element ; we rest not till then, — we are in motion till then, — that being our station. Then think often of this, never to rest in any intermediate condition, because we are in waiting till we come to that condition. Let us so carry ourselves, that we may say, this we waited for ; it is the gloiy we expected. It is our wisdom often to have the end of our lives in oui* eyes, that we may be helped to wait patiently, cheerfully, and comfortably, till the consummation come, when all promises shall end in performance, when all that is ill and imperfectly good shall be removed — a consumption of ill, and a consum- mation of all good.
Oh, have that day in our eyes, that day of all days, and the very thoughts of it will fit us for the day. The thoughts of our end will fit and stir ns up to all means tending to that end. Physic is good, if it tend to health. The veiy thoughts of that prescribes order and means. We read, ' Seek the kingdom of heaven first, and all other things shall be added to you,' Mat. vi. 33. The thought of the end prescribes order to all means, and it prescribes measure, ' How to use the world, as though I used it not,' 1 Cor. vii. 31, for the thoughts of my end stir me up to use all our courses suitable to that end. And therefore the best wisdom in Christians is often to prefix the end, and to be content in no grace nor comfort, as it is in a way of imperfection, but to look upon every grace, every comfort, every good, as it tends to perfection. David desired not to dwell in the house of God for ever, because he would terminate his desire in the house of God here, but he aimeth at heaven. And so when the saints of God bound and terminate their desires and contentment, it is with reference to the last day, the rest of a Christian, beyond which they cannot go, even communion with God himself.
THE NINTH SERMON.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo-, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save i<s : this is the Lord; we have ivaited for him, xve tcill be ijlad and rejoice in his salvation. — Isa. XXV. 9.
In the worst age of the church, that the church may not be swallowed up with fear, in the worst times, God doth prepare promises for his people. It was the case of our blessed Saviour himself to his poor disciples, that they might not be overwhelmed with sorrow. Therefore he addeth sacra- ments to passover, and the New Testament to the Old, and all to confirm faith, knowing that our hearts are very subject to be daunted.
The Lord promiseth here a feast of fat things, and all things pertaining to a feast, the best of the best, and removal of all that may hinder joy, as taking away the veil, which hinders them from the sight of it. And then death is swallowed up in victory, as it is already in our Head, who is glori-
508 THE MAKEIAGE FEAST [SeEMON IX.
ously triumpliing in heaven ; and then all tears shall be wiped from all faces. There is a vicissitude of things. They are now in a valley of tears, but it will not be always thus. Time shall come when all tears shall be wiped away, and the cause of all tears are sorrow. The rebukes of his people shall be taken away, the scandal that lieth upon the best things shall be taken away. The worst things go under a better representation, and the best things under a veil ; but one day, as things are they shall be. The God of truth will have truth to be clear enough. And all this is sealed up with the highest authority, that admits of no contradiction. * The Lord of hosts hath spoken it.'
We came the last day to these words, ' Lo, this is our God,' &c. ; wherein we may consider first of all, that God hath left to his church rich and j^recious promises, such as is spoken of before : a feast, and removal of all hindrances whatsoever. He not only vouchsafe th heaven when we die, and eternal happiness ; but in this world, in our way, he vouchsafes precious pro- mises to support our faith, that we may begin heaven upon earth. What these promises are we shewed the last day.
The second observation was, in that God's people are here in a state of expectation, it shall be said, ' Lo, we have waited for him.' We are in a condition of w^aiting while we live in this world, because we are not at home. Our state requires waiting ; heaven requires settledness and rest. There all appetites, all desires shall be satiated to the full. Our estate here is a passage to a better estate, and waiting is a disposition fit for such a condition.