7th Direct. Lastly, We must endeavour to make a spiritual use of all things as God doth. Doth God send crosses on us ? Then before they leave us beg a blessing, that they may work his intended effect in bettering us. Doth God bless us with prosperity ? Pray that God would sanctify it to encourage us on to good duties, so as in all estates we may have our con- versation in heaven. Let no man therefore make pretence that he is poor, that he hath no time for this. No. Grace works matter out of everything. Poor Paul, nay, Paul a prisoner, see how he is busied ; and the truth is, that worldly prosperity is the greatest enemy to a heavenly mind that can be.
Obj. But the weak Christian will complain that he cannot find this in him, but he is still carried away with worldly matters. Though he strive against it never so much, yet the world goes away with him.
Ans. To such I answer, Strength of grace this way is not in every Christian, neither is it at the first. Paul had his distractions, Rom. vii. from ver. 15 to ver. 24, yet must our labours and endeavours be that way. The sin that is in us cannot hurt us if we strive against it. God suffers his children to see their weakness, as he did deal with Solomon, to humble us and make us learn his lesson, that all ' is vanity and vexation of spirit.' Let not such therefore be discouraged, but cheerfully go on in a good course, wherein the more ive labour and strive, the more we beautify religion, and credit our city, and draw on others to be fellow-citizens with us.
And thus shall we free ourselves from terrors of conscience, and from the snares of the devil, even as birds when they soar aloft need fear no snares. Thus also shall ive get a portion here, for it is the promise of the God of truth, that if we first seek the kingdom of heaven, all these things shall be cast upon us. Thus also shall we be sure of God's gracious and faithful protection, who hath said he will keep us in our ways.
And lastly. Thus shall we end our days with comfort. Woe be to him that dies not to the world before he goes hence. But to him that hath his soul in heaven, even while it is in his body, this life is but a pilgrimage, and death is advantage.
liO EXPOSITION OF
From whence we also look for the Saviour^ the Lord Jesus Christ. These words lay down such an estate of a Christian, as is both a cause and a sign of heavenly conversation ; and in them we may consider, first, That Christ is in heaven. Secondly, That there is a second coming of Christ. Thirdly, That Christians expect it. Fourthly, That this expecta- tion is a cause of heavenly carriage.
For the first, that Christ is in heaven, we have the Scripture to wai-rant it, but the text is pregnant herein. We look for him from heaven, ergo he is in heaven.
And therefore it is a gross conceit of the papists, that dream that his body is everywhere in the bread, or irith the bread, as the Lutherans would have it. The Scripture determines that the heavens must contain him ; that he sitteth now on the right hand of God ; that he shall hereafter come to judge, and therefore he is not now here ; nay, because he is not here he sent us the Comforter, the Spirit, that shall lead us into all truth, as he himself expressly saith, John xvi. 13.
Secondly, Hence we may observe, that there is another cominrf of Christ, which yet is not fuljiUed. There is a twofold coming of Christ, one whereby he comes in the flesh. This was his first coming. The second coming is in triumph, when he shall perfect our salvation. This appeareth by the desires of the creature, Rom. viii. 37, seq. Secondly, By the faithful desires of his children, which cannot be in vain. Thirdly, To this end he took our flesh to draw us after him. Fourthly, To this end he left his Spirit with us to testify it. Lastly, He hath left us his promises and pro- phecies thereof, witnessed by the angels : Acts i. 11, ' This Jesus shall so come, even as you have seen him go into heaven.'
Thu'dly, That Christians do expect this coming of Christ is evident out of the words, ' from whence we look for the Saviour,' saith the text. The word 'look' signifies an earnest expectation, implying faith, hope, and patience.* Faith is a ground of hope, supposing the promises which are gi'ounded on an almighty God of truth. Now patience comes from hope, so as the word implies thus much. We hope, we believe, we patiently wait for the second coming of Christ. This is the disposition of every sound Christian, and it begins with the beginning of our new birth ; for so, 1 Peter i. 3, it is said, ' We are begotten to a lively hope ;' and Titus ii. 13, ' The grace of God once appearing, teacheth to look for the blessed hope.' Reason 1. For as in nature the seed desires growth^ everything desires perfection, so much more in grace. Where once it is settled it continually desireth a more perfect estate, until the coming of Christ, when it cometh to the top and pitch thereof.