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surprised before we be aware ; and as the tree falleth, so it lies ; as a man lives, so he dies ; as death leaves us, so judgment, and the second coming of Christ, shall find us. We should therefore, as the apostle saith, * work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,' Phil. ii. 12. Many men when they come to die are troubled about this ; Oh, I have not done so ; I should have done this and that, and have not ; but I have done amiss, I have not] thoroughly repented ; something is not done that should have been ; I have not made mine evidences sound, I have not ' made my call- ing and election sure,' 2 Peter i. 10. Oh my conscience is troubled, and my soul cannot find that peace in God, &c. Oh do you take warning by them, and now work out your salvation with fear and trembling ; and that upon this ground, because the time is short and uncertain. Beloved, it is a gi-eat error in us. We think of reaping as soon as we begin to sow, nay, we begin to sow then when we should reap. Then we begin to think of God and goodness when we lie a-dying. That should be a time of reaping the comfort of all our former life, and to think of the time to come with joy. Oh what a comfortable thing would it be if we can with St Paul look backward and say, ' I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,' &c., 2 Tim. iv. 7. He looks back with comfort, and therefore he looks forward with comfort too ; ' From henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day,' &c., verse 8. When a Christian man hath done the will of God, and looks backward and saith, I had a race to run, and I have run it ; I had a faith to keep, and I have kept it ; I had a fight to fight, and I have fought it ; and then looks forward, and sees a crown of eternal glory before his eyes : what a comfort and ravishing joy will this aftbrd ! Whether he looks backward or forward, all is glorious. But if we be careless and negligent, and will not work out our salvation, then we cannot with Hezekiah look back with comfort, and say to God, * Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth and uprightness of heart, and have done that which was right in thy sight,' Isa. xxxviii. 3. Neither can we with St Paul look forward with any comfort. Beloved, heaven is a pure place, and requires a great deal of purity in those that come thither ; and Christ is holy and glorious. Therefore we must set no measure and pitch to any holiness in this life, but grow still more and more heavenly till we come to heaven. Therefore the apostle sets it down by way of wonderment in the last of St Peter : ' Seeing all these things shall he dissolved,' saith he, 2 Peter iii. 11. What saith he to that ? He cannot tell what to say. Therefore he says nothing in particular, but in general : ' "WTiat manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness ! ' Some men will set a measure and stint to themselves, and if any go beyond their measure, then they are such and such, curious, nice, and precise, &c.* Why ! What measure of holiness should be set to them that look for the second coming of Christ ? ' What manner of persons ought we to be ! ' He cannot tell what to say in particular, and therefore leaveth it to admiration. We must not then set up our staff, and put any measure to any perfection here in this world ; but still grow in grace and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord.
Direct. 4. Let us take all aclvantages to help us in this desire and prayer for the second cominr/ of Christ, from all the crosses of this life, and from all the businesses of Satan. Satan was shut out of paradise, but he is still * Cf. note c, Vol. II page 194.— G.
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creeping into the paradise of the church. ]5ut in heaven he shall never come. He was once there, and was cast down from thence, never to come there again. But in the church he is always stirring. He is never so bound up but he hath some mischief to do. Now let the consideration of Satan and his instruments, that are always some way or other molesting of the church, and are as thorns in- their sides, stir us up to desire the second coming of Christ. So from all particular losses and crosses let us help ourselves. If we have lost a friend, let us till our hearts with comfort from the ' second coming' of Christ, and from the consideration of that, that then the time will come when all friends shall meet together. Do we leave any- thing in this world behind us ? We shall meet with better there, better friends, a better place, better employment ; all better. Therefore let us take advantage from everything to help forward that desire. In a word, I beseech you, because there be many things that might be spoken to this purpose, let it be your main care to fit yourselves for that time. It is a time of longing here, while we live. It is the time between the contract and the marriage. Let us labour to be fitted and prepared for that time.