By this means, I say, then, Christ pleads with his saints; secretly and powerfully judging their lusts, corruptions, failings, — consuming and burning them up. He first, by frequent motions and instruc- tions, gives them no rest in any unequal path ; then discovers to them the beauty of holiness, the excellency of the love of Christ, the vanity and folly of every thing that hath interrupted their communion with him ; and so fills them with godly sorrow, renunciation of sin, and cleaving unto God; — which is the very promise that we have, Ezek. vi. 10.
Sdly. As he doth it by the inward, private, effectual operation of his Spirit, so he doth it by the effusion of his light and gifts in the dispensation of the word. Christ seldom brings any great alteration upon the world, but together with it, or to prepare for it, he causeth much effectual light to break forth in the dispensation of his word.
148 PKOVIDENTIAL CHANGES,
Before the first destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, how he dealt with them he declares, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 15, "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up be- times, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place." And before the final dissolution of the hea- vens and earth of that church and state, he preached to them himself in the flesh. A glorious light ! Before the ruin of the antichristian world, he sends the angel with the everlasting gospel, and his two witnesses to hold forth the light of the gospel ; and we must witness to this his way and wisdom in our generation. Now, though there are many rebels against light, and many whose lusts are enraged by the breaking forth of truth in its beauty and lustre ; and many that, being dazzled with it, do run out of its paths into ways of error and folly, and none of the wicked do understand ; yet, among the saints, the more light the more holiness, — for their light is transforming. This, then, is another means whereby, in such a day, Christ consumes the lusts and judges the inordinate walking of his own, — even by the light which in an eminent manner he sends forth in the dispensation of the word.
Now, if the time and season whereof we speak be such a day of judgment, wherein Christ thus pleads with all men, and with his own in an especial manner, I think the inference unto eminency in uni- versal holiness may be left upon the thoughts and minds of all that are concerned. Especially from these considerations doth the infer- ence lie strong unto the ensuing particulars, in the ways of holiness and godliness: — First, Of self-searching and self judging in reference to our state and condition. Dreadful are the actings of Christ in such a day on the souls and consciences (ofttimes on the names and lives) of corrupt, unsound professors; — in part I declared them before. If any now should be found in such a condition, his day of judgment is come, his sealing to destruction. This the apostle calls to in such a dispensation, 1 Cor. xi. 31, 82. Self-judging, as to our state and con- dition, ways and practices, is a great principle of holy conversation and godliness. When Christ comes to judge, we ought surely to judge ourselves ; and abounding in that work is a great means of preserva- tion from the temptations of the clays whereunto we are exposed. Secondly, Of weanedness from the world and the things thereof. Christ's coming puts vanity on all these passing things. This is surely contained in the text, " Seeing that these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons," etc. At best they are vain and passing, uncertain things; in such a dispensation as is spoken of, they are all obnoxious to dissolution, and many of them certainly to be removed and taken away. And why should the heart of any one be set upon them? why should we not fix our souls on things more profitable,
AN ARGUMENT FOR UNIVERSAL HOLINESS. 110
more durable? It is no small matter to meet the Lord Christ at his coming, Mai. hi. 1-3. They were all full of desires of the coming of Christ; they sought after him: "The Lord whom ye seek." They delighted in the thoughts of him : " Whom ye delight in." Well, he came, according to their desires; he whom they sought was found. And what was the issue? Why, very few of them could abide the day of his coming, or stand when he appeared. He had a work to do they could not away with. They desired his coming, — they desired the day of the Lord; but, as the prophet says, Amos v. 18, "Woe unto them! to what end have they desired it? — it was darkness to them, not light." That was the coming of Christ in person to his temple. It is not otherwise in any of his other comings in providen- tial dispensations. Many men long for it, delight in it, — it is our duty so to do ; but what is the issue ? One is hardened in sin and lust; — another is lifted up, as though himself were something, when he is nothing; — a third stumbles at the coming itself, and falls: "Woe unto them! the day of the Lord is darkness unto them, and not light."