Obs. VI. It is the great exercise of faith, to live on the invisible actings of Christ on the behalf of the church, So also the founda- tion a it doth consist in our infallible expectation of his second appearance, of our seeing him again, Actsi. 11. “We know that our Redeemer liveth;” and we shall see him with our eyes. Whilst he is thus invisible, the world triumpheth, as if he were not. “Where is the promise of his coming?” The faith of many is weak. They cannot live upon his invisible actings. But here is the faith and patience of the church, of all sincere believers:—in the midst of all discouragements, reproaches, temptations, sufferings, they can relieve and comfort their souls with this, that “ their Redeemer liveth,’ and that “he shall appear again the second — time,” in his appointed season. Hence is their continual prayer, as the fruit and expression of their faith, “ Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
The present long-continued absence of Christ in heaven is the ereat trial of the world. God doth give the world a trial by faith in Christ, as he gave it a trial by obedience in Adam. Faith is tried by difficulties. When Christ did appear, it was under such circumstances as turned all unbelievers from him. His state was then a state of infirmity, reproach, and suffering. He appeared in the flesh. Now he is in glory, he appeareth not, As many refused him when he appeared, because it was in outward weakness; so many refuse him now he is in glory, because he appeareth not. Faith alone can conflict with and conquer these difficulties. And it hath sufficient evidences of this return of Christ, (1.) In his faith- Jul word of promise. The promise of his coming, recorded in the
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Scripture, is the ground of our faith herein. (2.) In the continual supplies of his Spirit which believers do receive. This is the great pledge of his mediatory life in heaven, of the continuance of his love and care towards the church, and consequently the great assur- ance of his second coming. (38.) In the dadly evidences of his glorious power, put forth in eminent acts of providence for the pro- tection, preservation, and deliverance of the church; which is an uninterrupted assurance of his future appearance. He hath deter- mined the day and season of it; nor shall all the abuse that is made of his seeming delay in coming hasten it one moment. And he hath blessed ends of his not appearing before the appointed season, though the time seems long to the church itself: as, (1.) That the world may “fill up the measure of its iniquities,” to make way for its eternal destruction: (2.) That the whole number of the elect may be gathered in; though days of trouble are sometimes short- - ened for their sakes, that they may not faint after they are called, Matt. xxiv. 22, yet are they also in general continued, that there may be time for the calling of them all: (3.) That all the graces of his people may be exercised and tried unto the utmost: (4) That God may have his full revenue of glory from the new creation, which is the first-fruits of the whole: (5.) That all things may be ready for the glory of the great day.
8. To whem shall he thus appear?» Of whom shall he be thus seen? “To them that look for him.” But the Scrip- ture is plain and express in other places that he shall appear unto all; shall be seen of all, even of his enemies, Rey. 1. 7. And the work that he hath to do at his appearance re- quires that so it should be; for he comes to judge the world in general, and in particular to plead with ungodly men about their ungodly deeds and speeches, Jude 15. So therefore must and shall it be. His second illustrious appearance shall fill the whole world with the beams of it; the whole rational creation of God shall see and behold him. But the apostle treats of his appearance here with respect unto the salvation of them unto whom he doth appear: “He shall appear unto salvation.” And this word,
_ “unto salvation,” is capable of a double explication. For it may refer unto “ them that look for him,”’—“ that look for him unto salvation;’ that is, that look to be saved by him: or it may do so unto his appearance; “he shall appear unto the salvation of them that look for him.” ‘The sense is good either way.
This looking for the coming of Christ,—which is a description of faith by a principal effect and fruit of it, called also waiting, expecting, longing, earnest expectation,—consists in five things: (1.) Steadfast faith of his coming and appearance. This is in the
‘ foundation of Christian religion. And whatever the generality of
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416 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
hypocritical, nominal Christians profess, there are uncontrollable evidences and demonstrations that they believe it not. (2.) Love unto it, as that which is most desirable, which contains in it every thing wherein the soul takes delight and satisfaction: “That love his appearing,” 2 Tim. iv. 8. (3.) Longing for it, or desires after it: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus;” that is, “come quickly,” Rev. xxii, 20. Ifthe saints of the old testament longed after his appear- ance in the flesh, how shall not we do so for his appearance in glory? See Tit. 11,13. “ Looking for and hasting unto,” ete, 2 Pet. ii. 12. (4.) Patient wasting for i, in the midst of all discouragements. These the world is filled withal; and it is the great trial of faith, Jude 20, 21. (5.) Preparation for it, that we may be ready and meet for his reception; which is the substance of what we are taught in the parable of the virgins, Matt. xxv. Unto those that thus “look for him” shall the Lord Christ “appear unto salvation.” _4, The manner of his appearance is, “without sin.” This may either respect himself or the church, or both. In his first appearance in the flesh he was absolutely in him- self without sin; but his great work was about sin. And in what he had to do for us he was “ made sin,” “he bare our . iniquities,” and was treated both by God and man as the greatest sinner. He had all the penal effects and consequents of sin upon him; all dolorous infirmities of nature, as fear, sorrow, grief, pain; all sufferings that sin deserved, that the law threatened, were in him and upon him. Nothing, as it were, appeared with him or upon him but sin; that is, the effects and consequents of it, im what he underwent for our sakes, But now he shall appear perfectly free from all these things, as a perfect conqueror over sin, in all its causes, effects, and consequents. It may respect the church. He will then have made an utter end of sin in the whole church for ~ ever. There shall not then be the least remainder of it. All its filth, and guilt, and power; and its effects, in darkness, fear, and danger, shall be utterly abolished and done away. ‘The guilt of sin being done withal, the whole church shall then be perfectly purified, “without spot or wrinkle,” every way glorious. Sin shall be no more. Respect may be had to both himself and the church. 5. The end of his appearance is the “salvation” of “them that look for him.” If this word relate immediately unto his appearance, the meaning is, to bestow, to collate sal- vation upon them, eternal salvation. If it respect them that look jor him, it expresseth the qualification of their persons by the object of their faith and hope. They look for him, to be perfectly and completely saved by him. Where both senses are equally true, we need not limit the signification of the words to either of them. But we may observe,—