That time being the commencement of a never- ending eternity, it is obvious,
III. That we should spend our whole lives in pre- paration for it —
What is the preparation that becomes us ?
1. We should humble ourselves before God for all our sins —
[When Nineveh was warned that in forty days it should be overthrown, the inhabitants, from the highest to the lowest, repented of their sins in sackcloth and ashes ; yes, they, though heathens, and warned only respecting the death of the body, made this improvement of their time. How much more then should we do it, who are warned respecting the death of our souls, and know not that we have forty hours to live ! If God will " judge us according to our ways," and " pour out his fury" upon all in proportion to their sins, methinks we should mourn over our sins day and night, and get them washed away in " the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness," even in " the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin."]
2. We should get our souls renewed by Divine
grace —
[The foolish virgins, as well as the wise, expected the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom : but the foolish were not careful to have oil in their vessels with their lamps : hence, when the cry was made, " Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" they had their oil to seek, and were therefore excluded from the marriage-feast f. This shews us what should be now our one concern. If we have not the Spirit of God dwelling in us, in vain will be all our profession, in vain the flame which arises only from our natural spirits : the distinction between us and others will speedily appear, and a corresponding judgment be passed upon us. How long he may delay his coming, or how soon he may arrive, we know not; and therefore we should not lose an hour in seeking that unction of the Holy One, which alone can fit us for the possession and enjoyment of the heavenly bliss.]
3. We should be watching against every thing that may unfit us for the Divine presence —
[This is the instruction which the Apostles uniformly give us : " The end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer^:" and again, " Let your modera- tion be known unto all men: the Lord is at handh." There are dangers and temptations all around us : not only do evil things solicit our regard, but things that are most innocent often become a snare to us. Surely then it becomes " those who have wives to be as though they had none, and those who weep to be as though they wept not, and those who rejoice as though they rejoiced not1." " The fashion of this world is passing rapidly away;" and "then cometh the end." O! happy they who are prepared for it ! Happy they " whose
' Matt. xxv. 1—13. b 1 Pet. iv. 7.
h Phil. iv. 5. ! 1 Cor. vii. 29—31.
1098. j HIDDEN ABOMINATIONS EXPOSED. 317
loins are girt, and whose lamps are trimmed, and whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching for him !" " What I say then unto one, I say unto all, Watch."]
4. We should be intent on finishing the work which God has given us to do —
[Our Lord cautions us to " work while it is day, for the nisrht is coming, wherein no man can work." When the end cometh, there is no more scope for exertion, no further oppor- tunity to supply what is defective, or to remedy what is amiss: " there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave." " Whatsoever then our hand findeth to do, let us do it with our might" ]