ardent arid affectionate expectation ; " our loins being girt, and our lamps trimmed," and our whole souls as " those who wait for the coming of their Lord." Maintaining tliis frame, you may rest assured, that " the Lord Jesus Christ will confirm you to the end %" and present you faultless before the presence of his Father's glory with exceeding joy V]
2. In a way of affectionate intreaty — [" Beloved" Brethren^ " Seeing that ye look for such things, I beseech you be diligent that ye may be found of God in peace, without spot and blameless." Think, if that day should come upon you unprepared ; and, instead of going forth to meet a loving Saviour, you should behold only an angry and avenging Judge : how terrible will this be ! Lose not an liovu* then ; but be diligent in seeking peace with God through the Son of his love. It is the blood of Christ, and that only, which can effect your reconciliation with God : and therefore lose not a moment in sprinkling it upon your souls ; yea, let your holiest actions, as well as your more acknow- ledged sins, be purged with it from their defilement. En- deavour, too, to preserve a " spotless and blameless" conduct, throughout your whole lives, being " sincere and without offence until the day of Christ." Let no allowed sin be found in you : but so " cleanse yourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, that you may perfect holiness in the fear of God," and be acknov/ledged by him as " Israelites indeed, in whom there was no guile." This will doubtless require " diligence:" but surely the occasion justly deserves all the care and labour yovi can bestow upon it. Can you doubt whether those, whose lives have been lately in such imminent peril, have taken precautions against any future surprise? Would they not be justly blamed, if they were to be as heedless of danger, as they were before they knew of the conspiracy that v/as formed against them ? Be ye then on your guard. They, whatever attempts were made against them, might escape : but no possibility of escape remains for you. " Your God will come, even as a thief in the night;" and therefore I intreat you all to be dihgent, that, " whether he come in the evening, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning"," " you may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless"
I only add, " Account the long-suffering of God to be salvation''." You have long been spared ; and God is still
forbearing
MCor, 1.7, 8. fjude24,
^Mark xiii. 32 — 3/. The particular instructions in this passage, " Take ye heed, watch, and pray," may here be dwelt upon to advantage.
" ver. 15.