never enter into his rest." He has warned us, that he will do so ; that " if we refuse when he calls, he will laugh at our calamity, and mock when our fear cometh : that we may even seek him early, and shall not find him ; because we hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lorde."
Indeed, as long as we continue in an unconverted state, that word is true, " Where I am, thither ye cannot come :" for it is impossible for any one to enjoy heaven, without having attained a meetness for it ; or to sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, without that wedding garment in which every acceptable guest is clothed.]
We may see then What manner of saying this is —
1. It is an instructive saying —
[Many are the valuable lessons which it inculcates. It teaches us, that on the present moment eternity depends That our great concern in life is to obtain the know- ledge of Christ, and an interest in his favour That a
wilful abuse of our present privileges may provoke God to
give us up to final impenitence and that, if we die
before we are " renewed after the Divine image in righteous- ness and true holiness," we can no more enjoy heaven, than "light can have communion with darkness, or Christ with
Belial" ■ — Would to God that we might learn these
things so deeply, as to be continually influenced by them ! Hajopy will it be for us, if we " seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near."]
2. It is a comfortable saying —
[The words of our text are elsewhere addressed to his own more-favoured Disciples f. They are, in fact, like the pillar and cloud by which Israel were conducted out of Egypt : they have a luminous aspect towards the people of God, whilst they present a dark side towards his enemies. His own dearest children cannot follow him now ; but they shall follow him soone. He is merely "gone to prepare a place for them ; and will come soon to take them to himself, that where he is they may be alsoh" Moreover, his separation from them at present is only corporeal : for he is still with them, and " they see him," and enjoy the sweetest " fellowship with him1:" and in a little time they shall enter into his immediate presence, and " be for ever with the Lordk." Well might the Apostle say, " Comfort ye one another with these words."
But this saying is peculiarly comfortable in another view ;
e Prov. i. 24—29. with 2 Cor. vi.-2. and Rom. i. 28.
'" John xiii. 33. « John xiii. 30. h John xiv. 2, 3.
1 John xiv. 19 22 with 1 John i. 3. k 1 Thess iv. 17, 18.