of us to be in, is that of ardent and 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 this frame, you may rest assured, that " the Lord Jesus Christ will confirm you to the endf," and present you faultless before the presence of his Father's glory with exceed- ing j°yR."]
2. In a way of affectionate entreaty —
[" 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 hour 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 acknowledged 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 you 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 heed- less of danger, as they were before they knew of the con- spiracy that was 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 entreat you all to be diligent, that, " whether he come in the evening, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning'1," " you may be found of him in peace, without
spot and blameless"
I only add, " Account the long-suffering of God to be
f 1 Cor. i. 7, 8. e Jude, ver. 21.
11 Mark xiii. 32 — 37. The particular instructions in this passage, "Take ye heed, watch, and pray," may here be dwelt upon to ad- van ta<re.
2429.] GROWTH IN GRACE. 35o
salvation1." You have long been spared; and God is still forbearing to call you to your great account. " Beloved brethren," " despise not this goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering of your God; but let them lead you to repent- anceV Though the general judgment should be long de- ferred, your own particular doom will be fixed the very instant that you shall be summoned into the eternal world. Do not then delay till it be too late; but " to-day, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts," lest God cut you off in your sins, and " swear in his wrath that you shall never enter into his rest."]
1 ver. 15. k Rom. ii. 4.