The Happiness of Enjoying and Use of Christ, Text 2
THE LORD JESUS the Soules laſt Refuge.
REV. 22.20.
Come Lord Jeſus.
THE comming of the Sunne is joyous to him that hath been long in darkneſſe; the comming of the Dove with an Olive branch, was comfortable to Noah after he had been toſſed divers dayes upon the deluge; the re-appearing of the Starre to the Wiſe men, made them exceeding joyfull: And ſuch is the comming of the Lord Jeſus to the ſoules of his ſervants, when they have ſate in darkneſſe, and have had no light; when they have been toſſed upon the deluge of many troubles, and have had no footing for their ſoules, no haven wherein to repoſe themſelves; when they have wandred, like travellers, in this earthly wilderneſs without a guide; then have their ſoules longed after Chriſt Jeſus,Mal. 4.2. that Sunne of righteouſneſſe, who appeareth with healing in his wings; Numb. 24 17. Iſa. 9.6.that Star of Iacob, who giveth light to them that are in darkneſſe; that Prince of Peace, who brings the olive branch of peace to ſoules that are perpl…xed. Se…ſe of diſtreſſes doth marvellouſly ſweete… the Lord Jeſus, and fill the ſoule with longings after the fruition of his favours. When the Gibeonites were beſieged with the Amoritiſh Princes,Joſ. 10.6. they ſent to Ioſua, ſaying, Slacke not thine hand from thy ſervants, come up to us quickly, and ſave us, and helpe us: when our ſoules are beſieged with an armie of troubles, toſſed upon the tempeſt of manifold afflictions, when no Captaine can fight for us, no anchor can ſtay us, no friend can comfort us, no ſhield and buckler defend us, no Phyſician heale us; then wee long for Chriſts gracious preſence, then wee make earneſt ſuit for his powerfull aſſiſtance, then we ſay, Come Lord Ieſus.
Theſe words are almoſt the laſt words of the whole word of God, the laſt words (as I have heard) uttered by this deceaſed partie, which gave mee occaſion at this time (being the laſt office wee are to performe towards him) to treat of them, to commend them to your conſideration, the better to prepare you all for your laſt reckoning, to fit you for the day of your diſſolution, to perſwade and move you to labour for ſuch faith, ſuch love, ſuch repentance, ſuch competencie of all ſaving graces, that at the houre of your departure out of this earthly pilgrimage, you may bee able, as friends and ſervants, as the ſpouſe and bride, as ſonnes and daughters of God and Chriſt Jeſus, to ſay, Come Lord Ieſus.
The words are a holy and fervent wiſh and deſire, vote, and prayer of Iohn the Evangeliſt, in his owne, and in the name of all the faithfull, for the ſpeedy, gracious, and glorious comming of the Lord Jeſus. Iohn the Evangeliſt was Chriſts beloved Diſciple, Joh. 13.23one who in the dayes of his fleſh had repoſed himſelfe in Chriſts boſome, and here deſires Chriſts comming. By how much the neerer communion wee have now with Chriſt by grace and holineſſe,Note. by ſo much the more his ſecond comming is deſired by us: Grace and holineſſe eſtates us in the condition of ſonnes and daughters to God the Father; in the condition of Bride & Spouſe to Chriſt Jeſus, intitle us to all Gods promiſes, ſweeten all Gods teſtimonies, make all Gods ordinances the ſavour of life to life unto us, ſettle us in the ſenſe of Gods loving kindneſſe, in the aſſurance of the forgiveneſſe of all our ſinnes and offences, and ſo make the ſecond comming of Chriſt moſt deſirous. Want of holineſſe deprives the ſouls of men of all the ſweet and heavenly comforts ariſing from the ſecond comming of Chriſt Jeſus. The unſanctified man that ſayes, Come Lord Ieſus, prayes God to haſten his eternall vengeance: hee that without grace prayes for Chriſts comming, beggs his owne ſpeedy and finall deſtruction. Labour therfore in the dayes of your life for holineſſe, that you may with comfort in the houre of your death ſay, Come Lord Ieſus. Iohn the Evangeliſt had ſeen, in a viſion, the Churches affliction, the adverſaries inſultation, the future felicitie prepared for the one, and the future calamity provided for the other, and Chriſt made glorious in both: and therefore hee prayes, Come Lord Jeſus. No man rightly deſires Chriſts comming,Note. but he that hath aſſurance of the good and benefite of his coming: To them the day of Chriſt is as the day of harveſt to the huſbandman, as the day of deliverance to the priſoner, as the day of coronation to the King, as the day of wedlocke to the bride; a day of triumph and exaltation, a day of freedome and conſolation, a day of reſt and ſatisfaction; to them the Lord Jeſus is all ſweetneſſe,Cant 1.2, 3. as wine to the palate, and oyntment to the noſtrill, ſaith Solomon. Mel in ore, melos in aure, Iubilus in corde.Hony in the mouth (ſaith Bernard) muſick in the eare, and a jubilee in the heart. Get aſſurance of Chriſts comming as a Ranſomer to redeeme you, as a Conquerour to ſubdue all your enemies under you, as a Friend to comfort you, as a King to honour you, as a Phyſician to heale you, as a Bridegroome to marry you; and then ſhall you with confidence and boldneſſe, with joy and gladneſſe, with vehement and holy longings, ſay, Come Lord Ieſus.
In the words there is Motus & Movens, 1. a Motion, and 2. a Mover: the motion, Come; the mover, the Lord Ieſus. Firſt of the motion, wherein is the Modus, the manner of uttering theſe words, by way of vote, wiſh and ſupplication; and the Genus, or kinde of motion, Come. The Evangeliſt deſireth Chriſt to come: Chriſt, as God, is every where, and in reſpect of his eſſence doth neither goe nor come, his divine eſſence being free from all motion and mutation: yet, as God, hee commeth by his Miniſters, as a King by his Embaſſadours; by his ordinances, as a Prince by his lawes; by his gifts and graces, as the Sunne by his beames and light; by his caſtigations and afflictions, as a man of warre by his armies; by his favours and bleſſings, as a friend by his love-tokens: As Man, he came once by incarnation, taking our fleſh upon him, and ſhall come at laſt as a glorious and dreadful Judge to render to every man according to his worke: and in this reſpect principally doth the Evangeliſt here deſire him to come; to come as a Judge to ſubvert Antichriſt, to ſubdue the kingdome of ſinne and Satan, to render to all ungodly men according to their doing; to come as Redeemer, to bring a full and finall deliverance to all beleevers, to all contrite and broken hearted ſinners from all evils, and to conferre upon them all peace and bliſſe, all glory and happineſſe, this being the deſire and prayer of all the faithfull, of all that have received the ſpirit of adoption: We may hence learne, that
It is the unfained deſire of Gods faithfull ſervants, Doct. to have the full fruition of Chriſt Ieſus. 2 Sam. 14 32.Abſolon ſo deſired to ſee the face of David the King and his father, that he valued it above his life: the Lords ſervants ſo deſire to ſee the face of Chriſt their King and Redeemer, and to have the full enjoyment of his comfortable and glorious preſence, that nothing is ſo pretious in their apprehenſions, valued and eſteemed by them above the deareſt earthly poſſeſſions, above the choyceſt worldly comforts,Can. 1.3. Pſa. 4.6, 7. Pſa. 63.3. above wine which maketh glad the heart, above the increaſe of corne and wine, the joy of the rich; above life the choyceſt pearle, and deereſt treaſure in natures cloſet. If the dawning of the day bee ſo joyous, how much more pleaſant is the Sunne riſing? If the firſt fruits be ſo acceptable, how much more abundantly joyful… is the full vintage? If the glimpſe of Gods face bee ſo much deſired, how much more deſireable is the fulneſſe of Gods countenance reſerved for us in the heavens? which the Pſalmiſt doth illuſtrate by a ſimilitude taken from the chaſed Hart:Pſa. 42.1, 2. As the Hart, the Hart chaſed, heated, affrighted, and vexed by the hounds and hunters, doth pant after the water brookes, ſo doth my ſoule pant after thee, O God: my ſoule thirſteth for God, for the living God: when ſhall I come and appeare before God? before God in his holy Temple, in the aſſembly of his Saints and ſervants, in the uſe of his ordinances, in the ſenſe of his loving kindneſſe, and in the full fruition of his face in the higheſt heavens. And this the Apoſtle expreſſeth by a Metaphor taken from the naked,2 Cor. 5.2 who have no garment to cover them, no houſe to hide them: as they with great diligence ſeeke, and much earneſtneſſe long for a covering; ſo doe the faithfull ſervants of God long for heaven, their houſe and habitation, and for the full fruition of Jeſus Chriſt; whoſe righteouſneſſe is their rich and royall robe, their pure and ſpotleſſe garment to cover them: In this (ſaith the Apoſtle) wee groane, …arneſtly deſiring to bee clothed upon with our houſe which is from heaven. As he that is in darkneſs longeth for the light, ſo the ſoules of Gods children in the darkneſſe of this world, doe long for Jeſus Chriſt, and heaven, the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, and that heavenly Citie which God hath provided for them,Rev. 21.23. Where there is no need neither of the Sunne nor of the Moone to ſhine in it, becauſe the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. As the Bride doth long for the comming of the Bridegroome: ſo the ſpirituall Bride longeth for the comming of the heavenly Bridegroome Chriſt Jeſus, being ſicke of love, Cant. 5.6, 8.and full of longings after him. As the mother of Siſera looked out through the window, and cried through the latteſſe, Iudg. 5.28Why is his Chariot ſo long in comming? why tarry the wheeles of his Chariots? ſo doth the Spouſe of Chriſt here in this life, looke forth through the window of Gods ordinances, and through the latteſſe of her faith, and cry, How long, Lord Jeſus, Rev. 6.10.how long? Thou art my helpe and my deliverer, make no tarrying, O my God. And the Apoſtle for the mitigating of their ſorrowes, aſſwaging of their troubles, quieting of their conſciences, and the better ſtaying of their ſoules, perſwades them to waite, aſſures them of the ſpeedy comming of Chriſt, ſaying,Pſa. 40.17. Caſt not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward; for yee have need of patience, that after yee have done the will of God, yee might receive the promiſe: For yet a little while, and hee that ſhall come will come, Heb. 10.35, 36, 37.and will not tarry. And thus have Gods ſervants expreſſed their deſires.Phil. 1.23. I deſire (ſaith Saint Paul) to be diſſolved, as a priſoner from his fetters, as a captive from his bondage, and to bee with Chriſt, which is farre better. And, wee groane (ſaith hee ſpeaking in the name of all the faithfull) to be cloathed upon, 2 Cor. 5.4, 8.that mortality might bee ſwallowed up of immortality. And, wee are willing to bee abſent from the body, and preſent with the Lord: And this the Apoſtle commended in the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſſ. 1.9, 10.that they were turned to God from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God, and to wait for his Sonne from heaven, as ſervants wait for the comming of their Lord and Maſter: And this Saint Peter termes, a looking for, 2 Pet. 3.12.and haſtening unto the comming of the day of God: The reaſon whereof is,
In regard of their remaining ſinne and Reaſon 1 corruption: This is to them as a diſeaſe to the ſicke, as fetters to the priſoner, as a burthen to the traveller, as a mote to the eye, as manacles to the hands, as chaines to the feet, as aches to the bones, as the ſons of Zervia unto David, they were adverſaries to him, too ſtrong for him: 2 Sam, 19.22.ſo are their corruptions adverſaries to their ſoules, to their peace, to their communion with God, to their preſent and everlaſting welfare. Somtimes they are too ſtrong for them, leading them captive,Rom. 7.23 as a tyrant the ſouldier whom he hath taken in the battle,1 Pet. 2.11. 2 Sam. 3.1 making continuall warre againſt them, as the houſe of Saul did againſt the houſe of David, being as prickes in their eyes, and thornes in their ſides;Iudg. 2.2. as the Canaanites were to Iſrael, as heavie burthens to their backes,Pſa. 38.4. burthens too heavie for them to beare; as dead members in their body,Rom. 7.24 very cumberſome, and occaſions of great trouble. And therefore as the noble man went unto Chriſt, and beſought him, Ioh. 4.47.that he would come downe and heale his ſonne, becauſe hee was at the poynt of death; ſo doe the faithfull ſervants of God go to Chriſt, and ſay, Come Lord Ieſus, that there may bee a thorough healing of all their infirmities.
In regard of Satans ſubtile, aſſiduous and violent temptations:Ioſ. 10. As the Amoritiſh Princes beſieged Gibeon, ſo doth the prince of darkneſſe beſiege the ſoules of Gods people. As Pharaoh impoſed heavie burthens upon the children of Iſrael, ſet cruell task-maſters over them, and when they were going forth of Egypt, raiſed an army, and purſued them: ſo doth Satan lay heavie burthens upon, great and grievous things to the charge of Gods people, ſet many mercileſſe and bloudy minded man againſt them, and raiſeth an armie of evill thoughts within, to diſtract them, and an army of afflictions without to moleſt them, being as a roaring Lyon to Gods flocke,1 Pet. 5.8. as a man of warre to the Citie of their ſoules, making their paſſage very ſtormy and tempeſtuous:Luk. 11.21. and therefore as the woman of Canaan came to our Saviour, and cryed to him,Mat. 15.22, 25. ſaying, Have merciemercy on mee, O Lord, thou Sonne of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Divell, Lord helpe mee: ſo doe Gods children addreſſe themſelves to Chriſt, and cry, Have merciemercy upon us, thou Sonne of David, for our ſoules are ſore vexed with the Divell, Lord helpe us: O come Lord Jeſus, and bring us a full and finall deliverance from all infernall adverſaries.
In regard of the evill and offenſive converſation of ungracious men: their language, their practice, their profaneneſſe, their troubleſomneſſe is to Gods children a great griefe, a meanes of very much diſquiet; as the daughters of Heth to Sarah, Gen. 27.46.made her life a burthen, and the preſence of diſobedient Ionah made the ſea tempeſtuous, the navigation very perillous to the Mariners. This hath filled them full of complaints;Pſa. 120.5 Woe is me (ſaith David) that I ſojourne in Meſech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar. Pſa. 119.136.Mine eyes guſh out with rivers of tears, becauſe men keepe not thy law (ſaith David.) And Lot was vexed with the filthy converſation of the wicked. 2 Pet. 2.7.That righteous man (ſaith S. Peter) dwelling among them, in ſeeing and hearing, vexed his righteous ſoule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds. And therefore as he that dwells among thornes, briars and ſcorpions, Ezek. 2.6.deſires to change his dwelling: ſo doe Gods ſervants ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, that they may have full freedome from the converſation of ſinfull men.
In regard of love to Chriſt: their love to him,2 Sam. 1.26. like the love of Jonathan to David, is wonderfull: they love him with all manner of love; with a creatures love, as he is their maker; with a ſervants love, as hee is their Lord and Maſter; with a ſubjects love, as he is their King and Ruler; with a ranſomed mans love, as hee is their Redeemer; with a friends love, as hee is their Comforter; with a childs love, as he is their everlaſting Father; with a kinſmans love, as hee is their Brother; and with a Brides love, as hee is the Bridegroome of their ſoules.Can. 2.5. They are ſicke of love, and love breeds longing, and longing breeds deſire of fruition. And as love conſtraines the wife to deſire the preſence of the huſband: ſo doth love cauſe the ſpouſe of Chriſt to long for the preſence of Chriſt, to ſay,Tit. 2.13. Come Lord Ieſus, to looke for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt.
In regard of the plenary and perfect reſtauration of Gods image in their ſoules: The day of Chriſts comming ſhall bee the day of their full freedome and perfect redemption, wherein they ſhal be a garden without weeds, a tree without barren branch, ſuperfluous bough, or fading leafe. As Abſolon, 2 Sam. 15.in reſpect of bodily perfection, was without blemiſh from the crowne of the head unto the ſole of the foot: ſo ſhall Gods ſervants, upon the comming of Chriſt, be free from all blemiſh, and glorious in ſoule and body,Mat. 13.43. Luk. 21.28. like the Sun in the firmament. This is called the day of their redemption: And as the captive deſireth the comming of the ranſomer, ſo doe they the comming of Chriſt our bleſſed Redeemer: and therfore they ſay, Come Lord Ieſus, that they may have the full poſſeſſion of all joy and glory in heaven.
This openeth and unfoldeth the eſtate and condition of man, Uſe. even of the holieſt and beſt men in this life; even an eſtate of diſtance & ſeparation in part from Chriſt; their deſire of him, their longing after him, their crying, Come Lord Ieſus, ſhewes they doe not enjoy Chriſt now in his greateſt fulneſſe. Here,Numb. 13 23. like Iſrael in the way to Canaan, they have a few grapes, a little taſte of the goodneſſe of the land of heaven; but the full vintage is reſerved till their bodily diſſolution, till Chriſts ſecond comming. Now they are abſent from the Lord, they behold him as a friend a farre off. While wee are at home in the body, 2 Cor. 5.6wee are abſent from the Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle: Abſent from the perfection of Gods Image, from the fulneſſe of the light of Gods countenance, from the perfect and complete fruition of his preſence, and the glory he hath provided for us.1 Cor. 13.12. Now we ſee as through a glaſſe darkly: in the workes of God, as in a glaſſe, wee ſee the generall wiſedome, power and goodneſſe of God: In the Word and Sacraments wee ſee, as in a glaſſe, the command and precept, the will and counſell, the love and merciemercy of God in Chriſt Jeſus: Hereafter wee ſhall ſee face to face; truly without errour, conſpicuouſly without darkneſſe, and fully without the mixture of all imperfections. Now we are as runners in a race, the price is not yet wonne:1 Cor. 9.24. therefore, ſo runne that yee may obtaine, ſaith S. Paul. Now we are as Souldiers in the battle fighting, the victory is not yet fully gotten:Rev. 2.10. therefore, be thou faithful (ſaith our Saviour) to the death, and I will give thee a crowne of life. Wee are now travellers, our journey is not yet ended:Pſa. 84.7. therefore we muſt go from ſtrength to ſtrength, untill wee doe appeare before the Lord in Sion. Matth. 24.13.For, hee that continueth to the end ſhall be ſaved. Now we are as pilgrimes and ſtrangers, we have not yet the poſſeſſion of our heavenly dwelling; and therefore as pilgrimes & ſtrangers,1 Pet. 2.11. let us abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, which warre againſt the ſoule: we halt like Iacob in our walking, our goings are not abſolutely perfect;Gen. 32.31.35. our lives like Iacobs flock, are ſpotty coloured, a mixture of grace & vice is in them; our ſouls,Gen. 25.24. like Rebecca's womb, carry in them an Eſau & a Iacob, the fleſh luſting againſt the ſpirit, & the ſpirit againſt the fleſh; as Eſau againſt Iacob, & Iacob againſt Eſau. In the Common-wealth of Iſrael,2 Sam. 3.1 there was continuall war between the houſe of Saul & David, in the common-weale of a regenerate ſoule, there is continuall warre between God & Satan, between grace and corruption; and therfore we muſt labour in the worke of grace, like the houſe of David, to grow ſtronger & ſtronger; & to make ſin, like the houſe of Saul, grow weaker & weaker, ſtill preſſing to more perfection, & ever ſaying, with the Evangeliſt, Come Lord Ieſus, as a guide to direct us, a Phyſician to heale us, and a man of warre to overcome for us.
This ſhould wonderfully endeare unto us the Lord Jeſus: He is the deſire of the ſoules of all beleevers, to him we muſt go, to him we muſt ſeek, on him we muſt call. When diſtreſſe commeth, when ſickneſſe viſiteth, when death approacheth; then we ſhall bee conſtrained to cry, Come Lord Ieſus; then, as the woman of Tekoah, in a pretended diſtreſſe, came to David, and cried,2 Sam. 14.4. Help, O King: ſo ſhall we, in the reall diſtreſſe of our ſoules, bee conſtrained to cry, Help, O Chriſt. When wee ſhall ſee Satan caſting all his fiery darts at us, ſetting with all his forces, like an armed man, upon us; bringing all our ſinnes, like a ſubtile accuſer, againſt us; when wee ſhall apprehend death, as a Serjeant, arreſting, hurrying and drawing us before the Lords tribunall, and ſhall ſee the armes of all earthly helpers broken, the lamp of all worldly lights put out, and the tongues of all our friends, according to the fleſh, made dumb and ſilent: then our ſoules will be put upon Chriſt, and there will bee no remedy, we muſt ſay, Come Lord Ieſus. And therefore this ſhould make Chriſt very pretious in our eyes now; this ſhould inflame our hearts with ſingular and fervent love unto him for the preſent, getting intereſt in him above all things, and making him our chiefeſt and choyceſt, our deare and onelyonly friend: This ſhould ſo ſweeten unto us the Lord Jeſus, that wee ſhould ſay with Bernard, Jeſus dulcis in voce, dulcis in facie, dulcis in nomine; dulce enim nomen & ſuave Jeſus, conſecratum ab aeterno, annunciatum ab Angelo, prophetatum Solomonis oraculo, qui ait, Oleum effuſum nomen tuum. Pſa. 73.25Jeſus is ſweet in voice, ſweet in face, ſweet in name; for the name Jeſus is ſweet, being conſecrated from eternitie, publiſhed by the Angel, and propheſied by the Oracle of Solomon, who ſaith, Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth. Wee ſhould ſo ſelect him, ſo admire him, ſo adhere unto him, ſo ſet our hearts upon him, that wee ſhould ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee: So glorious, ſo pretious, ſo infinitely tranſcendent, let him be in our thoughts, in our judgements, in our eſtimation and affections, that wee love and affect him, exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders, as the Sunne above all lights, as the ſpring above all ciſternes, as the pearle above all treaſure, and as the husband of our ſoules above all friends; as a Paradice of all pleaſures, a haven of reſt from all tempeſts, and the refuge of our ſoules in all troubles: Let our faith bee ſuch in him, our hope ſo ſettled upon him, our love ſo ſtrong towards him, our ſubjection ſuch under him, that we may bee able at all times and ſeaſons, in all eſtates and conditions to ſay, Come Lord Jeſus.
Behold in this the honour and profit, the advantage and comfort which a bodily diſſolution bringeth to the righteous, to all true beleevers: they deſire the full fruition of Chriſt, and this bringeth them home to Chriſt:Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine; gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption, from all the aſſaults of Satan, from the ſervitude of the world, and all affliction; gaine of perfect holineſſe, in reſpect of Gods image; gain of complete victory, in reſpect of all enemies; gaine of moſt ſweet communion, in reſpect of their fellow…hip with God, Chriſt, the glorious Angels, and all the Saints of God; gaine of abſolute honour, in reſpect of their glorious condition in heaven. As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches, a meſſenger of many comfortable tidings: ſo the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations. Sometimes it is ſtiled a Sleepe: Mat. 9.24.ſleep poſſeſſeth onelyonly the outward members and ſenſes, the ſoule ſleepeth not; ſo in death the body onelyonly dies, the ſoule is carried into Abrahams boſome. Luk. 16.22. …ev. 14.13.Sleep giveth reſt unto the body, They who dye in the Lord reſt from all their labours. Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers: Gen. 25.8by death the righteous are ſeparated from the wicked, gathered as wheat into Gods garner, and their ſoules bound up in the bundle of life. 1 Sam. 25 29.Sometimes it is called a way, the way of all fleſh: by the way wee come to our home, to our fathers and to our friends houſe;Ioſ. 23.14. and by death wee come to our heavenly home, to God the father and the Lord Jeſus. Sometimes it is called a going forth: As the priſoner goeth forth of the priſon,2 Pet. 1.15 and Iſrael went forth from the bondage of Egypt: ſo when the body dieth, the ſoule goeth forth, as out of a priſon, and entreth into the land of the living. Sometimes it is called an end, Mat. 10.22.becauſe in death there is an end of all ſin, of all ſorrow, of all labour & trouble, as in the waters of the red Sea the Iſraelites Egyptian bondage ended. Sometimes it is termed a ſowing: Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44.the ſeed wch is ſowne doth ſpring forth again into a blade, the body in the reſurrection ſhall flouriſh like the graſſe; death, like a Phyſician, cures all their diſeaſes, like a key opens the priſon, and reſtores them to a bleſſed freedom, & brings them to the full fruition of Jeſus Chriſt, the deſire of their ſoules. And this is the ſweeteſt and fulleſt gaine of a Chriſtian. Lucrum eſt evaſiſſe incrementa peccati, Auguſtine.lucrum fugiſſe deteriora, lucrum tranſire ad meliora. Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Chriſtianus, Cyprian.jam ſaeculi laqueis non teneri, jam nullis peccatis & vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri, exemptum preſſuris angentibus, & venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum, ad laetitiam ſalutis aeternae Chriſto vocante proficiſci. Cypr.
This muſt perſwade & move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earneſt deſire after the comming of the Lord Jeſus; to deſire it as the husbandman the cō ming of the harveſt, the ſick man the comming of the day of health, or the ward the day of his full age; to looke for the new heavens, 2 Pet. 3.13. 2 Tim. 4.8and the new earth, and to love the appearing of the Lord Ieſus: and for that end, there muſt be, Firſt, Godly ſorrow for ſin. Chriſts coming is comfortable to ſuch as are truly ſorrowfull: he that is weary of his corruptions, doth truely long for the coming of Chriſt Jeſus.Gen, 45.4.5 Ioſeph ſpake to his brethren kindly, & entertained them courteouſly when he ſaw them grieved for the injury offered him.Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation,Iſa. 61.1. was the day wherein his father graciouſly received him. Chriſt will bee found a ſweet and mercifull Ieſus to all Mat. 11.28.truly penitent ſinners. Secondly, there muſt be a thorough removall of ſin, an effectuall reformation of all our wayes.Gen. 35.2. Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his houſe of Idols: It is in vain for man to ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, if there bee not a converſion of the ſoule to Jeſus: To ſuch the Prophet ſpeakes,Amos 5.18.19. Woe to you that deſire the day of the Lord: to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkneſſe, and not light; as if a man did flye from a Lyon, and a Beare met him; or went into a houſe, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a Serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkneſſe and not light, even very darke, and no brightneſſe in it? What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit, what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world, what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh, what the fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up againſt Eliah, what the burning fornace was to them that caſt in Shadrach, Meſhec, and Abednego; the ſame will be the coming of the L. Jeſus to all unholy perſons. O therfore away with your ſins, every ſoul of man reform his wayes,Job 11.14. That you may lift up your faces with boldnes, that you may with great joy and comfort ſay, Come Lord Ieſus. Thirdly, get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith;Eph. 6.16. this wil quench all Satans darts, ſilence all the accuſ…tions of conſcience, make you looke on Chriſt as on a friend to comfort you,Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you, and a redeemer to ſave you; and like Eliahs fiery chariot, will carry your ſoules aloft, and bring you with gladneſſe into the preſence of the Lord Jeſus. Fourthly, make a good uſe of your talent, be wiſe, be diligent, be faithfull, holy, & humble in the imployment of it, and Chriſt ſhall come with comfort, and he ſhall entertain you with a ſweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull ſervant, Mat. 25.23.thou haſt been faithfull over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into thy maſters joy. And let us be excited & ſtirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Chriſts comming, conſidering, Firſt, the ſatiety of our eſtate in heaven;Rev. 22.2. there is a Tree bearing twelve ſorts of fruit, youth without old age, health without ſickneſſe, fulneſs without loathing liberty without bondage, beauty without deformitie, impaſsibility without griefe, abundance without want, peace without trouble, ſecurity without feare, knowledge without ignorance, glory without ignominy, joy without ſorrow. Secondly, the ſecurity of that eſtate, no enemy can reach us: it is a Citie never beſieg…d, a haven never diſquieted; there is no death, neither of ſin nor of miſery,Rev. 21.4. Nec culpae, nec miſeriae, nec naturae. nor of nature. Thirdly, the jucundity of it: a day without clouds, a paradiſe without thornes, fulneſs of joy; true joy without deceit, ſincere joy free from the mixture of ſorrow,Pſa. 16. conſtant joy, a Sun that never ſets: of which we may ſay, as Auguſtine doth,*O gaudium ſupergaudium, vincens omne gaudium, extra quod non eſt gaudium! quando intrabo in te, ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te? O joy above joy, overcoming all joy, without which there is no joy! when ſhall I enter into thee, that I may ſee my God who dwelleth in thee? Here is joy above us, in the viſion of God; joy within us, in the glorification of our ſouls and bodies; joy about us, in our communion with Saints and Angels; joy beneath us, in our evaſion and eſcapall of hell and everlaſting darkneſſe. Here is to the ſouls of all beleevers, Gaudium de Chriſto, joy concerning Chriſt, as the authour of our welfare; in Chriſto, in Chriſt, as he is the head and wee the members; cum Chriſto, with Chriſt, as coheires with him of the ſame inheritance; poſt Chriſtum, after Chriſt, every ſoule joying according to proportion; per Chriſtum, by Chriſt, being reconciled to God by him, and beholding God with joy through him; propter Chriſtum, for Chriſt, he being exalted above all creatures, and having purchaſed all things. O let theſe things ſweeten the thought of Chriſt Jeſus to us, inflame our ſoules with longing after him, & make us all ſay, Come Lord Ieſus.
Thus from the Motion paſſe wee to the Mover, Lord Jeſus. Two titles of the bleſſed Sonne of God; the one a title of authoritie to command us, the other of merciemercy to comfort us. Love and Juſtice are ſweetly knit together in Chriſt Jeſus: Note.as Lord, hee requireth obedience to his precepts; as Jeſus, he calleth for faith in his promiſes. Faith and obedience muſt never be divided in Gods ſervants; hee that calls him Lord without obedience, diſhonours him; hee that calls him Ieſus without faith, receives no benefit by him: Hee is ſtiled firſt Lord, and then Jeſus. Note.If Chriſt bee not our Lord and Maſter firſt, hee will never bee our Saviour at laſt: He that will not have Chriſt to be his Lord in his life, ſhall not have him for his Ieſus at the houre of his death. O therefore ſerve him, honour him, obey him as your Lord; beleeve him, love him, rejoyce in him as your Jeſus now, that you may bee able upon all occaſions to ſay, Come Lord Ieſus: Come Lord Jeſus as a Counſellour to guide us, as a Rock to ſupport us, as a Friend to comfort us, as a Fountaine to ſupply us; Come Lord Jeſus in the day of fulneſſe, and make us thankfull; in the day of want, and make us contented; in the day of our ſinne, and make us penitent; in the day of affliction, and make us patient; in the day of temptation, and make us confident; in the day of ſorrow, and make us joyfull; in the day of health, and make us mindfull of the day of ſickneſſe; in the day of life, and make us watchfull againſt the day of death; in the day of ſickneſſe, and aſſure us of the bleſſed iſſue of our earthly pilgrimage; in the day of death, and tranſlate our ſoules into a glorious life: Even ſo, come LORD JESUS.
And now touching this ſpectacle of mortalitie here before us, what ſhall I ſay unto you? wherein ſhall I from hence inſtruct you? but onelyonly in two things in the genenerall, Firſt, by way of premonition: Secondly, by way of commemoration. By way of premonition, and ſo you may in this object of death be admoniſhed, Firſt, of the tranſitorineſſe of mans pilgrimage: his life is a vapour ſoon vaniſhing, a race ſoone runne,He…. 13.14. a candle quickly gone out, having no continuing Citie here, but muſt ſeeke one that is to come. Secondly, of the vanitie of all earthly abundance; it is a ſtarting Bow in the day of battle, a rotten Anchor in the ſtormie tempeſt. Wee ſee that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience,Pro. 11.4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteouſneſſe delivereth from death: the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt imputed, the righteouſneſſe of converſation well ordered giveth comfort, & deliverance from the ſecond death, when ſoule & body are diſſolved. Thirdly, whatſoever extravagancies or aberrations we ſee in others, let us not thereby take occaſion to inſult over them, to paſſe any raſh or fin…ll ſentence upon them: this is the worſt uſe of other mens offences, this is to thruſt God out of his office:Rom. 14.4. For every man ſtands or falls to his owne maſter; but what wee ſee amiſſe in others, let us correct in our ſelves; by the ſight of their ſpots let us waſh our owne garments, bee thankfull to God who doth preſerve us: for, no man ſtandeth by his owne ſtrength. Let us be watchfull over our ſelves, and deſire God to keepe us, leſt Satan and our owne corruption draw us into the ſame or greater evills. The ſinne of one man would be the ſinne of every man, did not God reſtraine him.
Secondly, by way of commemoration, I may tell you, Firſt, how hee profeſſed much ſorrow for his ſinnes: Mans ſin doth ever prove mans ſorrow; it is the ſhame of man to commit ſin, it is the honour of man to confeſſe and forſake his ſin; though ſorrow conſtrained and carnall be alwaies unacceptable, yet true and godly ſorrow is ever availeable to ſalvation: He that ſowes in tears ſhall reap in joy, Pſa. 126.5.
Secondly, he promiſed reformation, & greater ſtrictneſſe of life, if God were pleaſed to lengthen his dayes: though the vowes of m…ns adverſitie be often forgotten in the dayes of mans proſperitie, yet reſolutions truly gracious, are with God as the very performance.
Thirdly, he ſpake of a great change which God of late had wrought in him: Hee that is not changed by the gracious hand of God in this life, is never received by the merciful hand of God in the next life: the procraſtin…tion of repentance is ever very perillous; yet God is free in the diſpenſations of his mercies, not limited to times and ſeaſons.
Fourthly, the rehearſal of Gods mercies, upon condition of true repentance, ſeemed much to affect him. As hee is curſed that turnes the grace of God into wantonneſſe: ſo hee is bleſſed who by Gods mercies is lead to true repentance. And let all this admoniſh us to labour for timely and true repentance, to vow amendment and performe it; to feele our hearts truly changed, Gods mercies powerfully drawing our ſoules to obedience, by fervent prayer increaſing our communion with God, enriching our ſoules more and more with all heavenly gifts and graces, that wee may at laſt with great comfort and much aſſurance ſay, Come Lord Jeſus.
FINIS.