Christians Earnest Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing, Discourse

Christians Earnest Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing · Discourse

p. 1REV. 22.20.

Amen! The whole Verſe runs thus: He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, Surely I come quickly. Amen! Even ſo, come, Lord Jeſus.

To the Lord Jeſus, declaring that he will not let it be long e're he come to judg the world, the Saints eccho back, Amen!

Men and Brethren,

THE very Apoſtles who ſaw our Lord Jeſus his Transfiguration on the Mount, (which was a Rudiment and Specimen of that Glory wherein he ſhall appear at his ſecond coming), thoſe Apoſtles (all three of them, as Junius thinks; two p. 2of them, as Grotius, and all (neceſſarily confeſs) did in their time warn the world, that he would ſoon be with them. He is ready to judg the quick and dead, ſaid Peter; adding, that he was not ſlack concerning the Promiſe of his coming: ſee 1 Pet. 4.5. & 2 Pet. 3.9, 10. The Coming of the Lord draweth nigh, the judg ſtandeth before the door, ſaid James, Jam. 5.8, 9. It is the laſt time (or hour) the laſt time of the World, (the laſt Monarchy, ſome conſtrue it), ſo ſaid John. There are more than ſixteen hundred years expired and gone ſince; and now certainly Chriſts Miniſters may, and with advantage, reurge thoſe warnings. He is, at leaſt ſixteen hundred years nigher to Coming now. Bleſſed Souls they, that knowingly, and ſincerely, and fervently too, can ſay unto this, Amen!

That (which is the Doctrine I offer from this word) the Church of p. 3God doth Chriſts members, ſay Amen, ſo be it unto, and cordially wiſh for, his Coming to judgment, according to his Promiſe. Chriſts Members do ſo, I ſay, and (knowingly) none but they. His Enemies wiſh no more for his Coming, than Malefactors, when ſureſt of death, wiſh for the Aſſizes. Were it in their power to ſtop him, he ſhould never come. But Chriſts Members all love his appearance (as 'tis 2 Tim. 4.8.) and deſire his Coming; as Priſoners, whoſe Friend is Judg, and who have well-grounded hopes of releaſement and liberty, long to hear the Trumpets ſounding. Yet do they not all, nay I'm confifident, not any at all times thus deſire and long for Chriſts Coming. Children of light walk ſometimes in darkneſs, nor are they always themſelves, as we uſe to ſpeak. But then they lament that ſo it is. And (moſtly) while they cannot, its an heartake to them that they cannot ſay p. 4Amen, to their Lords Coming. Still they have the wit, though not always the Power, to ſay it. And 'tis not the leaſt Care and Buſineſs of their lives, to ſeek and pray for Will and Power and Act too. So that, methinks, they do in a ſort ſay Amen, when they do not and dare not. Becauſe though to Do they find not, yet even then, to Will is preſent with them; to Will it, I mean, on the beſt terms. And (ordinarily) he who gives that ſaid Will, is not long before he gives to Do alſo: and ſo is this the keeping of the Churches ſong, Amen! Come Lord Jeſu, come quickly! † It's well known how paſſionately the Church of old longed for his firſt coming; weary of the Shades and Darkneſs She dwelt under; ſick of deſire to ſee him in the fleſh: ſee Cant. 2.17. Godly Kings and Prophets would have given much t' have ſeen it.

In like manner, the Church ever ſince, hath, and till he comes, ever p. 5will pray, Come Lord Jeſu! The Jews retain it as an old maxim; That prayer wherein's no mention of the Kingdom of God is no prayer. It's true, whether meant of the Kingdom of Grace or Glory. Chriſt teacheth to pray for the coming of the latter, as well as the former, Mat. 6.10. I underſtand that ſecond Petition: Thy Kingdom come, principally, if not wholly, of the Kingdom of Glory. Were it intended of the Kingdom of Grace, I judg with them who think it would have been thus worded; Thy Kingdom be promoted! for come it is already, that of Grace. Many Learned and Godly Ancients and Moderns underſtand it purely of the Kingdom of Glory, and (with ſubmiſſion) I think, upon good grounds.

But paſs we on to the Conſideration of thoſe grounds and motives, which Saints have for the foreſaid Amen. Theſe will ſingularly well make both for the proof and Improvement of the p. 6Doctrine offered. I ſhall tender but theſe few, of which ſome reſpect Saints themſelves more neerly; and others, God himſelf, the whole Trinity. For the firſt,

M. 1. Saints Sorrows and Troubles in this world are true and juſt motives to them todeſire their Lord's Coming. They know that they ſhall never be without Sorrows of their own, and others too; never without Paſſions and Compaſſions, Feelings of their own, and Fellow-feelings of others miſeries, in this World. They can't look upon inferiour Creatures without Trouble at their miſery and Bondage for mans ſin. The Earth ſtruck with barrenneſs, and fruitfulneſs of things hurtful; the Air (how often) with Peſtilential fumes; the Stars with malign influences that infect the Air; the Sun and Moon with eclipſes; the tireſome drudgery of all poor Creatures for mans Neceſſity, Pleaſure, yea and ſinful Luſt too; theſe are Eyeſores p. 7and Heart-ſores to Saints. And ſo are (much more) all the Oppreſſions done under the Sun to mankind, that is ſo full of them. Their Contentions, Wars, Frauds, and all methods of making one the other miſerable, diſquiet, and go to the hearts of Saints. The Perſecutions of Gods Church by profeſſed Enemies, by falſe Friends, and (ſometimes too) by miſtaking erring Brethren, theſe are gall and Wormwood to Saints. Add hereto what they often ſuffer themſelves, in Soul, Body, Name, Eſtate, and Friends: Sometimes, becauſe they have ſin'd; and ſometimes, becauſe they will not, dare not ſin. All theſe ſpur them up to pray for his coming, who will deliver (then) the Creatures from their Bondage, Rom. 8.21. and will wipe away all their Tears, Rev. 7.16, 17, and drive away Sorrow and Crying, Rev. 21.4. yea will give fulneſs of joy and pleaſures for evermore, Pſal. 16.11.

p. 8M. 2. Saints manifold Temptations and inceſſant ones unto ſin, in every place, time, and condition. This world is no pleaſant place under the (firſt) Conſideration of it, as 'tis a great Hoſpital of ſick and ſad wretches; and Bedlam of wild folks let looſe, and tearing each other. But it's worſe as 'tis a Peſt-houſe, without one Room or part of it but hugely full of Noiſom fumes; and without any one Perſon in it but infected and infectious; and without poſſibility of being lived in, for the infection, any longer than you uſe ſtrong Antidotes, and high Cordials. Were you lock'd into ſuch an houſe and could not get out, you and your deareſt ones, till ſome good Freind came home; would you not ſay Amen! to his ſpeedy coming? Sirs, Sin is the Plague of Plagues; The World's a Peſt-houſe of it. Where's that ſpot of ground on it, but the Fleſh, Devil and Deviliſh men will be infecting one with it? Nay, where's p. 9the man in it, that is not infected himſelf with it, and apt (of Wickedneſs or weakneſs) to infect one with it, and tempt one into it? Can you live ſinleſs a minute without Gods preſervatives? Without Gods Antidotes can you keep out Diſobedience? or without his cordials keep off Diſtruſt? Saints are Souls that know the defiling damning nature of Sin; and know the deceitfulneſs of their own hearts, the bewitchingneſs of the Worlds favors and frowns and cuſtoms; as alſo the Devils devices, ſnares, wiles darts, depths; and find ſo much ado to keep a flood of Hell out, and a ſpark of Heaven in them, that they can't forbear longing for Chriſt to come and carry them into Heaven, and put them up, above the Gunſhot of Hell, and helliſh men, and luſts. They know Davids, and Peters, and Pauls, can no longer ſtand, than they Fight in this world, and they know Jehovah-Jeſus, when he comes, will p. 10find them a place, where the weary are at reſt and the wicked (Devils, men, Objects, and Luſts) ceaſe from troubling, as Job ſpeaks, Job. 2.17.

M. 3. Saints Sins are yet the ſharpeſt goades in their ſides, and quickening motives in their hearts to pray for Chriſt's coming. Patience will make Troubles; and divine Valour makes Temptations Tolerable, though not Pleaſant. But for Sin, Oh what can a holy heart ſay, or do? Other mens ſins, the World's, the Kingdom's, wherein he lives, the Town's, Congregation's the Family's; Oh how do all, join in with his own, to cut his Soul in meditation, His own weakneſs of Grace, ſtrength of Corruption, Frequency of offending and grieving God the Holy Ghoſt, to the gratifying of damn'd Devils! what daggers are theſe in a gracious heart? Saints conſider further; before Converſion that they do nothing but ſin; that after it, they do nothing without ſin, that if they ſhould alſo live a thouſand years yet more, ſtill p. 11ſin againſt God they ſhould, more or leſs, as long as their pulſes beat. And this makes heart-ake, and Soul-ſmart, this is a Scorpion. Look into your Bibles, Brethren, yea look into Houſes where Saints are to be ſeen! You ſhall learn in the Hiſtory of former ones, and ſo in the Obſervation of the living ones this day, that ſin is no ſuch Fleabite to them, as Formaliſts imagin. They know 'tis a Renouncing of the Bleſſed God; yea a ſtriking at him as far as Sinners can reach, and (as the Schools ſay well) a murdering of God, his Eſſence, Soveraignty, Perfections, Laws, all together virtually. They know ſin's as evil (Objectively) as God is Good, and therefore infinitely evil. They know that it hath effected diſmal things in Heaven, Earth, and Hell; that it turn'd Angels into Devils, that it (even one ſin) damn'd the whole World, brought Gods wrath and curſe on Mankind, and all the Creatures for our ſakes; that it founded p. 12Hell, kindled and ſet flaming all the Fire there; that to expiate it, it coſt the Eternal God's becoming man, the Bleſſed God's being made a Curſe, the Lord of Life's enduring Death, the Prince of Glory's lying under Shame, with a load of his Fathers wrath upon it, hotter and heavier than ten thouſand mountains of melted ſcalding Lead. And the ſight of this curſed Quality, this evil of evils, ſin, the ſight of it daily in themſelves, their hearts and their Lives, this overwhelms; and but for a great God Mediator, a Jehovah's righteouſneſs, would ſink into diſtracting raving deſpair. Eſpecially conſidering, (as I know not what kind of Saints they be that do not conſider) that there ſtill cleaveth a Body of Sin (a heavy Noiſome ſtinking carcaſs of it) and there dwelleth ſtill within, a buſie ſtirring active Rebel-ſin, never in this Life to be quite expel'd. But is it thus, may ſome ſay, with very Saints? I ſay read p. 13Rom. 7th Ch. and judg. Ask the Godlieſt Souls alive, and hear what they ſay! † Obſerve on, Saints do alſo know, that except but the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, there's no ſin but they may (and being left by God to themſelves, they are moſt ready) to fall into; even the fouleſt ones, that very graceleſs Moraliſts themſelves would abhor. They know (and ſhake in their thoughts) Aaron himſelf fell into foul Idolatry, David into Adultery and Murder; Joſeph's Brethren (the Patriarches) were in a ſenſe Murderers of him. Sampſon ſo ſinful, that had not God numbred him among Saints, men might juſtly have doubted his being one. Peter Lied, Sware, Curſed; not Chriſt indeed I judg, but himſelf he curſed moſt dreadfully. The Original word's ſuch, that makes it as if he ſaid in the late dialect of Hell, God Damn him! or, God Curſe his Soul! Saints I ſay know this, and ſtand juſtly affected with Sollicitouſneſs and Care, leſt p. 14their feet ſlide even ſo far away; and leſt their ſins in dwelling, like Snakes lurking in the holes of a dunghil, when 'tis cold, ſhould crawl out and come into Act, upon the gloom of Temptation. Shall I add? Satan and their own hearts riſe up ſometimes, and ſuggeſt, that they are from eternity Reprobates; be now but Hypocrites, and one time or another before they dye, will prove Apoſtates: and poor gracious hearts, frighted firſt into a diſcompoſure and diſability to make a judgment reaſonably of themſelves, by and by faint under the doubt; nay ſometimes fall to ſtark raving in the dread that 'tis indeed, and 'twill be ſo, with them. † Theſe things, my Brethren, (and what wonder?) ſtimulate and provoke Saints (many of your ſelves I hope) to abound in hearty Amens to the ſpeedy coming of the great God and our Saviour: of him I ſay, who when he appears, will make his Saints like himſelf, p. 151 John 3.2. and ſet them far above and out of the reach of Sorrow, Temptation, and ſin, and ſinful Doubts, and Fears. Yea will alſo ſatisfie them with his likeneſs, Pſal. 17.15. Ult. make them joint poſſeſſors of Grace and Glory with himſelf, Rom. 8.17. and for ever hold them in an undiſturbed Poſſeſſion.

M. 4. Saints (innocent, yea gracious) earneſt Covetouſneſs of the beſt things, adds to all their foreſaid incitements and incentives, to ſay Amen to their Lords coming. † As they are heart-weary of Troubles, Temptations, and ſins, ſo are they heart-ſick for better things. Could you look through their breaſts and to the pit of their hearts, you would ſee there, 1. a Pit that all the Creation can't fill; and 2. an impoſſibility of being (fully) ſatisfied with but Grace it ſelf. Grace, I ſay, which is but a ſhort antepaſt to them, to ſtay their ſtomachs and appetites of Glory; the p. 16Glory which (alone) is their ſatisfying feaſt, Pſal. 17.15. You would ſee, Sirs, 3. you would ſee their Cravings and Pantings for Incorruption, and freedom from Poverty, Violence Sickneſs, &c. for Honor, and ſuch brightneſs and ſplendor as that of Chriſt was in his Transfiguration, fairer than the Sun; for Power and Vigor, perfect freedom from all impediments; and for Spirituality, no need of Cloathing or Food or any animal Proviſions; all theſe do Saints crave, for their very Bodies, 1. Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. And what then for their Souls? Hear a few hints! Saints for their Souls crave, 1. Full Sight of God as he is, and face to face; with ſuch perfection as leaves no Deſire unſatisfied, or Capacity unfilled. 2. Full Poſſeſſion of God, with all the Faculties of their Souls as full of him, as the Sun's of Light, or Sea of water. 3. Full Conformity unto Chriſt. 4. Full Complacence and Delight in the ſight, enjoyment and likeneſs p. 17of God; and Communion with him, Angels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Apoſtles, Martyrs, all Gods, and our own Godly dear Relations, to everlaſting Ages. Being men of ſuch Deſires, (Deſires ſo unfillable till Jeſus comes,) what wonder if Hope delay'd make the hearts of Saints ſick and ſick of Love, to pray, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly! who knows not the quickning force of enlarged Deſires?)

M. 5. Saints Loves of God, and hearty Deſires of his Glory, do eminently and excellently urge them to join their Amen to Chriſts coming quickly. Attend you, Sirs, 1. God is the dearly beloved Father of Saints; the Trinity is their one God. 2. This Holy and beloved Trinity is in the world forgotten, ſcorn'd, hated, rebell'd againſt, wiſh'd out of Heaven yea out of Being. Moſt of the Nations of the earth by far, make Profeſſedly other gods. The Jews Curſe our Bleſſed p. 18Jehovah-Jeſus every day. The Turks prefer a filthy impoſtor (Mahomet) before him. The Papiſts (generally) go neer the Jews in their doctrines, and the Pagans in their manners: Eſpecially the Italian, Spaniſh, and Iriſh Papiſts. Proteſtants, if they muſt be ſo call'd, how many Hypocrites? how many Profane? Socinians and Quakers, hereticks knownly odious (in Doctrine and Life) to God and Saints, how do they ſwarm? how very little is the flock of true Iſraelites? And in this little flock it ſelf, how very great ſins be there, and diſhonours to God (as hath been foreſaid.) Saints ſee their Father hath a ſmall income of Honour here; but Diſhonour, every minute of time, unexpreſſible. And 3. They ſo Love God, that they can't ſee it unconcernedly: No, Rivers of tears it ſtood David in, Pſal. 119.136, 139. They know, in the day of Chriſt it muſt be, that their Father is (I was about to ſay, any thing worth a ſpeaking p. 19of,) Glorified in his very ſaints themſelves, 2 Theſ. 1.10. They themſelves can do but little at that work before; others, be ſure will do contrarily. Wherefore, as dear Children, impatient of their Fathers diſhonour, (by themſelves and others,) deſirous of his Glory, longing to have it ſhine forth; and to behold him Honouring and Magnifying himſelf upon his Friends and Enemies too, they pour out Amen and Amen to the quick approach of the day thereof. In the former Conſiderations, eye was had to their own Good and divine Glory therein: In this, the reſpect of Saints is purely to the Glory of their Father. And I am perſwaded many there be, ſo concerned for his Glory, that were the Day of Chriſts coming to be a day of their Annihilation, yet they would wiſh for it; and wiſh it ſtraightways come, rather than Gods name and Glory ſhould any longer be ſuch ſufferers in the world. (I hope no man p. 20will ſay, But is 't not fit we ſhould wait Chriſts own time? If any ask ſo weakly, I anſwer, yes ſurely, it is ſo. And 'tis with holy ſubmiſſion that Saints, upon all theſe Motives, do pray Come Lord Jeſu! Alſo, that 'tis with Prayer of his firſt accompliſhing his Promiſes too, unto his elect.)

This Doctrine is of excellent Ʋſe (among others) unto theſe Purpoſes.

Ʋſe 1. It turnes out all our carnalminded, earthly-ſpirited Profeſſors, from the number of Chriſts-members; and declares them to be but whiter (incarnate) Devils, than Swiniſh Drunkards and filthy Whoremongers, &c. They, Chriſts members and Bride, and careleſs for, yea pleaſed with, his abſence! A likely matter! I am certain that as many of you as Love (inordinately) this world, you wiſh it would laſt for ever; and that you could for ever dwell in it; and (conſequently) that Chriſt were never to p. 21come, and no Judgment-day to be; and ſo (by conſequence again) that there were no God. And, let your Conſciences ſay then, is it juſt we ſhould eſteem you Converts to God, and members of Jeſus Chriſt, or can you think your ſelves ſuch? I'm perſwaded, your hearts tell you, that 'tis as proper to a Saint to Pray and Deſire Chriſts coming, as 'tis to a loving Wife when her houſe is every day ſo peſtered with the Clamors of Outrages of Violent men upon her ſelf, and her whole family, that ſhe ſcarce knows where to be, to Deſire her Husbands return: Eſpecially, if her Chaſtity be aſſaulted, her Life endangered, and her only Hope of reſcue be in his return. I Pray let the ſame hearts of yours then tell you, that if you can lye hugging the world, and brook it's troubles and temptations, and ſuffer your ſins, and be liſtleſs of Glory in Heaven, and unconcern'd for the Diſhonour done to God in the p. 22world, and pour out no ſincere Amens to Chriſts coming, you are then no members of his. You are ſtrangers, enemies, Anti-Chriſts, for all your Orthodoxie, for all your ſhadows and ſhapes of Godlineſs, for all your preſumptions and others Opinions of your being Well-inclin'd, Good, or whatever it be. I am ſure St. Paul ſtretches the promiſe of the Crown of Righteouſneſs, no further than to the Lovers of Chriſt's Appearance, 2. Tim. 4.8. And I know not any ground they can have to expect that Crown, who wiſh not cordially for that Appearance. Bleſſed Luther ſays plainly, (Tom. 5. fol. 507.) He's no Chriſtian, nor can he (without lying) ſay the Lords prayer, that wiſheth not for Chriſts coming (and that) with all his heart.

Ʋſe. 2. It ſounds an alarum unto Heart-ſearch, and enquiry how it is with you. Whether you can ſay, ſay truly, and with any fervency, Amen p. 23to Jeſus his ſpeedy Coming. † We ſhould not conclude overhaſtily; or by any means lye at uncertainties in this thing. You are Certified that Gods true Church doth ſay Amen! and that you, if of that number, muſt ſay ſo too. I Charge and beſeech you by the tender mercies of God, and all the regards you bear to Sanctification and Salvation, go labour to certifie your ſelves, whether you can and do verily ſay it. Away to your Cloſets, and the places of your Retiracy, and ask your Souls in ſuch manner as this, each of you! Oh my never-dying Soul! (Qu. 1.) Sayeſt not thou of this world, of this valley of ſin and ſorrow and Temptation and abſence from the Lord, as Peter of the mount, It's good to be here? Mat. 17.4. (Qu. 2.) Art thou not at eaſe in Sion, fat at heart, a Gallio and careleſs for the ſins and miſeries abroad in the world? As of old, Noah's Soul, art thou vexed with them from day to day, 2 Pet. 2.8. (Qu. 3) p. 24Art thou looking expecting and waiting for that bleſſed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and thy Saviour Jeſus Chriſt? Tit. 2.13. Doſt look for and haſten to it, as 'tis 2 Pet. 3.12? Doſt joyn with the Souls under the Altar, in their cry, for the cutting off all delays? Rev. 6.10. Doth the Holy Spirit in thee, and thou as Chriſts bride ſay, come! as 'tis Rev. 22.17. (Qu. 4.) Doſt thou live like one that doth, and may ſay, ſafely ſay Amen! How is that? That is, doing thy Gods will with diligence, and ſuffering it with Patience; and ſo Cleaving to Jeſus a Saviour, that thou mayſt not need to fear him a Judg, as St. Auſtin ſpeaks.

Ʋſe. 3. It writes in Sun-beams the bleſſed Eſtate of the truly Godly. … ſeems, have in this world … that's more worth than all … the wallings Enjoyments: and have … Coming, beyond meaſure, … imagination good. They are p. 25Souls acquainted with, and intereſted in, the Heir of all things! They have an aſſured Hope of a good Day of his bringing, when Flames fed with rivers of brimſtone and the wrath of God, ſhall mercileſly devour all beſides. As well the formal Hypocrite and empty Profeſſor, as the Prophaneſt rakehel Helhound that ever lived. Oh Bleſſed! thrice Bleſſed Souls without peradventure! If they can ſay Amen to Chriſts Coming, and long even for that day of Fire, tell me whereof they need be afraid? or what in this world need they be very ſollicitous for, who are ſo well provided for the next? I have (with my own ears) heard Perſons of Honour and huge eſtate and ſubſtance in the world profeſs, that they would give all, and Life it ſelf too; for ability to ſay, with the Church of God, this Amen! Nor wonder I any more, than if they ſhould ſay, they would give a pebble for a rock of Diamonds, or a nutſhel for the ſpice-Iſlands. p. 26Sith the prophane and Hypocritical World, have not the grace to Love Saints, I will never wonder that they Envy them. It can't be ſtrange that a Happineſs ſo great is Envied, though 'tis ſad that it's not rather learn'd and ſought for. Seek it, oh my Brethren, Wreſtle humbly with God, Fight fleſh World and Devil; Reſt not till your Longings for Jeſus his Coming are reſtleſs, and Mr. Herbert's ejaculation ſtirs daily in, and ſprings forth from your Souls, to Jeſus Chriſt.

Oh come thou down to me,

Or take me up to Thee!

Need you Motives hereunto? Sirs! your hearts are deceitful; the World's Temptation-full; Devils (that in Nature be ſpirits, in Number be many, in place be ſo neer you, in Power be Lions, in Policy be ſerpents, in induſtry be reſtleſs, in malice be implacable, in Plots and all Projects be p. 27ſoul-ſtrikers:) Devils, I ſay, are Oppoſition-full; your Lives be ſhort, and moſt uncertain; your Deaths be at hand; Gods judgment is juſt and unavoydable; Heaven's infinitely deſirable; Hell is as dreadful, and Eternity is boundleſs, to very aſtoniſhment. Unto all which, add you this; The day of Grace is far ſpent; The Night's at hand wherein no man can work; God is apace taking up to himſelf his Embaſſadors. An Obſervation-worthy token, that he intends not much longer to await your Motion. The Prophets do not live for ever, Zech. 1.5. Yea neither doth God ſuffer them, [many of them] to live out ſo many years as the people ordinarily do. Hereof, the Servant and Miniſter of Chriſt whoſe Tranſlation we lament, **Mr. Noah Web.is an inſtance; I need not ſuperadd Bleſſed Jo. Alleine, Janeway, Hen. Blake, Si. Barret, and others.

Methinks the late Tranſlation of the p. 28firſt named, (whoſe Memory is ſo juſtly Precious to you,) ſhould be more than ordinary Impreſſive on you. I hope you forget not, but will ever remember, how much his 1. Providential ſucceſſion to the Chryſoſtom of this age and moſt Powerful Preacher driven from you; his 2. Unwearied pains and heavenly Teachings among you; alſo his 3. Converſation and holy Life ſo paſſing Exemplary to you how much all theſe do add to your Accounts at Gods bar! 'Twere a foul and fearful miſtake, if any ſhould dream that they had anſwer'd all theſe, by procuring and attending his Funeral Sermon. Alas, that muſt be done, by holding in Mind and Practice, his own more Powerful ones.

Nevertheleſs-of (this in particular, and all) Funeral-Sermons, I am of Renowned Ro. Bolton's mind, which he hath left in theſe words (Diſcourſe of true happineſs, Pag. 63.) Neither do I miſlike Funeral Sermons; I p. 29could rather wiſh, that as the death of his Saints is precious in the ſight of God; So that it might be glorious in the eyes of men: I could rather deſire, that the juſt Praiſes and true ſincerity of the child of God were publiſhed by ſome ſeraphical tongue, that both the Glory of his Graces might paſs along, and ſhine bright to all Poſterity; and that ſuch a Zeal for imitation might be inkindled in the hearts of all the hearers (eſpecially the preſent occaſion making their minds more capable of perſwaſion,) that they, paſſing through the ſame courſe of Holineſs, might at length be made partakers of the ſame happineſs with the Saints of God. Indeed, if this ſtroke of Providence (taking away him, who, ſo often in Journeying, and in Perils, ſo much in Wearineſs, Painfulneſs, Watchings, &c. laboured to eſpouſe you to Chriſt Jeſus,) if this work not your minds into any more eaſie Perſwadableneſs, p. 30if due Conſideracy of Bleſſed Mr. WEBS Sanctity, kindle not in you any fire for Zeal of imitation, I ſhall reaſonably eſteem it portending, (and judg 't highly probable) that God will follow you with more ſuch blows; take away more of your Miniſters, who I can aſſure you, are (many of them) very willing to be gone; yea and by ſuch Obduracy of yours, will be made more willing. The Obduracy of one Congregation [within twenty miles of this place] made a moſt excellent Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt profeſs to me, that his Ejection in the year 1662. Mr. S. Swas unto him as the taking off of a heavy burden from tir'd ſhoulders. So weary, ſo heavy-laden, ſo broken was his gracious Soul, for his peoples unbrokenneſs. An eminent one in the City of Dublin in Ireland hath oft told me his heart; and oft in theſe words: Dr. D. R.I am certain I am as willing to die, as p. 31God will allow me to be. He himſelf, I think, feared, I'm ſure I fear'd, that his peoples Obduracy made him more willing than God approved. Think not this unworthy to be thought on.

But go ye, My Deareſt Friends, go I beſeech you to God, beſeech him that neither the Doctrine, the Life, nor the Death of this bleſſed Star now in Glory, may riſe up in Judgment againſt you! Cry mightily to God, to fill you with the fruits of righteouſneſs, to give you ſuch fore-taſts of Glory, as may enamour you of Heaven, and ſet you craving for that Day, which ye Prophane and ye Hypocrites too, [as cloſe as they hide it from themſelves and others] do wiſh would never be: Pray to be enabled to Pray, yea to be made unable to forbear Praying, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly! I need not tell you, (I think I need not,) that 1. come he will, and quickly too, whether you will or no: And that 2. when he comes, you will ſee the Wrath of p. 32the Lamb to be intolerable, (Rev. 6.16, 17.) and his anger, though he be the Lamb of God, to be unavoidably deſtructive, (Pſal. 2.12.) Gods character of him being infinitely true, that which I pray you conſult, Exod. 22.21. Jeſuits and Socinians would have an Angel created on purpoſe to keep out the Bleſſed Jeſus from being meant in that Text. But he is ſo very plainly underſtood there, that beſides all our ſound commentators, the Hebrew Rabbins ſay, 'tis meant of the Angel-Redeemer, the Meſſiah. So Ainſworth from Rabbi Menahem, and he from the ancient Rabbins. Hear it then, He will not let your ſins go unpuniſh'd, for my Name is in him: that is, he will be as ſevere as I am, ſaith God the Father; for, he hath juſt my Nature, Juſtice, &c. and is no other than what I am. Neither are you to learn now I hope, 3. that Chriſt's coming will bring with it enough and enough, to quit the coſt, defray all the charge, p. 33and make good amends for all loſſes and labours ſpent in waiting and craving for it, even a bottomleſs depth and deareſt confluence of all Delights. Delights, [oh Amazement, where art thou?] Delights in 1. glorious ſight of God, his Face, Eſſence, Will, Counſels, Perfections! and 2. in Bleſſed filledneſs with the fulneſs of God; even through Jeſus, by his Humane Nature uniting us to God, and through his Divine Nature uniting God unto us; and ſo making us (in a manner unutterable) Partakers and Poſſeſſors of God himſelf. The devout Ancients have ſoared high. Our Modern Divines ſpeak the words I put my mind in One of great ſame, hath ventur'd to ſay, that in Heaven, We may conceive an unexpreſſible Aſſociation (which is too far off,) an Aſtimilation (which is not near enough,) the Schools would venture to ſay an Identification with God: And thus he proceeds; As the Sun by ſhining p. 34on the Moon, makes it a Planet and Star as well as it ſelf, though it would otherwiſe be but the thickeſt and darkeſt part of the Sphere; ſo thoſe beams of Glory which ſhall iſſue from my God, and fall upon me, ſhall make me that am otherwiſe a clod of earth and worſe, a dark ſoul, a ſpirit of darkneſs, to become an Angel of light, a Star of glory, a ſomething that I cannot name now, nor imagin now, nor to morrow nor next year. —I ſhall be ſo like God that the Devil himſelf ſhall not know me from God, ſo as to find any more place to faſten a Temptation on me, than on God himſelf, nor to conceive any more hope of my falling from that Kingdom, than of Gods being driven out of it. (Dr. Jo. Donne in 2. Ser. on Gen. 1.26.) To conclude, I truſt, ye need not that I ſtand to tell you, 4. that Chriſt Jeſus doth heartily long for Saints coming to Heaven to him, p. 35their ſpeedy coming; and his longing is fervent and conſtant. (See Dr. Tho. Goodwin's little Treatiſe, called the Heart of Chriſt in Heaven, p. 49, &c.) And what eye is that which ſees not, how helliſh ungratitude 'twould be in them, either not to deſire, or but coldly to deſire Christs coming to them. Oh Brethren, who will be the gainers? Can a man be profitable to God? No, No, not God: man. Chriſt by the Pſalmiſt hath told God, no. My goodneſs (ſaith he to the Father) extendeth not unto thee, but unto the Saints, Pſal. 16.2, 3. 'Tis Jeſus his goodneſs to Saints, not Saints that extendeth to him. Have done, have done then with this world, wherein, ſometimes in Poverty you will be wanting other creatures; ſometimes (it may be) in baniſhment, wanting other men; ſometimes in ſickneſs wanting your own Bodies; ſometimes in Impatience wanting your Souls, & always (as long you are) in Sin wanting your God. Live by Faith, Watch & wait in hope. Keep an open ear to Jeſus proclaiming his readineſs p. 36to come. And thereto let your daily Antiphonie and return be, Amen, come Lord Jeſu, come quickly.

Upon Prov. 10.7. one of the Hebrew Doctors is reported to have thus gloſſed; Whoſoever makes mention either of a juſt man and bleſſeth him not; or of an unjuſt man, and curſeth him not, violates an affirmative Law. If ſo it indeed be, I know what we have to do, as oft as we name a Rabbin. But the very truth is, we ſhould break I think many of the Laws of God, (written in our own hearts, and in the bleſſed Bible) if we ſhould either make no mention, or no honourable mention, or not bleſs the Memory of this holy Embaſſador of Chriſt, whoſe Deceaſe is the providential occaſion of this Diſcourſe this day. Much need not be ſaid of him, becauſe more is known than can (in our limited Diſcourſe) be ſaid. And though it excuſe not our duty, (as a Landlords having mony enough beſides, excuſeth p. 37not a Tenant for not paying his rent) yet it pleaſeth us to conſider, that his Life and Labours have found him very ſufficient Praiſe in the Church of Chriſt. And that which we utter in his Praiſe, is but jointly to pay duty to his juſtly bleſt memory, and learn duty from his excellent Example. Wherefore all I ſhall offer concerning him, I ſhall put into theſe few particulars.

Firſt, His Parts and Endowments, (Natural and Acquired) were not ordinary, but excelling; as the Judicious and Learned of his Acquaintance atteſt. He had wherewithal to captivate and charm, and edifie the loweſt underſtandings, and the while to ſatisfie and delight the higheſt. A faculty not beſtown on every, even of learned and godly Divines, and of juſtly conſiderable Repute in the Church of God. I ſay nothing of his Parentage. What Honour is any Birth but the New Birth? the Birth from that Heaven, whence he was Born, and whither he is (as to his p. 38native place) return'd. 'Tis known ſome Western Counties over, that he had a Father of whom he might juſtly (in a ſenſe) Glory; (Prov. 17.6.) and to whom he was equally a Delight and Honour, Prov. 23.24, 25. The Father of the Righteous ſhall greatly rejoyce, &c.

Secondly, His Graces, in the eyes of the moſt ſpiritually diſcerning Chriſtians, were both True and great. Except but his humble ſelf, I challenge all that read me, to name that competent judg of him, who ever thought him either no Saint, or no Excelling one? His dear Yokefellow tells me, that ſhe was inform'd by himſelf, that's Converſion was wrought in Oxford. Bleſſed Soul! to whom the Holy Ghoſt (the Author and ſpecial In-worker of all Gifts, (1 Cor. 12.) gave Art and Grace, Divine and Humane Learning, in the ſame place! The Vigilant Maſters of the Literate Societies there, do ſadly know, how very many come away p. 39from them, without bringing either Sarah or Hagar, Grace (I mean) or Learning with them; and how many more that get the Handmaid of Philoſophy, obtain not more than the Shadow or Shape of the Miſtreſs, Divinity! Thrice-Bleſſed, our dear Brother! to whom Free Grace vouchſafed Capacitating Nature, Poliſhing Art, and Accompliſhing Grace, now it ſelf Accompliſhed in Glory.

Thirdly, His Miniſterial Labors, and Painfulneſs in the Lord's work, were extraordinary. He did not only, more than others do Do, but more than he himſelf could Do, with his health conſulted for. The Devil knows to his wo, how unweariedly he labour'd to get Souls out of his hands; (and how many he got too.) No doubt but the hundreds made partakers of his Pains, give the Lord thouſands and ten-thouſands of Praiſes with thanksgiving for them. Lions in the way of duty, ſeem'd no Lions p. 40to him. Though wiſely Zealous, he was daringly Good; I had almoſt ſaid, Deſperately. For even then would he Labour, when he had no hope of avoiding the weakning conſequents of it to his feeble Conſumptive body. Oh that they were not able to forbear Imitating his holy induſtry, who will not be able to forbear Praiſing it! Ay, and (it may be) coveting the Praiſe of it too.

Now to you, my Brethren, to whom his painfulneſs was ſo well known, by you (of any Souls) let it not be unimitated! God, my God, perſwade you to be ſuch, as he perſwaded you to be; and to Labour in the Word and Practice of it, as he laboured in the Word, and Doctrine, and joynt-practice of it. Let not his Counſels or Example dye with him! The Jews have a ſaying, that No day hath in it any ſo good a Man dying, but it hath as good a one born on it. I pray God, it may prove true of the day of our Bleſſed p. 41Brother's death. Recall, recall, I charge you before God and the elect Angels, recall his heavenly Inſtructions! Beg, beg on bended knees, the Holy Ghoſt to bring to your Remembrance thoſe Teachings that he ſent you by him! Shall I give you ſome particular Hints, which the Lord's good Providence hath enabled me to do, by a ſight of ſome Notes kindly communicated by his Widow: hear, I beſeech you, and with Solemn attentiveneſs!

1. Excellently he taught you, the Vanity and Nothingneſs and leſs than nothing of all that can be taught, beſides the knowledg of Jeſus. Not (to uſe his own words,) the Carnal, the Hiſtorical, or General knowledg of Chriſt: but the ſpiritual, particular, heart and Life-reforming, and transforming knowledg. He ſhew'd you 'twas in Jeſus that all the Attributes of God did Shine! that 'twas to Jeſus all the Types, Ceremonies, Legal waſhings, &c. of old, and all the Prophecies, p. 42and Promiſes ever given of God, pointed! that Life-eternal in the End, the excellent End, whereof knowledg of Chriſt is the excellent and only means! that this knowledg of Chriſt is, 1. Revealed, 2. Certain, and 3. Sweet, Savory knowledg. He rows'd you to the Trial, by heart-ſearch, whether you had this knowledg: And directed you to try, by a Conſideracy of the Cauſes and Effects: All this from that text, 1. Cor. 2.2.

2dly, He ſhew'd you likewiſe, what you are till you come to the foreſaid knowledg of Chriſt. Even, Children of wrath, and Alienated, and Enemies to God in your minds by wicked works; both from Epheſ. 2.3. and Col. 1.2. He told you, and proved, that you and all the world (no man, ſave God-man excepted) are by Natural Propagation ſinful: Sinful (not by imitation only, though very much; but) 1. by nature; and 2. univerſally; all men, and in all of man. He ſhew'd p. 43how 1. Fruitful of ſin and miſery this ſin of Nature is! How 2. Powerful; it ſelf a Law (Rom 7.23.) and making your Souls Lawleſs. 3. How Fierce and Furious! 4. How Ʋnavoidable! 5. How (yet) Voluntary! Inherent in the Will, and making men Wilfully to ſell themſelves to ſin and Satan. He made it plain to you, that unſanctified men are Gods Enemies, Haters of God; as 'tis Rom. 1.30. They Enemies to God, and God an Enemy to them. He ſhew'd you wherein mens Enmity to God appeareth: In their Oppoſition to his Will! 2. Their hatred and Oppoſition to his Saints and Servants, and Friends! 3 And their Friendſhip with Gods Enemies; to wit, Devil, World and Sin. Alſo, 1. How unreaſonable this Enmity is; how, 2. Ʋnprofitable; and 3. how Deſtructive.

3dly, He ſet forth the bleſſed Doctrine (the Soul of the Goſpel,) of Chriſts being Peace-maker 'twixt God and Man. And that, 1. by Perchaſe, p. 44bearing the Chaſtiſement of our Peace: (as Iſai. 53.) 2. by the Tendring of pu…chaſed Peace to poor Souls; and 3. by Conquering the Enmity of the heart, and making Souls willing to be Reconciled to God.

4ly. Incitingly and Invitingly, to your Reconciliation unto God, he ſ…ew'd you, 1. That Reconciliation unto God, is a mercy highly to be valued, much to be deſired, and endeavoured after: And 2. that taking hold of God in Chriſt is the only and certain means of Reconciliation with God. And 3. to ſuch laying hold on God are required, 1. Conviction of the unableneſs of all beſide Jeſus, to ſatisfie Gods Juſtice. 2. Senſe of your inability to ſave your ſelves, and to lay hold on Chriſt offered. 3. Faith of Chriſt's Allſufficiency. 5. Letting go of your hold of all other things, which may hinder reſting on him. 6. Speedy laying hold on him, as offered in the Goſpel: and 7. Union with him, Spiritual Union by p. 45Faith. He told you, you had 1. Gods word, yea, 2. Gods Oath for your peace on theſe terms: This, on Iſai. 27.5.

5ly. Hereupon God directed him to tell you, that (as he made it his work) it is the work of Miniſters, to perſwade ſinners to accept of Chriſt as their Husband. And that, whereas unto Marriage there's requir'd, Conſent of Parents and conſent of Parties; God, the only Parents willing, Chriſt, the one Partie's willing; the query is, whether the Sinner be willing. He told you, you muſt conſent, 1. Ʋnderſtandingly, 2. Freely, 3. Preſently, 4. Ʋniverſally and Perpetually. And come unto a 1. Real, a 2. Spiritual, and 3. Total Union with Jeſus; and 4. an Indiſſoluble one; one never to be broke off, by any threatning or bribing Temptation.

To Conclude; he further ſhewed you, Chriſt is the only way to Juſtification, and Sanctification and Glory: and excellently diſplaid before you, how altogether Lovely (his beloved, now p. 46fully enjoyed) Jeſus is. Of the which (though I can Hint no more) I pray God bring much more to your Remembrance, Conſideration, Practice, and Delight.

I am moſt certain, if the good Spirit of Grace ſhall Powerfully ſet home theſe Inſtructions and Counſels, Dead hearts among you ſhall live; and they that have ſpiritual Life, ſhall have it more abundantly; and the Jewiſh maxim aforeſaid, will be veriſied, and more, even exceeded. Not one only, but many, ſhall be born to God, and made to encreaſe with the encreaſes of God, and fitted (as our Bleſſed Dear Brother) for an entrance into the Kingdom of God. Amen, and Amen

FINIS.

End of the text · Daniel Burgess, Christians Earnest Expectation and Longing for the Glorious Appearing (1675)