Christs Coming and the Influence of its Expectation, Title page – Preface
A DISCOURSE OF CHRIST'S Coming: And the Influence, which the Expectation thereof hath on al manner of Holy Converſation and Godlineſſe.
By Theophilus Gale.
1 Cor. 16.22.
Maranatha, i. e.
Jude 14.
The Lord cometh.
LONDON, Printed for John Hancock Senior and Junior; to be ſold at the three Bibles in Popes head Alley over againſt the Exchange. 1673.
Preface.
SIns have their faſhions as wel as Garments: And the great ſin in faſhion now adays is Atheiſme. A ſin not openly profeſſed, yea ſcarce heard of, in the Infant-ſtate of the World; when the miraculous operations of the Deitie, in the Creation and Gubernation of althings, were ſo freſh and conſpicuous. But in elder Times, when Philoſophie in the Scholes, and Human Policie in ſtates began to prevail, then began Atheiſme to ſpring up therewith. Yet could it never obtain any conſiderable vogue, or Reputation 'til of late years. But now, alas! alas! how hath it, in a few years, overſpread the Chriſtian world? And what have been the ſeeds of this prodigious ſin, ſo much repugnant to human Nature, but Infidelitie and carnal ſecuritie, as to the coming of the Day of God? This the Apoſtle Peter, by a Spirit of propheſie, diſtinctly foretold, 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. knowing this firſt, that there ſhal come in the laſt days ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts, and ſaying, where is the promiſſe of his coming? &c. What are the Laſt days, which Peter here refers unto, but this laſt Period of the world, in which we live? And who are the Scoffers he makes mention of, but Atheiſtic ſenſual ſinners, who put far from them the coming of our Lord to jugement? Neither have theſe ſins of Atheiſme, Infidelitie, and carnal ſecuritie diffuſed their venimous Influences through the debauched and ſuperſtitious World only, but alſo through many Reformed Churches. O! What a world of practic Atheiſme and Infidelitie is to be found among many profeſſors of Religion? Do not the Lives of too many notional Profeſſors evidently demonſtrate to us, that they really believe not what they profeſſe? What may we judge of the ſenſual profeſſor, whoſe main ſtudie and care is to gratifie his brutiſh Appetite? Can we imagine that he believeth what he profeſſeth, touching the coming of the day of God? No Surely. And may we not conclude the ſame of the Avaricious covetuous profeſſor, whoſe main deſigne is to fil his bags, with Gold and Silver? Did he indeed believe the coming of his Lord, how ambitious would he be to improve his unrighteous mammon, to the beſt advantage for his maſter's ſervice? But to aſcend higher to the forme of more refined profeſſors, has not a ſpiritual ſlumber of carnal ſecuritie ſeized on the generalitie of Profeſſors, both wiſe and fooliſh Virgins? Are not the Fooliſh Virgins or formal profeſſors, at this day, under a dead ſleep of carnal ſecuritie? Yea, do not the Wiſe Virgins alſo ſlumber, if not ſleep? I know not of any piece of Scripture more applicable to theſe days we live in, than that of our Lord, Mat. 25.5. While the Bridegroom tarried they al ſlumbered and ſlept. This is the curſe of theſe laſt days, That the nearer the Bridegroom is, the more profeſſors ſlumber and ſleep. This our Lord foreſaw and foretold of theſe laſt times. And what is the meaning of al thoſe awakening Jugements, which at preſent al the European Churches are fallen under, but to ſtartle ſlumbering profeſſors, out of their ſweet ſleeps of carnal ſecuritie? And yet, Lo! to this very day, how do the moſt of profeſſors, ſlumber, if not ſleep on their beds of carnal ſecuritie? Doth not the Lord, as it were force open the eyes, and break in with awakening Jugements on his Churches day by day? Who knows how near that midnight-crie, Behold the Lord cometh, Mat. 25.6. may be? Is it not then mater of prodigious Aſtoniſhment, that Chriſtians, the main of whoſe profeſſion is, To wait for the coming of their Lord, ſhould be ſurpriſed with ſpiritual ſlumbers, in a day of ſo great Danger and Dutie, when in al likelyhood ſome eminent Approche of their Lord, and as we have cauſe to fear in a way of Jugement, is ſo near?
The contemplation of the forementioned particulars, with ſome other conſiderations, is that which hath given Life and Forme, to the following Diſcourſe; which is intended as a word in ſeaſon, to awaken ſecure profeſſors, and wind up their Spirits unto that, which is their higheſt concerne at al times, ſpecially in theſe evil Days, namely, A daily looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the Day of God, in order to al holy converſation and Godlineſſe. And would Chriſtians but ſeriouſly conſider and meditate on the weight and force of this Argument, it cannot be imagined, what ſweet and efficacious Influences it would derive on their Hearts and Lives. O! Ʋnto what Eminences, and Raiſures in Grace would they arrive? how viſible and glorious would their Graces be? How humble, and yet heavenly-minded would they be? What real, ſpiritual, deep, broad, ſublime, feeling and affective Notions of God would they have? What a plenitude and fulneſſe of Grace would poſſeſſe the Bent of their Wils? How would their Graces lend to each other their mutual Succur, and Aſſiſtance? Yea, what a combination of Graces ſeemingly oppoſite would there be found in them; did they daily look for and haſten unto the coming of their Lord?
A Believer, that lives under the power and Influence of this frame, at what a diſtance from ſin doth he keep? How much is his heart Crucified to al the Glorie of this fading world? Doth he not daily die unto al ſelf-confidences in Grace received? Is not Chriſt placed in the room of ſelf? O! what generous and ſublime thoughts of Chriſt has he? Who ſo precious in his Eye, as Chriſt? and thence, who ſo precious in Chriſts eye, as he? How much doth ſuch a ſoul thirſt after the moſt intimate Ʋnion and Communion with Chriſt? Who values Adoption, pardon of ſin, and peace of Conſcience more than he? O! what a tender feeling conſcience has he? Doth not the leaſt ſin burden, and pinch him more, than the greateſt ſufferings? What an exact ſcrutinie and examen doth he bring his heart and life daily under? How much is his heart broken for, and broken off from ſin day by day? Is it not his greateſt grief, that he ſhould ſo much, and ſo oft grieve the Spirit of God? Doth he not daily judge and condemne himſelf, that ſo he may not be judged and condemned of the Lord at the laſt day? O! What a profound abaſement of ſpirit, and humble ſilence before the Divine Majeſtie doth he lie under? How bitter and loathſome is ſin to him, becauſe it unfits him for his Lords companie? How little can he be frowned out of Dutie, or flattered into ſin? Its true, he is meek, modeſt, and patient in his own cauſe; but O! how fervent and warme is his zele in the cauſe of God? What ſtrength and force doth his zele gain by oppoſition? Who more active and vigorous in the exercice of Grace, than he? There is no exercice of Grace ſo difficult, but it is made facile and eaſy to ſuch a ſoul, as daily expects his Lords Approche. Hath not Grace in ſuch a ſoul its perfect worke, ſo that it ſerves for al uſes; and performes al the Acts, to which it hath a power? What is it that makes Chriſtians ſo dead and barren as to gracious exercices, but the putting off the coming of their Lord? O! what univerſal ſpirits, hearts flexible to every command, have ſuch, as daily look for the coming of their Lord? How unwilling are ſuch to omit any wil of God, or commit any wil of the fleſh? How much of an Heavenly converſation have they in their way to Heaven? What an Apologie for, and Vindication of their profeſſion do they give, by a ſhining exemplarie converſation? How eaſie and familiar is Chriſts Yoke and Croſſe unto them? What a manifeſtation of the life of Chriſt do they give in their lives?
Theſe, with many others, are the Influences, which! an awakened believing ſoul receives from a ſerious looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the Day of God. And O that Chriſtians would put this rare experiment on the trial! What ſtrange Alterations would they find in their Hearts and Lives? How would they hereby adorne their converſation? How ſoon would that Reproche, with which profeſſors are now laden, be removed? If this following Diſcourſe may any way conduce to theſe great ends, al that is further deſired is, that the Glorie of al may be returned unto our great Lord, who alone can make every Truth efficacious and operative.