Sermons of Christ, Sermon 4
The Voyce of the Spirit and Bride.
REV. 22.17.
And the Spirit and the Brideſay, Come.
THE Lord Chriſt having declared many things concerning himſelf, and his enemies, and the ſtate his Church ſhould come unto, in this Book; here the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Is it ſo? come, come; ſeeing there is ſuch Propheſies of thy ſelf, come; ſeeing thine enemies ſhall meet with ſuch things, come; ſeeing thou wilt bring the Church to ſuch a ſtate, come: The Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come — To ſpeak a little to the words — Some by a Figure called foreign where two words are put for one, do underſtand the words thus; And the Spirit, and the Bride, that is, the Bride by the Spirit ſaith, come; Or, the Bride by inſtinct of the Spirit, ſaith, come; or the Spiritual Bride, the Bride ſanctified by the Spirit ſaith, come — But you ſee they are put diſtinct, and ſo ſome Expoſitors take them: The Spirit ſaith, come; and the Bride ſaith, come — The Spirit that ſpake to the Churches, in the ſecond and third of the Revelation; Here what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches, that Spirit here ſaith, come.
And the Bride ſaith, come; by Bride both the Church …umphant and Militant may bee underſtood, thoſe that are choſen, called, and faithful, Revel. 17.4. thoſe that had the name of their Fathers written in their fore-head, Revel, 14.1. Thoſe that had white Robes, and Palms in their hands, Revel. 7. Thoſe that made up the New Jeruſalem that deſcended from Heaven, Revel. 21. Thoſe who did keep the Commandements of God, and do his Will, Revel. 22.14. Thoſe that were the ſeveral aſſembly of the firſt born, Heb. 12. theſe are the Bride. Now the Church is called a Bride from the reſemblances that it hath with a Bride.
1 You know a Bride doth forget, The re…emblance …etween …he Church …nd a …ride.and forſake her own people, and her fathers houſe, Pſal. 45. Forget thine own people, and thy fathers houſe; it is ſpoken there to the Bride; ſo the Church forgets the World, and the cuſtoms and faſhions of the World, her own people, kindred, and relations, and forſakes them; Thus doth the Church, Epheſ. 5.32. For this cauſe ſhall a man leave his father and mother, and ſhall be joyned to his wife. This is a great myſtery, but I ſpeak concerning Chriſt and the Church; the Church muſt leave Father and Mother, leave outward relations, Wee have forſaken all and followed thee, ſaid the Diſciples.
2 A Bride, you know is betrothed, and eſpouſed unto a man, ſhe gives up her ſelf unto a man; ſo the Church, 2 Cor. 11. For I have eſpouſed you to one Huthand, that I may preſent you as a chaſte Virgin to Chriſt. Chriſt calls her his Spouſe in the Canticles, ſhe is eſpouſed unto Chriſt.
3 A Bride, ſhe hath her Ornaments and Jewels about her, ſhe is trim'd, Iſa. 61.10. ſo the Church hath Ornaments and Jewels about her, ſhe is trimmed and deckt with the Graces of the Spirit, with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. White Linnen (in the Revelation) is ſaid to bee the righteouſneſs of Saints, the Church hath her Ornaments, her Jewels, and Graces, Canticles 4.9.
4 Laſtly, The Bride you know expects Marriage of ſuch a Perſon; ſo the Church looks to be married unto Chriſt, ſhe waites for the day, ſhe is eſpouſed already, and waites for to be married unto the Lamb, Rev. 19. ſo then you ſee upon what account the Church is called a Bride.
Now the Point to be handled is this.
Doct. That both the Spirit of God, and the whole Church are deſirous of Chriſts coming.
And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, come.
To ſpeak a little to the Spirit of God; the Spirit of God is ſaid in Scripture to intercede for us — and the Spirit of God luſts againſt the fleſh — and here the Spirit deſires the coming of Chriſt; The Spirit ſaith, come.
And the Spirit deſires the coming of Chriſt, Why the Spirit deſires the coming of Chriſt.becauſe it having received from Chriſt all truth, and having given it out unto Apoſtles, and unto John, and ſo to the Church, it would gladly have the Church ſee the accompliſhment of what is given out by the Spirit, which will not all bee done till the coming of Chriſt; all truth will not be accompliſhed, Propheſies, or Promiſes will not be fulfilled till the coming of Chriſt, and the Spirit having received of Chriſt, and given them out, the Spirit deſires the accompliſhment of them, that the Church might ſee it.
2 The Spirrt deſires Chriſts coming, for the honour of Chriſt; it is ſaid in 2 Theſ. 1.10. Chriſt ſhall come to be admired, this ſhall bee the honour of Chriſt to bee admired by the Church to be admired by the World, eſpecially he ſhall bee admired of the Saints, and of thoſe that do beleeve; and the more admirable will Chriſt be when they ſhall ſee all Truths fulfilled, and made good, that he gave out by his Spirit. It is ſaid, Iſa. 44.26. God is a God that confirmeth the word of his Servant, and performeth the counſel of his Meſſengers; ſo Chriſt, he will confirm the word of his Spirit, and confirm the word of his Meſſenger; the Spirit brought it from Chriſt to John, John gives it out to the Church, and when Chriſt comes he will confirm the word, and make it all good, and ſo both Chriſt ſhall bee honoured, the Spirit honoured, and the Inſtruments that gave out the word, be honoured.
3 The Spirit deſires the coming of Chriſt, that ſo it ſelf may be no more grieved, no more quenched. So 1 Theſ. 5. Quench not the Spirit; in Eph. 4.30. Grieve not the Spirit, whereby yee are ſealed unto the day of redemption. The Spirit hath ſealed up men unto the day, that is, this day of Chriſts coming unto the day of redemption. Now ſaith the Spirit come, come that I may be no more grieved, I am grieved in the hearts of Saints daily, I am troubled by them, they do many things that are contrary to my Nature, contrary to my Holineſs; the Spirit is a tender thing, and ſoon grieved, now ſaith the Spirit, Come, come; then when Chriſt comes, the Spirit ſhall no more be grieved, there ſhall be a courſe taken with enemies.
Here then we may ſee that this is a matter of weight, and worthy of conſideration, the coming of Chriſt, for the very Spirit of Chriſt deſires it. But ſo much for that.
The whole Church alſo deſires it, even the Church Triumphant deſires it; I might inſiſt upon that firſt.
In Rev. 6.9, 10. The Church triumphant deſires Chriſts coming.And when he had opened the fifth Seal, I ſaw under the Altar the ſouls of them that were ſlain for the Word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held; And they cryed with a loud voyce, ſaying, how long, how long O Lord, holy and true, doeſt thou not judge and avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? Here is part of the Church Triumphant, crying, How long O Lord afore thou comeſt?
Souls have no Tongues, you muſt know, but here by crying is meant the deſires of the Soul, they deſire Chriſts day might come, and ſo their enemies might be judged, and they might have their bodies united unto their ſouls, and be made compleat.
Queſt. But it may be ſaid, Do the Souls in Heaven, and the Church in Heaven deſire Chriſt may go out of Heaven, and come down to earth? that ſhould ſeem ſtrange.
Anſ. 1. Yes, The very Church in Heaven deſires the day of Chriſts coming, and what if Chriſt do leave Heaven, and come down to earth, what hurt in that, for they being in Heaven do ſee the face of the Father, and beholding the face of the Father they have happineſs enough there, as the Angels always behold the face of my Father.
2 But ſecondly, when Chriſt comes they ſhall come with him, as you may ſee in Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints. Here is a limited number put for an illimited, ten thouſand, that is, with all his Saints, ſo you have it in Ezek. 14.5. And the Lord my God ſhall come with all the Saints with him; Chriſt ſhall come, and all the Saints ſhall come with him when he comes; ſo in 1 Theſ. 4.14. For if we beleeve that Jeſus dyed and roſe again, even ſo them alſo that ſleep in Jeſus will God bring with him; they ſhall come with Chriſt when he comes, ſo that the very Church Triumphant are deſirous of the coming of Chriſt. But ſo much for that.
We come now to that which is more chiefly our aime and ſcope, The Church Militant deſires the coming of Chriſt.that is, the Church here in this World, the Bride here doth deſire the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Bride ſaith come, come Lord, you have it in the twentieth Verſe of this Chapter, He which teſtifieth theſe things ſaith, ſurely I come quickly, Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus. John deſires the comming of Chriſt in the perſon of the Church, Come Lord Jeſus, and frequently in Scripture th…s is ſpoken of; Tit. 2.13. Looking for the bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. The Church looks for, and ſo deſires the glorious appearing of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, that which we look for, we deſire; and ſo in 2 Pet. 3.12. Looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the day of God, 1 Theſ. 1.10. And to wait for his Son from Heaven. The Theſſalonians (the Church there) waited for the coming of Chriſt from Heaven; and Phil. 3.20. Our converſation is in Heaven, from whence alſo wee look for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And many other places there are, Rom. 8.23. And not only they, but our ſelves alſo which have the firſt fruits of the Spirit, even wee our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies, wee look for the coming of Chriſt.
Now what kind of deſire is this of the Church, What kind of deſue the Church hath for Chriſts coming.The Bride ſaith, Come, the Bride deſires the coming of Chriſt.
1 This deſire of hers is a Spiritual deſire, it is no Carnal deſire; it is ſuch a deſire as is in Chriſt himſelf towards the Church. Cant. 2 10. My Beloved ſpake, and ſaid unto me, Spiritual.Riſe up my Love, my fair one, and come away; and ſo in the thirteenth Verſe, Ariſe my Love, my fair one, and come away; Chriſts deſire to the Church is a Spiritual deſire, Cant. 7.10. I am my Beloveds, and his devire is towards me. Chriſts deſire is towards his Church, and it is a Spiritual deſire — ſo the Churches is the ſame to him, Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, come my beloved. As Chriſt calls his Church, ſo the Church calls him, Come my Beloved; A Spiritual deſire it is, a deſire that the Spirit of God hath begotten in her, for the Spirit works gracious and holy deſires in the hearts of men and women, and thoſe deſires being put forth now towards Chriſt, they have the denomination from the Spirit, they are Spiritual deſires.
2 The deſire of the Church it is an earneſt deſire, Earneſtly.a ſtrong deſire, 2 Cor. 5.2. For in this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to bee cloathed upon with our houſe which is from Heaven. Paul groaned earneſtly, and in Phil. 2. he ſaith there, he deſired to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, he deſired the coming of Chriſt to diſſolve him, that ſo he might be with Chriſt, Rom. 8.19. The earneſt expectation of the Creature, it is called; and Verſ. 23. We groan within our ſelves — It is ſuch a deſire as thoſe have which are ſick for Love, Cant. 5. ſaith the Church there, Tell him that I am ſick of Love; The Church is ſick of Love for Jeſus Chriſt, and earneſtly deſires his coming — ſuch a deſire as is in Women with Childe, that miſcarry if they have not their deſire — ſuch a deſire as is in the captive to bee delivered — ſuch a deſire as is in the ſick for health — ſuch a deſire as is in Women for their Husbands that are beyond ſea; an earneſt deſire.
3 It is a working deſire, A working deſire.a deſire that puts men and women upon doing, a deſire that makes them work. Here was a deſire, and ſhe falls a praying, Come, come Lord Jeſus, come quickly; A deſire that will make you active, not a ſluggiſh laſie deſire, as is in too many, but a waking deſire, 2 Pet. 3.12. Looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the day of God; where there is lo…king, there will be deſire, and where there is deſire there will be acting, haſtening to the coming.
4 It is a deſire that is laſting, A laſting deſire.it is not a Humour, a Fit, a Fanſie and away, but it is a deſire that is laſting, and continued. The Church hath had this deſire many hundred years, yea thouſands of years, 1 Pet. 1.13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your minde, be ſober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Ieſus Chriſt. It will make men and women hope to the end; where there is deſire of a thing, there is hope, and it will make them hope to the end, when it laſts to the end, the deſire laſts till Chriſt comes.
5 Laſtly, It is a deſire that is well bottomed, It is a wel bottom'd deſire.a deſire that is well grounded, it is a deſire that ſprings from a good foundation, it is not from the Fanſie of a man, or from a Notion, or from a Conception, or Tradition, but it is a Deſire that is well bottom'd, well grounded, and ſprings from a good Root — It ſprings from Promiſes — It ſprings from Prayer — It riſes from Promiſes, Acts 1.11. This ſame Ieſus which is taken up from you into Heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner, as yee have ſeen him go into Heaven: Well, this Jeſus that is gone now to Heaven, he ſhall ſo come again. Here is a good Root, a Foundation, a Promiſe now for this deſire. Heb. 10. Yet a little time and hee that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. And in Revel. 22. Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me; here is a word for it — There are many Promiſes in the Scripture to this purpoſe, therefore Peter ſaith in the place before mentioned, Notwithſtanding we, according to his promiſe, look for the new Heavens, and the new Earth. It is a deſire that is grounded upon a Promiſe, a Divine Promiſe, and not a Human Promiſe; a Promiſe from Heaven, and not from Earth. —
It is grounded upon Prayer; in the Lords Prayer Chriſt hath taught us to pray, Thy Kingdom come; ſo that the deſires of the Church you ſee of what nature they are, they are Spiritual deſires, they are earneſt deſires, they are working deſires, they are deſires that are laſting, they are deſires that are well grounded.
Q. Why doth the Church deſire the coming of Chriſt?
A. Why the Church deſires Chriſts coming.1. The Church deſires the coming of Chriſt, that ſo the Lord Chriſt himſelf may bee perfected, and compleated; Chriſt accounts himſelf imperfect in Heaven, Epheſ. 1. ul. The Church is ſaid to be the fulneſs of Chriſt, and till Chriſt hath all with him that the Father hath given him, he is not compleat — The Church deſires Chriſt may have his fulneſs; Come Lord, and take all thine own; Come Lord, and gather in all thy Saints; Come Lord, and injoy all the Father hath given thee; it is, that Chriſt may have his fulneſs, be perfected, and compleat.
2 The Church deſires Chriſts coming, that ſo all the enemies of Chriſt may be brought under, eſpecially that thoſe Grand enemies of Chriſt may be brought down, as Antichriſt, and Sathan, thoſe are the Grand enemies of Chriſt, 2 Theſ. 2.8. And then ſhall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord ſhall conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth, and ſhall deſtroy with the brightneſs of his coming. This is ſpoken of Antichriſt, that wicked one, when Chriſt comes there ſhall be a total deſtruction of Antichriſt, and all that adhere to Antichriſt; then ſhall the Prophet and the Beaſt be taken, as in Revel. 19. I ſaw the Beaſt, and the Kings of the earth, and their Armies gathered together, to make war with him that ſate on the Horſe, and his Army, and the Beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought Miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beaſt, and them that worſhipped his Image, &c. When Chriſt comes the Beaſt and the falſe Prophet will be taken, theſe are Antichriſt, they ſhall bee taken and judged, and that enemy Sathan alſo, as in chap. 20. I ſaw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the bottomleſs Pit, and a great chain in his hand, and he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Sathan, and bound him a thouſand years, and caſt him into the bottomleſs pit, and ſhut him up, and ſet a ſeal upon him that he ſhould not deceive the Nations any more, till the thouſand years ſhould be fulfilled; then ſhall the enemies of Chriſt bee brought under; the Church ſaith, Come, upon that account.
3 The Church ſaith, Come, and deſires his coming, that ſo it ſelf might bee freed from all enemies within, and without, when Chriſt comes, this will bee made good. Revel. 21. There was new Jeruſalem came down from Heaven; What then? ſaith hee, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and hee will dwell with them, and they ſhall bee his people, and God himſelf ſhall bee with them, and bee their God, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there ſhall bee no more death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more pain. When Chriſt comes, all enemies ſhall bee taken away, all Perſecutions, all Afflictions, all Temptations, yea all Corruptions within, Rom. 7.24. Who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt; when Chriſt comes I ſhall be delivered from this body of death, ſo that Chriſts coming is deſired of the Church, that ſhe may be freed from all enemies without, and that there might be no ſinning, nor grieving of the Spirit, that there might be no tears, no ſorrow, no crying, no pain, but freedom from all, inwardly, and outwardly.
4 And laſtly, The Church deſires the coming of Chriſt, that ſhe may injoy all the good things that are to be had by his coming — That ſhe may have the choyce refreſhing that is ſpoken of in Acts 3.19. Repent yee therefore, and bee converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord. Chriſt ſhall come, and there will be times of refreſhing, times of choyce refreſhing, ſuch refreſhings ſhall Souls have as they never had — That they may have the glorious liberty mentioned, Rom. 8.21. Becauſe the Creature it ſelf alſo ſhall bee delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God; then ſhall the children of God have liberty, and glorious liberty, never had they ſuch liberty as then they ſhall have — Then they ſhall likewiſe be partakers of great honour, that Chriſt will beſtow upon them, Rev. 2.17. He that overcometh, ſaith he, I will give to eat of the hidden Manna, and I will give him a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new name written; He ſhall have a title of Honour — And a new Seat ſhall he have, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, even as I overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne. Chriſt will honour the Church then, and ſet her upon a Throne, exalt every member thereof, give them a new name, a new ſeat; great honour ſhall they have, inſomuch that it is ſaid in Iſa. 62. Thou ſhalt be as a crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God. They ſhall be honoured as Kings and Queens; He hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God, and we ſhall be honoured as Kings and Prieſts when Chriſt comes — Then ſhall they have nearer conjunction with Chriſt, and more communion with him then ever, Rev. 19.7. Let us bee glad, and rejoyce, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come. The marriage of the Lamb is come; Then ſhall bee the marriage, now it is a Bride, but then ſhall be the Marriage, then ſhall we rejoyce, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made her ſelf ready. There will bee more intimate and ſweet communion; then will Chriſt let out his loves to the Soul indeed — Then will he lead his Spouſe, his Bride, his Wife into the Marriage Chamber, into the Wine-ſeller; then ſhall there be Apples of comfort, and Flaggons of Wine, then the ſpiced wine will be brought forth, there will bee more near conjunction, and ſweet communion with Chriſt then ever.
And laſtly, then ſhall the Church bee made like to Chriſt indeed, 1 Joh. 3.2. When he ſhall appear we ſhall be like him; we ſhall then bee transformed into the image of Chriſt fully, ſo that the Bride, the Church, deſires the coming of Chriſt upon theſe grounds.
Vſe. To make ſome uſe of this point.
1 Doth the Church deſire the coming of Chriſt? then this is a reproof to thoſe Chriſtians that do not minde Chriſt, nor deſire Chriſt, nor look after Chriſt at all; many Chriſtians they never deſire the coming of Chriſt, but they deſire other things, people have their deſires carried otherwiſe; The Mariner, he deſires a fit Wind to carry him to his Port; the Husband-man, hee deſires the Harveſt, that that would come; and ſo the Lawyer deſires the Term, that that would come; and the Woman deſires her Husband would return, that is abroad; and the Begger deſires a good Almes; but where is a ſoul deſires the coming of Chriſt? who ſaith, Come Lord, come quickly, come away? it is an argument that you have little or no grace in you, it is an Argument you are no friends to Chriſt, but rather enemies to Chriſt, when you do not minde Chriſt, and his coming, and deſire his coming; look into Mat. 24.48. to the end, And if that evil ſervant ſhall ſay in his heart, my Lord delayeth his coming, and ſhall begin to ſmite his fellow ſervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the Lord of that ſervant ſhall come in a day that he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not ware of, and ſhall …ut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with the Hypocrites, there ſhall bee weeping and gnaſhing of teeth; mark. A wicked Servant that defers the coming of Chriſt, and a wicked Servant that mindes not the coming of Chriſt at all: ſo that this is a juſt reproof to the moſt, they minde not, they think not of the coming of the Lord Chriſt, they deſire it not.
Doth the Church deſire the coming of Chriſt? then this informs us that Chriſt is deſirable, yea very deſirable, I ſay, very deſirable — Chriſt is deſired by the Spirit to come — Chriſt is deſired by the Church Triumphant to come — Chriſt is deſired by the Church Militant here in this world to come: Chriſt is very deſirable; what is there more deſirable than Chriſt? Hag. 2.7. he is called there, The deſire of Nations; where there is but one Saint in a Nation, Chriſt is deſired there, whereſoever there be any godly ones, any that are indued with the Spirit of God, they deſire Chriſt, he is the deſire of Nations, all the Nations in the World, if they have any godly in them, they deſire Chriſt, Cant. 5.10. He is ſaid to bee white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, and altogether lovely; who ſhould bee more deſired than Chriſt? Chriſt looks upon his Church as lovely, and deſirable, and he ſaith, Come away, come away my beloved, come over the Mountains, and come away, and have communion with me; and Chriſt is farre more lovely than the Church, farre more glorious and beautiful — Chriſt is the bright morning Star, and is not that deſirable?— Chriſt is the Sun of Righteouſneſs, that comes with healing in his wings, and is not be deſirable?— Chriſt is the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, and is not he deſirable? Pro. 13.15. Wiſdom is to be deſired above all things, ſaith he, and is not Chriſt the Fountain of all Wiſdom? In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2.3. and is not he deſirable? Chriſt is the Bridegroom, and is not he deſirable? ſuch a Bridegroom as never was in the world before, nor will be afterwards; no marvell then the Church ſaith, Come, come, come; he is deſirable.
3 If the Church do deſire Chriſt, then here is matter of comfort for the Church, matter of comfort for every beleeving ſoul that doth deſire Chriſt, comfort upon ſundry conſiderations —
1 The ſoul that doth ſo deſire Chriſt as you have heard, that deſires Chriſt Spiritually, that deſires Chriſt earneſtly — that hath a waking deſire after Chriſt, a laſting deſire, a deſire that ſprings from promiſes, this is an Argument now unto thee of the truth of grace; ſuch deſires come from the Spirit of God, they are not from Nature, from the fleſh and bloud; fleſh and bloud doth not deſire the coming of Chriſt, but it is from a principle of Grace, from a Fountain within, from ſomething conformable to Chriſt, and this is an argument of comfort; many are troubled, they know not whether they have Grace or no; but doſt thou ſo deſire the coming of Chriſt? it is an argument of the truth of grace in thy heart.
2 It is an Argument of a bleſſed condition, Matth. 5.10. Bleſſed are thoſe that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs; bleſſed are they, in the Judgement of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf thou art a bleſſed Creature; Doſt thou hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs? To hunger and thirſt, is to have earneſt ſtrong deſires after righteouſneſs, and if ſo, thou art bleſſed; Now, is not Chriſt righteouſneſs? Look into Jer. 23.5, 6. ſaith the Lord, Behold, the days come, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, and a King ſhall reign and proſper, and ſhall execute Judgement and Juſtice in the earth; in his days Judah ſhall be ſaved, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely, and this is the name whereby hee ſhall be called, the Lord our righteouſneſs. Well, doſt thou hunger and thirſt now after righteouſneſs, after Chriſt and his righteouſneſs? Doeſt thou ſee thine own righteouſneſs, as ſpotted, filthy, loathſome, and throw it away, and hunger and thirſt after the righteouſneſs of Chriſt? what he hath purchaſed and procured by his Death, Sufferings, and Merits for poor ſinners, thou art a bleſſed Creature that doſt deſire Chriſt.
3 Thou ſhalt be ſatisfied, for ere long Chriſt will come, Yet a little while, Heb. 10. and hee that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry. Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me; I am a coming, I am a coming ſaith Chriſt; and he will ſatisfie the ſouls of thoſe that do deſire him. Revel. 7.15. Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and ſerve him day and night, &c. and verſ. 16. They ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more, neither ſhall the Sun light on them, nor any heat, for the Lamb which is the midſt of the Throne ſhall feed them, and ſhall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. They ſhall be fed, and be filled, and ſhall not hunger and thirſt any more, and it is not long — For that might bee obj…cted, Wee have deſired, and we have waited long; why it is not long, Chriſt is a coming, the things that now we ſee do prognoſticate as much unto us — When the Son of Man cometh, ſhall he finde faith on the earth? Where is any faithfulneſs in men? no faith to be found in men — And doth not the Devil rage now, and throw out puddle waters, Blaſphemies, Errours, and Hereſies? — And are not all Nations perplexed at this time, and know not what to do, and which way to turn them? — And is there not a ſpirit of Prayer abroad for the coming of Jeſus Chriſt, more than hath been in former days? And if it bee ſo, theſe are Arguments that Chriſts coming is nearer at hand then you are aware of, therefore here is comfort to the Saints and ſervants of Chriſt; Chriſt will come, and then they ſhall be ſatisfied that have deſired, and waited for his coming.
4 If it bee ſo, that the Church deſires the coming of Chriſt, then let me intreat you all to examine your ſelves, whether you do ſo deſire the coming of Chriſt, yea or no? and if you would know it, I ſhall commend two or three things to you, beyond what I have laid down —
1 That Soul that deſires the coming of Chriſt as the Bride here doth, lives not in any known ſin, that Soul that lives in any known ſin, that Soul cannot, that Soul doth not, that Soul dares not deſire the coming of Chriſt; I will give you one place of Scripture for it, 2 Theſ. 1.8 When the Lord Jeſus ſhall bee revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. If a man be ignorant, and knows not God, and his duty, and if a man do know God, and his duty, and diſobey the Goſpel, dares that man now deſire the coming of Chriſt, that ſhall come in flames of fire to render vengeance? Doth the Murderer deſire the coming of the Judge? Doth any guilty man deſire the coming of him that will bring him forth, and puniſh him for his guilt? therefore the Soul that deſires the coming of Chriſt, is a Soul that lives in no known Sin, he is neither ignorant of God. Goſpel, nor duty, nor diſobedent to God, Chriſt, or Goſpel.
2 If you do deſire the coming of Chriſt in truth, and according to thoſe deſires before mentioned, you will make ſome preparation for the coming of Chriſt; as you ſee the Bride, that ſaith Come; ſhe prepares for his coming, Revel. 19.7. And his Wife hath made her ſelf ready; ſhe prepared for his coming. And ſo in the Goſpel, Luke 12.40. Be yee therefore ready alſo, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when yee think not. And the wiſe Virgins they made ready, in Matth. 25. ſaith he there, And while the fooliſh Virgins went to buy oyl, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage, and the door was ſhut. Now, what do you do towards Chriſts coming? do you purge out your Corruptions? Do you mortifie your Luſts? Do you renounce the World, and the vanities thereof? Do you trim and deck your ſelves with all Graces? if you do, it is an argument you deſire Chriſt, and your deſires are right.
3 Laſtly, Thoſe that deſire the coming of Chriſt in truth and ſincerity, they are glad when there are any appearances of the coming of Chriſt: any ſignes, any tokens of the coming of Chriſt, Luke 21.25. And there ſhall be ſigns in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and upon the earth diſtreſs of Nations, with perplexity, the Sea and the waves roaring, mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thoſe things which are coming on the earth; and then ſhall they ſee the Son of Man coming in a Cloud, with power and great glory, and when theſe things begin to come to paſs, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. When there is any appearance of Chriſts coming, the Saints are glad, and thoſe are gracious, are glad. Is Chriſt a coming? now they lift up their heads, we ſhall bee freed from all our enemies without, and within; Chriſt ſhall be compleat; now all the wicked, Sathan, and Antichriſt ſhall bee judged, now wee ſhall have that refreſhing that never was before, now wee ſhall enjoy the glorious liberty that we have waited for, and lookt for, now wee ſhall bee freed from ſin, now we ſhall have have more intimate communion with him, now we ſhall be made like unto him; this is that that makes the heart rejoyce at the apprehenſion of his coming, therefore examine your ſelves whether you have ſuch deſires of his coming, as here the Bride had.
5 The laſt uſe of the point is this; An exhortation to us to deſire the coming of Chriſt, and to ſay with the Bride here, Come Lord, come; the Spirit ſaith, come, the Bride ſaith, come, either we are not indued with the Spirit of God, or we are not the Bride of Chriſt, if we will not ſay, Come. Beſides theſe, conſider
1 It is an argument of love to Chriſt to deſire his coming, 2 Tim. 4.8. To all them that love his appearing. If we do not deſire his coming, it argues little love to Chriſt; A woman that doth not deſire the coming of her Husband, hath little love to her Husband.
2 It will be a Marriage day to the Soul, the day of his coming, Revel. 19.7, 9. and Chriſt will rejoyce over his then as a man doth over his Bride, Iſa. 62.5. therefore ſeeing the Spirit of God deſires it, and the Bride deſires it, let us alſo deſire Chriſts coming, manifeſt our love to Chriſt, and long for the marriage day.
Queſt. But may ſome ſay, What ſhall we do to have ſuch deſires begotten in us?
Anſ. 1. Conſider your own ſinfulneſs; What we ſhould do to have deſires after Chriſts coming begotten in us.are we not all Sinners, full of ſin and corruption? Paul, in Rom. 7. when he conſidered the Sin that was in him, how carnal he was, how he was carried away Captive, how the ſin in his members did warre againſt the Law of his minde, what a wretched creature he was, he longed for Chriſt; Who ſhall deliver me? I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt; well, Chriſt is a coming, ere long he will be here, and then I ſhall be delivered.
2 Conſider the evils and confuſions that are in fellow ſervants, the Devil deceives the Nations, Antichriſt tyrannizeth, great ones oppreſs one another, much of Babylon is yet in S…on, all her foundations, and ſtate foundations, are out of courſe, and what ſhould the righteous, and all do, but long for the coming of Chriſt to ſet all in order? the ſerious conſideration hereof would quicken our deſires that way.
3 Conſider the great good you ſhall have by Chriſts coming; it will be a time of refreſhing, it will be a time of liberty, a time of glory, a time of making you like unto Jeſus Chriſt; it will be a time of the greateſt good to the Church that ever was.
4 Read this Book much of the Revelations, that will beget ſuch deſires in you, then Antichriſt ſhall go down, then the enemies of the Lord Chriſt ſhall be under, then ſhall it bee well with them that fear the Lord.
I ſhall now come to the next words, And let him that heareth ſay, Come.