Sermons of Christ, Sermon 5
Of Chriſt his coming.
REV. 22.17.
And let him that heareth ſay. Come.
SEeing the Spirit ſaith, Come, and the Bride ſaith, Come, let him that hears what the Bride ſaith, and hears what the Spirit ſaith, let him be of the ſame minde, and fall in with the Bride, and the Spirit, and ſay, Come.
The words in the Greek are, The hearing man, let the hearing man ſay, come; ſome refer this to the ſucceeding Ages after the Church that now was, the Poſterity that ſhould be after that time; let all the Ages, and all the Saints that ſhall be hereafter, let them be of the ſame minde with the Bride, and the Spirit, and ſay, Come, come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
But more properly it takes in all, Let him that heareth, Let the hearing man, let any man that hath an ear to hear theſe things, let him ſay, Come; let all ſorts of men that read this Book, and hear the voyce of the Spirit, and of the Bride, ſay Come, come Lord.
Queſt, But a Queſtion here may be moved, upon what account is it the duty of a wicked man to deſire the coming of Chriſt? or whether may awicked man deſire the coming of Chriſt?
Anſ. Though a wicked man can never cordially deſire the coming of Chriſt, yet it is the duty of every wicked man, of all men in the world, and upon this account,
1 As they are the Creatures of God; all men are Gods Creatures, and being Gods Creatures, it is their duty to deſire Gods Will, being revealed, for to be fulfilled, therefore all wicked men taking notice that this is Gods Will revealed, that Chriſt muſt come, it is their duty to deſire the fulfilling of Gods Will, and not their own will. Hence is it that they pray often, Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done; though they know not what they pray.
2 As they are the Servants of God, and have talents committed unto them; every one that is the ſervant of another, and hath ſomething committed to his truſt, it is his duty to deſire the coming of his Lord and Maſter, the coming of him to whom he muſt give his account; there is not a man in this World but hath ſome talent or other given unto him; ſome interpret that place in John, He is the Light of every man that cometh into the world, to be meant of that underſtanding and reaſon every man hath; every one therefore having his underſtanding and reaſon from Chriſt, ſhould deſire his coming.
3 It is the duty of all men to deſire that God ſhould be glorified; now God will bee glorified therein, and upon that account it is their duty to deſire the coming of Chriſt. In Iſa. 66. they ſay there, Let God be glorified, Joh. 16. They ſhall caſt you out of their Synagogues, and hate you, and kill you for my name ſake, and think they do God good ſervice: Wicked men know it is their duty to glorifie God, and they go about it though they do it the wrong way; but now this being for Gods glory, and revealed, it is the duty of all men to deſire the coming of Chriſt.
But I ſhall come to thoſe Obſervations the words will afford.
Obſ. 1. That the coming of Chriſt is a thing made known, and ought to be made known, Let him that heareth ſay, Come; How ſhall they hear? unleſs this be known, and made known, it cannot be heard, nor deſired; there is hardly any thing in all the Goſpel ſo much made known as the coming of Chriſt is, Chriſt himſelf doth frequently ſpeak of it, Joh. 14. I go away, but I will come again; I will ſee you again, ſaith Chriſt, Joh. 21.22, 23. If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? ſo v. 23. If I wil that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Till I come, I mean to come again; And in Revel. 2.25. That which yee have already, hold faſt till I come, ſaith Chriſt to the Church of Thyatira; Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks oft of his coming, ſo the Angels have proclaimed and made known the coming of Chriſt, Acts 1.11. This ſame Jeſus which is taken up from you into heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as yee have ſeen him go into heaven. So Peter, he hath proclaimed the coming of Chriſt, Acts 3.20. And he ſhall ſend Jeſus Chriſt, which before was preached unto you: God ſhall ſend Jeſus Chriſt again, and he ſhall come; and he vindicates the coming of Chriſt, which was queſtioned, 2 Pet. 3.4. ſome ſaid there, Where is the promiſe of his coming? Peter vindicates this, Looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of the day of God— And Paul he is not ſilent in this buſineſs, but he ſpeaks frequently of the coming of Chriſt, 2 Theſſ. 1. When he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints; and chap. 2. verſ. 1. We beſeech you Brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and verſ. 8. Whom the Lord ſhall conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth, and ſhall deſtroy with the brightneſs of his coming. So in 2 Timoth. 4. I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing. And in Tit. 2.13. Looking for the bleſſed love, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and of the Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and in Heb. 9. ult. and chap. 10.16, 17. he ſpeaks of it — James alſo mentions it — And it is obſervable, there is not one Writer in all the New Teſtament, but ſpeaks of the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Jam. 5.8. Bee yee alſo patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh — Peter alſo ſpeaks of it, I told you before — So i… Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints — and John he mentions it frequently, ſix times in this Chapter my text is in doth he ſpeak of it — And will you have Matthew, and Mark, and Luke to give their teſtimony? ſee in Matth. 24.27. For as the Lightning cometh out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth unto the Weſt, ſo ſhall alſo the coming of the Son of Man be — Mark likewiſe ſpeaks of it, chap. 8.38. When he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels; and Luk. 10.13. he calls his ten Servants, and delivers them ten pound, and ſaith unto them, Occupy till I come; ſo that it is very obſervable, that all the Apoſtles, and all that write the Epiſtles, do ſpeak of the coming of the Lord Jeſus.
Now, why is this coming of Chriſt inſiſted upon ſo much, and made known ſo much, and ſo often repeated?
1 Becauſe we are hard to beleeve it; men are hardly induced and perſwaded to beleeve the coming of the Lord Jeſus, 2 Pet. 3.4. ſay they, Where is the promiſe of his coming, do not all things abide as they did from the beginning? They could not beleeve Chriſts coming, and it is a hard thing to perſwade men and ſettle men in this, the coming of the Lord Jeſus again.
2 If men be perſwaded to this, yet they are wonderfull apt to forget his coming, and to put the evil day farre of, Matth. 24.48. The evil ſervant ſays in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, he will not come in my days; ſo the wiſe, and fooliſh Virgins grew ſecure; the wiſe ſlumbered, and the fooliſh ſlept, and ſo forgat the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; we are apt, I ſay, to forget, and to put it off.
3 This is ſo often mentioned and inſiſted upon, that ſo we may prepare for it, Matth. 24.44. Therefore bee yee alſo ready, for in ſuch an hour as yee think not of, the Son of Man cometh. The Son of Man comes, and hee will come ſuddenly when men and women do not think of it; therefore it is to be made known, that people may bee ready, and prepared for the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
4 Laſtly, This is made known, and ſo much inſiſted upon in the New Teſtament, becauſe it is a ground for Patience, and to bear up the ſpirits of men and women againſt the Croſs, againſt afflictions, againſt reproaches, againſt diſcouragements, and all the hard meaſures they meet withall here in the World, Heb. 10.36.37. For yee have need of patience, that after yee have done the Will of God, yee might receive the Promiſe; they had indured the ſpoyling of their goods, and great afflictions, and ſaith he, yee have need of Patience, For yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry; here is a ground for their patience, Chriſt will come; and ſo in Jam. 5.7. Bee patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord, behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it; be yee alſo patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth neer. This will bear up the heart againſt all diſcouragement, theſe afflictions, reproaches, temptations, will have an end when Chriſt comes; ſo that upon theſe accounts it is ſo much ſpoken of, and to be made known.
Application.
1 This ſerves for reproof — Firſt, of thoſe that cannot indure to bear of the coming of Chriſt, that had rather hear of any thing than the coming of Chriſt; why is Chriſts coming ſpoken of ſo by himſelf, by all the Apoſtles, and Evangeliſts? Doth the Spirit ſay, come, and the Bride ſay, come, and ſhall not we indure to hear of the coming of Chriſt? It argues abundance of guilt, abundance of wickedneſs, and prophaneneſs, abundance of ignorance in the heart, that cannot indure to hear of the coming of Chriſt.
2 It reproves thoſe, and ſhews how inexcuſable they will be, that the coming of Chriſt is ſo made known, and yet they do not prepare for the coming of Chriſt; Do you read the Goſpel? do you read the Epiſtles? do you read this Book of the Revelation, and do not you meet with the coming of Chriſt every where? And what, will you not prepare for it? Chriſt will ſay, What, did you not know that I would come again? did not I tell you? Did not all my Servants tell you of it? Did not Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Angels, did not they tell you of my coming? Why did you not prepare for it? You have gotten Lamps, but where is your Oyl? You make profeſſion, and you bear my name, why have you not prepared for my coming? Men will be inexcuſable, like the man that had not on the Wedding Garment, Friend, how cameſt thou in here? his mouth was ſtopt; ſo you will bee inexcuſable, and your mouthes will be ſtopt, that do not prepare for the coming of the Lord Jeſus.
3 Let us conſider it is our duty to prepare for the coming of Chriſt, it is made known in the Word, and it is made known to you this day; O prepare for the coming of Chriſt, Mat. 24 44. Be yee alſo ready, for in ſuch an hour as yee think not, the Son of Man cometh; bee ready —
What is this preparation we ſhould make for Chriſts coming? — there are three or four things to be done.
1 See that you caſt off every thing that hinders your going out to Chriſt, and meeting of Chriſt, Heb. 12.1, 2. Wherefore, ſeeing we are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of Witneſſes, let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and let us run with patience the race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the Author and finiſher of our faith. Well, lay aſide every weight, and every burden, every Sin that doth ſo beſet you, and bows you down, cloggs and hinders you from going out to meet Chriſt, from running the race that is ſet before you, caſt off all things which cumber and burden you, all your luſts and corruptions, all baſe thoughts and practiſes, all ſinful ends and aymes that you have; lay aſide every burden.
2 See that you do adorn and beautifie your ſelves with all Graces, you know the Bride, Revel. 10. did trim up her ſelf, and make her ſelf ready, put on her beſt apparrel, put on Chriſt, put on all Graces. When you expect ſome ſpecial Friend to come to your Houſes, you make preparation for him, you will not only have the houſe ſwept, but you will have the windows and tables rubbed, you will have your floores ſtrown, you will waſh and perfume your ſelves, and be in a decent, a comely poſture, and habit; the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will come, and he is a coming daily, you muſt therefore make ready for him, and prepare your hearts, your conſciences, your wil, your affections, and underſtandings, the outward man, the body, all muſt bee fitted for Chriſt.
3 You ſhould put forth your deſires, as here the Bride doth, and the Spirit doth, O come Lord, come Lord; the Soul that doth heartily deſire the coming of Chriſt, is well prepared for his coming.
4 Laſtly, you muſt wait daily for the coming of Chriſt; Job waited all his appointed time for the coming of his Redeemer. And Luk. 12.35, 36. Let your loyns bee girded about, and your lights burning, and yee your ſelves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return. This is the preparation that you are to make, eſpecially ſee that you have faith in Chriſt, as Paul ſaith in the Philippians, I labour to win Chriſt, and to be found in Chriſt, not having mine own righteouſneſs; ſo you ſhould have faith in Chriſt, and ſay, In the Lord Chriſt have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength, I have none in my ſelf, but all is in him.
Obſ. 2. The Second Obſervation is, That the coming of Chriſt is a thing to be hearkened unto, Let him that heareth, ſay come; Every man doth not hearken unto the coming of Chriſt, he hears of it, it may be, but he doth not hearken unto it; it is one thing to hear it, another thing to hearken unto it; Let him that heareth ſay, Come; To hear is ordinary, but to hearken is rare, and ſo to hearken as to ſay, come, is rare; few ſo hearken as to ſay, Come Lord, come Lord, Rev. 2.7. Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches; Let every man that hath an ear hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches; ſo let every one that hath an ear hearken unto the coming of Chriſt, heed, attend it, obſerve, minde this buſineſs, for it is a thing of great concernment, and things of concernment you will hear and hearken unto them, attend and obſerve — the coming of the Lord Chriſt is of very great concernment.
What concernment you will ſay is it of? I ſhall ſhew it you in ſome particulars.
1 It is of great concernment upon this account, Of what concernment Chriſts coming is.That there will bee then the greateſt diſcovery made of men and women that ever was in the World, then ſhall the Sheep be diſcovered from the Goats, then ſhall the Lambs bee diſcovered from the Wolves, then ſhall thoſe that fear God be diſcovered from thoſe that fear him not, Mal. 3. Then ſhall yee return, and diſcern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not; Then, when Chriſt ſhall come will be the clear diſcerning, then will the difference be made between the ſealed ones, and thoſe that are not ſealed, Revel. 7. Thoſe that have overcome, and have white Garments, and Palms in their hands, and thoſe that have not overcome, and are in their wickedneſs; then will thoſe that are redeemed from the Earth ſtand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion, then will there be ſuch a diſcovery made of who are right, and who are wrong, as never was; Then ſhall Chriſt ſay, Who is on my ſide, who? Then ſhall all Chriſts friends run to him, then ſhall all his enemies hang down their heads.
2 It is of great concernment, becauſe then when Chriſt comes will be the greateſt change and alteration that ever was here in the World; there was a great change when the Floud came in, in Noahs days, and drowned the World; there will be as great at Chriſts coming, yea a greater change and alteration than that, 2 Pet. 3.13. Nevertheleſs we, according to his promiſe, look for new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs; Then ſhall there bee new Heavens, and a new Earth, the Heavens ſhall bee renewed, the Earth ſhall bee renewed. Then there will be, as in Revel. 21. I ſaw a new Heaven, and a new Earth, for the firſt Heaven, and the firſt Earth were paſſed away, and there was no more Sea, and I ſaw the holy City, new Jeruſalem, coming down from God; Then ſhall be the new Heavens and Earth, the new Jeruſalem, and there will be a great change and alteration then, the Heavens then ſhall have new qualities, and new diſpoſitions, and produce new effects; the earth then ſhall be refined, and renewed, and put into its primitive eſtate, and be made fit to bee a foot-ſtool for Chriſt when hee ſits in his Throne to judge the World.
3 When Chriſt comes will bee the greateſt diſtreſs and trouble to the wicked that ever was, and the greateſt comfort and conſolation to the godly that ever was; there will bee the greateſt diſtreſs and trouble to wicked men that ever was, 2 Pet. 3.10. But the Day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noyſe, and the Elements ſhall meli with fervent heat, the Earth alſo, and the works that are therein ſhall bee burnt up. What work will here be now when all ſhall bee on fire, and Chriſt ſhall come in flames of fire — What work will this make? — you ſhall ſee what work it will make with the wicked and ungodly, Revel. 6.14, 15. And the Heavens departed as a ſcrowl when it is roled together, and every mountain and Iſland were moved out of their places, and the Kings of the earth, and great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free-man kid themſelves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the mountains, and ſaid to the mountains and rocks fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that ſitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who ſhall be able to ſtand? it will be a dreadful, a terrible day to all wicked ones; when Chriſt comes, who ſhall bee able to ſtand — but it will be as comfortable a day to the godly, Revel. 21. New Jeruſalem came down from Heaven, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more pain, for the former things are paſſed away; and he that ſate upon the Throne ſaid, Behold, I make all things new; and he ſaid unto me, Write, for theſe words are true and faithful; it will be a day of great comfort to all Beleevers, to all Saints, to all that fear God: all tears ſhall bee wiped from their eyes, there ſhall be no more death, no more pain.
4 Again, It is of great concernment, in regard that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhal appear eminently in his greatneſs, and in his glory; Chriſt before appeared like a Servant, in a ſtate of Humiliation, but then when he comes he ſhall appear eminently, in greatneſs and glory, Matth. 24 30. And then ſhall appear the ſign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and then ſhall all the Tribes of the earth mourn, and they ſhall ſee the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory. Chriſt ſhall come with power and great glory; It will be a day of glory indeed, for the World ſhall be filled with the glory of Chriſt, They ſhall ſee the ſign of the Son of Man in Heaven. What is the ſign of the Son of Man? not the Croſs, as the Papiſts ſay, nor other fancies of men, but as you may gather out of the twenty ſeventh verſe, For as the Lightning cometh out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even unto the Weſt, ſo ſhall alſo the coming of the Son of Man be; hee ſhall come with Lightning; the brightneſs of Chriſt ſhall fill the World with the glory of Chriſt; Chriſt is glorified, and Chriſts coming now ſhall be ſo ſhining, and ſo glorious, that there ſhall be an appearance of his coming from the luſter that ſhall be ſeen in the World; Paul ſaith, in Acts 26.13. that he ſaw a light brighter than the Sun at noon day; Chriſt being ſo glorious, he is ſo bright that when he comes hee will fill the world with glory; ſo that it will be an eminent day indeed; a day of great concernment, the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. So then you ſee that this is a day, a time to be harkned unto; let him that heareth ſay, come.
Now what is the uſe of this point?
Vſe. 1. This ſerves for reproof, and reproof of thoſe that do not at all liſten after the coming of the Lord Chriſt; many they hearken after any thing but the coming of Chriſt, they hearken after news out of all quarters, they hearken after ſhips from all parts, and Ports in the World, they hearken after Husbands, Friends, and Relations, they hearken after good Bargains, good Matches, good Houſes good Land, good Air, good Apparrel; they hearken after new Faſhions, and the like, but who hearkens after the coming of the Lord Jeſus? this is a fault too general, a common Sickneſs, that we do not hearken after the coming of Chriſt.
2 This is matter of comfort unto thoſe that do hearken after Chriſt, and ſo hearken as to ſay, Come Lord, come Lord — It is matter of comfort unto them, they are of the Brides minde, they are of the Spirits minde, they are of that ſide the Bride and the Spirit are, let him that hears ſay, come; if he do ſo hear and hearken as to ſay, come, I ſay, he is of the ſame ſide with the Bride and the Spirit, …e is indeed the Bride, hee hath the Spirit that doth ſo. This is matter of comfort, Chriſt will come, and will ſeparate thee ere long from all thine enemies, free thee from all evils; ere long he ſhall come, and all tears ſhall be wip'd from thine eyes, and there ſhall bee no more ſorrow, pain, or death; it is comfort to thoſe that do ſo. As God took care of the Mourners in Jeruſalem, they were ſealed, ſo thoſe that deſire the coming of Chriſt, they ſhall be revealed, they are the Sealed ones, the Redeemed ones, and they ſhall ſtand with the Lamb, and be with the Lamb; they ſhall lift up their heads, and rejoyce in the coming of Chriſt, when others howl, and run to Rocks and Mountains.
3 Let us all then ſo hearken to the coming of Chriſt as to deſire it ſincerely and heartily; you have heard of it, hearken after it, inquire whether Chriſt bee not coming daily; conſult with the Word of God, ſee whether all things are not accompliſhed, or neere accompliſhed that be foretold, ſaith Chriſt, When you ſee the Figg-tree bud, then you ſay that Summer is at hand; — If an Ambaſſadour were to come into the Land from ſome Forreign State, how you would hearken, whence comes the Ambaſſabour? what comes he about? What if Gabriel ſhould come from Heaven? What if David, Moſes, or Aaron? What if Eliah, Enoch, or Paul ſhould come from Heaven? If God ſhould reveal by his Spirit unto you, that theſe men ſhould come from Heaven, would not you hearken after their coming? God hath revealed it by his Spirit, that Chriſt ſhall come, and come with ten thouſands with him, he ſhall come with David, and Enoch, and Eliah, and the reſt of them, and will you not hearken after the coming of Chriſt? O hearken after his coming, and ſay, Come Lord, come quickly? You ſee of how great concernment it is, it will bee a day of diſcovery, and it will be a day of diſtreſs, a day of change, a day of comfort, a day of glory to Chriſt; and it will be a day of ſeparation, wherein the wicked and godly ſhall be ſeparated one from another, you ſhall bee no more troubled with the wicked; mark, Rev. 22.15. For without are Doggs, and Sorcerers, and Whore-mongers, and Murderers, and Idolaters, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye; they ſhall be ſhut out of the new Heaven, and the new Earth, and chap. 21. ult. There ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatſoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lye, but they which are written in the Lambs book of life. Then there ſhall be no more a Canaanite, a Jebuſite, a Hittite in the Land, none to trouble or moleſt, therefore J ſay, hearken unto the coming of Chriſt, then ſhall yee ſee the King in his glory, and in his beauty.
But to winde up all, let me tell you, There is another coming of Chriſt which you ſhall do well to hearken unto, and to deſire; before this perſonal and glorious coming of Chriſt, I ſay, there is another coming of Chriſt which wee are to minde, and that is, Chriſts Spiritual coming, Chriſts coming in his Ordinances, for Chriſt comes in every Ordinance unto us, Behold, I ſtand at the door and knock; in every Ordinance Chriſt comes, and hee ſtands at the door and knocks, and he would have entrance, Hee that heareth you, heareth me; and in breaking of Bread; in that Ordinance there is the Lords Body to be diſcerned, there is communion with him in his Bloud in the Cup, and in his Fleſh in the Bread, Chriſt is Spiritually there — So in Prayer Chriſt is there, and in all his Ordinances, Now let him that heareth ſay, come; come Lord Jeſus, and fill up thine Ordinances with thine own preſence, otherwiſe Ordinances are empty things, they are Veſſels without Wine, they are Baggs without Silver or Gold, they are Canes without Sugar; If Chriſt do not fill up his Ordinances they will be nothing unto you, therefore let him that heareth ſay, Come Lord, come Lord, afford thy preſence, fill up thine Ordinances; come Lord, and do thou bleſs thine Ordinances, and bleſs us in the uſe of thine Ordinances; for in Acts 3. he is ſent of the Father to bleſs; — ſo again, Come Lord, and do thou counſel; he is wonderful in counſelling, he counſels, teaches, and inſtructs in his Ordinances; — So come Lord, and ſtrengthen, for he doth ſtrengthen all his, I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me; In the way of the Lord is ſtrength; in the Ordinances of the Lord is ſtrength, Epheſ. 3. Strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inner man — Come Lord and comfort, he comforts in his Ordinances, he comforts poor feeble Souls, doubting Souls, and ſtaggering Souls; hee comforts them with flaggons of Wine, and apples of comfort — I, let him that heareth ſay, Come Lord and heal; hee heals wounded Souls, hee heals wounded Conſciences in his Ordinances, Mal, 4. The Son of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings; he hath healing vertue in his Ordinances to heal your Souls, therefore let him that heareth ſay, Come; come Lord and fill up, come Lord and ſtrengthen, come Lord and counſel, come Lord and heal; and ſo you will finde the coming of Chriſt to be deſirable to you indeed.