The Glorious Epiphany with the Devout Christians Love, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. All this ſhown to be the ſenſe of the Holy Scriptures.
THus have I put an end to the third enquiry about the nature of this Love, which St. Paul ſuppoſes good Chriſtians feel in their ſouls to the appearing of Chriſt. In ſatisfying of which, I have not followed mine own fancy, but the common ſentiments of all thoſe hearts, who have ſo much good nature, as to know what this paſſion means. And there hath been nothing ſaid, but what may be fully juſtified by the Holy Scriptures; if we diligently obſerve in what terms they ſpeak of the paſſion and fervent deſire, which all pious Believers have for the coming of our Lord.
I.
For which, they are, firſt, ſaid to LOOK, or to expect it; with ſuch a greedineſs as men do that, of which they are extreamly deſirous. So thoſe words foreign and foreign ſignifie, which are uſed in the 1 Cor. 1.7. iij. Phil. 20. ij. Tit. 13. ix. Heb. 28. where they are ſaid to look for the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt; to have their converſation in Heaven, from whence they look for the Saviour; to be looking for that bleſſed Hope, the coming of Chriſt; who will appear the ſecond time to them that look for him: with that earneſtneſs, that is, and concernment, which one hath for the greateſt good in the world. Or with ſuch a longing (as I have explained it before) as the children of Iſrael had to ſee their High-Prieſt return out of the moſt holy place; into which he went on the day of expiation, to make reconciliation for their ſins. For if he came out alive, it was a token that God had accepted him; and with the greateſt joy they received the bleſſing which then he brought and pronounced to them in his name.
There is a manifeſt alluſion to this, in the laſt of thoſe places now mentioned; Heb. ix. where the Apoſtle ſaith verſ. 26. that when Chriſt appeared in this world, it was to put away ſin, by the ſacrifice of himſelf. Which bloody ſacrifice, as you read, verſ. 24. He carried not into the holy places made with hands (which were only figures of the true) but into Heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God for us: that is, by vertue of this Sacrifice to perfect the expiation of our ſins, and obtain for us the Divine Bleſſing. Now he being thus offered (verſ. 28.) to bear the ſins of many (as a publick Sacrifice, that is, for the whole body of mankind; not a particular, for one or a few perſons) unto them that look for him, he ſhall appear (viſibly) the ſecond time without ſin (as having made a complete expiation) to give ſalvation to his people, who expect his coming out of Heaven to bleſs them.
II.
Expect it did I ſay? yea, this Apoſtle calls it a moſt earneſt expectation. So the foreign of the creature, viij. Rom. 19. is expounded by Oecumenius *foreign.to be its exceeding intenſe and vehement deſire and expectance of the revelation of the Sons of God; that is, ſayes he, of the concluſion of all, when it ſhall be clearly ſeen who are the ſons of God, and who the ſons of the Devil. Which is a Good to be wiſht for ſo much above all other, that the Heaven, the Earth, the Sea, the Air, the Sun, the Moon, all the viſible Creation; together with all that is inviſible, the Angels, Archangels, Powers, Principalities, Dominions; all theſe expect our perfection. They are the words of Theodoret who (with other of the Ancients) looks upon the whole Creation as brought in here, expecting our future happineſs, by ſuch a figure *foreign. Oecum.as the Prophets uſe, when they introduce the Woods rejoycing, the Mountains leaping, the Floods clapping their hands; to expreſs the exceeding great joy that ſhould be among mankind at the firſt coming of our Lord. But becauſe it is controverted what the Apoſtle means by the Creature, and this is not a fit place to diſcuſs it, I ſhall paſs by this expreſſion; and not mention the ſighs and the groans, which there follow, as the natural effect of an exceeding great deſire to ſee the day of redemption come.
III.
Let us rather conſider, that the glory which ſhall be revealed, at the coming of Chriſt out of this holy place to give ſalvation to his faithful worſhippers, is the cauſe, that, as St. Paul ſpeaks in this place (which I have taken for the riſe of this Diſcourſe) they look for it, as a thing that hath very ſtrongly engaged their hearts, and is the object of their deareſt affection. They declare by the fixing of their eyes upon it, how much they love it; that is, eſteem it, are inclined to it, and think long till they enjoy it. For whatſoever touches us ſo nearly, we are wont to expect it with ſome impatience.
IV.
But as the greatneſs of this Good is ſuch, as will make thoſe that believe it earneſtly long for it: ſo it is able to quiet and ſtill their ſouls by the mere hope of its enjoyment; though it ſtay long before it come. And therefore, (4.) they are ſaid to WAIT for his Son from Heaven, 1 Theſſ. i. 10. foreign to tarry, to ſtay till he come. Which implies both longing and patient abiding till he pleaſe to ſend ſo great a Bleſſing.
V.
Nay, fifthly, St. James exhorts them to be PATIENT with long-ſuffering to the coming of the Lord, V. 7. For ſo the word foreign, there uſed, imports; a patient abiding, though he ſtay long and we ſuffer much before he come. We could not ſuffer and indure what we muſt on ſome occaſions, if we did not expect him: (as Oecumenius notes out of the ancient Greek Expoſitors *In 1 Th. i. 10. foreign.) And our ſufferings would not be very valuable, if we were not content to expect him long, as he likewiſe obſerves upon another place in that Epiſtle. For if it were manifeſt, ſaith he, *In 1 Th. v. 1.that the day of the Lord, or the conſummation of all things, would be within three years, and it could not be otherwiſe, all would deſpiſe dangers and make nothing of them: foreign; and what great vertue would this be, when they knew that within ſo ſhort a ſpace, they ſhould receive their full reward? The vertue of a Chriſtian is to ſuffer long, as well as to ſuffer much, waiting with long patience, as the Husbandman doth for the precious fruit of the Earth.
VI.
And yet it is not ſuch a patience we are to exerciſe, but St. Peter gives us leave to HASTEN it; which is a ſixth word whereby the holy writings expreſs this pious affection unto, and vehement deſire of the appearing of Chriſt Jeſus. 2 Pet. iij. 12. Looking for, foreign.and HASTING unto, the coming of the day of God. In the Greek it is not haſting unto the coming, but haſting the coming (and ſo we render it in the margin) that is, in our wiſhes, moſt ardent longings and gaſpings for it. For ſo that phraſe is obſerved to be uſed by good Authors; in which foreign ſignifies I wiſh thy good: ſo heartily, that is, that I would make it fly hither, if I were able, as ſwift as my deſires.
VII.
This declares the higheſt paſſion they had for it: looking upon themſelves as imperfectly happy, till they and their Saviour met together at his coming. Only they had a perfect hope of it, which was an exceeding great comfort to them. So St. Peter alſo expreſſes it (which is the next word) Hope to the end; or rather (as the tranſlation in the margin renders the Greek foreign) HOPE PERFECTLY. And with very good reaſon; becauſe of the grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. i. 13. There are great favours to be then beſtowed, moſt ample rewards to be diſtributed; which may juſtly make us value the hope of them, more than all the preſent poſſeſſions of this world; and rejoyce before we have them, that he hath given us ſuch ſolid; and firm grounds of hope one day to receive them. Which whoſoever underſtands, as he ought to live upon that hope, and ſupport himſelf with a perfect truſt in him that lives for ever to make good his promiſe: So he cannot but deſire and pray continually to ſee it accompliſhed.
VIII.
Which is the laſt thing, they cry unto our Saviour and call upon him; beſeeching with fervent deſires that he would come. So ſome underſtand thoſe words xxij. Rev. 17. to be the voice of Chriſtian people, not inviting ſtrangers to come and embrace their Religion, but earneſtly inviting our Saviour Chriſt to come to perfect their happineſs. In this they all agreed, the SPIRIT (that is, prophetical perſons, indowed with the moſt eminent gifts of the Holy-Ghoſt) and the BRIDE (that is, the whole body of the Church) with one conſent ſay, COME. And they exhort all others who ſhould read this, and receive Chriſtianity, to joyn with them in theſe prayers; for ſo it follows, Let him that heareth ſay, COME. And let every ſoul (that's their concluſion) who thirſts after divine knowledge, eſpecially of future things, come and read this Prophecy; and partake of that refreſhment, that water of Life, which is here freely offered to him.
But if that verſe ſhould have another meaning; yet it is certain that St. John himſelf (who was a fit pattern to all thoſe who believed his Book) concludes all his Viſions with a Prayer to Chriſt that he would haſten his coming. For when our Lord had ſaid (v. 20.) Surely I COME quickly, He anſwers AMEN to this promiſe: and echoes back his own words to him, Even ſo, (let it be ſo) COME LORD JESƲS. Thy word, is all our wiſhes. There is nothing ſo deſireable, as that thou would'ſt come, and fulfil thy gracious Word.
It will be very fit then for us, who are come a great deal nearer to the day of the Lord, to deſcend down into our ſelves and ſee; what paſſions we have like to theſe, which were of old in Chriſtian breaſts. Let us call our ſelves to a ſtrict account, and examine whether we be in the number of thoſe thirſty ſouls; that have this hearty affection for the appearing of Chriſt. It is ſafe for us to feel the pulſe of our ſouls; and by theſe tokens make a judgement of them, whether they beat Heaven-ward or no. What is it, may every one ſay to himſelf, what is it that I moſt admire, and holds the principal place in my eſteem? On what is it, that I have fixt my mind, and ſet mine heart? What is the chiefeſt Loadſtone of my affections, and whither doth the main current of them run? To what is it that my actions are addreſſed? What is my Hope, and the ſtrength and ſupport of my heart? If I might have my wiſh, what would I now ſee? The whole world fall down at my feet, to worſhip me; or all theſe things vaniſh and diſappear before the Glory of the Lord Jeſus, that we might go, and fall down, and worſhip His Majeſty? What am I content to ſuffer and endure for this, though I ſtay long before I enjoy it? Hath patience had its perfect work; and do I rejoyce, though in tribulation, in hope of this Glory? Is this my ſatisfaction alſo, in the greateſt fulneſs of worldly goods; and are mine eyes, even then, ever towards the Lord? Am I ſtill looking up unto Jeſus; ſighing for him and ſaying, Come, Lord Jeſus, come quickly? I can appeal to thee, that thou knoweſt there is nothing I ſo much long for, as that thou would'ſt come. O come, make haſte to come; and ſatisfie the deſires of thy Church, which have long cryed, Come Lord Jeſus.
Let us not deceive our ſelves; this great Apoſtle hath pronounced a curſe upon every one that loves not the Lord Jeſus. 1 Cor. xvj. 20. And he that loves Him, loves his appearing: and he that loveth his appearing, ſets his thoughts, his heart, his deſign ſo much upon it, as to contrive by all means (whatſoever become of him here) that, when Jeſus who is our life ſhall appear, he may appear with him in his glory. Riches, Greatneſs, Pleaſures, Fame, Long-life, and all the train that waits upon them, are but as ſo many big names; loud, but empty, ſounds which ſignifie nothing to him; in compariſon with theſe exceeding great things, the COMING, the APPEARING, the KINGDOM and the GLORY of Chriſt Jeſus. The ſweeteſt Friend in this world, to whom he hath conceived the moſt paſſionate love, will not hinder him from ſeeking theſe: but rather by that love he will be excited to remember with what inexpreſſible affection he ought to purſue ſuch divine enjoyments; not only for his own ſoul, but for his ſecond ſelf. The beſt wiſh he can make for both is, that they may be carried with the ſame eager deſires and haſty ſpeed, to perfect their love in the incomparably greater joys and bleſſedneſs of Chriſts heavenly kingdom.
So great they are, that, having now finiſhed all that was at firſt propounded to be conſidered on this ſubject, this Love will not be content that I ſhould here make an end. It being ſuch a maſterly affection, and governing the ſoul ſo abſolutely, as hath been related, will not ſuffer us to lay that preſently out of our thoughts, which it hath once planted very deep in our hearts. It is one of its greateſt pleaſures, to think very much of that Good, whoſe company it doth not yet enjoy: and, when it is far diſtant of it ſelf, to make it preſent by a conſtant image of it in the Mind.
And therefore it cannot be any wonder, if we bear a true love to the appearing of Chriſt, that it will not permit us to be willing to ceaſe our Meditations, on ſo delightful an argument. It doth but act according to its nature, if it require us again to take another view of it; and ſpend a few more thoughts upon ſo bright and glorious an object. And happy were it for us, if it were nothing elſe but mere Love, that made me reſume this Diſcourſe and begin it again; and that made thoſe who read it to be willing or rather deſirous to know further, what are the cauſes of this heavenly affection, to the appearing of our Lord.
For that is it, wherein I intend to imploy the remainder of my thoughts, upon this ſubject. Love is a paſſion that is very deſirous to feel it ſelf; and to be ſatisfied of its own ſincerity, by the ſtrength, and force, and reſtleſneſs of its motion. It fills the heart alſo with ſuch a ſecret joy, that it would fain know the very ſpring of all its delectable motions; and be led to the riſe of every one of its deſires and inclinations. Both the ſtrangeneſs and the variety of its ſurpriſing pleaſures are ſo great, that our hearts cannot but be invited thereby to the very bottom of it; to ſee from whence it flows, as we perceive whither it tends. And therefore, as I have touched upon the general cauſe and reaſon of this paſſion of love in the foregoing part of this ſmall Treatiſe: ſo it is not fit to deny it, in the following part, a brief conſideration of the particular reaſons, why it ſhould be ſet upon the appearing of Chriſt.
And they may be reduced to theſe two Heads.
Firſt, The great affection that all good ſouls have for our bleſſed Saviour himſelf: And,
Secondly, The natural affection we all bear to our own good and welfare.
Which when we have conſidered, we ſhall be aſhamed that we do not with greater fervour ſay, with reſpect to this, in our daily prayers, THY KINGDOM COME: And be mightily excited to call upon our ſouls more frequently, to meditate on that bleſſed hope, and to look, with much affection, for the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Who will be ſo much honoured thereby himſelf, and then confer ſuch upon us, as ſhould make us long for the accompliſhment of both.