~-. -· -~--· -·- . ........... Cbap.2. .Sett-4- Looking unto :Je[tts. BookV. 1123 Jc[tu Chrift . And ro TituJ hirnfelf he writes the fame things, T it.t .l3· we look, for that bltf[ed hope , and the g!orioM appearing of the grtat God, lllwl our Saviour 'Je(us Chri(f. Now Chiiftians hy this character to hearr, do you long , pant, and look for this glorious :md ftcond coming of Chnfl:? h;-.ve you any fuch wifhes, and f:\yings of heart ;~nd mind as thcfe are ; Oh thae Chri/1 would appe.1r ! oh that Chri.ft would vow bre ,,k the heaven~, and corm to judgement ! oh that 1could fee him in the Cloud, and on hit Throne! oh that hit memies were ruined, my fins [ubd11ed, my foul faved, th<it I might ferve him witho:~t wearinej]'e, for ev er and ever! Surely if thefe elongations of foul be in you, it is a comfortable evidence that your hope! are found, and that Chrifi wil £Orne to receive you to hirnfelf, and to bring you to glory. 3· If we love Chrifis appearing, then wil he appear on our fide . Henceforth there i4 i<~id up for me a croWn of righteou(neiJe, : Tim. 4. B. ·n·hich the Lord the righteo~~<~ 7udge jhg/l give me at rh11t dar, and not to me onelJ, but unto them alfo that love hiJ appearing. A true Chriflian loves Chrifis appearing in ordinances, and in all the means of grace, how much more in his OW!J pcrfon ? But how fhould we love tha t we fee not ?· 0 yes! there's a kind of an Jde1 of Chrift , anq of his glorious appearing in every lmClifi ed fo ul, and in that refpca: we love him though we can• no t fee him, ~vho haTJing not (een ye love, faith the Apofile; and 1 Pet.1.8. fo rour lo ~ e and faith at t l e appearing of 'fe[H4 Chri.ft (haD be f6Hnd u!i toprai[e , ~<nd honour,anaglorJ. Thofe that have not feen Verfe7. Ch rifl ,and yet Jove the Idea of his fight , even they fh2l appear at the appea ri ng of Chnft: in praife , and honour, and glory: . Is not the crown lai d up for them that love the appearing of (hrifi? is it not a figA of a good caufe to love a day of bearing? finely love of Chrift;: coming cannot confifl: without fome affurance that a foul fh al fl: and upright in the judgement. He th !t hath not acor.iidence in his CJufe., loves not the coming of the Jud ge; no JUdtie prifoner hves the Seffions , or loves the Judges prcfc nce; it is the cry of rcprobates,'O ynnJnrainl, 11111d R 6 , 0 ]trOt~! f all on u., ,md hidt Ul (rom the fa ceof him th:4t fitteth on ev. ' 1 ' the Trone, but as for Chrifi and his s ~ints.0 the mutua:\ loves, and mu tual l on~ings in their b.- d h ! The lafi words that:Chrift fpeaks in tl.H.: B1ble ( and amongfi us lafl words make deepeft D a d dd d d 2 . im·
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=