34 THE GREAT PREPARATIVES that we might have him instead of all? And will he, think you, after all this, forget us, and forsake us himself? Far be such a thought from our hearts ! But why stayed not he with his people while he was here? Why was not the work on earth done? Must he not take possession of glory in our behalf? Must he not intercede with his Father, plead his suf- fering, be filled with the Spirit, to send forth, receive authority, and subdue his enemies? Our abode here is short. If he had stayed on earth, what would it have been to enjoy for him a few days, and then die ? He hath more in heaven to dwell among; even the spirit of many generations. He will have us live by faith, and not by sight. § 3. 0 fellow Christians, what a day will that be, when we, who have been kept prisoners by sin, by sinners, by the grave, shall be fetched out by the Lord himself! It will not be such a coming as his first was in poverty and contempt, to be spit upon, and buf- fetted, and crucified again. He will not come, O careless world ! to be slighted and neglected by you any more. Yet that coming wanted not its glory, If the heavenly host, for the celebration of his nativity, must praise God,(c)with what shouting will angels and saints at that day proclaim, Glory to God, peace and good will towards men! If a star must lead men from re- mote parts of the world to come to worship a child in a manger ;(d)how will the glory of his next appearance constrain all the world to acknowledge his sovereignty ! If, riding on an ass,(e) he enter Jerusalem with hosan- nas; with what peace and glory will he come towards the new Jerusalem ! If, when he was in the form of servant,(f) they cry out, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him, "(g) what will they say, when they shall see him coming in his glory, and the heavens and the earth obey him ! " Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn. "(h), To think and speak of that day with horror, çloth well be- come the impenitent sinner, but ill the believing saint. (c) Luke ii. 13, 14. (d) Matt. ii. (e) Matt. xxi 5-- 9. (f) Phil. ii. 7. (g) Matt. viii. 27. (h) Matt. xxiv. 30.
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