C H A P. 5. Epiftle to theli effalonians. V a R.4. Shall it not then come toGods children,as a theefe, in a time vnknowne ? Anfwers are diuerfly conceiucd. Firf1, In this refpea, as a theefe, becaufein a time vn- knowne. In this refpe 1, not as a theefe, hecaufe it is al_ waits expe&ed. Secondly, There is difference betwixt comming as a theefe, and taking as a theefe. Ir comes on Gods children as a theefe, in a time vncertaine : It rakes them not as a theefe, working their fpoile and deflruEti- on: But as our,Sauiour faith of the prince of this World, He comes; z but loath no part in me : fo comes the deflru- &ion of that Day,but haxh no part in Gods children. Be- hold then the excell?ntpriuiledge of thefanner and daugh- ters of God.They arefreefrom that deflruElion the la fl day brings on the world of the ungodly. Hencein the Gofpcll,it is called The a Day oftheir redemption: by P ET E R,b The time of refreihing. And though then the Lord lhall ren- der tribulation to them that trouble his, yet to them that care troubled hegines tell with the Saints. What maruetl? All caufes of condemnation are re- mooned from their perlons. The guilt and punifhmenr oftheir Pinnes, deriued from them to Chrifl ; and by him d cancelled on the Croft: The power of finne, mortified by the holy Ghoil,dwelling in them; yea at that day, fo a- bolifhed, that there remaines not any the leafl relique of inclination to difobedience; not the 'call want, or deft& of righteoufnelfe. And it ferues vnfpeakably for the confolation of Gods children. There is nothing,IçonfetTe, fo dreadful' to a mans ferious meditation, as that Day of the Lords comming; taken as it is Pet out in the Word ofGod ;and confideringourfelues, as we are by Nature, the echil- dren of wrath : ; fonnes and daughters of difobedience. Who trembles not,reading what P r r E R freakes of ('the difolution? what Paul and our Sauiour, concerning gffriflne fe ofaccounts, then to be made of our workes, words,ofcuery, not only euill,but cuen h idle word ?But, C c brethren 415 = Ioh.14.3o. a Luk. zr.z8. b Aft. 3.t9, 6 a Thef.i.y. C01.2.r¢. Vie. e $phes.3. f 2Pet.3.ro. I Rowi.r.}.rs. h Mar. 12.36.
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