Ghoft joyns this Doctrine of the Coming of Chrift unto the Influence of Divine Grace upon the Hearts of the Saints, in T. ii. TT, 12, and 13. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, bath a peared 1 to all Men reaching us that denying Ung dliness and worldly Luft we fhould live foberly, rightcony, and godly in this prefent World, looking for that bleffed Hope, and glorious Appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift.

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Oh! that we could believe this, and be more in the lively Exercife of Faith, concerning the Glory and Kingdom of Chrift to be near: It would make this World to be little in our Account. What is the Reason that the People of God in this Day, have their Hearts fo much fet upon the World, that they are running, riding, caring, and carping, with fo much Anxiety of Spirit, for to grafp as much as they can of it in their own Hand? What is the Reafon that we fee fo many who profefs Chrift, of fuch a worldly, covetous Difpofition, that they cannot part with any thing out of their Subftande (or very little) to the poor Saints, who Stand in Need of their Charity? Is it not because they have no Faith in thefe Things, nor Defire that any fuch Time fhould ever be? Is it not becaufe their Love is grown cold to the Lord, and one another? It is my Thoughts, (if I may speak without offending the Generation of my People) that there never was any Age fince Chrift's Time, wherein the Profeffors of it loved the World fo much, and Fefus Chrif fo little as in this Day. What is the Reafon that fo many are minding their own Things, their own Profit. Advantage, and Greatnefs in the World, more than the things

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of Chrift, or the Exaltation of his glorious Kingdom? Is it not becaufe they are faying with the evil Servant, My Lord delayeth his Coming, or at leaft this is the fecret Thoughts of their Hearts? Oh! that the dear Saints would feriously confider thefe Things, and not be fo inordinate in their Affections unto these perishing Objects. Doth not the Lord read a Lecture unto us every Day, concerning the Vanity of the Creature? Do we not fee Vanity written upon all Things relating to this Life? What will this World be worth to us 50 or 60 Years hence? Yea, fo uncertain it is, as that we cannot tell whether we fhall enjoy it half a Year, or one Day longer. Here we have no continuing City; this is not our home: We are but as Stran gers and Pilgrims in this prefent State. Oh, that therefore our Hearts and our Converfation might be in Heaven, looking for the Lord Jefus Chrift.

Thirdly, The third Thing contained in the Exhortation to the People of God is, To be more believing the Nearnefs of the Lord's Coming, and fo confequently more in the earneft Defires and Expectations of that Day, that we may be found in a more practical Readineis against that Time'; and in order to this, our Duty is to be more par ticularly acquainted with the Signs; and tho' we cannot know the Hour, Day, or Year, when thefe Things fhall be, yet we may know, by fearching into the Signs, that the Time is near, even at the Door; For, if we could not know fomething of the Nearness of the Time, by the Signs which the Lord hath given us in his Word, Then in vain are all thofe Signs left upon Record in the Scriptures. But as the Lord doth nothing in vain, fo neither is Jnd plesit

it in vain, that thefe Signs are left unto us in his bleffed Word, but that they might point out unto us the Nearnefs of our Deliverance: Therefore, faith our Lord (fpeaking of the Signs) When thefe Things - begin to come to pass, then lock up, and lift up your Heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh, Luke xxi, 28. Then certainly the People of God may know from thefe Signs. fomething of the Nearness of the Time; otherwife the Exhortation to look up, and lift up their Head, under the Confideration of the Nearness of their Redemption, muft be altogether Ufelefs But who is it that dare fay fo? Surely then it is our great and incumbent Duty for to be acquainted with the Signs of the Times, and to be inquiring, as they did in Ifa. xxi, 11. Watchman, what of the Night? Watchman, what of the Night? that is, What Time of the Night may it now be? or how near is it to the Morning of that glorious Day? The Anfwer is, If you will enquire, enquire, (that is your Duty) return and come, ver. 12. It is recorded in a way of Honour and Commendation to the Tribe of Ifachar, for the Understanding which they had into the Times, to know what Ifrael ought to do, I Cor. xii. 32. And would it not be more for the Honour of the Saints in this Day for to be acquainted, and have Understanding into thefe Times, to know what is our prefent Duty? Doth not our Lord charge it as a Sin in the Jews for not difcerning the Signs of the Times which they was then under, with reference unto his first Coming? as in Mat. xvi 3. In the Morning it will be foul Weather to Day; for the Sky is red and louring Onye Hypocrites! Te can difcern the Face of the Sky; But can ye not difcern the Signs of the Times?

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As if our Lord fhould fay, You that are fo wife in the Weather, and the Things of this World; How is it that ye cannot, or will not fee into the Signs of the limes? Are not the Signs of my Coming fulfilled upon you? What greater Signs than these can you have? And is it not your Wickednefs and wilful obftinancy not to fee. not to difcern, of take any notice of them? May not cur Lord make the fame Complaint of the Profeffors in our Days, who are fo wife for the Things of Time, and yet cannot, or at leaft are not, willing to take any notice of the pre ent Signs, the Signs of the Lord's fecond Coming notwithstanding they are fo evidently fulfilled upon us, and are ftill fulfilling, as has been fhewn; but Oh! that we, who indeed love the Lord Jefus, might make it our ufinefs to read and fearch into the Signs of this glorious Day which is at hand, that fo we may be found in a more practical Readinefs against that time; for this is the Exhortation of our Bleffed Lord, unto his Children, in Matt. xxiv. 44. Therefore be ye alfo ready; for in fuch an Hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh.

Fourthly, The fourth Ufe in the Exhortation is, unto poor Sinners. The Lord help poor Souls to confider what an awful Day this will be unto all chriftlefs and graceless Perfons. This great and terrible Day of the Lord will come; and his Coming is near at hand: He will come as a Thief in the Night unto you. But who fhall abide the Day of his Coming or who shall ftand when he appeareth? Whofe Coming will be in a flaming Fire, to render his Vengeance with fury. We read, in Rev.vi. of great Men High and Low, Bond and Free, of all

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Sorts, Ranks, and Degrees of Perfons, who have not an Intereft in the Lord Jefus, crying to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, that they may be hid from the Face of that terrible Judge: For (this is the Reafon which they give) the great, Day of his Wrath is come, and who fhall be able to ftand? No ftanding there will be for any Soul in that Day, that is not founded upon that Rock, the Lord Jefus Chrift: It is this Rock only, that can hide or fcreen a poor Sinner from Wrath to come. Oh then, how fhould poor Sinners be concerned by fearching and inquiring what their State and Condition is; and fee that they do not take up and reft upon any thing fhort of Chrift; becaufe nothing fhort of an Intereft by Faith in the Perfon and Righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift for Salvation, will stand them in any ftead. There is Salvation in no other, neither is there any other Name given under. Heaven among Men, whereby thou canst be faved. Butfor thy Encouragement, here is both a Sufficiency and a Suitablenefs of Salvation in Chrift for Sinners, yea for the Chief of Sinners: And why not then for thee? For if ever thou art faved, thou must be made fenfible of thy loft, undone, and perifhing Condition; Thou must be made fenfible of the Infufficiency of thy own Righteouficfs, Works and Duties: Thou must be made to fec an All-fufficiency in the Perfon and Righteousness of. the Lord Jesus; Thou must fee a Beauty, Glory, and Precionfnefs in Jefus Chrift, thy Soul must be drawn out (from a feeling Senfe of thy abfolute Need of bim) in earneft unfeigned Defires after an Intereft in him: Thou must come as a poor naked perifhing Sinner pnto Jefus Chrift for Salvation,