1. Look upon the Temper of the Saints; within them there's the Spirit, Faith, Love and Hope, and all these put them upon this Desire: there is the Spirit, Rev. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride (that is, the Spirit in the Bride) say, Come. The Holy Ghost breeds and stirs up Desires, and begets those holy Motions in their Hearts, and the Church answereth his Motions. This is a Disposition above Nature: Carnal Nature saith, Stay; but the Spirit saith, Come. If it might go by Voices in the World, whether Christ should come or no, do you think carnal Men would give their Vote this way for Christ's Coming? The Voice of corrupt Nature is, Depart; Job 22.14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy Ways: that's the Language of their Hearts. Carnal Men are of the Mind of the Devil, when Christ wrought a Miracle in casting out a Devil, and discovered somewhat of his Divine Power, the Devils were afraid, as if he were coming to Judgment already; Matth. 8.29. Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? The Devil cannot endure to hear of Christ's Coming; no more can carnal Men, for they are of his Mind. If Thieves and Malefactors might have the Liberty to choose, whether there should be Assizes, yea or no, do you think they would look for and long for the Judg's Coming, and the Day of his Approach? So corrupt Nature hath no Desire of this Day. It is the Spirit in the Bride that says, Come; as soon as the Spirit of Grace works in us, there is a Bent and Inclination this way; 1 Pet. 1.3. Who hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope. Spiritual Desires come from Heaven, and thither they tend. As soon as the Spirit works Grace in the Heart, it looks out this way; the Heart is bent thither from whence it receives all it hath, as all Creatures love the Place of their Original. The great Work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together. The Spirit comes from the Father and the Son, to bring us to the Father by the Son; and therefore the Spirit stirs up those holy Groans in us, When will he come? Then look upon the Graces of a Christian; there is Faith, Love and Hope. (1.) Faith: The Ground of this Looking is the Promise; now Faith stands waiting for the Promise, as if it were already begun to be accomplished. Look as Rebekah espied Isaac a-far off; so Faith espies Christ a-far off.
1. Look upon the Temper of the Saints; within them there's the Spirit, Faith, Love and Hope, and all these put them upon this Desire: there is the Spirit, Rev. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride (that is, the Spirit in the Bride) say, Come. The Holy Ghost breeds and stirs up Desires, and begets those holy Motions in their Hearts, and the Church answereth his Motions. This is a Disposition above Nature: Carnal Nature saith, Stay; but the Spirit saith, Come. If it might go by Voices in the World, whether Christ should come or no, do you think carnal Men would give their Vote this way for Christ's Coming? The Voice of corrupt Nature is, Depart; Iob 22.14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledg of thy Ways: that's the Language of their Hearts. Carnal Men are of the Mind of the Devil, when Christ wrought a Miracle in casting out a Devil, and discovered somewhat of his Divine Power, the Devils were afraid, as if he were coming to Judgment already; Matth. 8.29. Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? The Devil cannot endure to hear of Christ's Coming; no more can carnal Men, for they are of his Mind. If Thieves and Malefactors might have the Liberty to choose, whether there should be Assizes, yea or no, do you think they would look for and long for the Judg's Coming, and the Day of his Approach? So corrupt Nature hath no Desire of this Day. It is the Spirit in the Bride that says, Come; as soon as the Spirit of Grace works in us, there is a Bent and Inclination this way; 1 Pet. 1.3. Who hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope. Spiritual Desires come from Heaven, and thither they tend. As soon as the Spirit works Grace in the Heart, it looks out this way; the Heart is bent thither from whence it receives all it hath, as all Creatures love the Place of their Original. The great Work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together. The Spirit comes from the Father and the Son, to bring us to the Father by the Son; and therefore the Spirit stirs up those holy Groans in us, When will he come? Then look upon the Graces of a Christian; there is Faith, Love and Hope. (1.) Faith: The Ground of this Looking is the Promise; now Faith stands waiting for the Promise, as if it were already begun to be accomplished. Look as Rebeka espied Isaac a-far off; so Faith espies Christ a-far off.
