A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Faith is the Evidence of things not seen, and looks upon Christ as if he were already on his way, and so makes the Soul stand ready to meet and receive him. As a loving Wife stands upon the Shore, and looks for the Return of her Husband; and the Sight of every Ship makes her to realize by an active and loving Fancy the Sweetness of an Interview: So Faith stands waiting for the Coming of Christ, and the Approaches he makes towards the Church. (2.) Love: 1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not seen, ye love. The Saints love Christ whom they never saw. We know Christ by hear-say here in the Church, not by Sight; he woos us, as Princes use to do, by Picture; therefore they long for his Appearing. Whosoever is a Friend to Christ, will find his Heart long for Christ, of whom he hath so often heard in the Word, and so often tasted in the Supper. Love is an Affection of Union, it desires to meet the Party loved: so is Love to Christ; it is not satisfied with the present State, but it cries out, Come, come; Why is his Chariot so long a coming? It longs to see him whom it hath heard of so often and so much, and of whose Sweetness it hath already tasted; for this Love is not only kindled by the Knowledge we have of him by hear-say, but by Experience. Christ first comes in the Heart by Grace, and then the Soul having tasted the Sweetness of it, longs for another Coming; When will he come in the Clouds, that we may see him as he is? And as Love to Christ, so also Love to the Saints enkindles this Desire. We have not all our Company here in the World; and till we all meet together, we shall never be satisfied. (3.) Hope, that is another Grace: God sitteth us with Graces as well as Happiness. The Lord doth not only provide a glorious Estate for us, but Grace to expect it, and stirs up Affections in us suitable thereunto: As in the privative Part of Salvation, Christ doth not only deliver us from the Hurt of Death, but from the Bondage and Fear of Death. Despair is the Beginning of Hell. So in the positive Part of Salvation, the Lord doth not only provide Heaven and Happiness for us, but Hope that we may look for this Happiness: We are begotten ⟨p. 133⟩again to a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. And to wait for his Son from Heaven, 1 Thess. 1.10