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

Obj. 1. But how can we look for it, when we know there are some Signs that precede the Coming of Christ? therefore certainly he is not like to come in our days; Will he alter the prefixed time of his Approach, and change the Jacets of that great Journey?

Obj. 1. But how can we look for it, when we know there are some Signs that precede the Coming of Christ? therefore certainly he is not like to come in our days; Will he alter the prefix'd time of his Approach, and change the Jacets of that great Journey?

Answ. (1.) Tho Christ keepeth his pace, yet it is good for us to alter ours; tho we cannot hasten his coming, yet let us be always ready, 2 Pet. 3.12. Looking for, and hastening unto the coming of the Day of God. It is good for us to get ground upon our Fears, and our Sins, and to declare our readiness to meet with Christ: every day we live in the World, is a day lost in Heaven. (2.) If any Age had cause to think Christ would come, certainly we have. It was not far off in the Apostles days, they were called the last days; but ours are the very Dregs of Time. When ⟨p. 136⟩we see an old Man weak and feeble, Aches and Diseases of the present Life increase upon him, we say, certainly he cannot live long: So if we look upon the Temper of the World, sure it cannot endure long; Christ will come to set all things at rights. One Forerunner of Christ's coming, are the Dreams and Delusions that are abroad. Mundus senescens patitur phantasias; as the World grows old, it is much given to Fancies, as old Men are to Dotage and Dreams. (3.) If Christ come not in our days, yet Death is at hand; Heb. 9.27. It is appointed unto Men once to die, and after that the Judgment. Every Man's particular Judgment follows upon his departure out of the World, and then the general Judgment follows, as Death finds him, either among the Sheep or Goats. Judas died sixteen hundred Years ago; yet as he died, so shall he be found. After Death there's no change of State: therefore your business is always to be ready to depart in Peace, and hasten to an eternal State.