Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment

2. Possibly some of you may condemn your selves without reason, as Gods Children are more forward to do than hypocrites, who have the most reason; It may be you do not desire that Christ should come immediately, but do not you desire that Christ should come at all? a Wife may sincerely and greatly desire the coming home of her Husband, when he is gone a long journey; and yet if her House be out of order, and not fitted to her mind for the receiving of him, if she be not dressed and got into such a garb, as she knows would be pleasing to him; she may be content that he would stay a little longer, until she be better prepared, yea she may be afraid of his coming ⟨p. 268⟩whilst she is unprepared; the Harlot or Adulteress could be content that her Husband should never return, but the true wife doth desire the coming of her husband, though sometimes not the present coming: so true believers they do desire Christs coming, who is gone a long journey to Heaven, though they may not desire his present coming, because they are not so fitted as they desire to before the receiving of him; they desire his coming, they would not for all the World that he should stay away for ever in Heaven; unbelievers could be content Christ should stay away for ever, and that they might live for ever upon Earth, but believers could not be so content, they may fer Christs immediate coming, because of their unpreparation, but they desire his coming.

2. Possibly some of you may condemn your selves without reason, as Gods Children are more forward to do than hypocrites, who have the most reason; It may be you do not desire that Christ should come immediatly, but do not you desire that Christ should come at all? a Wife may sincerely and greatly desire the coming home of her Husband, when he is gone a long journey; and yet if her House be out of order, and not fitted to her minde for the receiving of him, if she be not dressed and got into such a garb, as she knows would be pleasing to him; she may be content that he would stay a little longer, until she be better prepared, yea she may be afraid of his coming ⟨p. 268⟩whilst she is unprepared; the Harlot or Adulteress could be content that her Husband should never return, but the true wife doth desire the coming of her husband, though sometimes not the present coming: so true believers they do desire Christs coming, who is gone a long journey to Heaven, though they may not desire his present coming, because they are not so fitted as they desire to befor the receiving of him; they desire his coming, they would not for all the World that he should stay away for ever in Heaven; unbelievers could be content Christ should stay away for ever, and that they might live for ever upon Earth, but believers could not be so content, they may fer Christs immediate coming, because of their unpreparation, but they desire his coming.