The child's portion, or, The unseen glory of the children of God asserted and…

3. To love his appearing, and to look for it. It is true, Christs appearing will be dreadful to the wicked, who are his Enemies: for he comes to judge the World in righteousness; and give recompense unto every man according to his doings; hence they may well cry to the rocks to fall on them, and hills to cover them, that they may not see his angry countenance, nor feel the weight of his revenging hand: but to the Saints it should be lovely. It is indeed a solemn and serious thing for any to think, I must stand before the dreadful Tribunal, and be tried for my eternal estate before him who is a most righteous Judge, who searcheth the heart, and cannot be deceived; where I must receive my final Sentence, which will be irreversible; and if I then be found to have put a cheat upon my own Soul, I must perish for ever: but to him that is a Child of God, and hath received the spirit of Adoption, there cannot be a more comforting thought than this: Hence the Apostle propounds it to his Thessalonians, as a great Topic, from whence to comfort one another▪ ⟨p. 109⟩1 Thess. 4, ult. That which would make a Felix tremble, should make a Saint leap for joy: to think ere long the last Trumpet will be sounded by the Arch-Angel, Jesus Christ will come from Heaven attended with a royal Guard of▪ Angels, the dead small and great will arise, the Thron•s will be set, the Books opened: this is the day which I have loved and longed for; now shall I appear such as the love of God in Christ hath made me to be; now shall mine Enemies see and be ashamed, gnash their teeth and melt away; now they shall know that I had a God and a Saviour, and an hope that makes not ashamed: this second coming of Christ shall be to my Salvation: if he do not appear I shall never appear: And hence, when we hear him saying, Behold I come quickly, let not us be affrighted but ravished, and utter that expression of Faith and Joy, Amen, even so come Lord Jesus.

3. To love his appearing, and to look for it. It is true, Christs appearing will be dreadful to the wicked, who are his Enemies: for he comes to judge the World in righteousness; and give recompence unto every man according to his doings; hence they may well cry to the rocks to fall on them, and hills to cover them, that they may not see his angry countenance, nor feel the weight of his revenging hand: but to the Saints it should be lovely. It is indeed a solemn and serious thing for any to think, I must stand before the dreadful Tribunal, and be tried for my eternal estate before him who is a most righteous Judge, who searcheth the heart, and cannot be deceived; where I must receive my final Sentence, which will be inreversible; and if I then be found to have put a cheat upon my own Soul, I must perish for ever: but to him that is a Child of God, and hath received the spirit of Adoption, there cannot be a more comforting thought than this: Hence the Apostle propounds it to his Thessalonians, as a great Topick, from whence to comfort one another