Lis promife, but is long-fuffering to us. ward, not willing that any fhould perish, but that all fhould come to repentance." He is perfectly his body, gathering in his faints, making all things ready, therefore. he is patient to us-ward; he delayeth a while, that he may lofe none of his elect; so that if any delay be, it is out of no negligence or lazinefs, but to bring all his bleffed defigns about. 3. Though he stay awhile, yet his coming is fo certain, that he would have us looking on it as now," The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." His coming will be quick, that the moft part will be furprized with it; and as to the godly, it will be timeous, all things being ready.

Thefe words then fpeak of Chrift's fecond coming to judgment, for it is that which is longed for by the faints, as that which putteth an end to all their straits, and bringeth a reward to them with it; to this he will come, and very quickly.

The words bear out thefe doctrines. 1. That our Lord Jefus fhall furely and quickly come to judgment. 2. The fcope and manner of expreffion holdeth out this, that the faith of Chrift's quick approach to judgment, is of great concernment, and very useful to believers, therefore it is fo very often fpoken of, and repeated.

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That notwithstanding hereof, the faith of Christ's coming is often weak in believers, and had need to be confirmed, therefore is this truth so inculcate. Many are like thefe, 2 Pet. iii. 4" Saying, where is the promise of his coming?" 4. Though many quef tion his coming, yet there is nothing more certain, it is confirmed by him that teftifieth these things. The fcope and use of all thefe will fall in under the fame thing, therefore I shall speak of all under this general, That it is a certain and fundamental truth, that our Lord Jefus fhall quickly. come to judgment; that we who now live, fhall fhortly fee our Lord Jefus appear vifibly in the clouds.

I fhall firft clear and confirm this truth. 2. Speak to the ufes of it. And 3. Clofe with a word of application.

First, Ifhall clear and confirm it from thefe fcriptures that point at the certainty and manner of his coming. 1. It is told us he fhall come vifibly, chap. i. 7. " Every eye fhall fee him, even they that pierced him." Matth. xxiv. 30. "They fhall fee the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.' The godly fhall fee him, being caught up into the clouds to meet him; and the wicked shall see him, and not get a hiding place or shelter. 2. It is holden out as exceeding glorious and powerful, Matth. xxiv.

30, 31. "The Son of man fhall come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." Matth. xxv. 31. "He thall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, and shall fit upon the throne of his glory." Matth. xvi. 27. "He shall come in the glory of his Father." And this is

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fo certain, that it was known from the beginning, Jude verfe 14. Enoch prophefied, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his faints," or millions of his faints: fo that this is no new, but an old truth. 3. His coming is spoken of as moft dreadful and doleful, chap. i. "All the kindreds of the earth fhall wail becaufe of him." They fhall cry to the hills, fall upon us, and to the mountains, cover us, for great is the day of his wrath, and who thall be able to ftand? as it is, chap. vi. at the end. It is holden out as a moft comfortable coming to the godly, they fhall lift up their heads with joy, because the day of their redemption draweth near. They fhall gather together to him, to the carcafe they fhall flock from the east, west, north and fouth, 'to meet the bridegroom. All which fhew the certainty of this truth, of our Lord's coming to judgment.

Secondly, I fhall clear it from thefe fcriptures that hold out Chrift's end in his coming to judgment. 1. That all his enemies

may be made his footstool, and he may ftand laft on the earth, Jude verse 15.

To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly, of all their ungodly deeds," and to vindicate his glory

of all the hard fpeeches, which ungodly finners have spoken." 2 Theff. i. 7. “To take vengeance on all that know him not, and that have not obeyed the gospel."

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He will come to perform his promises to the godly, John xiv. 3.-18. "I go to prepare a place for you, and will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be alfo. And I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." And John xvi. 22. "I will fee you again, and your hearts fhall rejoice." He has trifted his coming again with the clofing of all their mifery, therefore acts iii. 19, it is called, "the day of refreshing;" and verfe 21. "The times of the reftitution of all things." And Rom. viii. 23,

The redemption of the body." 3. He comes to clear many things that lay before dark, to clear the godly of many reproaches and imputations lying on them, to make them liars that has loaded them with calumnies, to difcover hypocrites, Matth. x. 26. "There is nothing covered, that fhall not be revealed; nor hid, that fhall not be known. And every one fhall be judged

according to their works," Rev. xx. 12. "And he that confeffeth him before men, he will confefs him before his Father; and whofo denieth him now, will be denied of him then." Things are in fufpenfe here, and often judgment paffeth not according to righteoufnefs, therefore the Lord will have wrong fentences reduced, and matters difcuffed, and all spots wiped off his people. And all thefe ends being certain, his coming to judgment must also be certain.

Thirdly, I fhall clear and confirm it from thefe fcriptures that speak of the effects of his coming. 1. The doleful effects of it on reprobates and hypocrites, fear fhall furprise them, they fhall all wail because of his coming, and would fhun it, if they could. The fcripture, is full to this purpose, "Darkness and anguifh fhall be upon the earth, perplexity, mens hearts failing them for fear, palenefs on all faces, fhaking on all loins," &c. A fecond effect is, the confummation of all things, whereof fee the end of chap. xx. "The heavens and earth fled away." 2 Pet. iii. 10." The heavens fhall pafs away with a great noise, and the elements fhall nelt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works therein fhall be burnt up.' A third effect is, judgment and the fetting of thrones, and the

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