defire not his coming. And I think there was never a time when the world had more of folks hearts, the great fecurity and much temporizing that is among us, telleth how much we are wedded to it, and refolute on it, and it faith, we have no defire of his coming. The Theffalonians were upon one extreme, carelefs, and would not work, 2 Theff. iii. 10. And we are upon another extreme, of addictednefs to the world.

Secondly, The caufes of this evil, or the reafons why Chrift's coming is fo little longed for, are thefe,

1. Little faith of the great advantages that accompany his coming, it is not believed that his appearing will be fo glorious and advantageous, and fo full of happiness, that at the diffolution of all thefe things there will be a full victory

no fin nor forrow any er all enemies,

more to believers, there is a faintnefs in the faith of believers, that marreth the longing for his coming. 2. As there is little clearnefs in the general, fo far lefs is there a particular application of the faith of Chrift's appearing for their glory and happiness. And while fouls are under doubts whether they will get good of Christ at his appearing, they cannot long for it: but were folks clear in their intereft, and that all the promifes will be performed to them at his coming, they would be much

more longing for it. Folks little defire of Christ's coming, telleth their confidence is rather fecurity than true peace: for, is it poffible, if Chrift's coming were believed, and your intereft in it, but your foul would cry out, When shall the day dawn, when he fhall rent thefe heavens and come down?** There would be a longing to be through time, and a holy impatience at the mifgiv ing of any thing ye thought might lengthen his tay. 3. Folks fettling here, as if their reft were here, they hereby declare, that they place not their happiness in Chrift's fecond coming, but are faying, "Who will fhew us any good, and it is good for us to be here?" They have fome defign about creature-comforts, and would have that perfected ere Chrift come, and therefore long not for his coming, not confidering that this is the most noble defign, and that the preparing for Chrift's coming layeth ground for a better portion to them and their children than all their attainments in a world. The faith of Chrift's coming, and mens placing their happinefs in it, would awaken their defires after it; if folks stock were in this veffel, it would be longed for. 4. Little experience of his coming now, in the fenfible intimations and manifeftations of his Spirit and prefence; were folks clear in their intereft, and frequent

in communion with him, they would be faying with old Simeon, "Now letteit thou thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy falvation"""

When there are fresh proofs of Christ's fweetnefs, and views of his excellency gotten, there will be longing defires of immediate enjoying of him: and little of this, makes little crying out for the living God, or for appearing before God; ye tafte not that the Lord is gracious, elfe ye would long for it. If ye would taste and fee how good he is, if ye had a little experience of the ravifhment of his fweetnefs, ye would fay, when a taste of him is fo delectable, fweeter than honey and the honey-comb, as hid manna, what muft the full harvelt and compleating of the bargain be, when the arles is fo fweet? And this would make you long for his coming, as Titus ii. 13. From these caufes may be gathered the means to keep the heart in a good frame for his coming.

The third thing, is, that this is most unfuitable to all, and especially to believers, that there fhould be fo little longing and defire for Chrift's coming, fo little praying for it. I may leave it on you to judge, is it fuitable to the great advantages we profels to expect by his coming, or the faith of them? Is it fuitable to the many promises

we have, and our profeffion of the right we have to them, not to defire the fulfilling of them? No fooner doth Chrift promise, but as foon John, or the bride here, has an echo for the fulfilling of it. Is it fuitable to profefs love to Chrift, and yet not defire union with him, and the full coming of his kingdom? And is it not unfuitable to what he has done to make way for his fecond coming? He came in the form of a fervant, and did and fuffered what he did, and fuffered to make way for his coming, to take believers to glory. Much weakness of faith, want of love, uncertainty of hope, difrefpect and want of regard to Chrift may be read out of this frame. The promise is not improven, and we know not what it is to be comforted in it:

Ufe third. To ftir us up to this as a duty called for from us, and as a frame that is requifite to be ferious in defiring, longing, and praying for Chrift's coming, and improving what goes along with it. That which we would prefs, is,

1. That your love may be towards it, that ye may never rife nor ly down at night, but your defires may be venting this way.

2. That ye would be putting up more prayers for it. We conceive this may be a caufe of his delay, and of the delay of many things that are to go before it, little diligence in praying for it, and these things

order to it.

3. We would recommend to you, to be more ferious in longing, and praying for it, as that wherein our Lord's honour confifteth, and the thriving of his kingdom, and whereby we evidence a kindly fympathy with our Lord; and do not content yourselves to pafs it over with a dry with. And for your upftirring to it, confider, that it is here holden forth as a frame of heart that is fpiritual, "The Spirit and the bride fay, Come:" yea, in fome fort, it is holden forth as the believer's duty, And I would lay it upon you, as ye would evidence yourselves native branches of this vine, and members of the body, whereof he is the head, and a part of his bride, fay, Come Lord Jefus.

Use fourth. It is ground of notable confolation to believers. Is it not great ground of confolation that our Lord hath faid and confirmed it, "That he is coming, and that he is coming quickly?" Many dark words are in this book, but this is clear, he faith, "He cometh quickly to judge the world, to raise your bodies, to make up the union betwixt him and them, to folemnize the marriage, to bring you to the wedding, that love his appearing," and all that ye have heard fpoken of it, fhall be made good.

Ufe 5. The clofe of all is, Christ's speak