YE Men of Galilee, why ftand ye gazing up into Heaven? This fame Jefus which is taken up from you into Heaven, fhall fo come in like Manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven, Acts i. 11. It is to no Purpose to lofe our Time in regreting the Want of the visible Prefence of CHRIST on Earth, we must employ it in preparing ourselves for his fecond Coming. He is to be followed, not with the Eyes, but with the Heart. To expect his Coming, and to put ourselves in a Readiness to go forth and meet Him with a well grounded Confidence, in this confifts the whole Chriftian Life. The Generality of Chriftians do not fufficiently awaken and exercise their Faith thereon, in which the Expectation of the prefent Church is placed, what Wonder then is it, that their Affections are fo much fet upon earthly Things, and this mortal Life. O! my dear God, my Lamp prepare When in the laft and dreadful Night Thou every Work fhalt prove, O may my Lamp burn clear and bright FOR OR the Son of Man is as a Man taking a far Journey, who left his Houfe, and gave Authority to his Servants, and to every Man his Work, and commanded the Porter to watch, Mark xiii. 34. The whole which our bleffed Mafter, when he afcended into Heaven, recommended to the Care of his Servants, confifted in Fidelity and Watchfulness: Fidelity, in doing every Thing well, which is to be done in his Houfe, in the Heart, in the Church, according to the full Extent of their Duty: Watchfulness, in fuffering no Stranger, nor Enemy, to enter by the Senfes, which are the Gates of the Soul, in permitting nothing which belongs to the Mafter to go out without his Orders, and in carefully obferving all Commerce and Correfpondence, which the Heart may have abroad in the World, to the Prejudice of the Master's Service. In thy Pilgrimage with Men, (Objects of thy conftant Care) Thou didst all their Griefs fustain, Lab'ring, watching unto Pray'r Thou wholeNights inPrayer didft fpend On the Mount for us employ'd, Prompt the helpless to defend, Prevalent with Man and God. W To watch is to be like a Servant, always employed within about his Master's Business, and like a Porter always careful what comes in and goës out. The more the Master is expected, the more diligent the Servants are in working, watching, and keeping themselves in readiness. Can one, who has received the Sentence of his Death, and has no Right to live one Moment, need any Admonition to prepare himfelf to die? Does not a Prifoner, who expects his Deliverance, keep himfelf always ready to leave his Dungeon? And is not he, who has no fuch Expectation, extremely miferable? The Hour of Death is fo very uncertain, that Christ would have us look for it at all Hours, and therefore mentions four feveral Parts of one and the fame Night, at any of which it may poffibly happen. Hearken to the folemn Voice, Lo, He comes to keep his Word, Go EST coming fuddenly, he find you fleeping, Mark xiii. 36. LEST Remiffness and Negligence, as well as greater Sins, are often the Occafion of our being furprised by Death. A Porter fleeping expofes the Houfe to be robbed, and well deferves to be punished. A Chriftian, whofe Faith is not watchful, expofes his own Heart to the Enemy of his Salvation, and to those who are continually watching, in order to fteal away all the valuable Things which God has laid up there as in his House. Ye Virgin Souls arise, Oil in your Veffels take, He comes, He comes to call The Nations to his Bar, Who fit for Glory are, AND what I fay unto you, I fay unto all, Watch. Mark xiii. · 37. No Perfon can pretend any Exemption from the Fear of God's Judgement, or from the Duty of Watchfulness, in Expectation of the laft Day.. Chrift here recommends it to all; and yet there is fcarce a fmall Number to be found, who, by Chriftian Watchfulnefs, are always ready. Thofe who have greatest Occafion to watch, are generally thofe who do it leaft. Few Minifters, Mafters, and Fathers, watch over their Flock, their Servants, and their Children. Abundance of People are very watchful throughout their whole Lives, as to the Affairs of others; but do not spend one Moment in watching over their own Hearts, and in thinking ferioufly of the Bufinefs of Salvation. My God, how much is Faith obfcured and darkened; and what need have we, that thou fhouldft renew it in our Hearts. JESUS, in thy Strength we rife, Nightly to the Mountain go, Breathe our Wishes to the Skies For the fleeping Croud below: Pray, my watchful Brethren, pray, Full of Wants, of Sins, and Fears, Wrestle till the Break of Day, 'Till the faving Grace appears. |