the Canticles she is espoused unto Christ 3 A Bride she hath her Ornaments and Jewels about her she is trim'd Isa 61.10 so the Church hath Ornaments and Jewels about her she is trimmed and deckt with the Graces of the Spirit with the righteousness of Christ White Linnen in the Revelation is said to bee the righteousness of Saints the Church hath her Ornaments her Jewels and Graces Canticles 4.9 4 Lastly The Bride you know expects Marriage of such a Person so the Church looks to be married unto Christ she waites for the day she is espoused already and waites for to be married unto the Lamb Rev. 19. so then you see upon what account the Church is called a Bride Now the Point to be handled is this Doct. That both the Spirit of God and the whole Church are desirous of Christs coming And the Spirit and the Bride say come To speak a little to the Spirit of God the Spirit of God is said in Scripture to intercede for us and the Spirit of God lusts against the flesh and here the Spirit desires the coming of Christ The Spirit saith come And the Spirit desires the coming of Christ Why the Spirit desires the coming of Christ because it having received from Christ all truth and having given it out unto Apostles and unto John and so to the Church it would gladly have the Church see the accomplishment of what is given out by the Spirit which will not all bee done till the coming of Christ all truth will not be accomplished Prophesies or Promises will not be fulfilled till the coming of Christ and the Spirit having received of Christ and given them out the Spirit desires the accomplishment of them that the Church might see it 2 The Spirrt desires Christs coming for the honour of Christ it is said in 2 Thes 1.10 Christ shall come to be admired this shall bee the honour of Christ to bee admired by the Church to be admired by the World especially he shall bee admired of the Saints and of those that do beleeve and the more admirable will Christ be when they shall see all Truths fulfilled and made good that he gave out by his Spirit It is said Isa 44.26 God is a God that confirmeth the word of his Servant and performeth the counsel of his Messengers so Christ he will confirm the word of his Spirit and confirm the word of his Messenger the Spirit brought it from Christ to John John gives it out to the Church and when Christ comes he will confirm the word and make it all good and so both Christ shall bee honoured the Spirit honoured and the Instruments that gave out the word be honoured 3 The Spirit desires the coming of Christ that so it self may be no more grieved no more quenched So 1 Thes 5. Quench not the Spirit in Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the Spirit whereby yee are sealed unto the day of redemption The Spirit hath sealed up men unto the day that is this day of Christs coming unto the day of redemption Now saith the Spirit come come that I may be no more grieved I am grieved in the hearts of Saints daily I am troubled by them they do many things that are contrary to my Nature contrary to my Holiness the Spirit is a tender thing and soon grieved now saith the Spirit Come come then when Christ comes the Spirit shall no more be grieved there shall be a course taken with enemies Here then we may see that this is a matter of weight and worthy of consideration the coming of Christ for the very Spirit of Christ desires it But so much for that The whole Church also desires it even the Church Triumphant desires it I might insist upon that first In Rev. 6.9 10. The Church triumphant desires Christs coming And when he had opened the fifth Seal I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held And they cryed with a loud voyce saying how long how long O Lord holy and true doest thou not judge and avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Here is part of the Church Triumphant crying How long O Lord afore thou comest Souls have no Tongues you must know but here by crying is meant the desires of the Soul they desire Christs day might come and so their enemies might be judged and they might have their bodies united unto their souls and be made compleat Quest But it may be said Do the Souls in Heaven and the Church in Heaven desire Christ may go out of Heaven and come down to earth that should seem strange Ans 1. Yes The very Church in Heaven desires the day of Christs coming and what if Christ do leave Heaven and come down to earth what hurt in that for they being in Heaven do see the face of the Father and beholding the face of the Father they have happiness enough there as the Angels always behold the face of my Father 2 But secondly when Christ comes they shall come with him as you may see in Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints Here is a limited number put for an illimited ten thousand that is with all his Saints so you have it in Ezek. 14.5 And the Lord my God shall come with all the Saints with him Christ shall come and all the Saints shall come with him when he comes so in 1 Thes 4.14 For if we beleeve that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him they shall come with Christ when he comes so that the very Church Triumphant are desirous of the coming of Christ But so much for that We come now to that which is more chiefly our aime and scope The Church Militant desires the coming of Christ that is the Church here in this World the Bride here doth desire the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the Bride saith come come Lord you have it in the twentieth Verse of this Chapter He which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus John desires the comming of Christ in the person of the Church Come Lord Jesus and frequently in Scripture thâ—s is spoken of Tit. 2.13 Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ The Church looks for and so desires the glorious appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ that which we look for we desire and so in 2 Pet. 3.12 Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God 1 Thes 1.10 And to wait for his Son from Heaven The Thessalonians the Church there waited for the coming of Christ from Heaven and Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence also wee look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ And many other places there are Rom. 8.23 And not only they but our selves also
hath life when men swear and lye and follow their lusts and courses of the world they are darkness and walk in darkness but that man that walks most conformable to the rule of Gods Word he is light he is a brother but if you have not love the Day-star is not risen in your hearts 4 Lastly If this Day-star be risen in you then you will follow the Lord Christ and the Light that he holds out unto you and others you will not follow I say you will follow Christ hee is Light saith Paul Be yee followers of me as I am of Christ and my Sheep know my voyce and they follow me but they know not the voyce of strangers and will not follow them Christs Sheep those that have light they will follow the light they will follow the Day-star you know that when they were in the Wilderness they had a Pillar of Fire went before them in the night and they followed that so now Christ is the Pillar of Fire he is the Star that goes before them and they will follow that Star the Wise men had a Star that went before them and they followed that Star and that led them to Christ but now we must not follow Stars nor follow Men but follow Christ the Star whom do you follow now your own wisdom your own counsel your own Iusts the examples of men and the like are these your Guides and Leaders you are undone theâ— you have not the Day-star risen in your hearts if it were you would follow this Guide which is an infallible light and an infallible Guide therefore try your selves by this 5 If Christ be the bright and morning Star then let us look and wait for the Day which this morning Star is a fore-runner of it will be a glorious and a great Day be it the Day of Judgement as some do conceive or the day of Restitution of all things as others conceive yet that day will come and it will be a remarkable day a glorious day a day of burning a day of fire a day to consume the wicked a day to advance and raise the godly and Paul doth beseech them in 2 Thess he lays the weight upon that very thing chap. 2. vers 1. Now we beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him O the coming of Christ is a very weighty thing when he shall come in the glory of his Father and of the Angels to judge the World or to deliver the World it will bee a great day a separating day O therefore let us look for that day and prepare for it Oh the Saints at that day will have cause to lift up their heads their Redemption draweth nigh It will be the day wherein Christ as he saith in Mat. 26.29 I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine untill the day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom It will be a day of rejoycing to the Saints but the wicked shall have a Cup of Vinegar to drink or mingled Cup with Wrath and they must drink it all off to their undoing well seeing the morning Star hath appeared and is up and that day will come O let us look and prepare for it 6 Lastly If Christ bee the bright morning Star then we should be encouraged here to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and not to be weary of his work of his way and though wee meet with difficulties and discouragements yet to go on and fight it out and upon what ground see in Revel 2.26 28. He that overcometh and keepeth my words unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and I will give him the morning Star He that goes on in my service and overcomes World Devil Corruption and Sin saith Christ I will give him the morning Star I will make him glorious I will fill him with joy and comfort I will give him my self for I am the morning Star hee shall have fruition of me and possession of me so that here 's incouragement enough for any to go on in godliness in Christianity in the ways of holiness and to oppose the enemies of Christ why he shall have Christ himself the morning Star The Voyce of the Spirit and Bride REV. 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bridesay Come THE Lord Christ having declared many things concerning himself and his enemies and the state his Church should come unto in this Book here the Spirit and the Bride say Is it so come come seeing there is such Prophesies of thy self come seeing thine enemies shall meet with such things come seeing thou wilt bring the Church to such a state come The Spirit and the Bride say Come To speak a little to the words Some by a Figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where two words are put for one do understand the words thus And the Spirit and the Bride that is the Bride by the Spirit saith come Or the Bride by instinct of the Spirit saith come or the Spiritual Bride the Bride sanctified by the Spirit saith come But you see they are put distinct and so some Expositors take them The Spirit saith come and the Bride saith come The Spirit that spake to the Churches in the second and third of the Revelation Here what the Spirit saith unto the Churches that Spirit here saith come And the Bride saith come by Bride both the Church â—â—â—umphant and Militant may bee understood those that are chosen called and faithful Revel 17.4 those that had the name of their Fathers written in their fore-head Revel 14.1 Those that had white Robes and Palms in their hands Revel 7. Those that made up the New Jerusalem that descended from Heaven Revel 21. Those who did keep the Commandements of God and do his Will Revel 22.14 Those that were the several assembly of the first born Heb. 12. these are the Bride Now the Church is called a Bride from the resemblances that it hath with a Bride 1 You know a Bride doth forget The reâ—emblance â—etween â—he Church â—nd a â—â—ride and forsake her own people and her fathers house Psal 45. Forget thine own people and thy fathers house it is spoken there to the Bride so the Church forgets the World and the customs and fashions of the World her own people kindred and relations and forsakes them Thus doth the Church Ephes 5.32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joyned to his wife This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church the Church must leave Father and Mother leave outward relations Wee have forsaken all and followed thee said the Disciples 2 A Bride you know is betrothed and espoused unto a man she gives up her self unto a man so the Church 2 Cor. 11. For I have espoused you to one Huthand that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ Christ calls her his Spouse in
which have the first fruits of the Spirit even wee our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies wee look for the coming of Christ Now what kind of desire is this of the Church What kind of desue the Church hath for Christs coming The Bride saith Come the Bride desires the coming of Christ 1 This desire of hers is a Spiritual desire it is no Carnal desire it is such a desire as is in Christ himself towards the Church Cant. 2 10. My Beloved spake and said unto me Spiritual Rise up my Love my fair one and come away and so in the thirteenth Verse Arise my Love my fair one and come away Christs desire to the Church is a Spiritual desire Cant. 7.10 I am my Beloveds and his devire is towards me Christs desire is towards his Church and it is a Spiritual desire so the Churches is the same to him Come my beloved let us go forth into the fields come my beloved As Christ calls his Church so the Church calls him Come my Beloved A Spiritual desire it is a desire that the Spirit of God hath begotten in her for the Spirit works gracious and holy desires in the hearts of men and women and those desires being put forth now towards Christ they have the denomination from the Spirit they are Spiritual desires 2 The desire of the Church it is an earnest desire Earnestly a strong desire 2 Cor. 5.2 For in this we groan earnestly desiring to bee cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven Paul groaned earnestly and in Phil. 2. he saith there he desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ he desired the coming of Christ to dissolve him that so he might be with Christ Rom. 8.19 The earnest expectation of the Creature it is called and Vers 23. We groan within our selves It is such a desire as those have which are sick for Love Cant. 5. saith the Church there Tell him that I am sick of Love The Church is sick of Love for Jesus Christ and earnestly desires his coming such a desire as is in Women with Childe that miscarry if they have not their desire such a desire as is in the captive to bee delivered such a desire as is in the sick for health such a desire as is in Women for their Husbands that are beyond sea an earnest desire 3 It is a working desire A working desire a desire that puts men and women upon doing a desire that makes them work Here was a desire and she falls a praying Come come Lord Jesus come quickly A desire that will make you active not a sluggish lasie desire as is in too many but a waking desire 2 Pet. 3.12 Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God where there is loâ—king there will be desire and where there is desire there will be acting hastening to the coming 4 It is a desire that is lasting A lasting desire it is not a Humour a Fit a Fansie and away but it is a desire that is lasting and continued The Church hath had this desire many hundred years yea thousands of years 1 Pet. 1.13 Wherefore gird up the loyns of your minde be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ It will make men and women hope to the end where there is desire of a thing there is hope and it will make them hope to the end when it lasts to the end the desire lasts till Christ comes 5 Lastly It is a desire that is well bottomed It is a wel bottom'd desire a desire that is well grounded it is a desire that springs from a good foundation it is not from the Fansie of a man or from a Notion or from a Conception or Tradition but it is a Desire that is well bottom'd well grounded and springs from a good Root It springs from Promises It springs from Prayer It rises from Promises Acts 1.11 This same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into Heaven Well this Jesus that is gone now to Heaven he shall so come again Here is a good Root a Foundation a Promise now for this desire Heb. 10. Yet a little time and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry And in Revel 22. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me here is a word for it There are many Promises in the Scripture to this purpose therefore Peter saith in the place before mentioned Notwithstanding we according to his promise look for the new Heavens and the new Earth It is a desire that is grounded upon a Promise a Divine Promise and not a Human Promise a Promise from Heaven and not from Earth It is grounded upon Prayer in the Lords Prayer Christ hath taught us to pray Thy Kingdom come so that the desires of the Church you see of what nature they are they are Spiritual desires they are earnest desires they are working desires they are desires that are lasting they are desires that are well grounded Q. Why doth the Church desire the coming of Christ A. Why the Church desires Christs coming 1. The Church desires the coming of Christ that so the Lord Christ himself may bee perfected and compleated Christ accounts himself imperfect in Heaven Ephes 1. ul The Church is said to be the fulness of Christ and till Christ hath all with him that the Father hath given him he is not compleat The Church desires Christ may have his fulness Come Lord and take all thine own Come Lord and gather in all thy Saints Come Lord and injoy all the Father hath given thee it is that Christ may have his fulness be perfected and compleat 2 The Church desires Christs coming that so all the enemies of Christ may be brought under especially that those Grand enemies of Christ may be brought down as Antichrist and Sathan those are the Grand enemies of Christ 2 Thes 2.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming This is spoken of Antichrist that wicked one when Christ comes there shall be a total destruction of Antichrist and all that adhere to Antichrist then shall the Prophet and the Beast be taken as in Revel 19. I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make war with him that sate on the Horse and his Army and the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image c. When Christ comes the Beast and the false Prophet will be taken these are Antichrist they shall bee taken and judged and that enemy Sathan
have none of it he doth it out of love and aymes at your good and the saving of your soules and yet you will have none of this water what Ingratitude is this Christ may say I brought water to your doore and such water as was water of life it would have quickned you maintain'd life in you brought you to Eternall life and you would none of it heare ô Heavens and hearken ô Earth was there ever such Ingratitude Fifthly Consider that this water of life is the onely remedy can doe your soules good It 's the mercy of God in Christ its Christs merits the Spirit and the Graces thereof must doe sinners good if any thing in heaven and earth can doe them good There is nothing in Heaven and Earth besides free Grace and mercy this water of Life which can doe your soules good If you will not drinke of this water you must die you must die and perish for ever as in Jonah They imbrace lying vanities and forsake their owne mercies so all men and women in the world imbrace lying vanities who forsake these waters they will drinke the muddie waters of the world the filthy waters of sin of the ditches of Rome of the puddles of Egypt and Babylon but of these waters which would save their soules they will not drinke this is an evill against the Remedy Sixthly Consider that the refusall of these waters provokes God and Christ greatly to wrath you cannot provoke God more then by refusing his kindnesse you greive you vex the Spirit you resist the Spirit and so provoke God bitterly Psal 81.11 12. saith he My people would not hearken to my voyce and Israel would none of me so I gave them up to their owne hearts lusts I will scourge them no more but give them over to the saddest Judgements in the world they shall be left to their owne lusts their own wills and humours I will leave them now to drinke waters will poyson them waters will ripen them for hell So in the 14 of Luke those that were Invited to the Supper they made excuses all and would not come saith Christ not one of them shall tast of my Supper The meaning is they shall not onely not tast of the dainties I have prepared but they shall tast of the severitie of my wrath In stead of cups of vvine they shall have cups of Brimstone fire The vengeance written they shall have executed upon them When God offered Canaan to the Jewes and they resused it and would goe back to Egypt God was so mooved that he sware in his wrath If they shall enter into my Rest If they enter into my Rest let me be thrust out of heaven And the siercenesse of Gods anger never came upon the Jewes till they had refused Christ and these vvaters of life But then the wrath of God came upon them to the uttermost to perfection it came upon them Seventhly Lastly Those that refuse the vvaters of life The Lord Christ and God doth keepe account of all such passages and will bring them in against them and urge them as aggravations of their misery at last The Lord keepes account I have stretched out my hands all the day long saith God A whole day the day of their lives I waited upon them Fortie yeares long was I greived with this Generation Revel 3.20 Christ saith Behold I stand at the doore and knock Christ keeps account how long he stood there how many knocks he hath made there how many tenders of Grace have been presented to you how often you refused and turned them away He will come at last and say At such a place I stood and knockt twenty or thirtie yeares And in such a place I tendered Grace to them a thousand times and my Spirit presented good motions to them ten thousand times and yet they refused All these vvill be brought in at last and then vvhen you shall see this black bill this will sinke you into the bottome of hell Grace offered peace offered heaven offered Christ and his righteousnesse offered to be your portion and you would none of all these and what did you choose chaffe earth puddle water your misery will be exceeding great The Water of Life Reve 22.17 And whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely WEE come now to a use of Exhortation If the waters of life be freely offered then here 's an Invitation to all sinners to come and accept of these waters Come ye sinners whosoever ye be ye that are in the chambers of Death ye that are in the broad way ye that are enemies to God through wicked workes in your minde ye that have liv'd basely to the dishonour of God and man to your owne prejudice and damnation If you will come here are waters and waters of life waters will give life to the dead here are waters to increase life here are waters to be had freely Come to these waters these waters are held forth upon such tearmes that ye may all come and receive them whosoever will let him come and take of the waters of life In the 55 of Isa 7. It 's said Let the wicked forsake his wayes and the unrighteous his thoughts and turne unto the Lord and he shall have mercy Pro 28. It 's said He that confesses his sins and forsakes them shall finde mercy There the termes are somewhat hard who can forsake his wayes and turne from his evill thoughts and the like it 's a hard thing to doe But here it 's upon other termes Whosoever will let him come and take of the waters of life freely You may have them freely whatsoever your sins have been crimsen sins scarlet sins crying sins sins against light of nature against Law against heaven against earth sins against State against Church against soule or body sins against Gospel whatsoever your sins have been here are waters of life freely for you Abraham was an Idolater and yet he had water of life freely Saul was a persecuter and he had water of life freely and why may not you have waters of life freely A man may goe and take water at any Well in a Towne he may goe to the Thames and take water what he will when the Raine falls who may not have a share of it here 's water here 's raine from heaven and who will may come and take water of life Sometimes money is given in a place for poore people and it is made knowne for them to come and fetch it but they must first get Petitions Justices Ministers and other mens hands of their honesty of their faithfullnesse of their service of their sufferings of their losses and a great deale of dooe there is before they can have the money but it is not so here Christ doth not say Let him that is righteous come let him that is so qualified take it let him that hath suffered such hard things let him that hath been tempted
also as in chap. 20. I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Sathan and bound him a thousand years and cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should not deceive the Nations any more till the thousand years should be fulfilled then shall the enemies of Christ bee brought under the Church saith Come upon that account 3 The Church saith Come and desires his coming that so it self might bee freed from all enemies within and without when Christ comes this will bee made good Revel 21. There was new Jerusalem came down from Heaven What then saith hee Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himself shall bee with them and bee their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain When Christ comes all enemies shall bee taken away all Persecutions all Afflictions all Temptations yea all Corruptions within Rom. 7.24 Who shall deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ when Christ comes I shall be delivered from this body of death so that Christs coming is desired of the Church that she may be freed from all enemies without and that there might be no sinning nor grieving of the Spirit that there might be no tears no sorrow no crying no pain but freedom from all inwardly and outwardly 4 And lastly The Church desires the coming of Christ that she may injoy all the good things that are to be had by his coming That she may have the choyce refreshing that is spoken of in Acts 3.19 Repent yee therefore and bee converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Christ shall come and there will be times of refreshing times of choyce refreshing such refreshings shall Souls have as they never had That they may have the glorious liberty mentioned Rom. 8.21 Because the Creature it self also shall bee delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God then shall the children of God have liberty and glorious liberty never had they such liberty as then they shall have Then they shall likewise be partakers of great honour that Christ will bestow upon them Rev. 2.17 He that overcometh saith he I will give to eat of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written He shall have a title of Honour And a new Seat shall he have Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Christ will honour the Church then and set her upon a Throne exalt every member thereof give them a new name a new seat great honour shall they have insomuch that it is said in Isa 62. Thou shalt be as a crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God They shall be honoured as Kings and Queens He hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and we shall be honoured as Kings and Priests when Christ comes Then shall they have nearer conjunction with Christ and more communion with him then ever Rev. 19.7 Let us bee glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come The marriage of the Lamb is come Then shall bee the marriage now it is a Bride but then shall be the Marriage then shall we rejoyce for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready There will bee more intimate and sweet communion then will Christ let out his loves to the Soul indeed Then will he lead his Spouse his Bride his Wife into the Marriage Chamber into the Wine-seller then shall there be Apples of comfort and Flaggons of Wine then the spiced wine will be brought forth there will bee more near conjunction and sweet communion with Christ then ever And lastly then shall the Church bee made like to Christ indeed 1 Joh. 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him we shall then bee transformed into the image of Christ fully so that the Bride the Church desires the coming of Christ upon these grounds Vse To make some use of this point 1 Doth the Church desire the coming of Christ then this is a reproof to those Christians that do not minde Christ nor desire Christ nor look after Christ at all many Christians they never desire the coming of Christ but they desire other things people have their desires carried otherwise The Mariner he desires a fit Wind to carry him to his Port the Husband-man hee desires the Harvest that that would come and so the Lawyer desires the Term that that would come and the Woman desires her Husband would return that is abroad and the Begger desires a good Almes but where is a soul desires the coming of Christ who saith Come Lord come quickly come away it is an argument that you have little or no grace in you it is an Argument you are no friends to Christ but rather enemies to Christ when you do not minde Christ and his coming and desire his coming look into Mat. 24.48 to the end And if that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken the Lord of that servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not ware of and shall â—ut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the Hypocrites there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth mark A wicked Servant that defers the coming of Christ and a wicked Servant that mindes not the coming of Christ at all so that this is a just reproof to the most they minde not they think not of the coming of the Lord Christ they desire it not Doth the Church desire the coming of Christ then this informs us that Christ is desirable yea very desirable I say very desirable Christ is desired by the Spirit to come Christ is desired by the Church Triumphant to come Christ is desired by the Church Militant here in this world to come Christ is very desirable what is there more desirable than Christ Hag. 2.7 he is called there The desire of Nations where there is but one Saint in a Nation Christ is desired there wheresoever there be any godly ones any that are indued with the Spirit of God they desire Christ he is the desire of Nations all the Nations in the World if they have any godly in them they desire
of the preceding SERMONS A ABilities naturall see Man Assurance is not of the nature of faith 146 B Beleiving what 146 147 Branch who meant by it 29 Bride see Church Brother who is a brother 57. C Christ wherein he resembles a roote and wherein not 2 3 4 5. He is the roote of nature grace and glory 6 7.11 He was true man and why 25 26. He is honourably descended 29. How to come to esteeme him 32. His coming what it calls for 35. Christs coming is desired 63. Christ is desirable 75 His coming is to be made knowne 85. Why so often mentioned in Scripture 87. It s to be hearkened unto 91. Of what concernment his coming is 92 93 94. Great good to be had by Christ 142 Christians have much to doe in this world 141 Coming see Christ what it is 145. How we may know whither we be come to Christ 173 174 175. And what is to be had by coming to Christ 180 Motives to come to him 179 c. Church wherein likend to a Bride 62. Triumphant and militant desire Christs coming 65 66 D David the most lively type of Christ 20 21. The founder of the kingdome of Israel 20. His seed numerous 38 Desire what kinde of desire the Church hath for Christ his coming 67. Why the Church desires Christs coming 70. what comfort desire of it yeilds 76 77. How to know whither we desire Christs coming 78 79 Doctrine of Christ the nature of it 42 43 Drawing of the Father what 147 E Eternitie 139 Expectation of Christ to come and sit upon the throne of David 34 35 F Faith how strengthened 32 Free what taking water of life freely imports 133 G God is pure 132. just ibid powerfull ibid justifiable in the destruction of sinners 225 Gospel the nature of it 42 43 Grace inlargeth the desires 125 H Hearkening to Christs coming 91. Of what concernment it is 92 Heart the opening of it 212 I Incarnation of Christ what the end of it was 231 232 Infirmities what use to make of them 140 141 Invitations not in vaine though man have no power in him 148 Christ doth sweetly invite sinners 233 L Law it s comprehensive terrible 134 135 Life water of life upon what account it s so cald 190. Mans life short 138 M Mariners by what starr they should sayle 53 Man his naturall abilities what they may doe 215 Mysterie in Christ a Mediator 36 O Offence take at Christs meanness how helped 31 Offspring Christ is the offspring of David rather than of others 20 Opening of the heart what 212 P Plant the plant of renowne 30 Power none in man to come to Christ 147 Why waters of life are freely offred 217 Prepare for the day of Christ 35.59 for his coming 89. what it is 89 90 Promises the nature of them 234 235 R Refusers of water of life 199. Evill of refusing 201 202 203 204 Righteous their memorie honoured 39 Roote wherein Christ is likend to a roote 2 3 4. How to be rooted in Christ 17 S Saints Christ in neare relation to them 37 They are Starrs but not as Christ is 49 Scriptures fullfilled in Christ 37 Sin the nature and evill of it 136 137 Sinners God is justifiable in their destruction 255. Of Christs willingnes to save sinners see willingness Starres how Christ resembles them 41. c. Whither this Starre be risen in our hearts 55 T Taking waters of life freely what it imports 193 194 Thirst naturall and spirituall 101. Why thirsting is required 102 103 104 105. The properties of spirituall thirst 106 107 108. There be few spirituall thirsters 108 109 110 111. Whence it is there are so few thirster Safter Christ 111 112 113 114. There is a false thirst as well as a true 115 116. How to know the one from the other 116 117 118. The effects and fruits of spirituall thirst 120 121 122 123 124 125 126. Why we should thirst after Christ 129 130 131. Directions how to attaine this thirst 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 How to stirre up and increase this thirst 140 141 142 143. W Waters of life what 188. and why likend to water 188. Why cald water of life 190 Of the excellency and use of it 235 236. To be had upon easie tearmes ibid Wicked whither a wicked man may desire the coming of Christ 84 Willingnesse severall Arguments to shew Christs willingness to save sinners 149 150 to 169. Why he is so willing 169 170. No willingnesse in man 187. How willingness comes ibid The willing shall have waters of life 211. Wherein this willingnesse lyes 213 214. Why required 219. Motives to it 228 229. Meanes to get it 230 231 Wishing and woulding not sufficient 225 FINIS