Selected quad for the lemma: world_n
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A41706
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A discourse of Christ's coming and the influence, which the expectation thereof hath on al manner of holy conversation and godlinesse / by Theophilus Gale.
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Gale, Theophilus, 1628-1678.
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1673
(1673)
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Wing G144; ESTC R6924
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117,103
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244
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and the same And what is there more efficacious to improve such an holy friendship with God than serious expectations of the coming of our Lord Oh! how ambitious wil such be to have one and the same Mind Wil Affection and Conversation with Christ Paul was one of the best friends Christ ever had on earth and wherein lay his friendship chiefly but in conformitie to the death and life of Christ 2 Cor. 4.10 11. 2 Cor. 4.10 11. Always bearing about in the bodie the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our bodie c. Paul was couformable as wel to the death as to the life of Christ As Christ died for sin so he died to sin And as Christ lived to God so Paul in his mesure Christ was his great exemplar both in regard of active and passive obedience Christs exemple was not only the Rule but also Reason of his obedience The love of Christ to him and his love to Christ prevailed on him to live the life of Jesus The end of his suffering for and obedience to Christ was to manifest the life of Christ And what did wind up his Spirit to such a divine friendship and conformitie unto Christ but serious thoughts of his second coming So John tels us 1 Joh. 3.2 3. that every one who hath hopes of being found at last day a friend of Christ purifieth himself as he is pure And Paul informes us Tit. 2.11 12. That the Grace of God teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present World i. e. in short that we should demonstrate our friendship to Christ by manifesting the life of Christ And then he addes the ground of al v. 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ 2. Another part of friendship with Christ consistes in an holy Ambition to please him A true friend makes it his businesse to please and content his friend so Believers to please Christ And herein much of the Spirit of Godlinesse doth consist What is al pietie but a studious emulation and endeavor to please God Hence among the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Godly man was one that had a care to please the Gods Such also they stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophiles a friend of God Thus Enoch is said Heb. 11.5 to please God and what made him thus ambitious to please God but fiducial expectations of the coming of our Lord of which we find mention Jude 14. Such a Court-like ambition had Paul to please Christ 2 Cor. 5.9 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore i. e. because we have this Confidence and desire of being present with our Lord who is our best friend therefore we labor Si nificanter â— surpavit hoc votabulan quo soreasis quaedam ambitio hâ—norum propriè sig â—ificatur Bâ—za 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we have a certain courtlike ambition and holy emulation of pleasing Christ Thence he addes v. 10. For we must al appear before the jugement seat of Christ Oh! what a prevalent argument was this to worke up Pauls spirit to an holy emulation of pleasing Christ Thus also Peter in the words following our text 2 Pet. 3.14 wherefore beloved seing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse Here he brings in the looking for the coming of the day of God as a strong argument inducing them to an holy emulation and contention after al manner of gracious qualities for the pleasing of Christ their friend 3. Another part of Godly friendship with Christ consists in importunate desires and endeavors to serve him It s a great saying of a serious Jansenist S. Cyran One of the most principal rules for solid devotion is that we let not passe the least occasion for serving God If there be any vacuum or emty space in our lives the Devil wil be sure to fil it up and so obstruct our friendship with Christ What more obsequious and officious than friendship and who are more industrious and unwearied in the service of Christ than such friends of his who dayly expect his second coming Thence that parabolic exhortation of our Lord Luk. 19.13 Luke 19.13 And he called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds and said unto them occupie ' til I come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 employ al your thoughts vigor and activitie in my service and why til I come This is brought in as an argument or motive to engage them more effectually in his service A soul that lives much in the expectation of Christs coming wil spend as much time and strength as he can in the service of Christ but as little as he can in the service of sin Thus also it was with the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.7 So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Their waiting for the coming of our Lord is brought in by Paul as that which has a very efficacious causal Influence on the improvement of their gifts in order to the service of Christ And what made Paul so vigorous and laborious in the service of Christ but daily expectations of his returne So 1 Thes 2.19 For what is our hope our joy our crown of rejoycing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming That which made Paul so unwearied in his service for Christ among the Thessalonians was an eye fixed on the coming of Christ and the Crown he should then receive for al his labors Such thoughts make us do much in a little time for Christ 4. Lastly a main part of our friendship with Christ consists in an affectionate complacential remembrance of him in his absence and doth not the formal spirit hereof consist in looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God Are not they most mindful of him who daily expect his second coming Was not this one main intent of our Lord in the Institution of his last supper that we might thereby keep alive the memorial of him 1 Cor. 11.25 26. Thus 1 Cor. 11.25 This do ye as oft as ye drinke it in remembrance of me Friends at parting are wont to leave remembrances each of other so Christ left his last Supper as a love-remembrance with his friends Thence it follows 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drinke this cup ye do shew the Lords death ' til he come The coming of Christ and the expectation thereof is that which gives life to our remembrance of him The thoughts of Christs returne give a fresh lustre and sweetnesse to al love-tokens 15. Solid and deep expectations of our Lords coming have a particular and powerful Influence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
6. 119 2 Thes 2.1 109 1 Timoth. 6.12 14. 111 2 Timoth. 1.7 23 4.8 60 Titus 2.12 13. 149 Hebr. 3.14 64 5.14 28 11.1 50 51 11.9 10. 98 11.13 51 11.26 92 James 1.8 20 111 2.12 170 5.9 153 2 Pet. 1.9 23 3.10 3 7 3.11 7 8 89 97 114 3.12 9 11 1 John 3.2 3. 101 Jude 14 15. 75 21. 93 ERRATA PAge 77. l. 7. for there read then p. 82. l. 22. for have r. hath p. 96. Title for of r. to p. 100. l. 6. dele the period af er Godlinesse p. 100. l. 20 after same adde with p. 107. l. 27. before stable adde more p. 160. l. ult dele to after Judge p. 185. l. 4. for forcing r. fixing A Discourse of Christs Coming c. CHAP. I. The Explication of 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. with several Observations deduced thence SECT 1. The Explication of the Text. OUR Apostle Peter by a spirit of prophesie forseeing what a deluge of Atheisme and Epicurisme would break in on the professing World in these last days how many scoffers would arise walking after their own Lusts and denying the last Jugement he doth in this 3 Chapter premonish Believers hereof and also confirme them in the expectation of the second coming of their Lord. The Chapter has two parts 1. A confirmation of Christs second coming to Jugement 2. An elegant description of the same with the worlds destruction In the first part there are these members 1. A prediction of Atheistic Epicurean scoffers who should arise in these last days c. v. 3. 2. A Recitation of their Argument whereby they should endeavor to subvert the second coming of Christ and future Judgement v. 4. 3. The Refutation of their Argument v. 5 6. 4. A confirmation of the Worlds dissolution by fire v. 7. 5. A proleptic excuse for the delay thereof v. 8 9. In the second part of the Chapt. you have 1. A description of Christs coming to Jugement both from the manner of it which would be most sudden and unexpected by many and from its Adjunct namely the Worlds last Conflagration which is explicated in its parts v. 10. 2. An exhortation to al manner of holy Conversation and Godlinesse drawen from the manner of Christs coming and the Worlds dissolution v. 11 12. 3. A promisse of New Heavens and New Earth v. 13. 4. A Repetition of his exhortation to pietie and a confirmation of the same from Pauls Epistles v. 14 15 16 c. So much for the coherence in general The Text is a Description of our Lords second coming to Jugement both with the Manner and Adjuncts thereof and thence an Exhortation to al manner of holy Conversation and Godlinesse In the verse immediately precedent the Apostle makes mention of Gods Longanimitie or Long-sufferance But lest any should abuse this Divine Long-sufferance to carnal securitie he subjoins in our Text v. 10. But the day of the Lord wil come as a thief in the night c. The first Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The is very emphatic and distinctive The Day i. e. that great solemne day of the Lord which wil put an end to al the Days of time and usher in Eternitie This Jude v. 6 cals The Great day And the Syriac expresseth the emphase by That Day i. e. That illustrious renowned day which was so oft mentioned by our Lord in the days of his flesh as Mat. 7.22 24.36 26.29 as also by Paul 2 Tim. 1.18 c. That Day the forethoughts of which is so terrible to sinners and so refreshing to Saints That Day which wil be so black dismal and hideous a Dooms-day to the wicked but so bright and glorious a day of Relaxation and Rest to Believers Of the Lord. Why is it called the day of the Lord 1. By reason of its excellence and magnificence For things most excellent and surpassing are by the Hebrews in a more special manner attributed to God as the fire of God the Ceders of God c. 2. Because this wil be the last Day of Time which puts a period to Christs Mediatory Kingdome and ushers in Eternitie 3. Because in this day our great Lord wil manifest his Omnipotence Faithfulnesse Justice Holinesse Wisdome with his other glorious Attributes which now seem veiled with greater lustre and Majestie 4. It seems to be called the Lords day in opposition to mans day in this life The wicked have their Day of Sin ay but the Lord wil also have his day of Jugement The Enemies of Christ have their day of persecution ay but wil not the Lord have his day of vengeance also Close hypocrites have their day of hypocritic profession and the Lord wil have his day of manifestation and discovery Afflicted Saints have their day of suffering but the Lord wil have also his day of recompence 2 Thes 1.6 7 c. Wil come as a thief in the night Our Apostle hath taken this Ressemblance from the mouth of our Lord Mat. 24.43 But know this that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come he would have watched c. So Luk. 12.39 The same similitude is used to the same intent by Paul 1 Thes 5.2 The Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night The like Rev. 3.3 16.15 But why is the coming of our Lord thus expressed under the similitude of a Thief 's coming Because 1. The coming of a thief is unexpected and uncertain he usually surpriseth those in the house when they least expect him So the coming of our Lord shal he when secure sinners least expect him 2. The coming of a thief is usually swift and speedy The lesse he is expected the more speed he makes though the whole familie be asleep yet he sleeps not but is vigilant and active in his course and motion So our Lord his coming is not lesse speedy than unexpected Though sinners may sleep on the bed of carnal ease and securitie yet he sleeps not but is exceding quick and swift in his motion So Mat. 24.27 For as the lightening cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shal also the coming of the Son of man be 3. A Thief comes to rob and make spoil yea oft to kil So our Lords coming is in order to vengeance on the secure unbelieving World Thus Luke 21.34 35. so that day come on you unawares for as a snare shal it come on al them that dwel on the face of the whole earth Some of the Ancients referring that clause in the night not so much to Thief as to Wil come were of an opinion that Christs second coming would be in the night This also they collected from the Parable of the Virgins Mat. 25.6 which seems to have given the first ground to the Popish Vigils or watches But it seems evident that the word night here must be referred to (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 referendum est ad 〈◊〉