2. Our desire and affection towards the highest degree of holinesse and piety is a part of the very first degree. For there is no true holinesse without a desire of perfect holinesse. 3. Because we are called unto perfect holinesse, neither can we see God without it. _Vse._ This may serve to reprove those, that rest in a kind of luke-warme profession, or in a partiall practise of piety and holinesse. Doctrine 3. _It makes much for the advancing of piety; to look for and hasten unto the ♦comming of the day of the Lord._ ♦ “commming” replaced with “comming” This is gathered from verses 12,14. So _Philippians 3.20._ _Reason_ 1. Because it takes off our minds from all those things, that belong unto this present world. 2. Because it makes us to prepare our selves for the world to come, _1 Iohn 3.3._ _Use._ This may serve to exhort us, to raise up our minds, as much as may be unto this spirituall looking for the Lord. Doctrine 4. _Our chiefest care touching the comming of the Lord, should be, to be found of him in peace._ This is gathered from verse 14. Now by peace is meant that condition which is pleasing unto God and approved of him; whereupon not the anger, but the goodnesse and grace of the Lord is shewed in communicating all happinesse. _Reason_ 1. Because the Lord is looked for, as the supreme Judge, whose anger is to be flyed from and avoided, and his approbation and good liking greatly to be sought for. 2. Because unlesse peace be then had, afterwards it cannot be had for ever. _Vse._ This may serve to exhort us, while we live here, continually to seek to confirme our peace with God, and in our own consciences. Now this is done by raising up in our selves a lively faith and confidence, establishing our hearts with all assurance of salvation, and following all those means whereby our calling and election is made sure. Doctrine 5. _From the long-suffering of God we must gather those things which make for the promoting of our peace and salvation._ This is gathered from verse 15. For when the Apostle tels us, that we should account, that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation, he means that we should so think ♦with our selves and dispute of these things, that we should gather nothing else from thence, but that God aimes at our salvation, and therefore we also should take great care of it. ♦ “wich” replaced with “with” _Reason._ Because by these meditations we should confirme and increase both our faith and our sanctification. For our reasonings and disputes, when they are rightly directed either by the word, or by the works of God, as by a third argument, to the strengthning of our faith and increase of holinesse, as unto a conclusion drawne from thence; they are those morall means whereby we work out our salvation with feare and trembling.