§ 3. "How near is that most blessed, joyful day! It comes apace. _He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry._ Though _my Lord_ seems to _delay his coming_, yet _a little while_ and he will be here. What is a few hundred years, when they are over? How surely will _his sign appear_? How suddenly will he seize upon the careless world, even _as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth unto the west_? He who is gone hence _shall so come_. Methinks I hear his _trumpet sound_! Methinks I _see him coming with clouds_; with his attending angels in majesty and glory! § 4. "O secure sinners! What now will you do? Where will you _hide yourselves_? What shall _cover_ you? _mountains_ are gone; _the heavens and the earth, which were_, are _passed away_; the devouring fire hath consumed all, except yourselves, who must be the fuel for ever. O that all could consume as soon as the earth; and _melt_ away as did _the heavens_! Ah, these wishes are now but vain! The Lamb himself would have been your friend; he would have loved you, and ruled you, and now have saved you; but you would not _then_, and _now_ it is too late. Never cry _Lord, Lord_; too late, too late, man. Why dost thou look about? Can any save thee? Whither dost thou run? Can any hide thee? O wretch, that hast brought thyself to this! § 5. "Now, blessed saints, that have believed and obeyed! This is the end of faith and patience. This is it for which you prayed and waited. Do you now repent your sufferings and sorrows, your self-denying and holy walking? Are your tears of repentance now bitter or sweet! See how the Judge smiles upon you; there is love in his looks; the titles of _Redeemer_, _Husband_, _Head_, are written in his amiable, shining face. Hark, he calls you, he bids you stand here _on his right-hand_; fear not, for there _he sets his sheep_. O joyful sentence! _Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world._ He takes you by the hand, the door is open, the kingdom is his, and therefore yours; there is your place before his throne; the father receives you as the spouse of his Son, and bids you welcome to the crown of glory. Ever so unworthy, you must be crowned. This was the project of free redeeming grace, the purpose of eternal love. O blessed grace! O blessed love! O how love and joy will rise! but I cannot express it, I cannot conceive it.