He that would come to purchase, will surely come to possess. Where else were all our hopes? What were become of our faith, our prayers, our tears, and our waiting? What were all the patience of the saints worth to them? Were we not left _of all men most miserable_?[74] Christians, hath Christ made us forsake all the world, and be forsaken of all the world? to hate all, and be hated of all? and all this for _him_, that we might have _him_, instead of all? And will he, think you, after all this, forget us, and forsake us himself? Far be such a thought from our hearts!—But why staid he not with his people while he was here? Why? Was not the work on earth done? Must he not take possession of glory in our behalf? Must he not intercede with the Father, plead his sufferings, be filled with the Spirit to send forth, receive authority, and subdue his enemies? Our abode here is short. If he had staid on earth, what would it have been to enjoy him for a few days, and then die? He hath more in heaven to dwell among; even the spirits of many generations. He will have us live by faith, and not by sight. [Footnote 66] John xiv, 3. [Footnote 67] 1 Corinthians xi, 26. [Footnote 68] Matthew xxiv, 32. [Footnote 69] Matthew xxiv, 48. [Footnote 70] Luke xxi, 28. [Footnote 71] Matthew x, 16. [Footnote 72] Psalm lvii, 4. [Footnote 73] Matthew iii, 7. [Footnote 74] 1 Corinthians xv, 19. § 3. O, Fellow Christians, what a day will that be, when we, who have been kept prisoners by sin, by sinners, by the grave, shall be fetched out by the Lord himself? It will not be such a coming as his first was, in poverty and contempt, to be spit upon, and buffeted, and crucified again. He will not come, O careless world! to be slighted and neglected by you any more. Yet that coming wanted not its glory. If _the heavenly host_, for the celebration of his nativity, must _praise God_;[75] with what shoutings will angels and saints _at that day_ proclaim _glory to God, peace and good will towards men_? If a star must lead men from remote parts of the world _to come to worship_ a child in a manger;[76] how will the glory of his next appearing constrain all the world to acknowledge his sovereignty? If, _riding on an ass_, he enter Jerusalem with hosannas,[77] with what peace and glory will he come toward the New Jerusalem? If, when he was in _the form of a servant_,[78] they cry out, _What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?_[79] What will they say, when _they shall see him coming in his glory_, and the heavens and the earth obey him? _Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn._[80] To think and speak of that day with horror, doth well beseem the impenitent sinner, but ill the believing saint. Shall the wicked behold him and cry, "Yonder is he whose blood we neglected, whose grace we resisted, whose counsels we refused, whose government we cast off!" And shall not the saints, with inconceivable