Section 1172
IV. To the exhortation upon all this; If ye will enquire, enquire ye; return, come
If you will enquire about the time of night, and when the morning will come, enquire in good earnest; enquire seriously; search the scripture; look into the prophetic parts of it; the several prophecies of the Old and New Testament, respecting both the spiritual and personal coming of Christ, and particularly the book of the Revelation; which is a prophetic history of events, that should befall the church and the world, from the first times of Christianity to the end of all things; many of which have been fulfilled, and others remain to be fulfilled: carefully read over these accounts, and get the best help you can from those who have made it their study to understand, and explain the things written therein; whereby you will in some measure know what is come to pass, and what is yet behind. And to reading add prayer and supplication, as Daniel did; who, after he had understood by books, by reading the prophecies of Jeremiah, when would be the end of the Babylonish captivity, the night he and his people were then in; set his face to seek the Lord by prayer and supplication, and had the time of the Messiah’s coming made known to him (4): and whilst you are enquiring either after the spiritual reign of Christ, or his second coming to judgment, enquire with modesty and humility; not indulging a vain curiosity, or looking into things that you ought not, and which are not written; or fixing times and seasons which God has put in his own power. Return to the Lord by faith and repentance, from whom you have backslidden in doctrine and practice; who invites you so to do with promises of a gracious reception, and with the healing of all your backslidings: as you are of the Sardian church, hear what is said unto you; be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die—remember her how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent (Revelation 3:2, 3); remember from whom and from what you have gone back; and do your first works of faith and love, and hold fast the old doctrines of the Reformation, then heard and received, and abide by them. Come to the Lord as humble penitents; let backsliders come for the fresh application of pardoning grace and mercy; let sensible sinners come to the person, blood and righteousness of Christ for justification and salvation; let them come to his word, and to his ordinances; The Spirit and the bride say, Come; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17); and such who come to Christ aright, will hear another day those words spoken to them; Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).