world, and hope of
immortality, than has been come to before. He would have them be as men
waiting for the Bridegroom, and this their exercise,--every one in his
generation standing with his loins girded, and his shoes put on ready for
the journey, and his lamp in his hand, Luke xii. 37; Mark xiii.; Matt.
xxv. He would have all walking as if the day of judgment were to-morrow,
as if the King of saints were now entering into the city, and all
believers should go out to meet him as their King bringing salvation.

This then is the posture of the world, all things are near run, the
fashion of this world passes away, 1 Cor. vii. 29: and the same
exhortation is here pressed. This then, I say, is the state all things ye
see are in, it is their old age. The creation now is an old rotten house,
that is all dropping through, and leaning to the one side. The creature is
now subject to vanity and groaning, Rom. viii. 21, 22. The day is not far
hence, that this habitable world must be consumed, and O! but many a man's
god and idol will then be burnt to ashes. 2 Pet. iii. 10-12, "The heavens
shall pass away with a great noise," &c. God hath suffered men to live
long in this world, that they might come to repentance, and he hath kept
it so long for the elect's sake. If it had not been for them, the world
should not be unburied till six hours at night;(523) but when he hath
gathered in all the election, then shall an end be put to all the
administrations of kingdoms, all governments, all nations. Think ye that
God had so much respect to the world, or to the kings of it? No, he would
put an end to all the kingdoms of the world, and never let them make their
testament, if the elect were completed. If Christ were completed, there
would be no marrying or giving in marriage, no more food and raiment, no
more laws and government, all your fair lands and buildings must go to the
fire. Now ask the question that Peter asks, "Seeing all things shall be
dissolved, what manner of conversation ought ye to have?" And here it is
answered, "Be sober, and watch unto prayer." Ask at Paul, and he will tell
you, (1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31.) "The time is short," what remains then, but
that he that marries be as they who marry not, they that weep as they that
wept not, &c. So then here is the duty of those who look for Christ's
second coming; Christ hath left it with you till he come again, and put an
end to all things: "be ye sober and vigilant." But consider