ously. That is a brave text : Daniel xi. 32, ' And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupted by batteries.' Mark the latter words, ' but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.' Oh ! take one that knows God internally, mystically, and spiritually, from union, and from being taken into heavenly com- munion with God, and he will act bravely and strongly for God. Alas ! take a Christian that hath merely sucked in notions, and is only able for discourse, but hath no internal experimental know- ledge of God, you shall never find him guilty of doing exploits, of doing glorious things for God and his saints. No ! ' the people that know God,' — he speaks of the internal, spiritual knowledge of God, of knowledge in the mystery ; — and thus to know him will enable a man to do exploits, to do glorious things. Oh, if God would raise up parliament-men, and men in the army, and in the city, and round the kingdom, to more internal knowledge, to more spiritual acquaint- ance with himself, we should find that they would do abundantly more gloriously. But it is for want of an internal, spiritual know- ledge of God that men are treacherous, and base, and unfaithful, and prove apostates, and neuters, and anything. As you would do glorious and honourable things, look to this, that you have an internal know- ledge and spiritual acquaintance with God, and this will enable you to do exploits.
And, then. If you would be enabled to do gloriously, in the second place, you should look upon those examples and worthies that have gone before you, and have done gloriously. So the apostle, Heb. xii. 1, when he would press them to do gloriously, he presseth them into this consideration of those glorious worthies that had gone before : ' Having therefore such a cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience the race that is set before us,' chap. xii. 1. Look to the cloud of wit- nesses, in chap. xi. ; that is another means to help us to do gloriously
Another is this. If you would do gloriously, then keep your evidences for glory always bright and shining ; do not soil your evidences for glory. What made them take joyfully the ' spoiling of their goods,' Heb. x. 34, but this, that they knew in themselves that they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance ? When a man's evidence is bright, that he can run and read his title to heaven, his interest in God, and the glory above, then will he be strong to do exploits ; this will enable a man to do gloriously.
Then, again, If you would do gloriously, look to faith ; give faith scope, give it elbow-room to work. Faith is a noble grace, and will ennoble the soul to do gloriously for God. Faith is that that will carry a man over all difficulties ; faith will untie all knots ; it will carry a man through the valley of dai-kness, though it be never so long ; and over mountains of difticulties, though they be never so high. Faith will not plead ' there is a lion in the way,' and that such and such men will frown if I do this or that for God and the general good. Faith will carry a man bravely over all. You know that story in Hebrews xi. ; you have several instances of the saints doing gloriously. But what enabled them ? It is all along attributed to faith. By the power of faith they did gloriously : they stopped the
332 CHRIST IS the life of believers. [Col. III. 4.
mouths of lions ; they turned to flight the armies of the aliens ; they waxed valiant in fij;ht ; they refused to be delivered, — and all by the power of faith. Oh I faith will enable men to do gloriously. If parlia- ment-men, and men in the army, and in the city, and round the kingdom, did believe more gloriously, they would do more gloriously for God, in their relations and places, than now they do. It springs from want of faith that things work thus basely. Did men believe more gloriously, things would work more gloriously. Therefore, when things work crossly, blame not so much this or that instrument, but blame thy own unbelieving heart ; for glorious faith will see a smiling Father beyond a dark cloud. Though men are at a loss, yet Grod is not at a loss, says faith ; and though tlie arm of man be weak, His arm is strong, says faith ; and though the work be too hard for the arm of flesh, too hard for an army or parliament, it is not too hard for God, says faith. Faith cariies a man gloriously through all. If you would do gloriously, abound in faith, let faith have elbow-room. I shall say no more of this. Though there be other directions, I will rather leave them.
Is it so, that the saints shall be glorious ? Then this serves, in the next place, by way of use, for singular comfort and consolation. Shall the saints at last appear glorious ? It speaks singular comfort to all believers, against all the reproaches, and contempt, and scorn that they may meet with in this world. What though you be scorned, and one saith this, and another saith that ? Here is your comfort : you shall appear glorious. What though this worthy's body be mangled here and there by bloody butchers ? yet this body shall appear glorious at the last. What a singular comfort is it ! The apostle makes the same use from the same consideration : 1 Thes. iv. 15, ' We that are alive and remain shall not prevent them that sleep : for the Lord him- self shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch- angel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the au-, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.' Let the wife comfort herself with these, the brother, the kinsman, the friends of this worthy that now lies in the dust mangled. Oh, comfort yourselves with this consideration, that he shall appear glori- ous at last, with the rest of the glorious renowned saints ! And so this may comfort us against all reproaches, and scorns, and contempts that men throw upon us : and what though the glory of the saints is now hid by prevailing distempers, and afflictions, and poverty? yet here is your comfort, the day is coming when your glory will break out, when your rags shall be taken off, and your glorious robes put on, when God will wii)e away all the dirt and filth that hath been thrown on you by vain spirits. Therefore bear up, brave hearts ! There is a day coming when you shall appear glorious, and it will be but as a day before that day overtake you.
Then, again. If the saints at the last shall appear glorious, then it bespeaks all, in the last place, to long for that day. You shall at the last appear in glory. Oh then long for that day ; cry out with the church, 'Come, liord Jesus, come quickly:' ciy out again with the
Col. III. 4.] christ is the life of believers. 333