3. More deeply esteemed, that God may be more in request, more in the hearts of men and angels. God's children do not count it enough that God is glorified by themselves, but they desire also that God may be glorified by others. As fire turneth all things near it into its own nature, so is grace diffusive. Good men are loath to go to heaven alone, they would travel thither by troops and in company.
But let us more particularly take a view of this ascription ; and so first what is ascribed, glory, majesty, dominion, and poive?\ Let us open these words. Glory is clara cum laude notitia, excellency dis- covered with praise and approbation, and noteth that high honour and esteem that is due to Christ. Majesty is the next word, which im- plieth such greatness and excellency as maketh one honoured and pre- ferred above all, therefore a style usually given to kings ; but to none so due as unto Christ, who is ' King of kings, and Lord of lords.' The third term is dominion, which implieth the sovereignty of Christ over all things, especially over the people whom he hath purchased with his blood. The last word is power, which signifieth that all-sufficiency in God, whereby he is able to do all things according to the good pleasure of his v/ill.
From hence observe: —
Ohs. 6. A gracious heart hath such a sense of God's worth and per- fection, that it would have all tilings that are honourable and glorious ascribed to him ; therefore are divers words here used. When we have done our utmost we come short ; for God's name is ' exalted above all blessing, and above all praise,' Neh. ix. 5. Yet it is good to do as much as we can. Love to God will not be satisfied with a little praise: ' I will praise him yet more and more.' Love enlargeth the heart towards God. If there be anything more excellent he shall have it.
374 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [YeR. 25.
Well, then, it is a sign of a dead heart to be a niggard in praises, to be sparing, careless, or cold this way.
Obs. 7. When we think of God, it is a relief to the soul to consider of his glory, majesty, dominion, and power ; for this is that which the apostle would have to be manifested, acknowledged, and esteemed in God, as the ground of our respect to him. It encourageth us in our service. We need not think shame of his service, to whom glory, and power, and majesty, and dominion belongeth. It hearteneth us against dangers. Surely the great and glorious God will bear us out in his work. It increaseth our awe and reverence. Shall we serve God in such slight fashion as we would not serve the governor ? Mai. i. 8. It is a lessening of God's majesty. You do not treat him as a ' great and glorious potentate,' Mai. i. 14. It inviteth our prayers. To whom should we go in our necessities but to him that hath dominion over all things, and power to dispose of them for the glory of his majesty? It increaseth our dependence. God is glorious, and will maintain the honour of his name, and truth of his promises. When we are daunted by earthly potentates, it is a relief to think of the majesty of God, in comparison of which all earthly grandeur is but the dream of a shadow. Again, God, that hath a sovereignty over all things, and such an almighty power to l)ack it, will not be wanting to do that which shall make for his glory.
Obs. 8. The next consideration in this ascription is the duration, noiu and ever. Thence note : — The saints have such large desires for God's glory, that they would have him glorified everlastingly, and without ceasing. They desire the present age may not only glorify God, but the future. When they are dead and gone the Lord remaineth ; and they would not have him remain without honour. They do not take death so bitterly, if there be any hopes that God will have a people to praise him. And their great comfort now is the expectation of a ' great congregation,' gathered from the four winds, united to Christ, presented to God, that they may remain with him, and glorify him for evermore. It is the comfort of their hearts to see this congregation a- making up every day, that there are saints and angels to praise God, whilst others grieve and dishonour him. They prize their own salva- tion upon this ground, that they shall live for ever to glorify God for ever : see Eph. iii. 21 ; Ps. xli. 1 3, and cvi. 48. Now this they do, partly from their love to God's glory, which they prize above their own salvation, Kom. ix. 3 ; partly in thankfulness to God for his ever- lasting love to them. God is from everlasting to everlasting, and his love is from everlasting to everlasting, Ps. ciii. 17. He was their God, and will be their God for ever and ever, and therefore they purpose to be his people, and to praise him for ever and ever. Well, then, get these large desires for God's glory, that he may be honoured in all ages, and in all places, Ps. cxiii. 2, 3. What have ye done in a ten- dency hereunto, that posterity may praise God ? Do you labour to promote the knowledge of Christ, and the succession of churches, all the ways that you can ? Zeal in your place is a good argument that you are well-atfected in this kind. As a master of a family, hast thou taken care to keep religion alive among thy children when thou art