Now Christ is thus earnest to make us like himself, partly out of his own love ; he cannot satisfy his heart with giving us any inferior privilege. Whatever he had and was, it was for our sakes ; as man, lie received it for us : Ps. Ixviii. 18, ' Thou hast received gifts for men ;' compared with Eph. iv. 8, ' He gave gifts unto men.' His life, righteousness, and glory is for our sakes. Wherefore doth Christ make himself like unto us, but that we might be like unto him ? Partly in obedience to God's counsels and decrees : Rom. viii. 29, ' For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.' There is wisdom in it, primum in unoquoque genere est prcEstantissimum. Christ is the example and pattern set forth by God, and that in our nature ; he is the second Adam, a new root, and it is meet that head and members should suit, otherwise it is monstrous.
Use 1. It showeth who are Christ's, they that are like him ; there is a conformity between them and Christ, first in grace, and then in glory. Here we are like him in soul, in regard of disposition and moral excellences, and in body, in regard of afflictions and weaknesses. Hereafter we shall be like him in soul and body in a glorious manner ; here in holiness, hereafter in happiness. He beginneth with the change of the soul ; the resurrection is TraXcyyeveala, a regeneration, Mat. xix. 28. Then we shall be perfectly renewed ; our carnality is done away by grace, our corruption and mortality by glory. All things are there made new, new bodies, new souls. Glory, it is but the full period of the present change and transformation into Christ's image :
VeR. 22.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 57
2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We are changed into the same image, from glory to glory.' Glory is but the consummation of grace, or our full conformity to Christ, or that final estate which is suitable to the dignity of the children of God. Therefore every one that looketh for eternal life in Christ, must be like him in this life ; they are partakers with him of glory hereafter, because followers of him here. Therefore see, art thou like Christ ? hast thou the image of Christ ? that is our title. Alas ! many are not conformable, but contrary to Christ. Christ spent whole nights in prayer, they in gaming and filthy excess ; it was meat and drink to him to do his Father's will, but it is your burden. Christ was humble and meek, you are proud and disdainful, vain in apparel and behaviour. Were you ever changed ? Till you resemble Christ here, you shall never be like him hereafter.
Use 2. It presseth us to look after this conformity and likeness unto Christ. It is the ground of hope ; you cannot otherwise think of death and judgment to come without horror: 1 John iv. 17, 'Herein is love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment ; because as he is, so are we in the world.' David was not ashamed to own his followers when he was crowned at Hebron, so neither will Christ be ashamed of us if we have followed him. If you profess Christ, and be not like him, Christ will be ashamed of you : Heb. ii.
11, ' For both he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' He is not ashamed to own the saints : if one of your name were stigmatised, and branded with a mark of infamy, you would be ashamed to own him. To this end: —
[1.] Eye your pattern. Christ's life should be ever before your eyes, as the copy is before the scholars : Heb. xii. 2, * Looking unto Jesus,' &c. He hath set forth himself in the word to this end and purpose.
[2.] Often shame thyself that thou comest so much short : Phil. iii.
12, ' 1 follow after, if I may apprehend that for which also I am appre- hended of Jesus Christ.' Alas ! we do but lag behind ; Christ is a great way before. We have so excellent a pattern, that we may never want matter for humiliation and imitation. It is a good sign to desire to come nearer the copy every day.
2. Observe our glory for substance is the same that Christ's i«. In the degree there is a difference, according to the difference that is between head and members. The head weareth the crown and badge of honour, and the eldest son had a double portion. So doth Christ irpcoTeveiv, excel in degrees of everlasting glory, but the substance is the same ; therefore we are said to be ' co-heirs with Christ,' and ' to be glorified with Christ,' Rom. viii. 17. Christ and we hold the same heaven : 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12, ' If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.' More particu- larly, our bodies are like his glorious body: Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.' When the sun ariseth, the stars vanish, their glory is obscured ; but it is not so here. Christ's coming doth not eclipse, but perfect our glory ; the more near Christ is, the more we shine. And so for our souls, they see God and enjoy him ; though not in that same