3. He comes in great glory, that he may be as a pledge and pattern and cause of our glory. Christ's coming is still suited to his work. There is his first coming, and that is in humility, for we fell by pride ; he came to redeem us, therefore he comes humbly and lowly, in the form of a servant, as one that came to suffer, not to ruffle it in the world, and tread upon the necks of kings. Then there is his spiritual coming into the heart to sanctify it ; this coming is invisible ; it is with great power, but hidden. But when becomes to glorify us, his coming is suitable to his work, that is visible in power and great glory ; there- fore it is said. Col. iii. 3, ' When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory,' Christ is to have all first, and we at secondhand, when he comes in grace : John xvii. 10, ' For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified througb the truth,' So we must be glorified at secondhand ; first Christ, and then we.
4. Christ comes not simply to glorify us, but to bring the saints to heaven with the more state. 0 cliristians ! remember Christ thinks he can never do you honour enough. Christ doth not send for us, but he will come in person : John xiv. 3, '' I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.' Look, as the bridegroom comes with the youth and flower of the city, to bring in his bride in state, so Christ brings the flower of heaven, all his holy angels, to conduct us in state to our everlasting mansions.
5. He comes in glory, that all creatures might see his glory to the full. Men and angels were made for this spectacle, that they might behold the glory of Christ It was evidenced in part at the resurrection :
228 SEEMONS UPON TITUS II, 11-14. [SeR. XVII.
Rom. i. 4, ' And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from tlie dead.' But that was but a private and more covert declaration to the Jews ; and when it was published to the world in the gospel, many believed not. We have the spiritual evidences of it to faith, but not to sense and sight. But now the personal union shall fully and undeniably appear, which before appeared but in part ; he is now declared to be the great God.
6. His appearing shall be glorious, because then Christ shall have the full conquest over all his enemies. Some of his enemies are still let alone for our exercise ; Satan is not destroyed. The infernal spirits are held with the chains of an irresistible providence, and shall then be brought trembling into the presence of Christ : Jude 16, ' The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day.' They are now in expectation of greater doom and terror : Mat. viii. 29, ' Art thou come hither to torment us before the time ? ' The good angels come forth as Christ's companions, the evil angels as his prisoners. The saints shall judge angels as well as men : 1 Cor. vi. 3, 'Know ye not that we shall judge angels ? ' Christ will have his people come and set their feet upon the necks of their enemies ; for the present God hath a ministry for them ; but though the devils now tempt, trouble, and molest the saints for their exercise, yet then the saints shall trimph over them, when they shall be brought like captives into Christ's presence.
Use 1. For information in two things —
1. That humility is the way to glory. This lesson we learn from the two comings of Christ, first in an humble manner, and then in a glorious manner. The devils aspired after greatness ; they would be great and not good. The fallen angels set us an ill copy, but Christ came to set us a better. He came not from heaven to teach us to make worlds and work miracles, but to teach us to be humble and lowly : Mat. xi. 29, ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.' The way to spiritual preferment is to be low and vile in our own eyes ; as the ball that is beaten down riseth the higher.
2. We learn what cause we have to be patient under present abasement. Jesus Christ is contented for a while to lie hid, and not to show himself in all his glory till the end of the world. In the days of his flesh he was trampled upon by wicked men ; and now he is in heaven, he is despised in his gospel, in his cause, and in his ser- vants, though his person be above abuse ; but he is content to tarry till the day of manifestation, when he will appear in all his glory ; so should we.