[3.] The third word is ' immortality,' a<i>dapaiav, incorruption. All
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the glory and honour of the world soon fadeth away. If our fame survive us, what good will it do us when we are dead ? Alas ! it is but a poor shadow of tliat eternal glory and lionour which Christ will ])ut upon the saints. Their glory is immortal, and never withereth. The glory and honour of the world is uncertain ; their hosanua is soon turned into a crucifige, crucify him : 2 Sam. xix. 43, 'We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye.' And in the very next verse, chap. xx. 1, ' We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse : every man to his tents, 0 Israel.' They who but just now claimed ten parts in David, presently disclaim and disown him, as having no part in him at all; so suddenly are men's affections and esteem of us altered. And as our glory perisheth, so we perish, even the best of men : Acts xiii. 36, ' David after he had served his own generation, by the will of God fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.' What a deal ado men keep to get praise and honour in the world ; but what doth this profit you when you are dead, and must be laid in the grave with others? But the saints look higher. As they seek ' glory and honour,' so they seek incorruption or ' immortality ; ' a glory which will abide with them, and tliey with it, to all eternity.
Thus we have considered the words apart. Now why are so many heaped up together ? It is not done casually ; the same is observed elsewhere : 1 Peter i. 7, ' That your faith may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.' Now this is done partly to represent the fulness of this blessed and glorious estate. The honour which Christ puts upon his servants at his appearing is manifold. Many words cannot express it ; they shall be much com- mended, and gloriously rewarded. And partly to recompense and make up the shame and disgrace of our trials. How infamous soever Christ's servants be in the world, yet they are glorious with God, and honourable in his sight ; and ' when Christ shall appear, they shall appear with him in glory,' Col. iii. 4. Well, now, this is the object of the expectation.
2. Their respect to it ; they seek it. Seeking implies two things — (1.) An hearty desire ; (2.) An earnest endeavour in the use of means.
[1.] An hearty desire ; for seeking is the earnest desire of a thing lost or absent. The seeking of this glory, honour, and immortality implieth an earnest desire of it, as appeareth by Col. iii. 1, 2, ' If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above ; ' which is further expressed by, ' Set your affections upon things above.' And this is not a slight desire, but such a desire as prevaileth above the desires of other things ; such an affection to them as is not controlled by other affections : Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.' First, tliat is, so as our pursuit of other things doth not cross our affections to these. Many desire heaven and glory, but they are soon put out of the humour, and take up with the pleasures, and honours, and profits of the world, and they become slaves to their fleshly appetites and senses, and the good things here below.
[2.] Seeking implieth diligence and an earnest endeavour, such as the woman used that sought her lost groat : Heb. xiii. 14, * Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.' If we desire it,
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and long after it, something must be done in order tliereimto. As our desires are greater, so our endeavours will be greater than after worldly things ; for to seek is to bestow our earnest care and serious diligence upon it. See how it is expressed in scripture ; by labour : John vi. 27, ' Working,' and * working out ; ' Phil. ii. 12, by ' pressing towards it ; ' Phil. iii. 14, by ' striving ; ' Luke xiii. 24, because we meet with opposition. You must not think to come to the enjoyment of this great happiness with idleness and cold wishes. No ; we must be at pains, and such pains as flesh and blood will count hard labour. Well, now, we may from hence conclude the first part of the mark of the heirs of promise.
(1.) By the object; they are distinguished from the wicked and carnal part of the world, who covet the honours, riches, and pleasures of the present life ; but these are engaged in a more noble design ; they ' seek glory, and honour, and immortality ; ' that is, they seek not vainglory, but labour to make themselves truly glorious, honourable, and immortal.
(2.) Again from the object and act together ; they distinguish themselves from all infidels and unbelievers ; for they ' seek glory and honour' where it is to be found, and in the way wherein it is to be found, and so go upon sure grounds. They are ascertained by the truth of God's word, and depend upon it, that if they seriously set themselves to obey and honour God in the world, they shall have glory and honour with him : 1 Sam. ii. 30, ' Those that honour me, I will honour ; ' John xii. 26, ' If any man serve me, him shall my Fatber honour ; ' and elsewhere. Upon this they are certain.