3. This presentation is applied to Christ himself. Now two ways is Christ said to present us — (1.) To himself ; (2.) To God.
[1.] To himself; that is spoken of in the text, which is nothing else but his assuming and taking us home to himself, according to the marriage covenant and contract. As when Esther was chosen to be wife to the great king Ahasuerus, she was first to be prepared, and to accom- plish the months of her purification, Esther ii. ; so first Christ sauctifieth and cleanseth us by the word and ordinances, and then he presentetli us to himself, as a bride made. ready for the solemn day of espousals.
[2.] To God ; so it is said. Col. i. 22, ' To present you lioly, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight ; ' that is, of God the Father ; for the antecedent you find, ver. 19, 'It pleased the Father.' Now Christ's presenting us to God may be looked upon —
(1.) As an account of his charge, as having done the work for which he was sent into the world. Christ as mediator hath an office and trust committed to him, of which he must give an account ; for so he ia God's, 1 Cor. iii. 23, and 1 Cor. xi. 3, ' The head of Christ is God,' and he must give an account to him. Now this account he giveth when he doth present himself and all his flock to God, saying, Heb. ii. 13, 'Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.' Blessed are they that shall appear in that company and congregation, when they shall be presented to God as a prey snatched out of the teeth of the lion.'
(2.) As an act of rejoicing in his own success ; as a minister taketh- delight in those whom by grace he hath gained to God : ' What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? ' 1 Thes. ii. 19. ISo our Lord himself rejoiceth to see the proof and virtue of his death, and that his blood was not shed in vain. This is recompense enough for all his sufferings : Isa. liii. 11, ' He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.' The words may be understood of foresight when it was designed, or of sight when it was accomplished. And some good inter-
490 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeB. XXXII.
preters understand, * Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,' Heb. xii. 2 ; that he had in his eye as a reward of his siififerings his numerous seed, or the church of the saints, whom he should purify and set apart for God.
(3.) As an act of his love and recompense to the faithful, who have owned him in the world. Christ will own them before God, men, and angels, be they never so mean and despicable here upon earth : Luke xii. 8, ' Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall also the Son of man confess before tlie angels of God ; ' Kev. iii. 5, ' But I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.' Christ will solemnly and honourably own them as his, and given to him in the great day, when all the holy angels shall be })resent. Therefore we should often think of this solemn presentation, that we may not be ashamed of Christ in the world.
Thirdly, I observe in the text, that those who are presented to Christ, and by Christ to God, is his church, and is a glorious church : ' That he might present it to himself,' evSo^ov riiv eKKkrjcTLav. This is often spoken of in scripture. I shall produce but two places ; the first is Col. iii. 3, 4, ' Our life is hid with Christ in God; but when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear with him in glory.' The life of a chiistian now is a glorious life, but it is a hidden life. The spiritual life is hidden under the natural : Gal. i. 22, ' And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ.' And hidden under the veil of infirmities and weaknesses : 2 Cor. xii. 10, ' Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities.' And the obscurity and meanness of their condition : Heb. xi. 36-38, ' And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings ; yea, moreover, of bonds and impiison- ment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword ; they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, affiicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy : they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.' Reproaches : 1 Peter iv. 14, ' If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you ; ' 2 Cor. vi. 8, ' By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true. ' They are counted a company of dissemblers, and yet they are the faithful servants of the most high God. But the glory of our life is manifested when Christ is manifested and doth appear. God's children are owned before the world : Rom. viii. 19, ' For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.' And there is no weakness or infelicity to obscure our life ; because of our relation to the Lord of glory, we are made glorious. The other place is 2 Thes. i. 10, * When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.' Mark, first, the apostle doth not say, the saints shall be glorified, but Christ shall be glorified in them, that is, objectively, because of the glory he puts upon them. Again, he doth not say, Christ shall be glorified in himself ; though that is true, for his glory shall be revealed also : 1 Peter iv. 13, •That when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy ; ' but Christ shall be 'glorified in the saints;' there shall a glory result to Christ from the glory he bestowetli on