VeR. 27.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 491
them. Christ is glorified in the saints two ways — actively, as he is lauded and praised by them, and objectively, or by the impression of glory upon them ; though the saints should be silent, the work would speak for itself. But the other expression is, that Christ will be * admired in those that believe.' We admire at things that exceed knowledge and expectation, or such things as were never seen before, nor could the heart of man conceive how these things should ever be brought to pass. Now this glory will exceed all our hope and expecta- tion. But who shall thus admire ? The good angels, that wonder now at the grace of the Kedeemer : 1 Peter i. 12, ' Which things the angels desire to look into.' They shall wonder then at the final effect, the glory he puts upon his people ; they stand by and admire what Christ meaneth to do with creatures that are but newly crept out of dust and rottenness. The wicked are amazed and astonished when they see them so much loved and honoured whose lives they counted madness and folly ; they counted them the off-scouring of all things, and Christ maketh tliem to shine as the stars in the firmament. Lastly, the saints themselves are filled with wonder, finding their expectation so far exceeded.
But more distinctly, there is a threefold glory put upon the saints — (1.) Relative and adherent; (2.) Intrinsic and inherent; (3.) Cir- cumstantial.
1. The relative glory of the saints standeth in three things —
[1.] In the free and full forgiveness of all our sins ; and our absolu- tion is pronounced by the judge's own mouth sitting on the throne: Acts iii. 19, ' Repent, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' Here we have a right to pardon by the grant of the new covenant ; and it is in part executed, and put into act by the gift of the Spirit ; but then the judge, pro trihunali, doth solemnly declare and determine our right, and absolve and accept us unto life in the sight of all the world ; then is the sentence pronounced, and also executed and put in force ; and ever after do all the effects and fruits of sin cease.
[2.] A participation of judicial power. At the last day the saints are not only judged, but judges: 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3, 'Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world ? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that per- tain to this life ? ' Per modum suffragii, as assessors with Christ on the bench, or assessors in judicature, however they are here reviled, slighted, and persecuted.
[3.] They shall be publicly owned before God and his angels by head and poll, when Christ shall present them to God, and lead them as the shepherd of the sheep into their everlasting fold, as having acquitted themselves to God, conquered temptations, and kept his charge, that Christ may own them without any impeachment of honour to himself : 1 Thes. iii. 13, ' To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.' The pure and holy are then accept- able to him, and shall be presented by him to God, as a full proof of the virtue of his death.
492 SERMONS UPON EPHESIAN'S V. [SeR. XXXII.
2. The glory inherent and internal : Eoiu. viii. 18, ' For T reckon that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to he compared with the gloiy that shall he revealed in us.' Now it is revealed to us, then in us, fully accomplished in our persons, souls, and bodies.
[1.] In our souls. This glorious estate lieth in the sight and fruition of God. Tlie object is glorious: John xvii. 24, 'Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me ; for thou hast loved me be- fore the foundation of the world.' The manner of sight or knowing is glorious : 1 Cor. xiii. 12, ' For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face ; now I know in part, but then sliall I know even as also I am known.' More intimately and more immediately : we shall have the knowledge of the mysteries of salvation, which now we are ignorant of, and know God as truly as God knoweth us.
[2.] In our bodies. There is a great deal of glory put upon the bodies of the saints : Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.' A glimpse was given to us in Christ's transfiguration : Mat. xvii. 2, * And he was trans- figured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.' So when he appeared to Paul from heaven^ his body was wonderfully glorious ; he could not endure the light which shined to him from heaven round about, Acts ix. 3. When the saints shall appear with him in glory, ' the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in tlie Idngdom of the Father,' Mat. xiii. 43.