2. The second aggravation, ' They glory in their shame,' that is, in their riches and worldly conveniences.
[1.] That which a man prizeth most he will glory in. Now for christians to glory in a life of pomp and ease is to glory in their shame. What a man prizeth most, he will glory in it, boast of it, be it wealth or honour, or wit and parts, or else the Lord : Jer. ix. 23, 24, ' Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches : but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord.' Man will be glorying in something or another, in that which he esteemeth his excellency. Glorying signifieth the apprehension of the good of the thing we glory in, and our benefit by
140 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SER. XIV.
it ; it is the content and joy which we take in any benefit, expressed to others, for the glory of God and their good. So Gal. vi. 14, ' But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world.' True christians will renounce all carnal glorying ; if they glory in any- thing, it will be in God and Christ. It is lawful, if it be a true excellency, to glory in the good things of God bestowed on them, as evidences of his love and approbation of them : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in this world, and more abundantly to you- wards.' If it be for the glory of God and good of others ; for it is the design of the carnal world to vilify the works of grace in the hearts of the sanctified. If it be for the glory of God : 1 Cor. xv. 10, ' But by the grace of God I am what I am ; and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; for I laboured more abundantly than they all ; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.' Or if it be for the good of others, to incite them to like experiences : Ps. xxxiv. 8, ' Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good ; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.'
[2.] The true object of glorying is God and Christ : Jer. ix. 23, 24, ' Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches : but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth ; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord ; ' Jer. iv. 2, ' Thou shalt swear, the Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness ; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory; ' 1 Cor. i. 30, 31, ' But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption ; that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.' To have all this in Christ is matter of glory.
[3.] Not only benefits, but disgraceful sufferings for Christ should be more to us than all the world : Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt ; ' Acts v. 41, ' And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name ; ' 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10, ' Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.'
[4.] A mortified estate is a greater cause of glory than an exalted, because it is a far greater mercy : Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' Paul, it he were lord of all the wealth and honours in the world, he would not glory in them ; if he had all the pleasures which the flesh can desire, he would not glory in them ; if he had all the applause man can give him, he would not glory in that ; but he would glory in the cross of Christ, by whom the world is crucified to him, and he unto the
VER. 19.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 141
world. And James i. 9, 10, ' Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, but the rich in that he is made low.' The word is KavyaaQw, glory, that is, let him express his satisfaction and content- ment that he is preferred by grace or humbled by grace. To have a weaned heart, whether our condition be high or low, is a greater mercy than we have in all the world, because of its tendency to everlasting happiness.