268 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SER. VIII.
glory which he communicates to his people ; he is glorified in the glory which resulteth to him from their glory. And this expression showeth both — (1.) The certainty of this effect of his coming ; for it is more than if he had said they shall be glorified. Surely Christ will not be want- ing to his own glory, and therefore he cannot be wanting to the salvation of his people ; he will not forget those things which make for his own honour, and the honour of his Father. If his glory be concerned in our glorification, we may be the more confident of it. (2.) The greatness is seen also in this expression , for how is Christ glorified in the saints ? Christ may be glorified two ways — (1.) Passively and objectively ; (2.) Actively, as he is lauded and praised in the saints ; or in other terms, he is glorified in them and by them. The first is most proper here ; for it is said, ' He shall come to be glorified in his saints.'
[1.] Objectively. God is glorified by impression. So all his creatures glorify him ; that is, offer matter to set forth his glory : Ps. cxlv. 10, ' All thy works praise thee, all thy saints bless thee.' In this lower world, man is the mouth of the creation, they ascribe and give God the glory of his excellencies ; but all creatures yield the matter of God's praise, they are the harp well stringed and tuned, though man maketh the music ; and above all, new creatures : Eph. i. 12, ' That we should be to the praise of his glory ; ' not speak, but be. There is more of God seen in the new creature than there is in anything on this side heaven. The very work of the new creation sets forth his goodness, wisdom, and power, to all attentive beholders; though the believer should be silent, the work would speak for itself ; but especially now, when his work is perfect and brought to an issue, and Christ hath put to his last hand, and done all to and for believers which he means to do.
[2.] Actively, by expression or ascription of praise. So it is said, Ps. 1. 23, ' Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me ; ' that is, it is an emi- nent means of glorifying God when we take notice of his excellencies, have a due apprehension of them, and delight ourselves in the com- memoration of his benefits. Believers are now bound to it, for therefore they were called out of darkness into his marvellous light, that they might show forth his praises, 1 Peter ii. 9, rets aperas, objectively and actively. His goodness, power, and wisdom in their conversion ; much more then Christ's great power in raising them from the dead, Eph. i. 19. His wisdom in conducting and guiding his people to this happi- ness, notwithstanding their own weakness, and the opposition of their adversaries, and the cross events by the way : Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace ; ' ' Then shall I know as also I am known,' 1 Cor. xiii. 12. His goodness in pardoning all their sins, and giving them the glorious effect of his promises, and in rewarding his people, otherwise unworthy of so great a reward : 1 Peter i. 13, ' Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.' Then is grace seen in all its graciousness.
Second expression, that ' Christ will be admired in those that believe.' We admire at those things which exceed knowledge and expectation, at great things never seen before, nor could the heart of
VER. 10.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 269
man conceive they should ever be brought to pass. Now that glory shall exceed all our hope and expectation.
But who are the parties that shall wonder ?
They are either — (1.) The good angels ; or, (2.) The wicked ; (3.) The saints themselves. The good angels shall praise God for this wonderful discovery of his grace. The wicked shall stand wondering at this great change, the saints themselves shall be ravished at the sense and thought of it.
1. The good angels. Though they are but the spectators, not the parties interested, yet they are marvellously affected with the excellency of this grace and salvation which is brought to sinners by Jesus Christ : 1 Peter i. 12, ' Which things the angels desire to pry into.' They wonder at these things now, and know more of the manifold wisdom of God in his dispensations to the church than otherwise they could have known, Eph. hi. 10. They see more of God in this than in any of his other works. In the state of the church upon earth, God discovers much of his wisdom, power, and goodness to the angels, much more in the final glorious estate of the saints ; therefore Christ speaketh of con- fessing and owning his people before the angels, for they look after these things : Kev. iii. 5, ' I will confess his name before my Father and his angels.' Now when Christ employeth their ministry in gathering his saints together, they shall stand wondering at the glory which he putteth upon them, they shall stand wondering what he means to do with creatures that are but newly crept out of dust and rottenness.