6. We may expect this glory, certainly, lawfully.
[1.] With certainty and confidence : 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me,' &a. All the former arguments prove that; the first was taken from God's general justice, which requireth that those that differ in their course should have a different reward, shame or glory ; that they that honour God should be honoured, and they that despise him should be lightly esteemed, 1 Sam. ii. 23 ; for God will do nothing contrary to order or necessity. The second was taken from the order or necessary precedency of work before wages, and striving before crowning, or suffering before reigning : 2 Thes. ii. 13, ' God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.' And if the one go before, the other will follow after. The third was taken from the inspection of
336 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALON1ANS I. [SeR. XV-
Christ, who taketh exact notice of every man's work, whether they oppose or advance his kingdom : Eev. ii. 2, ' I know thy works, thy labour, and thy patience.' And Christ knoweth it to reward it. The fourth from the promise, which assure th it to us ; and we may certainly depend on God's promise. ' Hath he spoken, and will he not fulfil it ? ' The last is taken from the suitableness. The instruments of God's glory are also objects of his grace, both in this world and the next; thus they are but translated to another place, to continue the same work. They are worthy, Kev. iii. 4, they were not defiled, therefore they shall walk in white, &c. All these are grounds of confidence.
[2.] We may lawfully and without blame expect it.
(1.) Without danger of insincerity. Christ, who would mortify us to all other glory, doth allow us and require us to seek the glory that eometh of God only : John v. 44, ' How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour which eometh of God only ? ' To hunt after glory with men is our sin ; but to seek the glory which eometh of God is our duty. Ambitious affectation of worldly honour destroyeth faith, but the pursuit of glory and blessed- ness to come feedeth it ; so that we are allowed to wait for the honour of eternal exaltation. The difference between the godly and the carnal is not that the one seek honour and glory, and the other not. No ; they both seek honour and glory, but the one seek it in vain things which pervert and taint their souls, the other in solid and substantial blessedness, which ennobleth them, and possesseth them with a divine spirit. So the heirs of promise are described to be those that ' seek for glory, honour, and immortality, by patient continuance in well- doing,' Bom. ii. 7. They seek it from God, and they seek it in the way of their duty. Media movent bonitate finis — The means move by the goodness of the end.
(2.) Without danger of presumption ; for they do not seek it as the fruit of their own merit, but as the gift of God's grace and covenant. That your hearts may be kept right in this matter, I shall show you that though Christ be never so much glorified in us, yet we merit not that we should be glorified in him.
(1st.) Because Christ is the Lord of glory, James ii. 1, 1 Cor. ii. 8, the fountain of all glory and honour, and so needeth nothing from his creature, but only cloth condescend to take glory from his people ; and therefore, when we have done and suffered never so much for him, we are but unprofitable servants : Luke xvii. 10, ' We have done but our duty.' The fountain receiveth nothing, needeth nothing from the stream, but the stream oweth all to the fountain. The elders, Kev. iv. 10, did cast their crowns at the Lamb's feet,' to express their humility, as unworthy to wear a crown in his presence, and to express their gratitude, for hereby they profess they have and hold all from him ; lie must alone have the glory.
(2d) Because that grace whereby we glorify him is given us of Christ ; and so he doth but crown his own gifts in us : John xvii. 22, ' And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them.' What glory is that ? Not the essential glory of his person as God, for that glory he will not give to another, Isa. xlii. 8 ; nor the glory of his office as mediator, for we are not made redeemers and saviours ; nor the glory of apostleship
VER. 12.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 337
and ministry, for that is not given to all believers ; but the sanctifica- tion of our nature by the grace of his Spirit ; for as Christ was sancti- fied and anointed by the Holy Ghost, so are we. And this is called glory, because it is the glorious image of God ; this is the glory we lost in Adam, Rom. iii. 23, aud which is restored to us by Christ : 2 Cor. iii. 18, 'We are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.' This is the grace which eunobleth and perfecteth our natures, and enableth us to act and suffer gloriously. Now this grace, being wholly given us by Christ, we merit not.