His justice is glorious in punishing sin in Christ. There sin is odious
in the punishing of Christ, God-man; if we speak of justice, there is justice.
If of mercy, to put it upon our surety, for God to give his Son for us,
there is transcendent mercy and transcendent justice in the punishing of
our sin. How could it be punished greater ?
And then the glor}^ of his \^'isdom, to bring these together, infinite mercy and infinite justice, in Chi-ist.
Infinite power, for God to become man, and, without sin, to be so far abased ; a humble omnipotency, to descend so low that God could be mortal, and then to raise himself again.
And then the glory of his truth, that whatsoever was promised to Abra- ham, to David, to the prophets, all was performed in Christ, all the types. Here is glory by Christ of mercy, justice, wisdom, truth ; for all are ' yea and amen ' in Christ. Therefore, he may well say all this is ' to the glory of God.'
Therefore, consider how the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ, as the apostle saith. If you would see God, see him shining ' in the face of Jesus Christ,' 2 Cor. iv. 6, see his mercy shining in Christ, and his justice in the punishing our sin in Christ ; see his truth, his power, his wisdom, shining in Christ, and shining more than in the creation, or in anything in the world besides.
Can you honour God more than in beUeving the gospel ? Can you dis- honour him more, than to call his truth into question, that is ' yea and amen?' If you believe the gospel, you ' set to your seal that God is true," John iii. 33. ^Vhat an honour is this, that God will be honoured by you ! In setting to j-our seal that he is true, you give him the glory of all his attributes. In not believing, what a dishonour do you do to God ! You deny his mercy, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, you deny all his attri-
420 COMMENTABY ON
butcs, ' you make God a liur,' 1 John v. 10. What a horrible sin is unbelief !
Therefore fortify your faith. The devil layeth Biego to our faith above all other things. It he can shako that, he shakes all : for holy life goes when faith goes. Who will love God, or obey God, when he knows not whether he be his God or no '? Let faith flourish, and it will quicken life in the heart. Let the promises grow in the heart, and the word be gi'afted in the heart, and all will flourish in a Christian's life. All will come oft' clearly and freely. Obedience will be cheerful and free, when we see God reconciled in Christ. Then love will be full of devices. When I see God's love to me, what shall I do to shew love again, to shew thanks to God ? Where is there any that for God's sake I may do good unto ? How shall I maintain the truth, and resist all opposers of the truth ? Can I do too much for him that hath done so much for me ? Love quickens. The devil knows if he can shake faith he shakes all. Let us fortify faith, and we glorify God more than by anything else. He is glorious in the gospel, and how shall he be so by us, except we set our hearts to believe him ? Therefore let us seal God's truth by our faith, and ' set to our seals that God is tnie.' God vouchsafes to be honoured by weak sinful men believ- ins of him : and that faith that honours him he will be sm-e to honour.
' By us.' By us ministers. How ? When the gospel is preached, God is carried in triumph, as it were, and his banner is set up, and the pro- mises displayed, and sinners called unto him ; and God is glorified by the discovery of these things, and faith is wrought in people to whom they are discovered ; and they glorify God when they believe : they bless God that ever they heard these tidings. So eveiy way God is glorified.
The ministers they open, as it were, the box of sweet ointment, that the savour of it may be in the chui'ch, and spread far. They lay open the tapestry, the rich treasure of God's mercies : the}' dig deep, and find out the treasure. Therefore these promises in Scripture being so made and performed in Christ, they tend to God's gloiy, but by us, by our ministry. God, to knit man and man together, will convey the good he means to con- vey by the despised ministry.
The enemies, therefore, of the ministry of the gospel, what are they ? Here is a double prejudice against them : they are enemies of the glory of God, and of the comfort of God's people, for they glorify God in the sense of his mercy. When it is unfolded to them, God gets glory, and they comfort.
What do we think then of Popish spirits, that feed the people onW with dead and dull ceremonies ? But let them go. I go on to the next verse, having dwelt somewhat long on this.