It hath the beauty and glory of justification, which doth not only take away all filthy garments, causing iniquity to pass away, but also gives fair " change of raiment," Zech. iii. 4, 5, even the " garments of salvation," and the "robe of righteousness," Isa. Ixi. 10. And then it hath the glory and beauty of sanctification ; whence " the King's daughter is all glorious within," Ps. xlv. 13. The comeliness and beauty that is in a sanctified soul is above all the glory of the world. This house is all overlaid with gold within; Christ is unto it "a head of gold," Cant. v. 11. His house is not like Nebuchadnezzar's image, that the head should be of gold, and the members some of them of clay; — they all partake of his nature, and are very glorious therein.
Idhj. In respect of its outward structure, which it eminently hath in all the peculiar assemblies thereof: " O thou afflicted, and tossed with tempest, and not comforted ! behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and thy foundations with sapphires. I will make thy windows of agates and carbuncles, and all th}' borders of pleasant stones," Isa. liv. 11, 12. So, also, where it is called the new Jeru- salem,— a city, from its laws and polity, — this " city" is said to be of " pure gold,"- — not dross and mire, — " the building of the wall of
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jasper, and the foundations of the wall garnished with all manner of precious stones/' Rev. xxi. 18, 19. This is that which the psalmist calls. "The beauty of holiness," Ps. ex. 3. The glory of the ordinances of the gospel is their vigour and purity. There is nothing so glorious as our King on his throne, Christ in his court, this house reigning in the administration of his ordinances: — then " all his garments smell of myiTh, aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces whereby they have made him glad. Kings' daughters are among his honourable women : Tipon his right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir," Ps. xlv. 8, 9. His goings are seen, the goings of our God and King in the sanctuary, Ps. Ixviii. 24, 25, &c. The apostle exalteth the glory of gospel administrations exceedingly above the old tabernacle and temple worship, — which yet was exceeding pompous and glorious. " If," saith he, " the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stead- fastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance ; which glory was to be done away : how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which was done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glori- ous," 2 Cor. iii. 7-11. Let men think as meanly as they please of the spiritual service of God amongst his people, all glory that ever yet appeared in the world was but a bubble to it, — all that God ever instituted before came exceeding short of it. He delights in it who beholds the proud afar off.
Zdly. It is glorious in respect of the exaltation it hath above and the triumph over all its opposers. To see a house, a palace, hung round about with ensigns, spoils, and banners taken from the enemies that have come against it, is a glorious thing: — thus is this house of God decked : " Kings of armies did flee apace, and she that tarried at home divided the spoil," Ps. Ixviii. 12. " She that tames at home," the mother of the family, the church of God, she " hath all the spoils." The Lord hath aflirmed, that not only every one that opposeth, but all that do not serve this house, shall be utterly destro3^ed, Isa. Ix. 12. There you have the spoil of Pharaoh, and all his host, gathered on the shore of the Red sea, and dedicated m this house, Exod. xv. There you have the robes of Nebuchadnezzar, reserved when iiimself was turned into a beast, Dan. iv. There you have the imperial orna- ments of Diocletian and his companion, casting aside their dominion for very madness that they co\dd not prevail against this house. There is the Itlood of Julian, kept for a monument of vengeance against apostates. There you have the rochets of the prelates of this
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land, hung up of late, with other garments of their adherents, rolled in blood. There is a place reserved for the remaining spoils of the great whore, when she shall be burned, and made naked, and deso- late, Rev. xi. Never any rose, or shall arise, against this house, and go forth unto final prosperity. Let the men of the world take heed how they burden themselves with the foundation-stone of this house ; — it will assuredly break them all in pieces.
Thus have I given you a glimpse of this house, with the chief properties of it, which as God assumes as his own, so also peculiarly it belongs unto the Lord Christ; yea, what relation it stands in unto him, or rather he unto it, is the main thing I intend.