1. That whereas the end of all human wisdom in nations, or the rulers of them, is to preserve human society in peace and quietness, within the several bounds and allotments that are given unto them by the providence of God, it so comes to pass, for the most part, through the righteous judgment and wise disposal of God, that it hath a con- trary end, and bringeth forth contrary effects thi-oughout the world. Do not the inhabitants of the earth generally owe all their disturb- ance, soiTOw, and blood to the wise contrivance of a few men, not knowing how to take the law of then' proceedings from the mouth of God, but laying their deep counsels and politic contrivances in a subserviency to their lusts and ambition? And what gioiy is there in that, which almost constantly brings forth contrary effects to its own proper end and intendment?
2. That God delights to mix a spirit of giddiness, error, and folly in the counsels of the wise men of the world ; making them reel and stagger in their way like a drunken man, that they shall not know what to do, but commonly, in their greatest concernments, fix upon things as devoid of tme reason and sound wisdom as any children or fools could close withal. " He taketh the wise in then own crafti- ness; and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong," Job v. 13, 14; — so at large, Isa. xix. 11-14. And now where is their glory? I could give instances of both these, and that plentifully, in the days
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and seasons that have passed over our own heads. The hke also may- be said of the strength, the power, the armies of any people, — if their number and wisdom be vain, be no glory; their strength, which is but the result or exurgency of their number and wisdom, must needs be so also. But you have all this summed up together, Jer. ix. 23, 24, " Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man gloiy 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." It is neither Avisdom, nor might, nor riches, that is our glory; but our interest in Jehovah only.
This, I say, is in the presence of Christ only.
Now, Christ may be said to be present with a people two ways.
(L) In respect of the dispensation of his gospel amongst them, the profession of it, and subjection to the ordinances thereof The gospel of Christ is a blessed gospel, — a glorious gospel in itself, and unto them that embrace it. But yet this profession, separated from the root from which it ought to spring, is not the glory of any people ; Christ is not their glory luho are his shame. Empty profession is the shame of Chiist in the world, and shall not be others' glory. The apostle tells us that this may consist with a litter of imclean lusts ; making them in whom it is abominable to God and man, 2 Tim. iii. 4, 5. If the bare profession of the truth would render a nation glorious, oh, how glorious Avere this nation ! So would have been the people of old, who cried, " The temple of the Lord ! the temple of the Lord ! " But when men profess the truth of Christ, but in their hearts and ways maintain and manifest an enmity to the power of that truth, and to all of Christ that is in reality in the world, — this is no glory.
(2.) Christ is present with a people in and by his Spirit, — dwelling in their hearts by his Spirit and faith, uniting them to himself. I do not distinguish this from the former, as inconsistent with it ; for though the former may be without this, yet where this is there will be the former also. Profession may be Avithout union; but union Avill bring forth profession. There may be a form of godliness without poAver ; but Avhere the poAver is, there Avill be the appearance also. Noav, when Christ is thus present Avith a people, — that is, [Avhen] they are united to him by his Spirit, — they are members of his mystical body; — that is their glory. Be they foAV or many in a nation that are so, they are the glory of that nation, and nothing else: and w-here there is the most of them, there is the most gloiy; and Avliere they are diminished, there the glory is eclipsed. Christ mystical, the head and his body, is all the glory that is in the Avorld. If any nation be glo- rious and lionourable above others, it is because of this presence of
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Christ in that nation. Christ is the glory of his saints, Isa. iv. 2, — in him they glory, Isa. xlv. 25; and the saints are Christ's glory, 2 Cor. viii. 23. They are the glory of Christ, and he glories in them; as God of Job, to Satan: " Hast thou considered my servant Job?" chap. i. 8. He doth, as it were, glory in him against the wickedness of the world ; and Christ in them, and they in him, are all the glory of this world. So Zech. ii. 8, Christ was in the pursuit of the collection of his people from their dispersion. What seeks he after, — what looks he for? He goes " after the glory;" even to find out them who are God's glory in the world.