acquainted with grief." " Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered :" and " he was made perfect through sufferings." In like manner we also must be " a poor and afflicted people11." We must " take up our cross daily, and follow him :" we must be " hated of all men for his sake." " If they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, much more will they those of his household." " The servant cannot expect to be above his Master." We must " follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach." To this also we are predestinated. So St. Paul expressly affirmed respecting himself1 ; and so he affirms respecting us also : " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution^"
We are to be conformed to Christ also in glory. " He is now seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high :" and there shall we also in due time be seated. Yes, " having suf- fered with him, we shall also reign with him," and " be glorified together1." We shall be like him in glory : " our vile body will be fashioned like unto his glorious body"1: our soul also will be changed into his perfect image"; and our blessedness be altogether assimilated to his0. And to all of this also our ■predestination extends. It is not to the means of grace only that " we are chosen, but to salvation itself, and to the obtain- ing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ1'."]
2. The ultimate end respected our Lord Jesus Christ
himself —
[The first-born were entitled to many privileges : to them belonged dominion, and the priesthood, and a double portion of the inheritance. In respect of all the rest of the creation, not excepting even the angels themselves, we may be styled the first-born''. The whole family of believers are " kings and priests unto God," and are entitled to inherit the kingdom of our heavenly Father1. But in respect of us, Christ is the First-born ; for " He in all things must have the pre-eminences." He is to be the Head of all his Church and people4: and to this He is predestinated ; yea, it is in order to this that they also are predestinated to the attainment of his glory. It was decreed in the eternal counsels of his Father, that " if he would make his soul an offering for sin," he should have " a seed to serve him," and should assuredly " be satisfied with the travail
h Zeph. hi. 12. j 1 Thess. hi. 3, 4. k 2 Tim. iii. 12.
1 ver. 17. with 2 Tim. ii. 12. m Phil. iii. 21.
n 1 John iii. 2. ° Rev. iii. 21.
p 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. See also Acts xiii. 48. and 1 Thess. v. 9.
1 Exod. iv. 22. Heb. xii. 23. r Rev. i. 6. Matt. xxv. 24.
• Col. i. 18. l Eph. i. 21, 22.