2. A participation of his glory —
[When sinners are in a measure cleansed with the washing of water by the word, the ministers who have been instru- mental to that change, " espouse them to one husband, and present them as a chaste virgin to Christ'." And while the work of sanctification is advancing in them, they are like those virgins who were destined for the embrace of eastern monarchs, who were purified during several months for that end, till they were judged meet for the dignity to which they were to be exaltedk. The time for their complete honour and felicity is the day of judgment: when the Bridegroom himself shall come to take them home to himself, and to fix them in the mansions prepared for them. Then they will be " without spot or wrinkle ; they will be perfectly holy and without blemish." They will be " presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy1." What " a glorious Church" will they then be ! Here their glory is obscured by spots and blemishes : but there they will not have " any such thing :" they will be " pure as God is pure," and " perfect as God is perfect."
If any thing can account for the stupendous efforts of Christ's love, it must be this. This is an end worthy of the Supreme Being. This will be such a display of his power and grace as will for ever fill all heaven with wonder and admiration.]
Suffer ye now " a word of exhortation," grounded on the foregoing subject —
1. Desire holiness —
[This is what the Lord Jesus Christ has desired for you. To obtain this for you, he divested himself of all his glory, and endured the accursed death of the cross. He desired this for you, because it was the only medium through which you could arrive at happiness, and because it could not fail of rendering you completely happy. Ah ! do not despise it. Do not turn away from it, as inimical to your welfare. Do not consider it as a mere system of restraints, a burthen that is intolerable. It is in truth the perfection of your nature, and the completest liberty: it is a liberty from the thraldom of corruption, and from the tyranny of Satan. Desire it therefore, even as Christ has desired it for you; and never think any sacrifice too great for the attainment of it.]
2. Use the means of attaining it —
' 2 Cor. xi. 2. Ps. xlv. 13, 14. k Esth. ii. 12.
1 Jude, ver. 24.