But the believer must be yet further viewed by us in, II. His glorious expectations —
The Saviour, though once as unknown by the world as they, and still more despised, shall one day appear again in glory—
[The time is fast approaching, when he shall descend from heaven in his own glory, and in the glory of his Father and his holy angels. Whilst he was upon earth, his glory was, for the most part, veiled. A little of it shined forth on Mount Tabor ; and his own more immediate followers " beheld some- what of his glory, as the glory of the only-begotten of the Father." But. " the world knew him not :" " the darkness could not apprehend his light :" but in the day of judgment his appearance will be such as becomes his august character, so that he will be equally acknowledged by all, whether friends or enemies, as " King of kings and Lord of lords " ]
Then will the whole assembly of believers appear with him in glory —
[They will be gathered from every quarter of the globe " to meet their Lord in the air," every one of them with " bodies like unto his glorious bod}'," and souls like unto his glorified soul : for they will be altogether " like him, wnen they shall see him as he isd." They will then appear as monuments of his grace, as trophies of his victory, as heirs of his glory. Truly he will be admired and glorified in them, when it shall be seen what sovereignty he has exercised in the choice of them, and what power he has put forth for their salvation e. It will then be seen, not that they triumphed, but that he triumphed for them, (upon his crossf,) and over them, (by his converting grace8,) and in them, by the sanctifying
efficacy of his Word and Spirit11 Then will they be
seated with him upon his throne, and as "joint-heirs with him" be partakers of his kingdom for evermore ]
Of this the present state of their souls justifies an assured expectation —
[The connexion between the two parts of my text must on no account be overlooked. Both " the death " of the saints, and " their life " warrant an assurance, that they shall reign with Christ in glory. Who can hurt the soul of one that is dead? So neither can any one destroy a soul that is
rt 1 John iii. 2. e 2 Thess. i. 10. f Col. i. 15.
8 Ps xlv. 5. 2 Cor. x. 5. h John x. 28.