The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 205

, er. 20.-" Glorify God." "The heavens declare the glory of God." Hosts of angelic and glorified .spirits give" glory, honour, :md thanksgiving unto him." "All nations whom he hath made shall come and glorify his Name." ".And shall man alone be dumb Till this glorious kingdom come? No ! the Church delights to raise Psalms and hymns and sorigs of praise." L ON WHAT GROUNDS SHOULD CHRISTIANS GLORIFY Goo? This is e. reasonable service, a reasonable requirement. 1. God has a natural right over us, i.e. by his creative power and providential care. "Man's chief end," says a famous Catechism, "is to glorify God." 2. Redemption is the great reason adduced why Christia~s should glorify Gorl. This is the doctrine of the context. 'l.'he claim of purchase 1s added to the claim of creation. II. FBoM WHAT MOTIVES SHOULD CHRISTIANS GLORIFY Gon? 1. From a remembrance -0f the danger and ruin consequent upon any other end in life. Exemplified in Scripture history, as in the instance of Belshazzar, to whom it was said," 'l'he God, etc., hast thou not glorified," and in the instance of Herod, who "gave not God the glory." 2. From a grateful acknowledgment of the love and grace to which they are indebted for their redemption. The ransom and redemption do indeed avail for all men; but multitudes are insensible to the loving-kindness of the Lord. They who have tasted and seen that the Lo~d is good are prompted by their experience to yield themselves to the service of their Saviour. 3. From a desire to secure their own highest happiness. They have learned how every other principle of life fails to yield a deep and lasting sati,faction; and now they are learning, by happy experience, how truly blessed is th_e life which is unto the Lord of love and glory. '!'his is exemplified in the history of this very Apostle Paul. 4. From a delight in the Divi_ne ~ommands. !t is an invit~ti?n, but it is also a behest: "Glorify God." And nothmg 1s so congenial to the Christian as what is enjoined upon him by his Lord's authority. III. IN wilAT MA~KER MAY CmusTIANS GLORIFY Goo? 1. By praise. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.'' "Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Public, cordial, unceasing praises should ascend from every company of cu. vr. 1-20.j THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 20,