Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 20
And the glorie.
This is the effect of both the former, for if the Lord be the onelyonly Soveraigne King, and hath dominion overall, if he hauehave all power in himselfe, and no creature any at all, further then it is derived from him, and limitted by him: then in all equitie and right, all glory must be ascribed unto him. Whence we may obserue;
That all honor and glorie doth of right belong Observa. unto the Lord.
This both men and Angels doe giuegive unto him as his due, as might bee proved by many testimonies of Scripture, as Luke 2. 14. Revel. 5. 13. but we will briefly come unto the reasons of the point; Whereof,
One is Rom. 11. 36. where it is said, For of Reas. 1 him, and thorow him, and for him are all things, to him bee glory for ever: The sence of which place is, that he made all creatures, they are of him; Then againe, hee upholds all the whole world, and all things consists through him, no creature helpes him to keepe the world in reparation: but as he created all, so he sustaines and maintaines all things being created. If a man build a goodly house, others doe commonly repaire Simile: the same, and so they hauehave the praise of the reparation, the builder onelyonly of the making thereof: but it is otherwise in this goodly building of the world: for, as the Lord made all by his powerfull word, so he upholds all by his mightie hand. And, the reason why he useth Magistrates and Ministers, and other officers under him is not because hee needes them, but because hee delights to doe them good in imploying them in his service. And that good which they doe, they doe it by his strength, not by their owne. In which regard, all the glory remaineth still due unto him: and therefore the Apostle in the place last alleadged, doth conclude thus, Of him, and through him are all things, (and withall) for him, that is, for his honour, and therefore hee inferreth, to him bee glorie for ever, Amen.
A second reason is, because there is in God the Reas. 2 perfection of good things, Hee is holy in all his Psal. 145.wayes, yea holinesse it selfe, good unto all his creatures, Psal. 36. 6.yea goodnesse it selfe, &c. and whatsoever goodnesse or holinesse is in men, or Angels proceedeth from him: therefore in regard of the infinite excellencie of his nature, all glory belongeth unto him.
Which serveth, first, for the reproofe of such Vse 1 as are proud of any priveledge or gift, that they are endued with all: they doe not beleeue that all power, dominion, and excellencie is of God, and that therefore all glory pertaineth unto him. For if they did, they would never take vaine-glory to themselues, yet that is the folly of many, especially such as hauehave Sycophants at their elbowes, to magnifie them in all that they speake, or doe. Which was Herods madnesse,Act. 12. when he heard a companie of fooles to flatter and extoll him, as if he had spoken like a God, and not like a man; he was content to take their commendation: but if hee had had the grace to consider, that though he were more eloquent then his neighbours, it was not from himselfe, but from the Lord: then would not he hauehave set up himselfe aboue God in pride, aboue God in glory; and so might he hauehave escaped the fearefull judgement that fell upon him.
Secondly, For Instruction, that wee should Vse 2 use all Gods gifts and benefits for the greatest advantage of his glory and honor, which should be the end of all our life, of all our thoughts, words, and workes, that wee might procure praise unto our Creator and Preserver, according to that, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whatsoever yee doe, doe all to the glory of God.
This is for the comfort of all Gods servants, Vse 3 doth all glorie belong unto God, then surely the godliest men shall hauehave most honor, for God will honour them that honour him. Indeed, if wicked men, or devils had the disposing of glory, then sinners should carrie it away, but seeing that none hauehave interest therein, but they on whom the Lord bestoweth it, assuredly, they that are the godliest men, shall be the honourablest men, and that even in this life: for the spirit: of glorie resteth upon them, and they are1 Pet. 4. 14. still translated from glorie to glorie, 2 Cor. 3. 18. And as for the life to come, they shall be thenDan. 12. crowned with everlasting glorie. Therefore let us not be afraid of the disgraces of the world, that which they giuegive us, they may take from us, but that which God giues they cannot; God bestowes it where he sees fit, and where it shall abide. The wise shall inherite glorie, though theyPro. 3. 35. be abased; and sinners shame, though they bee exalted.