Christ in Believers the Hope of Glory, Part 1
Of the Glory of this Mystery.
Moreover, there is the Glory of th…s Mystery; For it is a Mystery that hath Glory in it. Therefore it is called a Glorious Gospel, the Glorious Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4.4. 1 Tim. 1.11. Therefore is its Minist…ation mo…e glorious, than the Ministration of the Law 2 Cor. 3 7, 8. But if the Ministration of Death, written & ingraven in stones was glorious, so that the Children of Is…el, could not stedfastly behold the face of Mose…, for the glory of his Countenance, which Glory was to be done away. How shall not the Ministration of the Spirit (which is a Gospel Ministration) be rather Glorious? This is the Ministration of Righteousness, which exceedeth in Glory Vers 9. And here is the excellent Glory Vers. 10. Let us see in what respect, and from what Head this Gospel is so Glorious.
1. It is Glorious, in respect of the Author o… the same: GOD is the Author of it, and all Hi… works are Glorious; Men nor Angels could never have found out this way of Salvation through a Crucified Saviour; But it is GOD'… VVork, and a singular pe…ce of VVorkmanship of His, above all what we see in Scripture; Therefore it is called, The Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God. 1 Tim. 1.11.
2. The Gospel is Glorious, in respect of the Instruments imployed in Preaching and making known this Mistery: GOD the Father, made the fi…st publication thereof in Paradise, whe… He said to our Fore-father, that the Seed o… the Woman should bruise the Head of the Serpent, Gen. 3 15 The Son is more especially made use of, in this work Heb. 1.2. and 2.3. There…or… c…lled the Gloriou… Gospel of Christ 2 Cor 4 4. Also the Holy Ghost is therein employed — But unto us they did minister the thi…gs which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel un… you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12. The Angels were imployed in this work Luk 2.10, 11, 12. The great Prophets and Apostles were Messengers of this Gospel 1 Pet. 1.10, 11. It was their work to publish this great Salvation: So that it must be a glorious wo…k, wherein such glorious Hands were imployed.
3. It is Glorious, in respect of the way, which GOD entered on for the manifesting and making known this Mystery, and for confirming us in the same; which is held out in short, Heb. 2.3, 4 How shall we expect if we neglect so great Salvation, whi…h at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with Signs and Wonders, and with diverse Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.
4. It is a Glorious Gospel, in respect …f …hese who have studied it; not only many R…ghteous Mat. 13.17. But also many Prophets and Kings Luk. 10.24. 1 Pet. 1 10. have desired to see these Mysteries; The Prophets enqui…ed unto, & searched diligently after this Salvation: And even the Angels themselves have a holy Curiosity to know what i… meaneth & herefore they are said to look into it, or to stoop down with the bowing of the Head, and bending of the Neck, that they may behold what it is; And they come to the knowledge of i… by this Gospel 1 Pet. 1.12. Ephes 3 10. This must then be a Glorious Subj…ct, and there must be some ravishing Glory in this Mystery, which engageth these glor…fied Creatures to pore and lock into it.
5. It cannot be otherways than a Glorious Gospel, seeing even the Feet (thô suddled with dust) of those that bring good Tidings thereof, are so beautiful Isa. 52.7. Rom. 10.15. Yea it cannot be expressed how lovely and beautiful they are in the Eyes of those, who are sensible of their necessity of Salvation.
6. It is a Glorious Gospel, in respect that i… putteth a singular glorious Beauty, on all that it comes near unto; Therefore it is the Glory of a Land to enjoy it, and where this Gospel is, Glory dwelleth in that Land Psal. 85.9. And where this, or any outward resemblance of the same is, there is Glory; Therefore when the A…k was taken by the Philistines, the Holy Wife of Phineas, the Daughter in Law of Eli, cried forth, saying, Glory is departed from Israel. … Sam. 4 22. Therefore was it that the Glory of the latter House, should be greater than the Glory of the former Hag. 2.9. Because Christ should appear therein with this Glorious Gospel.
7. The Gospel is Glorious, in respect of … Su…ject and Matter; It treats of a ma…chless and glorious Business of that Fair, Amiable and Glorious Branch of the Lord Isa 4.2 Here is the Branch of that Root o… Iesse, which is every way Glorious Isa. 11.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Here is the Revelation of the knowledge of …he LORD, …he knowledge whereof should fill the Earth in the days of the Gospel, as the Waters cover the Sea Isa. 11.9. Hereby is the Riches of the Glory of the Lord made known, and therefore it must be a Glorious Business Rom. 9 23. And her… behold we the Glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ 2 Cor 4.6. The Gospel is as it were the face of Christ; Herein sh…ned His Glory which the Apostles saw Ioh. 1.14. of Him, who therein is the …rightness of His Father's Glory Heb 1.3. Is …t not a Glorious Business, which bringeth to …ight Life and Immortality, and this is done …y the Gospel 2 Tim 1.10. It revealeth Grace, and so is the Gospel Grace Act. …0.24.
8. It is Glorious in respect that Christ hereby makes His Body and Bride Glorious unto Him…elf, for it is by this Word that He sanctifi…th …nd cleanseth Ephes 5.26, 27.
9. It is a Glorious Gospel, in respect of the many several Eff…cts and Fruits which it bring…th sorth, being …he savour of Life unto Life. As 1. It is the weapon of our Warfare, which is Mighty through God, To the pulling down of …rong holds, casting down of imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self, against the …nowledge of God, and bringeth into captivity …very thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor 10.4, 5. Therefore it is called, The power of God …nto Salvation Rom. 1.16.2. It hath a begetting vertue, it bringeth forth Sons an… Daughters unto GOD, as the Apostle says … Cor. 4.15 that He had begotten the Corinthian… through the Gospel. 3. The Gospel containeth the Conditions and Articles of Peace between GOD and the poor Sinner, and therefore it is called, The Gospel of Peace, Ephes 6.15. And it is the Mean, whereby the miserable Enemy Man, is brought unto another state of Peace and Reconciliation with GOD; so that he lays off his enmity against GOD, Hi… interests and servants, so that thereby the Wolf is made to ly with the Lamb. 4. The Gospel hath an ensuring and establishing power, establishing the Soul against all Storm… and Tentations; Therefore saith Paul. Now to Him that is of Power to stablish you, according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Iesus Christ (according to the Revelation of the Mystery which was kept secret since the World began—be Glory — Rom 16 25, 27.5. The Gospel hath a trans…o…ming and changing power, cloathing the Heirs of Hell with begun Glory, and changing them into the Image of GOD 2 Cor. 3 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in … glass, the Glory of the Lord, are changed into th… same Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 6. In a word, it is the Instrument of Salvation, and therefore called the Gospel of Salvation Ephes 1.13. It is the savour of Life unto Life 2 Cor. 2.16. Before we …pply this, we shall speak a litle to the other part, to wit, The Riches of Glory.