One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 123
SERMON CXXIII. Practicall Concluſions from the fore-going Doctrine.
JOHN 17.22.
And the Glory, which thou gaveſt me, I have given them, &c.
HAving cleared the ſenſe of this Text, and ſhewed what that glory is, which Chriſt giveth us, Let us proceed to make ſome Corollaries, or practical Concluſions from this Doctrine.
1. No man till he be united unto Chriſt, hath any true and ſolid gloryAnd hence therefore in the firſt place, this Concluſion is to be aſſerted, That no man till he be united unto Chriſt, hath any true and ſolid glory. For if the glory of a Chriſtian be in Chriſt the fountain; as the Sunne-beams are in the Sunne, then till partakers of Chriſt, we do not receive any of his glory: And this truth may quell the vain brags of the world, and the boaſts of carnal men: Some account riches their glory, their birth their glory, outward honours their glory, but theſe are not worthy the name of glory: Chriſt came not into the world to give men riches, honours, greatneſs, but a ſpiritual glory; The Hebrew word for glory ſignifieth a weight, and the Apoſtle alludes to this, when 2 Cor. 4.17. he cals the happineſs in Heaven an eternal weight of glory: Let therefore a man be never ſo much exalted in this world, yet if not given to Chriſt, he doth not partake of Chriſts glory; This earthly glory is no more true glory, then a glow-worm is the Sunne; The Scripture cals it foreign, a meer fancy that preſently paſſeth away. All humane glory is but like Jonahs gourd, that is preſently conſumed, or like Herod, Act. 12.21. who being arayed in royal apparel, and blaſphemous acclamations made to him, he was immediately eaten up with worms: Be not then any longer like children, that account a toy, a glorious thing, thou art no wiſer, when riches, greatneſs, beauty, &c. are accounted matter of glory, an obedient ear to Gods word, is more glorious then an ear full of jewels; intereſt in Chriſt is greater glory, then all that of the world, which our Saviour was tempted with, yet is there any thing that is more apt to enſnare our hearts, then this vain-glory: Did not the Devil think to overcome even Chriſt himſelf in this temptation, when he ſhewed him all the glory of the world? Begin then to deſpiſe and contemn all the earthly glory of this world, what will this avail, when thou art vile in Gods eyes? Thou art a loathſom abominable creature before God, though richly cloathed, and faring deliciouſly every day.
In what reſpects humane and earthly glory comes ſhort of heavenly.Now the grounds, why humane and earthly glory do not ariſe to this heavenly, is from theſe particulars:
1. It's not a laſting, during glory: The fear and certainty of loſing of it, takes off from all the luſtre of it; A flour is a glorious creature, yet becauſe quickly withered, none makes long account of it; and thus all the glorious things of man are compared to no better. The Prophet Iſaiah, Iſa. 40.6. and John Baptiſt of all Sermons and truths were to proclaim this, All fleſh is graſſe, and the flower thereof fadeth away, &c. And this was to make way for Chriſt, implying, that while men continued in their confidence about theſe things, they were too high mountains, and ſo no prepared path to receive Chriſt: As therefore our Saviour argued in another caſe, If the graſſe be ſo cloathed with glory, that is to be cut down and withereth: ſo if thou art thus carefull to cloath thy body with glory, that preſently muſt become duſt and worms meat, rotting in the grave, how much rather ſhouldſt thou look to have thy ſoul cloathed with the glorious robes of Chriſt, that continue for ever; call that glory, and that alone which is eternal, which will live with thee, and not die with thee.
2. It's no true glory, becauſe it's not inward and ſubſtantial. It's not this glory of a man in his moſt ſubſtantial part, which is his ſoul. The ſoul of a man in Scripture language is called a mans glory, Gen. 49.6. unto their aſſembly, Let not my honour, or glory be united, that is, not my ſoul: If then a man hath the earthly glory of this world, this is not the honour of his ſoul, this is not ſolid, it's not in the nobleſt part of him: If rich and glorious apparel ſhould be put upon a dead corpſe, what glory were this to the corpſe, it would not bring life and comelineſſe to the dead body? So it is here, let a wicked man have more earthly glory then a Solomon, yet he is but a dead corpſe, he hath not that which ſhould be the proper glory of a man, viz. the adorning of his ſoul: Hence grace is called glory, as you heard: So that nothing makes a man glorious but grace, this is the image of God in him. The Heathen could ſay, That an horſe is not choſen by his trappings, and other rich accoutrements, but as he is naked in his own body; and certainly man much leſſe is accounted glorious by body or wealth, but by his ſoul.
3. It's not the proper glory of a man as he is a Chriſtian: And this is much to be conſidered, Every creature hath that which is a peculiar grace and glory to it, in its kinde: So Seneca, We praiſe a Vine, if it burden its branches with fruit, if another had golden grapes, or golden leaves, the fruitfull Vine would be preferred before it. So that what is comely to one, is not to another; now take man as he is a Chriſtian, and ſo all his glory is ſpiritual and inviſible; if you look upon Chriſt, who giveth him his glory, he had none external, nay, none had leſſe of that then he, for he knew not where to lay his head, yet in regard of ſpiritual glory, he did abound in it, he had the glory of a Meſſias, though not of a temporal Monarch; and thus it is here, that is only a Chriſtians glory, which is excellency in Chriſtianity. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of women, ſaith, Whoſe glory, let not it be of embroidered apparel, &c. (1 Pet. 3.3.) but an humble and meek ſpirit: Hence the Kings daughter, is ſaid, to be all glorious within, Pſal. 45.13. That then which the world doth deride and contemn, that is indeed the greateſt glory; and hence the glory of a Chriſtian is to be juſtified, to be ſanctified, to have communion and fellowſhip with the Father in Chriſt.
Laſtly, There is no true glory without Chriſt, becauſe in times of afflictions and tribulations, he only gives occaſion to glory. Rom. 5. We glory in tribulation; and Peter ſaith, While we ſuffer for righteouſneſſe ſake, the Spirit of glory reſteth upon us, 1 Pet. 3.14. What then will thy outward glory avail in the time of Gods wrath, when he ſhall ſet thy ſins in order before thee, he will make all thy deſirable things to periſh? When Belſhazzar is ſmitten with trembling for his ſins, he findes little glory in his ſtately Palace, in his golden cups he was carouſing in: Oh then prize ſuch a glory that will bear up thy heart in the ſaddeſt extremities!Corollary II. That the meaneſt Chriſtian ſurpaſſes Solomon in all his glory.
A ſecond Corollary is, That the meaneſt Chriſtian united to Chriſt, though never ſo contemptible, yet is ſurpaſſing Solomon in all his glory. Every believer, if you look upon him ſpiritually, is more glorious then the greateſt Potentates in the world, for concerning that they made a blaze in their ſolemn inſtallings of the Pope, ſaying, Sic tranſit gloria mundi; but the glory of heaven abideth for ever. It's true, this world doth not ſee any glory in a believer, no more then they did in Chriſt: Therefore in the Caniicles the women asked the Spouſe, What was her beloved more then other women? They ſaw no ſuch comelineſſe and beauty in him; and thus it is with wicked men, What glory can we ſee in thoſe that walk more ſtrictly? What is admirable in them more then in others? Therefore this glory Chriſt giveth his people is inviſible and diſcovered onelyonly by the eye of faith: So that this ſhould exceedingly bear up the heart of a believer, while he lieth under all the reproaches, contempts and oppoſitions of the wicked world: Oh comfort thy ſelf with this ſpiritual glory; God gives thee glory, Chriſt gives thee glory, while the world doth thus deſpiſe thee; and doe not be diſcontented, becauſe God hath not given thee ſo much of the worlds glory, as he hath foreign ven others; What then, if he revealeth and vouchſafeth this ſpiritual glory to thee, he doth more then if he ſhould give thee the glory of many worlds? Nay further, thou many times art dejected in thy own eyes, and as thou haſt no external glory amonſtg men, ſo neither doſt thou perceive any ſpiritual glory in thy ſelf: Oh thou crieſt out, that thy ſoul pollution, thy …oul defilements are worſt of all; but remember this glory comes from Chriſt without that it doth not naturally grow up in thee.
Thirdly, Though Chriſt give part, and a beginning of this glory here, yet it is not perfected and conſummated till hereafter. Corollary III.I have (ſaith Chriſt) given them glory already, yet he prayeth afterwards for the conſummation of this glory, and therefore that ſtate of happineſſe is properly called a ſtate of glory, yet we have the firſt fruits of it here. In part Chriſt doth inveſt us with his glory, but this is nothing to what ſhall be hereafter: Even in this life, the things are ſo great, That no eye hath ſeen, neither hath it entered into the heart of a man to conceive: How much more then will eternal glory ſurpaſs all our imaginations? Should not then the conſideration of this glorious portion we in part have, and expect more fully, make us walk comfortably, be chearfull in our afflictions, paſſe through this world with joy? Certainly we put not forth our fixed contemplations on this glory, if we did, our hearts would ſcarce ever be taken off it: Eudoxus was ſo affected with the glory of the Sunne, that he thought he was born onelyonly to behold it: How much rather ſhould we think it our duty, all the day long to behold this glory? As the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 4.17. profeſſeth, that all the afflictions he went through, and he had many, yet they were but light, and but for a moment, to that eternal weight of glory; and what made him think ſo? While we look not at the things which are not ſeen. If then thy heart is at any time dejected, diſquieted, oh think of this glory provided for thee, it will make thy ſoul ſilence it's crying and mutterings immediately, yea this will conquer the fear of death, and make the thoughts of it lovely and welcome.
Fourthly, Doth Chriſt give ſpiritual glory to his? Then let this conſume all love and deſire of vain-glory,IV. It conſumes all love and deſire of vain-glory. and eſteem of men. This love of glory hath been, and is the worm that eateth up the beſt fruit, when luſts and ſins have not been able to undo a man, glory from the world hath: Therefore our Saviour makes ſuch a temper inconſiſtent with grace, How can ye believe and ſeek glory of one another, and ſeek not the hon…ur which comes from God onelyonly, John 5.44? This vain-glory Chryſoſtom called, The mother of hell; and indeed, How many religious duties doth it corrupt? The Phariſees prayed and gave alms to be ſeen of men; yea there is no external duty in Religion, but this may put a man upon it; But as love of Chriſt will kill the love of the world, fear of God will overcome fear of man, ſo a love to this ſpiritual glory will quickly out, vain-glory. It's good to obſerve, That though all other things in this world be vain, man is vain, beauty is vain, wealth is vain, yet cuſtom of ſpeech doth appropriate it only to glory, calling it vain-glory: Oh then remember, there are more glorious things to affect and enlarge thy heart with, then theſe applauſes of the world!
Fifthly, Doth Chriſt give his people glory? Then let them faithfully do Chriſts work, notwithſtanding all the reproaches and ſcorns wicked men load them with.V. Let them faithfully do Chriſts work, notwithſtanding all reproaches wicked men load them with. David rejoyced in that he was deſpiſed and contemned while he danced before the Ark, I will be more vile ſtill, ſaith he, 2 Sam. 6.22. And thus the Apoſtles rejoyced they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake It's a great glory to loſe thy glory for Chriſts work: Oh this is that which makes men afraid boldly to venture in holy things, they ſhall be cenſured, they ſhall be contemned: Remember that Scripture, Thoſe that honour me, I will honour, 1 Sam. 2.30. It's a miſerable ſlavery to live dependently upon the breath of others, who many times do as children put a Garland upon one of their fellows heads, and then laugh at him behinde his back; ſo though they applaud thee to thy face, yet ſecretly backbite thee: Be therefore diligent to do Gods work, and content thy ſelf with the glory God beſtoweth upon thee: Doth a man running in a race regard the bird ſinging upon the tree? Eye Chriſt more, and man leſſe. The Moon that hath but a borrowed light, is ſometimes full, ſometimes at the wane, never certain: Thus a man that liveth upon the applauſe of others, and not approving his conſcience to God, he is ſometimes lifted up, and then dejected down, even as outward ſupplies come to him.
Sixthly, Doth Chriſt give glory to his? Then admire the bounty and freeneſſe of his grace: Of all things we would think, he would not communicate of his glory to us; and indeed God ſaith, He will not give glory to another;VI. Admire the bounty of his grace. neither will Chriſt give his Mediatory glory to others; only in ſome paſſages of glory, he is willing we ſhould reign with him, and be co-heirs with him. This ſheweth how much he loveth us; For certainly no man is willing to have another co-partner with him in his glory; yea how apt are we to envy the gifts and graces in others, that may overſhadow us, but Chriſt giveth of his glory to us.
Laſtly, Doth Chriſt give glory to us? Let us then glorifie him again. Chriſt indeed he giveth glory to us really and inwardly, but we only to him verbally and declaratively. Let not the Heavens that are natural creatures exceed us,VII. They declare the glory of God, and ſhew his handy-work; and ſhalt not thou then in thy life, in thy converſation declare the glory of Chriſt? The title given to Church-officers, 1 Cor. 8.23. is in ſome ſenſe to be applied to all believers, they are the glory of Chriſt.