Of Domestical Duties, Treatise 1 · Section 48
§. 48. Of the Inference of Glorification vponupon Iuſtification and Sanctification.
EPHES. 5. 27.
That he might preſent it to himſelfe a glorious Church, &c.
THe moſt principall end, in regard of the Churches good, which Chriſt aimed at when he gaue himſelfe for her, is her glorious eſtate in heauen: this is the end of the forenamed end. For why did Chriſt giuegive himſelfe for the Church? That he might ſanctifie it, hauing cleanſed it: why did he cleanſe, and ſanctifie it? That he might preſent it to himſeife a glorious Church. Hence note theſe three points.
1. Iuſtification and ſanctification muſt goe before glorification.
2. The end why the Saints are cleanſed and ſanctified in this world, is that they may be preſented glorious to Chriſt in the world to come.
3. The only meanes to make vsus glorious before Chriſt our ſpouſe is righteouſneſſe.
1. All thoſe places of Scripture which ſet our righteouſneſſe in this world before our glory in the world to come (as Tit. 2. 12, 13. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8.very many places doe) doe proue the firſt point, that Iuſtification and Sanctification muſt goe before Glorification. Among Men muſt be iuſtified and ſanctified before they can be glorified. Rom. 8. 30.other proofes note eſpecially the order of the ſeuerall linkes of that golden chaine that reacheth from Gods eternall counſell before the world, vntounto our euerlaſting glory after this world, Whom he did predeſtinate them he alſo called; and whom he called them he alſo iuſtified; and whom he iuſtified them he alſo glorified.
1. Heauen, the place of our glorification, is an holy Citie, Reaſons. Reu. 21. 10, 27.whereinto no vncleane thing ſhall enter.
2. In that place the Church is to be maried vntounto Chriſt, and to be euer with him: ſhe muſt therefore be pure as he is 1 Ioh. 3. 2, 3.pure: for he will not endure the ſociety of a foule filthy ſpouſe.
As we deſire aſſurance of our glorification in heauen, ſo Vſe.let vsus get, and giuegive euidence of our iuſtification and ſanctification on earth. The euidence of our iuſtification is a ſound and true faith. The euidence of our ſanctification is a good and cleare conſcience.
The forenamed proofes and reaſons doe alſo confirme the We are here cleanſed that we might be hereafter glorified.ſecond point, that The end why the Saints are cleanſed and ſanctified in this world is, that they may be preſented glorious to Chriſt in the world to come.
It is therefore needfull and behouefull, not only in regard of Ex co quod hic accipit Eccleſia ad illam gloriam quae hic non eſt, perfectionemque perducitur. Aug. Retract. l. 1. c 7.Chriſts honour, but alſo of our owne glory and happineſſe, that here while we liue on earth we be ſanctified and cleanſed. If Chriſt for our ſakes had an eie at our future and euerlaſting glory, and for that end prepared meanes to bring vsus thereunto, ought not we ourſelues much rather hauehave an eie thereat, and both auoid all things which may hinder it, and vſe all meanes whereby we may be aſſured of it? Moſes had reſpect vntounto the recompence of the reward. Yea Chriſt for the ioy which Heb. 11. 26. & 12. 2.was ſet before him endured the croſſe, and deſpiſed the ſhame.
3. That Righteouſneſſe is the only meanes to make vsus glorious Righteouſnes the only meanes to make vsus glorious.before Chriſt our ſpouſe, is euident by this, that Chriſt gaue himſelfe to worke and effect this meanes for this end. Chriſt himſelfe by his death, hath conſecrated this, and no other meanes. If there be any other meanes then that which Chriſt by offering vp himſelfe hath procured, what need Chriſt to hauehave beene offered vp? To ſhew that this is the meanes to make the Church glorious before Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt reſembleth the righteouſneſſe of the Saints to fine linnen, cleane, and white, Reu. 19. 7, 8.wherewith the wife of the Lambe is made ready againſt the day of mariage.
Chriſt himſelfe loueth righteouſneſſe and hateth wickedneſſe: Reaſon. Pſal. 45. 7.they therefore, and none but they that are araied with righteouſneſſe, are glorious in his eies.
This I hauehave the rather noted againſt the conceit of our aduerſaries, Vſe.who place all the glory of the Church in outward Papiſts place the glory of the Church in outward pompe.pompe. Wherefore their Pope whom they make head of the Church, and after a peculiar manner the ſpouſe of Chriſt, muſt hauehave his triple crowne, his ſcarlet robes, his throne aduanced aboue kings: Men muſt be his horſes to beare him: and Kings and Nobles muſt be his men to wait on him. Their Prieſts alſo muſt be araied with glorious copes of the beſt wrought gold. Their temples muſt be decked with curious, carued, gilded images. Their hoaſt caried about in manner of a triumph. Their people all beſprinkled with water. Their ſuperſtitious houſes muſt be the faireſt buildings in a kingdome, and hauehave the greateſt reuenues of a kingdome belonging to them: with the like.Dionyſius Ioui Olympio aureum amiculum detraxit, laneum ſubſtituens, non ſine dicterio, laneum viz. ad vtram que anni tempeſtatem eſſe aptius.
Is this glory fit for Chriſts ſpouſe? belike then Chriſt hath carnall eies and eares: and is delighted with thoſe things wherewith the world is delighted. The wiſer among the heathen did ſcoffe at ſuch baſe conceits which their people had of their gods. Shall Chriſtians thinke more baſely of Chriſt, then the heathen of their gods? Too much doe moſt people doat on outward worldly glory: euen ſo much as they neglect true righteouſneſſe.
For our parts as we deſire to appeare before Chriſt ſo as he Vſe.may thinke vsus glorious, let vsus be araied with righteouſneſſe & holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14.