Two Dissertations Concerning the the World and Virtue, Dissertation 1 · Chapter 2 · Sect 4
SECT. IV.
PLACES of ſcripture that lead us to ſuppoſe, that GOD created the world for his NAME, to MAKE HIS PERFECTIONS KNOWN; and that he made it FOR HIS PRAISE.
HERE I ſhall firſt take notice of ſome paſſages of ſcripture, that ſpeak of God's name as being made God's end, or the object of his regard, and the regard of his virtuous and holy intelligent creatures, much in the ſame manner as has been obſerved of God's glory.
As particularly, God's name is in like manner ſpoken of, as the end of his acts of goodneſs towards the good part of the moral world, and of his works of mercy and ſalvation towards his people. As 1 Sam. 12. 22. "The Lord will not forſake his people, for his great name's ſake." Pſal. 23. 3. "He reſtoreth my ſoul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteouſneſs, for his name's ſake." Pſal. 31. 3. "For thy name's ſake lead me, and guide me." Pſal. 109. 21. "But do thou for me,—for thy name's ſake." The forgiveneſs of ſin in particular, is often ſpoken of as being for God's name's ſake. 1 Joh. 2. 12. "I write unto you, little children, becauſe your ſins are forgiven you for his name's ſake." Pſal. 25. 11. "For thy name's ſake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great." Pſal. 79. 9. "Help us, O God of our ſalvation, for the glory of thy name, and deliver us, and purge away our ſins, for thy name's ſake." Jer. 14. 7. "O Lord, though our iniquities teſtify againſt us, do thou it for thy name's ſake."
THESE things ſeem to ſhew, that the ſalvation of Chriſt is for God's name's ſake. Leading and guiding in the way of ſafety and happineſs, reſtoring the ſoul, the forgiveneſs of ſin, and that help, deliverance and ſalvation, that is conſequent thereon, is for God's name. And here 'tis obſervable, that thoſe two great temporal ſalvations of God's people, the redemption from Egypt, and that from Babylon, that are often repreſented as figures and ſimilitudes of the redemption of Chriſt, are frequently ſpoken of as being wrought for God's name's ſake. So is that great work of God, in delivering his people from Egypt, carrying them through the wilderneſs to their reſt in Canaan. 2 Sam. 7. 23. "And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Iſrael, whom God went to redeem for a people to himſelf, and to make him a name." Pſal. 106. 8. "Nevertheleſs he ſaved them for his name's ſake." Iſai. 63. 12. "That led them by the right hand of Moſes, with his glorious arm, dividing the waters before them, to make himſelf an everlaſting name." In the both chap. of Ezek. God rehearſing the various parts of … wonderful … …dds from time to time, "I wrought for my name's ſake, that it ſhould not be polluted before the heathen," as in ver. 9. 14, 22. See alſo Joſh. 7. 8, 9. Dan. 9 15. So is the redemption from the Babyloniſh captivity. Iſai. 48. 9, 10. "For my name's ſake will I defer mine anger.—For mine own ſake, even for mine own ſake will I do it, for how ſhould my name be polluted?" In Ezek. 36. 21, 22, 23. the reaſon is given for God's mercy in reſtoring Iſrael. "But I had pity for my holy name.—Thus ſaith the Lord, I do not this for your ſakes, O houſe of Iſrael, but for my holy name's ſake;—And I will ſanctify my great name, which was profan'd among the heathen." And chap. 39. 25. "Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole houſe of Iſrael, and will be jealous for my holy name." Daniel prays that God would forgive his people, and ſhew them mercy for his own ſake. Dan. 9. 19.
WHEN God from time to time ſpeaks of ſhewing mercy, and exerciſing goodneſs and promoting his people's happineſs for his name's ſake, we can't underſtand it as of a meerly ſubordinate end. How abſurd would it be to ſay, that he promotes their happineſs for his name's ſake, in ſubordination to their good; and that his name may be exalted only for their ſakes, as a means of promoting their happineſs! eſpecially when ſuch expreſſions as theſe are uſed, "For mine own ſake, even for mine own ſake will I do it, for how ſhould my name be polluted?" and "Not for your ſakes do I this, but for my holy name's ſake".
AGAIN, 'tis repreſented as tho' God's people had their exiſtence, at leaſt as God's people, for God's name's ſake. God's redeeming or purchaſing them, that they might be his people, for his name, implies this. As in that paſſage mentioned before, 2 Sam. 7. 23.—"Thy people Iſrael, whom God went to redeem for a people to himſelf, and to make him a name". So God's making them a people for his name, is implied in Jer. 13. 11. "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, ſo have I cauſed to cleave unto me the whole houſe of Iſrael &c.—that they may be unto me for a people, and for a name." Act. 15. 14. "Simeon hath declared how God at the firſt did viſit the gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name."
THIS alſo is ſpoken of as the end of the virtue and religion, and holy behaviour of the ſaints. Rom. 1. 5. "By whom we have received grace and appoſtleſhip, for obedience to the …aith among all nations for his name." Matt. 19. 29. "Every one that forſaketh houſes or brethren &c.—for my name's ſake, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life." 3 Joh. 7. "Becauſe that for his name's ſake they went forth, taking nothing of the gentiles." Rev. 2. 3. "And haſt born, and haſt patience, and for my name's ſake haſt laboured, and haſt not …ainted."
AND we find that holy perſons expreſs their deſire of this, and their joy in it, in the ſame manner as in the glory of God. 2 Sam. 7. 26. "Let thy name be magnified forever." Pſal. 76. 1. "In Judah is God known, his name is great in Iſrael." Pſal. 148. 13. "Let them praiſe the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth, and heaven." Pſal. 135. 13. "Thy name O Lord, endureth forever, and thy memorial throughout all generations." Iſai. 12. 4. "Declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."
THE judgments God executes on the wicked, are ſpoken of as being for the ſake of his name, in like manner as for his glory. Exod. 9. 16. "And in very deed for this cauſe have I raiſed thee up, for to ſhew in thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth". Neh. 9. 10. "And ſhewedſt ſigns and wonders upon Pharaoh, & on all his ſervants, and on all the people of his land; for thou knewedſt that they dealt proudly againſt them: ſo didſt thou get thee a name as at this day".
AND this is ſpoken of as a conſequence of the works of creation, in like manner as God's glory. Pſal. 8. 1. "O Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who haſt ſet thy glory above the heavens". And then at the concluſion of the obſervations on the works of creation, the pſalm ends thus (ver. 9.) "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth". So Pſal. 148. 13. after a particular mention of the various works of creation, "Let them praiſe the name of the Lord, for his name alone is excellent in all the earth, his glory is above the earth and the heaven".
So we find manifeſtation, or making known God's perfections, his greatneſs and excellency, is ſpoken of very much in the ſame manner as God's glory.
THERE are ſeveral ſcriptures which would lead us to ſuppoſe this to be the great thing that God ſought of the moral world, and the end aimed at in the moral agents, which he had created, wherein they are to be active in anſwering their end. This ſeems implied in that argument God's people ſometimes made uſe of, in deprecating a ſtate of death and deſtruction: that in ſuch a ſtate, they can't know or make known the glorious excellency of God. Pſal. 88. 18, 19. "Shall thy loving kindneſs be declared in the grave, or thy faithfulneſs in deſtruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark, and thy righteouſneſs in the land of forgetfulneſs"? So Pſal. 30. 9. Iſai. 38. 18, 19. The argument ſeems to be this: Why ſhould we periſh? and how ſhall thine end, for which thou haſt made us, be obtained in a ſtate of deſtruction, in which thy glory cannot be known or declared?
THIS is ſpoken of as the end of the good part of the moral world, or the end of God's people in the ſame manner as the glory of God. Iſai. 43. 21. "This people have I formed for myſelf, they ſhall ſhew forth my praiſe". 1 Pet. 2. 9. "But ye are a choſen generation, a royal prieſthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of him, who hath called you out of darkneſs into marvellous light".
AND this ſeems to be repreſented as the thing wherein the value and proper fruit and end of their virtue appears. Iſai. 60. 6. Speaking of the converſion of the gentile nations to true religion—"They ſhall come and ſhew forth the praiſes of the Lord". Iſai. 66. 19. "I will ſend—unto the nations—and to the iſles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have ſeen my glory; and they ſhall declare my glory among the gentiles.
AND this ſeems by ſcripture repreſentations to be the end, in the deſires of which, and delight in which appears the proper tendency and reſt of true virtue, and holy diſpoſitions; much in the ſame manner as the glory of God. 1 Chron 16. 8. "Make known his deeds among the people". Ver. 23, 24. "Shew forth from day to day thy ſalvation. Declare his glory among the heathen". See alſo, Pſal. 9. 1, 11, 14. and 19. 1. and 26. 7. and 71. 18. and 75. 9. and 76. 1. and 79. 13. and 96. 2, 3. and 101. 1. and 107. 22. and 118. 17. and 145. 6, 11, 12. Iſai. 42. 12. and 64. 1, 2. Jer. 50. 10.
THIS ſeems to to be ſpoken of as a great end of the acts of God's moral government. Particularly, the great judgments he executes for ſin. Exod. 9. 16. "And in very deed for this cauſe have I raiſed thee up, to ſhew in thee my power, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth". Dan. 4. 17. "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, &c.—To the intent that the living may know that the moſt high ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomſoever he will; and ſetteth up over it the baſeſt of men". But places to this purpoſe are too numerous to be particularly recited. See them in the margin.*Exod. 14. 17, 18. 1 Sam. 17. 46. Pſal. 83. 18. Iſai. 4…. 3. Ezek. 6. 7, 10, 13, 14. and 7. 4, 9, 27. and 11. 10, 11, 12. and 12. 15, 16, 20. and 13. 9, 14, 21, 23. and 14. 8. and 15. 7. and 21. 5. and 22. 16. and 25. 7, 11, 17. and 26. 6. and 28. 22, 23, 24. and 29. 9, 16. and 30. 8, 19, 25, 26. and 32. 15. and 33. 29. and 35. 4, 12, 15. and 38. 23. and 39, 6, 7, 21, 22.
THIS is alſo ſpoken of as a great end of God's works of favor and mercy to his people. 2 King. 19. 19. "Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beſeech thee, ſave thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only". 1 King. 8. 59, 60.—"That he maintain the cauſe of his ſervant, & the cauſe of his people Iſrael at all times as the matter ſhall require, that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none elſe". See other paſſages to the ſame purpoſe refer'd to in the margin.†Exod. 6. 7. and 8. 22. and 16. 12. 1 King. 8. 43. and 20. 28. Pſal. 102. 21. Ezek. 23. 49. and 24. 24. and 25. 5. and 35. 9. and 39. 21, 22.
THIS is ſpoken of as the end of the eternal damnation of the wicked, and alſo the eternal happineſs of the righteous. Rom. 9. 22, 23. "What if God, willing to ſhew his wrath, and make his power known, endured with much long ſuffering, the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he ha… afore prepared unto glory"?
THIS is ſpoken of from time to time, as a great end of the miracles which God wrought. See Exod. 7. 17. and 8. 10. and. 10. 2. Deut. 29. 5, 6. Ezek. 24. 27.
THIS is ſpoken of as a great end of ordinances. Exod. 29. 44, 45, 46. "And I will ſanctify the tabernacle of the congregation; I will ſanctify alſo both Aaron and his ſons, to miniſter to me in the prieſts office. And I will dwell among the children of Iſrael, and will be their God. And they ſhall know that I am the Lord their God, &c." Chap. 31. 13. "Verily my ſabbaths ſhall ye keep; for it is a ſign between me and you, throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth ſanctify you". We have again almoſt the ſame words, Ezek. 20. 12, and ver. 20.
THIS is ſpoken of as a great end of the redemption out of Egypt. Pſal. 106. 8. "Nevertheleſs he ſaved them for his name's ſake that he might make his mighty power to be known." See alſo Exod. 7. 5 and Deut. 4. 34, 35. And alſo of the redemption from the Babyloniſh captivity. Ezek 20. 34,—38. "And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries whither ye are ſcattered.—And I will bring you into the wilderneſs of the people; and there I will plead with you, as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderneſs of the land of Egypt.—And I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I will purge out the rebels.—And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord." Ver. 42. "And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I ſhall bring you into the land of Iſrael."—Ver. 44. "And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's ſake." See alſo, chap. 28. 25, 26. and 36. 11. and 37. 6, 13.
THIS is alſo ſpoken of as a great end of the work of redemption of Jeſus Chriſt: both of the purchaſe of redemption by Chriſt, and the application of redemption. Rom. 3. 25, 26. "Whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſs.—To declare I ſay, at this time his righteouſneſs: that he might be juſt, and the juſtifier of him that believeth in Jeſus." Eph. 2. 4,—7. "But God who is rich in mercy &c.—That he might ſhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindneſs towards us through Jeſus Chriſt." chap. 3. 8, 9, 10. "To preach among the gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, and to make all men ſee, what is the fellowſhip of that myſtery which, from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jeſus Chriſt: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wiſdom of God." Pſal. 2…. 21, 22. "Save me from the lion's mouth. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midſt of the congregation will I praiſe thee," compared with Heb. 2 12. and Joh. 17. 26. Iſai. 64. 4. "O that thou wouldeſt rent the heavens—to make thy name known to thine adverſaries.—"
AND it is ſpoken of as the end of that great actual ſalvation, which ſhould follow Chriſt's purchaſe of ſalvation, both among Jews and gentiles. Iſai. 49. 22, 23. "I will lift up my hand to the gentiles,—and they ſhall bring thy ſons in their arms—and kings ſhall be thy nurſing fathers—and thou ſhalt know that I am the Lord."*See alſo, Ezek. 16. 62. and 29. 21. and 34. 27. and 36. 38, and 39. 28, 29. Joel 3. 17.
THIS is ſpoken of as the end of God's common providence. Job 37 6. 7. "For he ſaith to the ſnow, Be thou on the earth. Likewiſe to the ſmall rain, and to the great rain of his ſtrength. He ſealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work".
IT is ſpoken of as the end of the day of judgment, that grand conſummation of God's moral government of the world, and the day for the bringing all things to their deſigned ultimate iſſue. It is called "The day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God", Rom. 2. 5.
AND the declaration, or openly manifeſting God's excellency is ſpoken of as the actual, happy conſequence and effect of the work of creation. Pſal. 19. at the beginning. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament ſheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth ſpeech, night unto night ſheweth forth knowledge.—In them hath he placed a tabernacle for the ſun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a ſtrong man to run his race, &c."
IN like manner, there are many ſcriptures that ſpeak of God's PRAISE, in many of the forementioned reſpects, juſt in the ſame manner as of his name and glory.
THIS is ſpoken of as the end of the being of God's people, in the ſame manner. Jer. 13. 11. "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, ſo have I cauſed to … unto me the whole houſe of Iſrael, and he whole houſe of Judah, ſaith the Lord; that they might be unto me for a name, and for a praiſe, and for a glory."
IT is ſpoken of as the end of the moral world, Matt. 21. 16. "Out of the mouth of babes and ſucklings haſt thou perfected praiſe." That is, ſo haſt thou in thy ſovereignty and wiſdom ordered it, that thou ſhouldeſt obtain the great end for which intelligent creatures are made, more eſpecially from ſome of them that are in themſelves weak, or inferior and more inſufficient. Compare Pſal. 8. 1, 2.
AND the ſame thing that was obſerved before concerning the making known God's excellency, may alſo be obſerved concerning God's praiſe. That it is made uſe of as an argument in deprecating a ſtate of deſtruction, that in ſuch a ſtate this end can't be anſwered; in ſuch a manner as ſeems to imply its being an ultimate end, that God had made man for. Pſal. 88. 10. "Shall the dead ariſe and praiſe thee? ſhall thy lovingkindneſs be declared in the grave?—ſhall thy wonders be known in the dark?" Pſal. 30. 9. "What profit is there in my blood! when I go down to the pit, ſhall the duſt praiſe thee? ſhall it declare thy truth?" Pſal. 115. 17, 18. "The dead praiſe not the Lord, neither any that go down into ſilence: but we will bleſs the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore. Praiſe ye the Lord." Iſai. 38. 18, 19. "For the grave cannot praiſe thee, death cannot celebrate thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he ſhall praiſe thee."
IT is ſpoken of as the end of the virtue of God's people, in like manner as is God's glory. Phil. 1. 11. "Being filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs, which are by Jeſus Chriſt to the praiſe and glory of God."
IT is ſpoken of as the end of the work of redemption. In the firſt chap. of Eph. where that work in the various parts of it is particularly inſiſted on, and ſet forth in its exceeding glory, this is mentioned from time to time as the great end of all, that it ſhould be "to the praiſe of his glory." (As in ver. 6, 12, 14.) By which we may doubtleſs underſtand much the ſame thing, with that which in Phil. 1. 11. is expreſſed, "his praiſe and glory." Agreable to this, Jacob's fourth ſon, from whom the Meſſiah the great Redeemer was to proceed, by the ſpirit of prophecy, or the ſpecial direction of God's providence, was called PRAISE, with reference to this happy conſequence, and glorious end of that great redemption, this Meſſiah, one of his poſterity, was to work out.
THIS in the old teſtament is ſpoken of as the end of the forgiveneſs of the ſin of God's people, and their ſalvation, in the ſame manner as is God's name and glory. Iſai. 48. 9, 10, 11. "For my name's ſake will I defer mine anger, and for my praiſe will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee no… off. Behold I have refined thee—for mine own ſake, even for mine own ſake will I do it; for how ſhould my name be polluted? and my glory will I not give to another." Jer. 33. 8, 9. "And I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity,—and I will pardon all their iniquities—. And it ſhall be to me a name of joy, a praiſe, and an honor."
AND that the holy part of the moral world, do expreſs deſires of this, and delight in it, as the end which holy principles in them tend to, reach after, and reſt in, in their higheſt exerciſes, juſt in the ſame manner as the glory of God, is abundantly manifeſt. It would be endleſs to enumerate particular places wherein this appears; wherein the ſaints declare this, by expreſſing their earneſt deſires of God's praiſe; calling on all nations, and all beings in heaven and earth to praiſe him; in a rapturous manner calling on one another, crying Hallelujah, praiſe ye the Lord, praiſe him forever". Expreſſing their reſolutions to praiſe him as long as they live through all generations, and forever; declaring how good, how pleaſant and comely the praiſe of God is, &c.
AND 'tis manifeſt that God's praiſe in the deſirable and glorious conſequence and effect of all the works of creation, by ſuch places as theſe. Pſal. 145. 5,—10. and 148. throughout, and 103. 19,—22.