1I2 S E R M ©N S. upon Semi. >< . of God, and God is reconciled ; we have more boldnefs of Accefs to him ; we need not fear his Juftice, we have a doubleClaim, and may lay hold with both Hands. 1. We have God on our fide, who is the Supream Judg, the offended Party, the firft Caufe and Fountain of Bleffing. 2. By Chrift we have a near Relation to God : We are Chriffs more than Angels; they are Mïniftring Spirits, not the Spoufe ofChrf's Bofom, nor Members of his Body. God hath given us to him, as he brought Eve to Adam ; we are near to God ; Phi: .14.20. 1 am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you, as a Woman married to the King's Son by the King's Content. The whole Blefftngs of Chrift's Purchafe are ours; we have God in our Nature working Righteoufnefs, making Atonement, meriting Bleffednee, fending the Spirit as purchafed by him. [ Ind I am glorified in them.] So we render it, that it may lye indifferent to any Senfe, tho the Word properly fignifieth, I have been glorified in them : It relateth not only to their pall, prefent, but future Endeavours for Chrift's Glory. But how was Chrifb glorified by his Dfiples? Anfw. FirfI; Paffively, as he glorifieth himfelf in them, by comforting, refrefhing their Hearts, doing good to Perlons fo defpicable and unworthy, and manifeffing the Riches of his Glory in them. Secondly; A &ively, by their Faith, by their Miniftry, by their Life and Con - verfation. t. By their Faith : To glorify any one, is to have a good Efteem of him. Thole that did not believe, did ( as it were ) obfcure the Dignity of his Perlon, reje&ing him as a contemptible Mang now the Apofiles do every where exprefs their Faith in his Godhead, and their Senfe of the Dignity of his Perlon and Office, as I cleared in opening the 7th and 8th Verts. 2. By their Miniftry : Chrift was by them made known, and was yet to be further manifefted. After the Refurreftion they were his Heralds, to proclaim his Triumphs for him over Death and Hell ; and his Ambaffadors, to go out into the World and ga- ther Subje &s for his Kingdom. 3. By their Life, and fo by the Conftancy of their Profeffion, when others lhrink in the wetting. John 6.66, 67, 68. From that time many of bis Difeiples went back and walked no more with him. Then faid Jelin. unto the Twelve, Will ye alfo go away Then Simon Peter anfwered him, Lord, to whom (hall we go? thou haft the Words of Eternal Life. By their Self denial : Mat.19.27. Behold, we have forfaken all, and followed thee; Fathers, [Ambers, Nets, Trades, &c. So by their Holinefs and Fruitfulnefs of Converfation, they were fuch á Company, of which Chrift was not afhamed. This is a new Argument that Chrift urgeth for their refpedt with the Father ; Whence I obferve : Dofì. That the more we deftre to glorify Chrift, the more Confidence we may have of bis Interceon for us. 1. le is the Evidence of our Intereft in the Father, and the Son, and Spirit. Intereft is the ground of Audience; none can hope to fpeed with the Father, but his own, thole that are God's and Chrift's. (r.) It is an Evidence that we have an Intereft in the Father; he acknowledges them for his, that glorify his Son, them and no other; John 16.27. The Father himfelf lovethyou, becaufe ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. God's Love can have no caufe but it fell; our Love to Chrift is a certain fign of God's Love to us. It is not the principal Reafon why he loved them, but the Argument whereby Chrift would prove that his Father loved them. So that this is the Evidence, if we would have. any Confidence of our Intereft in God, and fpeeding at the Throne of Grace, Do you glorify Chrift by Love and Faith? Chrift is his Beloved, and he loves all them that love Chrift. So again, 'ohn 5.23. That all Men fhould honour the Son, as they honour the Father: He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which bath fent him. Every Man naturally is touched with a Reverence towards the Godhead : Now God the Father commandeth we fhould yield a like Reverence to the Son, who is his living and peed Image. He that doth not worfhip Chrift, and honour Chrift, doth but worfhip and ferve an Idol; for he doth not honour God in that way, wherein he will be honoured, and bath revealed himfel , bccaufe they are in
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