t 14 S E R M O NS upon Semi. 13 the Riches of Graces against the Prejudices of our own Hearts ; to fanitify God, to Let him aloof in point of Fear and Trutt, above the Powers all Excellencies in the World, as to fan&ify is to fet apart from cctnmon ufe : And then we glorify him, when we advance him in pur Thoughts, and Faith, and Efteem. Our beit Thoughts are but á Difgrace to the Godhead, he is advanced far above all Blefftng and Pratfe ; yet God counteth he hath another Throne, when he is exalted in thy Heart. 3. Becaufe,we gratify the Aim of God. God's great End in all his Difpenfations is to glorify his Son, and in his Son, himfelf; God feeketh his own Glory by glorifying Chrift in our Nature. 'We had neither had Word, nor Gofpel, nor Chrift, nor Grace, but for his Glory. It is faid, Prov. 16.4. The Lord bath made all things for himfelf that is, for the Manifeftation of his Glory ; for God being fo perfe& as he is, can nó other ways be advanced, it mutt be therefore to make himfelf known. He made the World that he might be glorified, and for the fame Reafon he tirade us in Chrift 5 Ephef. I. 12. That we fbould be to the Praife of his Glory, Cs -si vas all that we are in Religion is for this end. We had need refpe& God's Glory, for we owe all that we have to it, God is Let upon it ; 1 Sam. 2.30. They that honour me, I will honour. Vie t. Information. We lofe nothing by glorifying Chrift: It is a Pledg of out Intereft,in his IntercefGon : We (hall bave this Honour and Comfort, that Chrift will be our Advocate. In the World we are like thofe fix hundred, that were David's Companions in the Wildernefs, they had hard Service, and little Wages ; but when David was crowned in Hebron, they were all advanced to Offices, and Places of Power and Trutt. In the World, if we glorify Chrift indeed, we (hall meet with hard En- tertainment ; but you will not repent of it, when Chrift appeareth in the day of his Royalty. Nay, for the prefent, you will lofe nothing : Worldly Loffes are made up in Spiritual Comforts, and that is a good Exchange. Do but obferve Peter's Quellion, and Chrift's Anfwer; Mat. x9.27, 28. Teter Laid, Behold we have forfaken all, and followed thee, what (hall we have therefore ? In Peter's Quellion we may obferve, that albeit we fuffer little for Chrift, we think much of it. Peter's Cafe was poor and flender, alas ! what did he leave ? a poor Cottage, a Net, a hitting Boat ; he had no Lands, nor Heritage : From a Either-man he was made a Difciple. The Lois is little ; but we think it a great matter, if we part with our Superflúities, with the tenth part of a Child's Portion for Chrift's Caufe, and owning Chrifts Intereft, or the propaga- ting of Religion : Nay, if we fuffer but a difgraceful Word, or Difcountenance, of a fmall Inconvenience in our Name, or Eltates, we are apt to fay with Peter, What (hall we have therefore? Thoughts of Merit are natural, and we put an high Price upon our petty Services, what (hall we be the better ? But obferve Chrift's Anfwer: And jefas faid unto them, Verily I fay untoyon, that ye which havefollowed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man (hall /t in the Throne of his Glory, ye alfo Jhall ft upon Twelve Thrones; judging the Twelve Tribes of Ifrael. Pray mark, Chrift pardoneth the Infirmity of the Demand ; there was fomewhat of Pride in it, and fomewhat of Fle(hlinefs, in having refpe& to a carnal Reward; they dreamed of Earthly Honours, that Chrift would !hare and divide among them: but Chrift paffeth it over, and gives a gracious Anfwer: Nay, mark, Chrift promifeth a greater Reward than Peter could expe&, a Kingdom to each of them in the Regeneration. I Iball not examine that Expreffion, that doth not fo fuit with my purpofe : But I obferve, that though the things we do and fuffer for Chrift, be not worthy to be fpoken of; yet the leaft thing, if done in Sincerity, will be highly efleemed, and richly rewarded ; Chrift will intercede for thee, and plead for thee with his Father; and if once he openeth his Mouth, thou canit never mifcarry. The Apoflle faith, Heb. 7. 25. He is able to fave to the atmoff all that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make Interceffion for them. Chrift, when he hath begun to intercede, doth not give over, till thou haft Honour enough for honouring him ; he will fave thee to the ntmofi. Oh why Ihould we be prejudiced against the Service of Chrift ! certainly we Ihall be no Lofers in the End ; Chrift will not be behind -hand with you, he is making way for your Everlafting Glory by his conftant Interceion. Now therefore be not troubled, you need not leek another Paymaster than Chrift; we have fomething in Hand, there is prel nt Comfort, be- fides what we have in Hope. 21fè 2
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