He

take of mine, and shall show it unto you." glorifies him, then, by witnessing of his person, as being lovely and amiable, adorned with every grace, and shining more illustriously than the sun in his strength. He testifies too of his work, as being suitable and complete, as it is essentially necessary for the salvation of our souls. It is the office of the Spirit to direct the eye of the mind to him, taking it away from every other refuge. So also does he glorify him, by witnessing of his fulness, for the supply of all our wants; he leads us to him for every thing we need, and teaches us to cry to him mightily for spiritual blessings. Thus do both the Father and Holy Spirit unite in giving glory to the Son. O, how true is the text, then, which says, "He shall bear the glory!"

Let us now view him as honored and glorified, II. By the engagements of the angelic world. Of angels we know but little; suffice it to say, that they are superior to man in the scale of being, as they are invested with strength of intellect and activity of mind, which we do not possess; and remember, especially, that whatever they are in their nature, their employment is to glorify that same Jesus who "is ail our salvation and all our desire." They promote his honor, and cause him to "bear the glory," as they constantly adore him, and as they invariably execute his will.

Observe, he is glorified by angels, because, 1. They constantly adore him.

"Let all the angels of God worship him," is the mandate which they have to obey; and as he is the Lord of angels, they readily offer him that homage which a sight of his glories evermore inspires. For Him, brethren, "the morning stars sing together, and the sons of God shout for joy."

Those active intelligences can exclaim, "Worthy the Lamb;" though they cannot add, "He was slain for us." At his feet they cast their crowns; before his glory they veil their faces with their wings; to him they cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." He "bears the glory," too, because,

2. The angels invariably execute his will.

66

He

They are ministers of his, and do his pleasure; commissioned by him, they wait on his saints, witness their devotions, preserve them from danger; and watch affectionately over them till they arrive at glory. From Jesus it is, brethren, that they receive their orders: to one he says, Go, and he goeth; to another, Come, and he cometh." is the Captain of this host of the Lord. He marshals them; they are altogether in subordination to his will, and with pleasure they fly through his vast empire to fulfil his orders. And whilst they do all this, are they not glorifying him? Are they not crowning him with honor and glory? The highest archangel glories in the thought of being a servant of Jesus of Nazareth. The angels of God may all be heard to say, "He shall bear the glory."

We remark once more, that the Saviour of sinners receives a revenue of glory and honor, III. From the ministry of the gospel.

This promotes his glory by revealing, exalting, and applying him to the heart.

1. The gospel reveals the Saviour. True it is, that he needs only to be seen to be adored and loved; and it is the excellency of the Bible, that it exhibits Christ, holds him up as the only Saviour, and presents him to our view in almost every page. In fact, every part of the Bible should be viewed

in its bearing upon him: he is the substance of the promises, the prophecies, the types, the narratives, and the epistles. By testifying of him in this way, the gospel glorifies him; and every faithful minister is enabled to say to him, "If I forget thee, O Jesus, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth." The gospel glorifies Christ,

2. By exalting him.

Oh, in what high terms does it speak of Jesus! what figures, what metaphors, what language it employs, to set forth "his eternal power and Godhead," his rich grace, and his wonderful love! Who is so highly spoken of in the ministry of reconciliation as Jesus Christ, who "shall bear the glory?" Here he is styled "Lord of all," "King of kings," "The image of the invisible God," yea, "All and in all." The writers of the Scriptures seem at a loss for words to communicate their ideas of his infinite glory, and seem sensible that they can but lisp out a few broken expressions to his honour and praise. Every leaf of this book seems to say to us, "He shall bear the glory." The gospel glorifies him further, as it is the means, in the hands of the Spirit,

3. Of applying him to the conscience.

When this gospel is viewed, as it is indeed and in truth, the word of God, and not of man, then Christ Jesus is all the confidence and boast of the sinner. By its influence the sinner's eyes are enlightened to behold his glory; his prejudices are removed, so that he contemplates him as the Son of God with power." His will, which before resisted, and would not submit to the righteousness of God, is so subdued, the bias of it is so

66

turned, that he desires earnestly and humbly to be saved in God's own way. In short, through the instrumentality of the gospel, Christ Jesus is formed in his heart, "the hope of glory;" and so is he abundantly honored.

Thus, you see, that the grand design of the gospel, in its inspiration and diffusion, is to recommend and glorify the Saviour, and promote his praise, who alone shall build the temple of the Lord.

Once more, Jesus shall bear an exceeding weight of glory.

IV. From the conduct of all his saints. "They shall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house." The saints honor him when they believe on him, imitate him, obey him, and suffer for him.

They testify his honor when they believe on him to life everlasting. A poor sinner is enabled to put honor upon Jesus, by simply taking him at his word, and relying on him for life and salvation. Yea, we are bold to remark, that this is the best way to glorify him; that by faith we honor his attributes and perfections, and cause a revenue of praise to be rendered to his own great name; and, "whoso offereth praise," we know, "glorifieth him, and to him will he show the salvation of God." He that believes, honors the plenitude of his redemption, the riches of his grace, the efficacy of his blood; and this is a glory which he alone shall bear, neither" is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Further, Christians glorify the Saviour when they make him a model for their imitation; when they endeavor so to walk even as he also walked; to mark the footsteps that he trod; to be holy as

he was holy; and to evidence the same mind that was also in him. Hereby they honor the holiness of his nature, and the rectitude of his life in his service below he must ever have the pre-eminence. You are not called to be like heroes, philosophers, or politicians, but to be conformed to the image of the Son; so shall he "bear the glory."

You will honor him, then, by "obeying from the heart, that form of sound words which he has delivered unto you." "His commandments are not grievous;" then let them be your study, your delight, your path in which you shall go. "If f ye love me," says he, keep my commandments :" nor is there any better evidence of strong attachment to his person, than prompt and steady obedience to his precepts. In your different spheres of action, in all your engagements and pursuits, in your intercourse with the world, as well as with the saints, never forget you are bound to glorify the Saviour, and to put honor upon his name, by living not to yourself, but to him that loved you, that died for you, and rose again.

Nor should you forget, that you must glorify him by all that you endure. Here I am reminded of the remarkable testimony that is borne of the sickness of Lazarus, of which it is said, that "his sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." By your patient submission to the Divine will, by your earnest desire that your afflictions may be sanctified, and by your preparedness for glory, you honor his love, his goodness, and his grace.

Christians are to live only to the glory of Jesus; they are bound to promote his honor, in all their thoughts, words, and actions. And we know