First; all things are so wisely ordered, that God shall be glorified in the event; and it is the noblest disposition of a Christian, to prefer the advancement of his ⟨p. 77⟩Glory, before all the Comforts of this Life, and Life it self. Our Blessed Saviour in the Forethoughts of his Sufferings, was in distress and perturbation of Mind, like the darkening of the Sky before a great Shower: Now is my Soul troubled, what shall I say? 1Father, save me from this Hour. But the short conflict of Nature was presently at an end, he willingly yielded up himself to be a Sacrifice to the Divine Honour, and said, Father, glorify thy Name. Moses and Paul, whose admirable Zeal, had only a Parallel between themselves in the same degree of Holy heat, desired the Salvation of the Jews before their own, if God might be more glorified by it. This is the first Petition in Order and Dignity, in that complete form of Prayer ⟨p. 78⟩composed by our Saviour, as the Rule of all our desires. Thy Name be Hallowed and Glorified in us, and by us. The admirable History of Jephthah's only Daughter, is applicable to this purpose; she joyfully came forth to meet her Father, returning Victorious and Triumphant after his War with the Ammonites. 2He had made a rash Vow, to offer up in Sacrifice to God, who ever should first meet him after his Victory; and upon the sight of his Daughter, was so deeply wounded with Sorrow, that his Triumph was converted into Lamentations: but the Grief was only in the Father; for in that first surprise of such a terrible Sentence to be executed upon her, she did not answer his Tears with Tears, nor Lamentations with Lamentations, but said unto him, ⟨p. 79⟩My Father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me, according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, for as much as the Lord hath taken Vengeance for thee on thine Enemies. Methinks the admirable Love and Generosity in a young Virgin, to whom her Father's Honour and Exaltation was more dear than her Life, upbraids us for our unwilling submission to those Providential Dispensations that are ungrateful to Flesh and Blood, wherein the Glory of God is advanced. If we were called to Martyrdom for his Truth, and our Lives should bleed forth, as Sacrifices on the Altar, or our Bodies be consumed as Incense on the Censer; it were an unjust and ungrateful complaint, to express passionate reluctancy against his Providence.
First; all things are so wisely ordered, that God shall be glorified in the event; and it is the noblest disposition of a Christian, to prefer the advancement of his ⟨p. 77⟩Glory, before all the Comforts of this Life, and Life it self. Our Blessed Saviour in the Forethoughts of his Sufferings, was in distress and perturbation of Mind, like the darkening of the Sky before a great Shower: Now is my Soul troubled, what shall I say? 1Father, save me from this Hour. But the short conflict of Nature was presently at an end, he willingly yielded up himself to be a Sacrifice to the Divine Honour, and said, Father, glorify thy Name. Moses and Paul, whose admirable Zeal, had only a Parallel between themselves in the same degree of Holy heat, desired the Salvation of the Jews before their own, if God might be more glorified by it. This is the first Petition in Order and Dignity, in that compleat form of Prayer ⟨p. 78⟩composed by our Saviour, as the Rule of all our desires. Thy Name be Hallowed and Glorified in us, and by us. The admirable History of Jephtha's only Daughter, is applicable to this purpose; she joifully came forth to meet her Father, returning Victorious and Triumphant after his War with the Ammonites. 2He had made a rash Vow, to offer up in Sacrifice to God, who ever should first meet him after his Victory; and upon the sight of his Daughter, was so deeply wounded with Sorrow, that his Triumph was converted into Lamentations: but the Grief was only in the Father; for in that first surprise of such a terrible Sentence to be executed upon her, she did not answer his Tears with Tears, nor Lamentations with Lamentations, but said unto him, ⟨p. 79⟩My Father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me, according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, for as much as the Lord hath taken Vengeance for thee on thine Enemies. Methinks the admirable Love and Generosity in a young Virgin, to whom her Father's Honour and Exaltation was more dear than her Life, upbraids us for our unwilling submission to those Providential Dispensations that are ungrateful to Flesh and Blood, wherein the Glory of God is advanced. If we were called to Martyrdom for his Truth, and our Lives should bleed forth, as Sacrifices on the Altar, or our Bodies be consumed as Incense on the Censer; it were an unjust and ungrateful complaint, to express passionate reluctancy against his Providence.
- 1John 12. 27.
- 2Judg. 11 36.
