A30241:169
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SERMON VI. Of Heavenly mindedness, Showing that we should seek both Earthy and Heavenly blessings, chiefly for this end, viz. That God may be glorified.
SERMON VI. Of Heavenly mindednesse, Shewing that we should seek both Earthy and Heavenly blessings, chiefly for this end, viz. That God may be glorified.
THE next thing in order is the last Argument or motive Christ useth in this Prayer, for Glory, and that is, the end and motive why he desireth it, which is altogether pure and sincere: He desireth it not for himself, or in reference merely to his own advantage, but thereby to glorify God; O admirable example of modesty and humility! He that thought it no robbery to be equal with God, yet as Mediator challengeth nothing for himself ultimately: He that in other places is called Alpha and Omega, now denieth that prerogative, and giveth it solely to God his Father, so truly did he say, Nulla Creatura humilior Deo, that is, Christ, you see then this Sun of Righteousness making himself like one of the inferior Stars, borrowing all light, and returning the same again to God, and certainly if Christ himself as Mediator will not take to himself the glory due to God, then this will highly condemn all that arrogance in man, who shall desire any earthly or heavenly advantages merely for his own sake; That shall desire riches, honours greatness, or heaven it self, for any other end but to glorify God thereby: It's not the much eating but the good digesting that gives health, and it's not the possessing of great abundance but the wise improving of all for Gods glory that makes happy, so then this example of Christ shall be considered by us as an argument a majori ad minus; That if Christ prayed for all that heavenly and transcendent glory principally to glorify God thereby, and did not chiefly aim at himself, then how much more should man desire either heavenly or earthly glory, not so much that it is his own good, as that thereby it will be instrumental to Gods glory? and hence observe.