CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Having cleared the sense of this Text, and showed what that glory is, which Christ giveth us, Let us proceed to make some Corollaries, or practical Conclusions from this Doctrine.

HAving cleared the sense of this Text, and shewed what that glory is, which Christ giveth us, Let us proceed to make some Corollaries, or practical Conclusions from this Doctrine.

¹And hence therefore in the first place, this Conclusion is to be asserted, That no man till he be united unto Christ, hath any true and solid glory. For if the glory of a Christian be in Christ the fountain; as the Sun-beams are in the Sun, then till partakers of Christ, we do not receive any of his glory: And this truth may quell the vain brags of the world, and the boasts of carnal men: Some account riches their glory, their birth their glory, outward honours their glory, but these are not worthy the name of glory: Christ came not into the world to give men riches, honours, greatness, but a spiritual glory; The Hebrew word for glory signifieth a weight, and the Apostle alludes to this, when 2 Cor. 4.17. he calls the happiness in Heaven an eternal weight of glory: Let therefore a man be never so much exalted in this world, yet if not given to Christ, he doth not partake of Christs glory; This earthly glory is no more true glory, then a glow-worm is the Sun; The Scripture calls it [Greek or Hebrew], a mere fancy that presently passeth away. All humane glory is but like Jonahs gourd, that is presently consumed, or like Herod, Act. 12.21. who being arrayed in royal apparel, and blasphemous acclamations made to him, he was immediately eaten up with worms: Be not then any longer like children, that account a toy, a glorious thing, thou art no wiser, when riches, greatness, beauty, &c. are accounted matter of glory, an obedient ear to Gods word, is more glorious then an ear full of jewels; interest in Christ is greater glory, then all that of the world, which our Saviour was tempted with, yet is there any thing that is more apt to ensnare our hearts, then this vain-glory: Did not the Devil think to overcome even Christ himself in this temptation, when he showed him all the glory of the world? Begin then to despise and contemn all the earthly glory of this world, what will this avail, when thou art vile in Gods eyes? Thou art a loathsome abominable creature before God, though richly clothed, and faring deliciously every day.