(6.) In regard, 'tis the seat of his glory. 'Tis the branch of his planting, the work of his hands, that he might be glorified, Isa. 60.21. His glory would have a brush, if Zion should sink to ruin. He sows her for himself, Hos. 2.23. speaking of the Church in the time of the Gospel, not to the Devil, to sin, to the world, but to his own glory. As husbandmen sow their Fields for their own use, to reap from them a fruitful crop; and therefore till the Harvest be in, they take care to make up the breaches, and preserve them from the Incursions of beasts. Though God hath an objective glory from all creatures, yet he hath an active glory only from the Church. 'Tis Israel, the house of Aaron, and those that fear the Lord, that the Psalmist calls upon to render God the praise of the eternity of his mercy, Psal. 118.2, 3, 4. He forbids the profane and disobedient world to take his Covenant in their mouth, Psal. 50.16. None do, none can truly honour and acknowledge him, but the Church; therefore the Apostle in his Doxology appropriates the glory that is to be given to God as the object, to the Church as the subject, Ephes. 3.21. Unto him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all Ages, world without end. So solemn a wish from so great an Apostle, that it should be, amounts to a certainty that it will be. There cannot be a glory to God in the Church throughout all Ages, without the continuance of the Church in all Ages. God will have a revenue of glory paid him during the continuance of the world; there shall therefore be a standing Church during the duration of the world; while he therefore expects a glory from the midst of his People, he will be a wall of fire round about them, and keep Zion one where or other in a posture to glorify him. What is the Apostles motive to this glory? 'Tis not a remote power, such as can act, but will not; but a power operative in the Church, in doing those things for her, which she could never ask, nor think for her self*. God hath a greater glory from the Church, than he can have from the world; he therefore gives her more signal experiments of his Power, Wisdom and Love, than to the rest of the world. He had a glory from Angels, but only as Creator, not as Redeemer, till they were acquainted with his design, and were speculators of his actions in gathering a Church in the world.
(6.) In regard, 'tis the seat of his glory. 'Tis the branch of his planting, the work of his hands, that he might be glorified, Isa. 60.21. His glory would have a brush, if Sion should sink to ruin. He sows her for himself, Hos. 2.23. speaking of the Church in the time of the Gospel, not to the Devil, to sin, to the world, but to his own glory. As husbandmen sow their Fields for their own use, to reap from them a fruitful crop; and therefore till the Harvest be in, they take care to make up the breaches, and preserve them from the Incursions of beasts. Though God hath an objective glory from all creatures, yet he hath an active glory only from the Church. 'Tis Israel, the house of Aaron, and those that fear the Lord, that the Psalmist calls upon to render God the praise of the eternity of his mercy, Psal. 118.2, 3, 4. He forbids the prophane and disobedient world to take his Covenant in their mouth, Psal. 50.16. None do, none can truly honour and acknowledg him, but the Church; therefore the Apostle in his Doxology appropriates the glory that is to be given to God as the object, to the Church as the subject, Ephes. 3.21. Ʋnto him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all Ages, world without end. So solemn a wish from so great an Apostle, that it should be, amounts to a certainty that it will be. There cannot be a glory to God in the Church throughout all Ages, without the continuance of the Church in all Ages. God will have a revenue of glory paid him during the continuance of the world; there shall therefore be a standing Church during the duration of the world; while he therefore expects a glory from the midst of his People, he will be a wall of fire round about them, and keep Sion one where or other in a posture to glorifie him. What is the Apostles motive to this glory? 'Tis not a remote power, such as can act, but will not; but a power operative in the Church, in doing those things for her, which she could never ask, nor think for her self*. God hath a greater glory from the Church, than he can have from the world; he therefore gives her more signal experiments of his Power, Wisdom and Love, than to the rest of the world. He had a glory from Angels, but only as Creator, not as Redeemer, till they were acquainted with his design, and were speculators of his actions in gathering a Church in the world.
- *v. 20. Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundan ly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
