in this grace, go from strength to strength; they are .wayfaring men, that do not err from the way; they run, and are not weary; they walk, and are not faint. They stand the journey to the end, and rise above all its dangers and difficulties. They are truly prosperous with the best prosperity: all things work for their good. In them that promise is fulfilled, Isa. xxxii. 8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

[6.] What we have noticed, is accomplished in every one that is truly justified by faith; and so it is in the church, considered as one body in Christ: for the church stands as such in his grace. It is built up a spiritual house, a holy temple unto the Lord, to offer spiritual sacrifices unto God; built on the most sure foundation; united together by the strongest bands-the bands of divine grace and love: therefore it

"Stands like a palace built for God,

To shew his milder face;"

as the pillar and ground of truth, so established in this grace, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We are assured by our Lord, that a house divided against itself cannot stand; but the house of God, which consists of all that are justified by faith in Christ Jesus—are made one in this grace; (see Col. iii. 11.) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all: and therefore shall stand.

3. Another privilege of the justified is, a rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. Sinners justified by faith, have not only peace with God, they have a joy that is unspeakable, and full of glory; they are freed from the transient and debasing joys of the men of this world, and blest with the joy of the redeemed. The wise man does not now, as when under sin, rejoice in his wisdom, nor

the rich man in his riches, nor the strong man in his strength; but his rejoicing is in Christ Jesus, in the Lord, (as in our text,) in hope of the glory of God.

(1.) The believer has in this life a glimpse of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. He is, even now, lost in the unsearchable depths of divine wisdom-the riches of the goodness, the mercy, and the grace of God-the awfulness of divine justice—the firmness of heavenly truth, most wonderfully manifest in the Person and excellences of Jesus Christ. But, now, he beholds this glory of God, as through a glass, darkly. Though he beholds the glory of God far otherwise than the Jews, who saw only the glory of the ministry of condemnation, for he beholds the glory of the ministry of righteousness and eternal life; yet he knows but as a child, he thinks but as a child, on these glories of the blessed God. His blessedness does not so much consist in what he now sees of the glory of God, as in his prospects, his hopes. He, being justified by faith, finds peace with God; and, standing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he rejoices in hope of the glory of God. The justified believer hopes to see the glory which Jesus Christ had with his Father before the foundation of the world, according to John xvii. 24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. When our Lord was about to leave the world, he prays to be glorified with the Father, with the glory he had with the Father before the foundation of the world; see John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was this is a glory that believers are rejoicing in the hope that they shall in due season behold. Believers expect, that all the glory of God will be seen, as far as creatures with the most enlarged capacities are capable of seeing. They hope, assuredly, that they shall see the

glory of the divine counsels, and the brightness of these counsels in the Person, Offices, Relations, Sufferings, Works, Conflicts, and Triumphs of their gracious Saviour-the mystery of Providence finished--the darkness of Providence unveiled all the promises of the book of God fulfilled its predictions accomplished: they fully expect to see such a display of the perfections of God as will fill all heaven with unutterable glory. There will be no night there; and they need no candle, nor light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: see Rev. xxii. 5. Yes, God himself, and the Lamb, is the light thereof; see Rev. xxi. 23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. They hope to see the glory of God shine forth with a brightness not to be borne in this life, in the Relations, Perfections, and Works of the Father, Son, and Spirit; and the fruits of them in angels and saints, and in all the wonderful works of God-to see as they are seen, and to know as they are known-to see the glory of the great salvation fully manifested. They become dead to the fading glories of this world-they hope for glories that will never end.

:

(2.) The believer hopes for the glory of God, not because he has deserved so great a privilege, but from the great love wherewith God hath loved him; which he has manifested by quickening him when dead in trespasses and sins-from the rich mercy the Lord has shewn towards him, in being merciful to his unrighteousness, and remembering his sins no more. They hope for the glory of God, because Christ has prepared that glory for them, and has promised to bestow it upon them: see John xiv. 2. In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Compare John xvii. 24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast

given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Being justified by faith, and so united unto the Lord Jesus, all the promises of the book of God are yea, and amen, in Christ Jesus; and not only is the place prepared where we shall behold the glory of Christ, and the promise given that we shall behold that glory; but many express promises, to assure us of the blessedness of that glory. This glory is expressed under various metaphors-it is an everlasting kingdom-it is a crown of life-it is an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that cannot fade away; reserved in heaven for us. Under these, and metaphors of like import, it is promised to all the justified, to all that have peace with God; hence they entertain a hope for the glory of God.

The justified hope for the glory of God, because the Lord Jesus has purchased this great privilege for them, and sealed it to them; see Eph. i. 13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. In the work of and the labour of love, we have the earnest of our eternal inheritance; and in the Spirit shewing us the genuine nature of our faith and love, according to the word of God, which he opens our eyes to see, we have the seal of the Spirit: hence it is that believers hope for the glory of God. They hope for the glory of God because they have the first-fruits of that glory. They have been turned from darkness to light-from the power of Satan to God-translated out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son; and therein become fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God. They are renewed after the image of Christ, in righteousness and true holiness. They delight in the law of God, after the inward man. They joy in

God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom they have received the atonement; see Rom. v. 11. Having then these first-fruits of the glory of God, they hope that they shall, in due season, partake of the whole of that light and gladness that is sown for the righteous.

They hope for the glory of God, because they experience their trials are preparing them for it. By that grace in which they stand they are enabled to endure temptation, and therefore find an interest in that promise of James, Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Thus in the 3rd and following verses of this chapter, we are assured, that the justified glory in tribulation; not indeed for itself, abstractedly considered, but on account of its fruits, by the grace of Christ: for it is tribulation that worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. The glory of God is prepared for the justified. Whom he justified, them he glorified, and the justified are prepared for the glory of God, they are made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, and, being favoured with an assurance of their justification, and of the good work of God begun in them, they hope to partake of the glory of God. Their hope is not an uncertain expectation, founded on probabilities, but on the word of God, that cannot lie on the works of God, that are for ever-on the gracious presence and indwelling of the Spirit-on the oath of God, engaged to fulfil his promises-on the redemption of our Lord Jesus-and on the grace that reigns through righteousness to eternal life.

(3.) Therefore, believers do not only hope for the glory of God, they rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is what their faith and standing in this grace leads to,