naments, when his crown and royal robe are ture. This is to glorify God, when we are taken

away, but God's glory is such an es- God-admirers; we admire God in his atsential part of his being, that he cannot be tributes, which are the glistering beams by God without it; God's very life lies in his which the divine nature shines forth; we glory. This glory can receive no addition, admire him in his promises, which are the because it is infinite ; this glory is that which charter of free grace, and the spiritual cabiGod is most tender of, and which he will not net where the pearl of price is hid ; we adpart with, Isa. xlviii. 11, “ My glory I will mire God in the noble effects of his power, not give to another.” God will give tem- and wisdom, viz. the making of the world, poral blessings to his children, such as wis- this is called the work of his fingers,' Ps. dom, riches, honour; he will give them spi- viii. 3, such curious needle-work it was, ritual blessings,-he will give them grace, that none but a God could work. This

- he will give them his love,-he will give is to glorify God, to have God-admiring them heaven,-but his essential glory he thoughts; we esteem him most excellent, will not give to another. King Pharaoh and search for diamonds only in this rock. parted with a ring off his finger to Joseph, 2. Glorifying of God consists in adoraand a gold chain, but he would not part tion, or worship: Ps. xxix. 2, "Give unwith his throne, Gen. xli. 40, Only in to the Lord the glory due unto his name; the throne will I be greater than thou.' worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” So God will do much for his people ; he There is a twofold worship: Ist. A civil will give them the inheritance; he will put reverence we give to persons of honour : some of Christ's glory, as mediator, upon Gen. xxii. 7, “ Abraham stood up and bowthem; but his essential glory he will noted himself to the children of Heth,”– part with; in the throne he will be Piety is no enemy to Courtesy. 2d. A digreater.'

vine worship which we give to God, is his 2. The glory which is ascribed to God, prerogative royal: Neh. viii. 6, “They or which his creatures labour to bring to bowed their heads, and worshipped the him : 1 Chron. xvi. 29, “Give unto the Lord with their faces towards the ground.” Lord the glory due unto his name," and, This divine worship God is very jealous 1 Cor. vi. 20, “Glorify God in your body of; this is the apple of his eye, this is the and in your spirit.” The glory we give pearl of his crown, which he guards, as he God, is nothing else but our listing up his did the tree of life, with cherubims and a name in the world, and magnifying him in flaming sword, tha no man may come near the eyes of others: Phil. i. 20, “Christ it to violate it; divine worship must be shall be magnified in my body."

such as God himself hath appointed, else Q. What is it to glorify God, or wherein it is offering strange fire, Lev. X. 2. The doth it consist ?

Lord would have Moses make the taberna. A. Glorifying of God consists in four cle, “according to the pattern in the things: Ist. Appreciation, 2d. Adoration, Mount,” Exod. xxv. 40; he must not leave 3d. Affection, 4th. Subjection. This is the out any thing in the pattern, nor add to it. yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven. If God was so exact and curious about the

1. Appreciation. To glorify God, is to set place of worship, how exact will he be God highest in our thoughts, to have a ve- about the matter of his worship? Surely nerable esteem of him : Ps. xcii. 8, “Thou, here every thing must be according to the Lord, art most high for evermore;" Ps. pattern prescribed in his word. xcvii. 9, “ Thou art exalted far above all

3. Affection. This is a part of the glory gods." There is in God all that may draw we give to God. God counts himself gloforth both wonder and delight; there is in rified when he is loved : Deut. vi. 5, “ Thou him a constellation of all beauties; he is pri- shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy ma causa,--the original and spring-head heart, and with all thy soul.” There is a of being, who sheds a glory upon the crea- twofold love: Ist. Amor concupiscentiæ, a

B

love of concupiscence, which is self-love, rifies God, hath not only his affections heated
as when we love another, because he doth with love to God, but he goes his circuit too;
us a good turn: thus a wicked man may he moves vigorously in the sphere of obedi-
be said to love God, because he hath given ence.
him a good crop, or filled his cup with Q. Why must we glorify God?
wine, and, to speak properly, this is rather A. 1. Because he gives us our being, Ps.
to love God's blessing than to love God. c. 3, “It is he that made us." We think it
2d. Amor amicitiæ, a love of delight, as a a great kindness in a man to spare our life,
man takes delight in a friend ; this is indeed but what kindness is it in God to give us our
to love God; the heart is set upon God, as a life? We draw our breath from him; and as
man's heart is set upon his treasure. And life, so all the comforts of life are from God;
this love is, 1st. Exuberant, not a few drops he gives us health, which is the sauce to
but a stream; 2d. It is superlative; we give sweeten our life; he gives us food, which is
God the best of our love, the cream of it, the oil that nourisheth the lamp of life ; now,
Cant. viii. 2, “I would cause thee to drink if all we receive is from the hand of his
of spiced wine, of the juice of my pome-bounty, is it not good reason we should glo-
granate.” If the spouse had a cup more rify him, and live to him, seeing we live by
juicy and spiced, Christ must drink of it. him? Rom. xi. 36, “ For of him, and
3d. It is intense and ardent; true saints are through him are all things.” Of him are
seraphims, burning in holy love to God. all,—all we have are of his fulness; through
The spouse was amore perculsa,-in faint- him are all,—all we have is through his
ing fits, sick of love,' Cant. ii. 5. Thus free grace; and therefore to him should be
to love God is to glorify him ; he who is the all; so it follows, “ To him be glory for
chief of our happiness, hath the chief of our ever.” God is not only our benefactor, but our
affections.

founder; the rivers come from the sea, and
4. Subjection. When we dedicate our they empty their silver streams into the sea
selves to God, and stand ready dressed for again.
his service. Thus the angels in heaven glo- A. 2. Because God hath made all things
rify him”; they wait on his throne, and are for his own glory: Prov. xvi. 4, “ The Lord
ready to take a commission from him ; there hath made all things for himself,"—that is,
fore they are represented by the cherubims for his glory. As a king hath excise out
with their wings displayed, to show how of commodities, God will have his glory out
swift the angels are in their obedience. of every thing; he will have glory out of
This is to glorify God, when we are devoted the wicked, the glory of his justice; they
to his service,ếour head studies for God, will not give him glory, but he will get his
our tongue pleads for him,-our hands re- glory upon them : Exod. xiv. 17, “I will
lieve his members. The wise men that came get me honour upon Pharaoh.” But especi-
to Christ did not only bow the knee to him, ally he hath made the godly for his glory ;
but presented him with gold and myrrh, they are the lively organs of his praise, Isa.
Matth. ii. 11; so we must not only bow the xliii. 21, “ This people have I formed for
knee, give God worship, but bring presents, myself, and they shall show forth my praise.”
golden obedience. This is to glorify God, It is true, they cannot add to his glory, but
when we stick at no service,--when we fight they may exalt it; they cannot raise him in
under the banner of his gospel against regi- heaven, but they may raise him in the es-
ments, and say to him as David to king Saul, teem of others. God hath adopted the
1 Sam. xvii. 32, • Thy servant will go and saints into his family, and made them a royal
fight with this Philistine.” Thus you see priesthood, that they should show forth the
wherein the glorifying of God doth consist: in praises of him who hath called them, 1 Pet.
appreciation, adoration, affection, subjection. ii. 9.

A good Christian is like the sun, which A. 3. Because the glory of God hath doth not only send forth heat, but goes his such intrinsic value and excellency in it; circuit round the world. Thus, he who glo- I it transcends the thoughts of men and the

tongues of angels; God's glory is his trea- cause all our hopes hang upon him, Ps.
sure, all his riches lie here; as Micah said, xxxix. 7, “My hope is in thee.” And Ps.
Judges xviii. 24, "What have I more ?" Ixii. 5, “My expectation is from him ;" I
So of God, what hath God more ? God's expect a kingdom from him. A child that is
glory is more worth than heaven, more worth good-natured will honour his parent, as ex-
than the salvation of all men's souls; better pecting all that ever he is like to be worth
kingdoms be thrown down, better men and from him, Ps. lxxxvii. 7, “All my springs
angels be annihilated, than God should lose are in thee,"—the silver springs of grace,
one jewel of his crown, one beam of his the golden springs of glory.
glory.

Q. How many ways may we glorify
A. 4. Creatures below us, and above us, God?
bring glory to God; and do we think to A. 1. It is a glorifying God, when we aim
sit rent free? Shall every thing glorify purely at God's glory; it is one thing to ad-
God, but man? It is a pity then that ever vance God's glory, another thing to aim at
man was made. 1. Creatures below us glo- it. God must be the terminus ad quem, the
rify God,--the inanimate creatures,—the ultimate end of all actions. Thus Christ,
heavens glorify God, Ps. xix. 1, " The hea- John viii. 50, “I seek not mine own glory,
vens declare the glory of God.” “The cu. but the glory of him that sent me." It is
rious workmanship of heaven sets forth the the note of a hypocrite, he hath a squint
glory of its maker; the firmament is beauti-eye, he looks more to his own glory than
fied and penciled out in blue and azure co-God's glory. Our Saviour decyphers such,
lours, where the power and wisdom of God and gives a caveat against them, Matth. vi.
may be clearly seen. " The heavens de- 2, “When thou givest alms, do not sound
clare his glory;" we may see the glory of a trumpet.” A stranger would ask, “What
God blazing in the sun, twinkling in the means the noise of this trumpet ?' Then it
stars. 2. Look into the air ; the birds, with was answered, they are going to give to
their chirping music, sing hymns of praise the poor.' And so they did not give alms,
to God, saith Anselm. Every beast doth in but sell them for honour and applause, that
its kind glorify God, Isa. xliii. 20, “ The they might have glory of men; the breath of
beasts of the field shall honour me," 3. men was the wind that blew the sails of
Creatures above us glorify God; "the an- their charity,--" verily they have their re-
gels are ministering spirits,” Heb. i. 14. ward.” The hypocrite may make his ac-
They are still waiting on God's throne, and quittance and write, 'received in full pay-
bring some revenues of glory into the ex- ment.' Chrysostom calls vain-glory one of
chequer of heaven. Then surely man should the devil's great nets to catch men.

And be much more studious of God's glory than Cyprian says, “whom Satan cannot prevail the angels; for God hath honoured him more against by intemperance, those he prevails than the angels, in that Christ took man's against by pride and vain-glory.” Oh let us nature upon him, and not the angels’: al- take heed of self-worshipping ! aim purely though, in regard of creation, God hath at God's glory. made man "a little lower than the angels," Q. How shall we know we aim at God's Heb. ii. 7, yet, in regard of redemption, glory? God hath set him higher than the angels; 1. When we prefer God's glory above all he hath married mankind to himself; the other things ; above credit, estate, relations ; angels are Christ's friends, but not his when the glory of God coming in competispouse ; he hath covered us with the purple tion with them, we prefer his glory before robe of righteousness, which is a better them. If relations lie in our way to heaven, righteousness than the angels have, 2 Cor. we must either leap over them, or tread upon v. 21. So that if the angels bring glory to them ; & child must unchild himself, and forGod, much more should we, being dignified get he is a child ; he must know neither fawith honour above the angelical spirits. ther nor mother in God's cause, Deut. xxxiji.

A. 5. We must bring glory to God, be-19, “ Who said unto his father and mother,

I have not seen him ; neither did he acknow me the woman to be a tempter, I had not ledge his brethren.” This is to aim at God's sinned. So confession glorifies God; it glory.

clears him, it acknowledgeth he is holy and 2. Then we aim at God's glory, when we rightedis whatever he doth. Nehemiah vincan be content that God's will should take dicates God's righteousness, chap. ix. 33, place, though it cross ours. Lord, I am “ Thou art just in all that is brought upon content to be a loser, if thou be a gainer; to us.” A confession then is ingenuous, when have less health, if I have more grace, and it is free, not forced, Luke xv. 18, “I have thou more glory; whether it be food or bitter sinned against heaven, and before thee.” physic thou givest me, Lord, I desire that He chargeth himself with sin, before ever which may be most for thy glory. Thus our his Father charged him with it. blessed Saviour, “not as I will, but as thou A. 3. We glorify God by believing, Rom. wilt,” Matth. xxvi. 39. So God might have iv, 20, “ Abraham was strong in faith, givmore glory by his sufferings, he was content ing glory to God.” Unbelief affronts God, to suffer, John xii. 28, “Father, glorify thy it gives him the lie; " he that believeth not, name."

maketh God a liar," 1 John v. 10. So faith 3. Then we aim at God's glory, when we brings glory to God, it sets to its seal that can be content to be out-shined by others in God is trưe, John iii. 23. He that believes, gifts and esteem, so God's glory may be in. flies to God's mercy and truth, as to an altar creased. A man that hath God in his heart, of refuge ; he doth ingarrison himself in the and God's glory in his eye, desires that God promises; he trusts all he hath with God, should be exalted; and if this be effected, Ps. xxxi. 5, “Into thy hands I commit my let who will be the instrument, he rejoiceth, spirit.” This is a great way of bringing Phil. i. 15, " Some preach Christ of envy: glory to God, therefore God honours faith, notwithstanding Christ is preached, and I because faith honours God. It is a great therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” honour we do to a man, when we trust him They preached Christ of envy, they envied with all we have,—we put our lives and esPaul that concourse of people, and they tates into his hand,-a sign we have a good preached that they might outshine him in opinion of him. The three children glorigifts, and get away some of his hearers : fied God by believing, " The God whom we well, saith Paul, Christ is preached, and serve is able to deliver us, and will deliver God is like to have glory, therefore I rejoice; us,” Dan. ii. 17. Faith knows there are no let my candle go out, if the Sun of Right- impossibilities with God, and will trust him eousness may but shine.

where it cannot trace him. A. 2. We glorify God by an ingenuous A. 4. We glorify God, by being tender of confession of sin. The thief on the cross God's glory. God's glory is dear to him as had dishonoured God in his life, but at his the apple of his eye. Now, when we are death he brings glory to God by confession tender of his glory, by laying to heart his of sin, Luke xxiii. 41, “We indeed suffer dishonours, this is a glorifying of him. An justly.” He acknowledged he deserved not ingenuous child weeps to see a disgrace done only crucifixion, but damnation. Josh. vii. to his father, Ps. Ixix. 9, “ The reproaches 19, “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to of them that reproach thee are fallen upon God, and make confession unto him.” An me.” When we hear God reproached, it is humble confession exalts God. How is God's as if we were reproached; when God's glory free grace magnified in crowning those who suffers, it is as if we suffered. This is to be deserve to be condemned; as the excusing tender of God's glory. and mincing of sin doth cast a reproach upon A. 5. We glorify God by fruitfulness, God! Adam denies not he did taste the for- John xv. 8, “ Hereby is my Father glorified, bidden fruit, but, instead of a full confession, if ye bring forth much fruit. As it is a dis. he taxes God, Gen. iii. 12, “The woman bonour to God to be barren, so fruitfulness whom thou gavest me, she gave me of the doth honour him, Phil. i. 11, “ Filled with tree, and I did eat." If thou hadst not given the fruits of righteousness, which are to the

praise of his glory." We must not be like himself much honoured with such a Chris-
the fig-tree in the gospel, which had nothing tian : saith God, here is one after my own
but leaves, but like the pome-citron, that is heart; let me do what I will with him, I hear
continually either mellowing or blossoming; no murmuring, he is content : this shows
it is never without fruit. It is not profession, abundance of grace. When grace is crown-
but fruit glorifies God; God expects to have ing, it is not so much to be content,-but
his glory from us this way, 1 Cor. ix. 7, when grace is conflicting with inconvenien-
“Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth notces, then to be content, is a glorious thing,
of the fruit of it?" Trees in the forest may indeed; for one to be content when he is in
be barren, but trees in the garden are fruit- heaven, is no wonder,—but to be content un-
ful; we must bring forth the fruits of love der the cross, is like a Christian. This man
and good works, Matth. v. 16, “ Let your must needs bring glory to God, for he shows
light so sbine before men, that they may see to all the world, that though he hath little
your good works, and glorify your Father meal in his barrel, yet he hath enough in
which is in heaven." Faith doth sanctify God to make him content; he saith, as Da-
our works, and works do testify our faith; vid, Ps. xvi. 5, “ The Lord is the portion of
to be doing good to others,-to be eyes to mine inheritance; the lines are fallen to me
the blind, feet to the lame,--doth much glo- in pleasant places.”
rify God. And thus Christ did glorify his A. 7. We glorify God in working out our
Father; "he went about doing good,” Acts own salvation. God hath twisted these two
X. 38. By being fruitful we are fair in God's together, his glory, and our good. We glori-
eyes, Jer. xi. 16, “The Lord called thy fy him, by promoting our own salvation. It
name a green olive-tree, fair and of goodly is a glory to God to have multitudes of con-
fruit." And we must bear much fruit; it is verts ; now, his design of free grace takes,
muchness of fruit glorifies God; " if ye bear and God hath the glory of his mercy ; so
much fruit.” The spouse's breasts are com- that, while we are endeavouring our salva-
pared to clusters of grapes, Cant. vii. 7, to tion, we are honouring God. What an en.
show how fertile she was. Though the couragement is this to the service of God, to
lowest degree of grace may bring salvation think, while I am hearing and praying, I am
to you, yet not so much glory to God; it glorifying God; while I am furthering my
was not a spark of love Christ commended own glory in heaven, I am increasing God's
in Mary, but much love; "she loved much," glory! Would it not be an encouragement
Luke vii. 47.

to a subject, to hear his prince say to him, A. 6. We glorify God, by being content-“ You will honour and please me very much, ed in that state where his providence hath if you will go to yonder mine of gold, and dig set us. We give God the glory of his wis- as much gold for yourself as you can carry dom, in that we rest satisfied with what he away ?" So, for God to say,

« Go to the or carves out to us. Thus did holy Paul glorify dinances, get as much grace as you can, dig God; the Lord did cast him into as great va- out as much salvation as you can ; and the riety of conditions as any man,“ in prisons (more happiness you have, the more I shall more frequent, in deaths oft,” 2 Cor. xi. 23, count myself glorified.” yet he had learned to be content. St Paul A. 8. We glorify God, by living to God, could sail either in a storm or a calm; he 2 Cor. v. 15, “ that they which live, should could be any thing that God would have him : not live to themselves, but unto him who died he could either want or abound, Phil. iv. 13. for them.” Rom. xiv. 8,

" Whether we A good Christian argues thus : It is God that live, we live unto the Lord.” The Mammonhath put me in this condition ; he could have ist lives to his money, the Epicure lives to raised me higher, if he pleased, but that his belly, the design of a sinner's life is to might have been a snare to me ; God hath gratify lust. But then we glorify God, when done it in wisdom and love; therefore I will we live to God. sit down satisfied with my condition. Surely Q. What is it to live to God? this doth much glorify God!

God counts

A. When we live to his service, and lay