"The God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus." - Acts 3:13
See, my soul, how every part and portion of scripture is directed to
this one subject - to glorify the Lord Jesus. What is the very design of
redemption but to glorify the Lord Jesus? What hath God constituted a
church for, but to glorify the Lord Jesus? To what do all the precepts,
promises, ordinances, sacrifices under the law, and institutions under
the gospel, minister, but to this one end - to glorify the Lord Jesus?
Talk they of promises? Why, all the promises of God are "in Christ
Jesus, yea and amen, to the glory of God the. Father by us." Talk they
of the law? "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone
that believeth." Talk they of commandments? "This is the commandment,
that ye believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God; and that
believing, ye might have life through his name." And how hath the God
of our fathers glorified his Son Jesus, in giving him as a covenant to
the people. Hath he not constituted him the glorious Head, the
Mediator, the Husband, the Lord, the Prophet, the Priest, the King of
his people? How hath he glorified him in his person, offices,
characters, relations! How hath he carried him through all the parts of
redemption, in his incarnation, ministry, miracles, obedience, life,
death, resurrection, ascension; and in all his triumphs over sin and
Satan, death, hell, and the grave. And having constituted him the
universal and eternal Lord of all, commands that "every knee should bow
before him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father ]" And is there anything left, by which the God
of our fathers might manifest that he hath glorified his Son Jesus?
Yes, there is one thing more, my soul, by which the wonderful grace is
shewn; and that is, when the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son
Jesus in the heart of every poor sinner, who gives the glory of his
salvation fully, heartily, completely to him, and puts the crown of
redemption upon the head of Jesus. My soul, hast thou done this? Hast
thou glorified Jesus in this way, the only way in which thou canst
glorify him, and the Father in him? Then, if so, what a sweet thought
is it, that the God of our fathers, and thou, a poor sinner, are both
agreed in this one blessed work, to glorify Jesus. And here both meet
in the only possible meeting-place for an holy God and unholy men to
meet; and both are engaged in one and the same deed - to glorify Jesus!
Oh thou Lamb of God, be thou eternally glorified in my salvation!
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