Glorious Day of the Saints Appe (continued)
the promise. Though all providences seem to be contrary to it, and God seems to work contrary to it, I will say, "I will stay upon the promise!" This is to do gloriously. Just so, much for the second thing.
3. Ay—but some souls will say, we see we shall be glorious, and we are willing to do gloriously; and we see reasons why we should do gloriously.
What Directions and Helps are There That We
May Do Gloriously?
First, If you will do gloriously, there are some things that you must be careful to take HEED of.
Secondly, There are others which you must labor to practice.
[1.] If you will do gloriously, seeing hereafter you shall be glorious, in the first place, whatever you do, take heed of UNBELIEF.
There is nothing in the world which more hinders men from doing gloriously, than unbelief. All other miscarriages and weaknesses have not such an influence upon the heart, to hinder it from doing gloriously, as unbelief. As it is said of Christ concerning them in Mat.
13:58, "He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief."
Unbelief, as it were, tied the hands of Christ—"He could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief." If men would do glorious things, take heed of that: unbelief ties the tongue; it causes an insensitivity to fall upon the heart, and binds the hands, that a man has no tongue to speak for Christ, nor heart to act for Christ, nor hand to strike for Christ. Unbelief spoils all the strength and power by which we should be serviceable to God. What water is to fire--that unbelief is to the soul; therefore as you would do gloriously, take heed of unbelief.
[2.] Secondly, As you must take heed of unbelief, so, if you would do gloriously, consult neither with the tempting nor with the persecuting WORLD. What hinders many men from doing gloriously
—but consulting with the tempting or the persecuting world? This has overthrown many. Nay, what hinders men in our age from doing gloriously? They are consulting with flesh and blood, with the tempting world and the frowning world. This hinders men from doing gloriously. I cannot believe but if parliament-men, and others in power and authority, did not look too much upon the tempting world when she smiles and holds forth her beautiful breasts; upon the ugly face of the world when it frowns and threatens—but that they would act more gloriously for God, and for the general good, and for the advancing of the name of the Most High God, in these days we live in.
[3.] If you would do gloriously, look away from the tempting world: it is a plague and a snare; and look off from the frowning world, it will discourage you; consult not with flesh and blood, with carnal reason. Looking upon the tempting or the frowning world will dampen the most gallant spirits in the world, and hinder them from doing any noble service for God or his saints. And therefore, as ever you would do gloriously, look not on the tempting or on the persecuting world; look not upon it when it smiles or when it frowns
—but remember you have a God to look at, a Christ to look at, and an unfading crown of glory to look at; which is better than all--which is more than all other things to your souls.
[4.] Then, again, If you would do gloriously, whatever you do, take heed of base, selfish ends, take heed of self-love. There is nothing under heaven that will disable a man more from doing gloriously, than a base spirit of self-love; such a man will never do gloriously. It may be, when he has the wind and tide on his side, he may do something that vain men may account glorious—but this man will never do that which God and the saints call glorious, and count glorious. That base, selfish spirit, that looks no higher nor no further than self, it will never do gloriously. It may be fit for treachery, neutrality, and apostasy—but never to do gloriously.
Now as you must avoid these things so that you may do gloriously, in the next place, here are some things which you must labor to PRACTICE: [1.] First, Labor for internal, experimental and spiritual knowledge of God. Oh, there is a great deal of notional knowledge in the world! but if men did know God experimentally, if they did know
God more in the mystery and light of the Spirit, if they did know God more from union and communion with God--it would be impossible for them not to do more gloriously. That is a brave text: Daniel 11:32, "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupted by flatteries." Mark the latter words, "but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Oh! take one who knows God experimentally, mystically, and spiritually, from union, and from being taken into heavenly communion with God--and he will act bravely and strongly for God.
Alas! take a Christian that has merely sucked in notions, and is only able for discourse—but has no internal experimental knowledge of God, you shall never find him doing exploits--doing glorious things for God and his saints. No! "the people who know God,"—he speaks of the internal, experimental and spiritual knowledge of God
—and thus to know him will enable a man to do exploits, to do glorious things. Oh, if God would raise up parliament-men, and men in the army, and in the city, and round the kingdom, to more internal and experimental knowledge, to more spiritual acquaintance with himself--we would find that they would do abundantly more gloriously. But it is for lack of an internal, experimental and spiritual knowledge of God--that men are treacherous, and base, and unfaithful, and prove apostates and worthless. As you would do glorious and honorable things, look to this--that you have an internal knowledge and spiritual acquaintance with God, and this will enable you to do exploits.
[2.] And, then, If you would be enabled to do gloriously, in the second place, you should look upon those examples and worthies that have gone before you, and have done gloriously. Just so, the apostle, Heb. 12:1, when he would press them to do gloriously, he presses them into the consideration of those glorious worthies who had gone before: "Having therefore such a cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience the race which is set before us," chapter 12:1. Look to the cloud of witnesses, in chapter 11; that is another means to help us to do gloriously.
[3.] Another is this, If you would do gloriously, then keep your evidences for glory always bright and shining; do not soil your evidences for glory. What made them take joyfully the "confiscation of their goods," Heb. 10:34—but this, that they knew in themselves that they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance?
When a man's evidence is bright, that he can run and read his title to heaven, his interest in God, and the glory above, then will he be strong to do exploits; this will enable a man to do gloriously.
[4.] Then, again, If you would do gloriously, look to faith; give faith scope, give it elbow-room to work. Faith is a noble grace, and will ennoble the soul to do gloriously for God. Faith is that which will carry a man over all difficulties; faith will untie all knots. Faith will carry a man through the valley of darkness, though it be ever so long.
Faith will carry a man over mountains of difficulties, though they be ever so high. Faith will not plead "there is a lion in the way," and that such and such men will frown if I do this or that for God and the general good. Faith will carry a man bravely over all.
In Hebrews 11, you have several instances of the saints doing gloriously. But what enabled them? It is all along attributed to faith.
By the power of faith they did gloriously: they stopped the mouths of lions; they turned to flight the armies of the aliens; they waxed valiant in fight; they refused to be delivered,—and all by the power of faith. Oh! faith will enable men to do gloriously. If parliament-men, and men in the army, and in the city, and round the kingdom, did believe more gloriously, they would do more gloriously for God, in their relations and places, than now they do. It springs from lack of faith--that things work thus basely. Did men believe more gloriously, things would work more gloriously. Therefore, when things work crossly, blame not so much this or that instrument—but blame your own unbelieving heart; for glorious faith will see a smiling Father beyond a dark cloud. "Though men are at a loss—yet God is not at a loss," says faith. "And though the arm of man be weak, His arm is strong," says faith. "And though the work be too hard for the arm of flesh, too hard for an army or parliament, it is not too hard for God,"