we are willing to do gloriously; and we see reasons why we should do
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,"