Tag Archives: Glory

August 29, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“He abounds more in grace than thou in sinning” by Thomas Goodwin

“When the name of God and Christ are simply and alone apprehended they may be sufficient ground for faith to rest upon and nothing can be more comfortable to a poor distressed believer.

Because the name of God, that is, God’s attributes, and Christ’s righteousness, do sufficiently, and adequately, and fully answer all wants and doubts, and all objections and distresses that we can have, or can be in.

Whatsoever our want or temptations be, He hath a name to make supply.

For example, to take that His name in pieces, mentioned Exodus 34:5-6, consider every letter in that His name, and every letter answers to some temptation may be made by us.

Art thou in misery and great distress?

He is merciful; ‘The Lord merciful.’ The Lord, therefore able to help thee; and merciful, therefore willing.

Yes, but thou wilt say, ‘I am unworthy; I have nothing in me to move Him to it.‘

Well, therefore, He is gracious; now grace is to show mercy freely.

Yes, but I have sinned against Him long, for many years; if I had come in when I was young, mercy might have been shown me.

To this He says, ‘I am long-suffering.’

Yes, but my sins every way abound in number, and it is impossible to reckon them up, and they abound in heinousness; I have committed the same sins again and again; I have been false to Him, broke promise with Him again and again.

His name also answers this objection: He is abundant in goodness. He abounds more in grace than thou in sinning.

And though thou hast been false again and again to him, and broke all covenants, yet He is abundant in truth; also better than His word, for He cannot to our capacities express all that mercy that is in Him for us.

Yes, but I have committed great sins, aggravated with many and great circumstances, against knowledge, and willfully.

He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; sins of all sorts.

Yes, but there is mercy thus in Him but for a few, and I may be none of the number.

Yes, there is mercy for thousands. And He keeps it; treasures of mercy lie by Him, and are kept, if men would come and take them.”

–Thomas Goodwin, The Works of Thomas Goodwin, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage, 1861/2006), 3: 326, 328.

Leave a comment

Filed under Bible, Christian Theology, Glory of Christ, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Preaching, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, Sanctification, The Gospel, Thomas Goodwin

Tagged as Attributes of God, Call upon the name of the Lord, Exodus 34:5-6, Glory, Glory of Christ, God the Son, God's Excellencies, Gospel, grace, Jesus Christ, Proverbs 18:10, Thomas Goodwin, Works of Thomas Goodwin

August 21, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“The sun of happiness shall arise upon us in another world” by Thomas Manton

“When a man hath received the consolations of the Spirit, he is in the skirts and suburbs of heaven, he begins to enter upon his country and inheritance.

Heaven begins in us, when the Holy Ghost comes with peace, confidence, and joy, and doth leave a sweet sense and relish upon the soul.

Fullness of joy, that is the portion of the life to come, and is reserved for God’s right hand; but here is the beginning of heaven; and peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost is but the pledge of that joy which the blessed spirits have.

And therefore the comforts of the Holy Ghost which we have here in this world are called ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory,’ (1 Peter 1:8), because it tends and works that way towards our glorious and happy estate in heaven.

As the odours and sweet smells of Arabia are carried by the winds and air into the neighbouring provinces, so that before travellers come thither they have the scent of that aromatic country; so the joys of heaven are by the sweet breathings and gales of the Holy Ghost blown into the hearts of believers, and the sweet smells of the upper paradise are conveyed into the gardens of the churches.

Those joys which are stirred up in us by the Spirit before we get to heaven are a pledge of what we may expect hereafter.

God would not weary our hopes by expecting too much, therefore He hath not only given us His Word, but He gives a taste and earnest here as part of the sum which shall be paid us in heaven.

By these sweet refreshments of the Spirit we may conceive of the glory of the everlasting state.

Look, as before the sun ariseth, there are some forerunning beams and streaks of light that usher it in; so the joys of the Holy Ghost are but the morning glances of the daylight of glory, and of the sun of happiness that shall arise upon us in another world.”

–Thomas Manton, The Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. 13 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1870/2020), 13: 330-331.

Leave a comment

Filed under Banner of Truth, Bible, Blessedness, Christian Theology, Glorification, Glory of Christ, God's Excellencies, God's Goodness, Heaven, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Preaching, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, Sanctification, The Gospel, Thomas Manton, Union with Christ

Tagged as Bliss, Everlasting happiness, Everlasting life, Glorification, Glory, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Love, Sanctification, Thankful, Thomas Manton, Union with Christ

August 19, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“He is our king and He is our priest” by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430)

“The Son of God who made us was made one of us, and He rules us as our king because as our creator He made us.

He through whom we are ruled is none other than He through whom we were made, and we are called Christians because He is the Christ.

The title ‘Christ’ is derived from chrism, which is used in anointing. Kings and priests used to be anointed, and Christ was anointed as both king and priest.

As king He fought for us, and as priest He offered Himself for us.

When he fought for us He was to all appearances overcome, but in truth He was the victor. He was crucified, and from the cross to which He was fastened He slew the devil, and thus He proved Himself our king.

But in what sense is he a priest? Because he offered himself for us.

Give your priest something He can offer. But what could human beings have found that would serve as a clean victim?

What shall your victim be? What clean sacrifice can a sinner offer? Wicked, impious pretender, whatever you bring is tainted, yet something clean is needed to be offered for you.

Look for something fit within yourself: you will find nothing.

Look among your possessions for an acceptable offering: but God takes no pleasure in rams or he-goats or bulls. They all belong to Him anyway, even if you do not offer them.

Go on, then, offer him a clean sacrifice. But you are a sinner, a wicked person, and your conscience is defiled.

If you were purified first you would, perhaps, be in a position to make a clean offering, but, if you are to be purified, something must be offered on your behalf.

What are you going to offer for yourself, to effect your cleansing? Only if you have first been cleansed will you be able to offer anything clean.

Let a clean priest offer Himself, then, and cleanse you. That is what Christ did.

He found nothing clean in human beings that He could offer on behalf of human beings, so He offered Himself as a clean victim.

How auspicious a victim, how genuine; and how spotless a sacrifice!

What He offered was not something we had given Him; rather did He offer what He took from us, but He offered it in a clean condition.

He took flesh from us, and that was what He offered, but whence did He take it?

From the womb of His virgin mother, so that He might offer it clean for us who were unclean.

He is our king and He is our priest.

Let us rejoice in Him.”

–Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 121–150, ed. Boniface Ramsey, trans. Maria Boulding, vol. 20, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2000), 20: 584–585. Augustine is riffing on Psalm 149:2.

1 Comment

Filed under Augustine, Bible, Christian Theology, Christology, Church Fathers, Death, Faith, Glory of Christ, God the Creator, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Joy, Preaching, Priest Most High, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, The Gospel

Tagged as Atonement, Augustine of Hippo, Church Fathers, Expositions of the Psalms, Glory, Heaven, Hebrews 2:17-18, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Jesus is King, Jesus is Priest, Joy, Mercy, Penal substitution, Prayer, Priest Most High, Psalm 149:2, Resurrection, Second Coming

August 11, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“Praying earnestly” by William Plumer

“Anything is good for us that puts us to praying earnestly (Psalm 30:8).”

–William Plumer, Studies in the Book of Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary With Doctrinal and Practical Remarks (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1867/2016), 383. Plumer is commenting on Psalm 30:8.

Leave a comment

Filed under Bible, Book of Psalms, Christian Theology, General Revelation, Glory of Christ, God the Creator, Good Works, Jesus Christ, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, Sanctification, The Gospel, Worldview, Worship

Tagged as Banner of Truth, Creation, Eternity, Evangelism, Forever, General Revelation, Glory, God the Creator, His love endures forever, Kindness, Mercy, Praise, Prayer, Psalm 30, Righteous, Sanctification, Studies in the Book of Psalms, Thanksgiving, William Plumer

August 9, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“They could not be in better hands” by William Plumer

“Even in this world of sorrow no small part of our fit work is praise (Psalm 30:1).

As long as life lasts, especially in the case of the righteous, mercies greatly abound.

Much more will they be called to praise in heaven.

Let us extol Him here with heart and voice, for life and all its blessings; then may we hope to spend our eternity in His blissful presence and service.

If God exalts us, let us exalt Him.

If He humbles us without destroying us, let us count it a great mercy, and give thanks.

All the vicissitudes of our earthly existence are subject to His sovereign disposal.

They could not be in better hands.”

–William Plumer, Studies in the Book of Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary With Doctrinal and Practical Remarks (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1867/2016), 382. Plumer is commenting on Psalm 30:1.

Leave a comment

Tagged as Banner of Truth, Creation, Eternity, Evangelism, Forever, General Revelation, Glory, God the Creator, His love endures forever, Kindness, Mercy, Praise, Psalm 30, Righteous, Sanctification, Studies in the Book of Psalms, Thanksgiving, William Plumer

August 8, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“The memory of God’s loving-kindness” by William Plumer

“Never is speech better employed than in commending Christ, glorifying God, praising the Holy Spirit, uttering all the memory of God’s loving-kindness.”

–William Plumer, Studies in the Book of Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary With Doctrinal and Practical Remarks (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1867/2016), 384. Plumer is commenting on Psalm 30:12.

Leave a comment

August 7, 2023 · 12:00 pm

“His name is the glory of the universe” by William Plumer

“Though to the wicked the night of death is followed by a night of endless despair, yet to the righteous the longest and darkest night has its morning of joy (Psalm 30:5).

Sharp as are the trials of the saints, they are but short.

Great is the mercy to us that God is slow to anger and that His anger endureth but a moment.

If He delighted in punishing, who could stand before Him?

While the Scriptures assure us that God’s anger is short, they as clearly teach us, that His mercy endureth forever.

Oh that the saints would study God’s character!

Wonderful love, mercy and purity shine in it all.

His name is the glory of the universe.”

Leave a comment

Tagged as Banner of Truth, Creation, Eternity, Evangelism, Forever, General Revelation, Glory, God the Creator, His love endures forever, Kindness, Mercy, Natural Revelation, Praise, Psalm 30, Righteous, Sanctification, Studies in the Book of Psalms, Thanksgiving, Trials, William Plumer

May 24, 2023 · 1:00 pm

“Look into the heart of God” by Thomas Boston

“The Scriptures teach us, that we shall ‘see face to face, and know even as we are known,’ (1 Cor. 13:12); and that ‘we shall see Him as He is,’ (1 John 3:2). Yet the saints can never have an adequate conception of God: they cannot comprehend that which is infinite.

They may touch the mountain, but cannot grasp it in their arms. They cannot, with one glance of their eye, behold what grows on every side: but the divine perfections will be an unbounded field, in which the glorified shall walk eternally, seeing more and more of God; since they can never come to the end of that which is infinite.

They may bring their vessels to this ocean every moment, and fill them with new waters.—What a ravishing sight would it be, to see all the perfections, and lovely qualities, that are scattered here and there among the creatures, gathered together into one!

But even such a sight would be infinitely below this blissful sight the saints shall have in heaven. For they shall see God, in whom all these perfections shall eminently appear infinitely more, whereof there is no vestige to be found in the creatures. In Him shall they see every thing desirable, and nothing but what is desirable.

Then shall they be perfectly satisfied as to the love of God towards them, which they are now ready to question on every turn. They will no more find any difficulty to persuade themselves of it, by marks, signs, and testimonies: they will have an intuitive knowledge of it.

They shall, with the profoundest reverence be it spoken, look into the heart of God, and there see the love He bore to them from all eternity, and the love and goodness He will bear to them forevermore.

The glorified shall have a most clear and distinct understanding of divine truths, for in His light we shall see light (Psalm 36:9). The light of glory will be a complete commentary on the Bible, and untie all the hard and knotty questions in divinity.

There is no joy on earth, comparable to that which arises from the discovery of truth, no discovery of truth comparable to the discovery of Scripture truth, made by the Spirit of the Lord unto the soul. ‘I rejoice at Thy word,’ says the psalmist, ‘as one that findeth great spoil,’ (Psalm 119:162).

Yet, while here, it is but an imperfect discovery. How ravishing then will it be, to see the opening of all the treasure hid in that field!

They shall also be led into the understanding of the works of God. The beauty of the works of creation and providence will then be set in due light.

Natural knowledge will be brought to perfection by the light of glory. The web of providence, concerning the church, and all men whatever, will then be cut out, and laid before the eyes of the saints: and it will appear a most beautiful mixture; so as they shall all say together, on the view of it, ‘He hath done all things well.’ (Mark 7:37)

But, in a special manner, the work of redemption shall be the eternal wonder of the saints, and they will admire and praise the glorious contrivance forever. Then shall they get a full view of its suitableness to the divine perfections, and to the case of sinners; and clearly read the covenant that passed between the Father and the Son, from all eternity, concerning their salvation.

They shall forever wonder and praise, and praise and wonder, at the mystery of wisdom and love, goodness and holiness, mercy and justice, appearing in the glorious scheme.

Their souls shall be eternally satisfied with the sight of God Himself, of their election by the Father, their redemption by the Son, and application thereof to them by the Holy Spirit.”

–Thomas Boston, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1964), 456-457.

Leave a comment

Filed under Bible, Christian Theology, Eschatology, Glorification, Glory of Christ, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of Heaven, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, salvation, The Church, The Gospel, Thomas Boston, Worship

Tagged as Church, Enjoying God, Eschatology, Glory, Heaven, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, Jesus Christ, Joy, New Heavens and Earth, Thomas Boston

February 8, 2023 · 4:47 pm

“It’s the Creator of all these that I am thirsting for” by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430)

“Whatever God promises you, none of it is worth anything apart from God Himself. Most certainly, God would never satisfy me, unless He promised me God Himself.

What’s the whole earth, what’s the whole sea, what’s the whole sky worth? What are all the stars, the sun, the moon? What’s the host of angels worth?

It’s the Creator of all these that I am thirsting for; I’m hungry for Him, thirsty for Him, it’s to Him I say, ‘with You is the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9).’

And He says to me, ‘I am the bread who came down from heaven (John 6:41).’ May I hunger and thirst for this in my exile, on my journey, so that I may take my fill of it when I arrive in His presence.

The world smiles on us with many things, things of beauty, power, variety; more beautiful is the One who made them, mightier and more brilliant the One who made them, more delightful, more delicious the One who made them.

I will be satisfied when His glory is revealed (Psalm 17:15).”

–Saint Augustine, Sermons 148–183 on the New Testament, ed. John E. Rotelle, trans. Edmund Hill, vol. 5, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 1992), 118. Augustine is preaching on Romans 8:30-31. (Sermon 158.7)

Leave a comment

Filed under Augustine, Bible, Christian Theology, Christology, Church Fathers, Death, Faith, Glory of Christ, God the Creator, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Joy, Preaching, Puritanical, Quotable Quotes, The Gospel

Tagged as Augustine of Hippo, Beatific Vision, Church Fathers, Glory, happiness, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Joy, Longing, Mercy, Resurrection, Romans 8:30-31, Second Coming, Sermons on the New Testament

January 9, 2023 · 2:00 pm

“Dash your old self against the rock of Christ” by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430)

“He who once came humbly will come in sublime majesty; He who came to submit to judgment will come to judge.

Let us acknowledge our humble Lord, so that we need not be terrified by His majesty; let us embrace Him in His humility, so that we may long for Him in His sublimity; for He will come in merciful grace to those who long for Him.

Those who hold fast in faith to Him, and keep His commandments, are the ones who long for Him. But be sure of this: come He will, even if we do not want Him.

How are we to desire His coming? By living God-fearing lives and doing good.

Memories of the past must not trap us in pleasure, nor must present affairs hold us fast.

Let us not be deterred from hearing by anything in the past, nor become so absorbed in things present that we are prevented from meditating on what is to come; but let us forget the past and stretch forward to what lies ahead.

What we struggle with now, what we groan over now, what we sigh for now, what we speak about now, all that of which we now have some dim intuition but cannot grasp— that we shall grasp, and fully enjoy, at the resurrection of the just.

Our youth will be renewed like the eagle’s, provided we dash our old self against the rock of Christ.

When you pray, O Christian, Your kingdom come, what do you mean? Your kingdom come? Awaken your heart, open your eyes, listen: Your kingdom come! Christ is shouting to you, ‘I’m coming!‘ Doesn’t that fill you with awe?”

–Augustine of Hippo, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72, trans. Maria Boulding, ed. John E. Rotelle, vol. 17, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2001), 17: 321-323. Augustine is commenting on Psalm 67.