28. He takes all the shame of his sins to himself, and gives all the glory of his services to Christ

Another singular action of a sanctified Christian, is, To take all the shame of his sins unto himself, and to give all the glory of his services unto Christ.

Many people take all the glory of their services to themselves, and lay all the shame of their sins on him; as if he who died on earth to redeem us from them, shall live in heaven to confirm us in them.

The devil may flatter us, but he cannot force us; he may tempt us to sin, but he cannot compel us to sin. He could never come off a conqueror, were he not joined by our forces. The fire is his, but the tinder is ours. He could never enter into our houses, if we did not set open our doors.

Many complain for want of liberty, who thrust their feet in satan's fetters. The woman thou gavest me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. As if he had said, I took that as a gift from her, whom thou gavest as a gift to me. It is the worst of sins to charge God with our sins. They may receive their punishment from him, but they shall never receive their nourishment from him. He cannot be the unrighteous upholder of what he is the righteous avenger.

O blasphemy, to charge that sun with darkness, by which the heavens are enlightened; or that sea with a want of moisture, by which the whole earth is watered! Our impiety is as truly the offspring of our souls, as our posterity is the issue of our bodies. Every good and perfect gift cometh from above, from the Father of light, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Whatsoever is truly good, hath its origin in God. Now the same spring cannot send forth both sweet and bitter waters. It is a known rule, that contraries destroy each other.

Many have more leaves to cover their wickedness, than they have garments to cover their nakedness. They lay their heresy at the door of the sanctuary; and call their diabolical seductions, evangelical revelations; as if the Father of light could bring forth the issues of darkness. What is this, but to set a crown of lead upon a head of gold?

We can defile ourselves, but we cannot cleanse ourselves. The sheep can go astray alone, but can never return to the fold without the assistance of the shepherd. Till we taste the bitterness of our own misery, we shall never relish the sweetness of God's mercy. Till we see how foul our sins have made us, we shall never pay our tribute of praise to Christ for washing us.

If we were left to ourselves but for a moment, we should destroy ourselves in that moment. We are like glasses without a bottom, which are no sooner loosed than they fall. Many advance themselves to depreciate Christ; but we should look upon ourselves as nothing, and Christ as every thing. Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Paul was willing to be esteemed a cypher, so that Christ might stand for a figure. Well may we abase ourselves for his advancement, who abased himself for our establishment. Let Luther be accounted a devil, so Christ may be exalted as a God; said that flaming seraph of himself.

Without me, ye can do nothing. The pen may as soon write without the hand that holds it, as our hearts work except the Spirit move them. Not only the enjoyment of our talents is from God; but the improvement of them is from him. Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. It is not my pains, but thy pound, that hath done it.

The children of God are like a clock, which soon stands still, if it be not wound up. Did not our hearts burn within us? But how long did the flame last? All the time he talked with them. When he gave over breathing on them, their fuel gave over burning.

Gracious hearts are like stars in the heavens, which shine not by their own splendour. He that takes the brick, must give the straw to make it. There is no water except he smite the rock, nor fire except he strike the flint.

If he call us to the work of angels, he will supply us with the strength of angels. For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. A Christless soul is also a strengthless soul. Man is indebted to God for what he has, but God is not beholden to man for what he does. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever, Amen! The humble heart knows no foundation but God's grace; and the upright man knows no end but God's glory.

Waters may rise as high as they fall. Whatsoever action hath God for its author, hath God for its centre. A circular line makes its ending where it had its beginning.

Reader, take heed of turning a sacred privilege into a privy sacrilege. If God give that grace which is not due to you, will you deny the praise which is due to him?

The wicked make their end their God; but we make God our end. The firmament is made more glorious by one sun, than by all the stars that stud the heavens. Thus Jesus Christ hath more glory given to him from one saint, than from all the world beside. He takes more pleasure in their prayers, and is more honoured by their praise.

Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. From the lowest act of nature, to the highest act of grace, there is no argument for the pride of man; but every consideration for the praise of God. If he make our nature gracious, we should make his name glorious. He that would be fingering the honour of God, is not worthy to receive the honour of a man. Cæsar once said to his opponent, 'Either I will be Cæsar, or nobody.' So the Lord saith, Either I will be a great God, or no God. That man disparages the beauty of the sun, who sets it upon a level with the twinkling stars.

The glory of God is the golden butt at which all the arrows of obedience are shot, otherwise they fall short of their mark.

The body has two eyes, but the soul must have but one; and that so firmly fixed upon Christ, as never once to glance beside him. A single eye is fittest for a single object.

When the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. But do they take that glory to themselves, which is idolatrously given to them from others? No. Why do you these things? we also are men of like passions with you. As if they had said, We are so far from possessing the glorious perfections of God, that we are clothed with all the weaknesses and passions of men.

Ungodly Herod was not like Paul and Silas.

The people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a God, and not of a man! What the people gave foolishly, he took fearlessly. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory. Ah, how soon this worm-eaten wretch was a wretch eaten up of worms! Every little river pays its tribute to the great sea; and shall we refuse ours to the great God?

As there is no time in which God is not blessing his children; so there should be no time in which his people are not blessing him. As he designs our happiness in all he does; so it is but reasonable that we should seek his honour in all we do. We have no way to turn the streams unto God, the ocean of all bounty, but through the pipes of gratitude.

Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. It is very meet that he should be magnified by us, when he makes us meet to be glorified with him. The whisperings of the voice are echoed back in an exact concave.

The body of man can stoop for a pin, as well as for a pound. As the best of means should make us fruitful, so the least of mercies should make us thankful. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever. Whatsoever ointment is poured out upon Christ's head, will run down to the skirts of his garment. What a saint gives to Christ in copper, shall be returned to him in silver: yea, the only way to keep our crowns on our heads, is to cast them down at his feet.

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