July 31

In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.—Isaiah 28:5.

WE have seen that the Lord of hosts is a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, unto the collective body of believers—his church. Again: we may consider this personally, as belonging in particular to every believer. They are all made kings and priests unto God the Father. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, how despicable soever to the world. This is their dignity: The Lord is their crown and diadem. He subdues their lusts, and makes them kings over their own affections, and more than conquerors over all troubles and persecutions; whereas carnal men are continually hurried, like slaves, unto base employments, still kept toiling in the ignoble service of their own lusts. They think, indeed, it is their liberty; but that is a baseness of spirit that complies so well with so vile and servile a condition. And whereas they judge the godly to be the refuse and dross of the earth, and the proper objects of contempt, this is because this their crown, though most glorious, is invisible to the eye of nature. The Lord is a crown. If they knew what this is, they would see enough in it to countervail their outward meanness and the reproaches the world cast on them: as Peter hath it, If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on you. He is their crown.

And observe, how this crown is opposed to that blasted glory and fading crown of pride, spoken of in the former verses. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower.

Who is there that sees not, in daily experience, the vanity and inconstancy of worldly glory, and yet how few are there that wean themselves from it, and learn to disdain it! Still men dote upon that which is not, upon a shadow, a nothing. But would you have a glory that fadeth not, a garland that can not wither, make the Lord your crown and your glory; and if he be so, glory in him, and in nothing else. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME.

You that are noble, aspire to this crown, as being so far above your perishing honors and bounded powers. And you that are outwardly meaner and lower, see how little cause you have to complain of your condition, seeing you are not debarred from this best and greatest honor. And, that you may discern aright what it is, know that it consists in the renovation of God's image within you, which is in holiness and righteousness: so the Lord becomes your crown in the kingdom of grace. And by this you may discover whether or no you have attained it: if you can yet delight to wallow in the puddle and pleasures of sin, you are far from this royal condition; but if you find your soul possessed with the love of holiness, and that you are trampling upon profane delights, this may persuade you that God hath enabled you, and crowned you with his grace, and will crown you with his glory. Again, try it by this; if the Lord is become your crown and your glory, you will glory in him, and in nothing else. Though you be wise, you will not glory in your wisdom, nor in strength, nor in riches, nor in honors, though you had them all; but if you glory, you will glory in the Lord. And withal, your highest joy will be to see the advancement of his glory, and, if you can, to be any way serviceable to the advancing of it.