Consider the Benefits of the Times (1)

Consider that the glory of the times, and the glory of places and persons, are all from the revelation of Christ by the Spirit. The more God in Christ is laid open, the more the times, places, and persons are excellent. What made the second temple superior to the former? Christ came at the second temple. Though baser in itself, the second temple was more glorious than the first. What made Bethlehem, that little city, glorious? Christ was born there. What makes the heart where Christ is born more glorious than in others? Christ is born there. Christ makes persons and places glorious. What made the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John the Baptist? He was greater than all that were before him; and all that are after him are greater than he because he did not see the death and resurrection of Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit. So it is the revelation of Christ and the love of God in Christ that makes times and persons and places glorious.
The glory of these present times comes from a fuller revelation of Christ than in former times. Now there are more converted than in former times because the Spirit goes together with the manifestation of Christ. Why is this kingdom more glorious than any place beyond the seas? Because Christ is here revealed more fully than there. The veil is taken off, and here
'we see the glory of God with open face,’ which changes many thousands from glory to glory by the Spirit of God that accompanies the revelation of the gospel. Is there any outward thing that advances our nation above any other nation? No, nothing. They have as much as we do, if not more, in the way of government and riches and outward things. But the glory of places and times is from the revelation of Christ, which has the Spirit accompanying it. That Spirit changes us 'from glory to glory.’ Our times are more glorious than they were a century or two ago. Why? Because we see Christ revealed, and the gospel opened, and the veil taken off.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 185-86 [199-200]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.