Christ in Glory

Extract

Christ in Glory
Ralph Erskine

“And they shall hang upon Him all the glory of His Father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons” Isa. 22:24.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” 2 Tim. 2:20, 21.

They are called “vessels” because the Lord forms them for Himself, to show forth His praise; sometimes vessels of honour and glory, because He draws a greater revenue of honour and glory to Himself from them than from all the world beside. In a word, they are called “vessels” because the milk, the wine, the honey, and the oil of Divine grace is bestowed and laid up in them; and out of the fullness of Christ they are daily receiving grace for grace. And as the vessels of a house are its ornament, so are fruitful believers the ornament of the Church, and of the great Owner thereof, for He calls them His crown and diadem.

We are here told that these vessels are of different sizes: some are vessels of “cups,” and others are vessels of “flagons;” plainly intimating that in God’s family there are saints of different stature— there are babes, young men, and fathers; “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7). Some are like the smoking flax, others like a flaming lamp; some are like the bruised reed, others like the tall cedar in Lebanon. And if you ask me why God will have it so, that the vessels of the house shall be of different sizes, I answer,
1. For the manifestation of His own sovereignty. He is the Lord of the house, and He will do all His pleasure; and it is the good will and pleasure of God to give more of His grace to one, and to another less; and who may say unto Him, “What doeth Thou?” He is no man’s debtor, but may do with His own what He pleases. …