THE CHRISTIAN GLORIES IN CHRIST.
By Leighton
If we knew him rightly, we would not sell the least glance or beam of the light of his countenance for the highest favor of mortal men, though it were constant and unchangeable, which it is not. It is ignorance of Christ that maintains the credit of those vanities we admire. The Christian that is truly acquainted with him, enamored with the brightness of his beauty, can generously trample upon the smilings of the world with the one foot, and her frownings with the other. If he be rich or honorable, or both, yet he glories not in that, but Christ, who is “the glory of the Lord,” is even then his chiefest glory; and the light of Christ obscures that worldly splendor in his estimation. And as the enjoyment of Christ overtops all his other joys, so it overcomes his griefs. As that great light drowns the light of prosperity, so it shines bright in the darkness of affliction. No dungeon is so close that it can keep out the rays of Christ's love from his beloved prisoners.—Leighton.