it is partial 1. AS unto the manner of its Operation it is gradual and doth not at once transform us into the Image of Christ. Yea the degrees of its Progress therein are unto us for the most part imperceptible It requires much spiritual Wisdom and Observation to obtain an Experience of them in our own Souls The inward man is renewed day by day whilst we behold these invisible things 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. but how even as the outward Man decays by Age which is by insensible Degrees and Alterations Such is the Transformation which we have by Faith in its present View of the glory of Christ. And according to our Experience of its Efficacy herein is our Evidence of its Truth and Realty in the beholding of him No Man can have the least ground of assurance that he hath seen Christ and his glory by Faith without some Effects of it in changing him into his Likeness For as on the Touch of his Garment by the Woman in the Gospel Vertue went out from him to heal her Infirmity So upon this View of Faith an influence of transforming Power will proceed from Christ unto the Soul 2. AS unto the Event it is but partial It doth not bring this Work unto perfection The change wrought by it is indeed great and glorious or as the Apostle speaks it is from Glory to Glory in a Progress of glorious Grace But absolute perfection is reserved for Vision As unto Divine Worship Perfection was not by the Law It did many things preparatory unto the Revelation of the Will of God concerning it but it made nothing perfect So absolute Perfection in Holiness and the Restoration of the Image of God is not by the Gospel is not by Faith however it gives us many preparatory degrees unto it as the Apostle fully declares Phil. 3. 10 11 12 13 14. SECONDLY Vision is Beatifical as it is commonly called and that not amiss It gives perfect Rest and Blessedness unto them in whom it is This may be a little opened in the ensuing Observations 1. THERE are continual Operations of God in Christ in the Souls of them that are glorified and Communications from him unto them For all Creatures must eternally live even in Heaven in dependance on him who is the eternal Fountain of Being Life Goodness and Blessedness unto all As we cannot subsist one moment in our Beings Lives Souls Bodies the inward or outward Man without the continual Actings of divine Power in us and towards us so in the glorified State our All shall depend eternally on Divine Power and Goodness communicating themselves unto us for all the ends of our blessed Subsistance in Heaven 2. WHAT is the way and manner of these Communications we cannot comprehend We cannot indeed fully understand the Nature and way of his Spiritual Communications unto us in this Life We know these things by their Signs their outward Means and principally by the Effects they produce in the real change of our Natures But in themselves we see but little of them The wind bloweth where it listeth and we hear the Sound thereof but we know not whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 8. All Gods real Operations in Heaven and Earth are incomprehensible as being Acts of infinite Power and we cannot search 〈…〉 3. ALL Communications from the Divine Being and infinite Fulness in Heaven unto glorified Saints are in and through Christ Jesus who shall for ever be the Medium of Communication between God and the Church even in glory All things being gathered into one head in him even things in Heaven and things in Earth that Head being in immediate dependence on God this Order shall never be dissolved Ephes. 1. 10 11. 1 Cor. 3. 23. And on these Communications from God through Christ depends entirely our Continuance in a State of Blessedness and Glory We shall no more be self-subsistent in glory than we are in Nature or Grace 4. THE way on our part whereby we shall receive these Communications from God by Christ which are the eternal Springs of Life Peace Joy and Blessedness is this Vision the Sight whereof we speak For as it is expresly assigned thereunto in the Scripture so whereas it contains the perfect Operation of our Minds and Souls in a perfect State on the most perfect Object it is the only means of our Blessedness And this is the true Cause whence there neither is nor can be any Satiety or weariness in Heaven in the eternal Contemplation of the same glory For not only the Object of our sight is absolutely infinite which can never be searched into the bottom yea is perpetually new unto a finite understanding so our subjective Blessedness consisting in continual fresh Communications from the infinite Fulness of the Divine Nature derived unto us through Vision is always new and always will be so to Eternity Herein shall all the Saints of God drink of the Rivers of Pleasure that are at his Right Hand be satisfied with his Likeness and refresh themselves in the eternal Springs of Life Light and Joy for evermore THIS effect that View which we have by Faith of the glory of Christ in this World doth not produce It is Sanctifying not Glorifying The best of Saints are far from a perfect or glorified State in this Life And that not only on the account of the outward Evils which in their Persons they are exposed unto but also of the Weakness and Imperfection of their inward State in Grace Yet we may observe some things unto the Honour of Faith in them who have received it As 1. IN its due Exercise on Christ it will give unto the Souls of Believers some previous Participation of future glory working in them Dispositions unto and Preparation for the Enjoyment of it 2. THERE is no Glory no Peace no Joy no Satisfaction in this World to be compared with what we receive by that weak and imperfect View which we have of the Glory of Christ by Faith Yea all the Joys of the World are a thing of nought in Comparison of what we so receive 3. IT is sufficient to give us such a Perception such a Foretaste of future Blessedness in the Enjoyment of Christ as may continually stir us up to breath and pant after it But it is not Beatifical OTHER Differences of an alike Nature between our Beholding of the Glory of Christ in this Life by Faith and that Vision of it which is reserved for Heaven might be insisted on but I shall proceed no further There is nothing farther for us to do herein but that now and always we shut up all our Meditations concerning it with the deepest Self-abasement out of a Sense of our Unworthiness and Insufficiency to comprehend those things Admiration of that excellent Glory which we cannot comprehend and vehement Longings for that Season when he shall see him as he is be ever with him
invisible God Col. 1. 1◠I do here only mention these things because I have handled them at large in my Discourse of the Mistery of 〈◊〉 or the Person of Christ whereunto I refer the Readers for their full Declaration and Vindication Herein is he glorious in that he is the great Representative of the Nature of God and his Will unto us which without him would have been eternally hid from us or been invisible unto us we should never have seen God at any time here nor hereafter Joh. 1. 18. IN his Divine Person absolutely considered he is the Essential Image of God even the Father He is in the Father and the Father in him in the Unity of the same Divine Essence Joh. 14. 10. Now he is with the Father John 1. 1. In the Distinction of his Person so is he his Essential Image Col. 1. 15. Heb. 1. ◠In his Incarnation he becomes the Representative Image of God unto the Church 2 Cor. 4. 6. without whom our Understandings can make no such Approach unto the Divine Excellencies but that God continues to be unto us what he is in himself the Invisible God In the Face of Jesus Christ we see his Glory THIS is the Original Glory of Christ given him by his Father and which by Faith we may behold He and he alone declares represents and makes known unto Angels and Men the Essential Glory of the Invisible God his Attributes and his Will without which a perpetual comparative Darkness would have been on the whole Creation especially that part of it here below THIS is the Foundation of our Religion the Rock whereon the Church is built the Ground of all our Hopes of Salvation of Life and Immortality All is resolved into this namely the Representation that is made of the Nature and Will of God in the Person and Office of Christ If this fail us we are lost for ever if this Rock stand firm the Church is safe here and shall be triumphant hereafter HEREIN then is the Lord Christ exceedingly glorious Those who cannot beheld this Glory of his by Faith namely as he is the great Divine Ordinance to represent God unto us they know him not In their Worship of him they worship but an Image of their own devising YEA in the Ignorance and Neglect hereof consists the formal Nature of Vnbelief even that which is inevitably ruinous unto the Souls of Men. He that discerns not the Representation of the Glory of God in the Person of Christ unto the Souls of Men is an Unbeliever Such was the State of the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles of old They did not they would not they could not behold the Glory of God in him nor how he did represent him That this was both the Cause and the Formal Nature of their Unbelief the Apostle declares at large 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23 24 25. Not to see the Wisdom of God and the Power of God and consequently all the other holy Properties of his Nature in Christ is to be an Unbeliever THE Essence of Faith consists in a due Ascription of Glory to God Rom. 4. 20. This we cannot attain unto without the Manifestation of those Divine Excellencies unto us wherein he is Glorious This is done in Christ alone so as that we may glorifie God in a saving and acceptable Manner He who discerns not the Glory of Divine Wisdom Power Goodness Love and Grace in the Person and Office of Christ with the way of the Salvation of Sinners by him is an Unbeliever HENCE the great Design of the Devil in the beginning of the Preaching of the Gospel was to blind the Eyes of Men and fill their Minds with Prejudices that they might not behold this Glory of his So the Apostle gives an Account of his Success in this Design 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. If our Gospel be hid it is hid unto them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them By various Ways and Methods of Deceit to secure the Reputation he had got of being God of this World by Pretences and Appearances of supernatural Power and Wisdom he laboured to blind the Eyes of Men with Prejudices against that glorious Light of the Gospel which proposed the Lord Christ as the only Image of God This Blindness this Darkness is cured in them that believe by the mighty Power of God For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath irradiated our Hearts with the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ v. 6. wherein true saving Faith doth consist Under this Darkness perished the unbelieving World of Jews and Gentiles and such is the present Condition of all by whom the Divine Person of Christ is denied for no mere Creature can ever make a perfect Representation of God unto us But we must a little further enquire into this Mystery SINCE Men fell from God by sin it is no small part of their Misery and Punishment that they are covered with thick Darkness and Ignorance of the Nature of God They know him not they have not seen him at any time Hence is that Promise to the Church in Christ Isa. 60. 1 2. For behold the Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross Darkness the People but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his Glory shall be seen upon thee THE Antient Philosophers made great Enquiries into and obtained many Notions of the Divine Being its Existence and Excellencies And these Notions they adorned with great Elegancy of Speech to allure others unto the Admiration of them Hereon they boasted themselves to be the only Wise Men in the World Rom. 1. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they boasted that they were the Wise But we must abide in the Judgment of the Apostles concerning them in their Enquiries He assures us that the World in its Wisdom that is these wise Men in it by their Wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1. 21. And he calls the Authors of their best Notions Atheists or Men without God in the Word Ephes. 2. 12. For 1. THEY had no certain Guide Rule nor Light which being attended unto might lead them infallibly into the Knowledge of the Divine Nature All they had of this Kind was their own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Reasonings or Imaginations whereby they commenced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Disputers of the World but in them they maxed vain and their foolish Heart was darkned Rom. 1. 21. They did at best but endeavour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feel after God as Men do in the Dark after what they cannot clearly discern Acts 17. 27. Among others Cicero's Book De Natura Deorum gives us an exact Account of the Intention of the Apostle in that Expression And it is at this Day not Want of Wit but Hatred of the Mysteries
Wisdom unites both the Natures he had sinned against in the one Person of the Son who was the first Object of his Pride and Malice Hereby his Destruction is attended with Everâ—â—sting Shame in the Discovery of his Folly wherein he would have contended with infinite Wisdom as well as Misery by the Powers of the two Natures united in one Person HERE lies the Foundation of the Church The Foundation of the whole Old Creation was laid in an Act of absolute Soveraign Power Hereby God hanged the Earth upon nothing But the Foundation of the Church is on this Mysterious immoveable Rock Thou art Christ the Son of the living God on the most intimate Conjunction of the two Natures the Divine and Humane in themselves infinitely distant in the same Person WE may name one place wherein it is gloriously represented unto us Isa. 9. 6. For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be on his Shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Here must the whole Church fall down and worship the Author of this wonderful Contrivance and captivating their Understandings unto the Obedience of Faith humbly adore what they cannot comprehend THIS was obscurly represented unto the Church of old Exo. 3. 2 3 4 5 6. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush and he looked and behold the Bush burned with Fire and the Bush was not consumed And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great Sight why the Bush is not burnt And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the Bush and said Moses Moses and he said here am I. And he said draw not nigh hither â—ut of thy Shooes from off thy Feet for the Place whereon thou standest is holy Ground Moreover he said I am the God of â—hy Fathers the God of Abraham c. THIS Fire was a Type or Declaration of the Presence of God in the Person of the Son For with respect unto the Father he is called an Angel the Angel of the Covenant but absolutely in himself he was Jehovah the God of Abraham c. And of his Presence the Fire was a proper Representation For in his Nature he is as a Consuming Fire and his present Work was the Delivery of â—he Church out of a Fiery Tryal This Fâ—â—e placed it self in a Bush where it burned but the Bush was not consumed And although the Continuance of the Fire in the Bush was but for a short season a present Appearance yet thence was God said to dwell in the Bush The good will of him that dwelt in the Bush Deut. 33. 16. And this is so spoken because the being of the Fire in the Bush for a season was a Type of him in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily and that for ever Col. 2. 9. Of him who was made flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1. 14. The Eternal Fire of the Divine Nature dwells in the Bush of our frail Nature yet is not consumed thereby God thus dwells in this Bush with all his Good will towards Sinners MOSES looked on this sight as a marvellous and wondrous thing And if it were so in the Type what is it in the Truth Substance and Reality of it AND by Direction given unto him to put off his shooes we are taught to cast away all fleshly Imaginations and carnal Affections that by pure Acts of Faith we may behold this Glory the Glory of the only begotten of the Father I DESIGN not here to insist on the Explication or Confirmation of this glorious Truth concerning the constitution of the Person of Christ in and by his Incarnation What I can comprehend what I do believe concerning it I have fully declared in a large peculiar Treatise Here I take the Truth it self as known or as it may be thence learned My present Business is only to stir up the Minds of Believers unto a due Contemplation of the Glory of Christ in the sacred Mysterious Constitution of his Person as God and Man in one So much as we abide herein so much do we live by the Faith of the Son of God and God can by a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation open the Eyes of our Understandings that we may behold this Glory unto our ineffable Consolation and Joy And unto the diligent Discharge of our Duty herein I shall offer the ensuing Directions 1. LET us get it fixed on our Souls and in our Minds that this Glory of Christ in the Divine Constitution of his Person is the best the most noble useful beneficial Object that we can be conversant about in our Thoughts or or cleave unto in our Affections What are all other things in comparison of the Knowledge of Christ In the Judgment of the great Apostle they are but Loss and Dung Phil. 3. 8 9 10. So they were to him and if they are not so to us we are carnal WHAT is the World and what are the things thereof which most men spend their Thoughts about and fix their Affections on The Psalmist gives his Judgment about them in comparison of a View of this Glory of Christ Psal. 4. 6. Many say who will shew us any good Who will give and help us to attain so much in and of this World as will give Rest and Satisfaction unto our Minds That is the good enquired after But saith he Lord lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon us The Light of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus is that satisfactory Good alone which I desire and seek after THE Scripture reproacheth the Vanity and Folly of the Minds of Men in that they spend their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which profiteth not They ingage the Vigor of their Spirits about perishing things when they have durable Substance and Riches proposed unto them HOW do Men for the most part exercise their Minds What are they conversant about in their Thoughts SOME by them make provision for the flesh to fulfil it in the Lusts thereof as Rom. 13. 14. They search about continually in their Thoughts for Objects suited unto their Lusts and carnal Affections coyning framing and stamping of them in their Imaginations They fix their Eyes with delight on Toads and Serpents with all noisome filthy Objects refusing in the mean time to behold the Beauty and Glory of the Light of the Sun So is it with all that spend their Thoughts about the Objects of their sinful Pleasures refusing to look up after one view of this Glory of Christ. SOME keep their Thoughts in continual Exercise about the Things of this World as unto the Advantages and Emoluments which they expect from them Hereby are they transformed into the Image of the World becoming earthly carnal
Entrance into Dust and Darkness is no way to be compared with what is to ensue Eternal Distress lies at the Door But yet look up once more and behold me that thou mayest have some Glymps of what is in the Designs of Infinite Wisdom Love and Grace Come forth from thy vain Shelter thy hiding Place I will put my self into thy Condition I will undergo and bear that Burthen of Guilt and Punishment which would sink thee eternally into the bottom of Hell I will pay that which I never took and be made temporally a Curse for thee that thou mayest attain unto Eternal Blessedness To the same purpose he speaks unto convinced Sinners in the Invitation he gives them to come unto him THUS is the Lord Christ set forth in the Gospel evidently crucified before our Eyes Gal. 3. 1. Namely in the Representation that is made of his Glory in the Suffering he underwent for the Discharge of the Office he had undertaken Let us then behold him as poor despised persecuted reproached reviled hanged on a Tree in all labouring under a Sense of the Wrath of God due unto our Sins Unto this End are they recorded in the Gospel read preached and represented unto us But what can we see herein What Glory is in these things Are not these the things which all thâ— World of Jews and Gentiles stumbled and took Offence at Those wherein he was appointed to be a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence Was it not esteemed a foolish thing to look for Help and Deliverance by the Miseries of another To look for Life by his Death The Apostle declares at large that such it was esteemed 1 Cor. 1. So was it in the Wisdom of the World But even on the Account of these things is he Honorable Glorious and Precious in the sight of them that do believe 1 Pet. 2. 6 7. For even herein he was the Wisdom of God and the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. And the Apostle declares at large the Grounds and Reasons of the different Thoughts and Apprehensions of Men concerning the Cross and Sufferings of Christ 2 Cor. 4. 3 4 5 6. CHAP. VII The Glory of Christ in his Exaltation after the Accomplishment of the Work of Mediation in this World WE may in the next Place behold the Glory of Christ with respect unto his Office in the Actings of God towards him which ensued on his Discharge of it in this World in his own Exaltation THESE are the two Heads whereunto all the Prophesies and Predictions concerning Jesus Christ under the Old Testament are referred namely his Sufferings and the Glory that ensued thereon 1 Pet. 1. 11. All the Prophets testified beforehand of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow So when he himself opened the Scriptures unto his Disciples he gave them this as the Sum of the Doctrine contained in them Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter unto his Glory Luk. 24. 26. The same is frequently expressed elsewhere Rom. 14. 9. Phil. 2. 5 6 7 8. SO much as we know of Christ his Sufferings and his Glory so much do we understand of the Scripture and no more THESE are the Two Heads of the Mediation of Christ and his Kingdom and this is their Order which they communicate unto the Church first Sufferings and then Glory If we suffer we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. They do but deceive themselves who design any other Method of these things Some would reign here in this World and we may say with the Apostle would you did reign that we might reign with you But the Members of the mystical Body must be conformed unto the Head In him Sufferings went before Glory and so they must in them The Order in the Kingdom of Satan and the Word is contrary hereunto First the Good Things of this Life and then Eternal Misery is the Method of that Kingdom Luk. 16. 25. THESE are the two Springs of the Salvation of the Church the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole Earth from which all the golden Oyl whereby the Church is dedicated unto God and sanctified doth flow This Glory of Christ in his Exaltation which followed on his Sufferings is that which we now enquire into And we shall state our Apprehensions of it in the ensuing Observations 1. THIS is peculiarly that Glory which the Lord Christ prays that his Disciples may be where he is to behold it It is not solely so as it is considered absolutely but it is that wherein all the other Parts of his Glory are made manifest It is the Evidence the Pledge the Means of the Manifestation of them all As unto all the Instances of his Glory before insisted on there was a Vail drawn over them whilst he was in this World Hence the most saw nothing of it and the best saw it but obscurely But in this Glory that Vail is taken off whereby the whole Glory of his Person in it self and in the Work of Mediation is most illustriously manifested When we shall immediately behold this Glory we shall see him as he is This is that Glory whereof the Father made grant unto him before the Foundation of the World and wherewith he was actually invested upon his Ascention 2. BY this Glory of Christ I do not understand the Essential Glory of his Divine Nature or his being absolutely in his own Person over all God blessed for ever But the manifestation of this Glory in particular after it had been vailed in this World under the Form of a Servant belongs hereunto The Divine Glory of Christ in his Person belongs not unto his Exaltation but the Manifestation of it doth so It was not given him by free Donation but the Declaration of it unto the Church of Angels and Men after his Humiliation was so He left it not whilst he was in this World but the direct Evidence and Declaration of it he laid aside until he was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the Dead WHEN the Sun is under a total Eclipse he loseth nothing of his Native Beauty Light and Glory He is still the same that he was from the beginning a great Light to rule the Day To us he appears as a dark useless Meteor but when he comes by his course to free himself from the Lunar Interposition unto his proper Aspect towards us he manifests again his Native Light and Glory So was it with the Divine Nature of Christ as we have before declared He vailed the Glory of it by the Interposition of the Flesh or the Assumption of our Nature to be his own with this Addition that therein he took on him the Form of a Servant of a Person of mean and low Degree But this temporary Eclipse being past and over it now shines forth in its Infinite Lustre and Beauty which belongs unto the present Exaltation of his
Perfections I have elsewhere declared 9. HOWBEIT he would not restore them into their former State so as to have again two distinct Families each in an immediate Dependance on himself though he left them in different and distinct Habitations Eph. 3. 15. But he would gather them both into one and that under a new Head in whom the one Part should be preserved from sinning and the other delivered from sin committed 10. THIS then is that which the Apostle declares in these Words To gather together in one all things which are in Heaven and which are in Earth even in him And so he again expresseth it Col. 1. 20. To reconcile all things unto himself in him whether they are things in Heaven or things in Earth all things were fallen into disorder and confusion by sin they were fallen off from God into variance among themselves God would not restore them into their first Order in an immediate Dependance on his Divine Perfections He would no longer keep them in two distinct Families but he would in his infinite Wisdom and Goodness gather them up into one common Head on whom they should have their immediate Dependance and be reconciled again among themselves 11. THIS New Head wherein God hath gathered up all things in Heaven and Earth into one one Body one Family on whom is all their dependance in whom they all now consist is Jesus Christ the Son of God incarnate see 1 Cor. 11. 3. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. This Glory was reserved for him none other could be meet for it or worthy of it see Col. 1. 17 18 19 20 12. TO answer all the Ends of this New Head of Gods recollected Family all Power in Heaven and Earth all Fulness of Grace and Glory is committed unto him There is no Communication from God no Act of Rule towards this Family no Supply of Vertue Power Grace or Goodness unto Angels or Men but what is immediately from this New Head whereinto they are gathered In him they all consist on him do they depend unto him are they subject in their Relation unto him doth their Peace Union and Agreement among themselves consist This is the Recapitulation of all things intended by the Apostle 13. IT is true that he acts distinctly and variously towards the two parts of the Recollected Family of Angels and Men according as their different States and Conditions do require For 1. We had need of a Reparation by Redemption and Grace which the Angels had not 2. Angels were capable of immediate Confirmation in Glory which we are not until we come to Heaven Therefore 1. He assumed our Nature that it might be repaired which he did not the Nature of the Angels 2. He gives us Union unto himself by his Spirit which exalts us into a Dignity and Honour meet for Fellowship with them in the same Family THIS is a brief Account of the mysterious Work of Divine Wisdom in the Recapitulation of all things in Jesus Christ and herein is he transcendently glorious or his Glory herein is far above our Comprehension Yet some few things may be observed to direct us in the View and Contemplation of it As 1. HE alone was a meet and capable Subject of it He only could bear the weight of this Glory No meet Creature in Heaven or Earth was meet to be thus made the Head of the whole new Creation of God In none of them could all things consist None of them was meet to be thus in the Place of God to have all things depend upon him and be put in subjection unto him so as that there should be no Communication between God and the Creation but by and through him alone Wherefore when the holy Ghost assigns this Glory unto him he so describes him as that we may discern his singular meetness for it as that he is the Brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. That he is the Image of the invisible God the first born of every Creature by whom all things were created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 15 16 17 18 19. Such an one alone and no other was meet to bear and uphold this Glory And the Glory of his Person is such as that it is the Blessedness of all Creatures to center in this Glory of his Office 2. THIS is that Glory which God designed unto his only Son incarnate and it gives us a little View into the Glory of that Mystery the wonderful eternal Design of God to glorifie himself in the Incarnation of Christ. God would have his eternal his only begotten Son to be incarnate to take our Nature on him to be made Man What is his Design in this incomprehensible Work of his Wisdom Love and Power Indeed in the first place it was for the Redemption of the Church by the Sacrifice of himself and other Acts of his Mediation But there is that which is more general and comprehensive and wherein all the concerns of the Glory of God do center And this was that he might gather all things into one in him that the whole Creation especially that which was to be eternally blessed should have a new Head given unto it for its Sustentation Preservation Order Honor and Safety All Springs are in him and all Streams are unto him and in and by him unto God Who can express the Divine Beauty Order and Harmony of all things that are in this their Recapitulation in Christ The Union and Communion between Angels and Men the Order of the whole Family in Heaven and Earth the Communication of Life Grace Power Mercy and Consolation to the Church the Rule and Disposal of all things unto the Glory of God do all depend hereon This Glory God designed unto his Son incarnate and it was the greatest the highest that could be communicated unto him For as the Apostle observes All things are put in subjection unto him he only excepted who doth â—o make them subject that is God the Father 1 Cor. 15. THERE is no Contemplation of the Glory of Christ that ought more to affect the Hearts of them that do believe with Delight and Joy than this of the Recapitulation of all things in him One View by Faith of him in the place of God as the supream Head of the whole Creation moving acting guiding and disposing of it will bring in spiritual Refreshment unto a believing Soul AND it will do so the more in that it gives a glorious Representation of his Divine Nature also For that any meer Creature should thus be an Head of Life Motion and Power as also of soveraign Rule and disposal of the whâ—le new Creation with all things reduced into
they knew not what Luk. 9. 30 33. And the reason hereof was because no man in this life can have a Visive Power either spiritual or corporeal directly and immediately to behold the real Glory of Christ. SHOULD the Lord Jesus appear now to any of us in his Majesty and Glory it would not be unto our edification nor consolation For we are not meet nor able by the Power of any Light or Grace that we have received or can receive to bear the immediate appearance and representation of them His beloved Apostle John had leaned on his bosom probably many a time in this life in the intimate familiarities of love But when he afterwards appeared unto him in his Glory he fell at his feet as dead Rev. 1. 17. And when he appeared unto Paul all the account he could give thereof was that he saw a light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun whereon he and all that were with him fell to the ground Act. 26. 13 14. AND this was one Reason why in the days of his Ministry here on earth his Glory was vailed with the infirmities of the flesh and all sorts of sufferings as we have before related The Church in this life is no way meet by the Grace which it can be made partaker of to converse with him in the immediate manifestations of his Glory AND therefore those who dream of his Personal Reign on the earth before the day of Judgment unless they suppose that all the Saints shall be perfectly glorified also which is only to bring down Heaven to the Earth for a while to no purpose provide not at all for the edification or consolation of the Church For no present grace advanced unto the highest degree whereof in this World it is capable can make us meet for an immediate converse with Christ in his unvailed Glory How much more abominable is the folly of men who would represent the Lord Christ in his present Glory by Pictures and Images of him When they have done their utmost with their burnished Glass and Guildings an eye of flesh cannot only behold it but if it be guided by reason see it contemptible and foolish But the true Glory of Christ neither inward nor outward sight can bear the rays of in this life THE dispensation which we are meet for is only that of his presence with us by his Spirit We know him now no more after the flesh 2 Cor. 5. 16. We are advanced above that way and means of the knowledge of him by the fleshly carnal Ordinances of the Old Testament And we know him not according unto that bodily presence of his which his Disciples enjoyed in the days of his flesh We have attained somewhat above that also For such was the nature of his Ministry here on earth that there could not be the promised dispensation of the spirit until that was finished Therefore he tells his Disciples that it was expedient for them that he should go away and send the spirit to them John 16. 7. Hereon they had a clearer view of the Glory of Christ than they could have by beholding him in the flesh This is our spiritual posture and condition We are past the knowledge of him according to the flesh we cannot attain nor receive the sight of him in Glory but the life which we now lead is by the Faith of the Son of God I SHALL not here enquire into the nature of this vision or the power and ability which we shall have in Heaven to behold the Glory of Christ. Some few things may be mentioned as it relates unto our Minds and our Bodies also after the Resurrection 1. FOR the Mind it shall be perfectly freed from all that Darkness Unsteadiness and other Incapacities which here it is accompanied with and whereby it is weakened hindred and obstructed in the Exercise of Faith And they are of two sorts First such as are the remainders of that depravation of our Natures which came upon us by sin Hereby our Minds became wholly vain dark and corrupt as the Scripture testifieth utterly unable to discern spiritual things in a due manner This is so far cured and removed in this Life by Grace as that those who were darkness do become light in the Lord or are enabled to live unto God under the Conduct of a new spiritual Light communicated unto them But it is so cured and removed in part only it is not perfectly abolished Hence are all our remaining Weaknesses and Incapacities in discerning things spiritual and eternal which we yet groan under and long for deliverance from No Footsteps no Scars or Marks that ever it had place in our Minds shall abide in glory Ephes. 5. 27. Nothing shall weaken disturb or incapacitate our Souls in acting all their Powers unimpeded by Vanity Diversions Weakness Inability upon their proper Objects The Excellency hereof in universal Liberty and Power we cannot here comprehend Nor can we yet conceive the Glory and Beauty of those immixed spiritual actings of our Minds which shall have no Clog upon them no Encumbrance in them no Alloy of Dross accompanying of them One pure Act of spiritual Sight in discerning the Glory of Christ one pure Act of Love in cleaving unto God will bring in more Blessedness and Satisfaction into our Minds than in this World we are capable of 2. THERE is an Incapacity in our Minds as unto their Actings on things spiritual and eternal that is meerly natural from the Posture wherein they are and the Figure which they are to make in this Life For they are here cloathed with Flesh and that debased and corrupted Now in this State though the Mind act its Conceptions by the Body as its Organ and Instrument Yet is it variously streightned encumbred and impeded in the exercise of its native Powers especially towards things heavenly by this Prison of the Flesh wherein it is immured There is an Angelical Excellency in the pure Actings of the Soul when delivered from all material Instruments of them or when they are all glorified and made suitable helps in its utmost spiritual Activity How and by what degrees our Minds shall be freed from these Obstructions in their beholding the glory of Christ shall be afterwards declared 2. AGAIN a new light the light of Glory shall be implanted in them There is a Light in Nature which is the Power of a Man to discern the things of Man An Ability to know perceive and judge of things natural It is that Spirit of a Man which is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 27. BUT by the light hereof no man can discern spiritual things in a due manner as the Apostle declares 1 Cor. 2. 11 12 13 14 15. Wherefore God gives a superior a supernatural Light the Light of Faith and Grace unto them whom he effectually calls unto the knowledge of himself by Jesus Christ. He shines into their hearts to give
Animadversions on Fiat Lux. Wherein the Principles of the Roman Church as to Moderation Unity and Truth are examined And sundry Important Controversies concerning the Rule of Faith Papal Supremacy the Mass Images c. discussed 6. A Vindication of some Passages in a Discourse concerning Communion with God from the Exceptions of William Sherlock Rector of St. George Botolph-lane 7. A Discourse concerning Evangelical Love Church-Peace and Vnity With the Occasions and Reasons of present Differences and Divisions about things Sacred and Religious Written in the Vindication of the Principles and Practice of some Ministers and others 8. A brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity As also of the Person and Satisfaction of Christ. Accommodated to the Capacity and Use of such as may be in danger to be seduced and the establishment of the Truth 9. A Discourse of the Mortification of Sin in Believers 1. The Necessity 2. The Nature and 3. 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D. containing XLII Sermons on several Select Texts of Scriptures Which were formerly Printed in three small Volumes by that late Eminent and Faithful Dispenser of Gods Word Who was sometime Minister at Brinkworth in Wiltshire and afterward many of the Sermons were preached in and about London To which is now added ten Sermons whereof eight were never before Printed Faithfully transcribed from his own Notes Which is all that ever will be Printed of the said Dr's An Exposition of the whole Book of the Revelation Wherein the Visions and Prophecies of Christ are opened and expounded Shewing the great Conquests of our Lord Jesus Christ for his Church over all his and her Adversaries Pagan Arian and Papal and the glorious State of the Church of God in the New Heavens and New Earth in these latter days By Hanserd Knowles Preacher of the Morning Lecture at Pinners-Hall The Character of a Good Commander together with a short Commendation of the famous Artillery more properly Military Company of London also a brief Encomium on the Great Duke and worthy Prince Elector of Brandenburg Lastly Plain Dealing with Treacherous Dealing Whereunto is annexed the general Exercise of the Prince of Oranges Army By Captain Tho. Plunket The General Exercise ordered by his then Highness the Prince of Orange to be punctually observed of all the Infantry in service of the States General of the Vnited Provinces Containing the General Exercise of Pike and Musket with their Facings Doublings and â—heelings of a Battalion ordered by his present 〈◊〉 to be observed of all the Infantry in his service being short easie and graceful The Second Edition corrected The Heavenly Trade or the best Merchâ—ndizing The only way to live well in impoveâ—shing Times A Discourse occasioned from the decay of Earthly Trades and visible wastes of Practical Piety in the day we live in offering Arguments and Counsels to all towards a speedy revival of dying Godliness and timely prevention of the dangerous Issues thereof impending on us Necessary for all Families The second Edition corrected By Bartholomew Ashwood Minister of the Gospel Author of the Best Treasure Christ a Christians Life Or a Practical Discourse of a Believers Life derived from Christ and Resolved into Christ. Being the substance of several Sermons Preach'd by the Author upon his Recovery from a Fit of Sickness and now extorted from him by the Importunity of Friends By John Gammon Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of â— Congregation in White-Chappel Cook 's Mellifigium Chirurgia or the Marrow of Chirâ—rgery with Anatomy The Fourth Edition enlargeâ— with many Additions Chaâ—eton 's Anatomy Lectures FINIS See Joh. 1. 18. Chap. 14. 7 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Col. 1. 16. Ephes. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Heb. 1. 2.