lost and that it was Christ only that could save them they felt the Wounds of Conscience and it was Christ only that could Heal them they feared the Wrath of a Sin-revenging God and it was Christ only that could Deliver them The Remission Reconciliation and Salvation which they had by Christ did lay the first Foundation of a most endeared love unto Christ And stâ—ll they perceive a continual need of Christ to procure daily pardon for them and to convey dayly supplyes of Grace unto them They have Need of Christ when they are Dark to Enlighten them when they are Dead to Quicken them when they are Streightned to Enlarge them when they are Weak to Strengthen them when they are Sad to Comfort them when they are Tempted to Succour them when they are Fallen to Raise them when they are in Doubts to Resolve them when they are under Fears to Encourage them when they Stagger to Establish them when they Wander to Restore them Christ and None but Christ can do all this and more than this for them and therefore because of the need and usefulness of Christ true Christians do love him Rea. 2 True Christians do love an unseen Christ because of the Loveliness of Christ which Loveliness though it be not and cannot here be seen by the Eye of the Body yet it is evident unto the Eye of Faith see the Description which is given of Christ the Beloved by his Spouse the Church Cant. 5. 9. The Daughters of Ierusalem there enquire of the love-sick Spouse What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved O thou fairest amongst Women what is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us Hereupon the Spouse giveth a Description ver 10. My Beloved is VVhite and Ruddy the cheifest among ten thousand and after she had set forth his Graces Beauties and Excellent Accomplishments in Metaphors taken from beauties in the several parts of mans body in the 11 12 13 and 14 verses she concludeth in the 15 and 16 verses His Countenance is as Lebanon Excellent as the Cedars His Mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether Lovely This is my Beloved and this is my Friend O Daughters of Ierusalem The Spouse is here acknowledged to be the Fairest amongst Women and not only by the Daughters of Ierusalem but her Beloved who had a more curious eye doth both commend her loveliness and admire it ch 6. 4 5. Thou art beautiful O my Love as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem Turn away thine â—yes from me for they have overcome me and ver 10. VVho is this that looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and Terrible as an Army with Banners But what beauty is there then in the Beloved if the Church be beautiful beyond all other of the Children of men how beautiful is Jesus Christ from whom the Church doth derive all its comeliness He is said to be White and Ruddy that shews the beauty of his Face and his Countenance is said to be as Lebanon and like the lofty Cedars thereof that shews the Majesty of his Face His Mouth is said to be most Sweet and sweet it is indeed in regard of the Gracious words which proceed from it no Doctrine so sweet as Christ's Doctrine no Precepts so sweet as Christs Precepts no Promises so sweet as Christs Promises But to sum up all Excellencies and Perfections in a word he is said to be altogether Lovely there is no Person or Thing in the World that is most lovely which can properly be called altogether lovely Many defects may be found in the most amiable persons and much insufficiency may be found in the most desirable things but Christ is altogether lovely unlovely in no respect there being no Spot or Blemish no Defect or Imperfection to be found in him and he is lovely in every respect there is an incomparable and Transcendent amiableness in Christs person in every regard In the person of Christ the Humane Nature and the Divine Nature are in Conjunction he is most lovely in regard of both His Humane Nature is compounded of Body and Soul His Body is most Beautiful a most Glorious Beauty and lustre is put upon it whatever it were in his state of humiliation be sure it hath a Glorious Beauty now in his state of Exaltation It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. If the Face of Moses did shine with resplendent Glory after his conversing Forty dayes with God in Mount Sinai which was Below how doth the Body of Christ shine which hath been above Sixteen hundred years in Mount Sion which is Above I am perswaded that Christs Body is the most Beautifull of all Visible Creatures But the Beauty of Christs Soul doth Excel No creature whatever hath such shining Excellencies as are in the Soul of Christ All the Excellencies that are or ever were in any creature are like a Feather laid in the Ballance with the exceeding weight of his Glorious Excellencies and Perfections Christ Excelled the most Excellent Men that ever lived as to Spiritual Endowments when he was here upon the Earth He Excelled Moses in Meekness Solomon in Wisdom Iob in Patience and how much doth he Excel now he is in Heaven He Excelleth not only the Spirits of just men made Perfect but also the most glorious and Holy Angels that never sinned If any creatures have Wisdom it is but a Beam Christ is the Sun If they have Goodness it is but a drop in Christ is the Ocean If they have Holiness it is but a Spark or dark shaddow Christ is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory If they have the Spirit they have it but In some measure the Spirit is given to Christ without Measure Ioh. 3. 34. Christ is most lovely in his Manhood so nearly united unto his Godhead and how lovely is he in his Godhead as God he is Equall in all Glorious Excellencies with the Father Christs Godhead implyeth Excellency of Being he calleth himself I am Ioh. 8. 28. Excellency of Glory therefore called the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. and King of Glory Psal. 24. 7. Lift up your heads O yee Gates and be ye lift up ye Everlasting Doors and the King of Glory shall come in This is Interpreted by some to be spoken of Christs Ascension and the Angels and Saints making way for his Triumphant Entrance and Possession of his Heavenly Pallace Many Descriptions are given in the new Testament of this lovely Person I shall mention only one Col. 1. 15 16 17 18 19. Who is the Image of the invisible God the First-born of every creature For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were made by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist And he is the Head of the
have interest in Christ and in all his Benefits If you ask me what this Faith is that gives an interest in Christ what it is to believe I answer out of Iohn 1. 12. that it is to receive Christ. But to as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that Believe in his Name Be perswaded then to receive Christ and accept of him upon the terms of the Gospel Receive and take hold of Christ by the hand of Faith And that you may do this 1. You must let go your hold of sin if your hugg sin in your bosom if you harbour base Lusts in your Hearts you cannot receive and give entertainment to Christ there you must thrust sin out if you would let Christ in 2. You must let go your hold on the World I don't say you must let it go out of your hands and throw away the estates which God hath given except it be to part with some proportion in a way of Mercy and Charity and except you be called to leave all rather than to forgo Christ or any of his Truths but you must let the World go out of your Hearts the World must not sit upon the Throne of your Hearts that seat must be reserved for Christ cheif love and inordinate love to the world and things in the world must be taken off 3. You must let go hold of self your own Righteousness and all self-confidences must be parted with you must be humbled and emptied of your selves if you would be prepared for the receiving of Jesus Christ and receiving of that fulness which there is in him And then 1. Receive Jesus Christ as your High-Priest to reconcile you unto God trusting alone in his Merits and Mediation 2. Receive Jesus Christ as your Prophet to instruct and lead you in all Truth by his Word and Spirit 3. Receive Jesus Christ as your Soveraign Lord and King to Rule you 4. Receive Jesus Christ as your Captain to tread down your Spiritual Enemies under your feet 5. Receive Jesus Christ in all his Relations of Shepherd Friend Brother and especially in the Relation of an Husband and joyn your selves to him and make over your selves to him dedicating and devoting your selves to him and giving up your selves to be guided guarded provided for and governed by him This is to receive Christ and this is to Believe this gives Union and Relation and interest in the Lord Jesus and if you do thus joyn your selves to Christ by Faith you will quickly feel love to Christ to spring forth to work and act and that vigorously and to bring forth such fruit in the life as shall evidently shew that love to Christ is rooted in the Heart 4. If you would attain Truth of love to Jesus Christ be diligent in the use of all those means which God hath appointed for the working of it I shall instance only in two means 1. Be diligent in Hearing the Word Preached as Faith cometh by Hearing so love to Christ is wrought by the same means Hear and your Souls shall live saith the Prophet Isa. 55. 3. and I may say hear that your Hearts may love that where the Eye cannot the Ears may affect the Heart with love to the Lord Jesus Whilst Lydia was hearing Paul Preach her Heart was opened Act. 16. 14. and whilst you are hearing Ministers Preach of Christ your Hearts may be opened to receive him and to embrace him in the arms of your dearest love See Act. 11. 15. As I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning whilst Peter was Preaching and the Gentiles were hearing the Holy Ghost was sent down from Heaven and fell upon upon and so whilst you are hearing the Word God may give forth of his Spirit to work this Grace of love to Jesus Christ in your Hearts 2. Be diligent and earnest in Prayer unto God for this love confess and bewail before him your want of this love tell him you deserve a double Anathema because you do not love Christ and withall tell him you cannot of your selves love him that you can as easily lift a Mountain to Heaven as lift up your hearts unto Christ but desire that he would draw up your love to Christ by his Spirit Beg of him that he would put out the fire of Lust and all inordinate creature-love and that be would enkindle a fire of love in you to this most lovely Jesus which no corruption in your Hearts may be able extinguish And in your Prayers present your Hearts to the Lord Jesus offer them up freely to him and desire that he would accept of them that he would take hold of them and take possession of them and erect his Throne in them and an Everlasting habitation for himself Section XVI HAving given directions how you may attain the Truth of love to Christ where you are without it I come now to give directions how you may attain much of this love to Christ where you have it but in a low degree and weak measure Would you attain much love to Christ 1. Be much in Contemplation of Christ consider often what motives there are of love in him presse them upon your Spirits and labour to awaken and rouze up your Hearts unto the vigorous exercise of this love Spend time in secret retirement and there think and think again of the Superlative Excellencies and Perfections which are in Christ's Person how wonderfull and matchless his love is what heigths in it that cannot be reached what depths in it that cannot be fathomed what other dimensions which cannot be comprehended Meditate often of his benefits how incomparable his love-tokens be and whilst you you are musing you may feel the fire burning whilst you are looking you may feel your Hearts leaping whilst you are taking a view of him ere you are aware your Hearts like the Chariots of Aminadab may run to him O the ravishments of love the transports of Soul which some Believers have found in their retired thoughts and views of Christ. Get often into the Mount of Divine Contemplation and there look upwards unto Heaven and think with your selves Yonder Yonder above the shining Sun is the more Glorious Son of Righteousness there at the right hand of the Throne of God is my beloved Iesus the Son of God seated and though he be so high above me both in place and dignity yet he thinketh upon me and pleadeth for me and many a gift hath he thence sent by his Spirit conveyed unto me and I can ask nothing of the Father in his name but if it be really for my good I have it by his means O dear Iesus how lovely art thou in thy self the darling of heaven the Delight of the Father the Admiration of Angels O what brightness of Glory what shining lustre art thou arrayed with thou art clothed with most excellent Majesty and Honour thou art girded
with infinite Might and Power the beauty of thy face is most wonderfull the smiles of thy countenance are most sweet and delightful and doth this lovely fair One this fairest of ten thousand this most excellent and alltogether lovely Person bear a particular love to me to such a vile worm as me to such a dead Dog as me to such an undeserving ill-deserving hell-deserving sinner as me O what marvellous kindness is this what infiâ—iâ—e Riches of Free Grace doth he know me by name hath he given himself for me and given himself to me and shall not I give him my heart am I written in his bookâ— Redeemed with his blood clothed with his Righteousness beautified with his Image hath he put the dignity of a Child of God upon me and prepared a place in the Fathers house for me O wonderful O admirable what shall I render what returns shall I make had I a thousand tongues should I not employ them all in speaking his praise had I a thousand Hearts should I not present them all as too mean to thank-offering unto him And yet am I slow slow of Heart to love this dear and sweet Iesus awake O my Soul awake from thy dulness and stupidity shake off thy sleep which glues thine eye-lids so close together shake out the dust of the Earth which hath got into thine eyes and keeps thee from the view of thy beloved Arise O my Soul and lift up thy self unfetter thy feet unâ—log thy self take the wing and mount up above the sky and visible Heavens even to the place where the lovely and dear Iesus is Take thy leave of the world and all things therein Bid farewel to the flattering honours the deceitful Riches the glozing Pleasures that are here below bid adieu to them and leave them to those that place their chiefest happiness in them if Earth hath thy body for a while yet let it have thy heart and chiefest affections no more come O my Soul ascend and soar aloâ—t unto the Heaven of Heavens the way unto the Holy of Holies is accessible the vail is rent the fore-runner is entred and thou mayest have entrance too with thy Thoughts and Desires and Loves and Hopes and Ioyes there thou mayst see and veiw and admire and embrace thy dearest Lord there thy Heaâ—t may find a fit object for it's Love even thy dearest Lord Iesus who wil not reject despise thee but give kind entertainment unto thy love and withall give the fullest sweetest returns there thy Heart may find a room to dispose of it self and not only a lodging like that of a wayfaring man for a night but an habitation wherein to dwell and to take up it's Eternal abode let thy Heart be thy fore-runner that when thy body drops off from thee thou mayst know where to betake thy seâ—f and find ready entertainment there where thy Heart hath been long before Why dost thou hang downwards O my Soul why dost thou bend so much to the Earth and Earthly things what is there here below that is not beneath thee and altogether unworthy of thy Love how empty and vain and thorny are these things don 't wast thy time weary thy self for very vanity don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more What aileth thee O my Soul that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter when he comes in his Glory thy body is raised and repaired and sitted to bear such a sight thou can'st not see the Wind but thou hearest it's noise and feelest it's blasts and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word dost thou not feel the breathings of his Spirit in his Ordinances Thou art invisible thy self O my Soul and art thou so drenched in flesh that visible objects shall have more Power to draw down thy heart than this most glorious object though now invisible shall have power to draw up thy Heart dost thou question and doubt of his love to thee and doth this damp and discourage thy Affection whose Image is this which is engraven upon thee is it not the Image of Christ what writing is that upon thy Heart is it not Gods Law written by Christs Spirit whose deckings and adornings hast thou got about thee what Beauty is this which is put upon thee is it not Christs comeliness where hadst thou those Bracelets that Ring those Iewels that chain of Graces are they not Christ's love-tokens which he hath given thee and yet wilt thou doubt of his love if thou feelest corruption strong yet dost thou not perceive some Grace although it be weak hast thou not some love to Christ although it be low are not thy desires chiefly after him which evidence that thy chief love is to him and is it so with any but such whom Christ doth love doth not Christ love first and yet wilt thou question his love banish then thy fears silence thy doubts O my Soul rouze up thy self and climb â—p by the Iacobs ladder which is let down to thee from Heaven and settle thy love upon Iesus Christ and those things which are above where Christ sits at the Right hand of God Such retired Contemplations of Christ and Soliloquies and pleadings with your own Souls when alone by your selves will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ. 2. Would you have much love to Christ Be much in Reading and Studying the Scriptures The Scriptures are a Glasse in which Christ may be seen he cannot be seen Face to Face in this World this is the happiness of the Triumphant Church in Heaven not of the Militant Church upon the Earth what may here be discerned of Christ it is in the glass of the Scriptures and Gospel-Ordinances this is that glass spoken of 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as â—n a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory Christ is the Glory of the Lord the brightness of his Fathers Glory would you have much love to him be often looking veiwing and beholding of him in the glass of the Scriptures by much beholding of him you may be transformed more and more into the likeness of his Holiness and into the likeness of his Love which is Glory begun The Scriptures have the Image of Christ engraven upon them the Image of the Father is upon the Son and the Image of the Son is upon the Scriptures there you may see the Picture of Christ the Beauty of Christ at least some lineaments are there drawn by the hand of God although not fully and to the life I mean such you will see in him when you come to behold him face to face in Heaven yet his Beauty is drawn in such proportions and with such shadows as you are now capable of beholding Would you have much love unto Christ whom
the Eye and Ear when these Enemies would entice and allure you and stoutly make resolute opposition against them when they do most furiously assault you hearken to no suggestions of the Devil temptations of the world or motions of the Flesh which would induce and draw you into ways of sin or which would force and drive you out of the ways of Christ resist and oppose and labour to gain some victories over these adversaries every day especially get conquest over the Flesh and the other two will be soon vanquished Christ shewed his love to you in submitting himself to be Crucifyed for you do you shew your love to Christ in Crucifying your Flesh with its affections and lusts for his sake in your selfdenial and mortifying the deeds of the body when you deny your Carnal Reason your carnal Wisedome your carnal will your carnal Affections your carnal interest all inordinacies of your sensual appetite for the sake of Christ when you crush pride Envy Revenge Malice inordidinate anger inordinate love inordinate desire inordinate grief lustfullness and all evil concupiscence for the sake and because of the command of Christ all these are acts and evidences of love to Christ and herein you should exercise your selves daily 4. Shew your love to Christ in your following of his example discover your affection unto him in your imitation of him in writing after his copy in treading in his steps in walking as Christ himself walked when he was here upon the Earth shew your love to Christ by labouring after likeness unto Christ that you may be like him both in your inward disposition and in your outward conversation Christ was lowly be you humble and mean in your own esteem Christ was meek be you gentle easie to be intreated and not easily provoked Christ loved God let God be the object of your love Christ hated sin let sin also be the object of your hatred Christ contemned the world do you get crucifyed affections unto it Christ was compassionate to those that were in distresse do you labour for the like bowels Christ used to Worship publickly in the Synagogues to pray with his Disciples and to spend time also in secret prayer do you give your attendance in the publick assemblies of Gods people worship God in your Families and be often upon your knees at the Throne of Grace in secret Christ's mind was a heavenly mind let the same mind be in you as was in Christ. Christ's will was submissive to his Fathers will let the same will be in you as was in Christ. Christ's words were Gracious and edifying let your speech be always with Grace sâ—oury and which may be for edification Christ's life was an active life he was always doing good and he was exactly holy in all his actions be you active and diligent in the service of God in doing good to others and be holy as Christ was holy in all manner of conversation thus should you shew your love to Christ in following Christs example and in imitating of him in every thing wherein you are capable of such imitation 5. shew your love to Christ in your readiness to take up and patiently bear Christ's cross I don't say you should desire sufferings for Christ but sure I am that strong love to Christ will not permit you to decline them don't go out of Godâ—s way for them neither go out of God's way from them if you meet with the cross in the way of duty don't either turn back or start aside but chearfully take it up when you have got it up patiently bear it and don 't throw it off till God take it off when it is your duty to suffer for Christ look upon it also to be your priviledge and be glad of the opportunity rejoycing that you have any thing to part withal for the sake of Christ if it be good name or good estate or good Friends if it be liberty or life it self such expressions of love are very honourable and very pleasing to your Lord and Master 6. And lastly Shew your love to Christ in your desires after Christ's presence here and in your longing for his second appearance at the last day 1. Desire Christ's Gracious presence here and the manifestations thereof that according to his promises he would come unto you that he would draw near and that you might feel that he is near desire that you might have clearer discoveries of Christ and more intimate communion and fellowship with Christ above all company and fellowship desire the company fellowship and acquaintance with Christ that you might walk with him and converse with him and that there might be a dayly intercourse between Christ and your souls and that all distances between you and strangeness might be removed let your love express it self in desires after Christ when he is absent and in delights when he is present rejoice in the Lord exceedingly when he doth manifest himself unto you graciously admire his beauty and delight in his smiles admire his love and delight in the perswasions of his favour let the actings of your love and the workings of it be such to your beloved dayly 2. Desire also and long for the second appearance of Christ at the last day when he saith Surely I come quickly do you say Amen Even so come Lord Iesus Look upon time as slow of heel and wing that it runs no faster that it flies no swifter look to the End of 〈◊〉 and long for it because then with these Eyes you shall see him whom your 〈◊〉 loveth because then you shall see Christ come down from the Throne of God with such Brightness of Majesty and Brightness of Beauty as will transport you with Wonder and Joy Say When Lord Iesus wilt thou take to thy self thy great Power and cloath thy self with thy Authority and come down to judge the World when wilt thou open the everlasting gates of Heaven which have been shut so long When wilt thou descend from Heaven with a shout with the sound of the great Trumpet and send thine Angels to gather all thine Elect from the four Winds that all who love thee may meet in one Society when shall we put on our Garments of Immortality and be caught up in the Clouds to meet thee in the day of thy Triumph When shall the day of our Coronation come and of our admission into the Glorious Mansions which thou hast prepared for us in the Glorious Pallace which is above When wilt thou shew us thy self and give us to behold thee face to face When wilt thou shew us the Father and give us to behold him immediately without a Glass When wilt thou shew us thy Glory which thou hadâ—â—â— with the Father before the World was 〈◊〉 and give us not onely to see it but also to share in it When wilt thou open the Treaâ—sures of thy Love and receive us into the nearest closest and sweetest embracements thereof and give us to
filled with perplexing fears he could conceal himself no longer from them as in Gen. 45. 1. Then Ioseph could not refrain himself before all that stood by him he wept alou◠and said unto his brethren I am Ioseph and ver 4. Ioseph said unto his brethren come near me I am Ioseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt So Christ may conceal himself for a while from his people whatever love he hath to them and whatever they have to him some unkindnesses they have shewn may be the cause of this hiding but when they are sensible of their fault full of grief and perplexity for their offences his Love will not permit him to hid himself much longer His Love will engage Him to manifest and discover himself and say I am Jesus your Saviour come near me my brethren come near me that you may have a clearer view of me that ye may know me and know that I do love you The Word also of Christ doth engage him manifest Himself unto them that Love Him It is Christs promise here in the Text He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will Love him and will manifest my self unto him Christs word is sure True and faithfull is Christs name the ordinances of the heaven may sooner fail than Christ fail of His Word and Promise Section III. 3. HOw Christ doth manifest Himself unto them that Love him 1. Christ doth here in this world manifest himself but in part and darkly The soul is not now capable of the fullest and clearest Manifestation of Christs This is a happiness reserved for the other world 1. Ioh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Ioh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me It is Hereafter that Christs Disciples shall be perfectly like unto Christ and shall have a perfect manifestation of Christ that they shall see him as he is It is Hereafter that they shall behold his glory The lustre and brightness of Christs glory is so great that should he now let forth the beams thereof upon them it would dazle and amaze them it would strike them blinde yea it would strike them dead there is need because of their weakness that Christ should keep a veil on his face when he makes discovery of himself they cannot now bear the full patefaction and manifestation of Christ therefore Christ doth discover himself but in part As the Queen of Sheba saith concerning Solomons wisdom and prosperity 1. King 10. 6 7. It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and thy wisdom howbeit I believed not the words until I came and mine eyes had seen it and behold the one half was not told me thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame thereof It is not the one half which Christs Disciples do now hear or can discern of their masters excellencies It hath not now entred into their hearts to conceive what Beauties and Glories and most admirable perfections there are hid in their Beloved not only Christ's Love but also Christ's Loveliness doth pass their knowledge there are such dimensions of most wonderful Glory in Christ's person as do infinitely transcend the capacity of the most elevated minds fully to comprehend Christ doth manifest himself truly to them that Love him yet it is but partly and that but a little part it is but darkly by the beams of a more obscure light 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 11 12. For we know in part and prophesie in part But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away When I was a child I spake as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things For now we see thorow a glass darkly but then Face to Face Now I know in part then I shall know as I am known We Ministers 〈…〉 part we can tell you but a little of what there really is in Christ and both we and you know but in part our conceptions of Christs excellencies and our expressions now are childish hereafter there will be a perfect manifestation of Christ and then all imperfections of knowledge will be removed Now you may see Christ but it is through a glass darkly hereafter face to face Indeed it is said 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed c. There is a comparative open discovery of Christ now in Gospel-times over what there was under the Law the veil of Types and Figures which covered and in a great measure hid Christ from the view is now removed our face is now open from that veil but Christs face is not fully open there is glass still between our eye and Christ's face the glass of Ordinances which though it doth help us to see him yet it keeps us from the clearest discovery of him we see but thorow a glass darkly our eyes now need this glass to help our weakness and that we may see what we do see there is a time coming when we shall be above the need and use of the Ordinance-glasses I mean when we shall see Christ face to face and know him in heaven as we are known by him 2. Christ doth now manifest himself gradually unto them that Love him Christ doth not shew at once altogether what he means to discover of himself and of his Love but he doth it by degrees a little at one time and a little at another time a little in this Ordinance and a little in that now he lets down some comfortable beams of the light of his countenance into the soul by and by clouds do arise and obscure this light and darkness is upon the spirit Sometimes Christ opens the curtain and looks upon the soul gives gracious smiles by and by the curtain is drawn and his face is hid now he appears and then he disappears he manifesteth himself at one time withdraws himself at another time and so leads his people on from one discovery of himself unto another until he bringeth them at last unto the full discovery of himself in Glory 3. Christ doth manifest himself most sweetly unto them that Love him especially after long absence When the soul hath been seeking and cannot finde him wandring in the wilderness under amazing fears perplexing doubts doleful despondencies sinking and heart-overwhelming grief after a black night of deep desertion Oh how sweet is the day-spring from on high Oh how comfortable are the bright beams of the morning light when he shineth upon their dark and despised and sorrowful spirits giving them to know assuredly that they are