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 them out unto Perfection 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 Ephese 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 and know him even as we are known 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.
reasons as they suppose to desire that it may not yet be which for the most part arise meerly from Fear and an Aversation of Death Some desire to live that they may see more of that glorious Work of God for his Church which they believe he will accomplish So Moses prayed that he might not dye in the Wilderness but go over Jordan and see the good Land and that goodly Mountain and Lebanon the Seat of the Church and of the Worship of God which yet God thought meet to deny unto him And this Denial of the request of Moses made on the highest consideration possible is instructive unto all in the like case Others may judge themselves to have some work to do in the World wherein they suppose that the Glory of God and Good of the Church is concerned and therefore would be spared for a Season Paul knew not clearly whether it were not best for him to abide a while longer in the flesh on this account And David often deprecates the present season of Death because of the work which he had to do for God in the World Others rise no higher than their own private Interests or concerns with respect unto their Persons their Families their Relations and Goods in this World They would see these things in a better or more settled condition before they dye and then they shall be most willing so to do But it is the Love of Life that lies at the bottom of all these desires in Men which of itself will never forsake them But no Man can dye chearfully or comfortably who lives not in a constant Resignation of the time and season of his death unto the Will of God as well as himself with respect unto Death it self Our times are in his hand at his Sovereign disposal and his Will in all things must be complied withal Without this Resolution without this Resignation no Man can enjoy the least solid peace in this World FOURTHLY As the times and seasons so the ways and means of the approaches of Death have especial Tryals which unless we are prepared for them will keep us under Bondage with the fear of Death it self Long wasting wearing Consumptions burning Fevers strong pains of the Stone or the like from within or Sword Fire Tortures with Shame and Reproach from without may be in the way of the Access of Death unto us Some who have been wholly freed from all fears of Death as a Dissolution of Nature who have looked on it as amiable and desirable in it self have yet had great exercise in their minds about these ways of its approach They have earnestly desired that this peculiar bitterness of the Cup might be taken away to get above all perplexities on the account of these things is part of our Wisdom in Dying daily And we are to have always in a readiness those Graces and Duties which are necessary thereunto Such are a constant Resignation of our selves in all events unto the Sovereign will pleasure and disposal of God May he not do what he will with his own Is it not right and meet it should be so Is not his Will in all things Infinitely Holy Wise Just and Good Doth he not know what is best for us and what conduceth most unto his own Glory Doth not he alone do so So is it to live in the Exercise of Faith that if God calls us unto any of those things which are peculiarly dreadful unto our Natures he will give us such supplies of Spiritual strength and Patience as shall enable us to undergo them if not with ease and joy yet with Peace and Quietness beyond our Expectation Multitudes have had experience that those things which at a distance have had an Aspect of overwhelming dread have been far from unsupportable in their approach when strength hath been received from above to encounter with them And moreover it is in this case required that we be frequent and steady in comparing these things with those which are eternal both as unto the misery which we are freed from and that blessedness which is prepared for us But I shall proceed no farther with these particulars THERE is none of all the things we have insisted on neither the Resignation of a departing Soul into the hand of God nor a willingness to lay down this flesh in the dust nor a readiness to comply with the Will of God as to the times and seasons or the way and manner of the approach of Death that can be attained unto without a prospect of that Glory that shall give us a new state far more excellent than what we here leave or depart from This we cannot have whatever we pretend unless we have some present views of the Glory of Christ. An Apprehension of the future Manifestation of it in Heaven will not relieve us if here we know not what it is and wherein it doth consist if we have not some previous Discovery of it in this Life This is that which will make all things easie and pleasant unto us even Death it self as it is a means to bring us unto its full enjoyment OTHER great and glorious Advantages which may be obtained in the diligent discharge of the Duty here proposed might be insisted on but that the things themselves discoursed of will evidently Discover and Direct us unto the Spring and Reasons of them Besides Weakness Weariness and the near Approaches of Death do call me off from any further labour in this kind John XVII 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 THE High Priest under the Law when he was to enter into the Holy Place on the Solemn day of Atonement was to take both his hands full of sweet Incense from the Golden Table of Incense to carry along with him in his entrance He had also a Censer filled with Fire that was taken from the Altar of Burnt-offerings where Atonement was made for Sin with Blood Upon his actual entrance through the vail he put the Incense on the Fire in the Censer until the Cloud of it's smoak covered the Ark and the Mercy Seat See Levit. 16. 12 13. And the end hereof was to present unto God in the behalf of the People a sweet smelling Savour from the Sacrifice of Propitiation See the Declaration of these things in our Exposition of Heb. 9th IN Answer unto this Mystical Type the great High-priest of the Church our Lord Jesus Christ being to enter into the Holy Place not made with hands did by the glorious Prayer Recorded in this Chapter influenced from the Blood of his Sacrifice fill the Heavens above the glorious Place of God's Residence with a cloud of Incense or the sweet perfume of his Blessed Intercession typed by the incense offered by the High-priest of old By the same Eternal Fire wherewith he offered himself a bloody Sacrifice to make Atonement for
Truth Where is the Wise Where is the Scribe Where is the Disputer of this World Hath not God made foolish the Wisdom of this World For after that in the Wisdom of God the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe For the Jews require a sign and the Gentiles seek after Wisdom but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a Stumbling-block and unto the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor 1. 20 21 22 23 24. AFTER it was evident unto all that the World the Wise the Studious the Contemplative Part of it in the Wisdom of God disposing them into that Condition wherein they were left unto themselves in their own Wisdom their Natural Light and Reason did not could not come to the saving Knowledge of God but were puffed up into a Contempt of the only way of the Revelation of himself as Weakness and Folly it pleased God then to manifest all their Wisdom to be Folly and to establish the only Means of the Knowledge of himself in Christ Jesus CHAP. III. The Glory of Christ in the Mysterious Constitution of his Person THE Second Thing wherein we may behold the Glory of Christ given him of his Father is in the Mysterious Constitution of his Person as he is God and Man in one and the same Person There are in him in his one single individual Person two distinct Natures The one Eternal Infinite Immense Almighty the Form and Essence of God The other having a beginning in Time Finite Limited Confined unto a certain Place which is our Nature which he took on him when he was made Flesh and dwelt among us The Declaration of the Nature of this Glory is a Part of my Discourse of the Person of Christ whereunto I refer the Reader My present Design is of another Nature THIS is that Glory whose Beams are so illustrious as that the blind World cannot bear the Light and Beauty of them Multitudes begin openly to deny this Incarnation of the Son of God this Personal Union of God and Man in their distinct Natures They deny that there is either Glory or Truth in it and it will ere long appear it begins already to evidence it self what greater Multitudes there are who yet do not who yet dare not openly reject the Doctrine of it who in Truth believe it not nor see any Glory in it Howbeit this Glory is the Glory of our Religion the Glory of the Church the sole Rock whereon it is built the only Spring of present Grace and future Glory THIS is that Glory which the Angels themselves desire to behold the Mystery whereof they bow down to look into 1 Pet. 1. 12. So was their Desire represented by the Cherubims in the most holy Place of the Tabernacle for they were a Shadow of the Ministry of Angels in the Church The Ark and Mercy Seat were a Type of Christ in the Discharge of his Office and these Cherubims were made standing over them as being in Heaven above but earnestly looking down upon them in a Posture of Reverence and Adoration So they did of Old and in their present Contemplation of it consists no small part of their Eternal Blessedness HEREON depends the Ruine of Satan and his Kingdom His Sin so far as we can conceive consisted of two Parts 1. His Pride against the Person of the Son of God by whom he was created For by him were all things created that are or were when first created in Heaven whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers Col. 1. 16. Against him he lifted up himself which was the Beginning of his Transgression 2. Envy against Mankind made in the Image of God of the Son of God the First-born This compleated his Sin nothing was now left whereon to act his Pride and Malice Unto his Eternal Confusion and Ruine God in infinite 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 Everlasting 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 put of thy Shooes from off thy Feet for the Place whereon thou standest is holy Ground Moreover he said I am the God of thy 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 the Church out of a Fiery Tryal This Fire 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
of it that he should pursue his delight to save us until his own soul was heavy and sorrowful unto death that he should relieve us in our sufferings by suffering the same things that we should have done But he was not in the least hereby deterred from undertaking this work of Love and Mercy for us Yea his love rose on this Proposal like the Waters of a mighty Stream against opposition For hereon he says Lo I come to do thy will O God it is my delight to do it Heb. 10. 5 6 7. Isa. 50. 4 5 6 7. 8. BEING thus enclined disposed and ready in the Eternal Love of his Divine Person to undertake the Office of Mediation and the work of our Redemption A body was prepared for him In this Body or Human Nature made his own he was to make this Love effectual in all its Inclinations and Actings It was provided for him unto this end and filled with all Grace in a way unmeasurable especially with Fervent Love unto Mankind And hereby it became a meet Instrument to actuate his Eternal Love in all the fruits of it 9. IT is hence evident that this Glorious Love of Christ doth not consist alone in the Eternal Actings of his divine Person or the Divine Nature in his Person such indeed is the Love of the Father namely his Eternal Purpose for the communication of Grace and Glory with his Acquiescency therein but there is more in the Love of Christ. For when he exercised this Love he was man also and not God only And in none of those Eternal Acts of Love could the Human Nature of Christ have any interest or concern yet is the Love of the Man Christ Jesus celebrated in the Scripture 10. WHEREFORE this Love of Christ which we enquire after is the Love of his Person that is which he in his own Person acts in and by his Distinct Natures according unto their Distinct Essential Properties And the acts of love in these distinct Natures are infinitely distinct and different yet are they all acts of one and the same Person So then whether that Act of Love in Christ which we would at any time consider be an Eternal Act of the Divine Nature in the Person of the Son of God or whether it be an act of the Human performed in time by the Gracious Faculties and Powers of that Nature it is still the Love of one and the self same Person Christ Jesus It was an Act of inexpressible Love in him that he assumed our Nature Heb. 2. 14 17. But it was an act in and of his Divine Nature only For it was antecedent unto the existence of his Human Nature which could not therefore concur therein His laying down his life for us was an act of inconceivable Love 1 John 8. 16. Yet was it only an act of the Human Nature wherein he offered himself and died But both the one and the other were Acts of his Divine Person whence it is said that God laid down his life for us and purchased the Church with his own Blood THIS is that Love of Christ wherein he is glorious and wherein we are by Faith to behold his Glory A great part of the Blessedness of the Saints in Heaven and their Triumph therein consists in their beholding of this Glory of Christ in their thankful contemplation of the Fruits of it see Rev. 5. 9 10. c. THE illustrious Brightness wherewith this Glory shines in Heaven the All satisfying Sweetness which the view of it gives unto the Souls of the Saints there Possessed of Glory are not by us conceivable nor to be expressed Here this love passeth knowledge there we shall comprehend the Dimensions of it Yet even here if we are not slothful and carnal we may have a refreshing prospect of it and where Comprehension fails let Admiration take place MY present Business is to exhort others unto the Contemplation of it though it be but a little a very little a small portion of it that I can conceive and less than that very little that I can express Yet may it be my duty to excite not only my self but others also unto due Enquiries after it unto which End I offer the things ensuing 1. LABOUR that your minds may continually be fitted and prepared for stch Heavenly Contemplations If they are carnal and sensual or filled with earthly things a due sense of this Love of Christ and its Glory will not abide in them Vertue and Vice in their highest Degrees are not more diametrically opposite and inconsistent in the same mind than are an habitual Course of sensual worldly Thoughts and a due Contemplation of the Glory of the Love of Christ Yea an earnestness of Spirit pregnant with a multitude of Thoughts about the lawful Occasions of Life is obstructive of all due Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ herein FEW there are whose Minds are prepared in a due Manner for this Duty The Actions and Communications of the most evidence what is the inward Frame of their Souls They rove up and down in their Thoughts which are continually lead by their Affections into the Corners of the Earth It is in vain to call such Persons unto Contemplations of the Glory of Christ in his Love An holy Composure of Mind by virtue of spiritual principles an Inclination to seek after Refreshment in Heavenly Things and to bath the Soul in the Fountain of them with constant Apprehensions of the Excellency of this Divine Glory are required hereunto 2. BE not satisfied with General Notions concerning the Love of Christ which represent no Glory unto the Mind wherewith many deceive themselves All who believe his divine Person profess a Valuation of his Love and think them not Christians who are otherwise minded But they have only General Notions and not any distinct Conceptions of it and really know not what it is To deliver us from this Snare peculiar Meditations on its principal Concerns are required of us As 1. WHOSE Love it is namely of the divine Person of the Son of God He is expresly called God with respect unto the Exercise of this Love that we may always consider whose it is 1 Job 3. 16. Hereby we perceive the Love of God because he laid down his Life for us 2. BY what Ways and Means this wonderful Love of the Son of God doth act it self namely in the divine Nature by Eternal Acts of Wisdom Goodness and Grace proper thereunto and in the humane by Temporary Acts of Pity or Compassion with all the Fruits of them in doing and suffering for us see Ephes. 3. 19. Heb. 2. 14 15. Rev. 1. 5. 3. WHAT is the Freedom of it as unto any desert on our Part 1 Joh. 4. 10. It was Hatred not Love that we in our selves deserved which is a Consideration suited to fill the Soul with self-abasement the best of Frames in the contemplation of the Glory of Christ. 4. WHAT is the Efficacy of it in
him as he is we shall be like him but as unto the Degrees and Measures of it his Glory is above all that we can be made Partakers of There is one Glory of the Sun another of the Moon and Stars and one Star differeth from another in Glory As the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 15. 45. And if there be a difference in Glory among the Stars themselves as to some degrees of the same Glory How much more is there between the Glory of the Sun and that of any Star whatever Such is the difference that is and will be unto Eternity between the Human Nature of Christ and what glorified Believers do attain unto But yet this is not that properly wherein the Glory of Christ in his Exaltation after his Humiliation and Death doth consist The Things that belong unto it may be reduced unto the ensuing Heads 1. IT consisteth in the Exaltation of the Human Nature as subsisting in the Divine Person above the whole Creation of God in Power Dignity Authority and Rule with all things that the Wisdom of God hath appointed to render the Glory of it illustrious I have so largely insisted on the Explication and Confirmation of this Part of the present Glory of Christ in the Exposition of Heb. 1. ver 2 3. that I have nothing more to add thereunto 2. IT doth so in the Evidence given of the Infinite Love of God the Father unto him and his delight in him with the Eternal Approbation of his Discharge of the Office committed unto him Hence he is said to sit at the right hand of God or at the right hand of the Majesty on high That the Glory and Dignity of Christ in his Exaltation is singular the highest that can be given to a Creature incomprehensible that he is with respect unto the Discharge of his Office under the eternal Approbation of God that as so gloriously exalted he is proclaimed unto the whole Creation are all contained in this Expression 3. HEREUNTO is added the full Manifestation of his own Divine Wisdom Love and Grace in the Work of Mediation and Redemption of the Church This Glory is absolutely singular and peculiar unto him Neither Angels or Men have the least Interest in it Here we see it darkly as in a Glass above it shines forth in its brightness to the eternal Joy of them who behold him THIS is that Glory which our Lord Jesus Christ in an especial manner prayed that his Disciples might behold This is that whereof we ought to endeavor a Prospect by Faith By Faith I say and not by Imagination Vain and foolish Men having general Notions of this Glory of Christ knowing nothing of the real Nature of it have endeavored to represent it in Pictures and Images with all that Lustre and Beauty with the Art of Painting with the Ornaments of Gold and Jewels can give them This is that Representation of the present Glory of Christ which being made and proposed unto the Imagination and carnal Affections of superstitious Persons carrieth such a shew of Devotion and Veneration in the Papal Church But they err not knowing the Scripture nor the eternal Glory of the Son of God THIS is the sole Foundation of all our Meditations herein The Glory that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the real actual Possession of in Heaven can be no otherwise seen or apprehended in this World but in the Light of Faith fixing it self on Divine Revelation To behold this Glory of Christ is not an Act of Fancy or Imagination It doth not consist in framing unto our selves the Shape of a glorious Person in Heaven But the steady Exercise of Faith on the Revelation and Description made of this Glory of Christ in the Scripture is the Ground Rule and Measure of all Divine Meditations thereon HEREON our Duty it is to call our selves to an Account as unto our Endeavor after a gracious View of this Glory of Christ When did we stedfastly behold it When had we such a View of it as wherein our Souls have been satisfied and refreshed It is declared and represented unto us as one of the chief Props of our Faith as an Help of our Joy as an Object of our Hope as a Ground of our Consolation as our greatest Encouragement unto Obedience and Suffering Are our Minds every day conversant with Thoughts hereof Or do we think our selves not much concerned herein Do we look upon it as that which is without us and above us as that which we shall have time enough to consider when we come to Heaven So is it with many They care neither where Christ is nor what he is so that one way or other they may be saved by him They hope as they pretend that they shall see him and his Glory in Heaven and that they suppose to be time enough But in vain do they pretend a Desire thereof in vain are their Expectations of any such thing They who endeavor not to behold the Glory of Christ in this World as hath been often said shall never behold him in glory hereafter unto their Satisfaction nor do they desire so to do Only they suppose it a part of that Relief which they would have when they are gone out of this World For what should beget such a Desire in them Nothing can do it but some View of it here by Faith which they despise or totally neglect Every Pretence of a Desire of Heaven and of the Presence of Christ therein that doth not arise from that is not resolved into that Prospect which we have of the Glory of Christin this World by Faith is mere Fancy and Imagination OUR constant Exercise in Meditation on this Glory of Christ will fill us with Joy on his Account which is an effectual Motive unto the Duty it self We are for the most part Selfish and look no farther than our own Concernments So we may be pardoned and saved by him we care not much how it is with himself but only presume it is well enough We find not any Concernment of our own therein But this Frame is directly opposite unto the Genius of Divine Faith and Love For their principal Actings consist in preferring Christ above our selves and our Concerns in him above all our own Let this then stir us up unto the Contemplation of this Glory Who is it that is thus exalted over all Who is thus encompassed with Glory Majesty and Power Who is it that sits down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on high all his Enemies being made his Foot-stool Is it not he who in this World was poor despised persecuted and slain all for our Sakes Is it not the same Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us and washed us in his own Blood So the Apostle told the Jews that the same Jesus whom they slew and hanged on a Tree God had exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance unto Israel and the forgiveness
in him Col. 1. 17 18 19. And this was the first Egress of divine Wisdom for the Manifestation of the Glory of God in these holy Properties of his Nature For 3. THIS Communication was made unto him as a Repository and Treasury of all that Goodness Grace Life Light Power and Mercy which were necessary for the Constitution and Preservation of the New Creation They were to be laid up in him to be hid in him to dwell in him and from him to be communicated unto the whole Mystical Body designed unto him that is the Church And this is the first Emanation of divine Power and Wisdom for the Manifestation of his Glory in the New Creation This Constitution of Christ as the Head of it and the Treasuring up in him all that was necessary for its Production and Preservation wherein the Church is chosen and preordained in him unto Grace and Glory is the Spring and Fountain of divine Glory in the Communications that ensue thereon 4. THIS Communication unto Christ is 1. Unto his Person and then 2. With respect unto this Office It is in the Person of Christ that all Fulness doth originally dwell On the Assumption of human Nature into personal Union with the Son of God all Fulness dwells in him bodily Col. 2. 9. And thereon receiving the Spirit in all Fulness and not by Measure all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge were hid in him Col. 2. 3. and he was filled with the unsearchable Riches of Divine Grace Ephes. 3. 8 9 10 11. And the Office of Christ is nothing but the way appointed in the Wisdom of God for the Communication of the Treasures of Grace which were communicated unto his Person This is the end of the whole Office of Christ in all the parts of it as he is a Priest a Prophet and a King They are I say nothing but the Ways appointed by infinite Wisdom for the Communication of the Grace laid up in his Person unto the Church The transcendent Glory hereof we have in some weak measure enquired into 5. THE Decree of Election prepared if I may so say the Mass of the New Creation In the old Creation God first prepared and created the Mass or Matter of the whole which afterwards by the Power of the holy Spirit was formed into all the distinct Beings whereof the whole Creation was to consist and animated according to their distinct Kinds AND in order unto the Production and Perfecting of the Work of the new Creation God did from Eternity in the holy purpose of his Will prepare and in design set apart unto himself that Portion of Mankind whereof it was to consist Hereby they were only the peculiar Matter that was to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost and the glorious Fabrick of the Church erected out of it What was said it may be of the Natural Body by the Psalmist is true of the Mystical Body of Christ which is principally intended Psal. 139. 15 16. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them The substance of the Church whereof it was to be formed was under the Eye of God as proposed in the Decree of Election yet was it as such imperfect It was not formed or shaped into Members of the Mystical Body But they were all written in the Book of Life And in pursuance of the Purpose of God there they are by the holy Spirit in the whole course and continuance of time in their several Generations fashioned into the Shape designed for them 6. THIS therefore is herein the glorious Order of divine Communications From the infinite eternal Spring of Wisdom Grace Goodness and Love in the Father all the Effects whereof unto his end were treasured up in the Person and Mediation of the Son the holy Spirit unto whom the actual Application of them is committed communicates Life Light Power Grace and Mercy unto all that are designed parts of the New Creation Hereon doth God glorifie both the essential Properties of his Nature his infinite Wisdom Power Goodness and Grace as the only eternal Spring of all these things and also his ineffable glorious Existence in three Persons by the Order of the Communication of these things unto the Church which are originally from his Nature And herein is the glorious Truth of the Blessed Trinity which by some is opposed by some neglected by most looked on as that which is so much above them as that it doth not belong unto them made precious unto them that believe and becomes the Foundation of their Faith and Hope In a View of the glorious Order of those divine Communications we are in a steady Contemplation of the ineffable Glory of the Existence of the Nature of God in the Three distinct Persons of Father Son and Holy Ghost 7. ACCORDING unto this Divine Order the Elect in all Ages are by the holy Spirit moving and acting on that Mass of the New Creation formed and animated with spiritual Life Light Grace and Power unto the Glory of God They are not called accidentally according unto the external Occasions and Causes of their Conversion unto God but in every Age at his own Time and Season the holy Spirit communicates these things unto them in the Order declared unto the Glory of God 8. AND in the same manner is the whole New Creation preserved every Day every moment there is vital Power and Strength Mercy and Grace communicated in this Divine Order to all Believers in the World There is a continual Influence from the Fountain from the Head into all the Members whereby they all consist in him are acted by him who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure and the Apostle declares that the whole Constitution of Church-order is suited as an external Instrument to promote these Divine Communications unto all the Members of the Church it self Eph. 4. 13 14 15 16. THIS in general is the Order of Divine Communications which is for the Substance of it continued in Heaven and shall be so unto Eternity For God is and ever will be all and in all But at present it is invisible unto Eyes of Flesh yea the Reason of Men. Hence it is by the most despised they see no Glory in it But let us consider the Prayer of the Apostle that it may be otherwise with us Ephes. 1. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. For the Revelation made of the Glory of God in the old Creation is exceeding inferior to that which he makes of himself in the New HAVING premised these things in general concerning the Glory of Divine Communications I shall proceed to declare in particular the Grounds and Way whereby the Lord Christ communicates himself and therewithal
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 meer 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 conoerns 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 so 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 whole new Creation with all things reduced into order thereby is not only an impious but a foolish Imagination DID we live more in the Contemplation of this Glory of Christ and of the Wisdom of God in this Recapitulation of all things in him there is not any thing of our Duty which it would not mind us of nor any thing of Priviledge which it would not give us a Sence of as might easily be demonstrated 3. IN particular the Lord Christ is glorious herein in that the whole Breach made on the Glory of God in the Creation by the Entrance of Sin is hereby repaired and made up The Beauty and Order of the whole Creation consisted in its dependance on God by the Obedience of the rational Part of it Angels and Men. Thereby were the being the goodness the wisdom and power of God made manifest But the Beauty of this Order was defaced and the Manifestation of the Divine Perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed by the Entrance of Sin But all is restored repaired and made up in this Recapitulation of all things in one new Head Christ Jesus yea the whole curious Frame of the Divine Creation is rendred more beautiful than it was before Hence the whole of it groaneth for the Interest of each Part in this Restauration of all things Whatever there is of Order of Beauty of Glory in Heaven above or in Earth beneath it all ariseth from this new Relation of the Creation unto the Son of God Whatever is not gathered into one even in him in its place and according to its measure is under Darkness Disorder and the Curse Hence the Jews have a saying that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the Serpent that is the Devil and wicked Men which are as his Seed 4. HE is glorious herein in that he is appointed as the only means of exerting and expressing all the Treasures of the Infinite Wisdom of God towards his Creatures The Wisdom of God is absolutely always and in all things Infinite God doth not God cannot act with more Wisdom in one thing than in another as in the Creation of man than in that of any inanimate Creatures In the first Creation Infinite Wisdom was the inseparable companion of Infinite Power How marvellous are thy works O Lord in Wisdom hast thou made them all But when the effects of this Divine Wisdom in their principal beauty and glory were defaced greater Treasures of Wisdom were required unto their Reparation And in this Recollection of all things in Christ did God lay them forth unto the utmost of whatever he will do in dealing with his Creatures so the Apostle expresseth it Ephes. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God By the Recapitulation of all things into this one head the manifold various unsearchable Wisdom of God was made known unto the Angels themselves They knew not before of the Design and
Work of God after the Entrance of Sin These could not comprehend the Wisdom that might repair that Loss They knew not that Divine Wisdom had another way to take herein at least they knew not what way that should be But hereby the manifold Wisdom of God his infinite Wisdom in the Treasures of it able by various ways to attain the ends of his Glory was made known unto them Herein namely in the Recollection of all things in Christ Divine Wisdom hath made known and represented it self in all its Stores and Treasures unto Angels and Men. In him are hid and by him are displayed all the treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Herein is he glorious and will be so to Eternity 5. He is glorious herein in that hereby firmness and security is communicated unto the whole new Creation The first Creation in its Order was a curious and glorious Fabrick But every thing depending immediately on God by vertue of the Principles of its own Nature and the Law of its Obedience all was brought unto a Loss by the sin of Angels and Men. But now every thing that belongs unto this new Creation even every Believer in the World as well as the Angels in Heaven being gathered together in this one Head the whole and all and every part and member of it even every particular Believer are secured from Ruine such as befel all things before In this New Head they have an indissoluble Consistency BUT manum de Tabula I shall insist on no more Instances of this Nature-which plentifully offer themselves in the Scripture unto us For who can declare this glory of Christ Who can speak of these things as he ought I am so far from designing to set forth the whole of it that I am deeply sensible how little a Portion I can comprehend of the least part of it Nor can I attain unto any Satisfaction in these Meditations but what Issue in an humble Admiration CHAP. XII Differences between our beholding the Glory of Christ by Faith in this World and by sight in Heaven The first of them explained WE walk here by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. That is in the Life of God in our walking before him in the whole of our Obedience therein we are under the Conduct and Influence of Faith and nor of Sight Those are the two spiritual Powers of our Souls by the one whereof we are made Partakers of Grace Holiness and Obedience in this Life and by the other of eternal Blessedness and Glory BOTH these namely Faith and Sight the one in this Life the other in that which is to come have the same immediate Object For they are the Abilities of the Soul to go forth unto and to embrace their Object Now this Object of them both is the Glory of Christ as hath been declared as also what that glory is and wherein it doth consist wherefore my present Design is to enquire into the difference that is between our beholding of the Glory of Christ in this World by Faith and the Vision which we shall have of the same Glory hereafter THE latter of these is peculiarly intended in that Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for his Disciples Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me But I shall not distinctly insist upon it my design being another way respecting principally the Work of God in this Life and the Priviledges which we enjoy thereby Yet I shall now take a short Prospect of that also not absolutely but in the Differences that are between Faith and Sight or the View which we have of the glory of Christ in this World by Faith and that which they enjoy by Vision who are above the Object of them both being adequately the same BUT herein also I shall have respect only unto some of those things which concern our Practise or the present immediate Exercise of Faith For I have elsewhere handled at large the State of the Church above or that of present glory giving an account of the Administration of the Office of Christ in Heaven his Presence among the glorified Souls and the Adoration of God under his Conduct I have also declared the Advantage which they have by being with him and the Prospect they have of his glory Therefore these things must here be only touched on THESE Differences may be referred unto two heads 1. Those which arise from the different Natures and Actings of those Means and Instruments whereby we apprehend this glory of Christ namely Faith and Vision And 2. Those that arise from the different Effects produced by them Instances in each kind shall be given 1. THE View which we have of the glory of Christ by Faith in this World is obscure dark inevident reflexive So the Apostle declares 1 Cor. 12. 12. Now we see through a Glass darkly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Through or by a Glass in a Riddle a Parable a dark Saying There is a double figurative Limitation put upon our View of the glory of Christ taken from the two ways of our Perception of what we apprehend namely the Sight of things and the hearing of Words THE first is that we have this View not directly but reflexively and by way of a Representation as in a Glass For I take the Glass here not to be Optical or a Prospective which helps the Sight but a Speculum or a Glass which reflects an Image of what we do behold It is a Sight like that which we have of a Man in a Glass when we see not his Person or Substance but an Image or Representation of them only which is imperfect The Shadow or Image of this glory of Christ is drawn in the Gospel and therein we behold it as the Likeness of a Man represented unto us in a Glass and although it be obscure and imperfect in comparison of his own real substantial glory which is the Object of Vision in Heaven yet is it the only Image and Representation of himself which he hath left and given unto us in this World That woful cursed Invention of framing Images of him out of Stocks and Stones however adorned or Representations of him by the Art of painting are so far from presenting unto the Minds of Men any thing of his real glory that nothing can be more effectual to divert their Thoughts and Apprehensions from it But by this figurative Expression of seeing in a Glass the Apostle declares the comparative Imperfection of our present View of the glory of Christ. BUT the Allusion may be taken from an Optick Glass or Tube also whereby the sight of the Eye is helped in beholding things at a great distance By the aid of such Glasses Men will discover Stars or heavenly Lights which by reason of their distance from us the Eye of it self is no way able to discern And those which