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290 THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
2. The beholding of Christ in glory is that which in itself is too high, illustrious, and marvellous for us in our present condition. It hath a splendour and glory too gi'eat for our present spiritual visible [visive] faculty ; as the direct, immediate sight of the sun darkens our sight, and doth not relieve or strengthen it at all. Wherefore we have no way to take into our minds any true spiritual apprehensions of the nature of immediate vision, or what it is to see the glory of Christ in lieaven, but by that view which we have by faith in this life of the same glory. Whatever otherwise falls into our minds is but conjec- ture and imagination; such as are the contemplations of most about heavenly things.
I have seen and read somewhat of the writings of learned men concerning the state of future glory ; some of them are filled with excellent notions of truth, and elegancy of speech, whereby they can- not but much affect the minds of them who duly consider what they say. But I know not well whence it comes to pass, many complain that, in reading of such discourses, they are like a man who " beholds his natural face in a glass, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was;" as one of old complained to the same purpose upon his perusal of Plato's contemplations about the immortality of the soul. The things spoken do not abide nor incorporate with our minds. They please and refresh for a little while, like a shower of rain in a dry season, that soaketh not unto the roots of things; the power of them doth not enter into us. Is it not all from hence, that their no- tions of future things are not educed out of the experience which we have of the beginnings of them in this world? without which they can make no pemianent abode in our minds, nor continue any influ- ence upon our affections. Yea, the soul is disturbed, not edified, in all contemplations of future glory, when things are proposed unto it whereof in this life it hath neither foretaste, sense, experience, nor evidence. No man ought to look for anything in heaven, but what one way or other he hath some experience of in this life. If men were fully persuaded hereof, they would be, it may be, more in the exercise of faith and love about heavenly things than for the most part they are. At present they know not what they enjoy, and they look for they know not what.
Hence is it that men, utterly strangers unto all experience of the beginning of glory in themselves as an effect of faith, have filled their divine worship with images, pictures, and music, to represent unto themselves somewhat of that glory which they fancy to be above. For into that which is truly so, they have no prospect, or can have; because they have no experience of its power in themselves, nor do they taste of its goodness by any of its first-fruits in their own minds. Wherefore by that view alone, and not otherwise, which we have of
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the glory of Christ by faith here in this world, we may attain such blessed conceptions of our beholding his glory above by immediate vision, as shall draw out our hearts unto the admiration of it and desires of its full enjoyment.
3. Herein, then, our present edification is principally concerned; for in this present beholding of the glory of Christ, the life and power of faith are most eminently acted. And from this exercise of faith doth love unto Christ principally, if not solely, arise and spring. If, therefore, we desire to have faith in its vigour or love in its jDOwer, giving rest, complacency, and satisfaction unto our own souls, we are to seek for them in the diligent discharge of this duty; — elsewhere they will not be found. Herein would I live ; — herein would I die ; — hereon would I dwell in my thoughts and affections, to the wither- ing and consumption of all the painted beauties of this world, unto the crucifying all things here below, until they become unto me a dead and deformed thing, no way meet for affectionate embraces.
For these and the Kke reasons I shall first inquire into our be- holding of the glory of Christ in this world by faith ; and therein en- deavour to lead the souls of them that believe into the more retired walks of faith, love, and holy meditation, " whereby the King is held in the galleries," Cant. vii. o.
But because there is no benefit in, nor advantage by, the contem- plation of this sacred truth, but what consists in an improvement of the practice of the duty declared in it, — namely, the constant behold- ing of the glory of Christ by faith, — I shall, for the promotion of it, premise some few advantages which we may have thereby.
1. We shall hereby be made_/i^ and meet for heaven. Every man is not so who desires it, and hopes for it ; for some are not only un- worthy of it, and excluded from it, by reason of sin, but they are un- meet for it, and incapable of any advantage by it. All men, indeed, think themselves fit enough for glory (what should hinder them ?) if they could attain it ; but it is because they know not what it is. Men shall not be clothed with glory, as it were, whether they will or no. It is to be received in that exercise of the faculties of their souls which such persons have no ability for. Music hath no pleasure in it unto them that cannot hear; nor the most beautiful colours, unto them that cannot see. It would be no benefit unto a fish, to take him from the bottom of the ocean, filled with cold and darkness, and to place him under the beams of the sun; for he is no way meet to receive any refreshment thereby. Heaven itself would not be more advan- tageous unto persons not renewed by the Spirit of grace in this fife.