But the most of those Avho at this day are called Christians are strangers unto this duty. Our Lord Jesus Christ told the Pharisees, that notwithstanding all their boasting of the knowledge of God, they had not " heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shajDc;" that is, as Moses did. They had no real acquaintance with him, — they had no spiritual view of his glory. And so it is amongst ourselves; not- withstanding the general profession that is of the knowledge of Christ,
S04 THE GLORY OF CHllIST
they are but few who thus behold his glory ; and therefore few who are transformed into his image and likeness.
Some men speak much of the imitation of Christ, and following of his example ; and it were well if we could see more of it really in effect. But no man shall ever become " like unto him " by bare imitation of his actions, without that view or intuition of his glory which alone is accompanied with a transfomiing power to change them into the same image.
The truth is, the best of us all are wofuUy defective in this duty, and many are discoui'aged from it because a pretence of it in some hath degenerated into superstition; but we are loath at any time seriously to engage in it, and come with an unwilling kind of willing- ness unto the exercise of our minds in it.
Thoughts of this glory of Christ are too high for us, or too hard for us, such as we cannot long delight in ; we turn away from them with a kind of weariness : yet are they of the same nature in general with our beholding of the glory of Christ in heaven, wherein there shall be no weariness, or satiety, unto eternity. Is not the cause of it, that we are unspiritual or carnal, having our thoughts and affections wonted to give entertainment unto other things ? For this is the principal cause of our unreadiness and incapacity to exercise our minds in and about the great mysteries of the Gospel, 1 Cor. iii. 1-3. And it is so with us, moreover, because we do not stir up ourselves with watchfulness and diligence in continual actings of faith on this blessed object. This is that which keeps many of us at so low an ebb, as unto the powers of a heavenly Hfe and spiritual joys.
Did we abound in this duty, in this exercise of faith, our life in walking before God would be more sweet and pleasant unto us, — our spiritual light and strength would have a daily increase ; — we should more represent the glory of Christ in our ways and walking than usually we do, and death itself would be most welcome unto us.
The angels themselves deske to look into the things of the glory of Christ, 1 Peter i. 12. There is in them matter of inquiry and instruction for the most high and holy spirits in heaven. The mani- fold wisdom of God in them is made known unto " principalities and powers in heavenly places by the church," Eph. iii. 10. And shall we neglect that which is the object of angelical diligence to inquire into; especially considering that we are more than they concerned in it?
Is Christ, then, thus glorious in our eyes? Do we see the Father in him, or by seeing of him? Do we sedulously daily contemplate on the wisdom, love, grace, goodness, holiness, and righteousness of God, as revealing and manifesting themselves in him? Do we suffi- ciently consider that the immediate vision of this glory in heaven will
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be our everlasting blessedness? Doth the imperfect view which we have of it here increase our desires after the perfect sight of it above? With respect unto these inquiries I shall briefly speak unto sundry sorts of men.
Some will say they understand not these things, nor any concern- ment of their own in them. If they are true, yet are they notions which they may safely be without the knowledge of; for, so far as they can discern, they have no influence on Christian practice, or duties of morality ; and the preaching of them doth but take off the minds of men from more necessary duties. But " if the gospel be hid, it is hid unto them that perish." And unto the objection I say, —
1. Nothing is more fully and clearly revealed in the Gospel, than that unto us Jesus Christ is " the image of the invisible God ;" that he is the character of the person of the Father, so as that in seeing him we see the Father also ; that we have " the light of the know- ledge of the glory of God in his face alone," as hath been proved. This is the principal fundamental mystery and truth of the Gospel; and which if it be not received, believed, owned, all other truths are use- less unto our souls. To refer all the testimonies that are given here- unto to the doctrine which he taught, in contradistinction unto his person as acting in the discharge of his ofSce, is anti-evangelical, anti- christian, — turning the whole Gospel into a fable.
2. It is so, that the light of faith is given unto us principally to enable us to behold the glory of God in Christ, — to contemplate on it, as unto all the ends of its manifestation. So is it expressly affinued, 2 Cor. iv. 6. If we have not this light, as it is communicated by the power of God unto them that do believe, Eph. i. 17-19, we must be strangers unto the whole mystery of the Gospel, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.