DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FAITH AND SIGHT OF IT. 399
ness which compriseth all the things mentioned; — no such thing as rejoicing upon " believing, with joy unspeakable and full of glory;" — no such thing as Christ's showing and manifesting himself unto us, supping with us, and giving us of his loves ; — that the divine promises of a " feast of fat things, and wme well refined," in gospel mercies, are empty and insignificant words ;^ — that all those ravishing joys and exultations of spirit that multitudes of faithful martyrs of old and in later ages have enjoyed, by a view of the glory of God in Christ and a sense of his love, whereunto they gave testimony unto their last moments in the midst of their torments, were but fancies and imagi- nations. But it is the height of impudence in these profane scoffers, that they proclaim their own ignorance of those things which are the real powers of our religion.
Others there are who will not deny the truth of these things. They dare not rise up in contradiction unto those express testimonies of the Scripture wherewith they are confirmed. And they do suppose that some are partakers of them, at least there were so formerly ; but as for their parts, they have no experience of them, nor do judge it their duty to endeavour after it. They can make a shift to live on hopes of heaven and future glory ; as unto what is present, they desire no more, but to be found in the performance of some duties in answer unto their convictions, — which gives them that sorry peace which they do enjoy. So do many countenance themselves in their spiritual sloth and unbelief, keeping themselves at liberty to seek for refreshment and satisfaction in other things, whilst those of the Gospel are de- spised. And these things are inconsistent. While men look for their chief refreshment and satisfaction in temporal things, it is impossible they should seek after those that are spiritual in a due manner. And it must be confessed, that when we have a due regard unto sphitual, evangelical consolations and joys, it will abate and take off our affec- tions unto, and satisfaction in, present enjoyments, Phil. iii. 8, 9.
But there is no more sacred truth than this, that where Christ is present with believers, — where he is not ^vithdrawn for a season from them, where they live in the view of his glory by faith as it is pro- posed unto them in the Gospel, — he will give unto them, at his own seasons, such intimations of his love, such supplies of his Spirit, such holy joys and rejoicings, such repose of soul in assurance, as shall re- fresh their souls, fill them with joy, satisfy them with spiritual delight, and quicken them unto all acts of holy communion with himself.
Let no such dishonour be reflected on the Gospel, that whereas the faith of it, and obedience unto it, are usually accompanied with out- ward troubles, afflictions, persecution, and reproaches, as we are foretold they should be, — that it doth not, by its inward consolations and divine refreshments, outbalance all those evils which we may undergo upon
400 THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
the account of it. So to suppose, is expressly contrary to the promise of Christ himself, who hath assured us that even vvv iv tu> xaifui rourw, " even now in this hfe," in this world, distinct from eternal life in the world to come, we shall receive a hundred-fold recompense for all that we can lose or suffer for his sake, Mark x. 30 ; — as also unto the experience of them who, in all ages, have " taken joyfully the spoiliog of their goods, as knowing in themselves" (by the expe- rience which they have of its first-fruits) that they " have in heaven a better and an enduring substance," Heb. x. 34. If we come short in a participation of these things, if we are strangers unto them, the blame is to be laid on ourselves alone, as it shall be immediately declared.
Now, the design of the Lord Christ, in thus withdrawing himself from us, and hiding his glory from our view, being the exercise of our graces, and to stir us up unto diligence in our inquiries after him, here lieth our guidance and direction in this case. Do we find ourselves lifeless in the spiritual duties of religion? Are we strangers unto the heavenly visits of consolation and joys, — those visitations of God where- by he preserves our souls? Do we seldom enjoy a sense of the " shed- ding abroad of his love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost?" We have no way of recovery but this alone, — to this " strong tower" must we turn ourselves as "prisoners of hope," — unto Christ must we look, that we may be saved. It is a steady view or contemplation of his glory by faith alone that will bring in all these things in a lively experi- ence into our hearts and souls.
Again, in the second place, it is from ourselves principally, if we lose the view of the glory of Christ, and the exercise of faith be ob- structed therein. All our spiritual disadvantages do arise from our- selves. It is the remainder of lusts and corruptions in us, either indulged by sloth and negligence or excited and inflamed by Satan's temptations, that do obstruct us in this duty. Whilst they are in any disorder or disturbance, it is in vain for us to expect any clear view of this glory.