G8 MOllTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS.
raony, not au evidence upon demonstration; and the object of it is, as was said before, above us. Hence our faith, as was formerly ob- served, is called a " seeing darkly, as in a glass." All that we know this way (and all that we know of God we know this way) is but low, and dark, and obscure.
But you will say, " All this is true, but yet it is only so to them that know not God, perhajDS, as he is revealed in Jesus Christ; with them who do so it is otherwise. It is trae, ' No man hath seen God at any time,' but ' the only-begotten Son, he hath revealed him,' John i. 18; and ' the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,' 1 John v. 20. The illumination of ' the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,' shineth upon believers, 2 Cor. iv. 4; yea, and 'God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shines into their hearts, to give them the knowledge of his glory in the face of his Son,' verse 6. So that ' though we were darkness,' yet Ave are now ' light in the Lord,' Eph. v. 8. And the apostle says, ' We all with open face behold the glory of the Lord,' 2 Cor. iii. 18; and v\^e are now so far from being in such darkness, or at such a distance from God, that ' our communion and fellowship is with the Father and with his Son,' 1 John i. 8. The light of the gospel whereby now God is revealed is glorious ; not a star, but the sun in his beauty is risen upon us, and the vail is taken from our faces. So that though unbelievers, yea, and perhaps some weak believers, may be in some darkness, yet those of any growth or considerable attaininents have a clear sight and view of the face of God in Jesus Christ."
To which I answer, —
[1.] The truth is, we all of us know enough of him to love him more than we do, to delight in him and serve him, believe him, obey him, put our trust in him, above all that we have hitherto attained. Our darkness and weakness is no plea for our negligence and disobedience. Who is it that hath walked up to the knowledge that he hath had of the perfections, excellencies, and will of God? God's end in giving us any knowledge of himself here is that we may " glorify him as God ;" that is, love him, serve him, believe and obey him, — give him all the honour and glory that is due from poor sinful creatures to a sin-pardoning God and Creator. We must all acknowledge that we were never thoroughly transformed into the image of that knowledge which we have had. And had we used our talents well, we might have been trusted with more.
[2.] Comparatively, that knowledge which we have of God by the revelation of Jesus Christ in the gospel is exceeding eminent and glorious. It is so in comparison of any knowledge of God that might otherwise be attained, or was delivered in the law under the Old Tes-
SELF-ABASEMENT BEFORE THE MAJESTY OF GOD. 69
tament, which had but the shadow of good things, not the express image of them; this the apostle pursues at large, 2 Cor. iii. Christ hath now in these last days revealed the Father from his own bosom, declared his name, made known his mind, will, iind counsel in a far more clear, eminent, distinct manner than h<| did formerly, whilst he kept his people under the pedagogy of the law; and this is that which, for the most part, is intended in the places before mentioned. The clear, perspicuous delivery and declaration of God and his will in the gospel is expi-essly exalted in comparison of any other way of reve- lation of himself
[o.] The difference between believers and unbelievers as to know- ledge is not so much in the matter of their knowledge as in the mangier of knowing. Unbelievers, some of them, may know more and be able to say more of God, his perfections, and his will, than many believers; but they know nothing as they ought, nothing in a right manner, nothing spiritually and savingly, nothing with a holy, heavenly light. The excellency of a believer is, not that he hath a large apprehension of things, but that what he doth apprehend, which perhaps may be very little, he sees it in the light of the Spirit of God, in a saving, soul-transforming light; and this is that which gives us communion with God, and not prying thoughts or curious-raised notions.
[4.] Jesus Christ by his word and Spirit reveals to the hearts of all his, God as a Father, as a God in covenant, as a rewarder, every way sufficiently to teach us to obey him here, and to lead us to his bosom, to lie down there in the fruition of him to eternity. But yet now,
[5.] Notwithstanding all this, it is but a little portion we know of him; we see but his back parts. For, —