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CHAP. VII.
Especial objects of spiritual thoughts on the glorious state of heaven, and what belongs thereunto. First, of Christ himself. Thoughts of heavenly glory, in opposition unto thoughts of eternal misery. The use of such thou(/hts. Advantage in sufferings.
It will be unto our advantage, having stated right notions of the glory of the blessed state above in our minds, to fix on some particulars belonging unto it, as the especial ob- ject of our thoughts and meditations. As, 1. Think much of him who unto us is the life and centre of all the glory of heaven, that is, Christ himself. I shall be very brief in treating hereof, because I have designed a peculiar treatise on this subject, of beholding the glory of Christ, both here and unto eternity. At present, therefore, a few things only shall be mentioned, because on this occasion they are not to be omitted. The whole of the glory of the state above is expressed by ' being ever with the Lord ; where he is, to be- hold his glory.' For in and through him is the beatifical manifestation of God and his glory made for evermore. And through him are all communications of inward glory unto us. The present resplendency of heavenly glory, consists in his mediatory ministry, as I have at large elsewhere de- clared. And he will be the means of all glorious com- munications between God and the church unto eternity. Wherefore, if we are spiritually minded, we should fix our thoughts on Christ above, as the centre of all heavenly glory. To help us herein we may consider the things that follow.
1. Faith hath continual recourse unto him on the ac- count of what he did and suffered for us in this world. For thereon, pardon of sin, justification, and peace with God do depend. This ariseth in the first place from a sense of our own wants. But love of him is no less necessary unto us than faith in him. And although we have powerful motives unto love, from what he did and was in this world, yet the formal reason of our adherence unto him thereby is what he is in himself, as he is now exalted in heaven. If we rejoice not at the remembrance of his present glory, if the thoughts
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of it be not frequent with us and refreshing unto us, how dwelleth his love in us ?
2. Our hope is that ere long we shall be ever with him. And if so, it is certainly our wisdom and duty to be here with him as much as we can. It is a vain thing for any to suppose that they place their chiefest happiness in being for ever in the presence of Christ, who care not at all to be with him here as they may. And the only way of our being pre- sent with him here, is by faith and love, acting themselves in spiritual thoughts and affections. And it is an absurd thing for men to esteem themselves Christians, who scarce think of Christ all the day long. Yet some, as one com- plained of old, scarce ever think or speak of him but when they swear by his name. I have read of them who have lived and died in continual contemplation on hira, so far as the imperfection of our present state will admit. I have known them, I do know them, who call themselves unto a reproof if at any time he hath been many minutes out of their thoughts. And it is strange that it should be other- wise with them who love him in sincerity ; yet I wish I did not know more, who give evidences that it is a rare thing for them to be exercised in serious thoughts and meditations about him. Yea, there are some who are not averse upon occasions to speak of God, of mercy, of pardon, of his power and goodness, who, if you mention Christ unto them, with any thing of faith, love, trust in him, they seem unto them as a strange thing. Few there are who are sensible of any re- ligion beyond what is natural. The things of the wisdom and power of God in Christ, are foolishness unto them. Take some directions for the discharge of this duty. 1. In your thoughts of Christ be very careful that they are con- ceived and directed according to the rule of the word, lest you deceive your own souls, and give up the conduct of your affections unto vain imaginations. Spiritual notions be- falling carnal minds, did once by the means of superstition ruin the power of religion. A conviction men had that they must think much of Jesus Christ, and that this would make them conformable unto him ; but having no real evangelical faith, nor the wisdom of faith to exercise it in their thoughts and affections in a due manner, nor understanding what it was to be truly like unto him, they gave up themselves unto
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many foolish inventions and imaginations, by which they thought to express their love and conformity unto him. They would have images of him, which they would embrace, adore, and bedew with their tears. They would have cruci- fixes, as they called them, which they would carry about them, and wear next unto their hearts, as if they resolved to lodge Christ always in their bosoms. They would go in pil- grimage to the place where he died and rose again, through a thousand dangers ; and purchase a feigned chip of a tree whereon he suffered, at the price of all they had in the world. They would endeavour, by long thoughtfulness, fastings, and watchings, to cast their souls into raptures and ecstasies, wherein they fancied themselves in his presence. They came at last to make themselves like him, in getting impressions of wounds, on their sides, their hands and feet. Unto all these things and sundry others of a like nature and tendency, did superstition abuse, and corrupt the minds of men, from a pretence of a principle of truth ; for there is no more cer- tain gospel truth than this, that believers ought continually to contemplate on Christ, by the actings of faith in their thoughts and affections ; and that thereby they are changed and transformed 'into his image;' 2 Cor. iii. 18. And we are not to forego our duty, because other men have been mistaken in theirs ; nor part with practical fundamental principles of religion, because they have been abused by su- perstition. But we may see herein, how dangerous it is to depart in any thing from the conduct of Scripture light and rule, when for want thereof the best and most noble endea- vours of the minds of men, even to love Christ and to be like unto him, do issue in provocations of the highest nature.