The Blessedness of the Righteous, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Fourth Inference. That the Soul in which such a change is wrought, restlesly pursues it till it be attain'd. Fifth Inference. That the knowing of God, and conformity to him, are satisfying things, and do now in a degree satisfie according to the measure wherein they are attained. Sixth Inference. That the love of God towards his people is great, that hath designed for them so great, and even a satisfying good.
4. 'TIs further to be inferr'd, that a soul wherein such a change is wrought, pursues this blessedness with restless supreme desire, till it attain to the fulness thereof. We have here a plainly-implyed description of the posture and tendencies of such a soul (even of a sanctified, holy Soul; which had therefore undergone this blessed change) towards this state of blessedness. I shall (saith he) be satisfied with thy likeness, q. d. I cannot be satisfied otherwise. We have seen how great a change is necessary to dispose the Soul to this blessedness, which being once wrought, nothing else can now satisfie it. Such a thing is this blessedness (I speak now of so much of it as is previous, and conducing to satisfaction, or of blessedness materially considered, the Divine Glory to be beheld, and participated.) 'Tis of that nature it makes the Soul restless, it lets it not be quiet, after it hath got some apprehension of it, till it attain the full enjoyment. The whole life of such a one, is a continual seeking Gods face. So attractive is this glory of a subject rightly disposed to it. While others crave Corn and Wine, this is the summe of the holy Souls desires,Psal. 4. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance, &c. The same thing is the object of its present desires that shall be of its eternal satisfaction and enjoyment. Psal. 27.This is now its one thing, the request insisted on, to behold the beauty of the Lord, &c. and while in any measure it doth so, yet 'tis still looking for this blessed hope, still hoping to be like him, see him as he is; the expectation of satisfaction in this state implies the restless working of desire till then, for what is this satisfaction, but the fulfilling of our desires; the perfecting of the souls motions, in a complacential rest. Motion, and rest do exactly correspond each to other. Nothing can naturally rest in any place, to which it was not before naturally inclin'd to move; and the rest is proportionably more compos'd, and steady, according as the motion was stronger, and more vigorous. By how much the heavier any body is, so much the stronger and less resistible is its motion downward, and then accordingly, it is less moveable, when it hath attained its resting place. 'Tis therefore a vanity, and contradiction to speak of the Souls being satisfied, in that which it was not before desirous of*Aptitudinally (I mean) and Exhypothesi, i. e. supposing the knowledge of the object: Otherwise, as to actual explicite desires God doth give us beyond what we can ask or think. But 'tis impossible the soul should rest satisfied in that which upon knowledge it is undesi…ous of, and d…th, or would reject.. And that state which it shall ultimately and eternally acquiesse in (with a rest that must therefore be understood to be most composed and sedate) towards it must it needs move with the strongest and most unsatisfied desire, a desire that is supreme, prevalent, and triumphant over all other desires, and over all obstructions to it self, least capable of diversion, or of pitching upon any thing short of the terme aimed at. Ask therefore the holy Soul, What is thy Supreme desire? and so far as it understands it self, it must answer; to see, and partake the divine glory; to behold the blessed face of God; till his likeness be transfused through all my powers, and his entire image be perfectly formed in me; present to my view what else you will, I can be satisfied in nothing else but this.
Therefore this leaves a black note upon those wretched souls, that are wholly strangers to such desires; that would be better satisfied to dwell always in dust; that shun the blessed face of God as Hell it self; and to whom the most despicable vanity is a more desirable sight, then that of divine glory. Miserable souls! consider your state, can that be your blessedness which you desire not? or do you think God will receive any into his blessed presence, to whom it shall be a burden? methinks, upon the reading of this, you should presently doom your selves, and see your sentence written in your breasts, compare your hearts with his holy mans: See if there be any thing like this, in the temper of your Spirits; and never think well of your selves till you find it so.
5. The knowledge of God, Inference.and conformity to him, are, in their own nature, apt to satisfie the desires of the soul, and even no… actually do so, in the measure wherein they are attained. Some things are not of a satisfying nature; there is nothing tending to satisfaction in them. And then the continual heaping together of such things, doth no more towards satisfaction, then the accumulating of Mathematical Points would towards the compacting of a solid body; or the multiplication of Ciphers only to the making of a summe. But what shall one day, satisfi, hath in it self a Power, and aptitude thereto. The act (when ever it is) supposes the power. Therefore the hungry craving soul, that would sain be h…ppy, but knows not how; needs not spend its dayes in making uncertain guesses, and fruitless attempts, and trials. It ma… … …ts hovering thoughts, and upon af… … given, say I have now found at … satisfaction may be had; and have … this to do; to bend all my powers hither, and intend this one thing, the possessing my self of this blessed rest; earnestly to in…e …, and patiently to wait for it.
Happy discovery! welcome tidings! I now know which wa… to turn my eye, and direct my pursuit. I shall no longer spend my …if in dubious toilsome wandrings, in anxious, va…n inquiries. I have found▪ I have found! blessedness is here. If I can but get a lively, efficacious sight of God, I have enough—Shew me the Father, and it suffices.
Let the weary wandring soul bethink it self, and retire to God; he will not mock thee with shadows, as the world hath done. This is eternal life to know him the onelyonly true God, and Jes… Christ whom he hath sent. A part, from Christ thou canst not know, nor see him, with fruit and comfort, but the Gospel revelation (which is the Revelation of God in Christ) gives thee a lovely prospect of him. His Glory shines in the face of Jesus Christ, and when, by beholding it, thou art changed into the same likeness, and findest thy self gradually changing more and more, from glory to glory, thou wilt find thy self accordingly in a gradual tendency towards satisfaction, and blessedness. That is, do but seriously set thy self to study, and contemplate the Being, and Attributes of God; and then look upon him, as, through the Mediatour, he is willing to be reconcil'd to thee, and become thy God; and so long let thine eye fix, and dwell here, till it affect thy heart; and the proper impress of the Gospel be by the Spirit of the Lord instamp't upon it; till thou find thy self wrought to a compliance with his holy will, and his image formed in thee; and thou hast soon experience thou art entring into his est; and wilt relish a more satisfying … in this blessed change; then all thy … sensual injoyments, did ever afford thee before.
Surely, if the perfect vision, and perception of his glorious likeness will yield a compleat satisfaction at last; the initial, and progressive tendencies towards the former, will, proportionably, infer the latter.
'Tis obvious hence, to collect who are in this world (ordinarly and, caeteris paribus, where more unusual violent temptations hinder not) the most satisfied, and contented persons; even those that have most of the clarifying sights of God, and that thence partake most of his image (indeed Scripture only vouchsafes the name to such sights of God, he that doth evil hath not seen God) Such as have most of a godly frame wrought into their spirits, 1 Joh. 3. 6.and that have hearts most attempered,3 Joh 11. and conformed to God.1 Tim. 6. 6. These are the most contented persons in the world. Content is part of the gain that attends godliness; it concurring, renders the other a great gain. [—godliness with contentment] the form of expression discovers how connatural contentment is to godliness; as if they were not to be mentioned apart. Godliness, as if he had said, is a very gainful thing, but if you would comprehend the gainfulness of it fully, do not abstract too curiously, take in with it, that which is of so near an alliance, that you will hardly know how to consider them apart; let its inseparable adjunct contentment, go along with it; and you will find it againful thing indeed.
The true knowledge of God so directly tends to holiness, and that to contentation, that it may be too evidently concluded, that a discontented person, hath little of the one or the other, not much knowledge, and less grace; he is so far from being like God, that in the Apostles language above we may say, he hath not seen him. Doth that person know God, or hath ever seen him, that falls not into the dust, admiring so glorious a Majesty? that subjects not himself to him, with Loyal affections, accounting it his only grand concernment to please, and serve him? But the discontented person takes upon him, as if he were God alone, and as if he expected every creature to do him homage, and thought the creation were made for the pleasure and service of none but him. Hath that person ever seen God, that acknowledges him not a sufficient portion? a full, all-comprehending good. Hath he seen him, that sees not reason to trust him; to commit all his concernments to him. Hath he seen him that loves him not, and delights not in his love? Hath he seen him that quits not all for him, and abandons not every private interest to espouse his; and how evidently do these things tend to quiet and compose the soul? Discontent proceeds from idolizing thoughts of our selves; 'tis rooted in self-conceit, in self-dependence, self-love, self-seeking, all which despicable Idols (or that one great Idol, Self, thus variously served, and Idolized) one sight of the Divine Glory would confound and bring to nothing. The sights of God melt the heart, break it under a sense of sin, and hence compose it to a meek, peaceful humility; but the discontented spirit is an unbroken, proud, imperious spirit. The sights of God purifie the soul, refine it from the dross of this vile world, make it daily aspire to a conformity unto the pure and Spiritual nature of God. But a discontented spirit, is a sensual, terrene spirit (for what, but such objects are the usual matter of most mens discontents?) taking sensuality in its just latitude, 'tis a low, D…nghil spirit; fit for nothing but to rake, and scrabble in the dirt.
I insist upon this apprehending (what deserves more lamentation then it hath observation) that too many annex a profession of eminent godliness, and spirituality into an indulged, querulous, impatient temper of spirit, joyn a splendid appearance of piety to an unreformed perverse frowardness (which agree as well as a Jewel of Gold to a Swines …nout) nothing pleases them; their mercies are not worth the acknowledging; their afflictions intolerable, not to be born. They fall out and quarrel with all occurrences, actions, events; neither Man, nor God, doth any thing good in their sight. The world is not well govern'd, nothing falls out well as to themselves. What can possibly be thought on more repugnant to the knowledge of God. The g…and design, of all Religion, and the very Spirit of the Gospel; than this temper? which way do these tend and aime but to lead souls to blessedness; to bring them into a peaceful happy satisfied state and frame? and must we, because that end cannot be attained here, therefore go the quite contrary way? or pretend we are going to heaven with our backs turned upon it? Sure the discoveries God now makes of himself to us, and by which he impresses his likeness upon his own; though they ultimately design our satisfaction and blessedness in heaven; as intermediate there unto, they aime at the bringing us into an Heaven upon Earth, to form us unto a life agreeable, and hath analogie with that of heaven; unto which nothing is more analogous in our prepresent state then that peace, and serenity which result from Divine Knowledge, and holiness: nothing more inconsistent, then a peevish, fretful, turbulent Spirit. The one is a participation of a bright, and mild light from heaven; the other of a dark, and raging fire from Hell? 'Tis onelyonly Gods face, his glorious likeness reflected on our souls, that shall satisfie hereafter, and make heaven, heaven. He doth not now wholly conceal himself from us, nor altogether hide his face. The shining of the same face (in what degree he now vouchsafes them) will make this Earth an Heaven too. One glance towards him may transmit a lively, pleasant lustre upon our spirits (They looked to him and were lightned. Psal. 34. …) And we live in the expectation of clearer, and more impressive, eternal visions. It will become us to express a present satisfiedness, proportionable to our present sights, and expectations; and to endeavour daily to see more, and to be more like God, that we may be daily more and more satisfied. While me cannot yet attain to be making gradual approaches towards that blessed state. By how much any have more of the vision and likeness of God in their present state: so much they approach nearer unto satisfaction.
6. We infer; The love of God to his people is great, which hath designed for them so great, and even a satisfying good. We cannot overlook the occasion this Doctrine gives us, to consider, and contemplate a while the love of God. I… this shall be the blessedness of his Saints, 'tis a great love that shall be the Spring and source of it.
Two things, here before our eyes, discover the greatness of this love. That it designes satisfact on to the persons meant; and that they shall be satisfied with the Divine vision and likeness.
1. It designs their s…tisfacti…n. This is as far as love can go. 'Tis love to the uttermost: I… doth not satisfie itself, till it satisfie them. 'Tis love to spare an enemy, to relieve a stranger; but to satisfie for ever, them that were both; this s…e exceeds all the wonted measures of love. Much love is shewn in the forgiveness of sin, in the s…pply of necessities, but herein (as the Apostle speaks in another case) is the love of God perfected (as to its exercise) it hath now perfectly attained its end; when it hath not left so much as a craving desire, not a wish unsatisfied; the soul cannot say, I wish it were better; O th…t I h…d …ut this one thing more to … my h…ppi…ss. It hath neither pretence, nor inclination to think such a thought. Divine Love is now at rest; It was travailing (big with gracious designs) before it hath now delivered it self. It would rather create new heavens every moment, then not satisfie: but it hath now done it to the full, the utmost capacity of the soul is filled up; it can be no happier then it is. This is loves triumph over all the miseries, wants, and desires, of a languishing soul. The appropriate, peculiar glory of D…v…ne love. If all the excellencies of their whole creation besides, were contracted into one glorious creature, it would never be capable of this boast; I have satisfied one soul. The love of God leaves none unsatisfied, but the proud despisers of it. Now is the eternal Sabbath of love. Now it enters into rest, having finish't all its works, it views them over now with delight, for …o, they are all Good. its works of Pardon, of Justification, and Adoption. Its works of Regeneration, of Conversion, and Sanctification; its establishing, quickning, comforting works; they are all good, good in themselves, and in this their end; the satisfaction and repos… of blessed souls. Now divine love puts on the Crown, ascends the Throne, and the many Miriads of glorified Spirits fall down about it, and adore. All professe to owe to it the satisfying pleasures they all injoy. Who can consider the unspeakable satisfaction of those blessed Spirits, and not also reflect upon this exalted greatness of divine love!
2. 'Tis again great love, if we consider wherewith they shall be satisfied. The sight, and participation of the Divine glory, his face, his likeness, his represented and impressed glory. There may be great love that never undertakes, nor studies to satisfie all the desires of the persons we cast our love upon; especially where nothing will satisfie but high, and great matters. The love of God knows no difficulties; nor can be overset. The greater the performance, or vouchsafement; the more suitable to Divine Love. It hath resolved to give the soul a plenary satisfaction, perfectly to content all its desires; and …nce nothing else can do it, but an eternal beholding of the glorious face of the Divine Majesty, and a transformation into his own likeness; that shall not be with-held. Yea it hath created, refined, inlarged its capacity on purpose, that it might be satisfied with nothing less. Great love may sometimes be signified by a glance; the offered view of a willing face. Thus our Lord Jesus invites his Church to discover her own love, and answer his, Let me see thy face, &c. Cant. …. 14. Love is not more becomingly exprest, or gratified then by mutual looks, [ubi amor, … oculus] How great is that love that purposely layes aside the vail; that never turns away its own, nor permits the aversion of the beholders eye, throughout eternity. Now we see in a glass; then face, to face; as if never weary of beholding on either part, but on that part the condiscention lies, is the transcendent, admirable love. That a generous, beneficent (the other till it be satisfied here) a craving indigent love. And how inexpressible a condiscension is this? poor wretches! many of whom, possibly, were once so low, that a strutting Grandee, would have thought himself affronted by their look; and have met with threatning rebukes their overdaring venturous eye; lo now they are permitted (to stand before Princes? that's a mean thing) to feed their eyes with D…vine glory, to view the face of God. He sets them before his face for ever.
And that eternal vision begets in them an eternal likeness, they behold and partake glory at once, that their joy may be full. They behold not a glorious God, with deformed souls; that would render them a perpetual abomination, and torment to themselves. Love cannot permit that Heaven should be their affliction; that they should have cause to loath and be weary of themselves in that presence. It satisfies them by cloathing, and filling them with glory; by making them partake of the Divine likeness, as well as behold it. 'Tis reckon'd a great expression of a complying love, but to give a Picture; when the parties loved only permit themselves to view in a mute representation, a vicarious face. This is much more, a vital image (as before) Gods one living likeness propagated in the soul, the inchoation of it (is called the Divine Nature, the seed of God; what amazing love is this, of the great God to a worm? not to give over till he have assimilated it to his own glory; till it appear as a ray of light begotten of the Father of Lights.1 Joh. 2. ult. Chap. 3. 1. Every one▪ saith the Apostle, that doth righteousness, is …orn of him and then it follows; Behold, what manner of love—to be …he sons of God; to be lik… him, to see him as he is, &c. How great a word is that (spoken in reference to our present state)—to make us partakers of [his] holiness. H…b. 12.And (as well it might) 'tis instanc't as an effect, and arg…ment of love (for sure chastening it self abstracted from that end of it, doth not import love.) Wh…m the Lord loveth, he chesteneth—and then by and by, in the same series and line of discourse is added-to make n… partakers of his his holiness. Love always either supposes similitude, or intends it, and is sufficiently argued by it either way. And sure the love of God cannot be more directly expressed, then in his first intending to make a poor soul like him, while he loves it with compassion; and then imprinting and perfecting that likeness, that he may love it with eternal delight: Love is here the first and the last, the beginning and end in all this business.