The Childs Portion, Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

The Childs Portion · Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

p. 983. When the great judgement is ſet, theſe ſhall be placed on the right hand of Chriſt, Mat. 25. 23. He ſhall ſet the ſheep on his right hand: which is ſpoken after the manner of Men, intimating the honour and dignity which ſhall be conferred upon them; and this ſhall be moſt conſpicuous, Rev. 1. 7. Every eye ſhall ſee him: and if him then them that are ſo placed: they ſhall then appear to be his Favourites and Friends, to be ſuch in whom he takes delight to make them honourable and happy.

4. In the proceſs of the great judgement they ſhall be openly cleared and acquitted from all thoſe falſe imputations of Hypocriſie and iniquities, p. 99which here were caſt upon them, & their ſincerity ſhall be made manifeſt, and now it ſhal be known that they were not ſuch fools as the World judged them to have been, that they were not the troublers of Iſrael, as they were cenſured to be; it ſhall by this appear that they had a God whom their Enemies thought to have had none: they ſhal ſtand in the judgement, and no accuſation ſhall prevail againſt them, nor any be to condemn them, Rom, 8. 33.

5. There ſhall be an happy Sentence paſt upon them, adjudging of them to a Kingdome and Crown and Glory, Mat. 25. 34. Come ye bleſſed, inherit the Kingdome: and when this com…s to paſs, it ſhal make amends for all their ſufferings and ſor…ows which here they underwent for Chriſt: when he ſhal declare them bleſſed, and bid them to come with him, and be where he is in his Kingdome, that prepared Kingdom, that Kingdom which is filled with all Glories, and all the World ſhall hear this Sentence pronounced, then ſhall they appear to be happy men, whiles thoſe ſtanding on the Left hand, are tremblingly waiting to hear a contrary doom.

6. They ſhall have that honour conferred upon them to be aſſeſſors with Chriſt, and to judge the World, 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3. Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judge the World! after what manner this ſhall be, is not for us to determine; Chriſt is the great Judge: their lives, when they p. 100were upon Earth, did condemn a ſinful Generation, Heb. 11. 7. and theſe may be alledged there: and they ſhall certainly aſſent to, and acquieſs and rejoyce in the righteous Judgment which Chriſt ſhall paſs upon his Enemies; and ſhall in a royal equipage ſit and attend, as ſo many Judges, until that great affair ſhall be finiſhed.

7. When the great work of the laſt Judgement is over, they ſhall all return with Chriſt to Heaven: when that great Court ſhall break up, the Judge (with his retinue) ſhall go again to his own place, where they ſhall appear happy indeed: now ſhall the ungodly World ſee theſe Darlings of Chriſt, and beloved of his Father, to be carried away into everlaſting joyes, to be taken nearer to Chriſt than Angels themſelves; who ſhall no ſooner be gone, but they ſhall leave the other in endleſs Torments with Devils and damned Spirits; where, when they come home to their Kingdom, and▪ every child of God is placed upon his own Throne, and the Man Chriſt himſelf,) having reſigned up his Mediatorial Kingdom into the hands of his Father) ſhall ſolace himſelf with theirs, and them with his company for ever, recreating and ſporting themſelves each in the other; when Eternity ſhal be filled with freſh joyes and delights, new and raviſhing continually; when they ſhal ever be with the Lord, and there ſhal be no tediouſneſs p. 101in thoſe perfect pleaſures, but the Soul ſhall be alwayes ſatisfied in them: now ſhall it appear what it is to be a Son of God. But what are thoſe happy entertainments of that place, none but one that hath been in the third Heaven can know; and did he know, he could not utter, or if he could utter, we could not conceive no… credit: but ſuch things there ſhall be, and then they ſhall be known fully to them that enjoy them, and to the wicked they ſhall appear ſufficiently fo… their conviction and confuſion.

3. Why this diſcovery is reſerved till then?

Anſ. The timing of all divine diſpenſations depends on the Soveraign good pleaſure of God; but yet there ſeem to be …ivers good reaſons why this making of them to appear ſhould be allotted to that time.

1. It is the time when Chriſt himſelf is to appear; and it is fit that the redeemed ſhould wait for the diſcovery of their glory, till he that redeemed them cometh in his: beſides, their appearing depends upon his: till the World be made to know that he is both Lord and Chriſt, they cannot acknowledge that Believers in him are the Children of God and Heirs of Glory: and if Chriſt be willing to tarry till then for his manifeſtation, his People then have no reaſon to murmure, or to think the time of their clearing long.

2. There are many Elect who are choſen to p. 102be Sons, that muſt be brought in, and ſuffer many things for Chriſt in fulfilling their teſtimony, and there will be till that time a gathering in of ſuch, and it is the holy pleaſure of God that they that are gone before ſhould wait, that there may be a full and univerſal diſcovery made of them all at once, Rev. 6. 9, 10, 11. if they ſhould appear ſooner, the World would be afraid to do to them as is appointed.

3. The Day of Judgement is the fitteſt time for this: it is a day appointed for the ſetting of things to rights, to clear up all falſe Judgements and Miſtakes which there were here: it is a Day wherein the preſence of all the Creation ſhall be to look on, Heaven and Hell being for the while emptied of all their Inhabitants to come to this meeting and general Aſſembly; ſo that it will be the greateſt Glory, and moſt pompous appearance, when a Child of God on ſuch a day, and in ſuch a preſence, ſhall be openly owned and rewarded; when he ſhall be ſet to view in all his glorious ſtate, and the proclamation ſhall be audibly heard from one end of Heaven to another; ſaying, Behold a Son of God, and ſo ſhall it be done to one whom the King of glory delights to honour.

VSE I. For Information; learn we hence,

1. That this Truth may ſatisfie us in the great reaſon why the People of God are not now known, nor eſteemed by the World; it is becauſe p. 103the time of their manifeſtation is not yet come: we are often ready to think in our ſelves, if we are his Children, why doth he ſuffer us ſo little to be taken notice of, and ſo much contemned? and are hence prone to judge and cenſure his Providence in this reſpect: whereas it is his Wiſdom and good pleaſure that it ſhould be ſo: Chriſt had his mean and obſcure ſtate upon Earth, and ſo muſt his followers: if we would be like him in glory, we muſt be conformable to him in obſcurity: God hath his appointed ſeaſons; Men do not as yet know God nor Chriſt, how then ſhould they know his Children? but they ſhall know him, they ſhall ſee him and be aſtoniſhed at him; and they ſhall ſee and know his People, and it is our duty to think Gods time the beſt.

2. How miſerably miſtaken ſhall the Saints Perſecutors ere long find themſelves to have been, about the Children of God, whom they perſecuted? they think if they can but get the People of God under ground, if they can but ſee an end of them in this World, there is then an end for ever, and now they can triumph over them, and promiſe themſelves henceforward never to be troubled with them any more; they have their wills and hearts deſires, and are apt to boaſt over them, and ſay, where are now your great confidences, your faith, your hope? what is become of all your Prayers, and reſolute p. 104patient ſufferings in expectation of a deſired end? methinks, I ſee what bluſhing, what confuſion of face, what diſmal conſternation theſe poor cheated wretches are filled withal, when, as ſoon as they look out of their Graves in the morning of the Reſurrection, one of the firſt ſights that accoſts them is, thoſe very Saints whom they oppreſſed, perſecuted, ſlew, and hoped they had periſhed for ever, appearing before them in higheſt ſtate and glory, ſhining in robes of Majeſty, and bleſſed in the company of Jeſus, coming to ſee the fearful judgement executed upon their proud Enemies: and it will be no little aggravation of their miſery, to ſee thoſe whom they deſpiſed, contemned and hated, made thus happy, when they themſelves are for ever miſerable, and when that ſhall be verified concerning them, Pſal. 49. 14. The upright ſhall have dominion over them in the morning: then ſhall they confeſs, how fooliſh they had been ſo to deſpiſe and abuſe thoſe honourable and precious ones.

3. The Children of God ought not to value themſelves according to what they are at preſent but what they ſhall be at Chriſts▪ appearing. If the preſent viſible condition of the Saints were the only rule of judging themſelves by, they might reckon themſelves among the moſt unhappy of mankind; and hence when their judgments have been byaſſed that way, and they p. 105have looked with a carnal eye upon themſelves, which is bounded on things preſent, they have been ready to be envious at the wicked and fooliſh men: but if they could ever keep an eye firmly fixt upon the day of revelation, and contemplate what is providing for them againſt that day; could they but fetch up the evidence of thoſe unſeen things, and feed their hearts with ſuch thoughts, they would ſoon turn their envy into ſco…n, at leaſt pity; and confeſs their former thoughts to have been ignorant, fooliſh, bruitiſh.

USE. II. For Exhortation to the Children of God: the great Leſſon which the Doctrine teacheth you is to live by Faith. all a Believers Conſolation is laid up in the promiſe, and muſt be thence extracted by Faith: when Paul would ſtrengthen the hearts of his Corinthians with the thoughts of their future Glory, he inſerts this neceſſary parentheſis, 2 Cor. 5. 7. For we live by Faith, not by ſight. The Saints Life of Glory is an hidden Life at preſent, Col. 3. 3. Your Life is hid with Chriſt in God. It is hid from the ſight of the World, and hid from their own ſence, but Faith is the evidence of things not ſeen, Faith muſt carry us as far as the great judgement, that day of Chriſts appearance, and thence we muſt gather our comforts, and preſent ſupports: and there are three things eſpecially unto which we ſhould exerciſe our Faith p. 106upon this conſideration. Viz.

1, To a patient bearing of all the afflictions and troubles of the preſent time: troubles and afflictions are unwelcome Ghueſts to the mind of Man, nature is averſe to them, and if grace doth not afford ſomething to ſweeten them, they will be hard to bear: and there cannot be a greater cordial againſt theſe Faintings, then a due application of the conſideration of that happy day wherein the glory of the Children of God ſhall be made manifeſt: this hope will put life into the Soul, Rom. 8. 24. For we live by hope: the thoughts of this day were thoſe which did put courage into Chriſtians in their greateſt adverſities, and made them valiant in ſuffering for God and Chriſt, yea to contemn and deſpiſe thoſe ſufferings, and ſpeak of them as poor things, and ſcarce to be valued: ſee what Paul thinks of them, Rom. 8. 18. Not worthy to be compared with the Glory to be revealed, and 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment. How David contents himſelf in ſuch a meditation, Pſal. 17. ult. I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake, with thy likeneſs. And Aſaph, Pſal, 73. 24. when a Child of God ſits down and thinks with himſelf thus, I that now ſuffer for Chriſt, ſhall Reign with him ere long; I that now am judged and condemned by the World, ſhall ſhortly at Chriſts Bar be approved and acquitted; that for which now ſhame▪ and reproach is caſt p. 107upon me, ſhall then be my glory: what though I am now in heavineſs, through manifold temptations, am deſpiſed, diſgraced, trampled upon, and made a mock and laughter for a wicked World? when Chriſt ſhall appear, then I ſhall be honoured, approved, arra…ed in ſtate, and crowned with Glory; and they that now deſpiſe me ſhall ſee it; they that will not now believe, shall then know that my reward was with God: how can he ch…ſe but find his heart quieted, and the tumults thereof appeaſed with ſuch thoughts as theſe? yea quietly to ſuffer all things for Chriſt, in theſe hopes of Glory?

2. To a chearful willingneſs to tarry and wait till Chriſt shall appear for the manifeſtation of our happineſs: be we content to live obſcurely, and die obſcurely, and be forgotten for a while: this should ſatisfie our mind: when we are ready to think it long, to remember and conſider, that Chriſt defers our appearance no longer than he doth his own; that as ſoon as he shall appear we shall appear with him: and is it not enough that the Diſciple be as his Maſter? nay, will it not be the beſt time for us to appear with him? he is the Lord of Glory, and when he comes he brings his reward with him: and withal remember it is but a short time, yet a little while and he will come, and he will not tarry: and further ſatisfie your ſelves with this, that your Brethren muſt appear with you, even the p. 108whole number of the redeemed, ſome whereof are yet unborn, and you have reaſon to wait for them: Finally ponder, that great shews require great preparations: Chriſt is now about the buſineſs, he is not idle, but making all ready for his coming: and he that believeth, maketh not haſt.

3. To love his appearing, and to look for it. It is true, Chriſts appearing will be dreadful to the wicked, who are his Enemies: for he comes to judge the World in righteouſneſs; and give recompence unto every man according to his doings; hence they may well cry to the rocks to fall on them, and hills to cover them, that they may not ſee his angry countenance, nor feel the weight of his revenging hand: but to the Saints it ſhould be lovely. It is indeed a ſolemn and ſerious thing for any to think, I muſt ſtand before the dreadful Tribunal, and be tried for my eternal eſtate before him who is a moſt righteous Judge, who ſearcheth the heart, and cannot be deceived; where I muſt receive my final Sentence, which will be inreverſible; and if I then be found to have put a cheat upon my own Soul, I muſt periſh for ever: but to him that is a Child of God, and hath received the ſpirit of Adoption, there cannot be a more comforting thought than this: Hence the Apoſtle propounds it to his Theſſalonians, as a great Topick, from whence to comfort one another▪ p. 1091 Theſſ. 4, ult. That which would make a Felix tremble, ſhould make a Saint leap for joy: to think ere long the laſt Trumpet will be ſounded by the Arch-Angel, Jeſus Chriſt will come from Heaven attended with a royal Guard of▪ Angels, the dead ſmall and great will ariſe, the Thron…s will be ſet, the Books opened: this is the day which I have loved and longed for; now ſhall I appear ſuch as the love of God in Chriſt hath made me to be; now shall mine Enemies ſee and be ashamed, gnash their teeth and melt away; now they shall know that I had a God and a Saviour, and an hope that makes not ashamed: this ſecond coming of Chriſt shall be to my Salvation: if he do not appear I shall never appear: And hence, when we hear him ſaying, Behold I come quickly, let not us be affrighted but ravished, and utter that expreſſion of Faith and Joy, Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus.

We ſhall be like him.

It follows now that we conſider the general nature of the happineſs of the Sons of God, or the diſcovery which we have of it in this life, We ſhall be like him: There is enough revealed about our future eſtate to relieve our Faith, though not to ſatisfie our curioſity: our Apoſtle would not have Believers to be diſcouraged, becauſe they have not a full diſcovery of what p. 110they shall be in another World, but to reſt content with this general diſcovery which is made; and though they cannot meaſure it in all its dimenſions, yet to take up with this thought, as having plentiful conſolation in it. The Words indeed are but few, but they are full; and though our glory be shadowed to us by another, which is equally obſcure and unknown to us as our own, yet from this very darkneſs there reflects abundant Light of comfort: and be it ſo that we know nothing at all diſtinctly of the Glory which Chriſt is now poſſeſſed of, yet there is conſolation enough to be pickt out of this very conſideration, that we ſhall be like him.

The Words ſet forth the after ſtate of felicity which the Saints or Children of God shall attain unto, by a ſimilitude or pattern, where we have;

1. The pattern it ſelf, Him, who this is, is not particularly expreſt, there being (as I formerly noted) an Ellypſis in the Words: ſome referr it to God, mentioned in the beginning of the verſe whoſe Sons we are ſaid to be, and it is proper for the Sons to be like the Father: others, and more appoſitely, apply it to Chriſt; for it is he that shall appear in glory, and Paul applies it to him in the forementioned parallel place, Col. 3. 4. and this is certain, that the Glory to which the Man Chriſt is exalted, is the proto type of that Glory to which the Saints are appointed, Joh. 17. 22. p. 111The Glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them.

2. The reſemblance which the Children of God shall have to his Glory: we ſhall be like him: among ſuch comparates between which there is a conſentanety, there is a double reference: For, ſome things agree in quantity, others in quality: between things agreeing in quantity there is a parity or equality, one is neither bigger nor leſs than the other; and this is not here to be underſtood: out of doubt the Man Chriſt ſhall enjoy a degree of Glory above all his Saints; this Head of the Church ſhall wear a Crown more weighty than any of his Members; this Son of righteouſneſs (as he is called … ſhine with more orient brightneſs tha… thoſe fixed Stars; this firſt born among many brethren, ſhall have a double portion of Glory in that Glorious Inheritance; but then, between things agreeing in quality, there is a ſimilitude, which is conſiſtent with imparity; things may be unequal, and yet not unlike: leſſer things may agree with greater by way of ſimilitude, though they differ in proportion: ſo the Poet, Parva que cum magnis componere ſaepe ſolebam. For this conſiſts in a near reſemblance there is of qualities between one and another, and this is it our Apoſtle here points at.

Hence, p. 112Doct. It is a ſoul-ſatisfying thought to the Children of God in their preſent, low and deſpiſed condition, to conſider that in the day of Chriſts glorious appearance they ſhall be like him.

This is the comfort which John applies to them now, when the World hates them, and they walk under a diſguiſe, and what their after eſtate ſhall be, neither appears to themſelves, nor to the World; yet he would have them take up with this, and reſt contented, yea delighted in the meditation of it. It is, q. d. let not your thoughts trouble you, be not over ſollicitouſly inquiſitive after the ſecrets of God, and the particularities of your ſtate and glory; but take this for a repaſt, and let it ſtay your ſtomachs till you come to ſit down at the great Feaſt, you ſhall be like him.

In the Explication of this Poſition. we have to conſider; 1. Wherein this likeneſs unto Chriſt conſiſts? 2. How it appears that we ſhall then be like him? 3. What ground of ſatisfaction ariſeth from hence?

1. Wherein this likeneſs conſiſts?

Anſ. 1. There is an incommunicable Glory which Chriſt as God poſſeſſeth, who is God bleſſed for evermore: He is one in eſſence with his Father, He is full poſſeſſor of all the Divine Atributes and Perfections; He is the Object of p. 113of Divine adoration, and all the Angels of God do worſhip him. In this Glory we ought not to expect to be like him; it would be vain preſumption and higheſt Arrogancy in any of the Children of Men to feed themſelves with any ſuch expectation.

2. There is a Relative incommunicable Glory which the humane Nature of Chriſt by vertue of perſonal union with the Son of God is advanced unto, in conſideration of which Union the Man Chriſt is truly God, or a Divine Perſon; and in this we ſhall not be like him; there is indeed a Myſtical and Spiritual Union between Chriſt and Believers whereby they are one, he being the Political Head of the Body, the Church and ruling of it, not by Authority only, but by influence too, his Spirit being ſent forth into their hearts: But this is of a far divers nature from that Union which is between the two natures in Chriſt: The People of God are not to expect to be as nearly related unto the Son of God, as his own particular humanity is.

3. There is a communicable Glory which Chriſt in his humane nature, as he is the head of the Church, and their repreſentative or ſurety, is advanced unto; wherein, though he perſonally hath the preheminence, as Col. 1. 18. That in all things he might have the preheminence. Yet all his Children do ſhare in a Glorious Conſimilitude; p. 114and, though not in like meaſure yet in like manner they are ſharers with him. … is not to be expected that I ſhould give a full account of this, what it is, for if ſo, then it woul… appear what we ſhall be, which our Apoſtle d… nyes; but through the Glaſs of the Scripture we may make a dark diſcovery of it; and the… are two things in which this likneſs to Chri… doth conſiſt. 1. That ſtate of perfection which the whole man ſhall be advanced unto. 2. Th… additional Glory which ſhall be conferred o… them in that ſtate.

1. That ſtate of perfection which the whol… Man ſhall be advanced unto: We labour unde… manifold imperfections in this life, ſuch as make our preſent happineſs full of infeliaity▪ there can be no perfect glory without a perfect ſtate; ſuch Chriſt enjoyeth in our nature in Heaven, ſuch alſo ſhall all the Children of God be made to poſſeſs in the Kingdom; in ſumme they ſhal… be like him, both in the ſtate of Body and Soul.

1. Their bodily eſtate ſhall be like his: This Paul plainly aſſerts, Phil. 3. 21. Who ſhall … our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like to his glorious Body. The Diſciples had a glimpſe of his bodily glory in the Transfiguration, Mat. 17… begin. And, though this be the leaſt, yet it is no… contemptible part of our likneſs to Chriſt, that when the Body, being raiſed or changed, ſhal… p. 115leave behind it all thoſe imperfections, which it lay down under, or was viſited withal here: When it ſhall be cloathed with Beauty in the room of deformity; when it ſhall ſhake off all ſickneſs and pain, and enjoy perfect health and ſtrength, when this Mortal ſhall put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruptibility; when it ſhall be ſick no more, and dye no more, when it ſhall need Food and Raiment no more; when the Body ſhall be made perfectly holy, and filled with Angelical Vigour and Activity for God: When that ſhall come to paſs, 1 Cor. 15. 42, 43.

2. Their Souls ſhall be made like his, and receive all thoſe …dornings of every grace in a degree of perfection ſuitable to the ſtate of Glory. Paul gives us an intimation of ſuch a thing, 1 Cor. 13, & 10, 12. When the underſtanding ſhall be enlarged to ſee the glorious truth in its Ra…iancy, and take in the light of it without dazling, and be freed from all miſtakes, or darkneſs for ever; when the Will ſhall be unfettered and a… f…ll liberty to act with the higheſt content and fulleſt freedom upon the chiefeſt good; when the affections ſhall be carried forth with the greateſt ardour after God, and enjoying the object of their delight, cannot but be ſatisfied in it; ſo it is with Jeſus Chriſt, thus is his ſoul perfected in all its faculties.

2. The additional glory which ſhal be conferred p. 116upon them in this ſtate: Herein alſo they ſhal be like him, for they ſhal be fellow-commoners with him in this complemental Glory; they ſhal not be divided from him, but conjoyned in this felicity. They ſhal enjoy one and the ſame Heaven; that Kingdom which is prepared for him, is alſo prepared for them; as he hath a maſſie Crown of honour given him, ſo alſo ſhal they have each of them Growns ſet upon their heads, even an eternal weight of glory, Rev. 4. 4. They had on their heads Crowns of Gold. As his Father hath ſeated him upon a Royal Throne, ſo alſo are their Thrones made ready for them, and they ſhal ſit upon them there, Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me upon my Throne. As he poſſeſſeth fulneſs of joyes in his Fathers preſence, Pſal. 16. ult. ſo ſhal they in his, Pſal. 36. 8. But I do but lade the Ocean with a ſpoon▪ The one half of that Glory which Chriſt now enjoyeth is not told, nor can be underſtood by us, in the dark and cloudy Vale.

2. How it appears that we ſhal be like him?

Anſ. This truth is of Divine revelation, and muſt fetch its evidence from Scripture-Teſtimony, which, as it aſſerts the truth of it, which is reaſon enough for our Faith, ſo it gives divers grounds for it, viz.

1. His taking part with them in their infirmities, that ſo they might be ſharers with him in p. 117his Glory, Heb. 2. 14, 15. He humbled himſelf, that he might exalt them; he made his Soul an offering for ſin, that he might ſee his ſeed; he gave himſelf for them to that very end that he might make them thus glorious, Eph. 5. 26, 27. And hence, this glory is called a purchaſed poſſeſſion, Eph. 1. 14.

2. The good will of God the Father to prepare this Glory for them, and appoint them to be the heirs of it: Hence it is called the Kingdom prepared, Mat. 25. 34. And with this our Saviour encourageth his Diſciples, Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little. Flock, it is my Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. Now they are choſen in Chriſt, and hence they are to be partakers with him in his Glory, Eph. 1. 4. i. e. Chriſt was to be the procurer of that good they were choſen to.

3. The near relation which they have to Jeſus Chriſt: As he is a Son, ſo are they Sons, and he is not aſhamed to call them his Brethren: And from their ſonſhip, Paul argues their Coheirſhip, Rom. 8. 17. If Sons, then Heirs, Coheirs with Chriſt. They are the Spouſe of Chriſt, hence called the Bride, the Lambs Wife, Rev. 19… 7, 21, 9. And it is the Wives prerogative to ſhare in her Husbands Honour. They are the members of Chriſt, he is their head, now the whole man partakes in the honour which the head is adorned withal: they are Chriſt myſtical, 1 Cor. 12. 12. And therefore are not to be p. 118divided from him in his Glory.

4. The Interceſſion of Chriſt: He is in Heaven interceding with his Father for this very thing: when Chriſt was ready to depart the World, as to his bodily preſence, he gave us a ſpecimen of this interceſſion of his in that mediatorial Prayer of his, Joh. 17. In which he poſitively declares that this is one thing which he importunately and without taking of any denial pleads, verſ. 24. Father, I will that they whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am.

5. From the condition of the Covenant of Grace: For though there be nothing of merit in it, yet their is certainty, and a promiſe which cannot be made void: Now this is ingaged to thoſe that ſerve him, Joh. 12. 26. Where I am, there ſhall my ſervants be. That follow him, Mat. 19. 28. Ye that have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of Man ſhall ſit upon his Throne, ye ſhall ſit upon Thrones. That ſuffer with him, 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo reign with him.

6. Finally, Union is the ground of Communion: Hence theſe, being made one with Chriſt by the ſame ſpirit dwelling in them which dwelt in him, ſo they come to be like him in Glory.

Hence,

Our Saviour Chriſt puts them together, Joh. 17. 21, 22, 23. That they may be one in us, &c. p. 119And the Glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them, &c. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.

3. What ground of ſatisfaction ariſeth from hence?

Anſ. In ſumme, if we ſhall be like Chriſt, there needs no more to make us fully bleſſed and conſpicuouſly glorious: He cannot be ought leſs than unexpreſſibly happy in the great day of Chriſts appearance, that ſhall then be like him, for although we can at preſent no more know what Chriſt ſhall be, then we can what we ſhall be, yet the conſideration that we ſhall be like him, may afford to us theſe grounds of ſatisfaction.

1. That our happineſs ſhall countervail and more than make us amends, for all the ſorrows and ſufferings of this life. Chriſt was a Man of ſorrows with an Emphaſis, he was put to the greateſt grief, and yet he hath a full compenſation for all; his Exaltation holds a full proportion to his Humiliation, Phil. 2. 7, with 8, 9. He was deeply humbled, ſo was he highly exalted: Such was it that the very thoughts of it before hand carried him reſolutely through all that he was to meet withal, Heb. 12. 2. For the joy that was ſet before him, he endured the Croſs and deſpiſed the ſhame. And if he hath enough to anſwer his, how then muſt the People of God needs have that which will dry up their tears, and waſh off p. 120their griefs and troubles? Hence with this David comforts himſelf in mid… of ſuch thoughts as he had been labouring under, Pſal. 17. ult. I ſhall be ſatisfied, when I awake, with thy likeneſs.

2. That our happineſs ſhall be ſo diſcovered that our Enemies, and thoſe that ſcorned and ſcoffed at us here, ſhall be aſhamed and confounded at the ſight of it: It ſhal then appear not only to our ſelves, but to all the World too, that it was not, as they thought, in vain to ſerve God, and unprofitable to pray to him: Chriſt's ſecond appearance ſhal fill his Enemies with horrid con: fuſion, Rev. 1. 7. They ſcorned him here, and he was made a reproach, but then they ſhal tremble and dread, his glorious preſence ſhal drive them to ſeek ſhelter from him, of Rocks and Mountains, Rev. 6. 20, 21. And when we ſhal appear with him in Glory, then they that ſaid the Saints were unhappy men, ſhal ſee and confeſs that they are glorious: Then Men ſhal ſay, Verily there is a reward for the Righteous, Verily he is a God that Judgeth in the Earth, Pſal. 58. 11. With this thought the Church in the greateſt diſtreſs comforts herſelf, and cheks the pride of her Enemies, Mic. 7. 8, 9, 10.

3. That our happineſs ſhal be ſuch as ſhal ſerve … to expreſs the love of God to be like himſelf. Chriſt is the Son of his love, and God to … that he loved him in our nature hath p. 121made him accordingly glorious: He hath alſo loved his People in Chriſt, hence they too muſt be made to know what that love meaneth: That love with which he loves them is ſpecial love, and not common which all his Creatures are made the partakers of, and hence the fruits of it muſt be ſpecial too: It ſhal be ſuch a Glory, as ſhal deſerve to have a Proclamation made before it, and Angels and Men called to turn their eyes and look upon it, to ſee what were the everlaſting thoughts of good will which God did bear to his choſen Ones in Chriſt.

4. What can the Diſciple deſire better than to be as his Maſter? As he cannot expect to meet with-any thing better here, ſo he can hope for no better hereafter: To be with Chriſt where he is, and to be like him in the day of his appearance, is as much as the Soul can deſire, and will be found a felicity ſo great, that his moſt enlarged reaching will not be able to graſp after more.

USE, I. For Information.

1. That the thoughts of the great Day of Judgement ought to be delightful thoughts to the People of God; for this is the very day wherein being made like to him, they ſhal look like themſelves: This thought that then we ſhal be like him, may make the expectation of it very precious to us: There are many terrible conſiderations of that day, awful and amazing, which p. 122may well make the ungodly World to fall a trembling; but the conſideration of what they ſhal be then, may take off all that dread from the hearts of the Children of God: It is the very day wherein Chriſt comes with great Power and Majeſty, and all his Saints ſhal wait upon him in like Robes of Glory unto them which he ſhal be adorned withal: Could we but think of theſe things with a true diſcerning of our right and title to them, it could not but make us love to be meditating before-hand of that glorious time: Paul loves often to be ſpeaking of it.

2. Learn hence wherein true happineſs conſiſts, viz. To be like Chriſt: The World hath greatly miſtaken in its ghueſs-at the nature of true felicity; whiles ſome have placed it in pleaſures, others in profits, others in honours: Some have called the Proud happy, others the Voluptuous happy; whereas that which is the true happineſs, namely likneſs to Chriſt they, have reckoned upon as the greateſt felicity: But this diſcovers their miſtake; for, if it be ſo that when we ſhal attain the higheſt pitch of created felicity, our happineſs will receive its denomination from hence.

VIZ.

That we ſhal be like Chriſt; then certainly the more any are like Chriſt in this World, the more of true happineſs they now poſſeſs. It is p. 123true, conformity to Chriſt in this evil World, procures Men hatred and perſecution, and that makes Men (who Judge according to outward appearance) vote them miſerable; but ſtill, their inward unſeen Glory which proceeds from their conſimilitude to Jeſus Chriſt is a preponderating bleſſedneſs; and as it is it ſelf a Man's good eſtate, ſo alſo it derives thoſe ſolid joyes to the Soul of him that is ſo, that render it full of unſpeakable Glory in the midſt of the greateſt outward oppreſſion; becauſe, whiles they are thus hated and perſecuted for their conformity unto Jeſus Chriſt, The Spirit of God and of Glory reſts upon them, 1 Pet. 4. 14. Begun happineſs is founded on holineſs here, and perfected holineſs ſhal be found to be true happineſs in the Kingdom.

USE, II. For Exhortation to the Children of God: Shal we be like unto Chriſt at his appearance, and is this conſideration ſo full of Satisfaction.

Then,

1. Be we exhorted to labour in preparing for that Day, that ſo we may then be like him. There is a work to be done by the People of God in this life, in order to their glorious likneſs to Chriſt in that other: And our Apoſtle tells us what endeavours the hopes of it will excite in thoſe that are poſſeſſed of them, in the verſe following my Text: He that hath this hope, purifieth p. 124himſelf as he is pure: It is, q. d. they that expect to be like Chriſt then, will uſe means to be like him now: Holineſs is the way to happineſs, Heb. 12. 14. Chriſt firſt ſanctifieth his Church before he glorifieth it, Eph. 5. 26, 26. And we muſt labour in this Work, to get Sin mortified; Paul having put his Coloſſions in mind of that Glory which they ſhal have at Chriſt's appearance, takes argument from thence to preſs this duty, Col. 3. 4, 5. They that look for ſuch a change hereafter, are under ſtrong tyes to an heavenly converſation here, Phil. 3. 20, 21. Our Converſation is in Heaven, from whence we look for Chriſt, &c. And a like advice the Apoſtle Peter gives to them he writes unto, 2 Pet. 3. 14. Seing ye look for …ſuch things, be diligent that you may be found in him in Peace, without ſpot and blemiſh. We ſhould therefore lament that we are ſo much unlike him now; and pray to God for his Spirit to dwel powerfully in us, and to lead us effectually in his way, to purge our hearts from all impurity, and fill them with holineſs.

2. Labour we to draw conſolation and eſtabliſhment to our Souls from the forethoughts of this great benefit: there are many troubles and diſcouragements which the Children of God …t with all here in this life, and their hearts are often born down therewithal; but if we did but truly ponder, and well digeſt this conſideration p. 125of that glorious condition which we ſhal be put into at that great Day, it would lift up the hands that hang down, and ſtrengthen the feeble knees; it would make us patient in tribulation, quiet under all the affronts and diſgraces that are put upon us; willing to wait, and in the mean while not weary of well doing: could we but know in its dimenſions what it is to be like Chriſt, what an admirable felicity it muſt needs be to he aſſimilated to him in that Day, it would ſet us down with Paul's perſwaſion, Rom. 8. 18. That the ſufferings of the preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that ſhall be revealed in us. Yea, the very ghueſſes and conject…res which we may make of it affords matter of ſolid joy and triumph to the Children of God.

Pray therefore earneſtly to God for this Divine illumination; pray Pauls Prayer, Eph. 3. 16. to 20. Oh! How glorious will Chriſt appear when he comes to Judge the World! when he ſhal come in the Glory of his Father, when he ſhal be attended with an innumerable company of Angels, and in great Majeſty ſit down upon a Throne of Judgement! when Holineſs ſhal be to him for a Robe, and Righteous for a Garment! Then to be like Chriſt, holy as …e is holy, adorned with his Robes, Reſplenden… with his Glory, ſitting down upon Thrones with him, and with him Judging the World; p. 126when he ſhal declare us Heirs of his Kingdome, Children of his Father, and make us ſharers with him in the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, and it ſhal be known that he took poſſeſſion of all that Glory, not for himſelf alone, but in the name of all thoſe who had believed in him, then it ſhal be known that it was not a vain thing to ſerve him, and to ſuffer with and for him; then ſhal… our happineſs be full, perfect, eternal, when we ſhal by plentiful experience know, that to be like him, is to be everlaſtingly bleſſed in the full fruition of the moſt glorious God to all eternity.

For we ſhall ſee him a… he …s.

Theſe words are an argument which the Apoſtle brings by way of evidence to make good his former aſſertion, or prove that we ſhal be like him; under which is contained another great truth concerning the happineſs of the Children of God in another World. As for the force of the Argument, very briefly: It may at firſt bluſh ſeem to argue weakly, at leaſt obſcurly, to prove our likneſs to him, from our viſion of him; Devils and wicked Men ſhal ſee him, as Rev. 1. 7. but they will not thence be more … him: I anſwer, it is true, theſe ſhal ſee a great deal of his Glory, they ſhal ſee him coming as their Judge, but they ſhal not ſee him a… p. 127their Saviour, as the Saints ſhal: Again, they ſhal ſee him with great horror, and fly from his preſence, as Adam did in the Garden, and as they ſhal do, Rev. 6. 20, 21. Whereas the Children of God ſhal ſee him with great content and ſatisfaction. Some thinks that John argues from the cauſe, ſuppoſing that this Viſion will be a transforming Viſion, changing us into the Image or likneſs of Chriſt perfectly: others ſuppoſe him to argue from the part to the whole; the Doctrine of the Beatifical viſion being a received Doctrine in the Church, as being the perfect felicity of the underſtanding.

Hence,

He argues for our whole perfection, for if in one part o… faculty we ſhal be perfected, by conſequence all our whole man ſhal be rendred perfect, for it is an whole bleſſedneſs that we ſhal have, and that conſiſts in perfect conformity to Chriſt. But that which ſeems beſt to clear the argument, is to look upon him as arguing from the effect or conſequent. Paul tells us that without Holineſs no Man ſhal ſee God, Heb. 12 14. Now Holineſs conſiſts in a conform…y to Chriſt.

And hence,

If we ſhal have ſuch a ſight of him, it inferrs that we are made like to him: If we were not rendred holy, and ſpiritual, and that perfectly, we then ſhould never thus ſee him.

p. 128But bearing the argument, only with this admonition, to warn us that we deceive not our ſelves, thinking to ſee Chriſt hereafter with joy, and yet abhoring conformity to him in holineſs, which will be found a piece of undoing preſumption at the laſt. I come to the Words, as they are an aſſertion, or point of Doctrine; and here alſo they have their difficulty: Who this [Him] is we have already heard, viz▪ Jeſus Chriſt, though ſome interpret it of God, but it intends Jeſus Chriſt God-man; it is he who is to appear▪ and he whom we ſhal be made like unto whe… he ſhal appear. Hence,

Doct. It will be a great part of the happineſs of the Children of …, in the other life… … they ſhall ſee Jeſus Chriſt as he is.

Our Doctrine treats of the Beatifical Viſion, … as whiles we are in this body we are incapable of enjoying, ſo are we no leſs incapable of knowing what it is. Many curious wits have beat their brains, and tentered their inventio… about it, to no purpoſe, but to darken counſel with words without knowledge. The School-Men have taken a great deal of pains in it and all but to ſhew their ignorance. Interpreters generally agree that the expreſſion of John's is ſynonymous to that of Paul's, of ſeeing him face to face, 1 Cor. 13. 12. Where there is alſo p. 129an Elypſis of the Object as well as in our Text: It is ſometime called a ſeeing of God, and is promiſed, Mat. 5. 8. Sometimes a ſeeing of Chriſt, who is God, Rev. 21. 4. Joh. 19. 26. There is a ſeeing of God here in this life, and there is a ſight which ſhal be had of him in Glory: For happineſs is here inchoated, it ſhal there be perfected: Now the great matter of inquiry is about the difference which is between theſe two Sights: The Apoſtle, in 1 Cor. 13. 12. makes a very great difference, and ſo indeed there is beyond our preſent imagination; but in what things it lyes is hard to tell, the words are (like our preſent knowledge) Aenigmatical, a Riddle not eaſily …ead, and Auguſtines counſel is here good, That we beware leſt whiles we quarrel about the way of ſeeing God, we forget and miſs of Sanctification, by which only he is to be ſeen.

Briefly then,

It is the concurrent Judgement of the Orthodox, that the object ſeen then and now is the ſame, and that the difference conſiſts in two things.

Firſt, The Manner.

Secondly, The Degrees, both of which are intimated in the forecited Text.

1. The Manner: That now is through a Glaſs darkly, that then is, face to face: i. e. We now ſee him mediately, whereas we ſhal then ſee him immediately; now we have a reflex, then we ſhal p. 130have a direct ſight of him. Now there are ſome who think he is here ſeen by the reflexion of the of his Attributes, and then in his naked Eſſence, and ſo make the Attributes a part of the Glaſs; but this is a flight too high for me to ſoar unto. It is certain the Attributes are no part of the Glaſs, but they are the Object that is now reflected in the Glaſs. I know that ſeeing Chriſt as he is, intends more than a ſeeing the Man Chriſt in his viſible Glory, but it doth not therefore neceſſarily enforce the ſeeing the Divine Eſſence Seeing him face to face, is ſome tranſcenden… manner of ſeeing him; and what if it be … good pleaſure that we ſhall not … it till we come actually to ſee it? We … underſtand how th… ſhould be, nor … that there is any proportion between an … object and a finite created underſtanding: Should God make a Being able to know him in his naked Eſſence, he muſt make one equal to himſelf. Angels are Comprehenſors, yet they are repreſented as covering their faces with two of thei… wings, and that not only by reaſon of modeſty, but of weakneſs too, leſt they ſhould loſe their ſight in the contemplation. The higheſt flight of our underſtanding, is to ſee things in their cauſes, but the Divine Eſſence is without cauſe… That diſtinction of ſeeing comprehenſively, an… ſeeing apprehenſively hath here no place; i… things that have parts, and are diviſible, and … p. 131may partially come into our view it will hold, but the Divine Eſſence is ſimple and indiviſible, and therefore to apprehend and comprehend it are all one. Nor is the ground of Oppoſition between Faith and Sight with reſpect to the object ſeen, for we heard that is one and the ſame, but to the manner of ſeeing him; and it may rather argue the contrary, namely, if it be God in his Attributes that is believed in now, it muſt be God in his Attributes that muſt be ſeen then; Chriſt ſaith, be it to thee according to thy Faith … W… now believe that God is Infinite, Eternal … we ſhall ſee and apprehend him to be … and as for that notion of the deſire of … …rally reaching to ſee the Godhead …, and hence, that it cannot be happy without ſuch a ſight, it will eaſily be found a miſtake; for beſides that the deſires of fallen man graſp after that which if obtained would certainly prove their miſery, we may argue here diametrically oppoſite, viz. That which can make a man fully happy can anſwer all his deſires; He that knows God to be his God in Chriſt, and knows him to be infinitely wiſe, powerful, good glorious, &c. knows enough to ſatisfie him in his object: but beſides this, he ca… know no more and live, Exod. 33. 20. There ſhall no man ſee me and live. I know many Interpreters limit this to our preſent ſtate in this life, but God doth not ſo do, nor is there any ne…d to p. 132do it. See alſo 1 Tim. 6. 16. Who dwelleth in the light which none can approach unto, whom no man hath ſeen, nor can ſee: Joh. 1. 18. No man hath ſéen God at any time.

There are ſeveral Glaſſes which here repreſent God unto us; as the Glaſs of Creation, and the Glaſs of Providence, in which his Being, and his Wiſdom, Power and Goodneſs do ſhine forth: there is the Glaſs of the Scriptures, the Law and Goſpel the Glaſs of Ordinances, Preaching, and the Sacrament…, in which God and Chriſt are exhibited to our Faith; but our ma…er of ſeeing him through all theſe is darkly, and is rather compared to a report … of the ear, than an ocular demonſtration; theſe things bring us the happy news of … an one, and are the means whereby we that have not ſeen yet do believe: as 1 Pet. 1. 8. This Glaſs is not a Proſpective Glaſs, which repreſents things near and plain, and the things themſelves, but it is a Looking Glaſs, which reflects only the rayes and repreſentations of things, and when they have ſhown us all they can, we muſt now conclude with him, Job 26. 14. How little a portion is heard of him? but when that day comes we ſhall then ſee God in the face of Chriſt; the Glaſs will be no more needed, becauſe Chriſt himſelf will then be our light: Chriſt is not only a Mediator of Reconciliation, and Interceſſion, but alſo of Illumination: and as he doth it now p. 133bȳ his Spirit in the means, ſo then he will do it immediately: we read of the new Jeruſalem, Rev. 21. 22, 23. I ſaw no Temple therein, and the City had no need of the Sun, &c. for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And Chap, 22. 5. They need no Candle, nor the light of the Sun, for the Lord giveth them Light. Theſe things are Allegorical, and refer not to the Church Militant, but Triumphant, and expreſs the nearneſs we ſhall there be in unto Chriſt; and thoſe irradiations which we ſhall receive from him, with one Temple, Ordinances, Miniſtry.

2. … Degree or Meaſure; the Apoſtle ſaith, … in part, then I ſhall know even as I am known: i. e. he ſhall have a better acquaintance with, and a more diſtinct and perfect view of the Object: the things which we now rather believe than underſtand, we ſhall then have a ſatisfactory diſcovery of them; all Objections ſhall be anſwered, and Doubts cleared: our Knowledge now is moſt what negative, it ſhall then be more poſitive; we rather ſee him now as he is not, but then as he is: there is not only at the preſent a veil upon the Glaſs we ſee in, but there are alſo thick ſcales upon our eyes; theſe ſhall be taken off, as well as the veil removed: the very eyes of our Faith are here ſore and tender, but then our ſight ſhall be ſtrong and piering. Then,

p. 1341. God ſhall appear diſcernably in his glorious Attributes and Perfections; and what we have here believed of him, we ſhall then find to be true concerning him: God will ſo reveal himſelf to the Soul as is to us at preſent unconceivable: it ſhall then read his perfection of Wiſdom, and excellency of Holineſs, ſee him clothed with Power and Majeſty, know his greatneſs and goodneſs, and fee how all theſe perfections are not divers but one in God: God will communicate himſelf fully to the underſtanding, to the utmoſt of its capacity of receiving; he ſhall diſcern the orient brightneſs and ſplendour of the great Jehovah, … …ar as a created intellectual eye can receive… …hout being deſtroyed; as much as ſhall … it happy: he ſhall th…n upon knowledge be fully ſatisfied that God is all and more than all that ever he heard of him.

2. They ſhall ſee into the myſtery of the Trinity: Faith now receives it, and that which is in Faith now, ſhall then be in ſight, 2 Cor. 5. 7. One God in three perſons without diviſion, and three perſons in one God without confuſion, is a flight too high for our reaſon now; this light is truely dazling, and our eyes cannot keep open to it; but then we ſhall be able to gaze upon ſo great a light, and contemplate it with ſatisfaction: we ſhall no more need borrowed expreſſions or dark ſimilitudes; our Communion p. 135is now, and ſhall be much more there with all three: 2 Cor. 13. 14. 1 Joh. 1. 4. we now give credit to it becauſe God in Scripture teſtifies it, we ſhall then ſo know it as to be able to ſay certainly it is ſo, without any longer doubting how it is.

3. They ſhall be throughly acquainted with the Incarnation, and Hypoſtatical Union of the two natures in the Son of God, Joh. 14. 20. At that day you ſhall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. This for the preſent is a great myſtery, 1 Tim. 3. 16. and his Name is on this account called Wonderful, Iſai. 9. 6. the cleareſt …ſtanding on Earth grows giddy at the … …ration of it, to think how two natures ſo … ſhould dwell in one perſon, how the eternal God ſhould Tabernacle in an houſe of clay, the Word be made Fleſh, an humane nature ſhould be fitted to dwell in the ſame perſon with the Son of God, that God himſelf ſhould be ſeen eating and drinking with Men: but then we ſhall be able to reſolve our ſelves how there can be two natures and not two perſons, how the Son of Mary was graſſed into the eternal Stock of the Son of God, how the ſecond perſon alone could aſſume notwithſtanding there is but one God undivided in Eſſence; theſe are things familiar to a glorified Soul, and he hath no difficulty or doubt about them.

4. They ſhall know the power and vertue of p. 136the Redemption wrought out by Chriſt; they ſhall know the worth and value of a Saviour: Paul deſired to know it here, Phil. 3. 10. That I may know him, &c. now he hath this deſire ſatisfied: the reaſon why now we love him no more, is becauſe we know no more of his worth, Iſai. 53. 2, 3. then we ſhall know his unparallel'd value: a Believer yet doth know a great deal of it now; and hence he is precious to him, 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious: pardon of ſin, peace of Conſcience, joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and Grace to ſerve him, are fruits of it: but alas, theſe are but glimpſes; a glorified ſoul looks upon the excellency of Heave… …, and the Crown of Glory, and all the … joyes of which it is poſſeſſed, yea upon … and its torments, from whence he finds himſelf delivered; and in theſe he ſees the value and vertue of his precious blood: we ſhall have other manner of thoughts of a Redeemer there, then thoſe that entertain us now; when we find that through him juſtice is ſatisfied, our perſons are juſtified and adopted, our natures ſanctified, and we our ſelves are glorified, being freed from Hells torments, and poſſeſſed of eternal Glory: when we find our ſelves ſhining like the brighteſt Cherub in the Kingdome of God, when thouſands and millions are in endleſs burnings, then ſhall we know him as he is.

5. They ſhall know the meaning and latitude p. 137of the promiſes, as of all other Scriptures: here they complain how little they know of Gods mind in his word; there are ſuch knots as their beſt skill cannot untie: it is but a childiſh knowledge we have of theſe Divine Riddles, hence all our diſcourſes upon Theological truths are broken, imperfect Diſcourſes: but then the perfect ſhall come, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 10. Alas for the ſad complaints which ſome humbled Souls make of themſelves, for their dulneſs and ignorance, they know ſo little of what concerns them ſo much, God and their own Souls Salvation; but then the Believer that knew leaſt here, ſhall know i… …ably more than Paul did when upon … particularly the precious promiſes … here miſunderſtood, miſinterpreted, and hence they were not ſo ſweet and excellent to him, he ſhall then know their content, and what a vaſt unconceivable treaſure of infinite and everlaſting good was laid up in them; what God engaged when he promiſed to be his God, and his Portion; what Chriſt meant when he told his Diſciples that he went to prepare a place for them; and then ſhall his experience tell him, that theſe Epithetes of exeeeding great and precious, were deſervedly put upon the promiſes of the Scripture: ſed manum de Tabula! let Gods Children but tarry a while patiently, & you will need neither Man nor Angel to tell you what it is.

p. 138Touching the evidence of the Doctrine, that this Viſion is truly beatifical, or that thus to ſee Chriſt is a great part of the happineſs of glorified Saints needs not many words to evince: happineſs conſiſts in the perfect cloſure of the faculty with the Object; God in Chriſt is the proper ultimate Object of all our faculties, and ſo of the underſtanding: when therefore the underſtanding is filled full of the knowledge of Chriſt it ſhall be bleſſed: happineſs requires the full attainment of the Creatures end: Man as to his underſtanding was made for light or knowledge; hence Truth muſt …ifie the underſtanding, and when it is … …hriſt, it is full of truth it ſelf. Happine… … …iledge which none but a reaſonable bei… … able of: irrational Agents attain their ends, but they are not happy in ſo doing, becauſe they are irrational: the ſatisfaction of the underſtanding muſt therefore be a main and principal part of happineſs, becauſe it is a faculty without which no Being can be conceived to be happy: needs then muſt the Children of God be very bleſſed in this Viſion, when they come to ſee Chriſt as he is, for all neceſſary and deſirable knowledge, whether ſpeculative or practical ſhall be comprehended in it: and if David could account of a little glimmering light, a day-break faint beam of it, to be more worth than gold, Pſal. 19. 10. what compleat ſatisfaction then muſt that full knowledge p. 139of him yield, when this Sun ſhall ſhine upon them in his noon-day brightneſs: if it be life eternal to know God and Chriſt as he is here known, Joh. 17. 3. we cannot then conceive, much leſs, expreſs what it ſhall be when a perfected underſtanding ſhall receive a perfect intimate and immediate irradiation of this Knowledge.

USE, I. For Information; Learn hence,

1. That a perfect and through knowledge of God in Chriſt is not to be expected by any in this life: this is a priviledge reſerved for glory, a…d not here looked for, much leſs preſumed upon by any but ſuch as are enfatuated: our Organs are not as yet accomodated to it, nor ſhall be▪ till the body of death be laid off: ſin remaining in the underſtanding is ſo much darkneſs there: nor are our preſent means ordered to be the deferents of perfect light to us, but are Glaſſes fitted to our ſore eyes, leſt inſtead of helping them to ſee, they ſhould put them out. Believers are not ſtark blind, their eyes are bleſſed becauſe they do ſee, but they are imperfectly bleſſed for they ſee but confuſedly, men like trees. Paul, as a Saint, knows but in part, and as an Apoſtle, or a glaſs to give light to others, propheſies but in part, 1 Cor. 13. 9. the air through which the Sun of righteouſneſs beams down his light upon us, is, though diaphenous, yet hazy and thick. There is indeed p. 140enough revealed to direct us in our way, but not ſo much as to ſet us down ſatisfied: Hence the Ordinances, and all helps to the knowledge of God in Chriſt, will be of uſe to us as long as we are in this life: and though it ſhould be a comfort to us to think that the time will ſhortly come when we ſhall no more need this Glaſs, when that Oracle ſhal be fulfilled, Jer. 31. 34. They ſhall teach no more every man his Neighbour, for they ſhall all know me, &c. Yet except we can be content here to live without any …ight of Chriſt at all, we muſt not be weary of, nor throw aſide the Glaſs as long as we are her… ▪ We muſt be glad that we may, and thankful that we do ſee the Sun in his beams, till we come to dwell in the Fountain of Light.

2. See here who they be that enjoy the moſt of Inchoate▪ felicity in this World, viz. They that ſee moſt of God and Chriſt; if this viſion when perfected, be ſo great a part of eternal Glory, the beginnings, and irradictions of it here muſt needs have a degree of bleſſedneſs in them. There is indeed a knowledge in this life, which is repleat with miſery, and the encreaſing of it is but the encreaſe of ſorrow; and indeed miſerable objects cannot be expected to do any other than to reflect trouble on them that ſeek acquaintance with them: But could we acquaint our ſelves with Chriſt, ſee him in all, we ſhould be able to pick up crumbs of felicity out of every p. 141thing: Be therefore much in this ſtudy and contemplation; uſe all helps to get as near unto Ch…ſt as you can; get acquainted with him and that ſhall give you quiet in trouble, ſatisfaction in all changes: And the way to get a ſight of Chriſt, and fellowſhip with him, is to get amongſt the Children of God, get to be ſuch as … fear him, it is to ſuch that he makes himſe…s known, Pſal. 25. 14. The ſecret of the Lord is with thoſe that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant. They are the moſt unhappy Souls that know not Jeſus Chriſt; every degree of diſtance from him is a further degree of infelicity: How ignorant then is the World that can content themſelves to live eſtranged from him? Deſtruction waits on them that are far from him.

USE, II. For Exhortation to the Children of God, in two things.

1. Be preparing for this glorious ſight. The Apoſtle mentions it as a great Priviledge to be made meet for this glory, Col. 1. 12. And as it is of God to make us worthy through the worthineſs of Chriſt, and to prepare us for it by the Sanctification of the Spirit; ſo it concerns us to be making ready. It is your Marriage-day, in which your Bride-groom will ſhew himſelf to you in his glory, you therefore ſhould be diligent in making ready to meet him: Would you then have a full and ſatisfying ſight of Chriſt, now turn away your eyes from beholding vanity: you p. 142muſt labour ſo to walk as that you may be accepted of him: What manner of perſons ſhould they be who look for ſuch an happy ſight as that? The more you love Chriſt now, the more grateful will the ſight of him then be: Labour to make ſure of your intereſt in him to ſee him in all his Royalty, with an appropriating ſight, and to be able to challenge a title to him as your Saviour, will be the very happineſs of this hap… … to be found in him, adorned … Righteouſneſs, filled with his Grace, … for his Kingdome, and ſo in his light … light.

… the terrour, and ſweeten … your diſſolution. For, though … this as a priviledge of the … appearance, yet it is an … every dying Believer is immediately … in reſpect of his Soul: It is true, the bodily eyes ſhal ſee the Man Chriſt then, which will be a complement of our Glory; but this ſight is mainly intellectual: and one would think it ſhould comfort a Child of God in the darkeſt hour of death to think that as ſoon as his ſoul is enlarged from his body, he ſhal ſee the King in his glory, Chriſt as he is: This made Paul be ſo deſireous to depart, Phil. 1. 23. To be with Chriſt which is beſt. What can you fee here that is ſo deſireable as to hold your eyes and make you loth to look off and leave it to ſee p. 143Chriſt? I am ſure here are many ſorrowful ſights to be ſeen, here you may ſee abundance of ſin committed, God's Name greatly diſhonoured; you may ſee the pride and inſolence of the World, and oppreſſion and groans of the godly; in ſumme, the moſt that you ſee here is vanity, madneſs and folly; theſe are undeſirable ſights, and how oft doth your eye affect your heart in ſeeing of them, and fill you with … and ſorrow? The beſt and only happy … that ever you had here, is to behold … in his Temple, to ſee Chriſt in an … and to ſolace your Souls in fellowſhip … Pſal. 27. 4. 63. 2. And if ever … raviſhed with this, it may then tell … porting it muſt needs be, to ſee … lace; Chriſt at the right hand of the … Majeſty, and me thinks this very thought … bring you to Paul's Concluſion, 2 Cor. 5. 8. … We are confident, and willing rather to be abſent from the Body, and preſent with the Lord.

USE, III. For Conſolation to the Children of God in reſpect of theirs that are departed. Let not your hearts be troubled, mourn not as they that have no hope: Oh, the happy exchange that they have made from ſeeing you to ſee Chriſt as he is: Not whoſe Angels do for them, but who do themſelves ſtand in the preſence of the Father. Might an Apoſtrophe be here admitted, I would be ſo farr from bewailing p. 144their hard fate, that I would congratula… their great felicity, and ſay, Thrice happy ſoul that have received a bleſſed diſcharge from al… the vain ſights, and ſoul-diſquieting objects of a miſerable World, to ſee and behold him that bought and ſaved you. Whiles we are here …oping in the dark, and looking with purblind … upon imperfect looking glaſſes, and are … up with tranſient glances, and ſhaded … you dwel at the Wel-head of … ſcarce ſee enough to eſtab… confirm our hope, you are ga… into extafies, and drinking your … light, beholding his fac… in … is, knowing him as you … whiles we have … ſight of… ſome cloud o… … or unbe… above clouds a… fogs, your … you, but you are refreſht with … beams▪ of pureſt light from the face of Jeſus Chriſt. We dare not envy, we would not call you back from that felicity, who our ſelves alſo are waiting for that happy time, and our only comfort and ſupport under all the ſins and ſufferings of this preſent life, ariſeth from the hope of ere long enjoying that which you are at the preſent poſſeſſed of. Live happy in ſeeing of him in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy: & whiles you are living in full fruition, it ſhal be our endeavour to live in this hope, that when he ſhall appear we ſhal be like him, becauſe we ſhall ſee him as he is.

FINIS.