and so many come here to the house of God, and hear what is spoken of GOD and CHRIST, but yet there are some certain secrets that are hid from them, that are told only to the children, the sons and daughters of God: The other hear as much and see as much, for the outside, as Gods children do, yet the secrets of things are hid from them, and among others, Gods face; and the excellencies thereof are hid from them. This he reveals (as his other secrets) only to those that fear him, and this revealing it is a special work of the Spirit. If a man would see the Sun, all the stars in heaven 1and torches in the earth could not help him to see it or show it to him, unless the Sun it self shines and ariseth, and there come a light from the Sun it self, you cannot come to see it; and so all the Angels of heaven and wits of men on earth, cannot show you Gods face, unless he opens the clouds and reveals himself by his own Spirit, it will not be done; which is therefore called the Spirit of Revelation, Ephes. 1. 17. by which God reveals his 2secrets to his children, when he begins to call them effectually, they see him and none else; we make known the Doctrines about GOD and CHRIST, &c. to all alike, but the Lord makes the difference, ⟨p. 137⟩by revealing himself to one, and not unto another; that which is said especially of the Jews, 2 Cor. 3. 315, 16. verses, and so on, is in like manner applicable to us all. The Lords face shines, as Moses face did, verse 15. and he gives the knowledge of his glory in 4the face of Jesus Christ in the ministry of the word every day; but there is a veil lies upon all mens hearts, upon all but those whom the Lord calls, and upon theirs also, till he calleth them, as upon the Jews hearts, verse 16. Nevertheless when they shall turn unto the Lord, the veil shall be taken away: and until then, Gods face cannot be seen, as Moses face was not; and who shall take away that veil? The Spirit of the Lord; where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, vers. 17. and when he doth free us of that veil, then we behold the Glory of the Lord as in a glass with open face, v. 18. that is, we see the amiableness of his face, the happiness of communion with him;
and so many come here to the house of God, and heare what is spoken of GOD and CHRIST, but yet there are some certaine secrets that are hid from them, that are told only to the children, the sonnes and daughters of God: The other heare as much and see as much, for the outside, as Gods children do, yet the secrets of things are hid from them, and among others, Gods face; and the excellencies thereof are hid from them. This he reveales (as his other secrets) onely to those that feare him, and this revealing it is a speciall worke of the Spirit. If a man would see the Sunne, all the starres in heaven 1and torches in the earth could not helpe him to see it or shew it to him, unlesse the Sunne it selfe shines and ariseth, and there come a light from the Sunne it selfe, you cannot come to see it; and so all the Angels of heaven and wits of men on earth, cannot shew you Gods face, unlesse hee opens the clouds and reveales himselfe by his owne Spirit, it will not bee done; which is therefore called the Spirit of Revelation, Ephes. 1. 17. by which God reveales his 2secrets to his children, when he begins to call them effectually, they see him and none else; wee make knowne the Doctrines about GOD and CHRIST, &c. to all alike, but the Lord makes the difference, ⟨p. 137⟩by revealing himselfe to one, and not unto another; that which is said especially of the Iewes, 2 Cor. 3. 315, 16. verses, and so on, is in like manner applicable to us all. The Lords face shines, as Moses face did, verse 15. and hee gives the knowledge of his glory in 4the face of Iesus Christ in the ministery of the word every day; but there is a vaile lies upon all mens hearts, upon all but those whom the Lord calls, and upon theirs also, till hee calleth them, as upon the Iewes hearts, verse 16. Neverthelesse when they shall turne unto the Lord, the vaile shall be taken away: and untill then, Gods face cannot bee seene, as Moses face was not; and who shall take away that vaile? The Spirit of the Lord; where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, vers. 17. and when hee doth free us of that vaile, then we behold the Glory of the Lord as in a glasse with open face, v. 18. that is, we see the amiablenesse of his face, the happinesse of communion with him;
- 1Simile.
- 2Ephes. 1. 17.
- 32 Cor. 3. 15. 16.
- 42 Cor. 4. 6.
