how then should I but be filled with joy unspeakable and glorious, whilst I was studying, writing, ⟨image 4⟩and especially acting my Soul in the exercise of this Looking? If there be any Duty on Earth resembling the Duty of the Saints in Heaven, I dare say, this is it. Mr. Rutherford in his Epistle to Christ dying, writeth thus, An act of living in Christ, and on Christ, in the acts of seeing, enjoying, embracing, loving, resting on him, is that noonday Divinity, and Theology of Beatifical Vision: there is a general assembly of immediately illuminated Divines round about the Throne, who study, lecture, preach, praise Christ night and day: Oh what rays, what irradiations and dartings of intellectual fruition, beholding, enjoying, living in him, and fervour of loving, come from that face, that God-visage of the Lord God Almighty, and of the Lamb that is in the midst of them? And, Oh what reflections, and reachings forth of intellectual Vision, embracing, loving, wondering, are returning back to him again in a circle of Glory? Now if this be the Saints Duty, who are perfect in glory; do not we imitate them, and feel something of Heaven in our imitation, in our looking also unto Jesus? I write what in some measure I have felt; and of which I hope to feel yet more; and therefore whoever thou art that readest, I beseech thee, come, warm thy heart at this blessed fire! O come, and smell the precious ointments of Jesus Christ! O come, and sit down under his shadow with great delight! Oh that all men (especially into whose hands this Book shall come) would presently fall upon the practice of this Gospel-art of looking unto Jesus! if herein they find nothing of Heaven, my skill will fail me; only let them pray, that as they look to him, so virtue may go out of him, and fill their souls.
how then should I but be filled with joy unspeakable and glorious, whilst I was studying, writing, ⟨image 4⟩and especially acting my Soul in the exercise of this Looking? If there be any Duty on Earth resembling the Duty of the Saints in Heaven, I dare say, this is it. Mr. Rutherford in his Epistle to Christ dying, writeth thus, An act of living in Christ, and on Christ, in the acts of seeing, enjoying, embracing, loving, resting on him, is that noonday Divinity, and Theology of Beatifical Vision: there is a general assembly of immediately illuminated Divines round about the Throne, who study, lecture, preach, praise Christ night and day: Oh what rays, what irradiations and dartings of intellectual fruition, beholding, enjoying, living in him, and fervour of loving, come from that face, that God-visage of the Lord God Almighty, and of the Lamb that is in the midst of them? And, Oh what reflections, and reachings forth of intellectual Vision, embracing, loving, wondering, are returning back to him again in a circle of Glory? Now if this be the Saints Duty, who are perfect in glory; do not we imitate them, and feel something of Heaven in our imitation, in our looking also unto Jesus? I write what in some measure I have felt; and of which I hope to feel yet more; and therefore whoever thou art that readest, I beseech thee, come, warm thy heart at this blessed fire! O come, and smell the precious ointments of Jesus Christ! O come, and sit down under his shadow with great delight! Oh that all men (especially into whose hands this Book shall come) would presently fall upon the practice of this Gospel-art of looking unto Jesus! if herein they find nothing of Heaven, my skill will fail me; only let them pray, that as they look to him, so vertue may go out of him, and fill their souls.
