A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

And this Glory Believers do discern, so as to be satisfied with its Excellency. They know that all the Glories of the World are no way to be compared to it; for it consists in and arises from such things as they do value and prefer infinitely above all that this world can afford. They are a reflection of the Glory of God, or of Christ himself upon the Church, yea a Communication of it thereunto. This they value in the whole, and in every Member of it; neither the Nature, Use, nor End of the Church will admit that its Glory should consist in things of any other Nature.

And this Glory Believers do discern, so as to be satisfied with its Excellency. They know that all the Glories of the World are no way to be compared to it; for it consists in and arises from such things as they do value and prefer infinitely above all that this world can afford. They are a reflexion of the Glory of God, or of Christ himself upon the Church, yea a Communication of it thereunto. This they value in the whole, and in every Member of it; neither the Nature, Use, nor End of the Church will admit that its Glory should consist in things of any other Nature.

But the Generality of mankind had lost that Spiritual Light, wherein alone this Glory might be discerned. They could see no Form or Beauty in the Spouse of Christ, as only adorned with his Graces. To talk of a glorious State of men, whilst they are poor and destitute, it may be clothed with rags, and haled unto Prisons or Stakes, as hath been the Lot of the Church in most Ages, was in their Judgment a thing absurd and foolish. Wherefore seeing it is certain, that the Church of Christ, is very Glorious and illustrious, in the sight of God, holy Angels, and Good men, a way must be found out to make it so, and so to appear in the World. Wherefore they agreed on a lying Image of this Glory, namely, the Dignity, Promotion, Wealth, Dominion, Power and Splendour of them that had got the Rule of the Church. And although it be evident unto all, that these things belong unto the Glories of this World, which the Glory of the Church is not only distinguished from, but opposed unto, yet it must be looked on as that wherein it is glorious; and it is so, though it have not one saving Grace in it, as they expressly affirm. When these things are attained, then are all the Predictions of its Glory accomplished, and the Description of it answered.