A26796:717
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And that which is the peculiar Pleasure of the Redeemed is,1 that they shall be with Christ, and see his Glory; What a marvellous joy will fill our hearts, to see our Blessed Saviour, who suffered so much for us on Earth, to reign in Heaven? Here He was in his enemies hands, there he hath them under his feet. Here He was in the form of a Servant, there He appears in the form of God, adorned with all the marks of Majesty. Here He was under the cloud of his Fathers displeasure, there He appears as the Brightness of his Glory. Here He was ignominiously Crucified, there He is crowned with Immortal Honour. Now considering the ardent Affections which the Saints have to their Redeemer, the contemplation of him in this glorious state, must infinitely ravish their hearts. Especially, if we consider that the exaltation of Christ is theirs. The Members triumph when the Head is crowned. His excellent Glory reflects a lustre upon them, and by the sight of it, they are changed into his Likeness. If the imperfect and dim sight of his Divine Virtues in the Gospel, hath a power to change Believers into his Image from glory to glory, how much more the Vision ⟨p. 387⟩of his unveiled Face? Our Graces here are but as the rude draught and first colours of the Divine Image, that shall then be in its perfection. We know that when he appears we shall be like him, 2for we shall see him as he is. The similitude between the Saints above and Christ is so exact, that if one should enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and were not directed by the Light of that place, he would be apt to think every glorified Saint he meets to be more than a creature. St. John the beloved of Christ, and as clear-sighted as any of the Apostles, mistook an Angel for God; and would have adored him, although he did not appear in his full glory. The Kingdoms of the world with all their splendour are no more in compare to it, than a dead spark to the Sun in its brightness. The very Bodies of the Saints shall be raised from the Grave, and beautified with eternal Ornaments: They shall be Companions with the Angels, and conformed to the glorious Body of Christ. Briefly, In the present state we are not capable to receive the full knowledge of Heaven: What we understand is infinitely desirable, but the most glorious part is still undiscovered.