The divine life in three treatises

And it further reconcileth me to this disposure and will of the blessed God, and this necessary natural distance and darkness of our minds, when I consider, that if God, and Heaven, and Hell, were as near and open to our apprehensions, as the things are which we see and feel▪ this life would not be what God intended it to be, a life of Trial and preparation to another, a work, a race, a pilgrimage, a warfare; what Trial ⟨p. 194⟩would there be of any mans Faith, or Love, or Obedience, or Constancy, or Self-denial? If we saw God stand by, or apprehended him as if we saw him (in degree) it would be no more praise-worthy or rewardable for a man to abhor all temptations to worldliness, ambition, gluttony, drunkenness, lust, cruelty, &c. than it is for a man to be kept from sleeping that is pierced with thorns, or for a man to forbear to drink a cup of melted Gold which he knoweth will burn out his bowels, or to forbear to burn his flesh in the fire. It were no great commendation to his Chastity, that would forbear his filthiness, if he saw or had the fullest apprehensions of God; when he will forbear it in the presence of a mortal man: It were no great commendations to the intemperate and voluptuous, to have no mind of sensual delights, if they had but such a knowledge of God as were equal to sight. It were no thanks to the persecutor to forbear his cruelty against the servants of the Lord, if he saw Christ coming with his glorious Angels, to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel, and to be admired in his Saints, and glorified in them that now believe, 2 Thes. 1. 7, 8, 9, 10. I deny not but this happily necessitated Holiness is best in it self, and therefore will be our state in Heaven; but what is there of Trial in it? or how can it be suitable to the state of man, that must have Good and Evil set before him, and Life and Death left to his choice; and that must conquer if he will be crowned, and approve his fidelity to his Creator against competitors, and must live a rewardable life before he have the reward?

And it further reconcileth me to this disposure and will of the blessed God, and this necessary natural distance and darkness of our minds, when I consider, that if God, and Heaven, and Hell, were as near and open to our apprehensions, as the things are which we see and feel▪ this life would not be what God intended it to be, a life of Tryal and preparation to another, a work, a race, a pilgrimage, a warfare; what Tryal