A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster

O but, you say, you never saw him, and have no distinct apprehension of his essence. Answ. What! Would you make a Creature of him, that can be limited, comprehended or seen with fleshly mortal eyes? Take heed of such imaginations. It is the understanding that must see him: You know that he is most Wise, and Good, and Great; and that he is the Creator, and Sustainer, and Ruler of the world, and that he is your Reconciled Father in Christ; and is this no knowledge of him? And then, the Heaven that you are to go to, is it that you are an Heir of, where you have laid up your treasure, and where your hearts and conversation hath so long been; and yet do you not know it? You have had many a thought of it, and bestowed many a days labour for it, and yet do you not know it? O but you never saw it for all this? Answ. It is a spiritual blessedness that flesh and blood can neither enjoy nor see: But by the eye of the mind you have often seen, at least some glimpse of it; You know that it is the present intuition and full fruition of God himself and your glorified Redeemer with his blessed Angels and Saints in perfect Love and Joy and Praise. And if you know this, you are not altogether strangers to heaven. And for the Saints and heavenly Inhabitants, you are not wholly strangers to them. Some of them you have known in the flesh, and others of them you have known in the spirit: You are fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God, and therefore cannot be utterly unacquainted with them.

O but, you say, you never saw him, and have no distinct apprehension of his essence. Answ. What! Would you make a Creature of him, that can be limited, comprehended or seen with fleshly mortal eyes? Take heed of such imaginations. It is the understanding that must see him: You know that he is most Wise, and Good, and Great; and that he is the Creator, and Sustainer, and Ruler of the world, and that he is your Reconciled Father in Christ; and is this no knowledg of him? And then, the Heaven that you are to go to, is it that you are an Heir of, where you have laid up your treasure, and where your hearts and conversation hath so long been; and yet do you not know it? You have had many a thought of it, and bestowed many a days labour for it, and yet do you not know it? O but you never saw it for all this? Answ. It is a spiritual blessedness that flesh and blood can neither enjoy nor see: But by the eye of the mind you have often seen, at least some glimpse of it; You know that it is the present intuition and full fruition of God himself and your glorified Redeemer with his blessed Angels and Saints in perfect Love and Joy and Praise. And if you know this, you are not altogether strangers to heaven. And for the Saints and heavenly Inhabitants, you are not wholly strangers to them. Some of them you have known in the flesh, and others of them you have known in the spirit: You are fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God, and therefore cannot be utterly unacquainted with them.