An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

yet the Spirit doth often witness above them, and without them, that is, they not being called forth to give their witness. This is next door to heaven: only, the vision in heaven will be exceedingly heightened and raised, not only above our vision by ordinances, but above our vision by immediate revelation or witness.

yet the Spirit doth often witnesse above them, and without them, that is, they not being called forth to give their witnesse. This is next door to heaven: only, the vision in heaven will be exceedingly heightned and raised, not only above our vision by ordinances, but above our vision by immediate revelation or witnesse.

Further consider, The sight we have of God is in Christ. God is seen in every creature (Rom. 1.) much more in ordinances, but Christ is the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, Heb. 1.3. He is the medium by which we see God now, and some have thought we shall see him only in Christ for ever. But it is out of doubt that in this life God is seen only in Christ savingly. We of our selves, are so far off from God, that we cannot see him. There must be a due distance between the organ and the object; we are afar off from God, until Christ bring us near; we come ⟨p. 232⟩to, and see the Father through the Sonne. And how near soever we are to any object, we cannot see it without an eye. We are naturally blind, the eyes of our mind must be enlightened before we see him, Christ cleareth our understandings, and cures our blindness, He is made to us of God wisdom (to see our need of him to be made) righteousness to us, and sanctification and redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. Again, The medium must be light; if the eye be clear, yet while the air is dark we cannot see. There must be an outward light, as well as an inward light to see by; that Jesus Christ makes also; for He is the light of the world, as well as the enlightner of every one that cometh into the world. He sends the means of knowledge, as well as gives an ability to know. He sends light to the eyes of our mind, and he is light in the eyes of our mind. What we ought to know comes from him, and how to know as we ought comes from him. Without him, God goeth by us in the Gospel, and we see him not, he may pass on for ever, and we never perceive him.