Thirdly, 1The faculty in glory shall be widened and extended to a vast capacity; now the understanding is large, there is no bounding or limiting of it, it is higher than the Heavens, and deeper than the Sea, and wider than the World; it is said of Solomon, in respect of his understanding, 2that he had wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is upon the Sea-shore; but all that was specially in order to the mysteries of nature, as it follows there in his character from verse 30, to 34. But in glory the understanding shall be widened to a vaster capacity, scil. to take in not the little things of the Creature only, 3but the infinite God; I do not say infinitely but apprehensively, though not comprehensively, for then the vessel must be as large as the object, yea, larger, since the thing containing must be somewhat bigger than the thing contained, but the understanding shall apprehend God clearly, certainly and fully; the object it self shall extend the faculty, and make it capacious for it self. It is worth our notice to compare those two expressions of the beatifical vision, the one Matth. 18.10. where it is said, The Angels do alway behold the face of God; the other, where the Angels and Saints (the number of whom is said to be, 4ten thousand times ten thousands, and thousands of thousands) are described surrounding Gods Throne, they are round about the Throne; compare them together; They always behold the face of God, and yet are round about; and it hints us this blessed notion, God hath no back parts in Heaven, God to the blessed Inhabitants there is all face, and they are always beholding it; how should not so transplendent an object confound the spiritual organ, with the immense splendour and glory thereof, but that the object it self doth sustain and nourish the faculty.
Thirdly, 1The faculty in glory shall be widened and extended to a vast capacity; now the understanding is large, there is no bounding or limitting of it, it is higher than the Heavens, and deeper than the Sea, and wider than the World; it is said of Solomon, in respect of his understanding, 2that he had wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is upon the Sea-shore; but all that was specially in order to the mysteries of nature, as it follows there in his character from verse 30, to 34. But in glory the understanding shall be widened to a vaster capacity, scil. to take in not the little things of the Creature only, 3but the infinite God; I do not say infinitely but apprehensively, though not comprehensively, for then the vessel must be as large as the object, yea, larger, since the thing containing must be somewhat bigger than the thing contained, but the understanding shall apprehend God clearly, certainly and fully; the object it self shall extend the faculty, and make it capacious for it self. It is worth our notice to compare those two expressions of the beatifical vision, the one Matth. 18.10. where it is said, The Angels do alway behold the face of God; the other, where the Angels and Saints (the number of whom is said to be, 4ten thousand times ten thousands, and thousands of thousands) are described surrounding Gods Throne, they are round about the Throne; compare them together; They alwayes behold the face of God, and yet are round about; and it hints us this blessed notion, God hath no back parts in Heaven, God to the blessed Inhabitants there is all face, and they are alwayes beholding it; how should not so transplendent an object confound the spiritual organ, with the immense splendor and glory thereof, but that the object it self doth sustain and nourish the faculty.
- 13. Perfection Capacity.
- 21 Kings 4.25.
- 3Magnalia Dei.
- 4Rev 5.11
