The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

Distinct it is, for though the vision now spoken of, doth include a certain kind of assimilation in it, as all vision doth, being only a reception of the species or likeness of the Object seen: This assimilation we are to speak of, is of a very different kind. That is such as affects only the visive or cognitive power, and that not with a real change, but intentional only, nor for longer continuance than the act of seeing lasts; but this is total, real, and permanent.

Distinct it is, for though the vision now spoken of, doth include a certain kind of assimilation in it, as all vision doth, being only a reception of the species or likeness of the Object seen: This assimilation we are to speak of, is of a very different kind. That is such as affects only the visive or cognitive power, and that not with a real change, but intentional onely, nor for longer continuance than the act of seeing lasts; but this is total, real, and permanent.

And surely it is of equal necessity to the souls blessedness, to partake the glory of God, as to behold it; as well to have the divine-likeness imprest upon it as represented to it. After so contagious and over-spreading a depravation as sin hath diffused through all its powers: it can never be happy without a change of its very crasis and temper throughout. A diseased ulcerous body would take little felicity in gay and glorious sights: no more would all the glory of heaven signify to a sick, deformed, self-loathing soul.

And surely it is of equal necessity to the souls blessedness, to partake the glory of God, as to behold it; as well to have the divine-likeness imprest upon it as represented to it. After so contagious and over-spreading a depravation as sin hath diffus'd through all its powers: it can never be happy without a change of its very crasis and temper throughout. A diseased ulcerous body would take little felicity in gay and glorious sights: no more would all the glory of heaven signifie to a sick, deformed, self-loathing soul.