2. Let me especially press you to this, with an Eye of Faith to look within the Veil; and when ever you come to pray, to see God in Heaven, and Christ at his Right-hand. The great Work of Faith is, to see him that is invisible; and the great Duty of Prayer is, to get a Sight of God in Heaven, and Christ at his right-hand. What Stephen did miraculously, or in an Ecstasy, we must do graciously in Prayer. Now it is said of Stephen, Acts 7. 56. Behold, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right-hand of God. There is a great deal of Difference about Stephen's Sight: How the Heavens could be opened; for they are solid Bodies, and cannot be divided; fluent Air, and so come together again: How he could see the Glory of God with his corporal Senses, which is invisible: How he could see Christ at such a Distance, the Eye not being able to reach so far. Some think it to be a mere intellectual Vision, or a Vision of Faith; that is, he did so firmly believe, and had the Comfort of it in his Heart, as if he had seen it with his Eyes. So they think Stephen saw the Glory of God, and Christ at his right-hand, as Abraham saw Christ's Day, and rejoiced; that is, he saw it by Faith. Some think it to be a Prophetical Vision, by seeing those things objected to his Fancy, by imaginary Species; as Isaiah saw God in a Vision, Isa. 6. and as Paul's Rapture. Some think it a Symbolical Vision; that he saw these thing represented by some corporeal Images, as John saw the ⟨p. 126⟩Holy-Ghost descending in the form of a Dove. Some think his bodily Eyes did pierce the Clouds, and got a sight of the Glory of Christ. Whatever it be, there must be such a Sight in Prayer, something answerable to this; in a spiritual way this must ever be done. Psal. 5. 3. I will pray, saith the Psalmist, and look up. There is a looking up required in all Prayer, a seeing the invisible God by Faith. If you would have God look down upon you from his holy Habitation, you must look up with an Eye of Faith, and converse with God in Heaven. Psal. 63. 4. I will lift up my Hands in thy Name. If you would have God look upon you with an Eye of Compassion, you must look up, and see Christ at his right-hand, by an Eye of Faith.
2. Let me especially press you to this, with an Eye of Faith to look within the Vail; and when ever you come to pray, to see God in Heaven, and Christ at his Right-hand. The great Work of Faith is, to see him that is invisible; and the great Duty of Prayer is, to get a Sight of God in Heaven, and Christ at his right-hand. What Stephen did miraculously, or in an Extasy, we must do graciously in Prayer. Now it is said of Stephen, Acts 7. 56. Behold, I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right-hand of God. There is a great deal of Difference about Stephen's Sight: How the Heavens could be opened; for they are solid Bodies, and cannot be divided; fluent Air, and so come together again: How he could see the Glory of God with his corporal Senses, which is invisible: How he could see Christ at such a Distance, the Eye not being able to reach so far. Some think it to be a meer intellectual Vision, or a Vision of Faith; that is, he did so firmly believe, and had the Comfort of it in his Heart, as if he had seen it with his Eyes. So they think Stephen saw the Glory of God, and Christ at his right-hand, as Abraham saw Christ's Day, and rejoiced; that is, he saw it by Faith. Some think it to be a Prophetical Vision, by seeing those things objected to his Fancy, by imaginary Species; as Isaiah saw God in a Vision, Isa. 6. and as Paul's Rapture. Some think it a Symbolical Vision; that he saw these thing represented by some corporeal Images, as Iohn saw the ⟨p. 126⟩Holy-Ghost descending in the form of a Dove. Some think his bodily Eyes did pierce the Clouds, and got a sight of the Glory of Christ. Whatever it be, there must be such a Sight in Prayer, something answerable to this; in a spiritual way this must ever be done. Psal. 5. 3. I will pray, saith the Psalmist, and look up. There is a looking up required in all Prayer, a seeing the invisible God by Faith. If you would have God look down upon you from his holy Habit•tion, you must look up with an Eye of Faith, and converse with God in Heaven. Psal. 63. 4. I will lift up my Hands in thy Name. If you would have God look upon you with an Eye of Compassion, you must look up, and see Christ at his right-hand, by an Eye of Faith.
