Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

SOME keep their Thoughts in continual Exercise about the Things of this World, as unto the Advantages and Emoluments which they expect from them. Hereby are they transformed into the Image of the World, becoming earthly, carnal and vain. Is it because there is no God in Israel that these Applications are made unto the Idol of Ekron? That there is no Glory, no desirableness in Christ for Men to enquire after, and fix their Minds upon? Oh the blindness, the darkness, the folly of poor sinners? Whom do they despise, and for what?

SOME of more refined parts and notional Minds, do arise unto a sedulous Meditation on the Works of Creation and Providence. Hence many excellent Discourses on that Subject, adorned with Eloquence, are published among us. And a Work this is worthy of our Nature, and suited unto our rational Capacities; yea, the first end of our natural Endowment with them. But in all these things there is no Glory in comparison of what is proposed unto us in the mysterious Constitution of the Person of Christ. The Sun hath no Glory, the Moon and Stars no Beauty, the Order and Influence of the Heavenly Bodies, have no Excellency in comparison of it.

This is that which the Psalmist designs to declare, Psal. 8. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all the earth! Who hast set thy Glory above the heavens. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy Fingers, the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained; what is Man that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of man that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels, and hast ⟨p. 45⟩crowned him with glory and honour; thou hast made him to have Dominion over the work of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet.