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…

The Shadow or Image of this glory of Christ is drawn in the Gospel, and therein we behold it as the Likeness of a Man represented unto us in a Glass; and although it be obscure and imperfect in comparison of his own real, substantial glory, which is the Object of Vision in Heaven; yet is it the only Image and Representation of himself, which he hath left, and given unto us in this World. That woeful cursed Invention of framing Images of him out of Stocks and Stones however adorned, or Representations of him by the Art of painting, are so far from presenting unto the Minds of Men any thing of his real glory, that nothing can be more effectual to divert their Thoughts and Apprehensions from it. But by this figurative Expression of seeing in a Glass, the Apostle declares the comparative Imperfection of our present View of the glory of Christ.

The Shadow or Image of this glory of Christ is drawn in the Gospel, and therein we behold it as the Likeness of a Man represented unto us in a Glass; and although it be obscure and imperfect in comparison of his own real, substantial glory, which is the Object of Vision in Heaven; yet is it the only Image and Representation of himself, which he hath left, and given unto us in this World. That woful cursed Invention of framing Images of him out of Stocks and Stones however adorned, or Representations of him by the Art of painting, are so far from presenting unto the Minds of Men any thing of his real glory, that nothing can be more effectual to divert their Thoughts and Apprehensions from it. But by this figurative Expression of seeing in a Glass, the Apostle declares the comparative Imperfection of our present View of the glory of Christ.

BUT the Allusion may be taken from an Optic Glass or Tube also, whereby the sight of the Eye is helped in beholding things at a great distance. By the aid of such Glasses Men will discover Stars or heavenly Lights, which by reason of their distance from us, the Eye of it self is no way able to discern. And those which we do fee, are more fully represented, though remote enough from being so, perfectly. Such a Glass is the Gospel, without which we can make no discovery of Christ at all, but in the use ⟨p. 142⟩