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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…
Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints under spiritual decays : in two chapters, from John XVII, xxiv / by the late Reverend John Owen ...Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints under spiritual decayes : in two chapters, from John XVII, xxiv / by the late Reverend John Owen ...
London: printed by J.A. for William Marshall, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
FAITH is the Light wherein we behold the Glory of Christ in this World. And this in its own Nature, as unto this great End, is weak and imperfect, like weak Eyes, that cannot behold the Sun in its Beauty. Hence our sight of it differs greatly from what we shall enjoy in ⟨p. 162⟩Glory, as hath been declared. But this is not all; it is frequently hindered and interrupted in its Operations, or it loseth the view of its object by one means or other. As he who sees any thing at a great distance, sees it imperfectly; and the least interposition or motion takes it quite out of his sight. So is it with our Faith in this matter; whence sometimes we can have little, sometimes no sight at all of the Glory of Christ by it. And this gives us, as we shall see, another Difference between Faith and Sight.
FAITH is the Light wherein we behold the Glory of Christ in this World. And this in its own Nature, as unto this great End, is weak and imperfect, like weak Eyes, that cannot behold the Sun in its Beauty. Hence our sight of it differs greatly from what we shall enjoy in ⟨p. 162⟩Glory, as hath been declared. But this is not all; it is frequently hindred and interrupted in its Operations, or it loseth the view of its object by one means or other. As he who sees any thing at a great distance, sees it imperfectly; and the least interposition or motion takes it quite out of his sight. So is it with our Faith in this matter; whence sometimes we can have little, sometimes no sight at all of the Glory of Christ by it. And this gives us, as we shall see, another Difference between Faith and Sight.
NOW although the consideration hereof may seem a kind of Diversion from our present Argument, yet I choose to insist upon it, that I may evidence the Reasons whence it is that many have so little experience of the things whereof we have treated, that they find so little of Reality or Power in the exercise of this Grace, or the performance of this Duty. For it will appear in the issue, that the whole defect is in themselves; the truth it self insisted on, is great and efficacious.