A53708:119
Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ
Meditations and discourses on the glory of Christ, in his person, office, and grace with the differences between faith and sight applied unto the use of them that believe / by the late Reverend John Owen, D.D.
London: printed by B.A., 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 2: The Glory of the Person of Christ, as the only Representative of God unto the Church.
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.
HEREIN do we behold the Glory of Christ himself, even in this life. This Glory was given him of the Father: Namely, That he now should declare and evidence that God is Love; and he did so, that in all things he might have the Preeminence. Herein we may see how Excellent, how Beautiful, how Glorious and Desirable he is, seeing in him alone we have a due Representation of God as he is Love, which is the most joyful Sight of God that any Creature can obtain. He who beholds not the Glory of Christ herein, is utterly ignorant of those Heavenly Mysteries; he knoweth neither God nor Christ; he hath neither the Father nor the Son. He knows not God, because he knows not the holy Properties of his Nature in the Principal way designed by infinite Wisdom for their Manifestation; he knows not Christ, because he sees not the Glory of God in him. Wherefore whatever Notions Men may have from the Light of Nature, or from the Works of Providence, that there is Love in God, however they may adorn them in elegant affecting Expressions: Yet from them no Man can know that God is Love, In the Revelation hereof Christ hath the Preeminence; nor can any Man comprehend any thing of it aright but in him. It is that which the whole Light of the Creation cannot discover; for it is the Spring and Centre of the Mystery of Godliness.
HEREIN do we behold the Glory of Christ himself, even in this life. This Glory was given him of the Father: Namely, That he now should declare and evidence that God is Love; and he did so, that in all things he might have the Preheminence. Herein we may see how Excellent, how Beautiful, how Glorious and Desirable he is, seeing in him alone we have a due Representation of God as he is Love, which is the most joyful Sight of God that any Creature can obtain. He who beholds not the Glory of Christ herein, is utterly ignorant of those Heavenly Mysteries; he knoweth neither God nor Christ; he hath neither the Father nor the Son. He knows not God, because he knows not the holy Properties of his Nature in the Principal way designed by infinite Wisdom for their Manifestation; he knows not Christ, because he sees not the Glory of God in him. Wherefore whatever Notions Men may have from the Light of Nature, or from the Works of Providence, that there is Love in God, however they may adorn them in elegant affecting Expressions: Yet from them no Man can know that God is Love, In the Revelation hereof Christ hath the Preeminence; nor can any Man comprehend any thing of it aright but in him. It is that which the whole Light of the Creation cannot discover; for it is the Spring and Center of the Mystery of Godliness.