Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

2. AS it is a great Privilege which requires a due Valuation; so it is a great Mystery which requires much Spiritual Wisdom to the right understanding of it, and to direct in its Practise, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5. Flesh and Blood will not reveal it unto us, but we must be taught of God, to apprehend it, John 1. 12, 13. Mat. 16. 16, 17. Mere unsanctified Reason will never enable us unto, nor guide us in the Discovery of this Duty. Men are not so vain as to hope for Skill and Understanding in the Mystery of a secular Art or Trade, without the diligent Use of those Means whereby it may be attained; and shall we suppose ⟨p. 34⟩that we may be furnished with spiritual Skill and Wisdom in this sacred Mystery, without Diligence in the Use of the Means appointed of God for the attaining of it? The Principal of them is Fervent Prayer. Pray then with Moses, that God would show you this his Glory; pray with the Apostle, that the Eyes of your Understandings may be enlightened to behold it; Pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him. Fill your Minds with spiritual Thoughts and Contrivances about them. Slothful and lazy Souls never obtain one View of this Glory; the Lion in the way deters them from attempting it. Being carnal, they abhor all Diligence in the Use of spiritual Means, such as Prayer and Meditation on things unto them uneasy, unpleasing and difficult. Unto others the Way partakes of the Nature of the End; the Means of obtaining a View of the Glory of Christ are of the same Kind, of the same Pleasantness, with that View it self in their Proportion.

2. AS it is a great Priviledge which requires a due Valuation; so it is a great Mystery which requires much Spiritual Wisdom to the right understanding of it, and to direct in its Practise, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5. Flesh and Blood will not reveal it unto us, but we must be taught of God, to apprehend it,