Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

4. WOULD we then behold the Glory of God, as he manifesteth it in and by the holy Properties of his Nature, with their blessed Operations and Effects, without which we have nothing of the Power of Religion in us, whatever we pretend; this alone is the Way of it. Go to the whole Creation, and all things contained in it; they can say no more, but we have heard the Fame and Report of these things, and what we have heard we declare; but it is but a little Portion of them that we are acquainted withal. The Heavens indeed declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament showeth his handy Work. The invisible things of God are understood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead. But comparatively, it is but little that we can hence learn of these things, as unto what we may behold of them in Christ Jesus. How blind herein was the best Philosopher in comparison of the meanest of the Apostles, yea, of him who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven?

4. WOULD we then behold the Glory of God, as he manifesteth it in and by the holy Properties of his Nature, with their blessed Operations and Effects, without which we have nothing of the Power of Religion in us, whatever we pretend; this alone is the Way of it. Go to the whole Creation, and all things contained in it; they can say no more, but we have heard the Fame and Report of these things, and what we have heard we declare; but it is but a little Portion of them that we are acquainted withal. The Heavens indeed declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his handy Work. The invisible things of God are understood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead. But comparatively, it is but little that we can hence learn of these things, as unto what we may behold of them in Christ Jesus. How blind herein was the best Philosopher in comparison of the meanest of the Apostles, yea, of him who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven?

BUT herein it is required, that we rest not in the Notion of this Truth, and a bare Assent unto the Doctrine of it. The affecting Power of it upon our Hearts, is that which we should aim at. Wherein doth the Blessedness of the Saints above consist? Is it not herein, that they behold and see the Glory of God in Christ? And what is the Effect of it upon those blessed Souls? Doth it not change them into the same Image, or make them like unto Christ? Doth it not fill and satiate them with Joy, Rest, Delight, Complacency and ineffable Satisfaction? Do we expect, do we desire the same State of Blessedness? It is our present View of the Glory of Christ which is our Initiation thereinto, if we are exercised in it,