A53708:192
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 3: The Glory of Christ in the Mysterious Constitution of his Person.
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.
SO to manifest how nigh he is unto us, it is said that he stands at the door and knocks, Rev. 3. 20. in the continual tender that he makes of himself and his Grace unto our Souls. For he is always accompanied with the glorious Train of his Graces, and if they are not received, he himself is not so. It is to no purpose to boast of Christ, if we have not an Evidence of his Graces in our Hearts and Lives. But unto whom he is the Hope ⟨p. 52⟩of Future Glory, unto them he is the Life of present grace.
SOMETIMES it may be, that he is withdrawn from us, so as that we cannot hear his Voice, nor behold his Countenance, nor obtain any sense of his Love, though we seek him with diligence. In this state all our thoughts and Meditations concerning him will be barren and fruitless, bringing in no spiritual Refreshment into our Souls. And if we learn to be content with such lifeless, in affecting thoughts of him, as bring in no experience of his Love, nor give us a real View of the Glory of his Person, we shall wither away as unto all the power of Religion.
SOMETIMES it may be, that he is withdrawn from us, so as that we cannot hear his Voice, nor behold his Countenance, nor obtain any sence of his Love, though we seek him with diligence. In this state all our thoughts and Meditations concerning him will be barren and fruitless, bringing in no spiritual Refreshment into our Souls. And if we learn to be content with such lifeless, in affecting thoughts of him, as bring in no experience of his Love, nor give us a real View of the Glory of his Person, we shall wither away as unto all the power of Religion.
WHAT is our Duty in this Case, is so fully expressed by the Spouse in the Canticles, as represents it plainly unto the Minds of Believers, who have any Experience of these things, Chap. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. By night on my Bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the City in the Streets, and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The Watch-men that go about the City found me, to whom I said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go. The like account she gives of her self, and of her Behaviour on the like Occasion, Chap. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.