A53708:371
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 9: The Glory of Christ in his intimate Conjunction with 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.
BY Virtue of his Union with the Church, which of his own accord he entered into, and his undertaking therein to answer for it in the sight of God, it was a righteous thing with God, to lay the punishment of all our sins upon him, so as that he might freely and graciously pardon them all, to the Honour and Exaltation of his Justice, as well as of his Grace and Mercy, Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26.
BY Vertue of his Union with the Church, which of his own accord he entred into, and his undertaking therein to answer for it in the sight of God, it was a righteous thing with God, to lay the punishment of all our sins upon him, so as that he might freely and graciously pardon them all, to the Honour and Exaltation of his Justice, as well as of his Grace and Mercy, Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26.
HEREIN is he Glorious in the sight of God, Angels and Men. In him there is at the same time, in the same Divine Actings, a Glorious Resplendency of Justice and Mercy; of the one in punishing; of the other in pardoning. The appearing inconsistency between the Righteousness of God and the Salvation of sinners, wherewith the Consciences of convinced Persons are exercised and terrified, and which is the Rock at which most of them split ⟨p. 115⟩themselves into Eternal Ruin, is herein removed and taken away. In his Cross were Divine Holiness and Vindictive Justice exercised and manifested; and through his Triumph Grace and Mercy are exerted to the utmost. This is that Glory which ravisheth the Hearts, and satiates the Souls of them that believe. For what can they desire more, what is farther needful unto the Rest and Composure of their Souls, than at one view to behold God eternally well pleased in the declaration of his Righteousness, and the exercise of his Mercy, in order unto their Salvation? In due apprehensions hereof, let my Soul live; in the faith hereof let me dye, and let present Admiration of this Glory make way for the eternal enjoyment of it in its beauty and fullness.