Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

SUCH I say is the sight of the glory of Christ which we have in this world by Faith. It is dark, it is but in part. It is but weak, transient, imperfect, partial. It is but little that we can at any time discover of it; It is but a little while, that we can abide in the contemplation of what we do discover, rara hora, brevis mora. Sometimes it is unto us as the Sun when it is under a Cloud, we cannot perceive it. When he hideth his face, who then can behold him? As Joh speaks, so may we, Behold I go forward, but he is not there: and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him, chap. 23. 8, 9. Which way soever we turn our selves, and what duties soever we apply our selves unto, we can obtain no distinct view of his glory. Yet on the other hand, it is sometimes as the Sun when it shines in its brightness, and we cannot bear the rays of it. In infinite condescension he says unto his Church, Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me, Cant. 6. 5. As if he could not bear that overcoming affectionate love, which looks through the eyes of the Church in its acting of Faith on him. Ah! How much more do we find our souls overcome with his love, when at any he is pleased to make any clear discoveries of his glory unto us!

SUCH I say is the sight of the glory of Christ which we have in this world by Faith. It is dark, it is but in part. It is but weak, transient, imperfect, partial. It is but little that we can at any time discover of it; It is but a little while, that we can abide in the contemplation of what we do discover, rara hora, brevis mora. Sometimes it is unto us as the Sun when it is under a Cloud, we cannot perceive it. When he hideth his face, who then can behold him? As Joh speaks, so may we, Behold I go forward, but he is not there: and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him, chap. 23. 8, 9. Which way soever we turn our selves, and what duties soever we apply our selves unto, we can obtain no distinct view of his glory. Yet on the other hand, it is sometimes as the Sun when it shines in its brightness, and we cannot bear the rays of it. In infinite condescention he says unto his Church, Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me, Cant. 6. 5