A53708:469
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 12: Differences between our beholding the Glory of Christ by Faith in this World, and by si…
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.
BUT by the light hereof no man can discern spiritual things in a due manner, as the Apostle declares, 1 Cor. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Wherefore God gives a superior, a supernatural Light, the Light of Faith and Grace, unto them whom he effectually calls unto the knowledge of himself by Jesus Christ. He shines into their hearts to give them the knowledge of his Glory in the face of his dear Son. Howbeit this new Light doth not abolish, blot out, or render useless the other Light of Nature, as the Sun when it riseth extinguisheth the Light of the ⟨p. 151⟩Stars: But it directs it, and rectifies it, as unto its principle, object and end. Yet is it in its self, a Light quite of another Nature. But he who hath only the former Light, can understand nothing of it, because he hath no Taste or Experience of its Power and Operations. He may talk of it, and make Enquiries about it, but he knows it not.
NOW we have received this Light of Faith and Grace, whereby we discern spiritual things, and behold the glory of Christ in the Imperfect manner before described. But in Heaven there shall be a superadded light of Glory, which shall make the Mind it self shine as the Firmament, Dan. 12. 3. I shall only say three things of it. (1.) That as the Light of Grace doth not destroy or abolish the Light of Nature, but rectify and improve it; so the Light of Glory shall not abolish or destroy the Light of Faith and Grace, but by incorporating with it, render it absolutely perfect. (2.) That as by the Light of Nature, we cannot clearly comprehend the true Nature and Efficacy of the Light of Grace, because it is of another Kind, and is seen only in its own Light; so by the Light of Grace we cannot absolutely comprehend this Light of Glory, being of a peculiar Kind and Nature, seen perfectly only by its own Light. It doth not appear what we shall be. (3.) That this is the best Notion we can have of this Light of Glory, that in the first Instance of its Operation, it perfectly transforms the Soul into the Image and Likeness of Christ.