A53708:487
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.
IN this frame of heart and suitable actings of their Souls, there was more of the power of true faith and love than is found among the most at this day. They saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, Heb. 11. 13. They reached out the arms of their most intent Affections, to embrace the Things that were promised. We have an instance of this frame in Old Simeon, who so soon as he had taken the Child Jesus in his Arms, cried out, Now Lord, let me depart, now let me dye, this is that which my Soul hath longed for, Luk. 2. 28, 29.
IN this frame of heart and suitable actings of their Souls, there was more of the power of true faith and love than is found among the most at this day. They saw the promises afar off, and were perswaded of them, and imbraced them, Heb. 11. 13. They reached out the arms of their most intent Affections, to embrace the Things that were promised. We have an instance of this frame in Old Simeon, who so soon as he had taken the Child Jesus in his Arms, cryed out, Now Lord, let me depart, now let me dye, this is that which my Soul hath longed for, Luk. 2. 28, 29.
OUR present darkness and weakness in beholding the Glory of Christ, is not like theirs. It is not occasioned by a veil of Types and Shadows cast on it by the Representative ⟨p. 158⟩Institutions of it; It doth not arise from the want of a clear Doctrinal Revelation of the Person and Office of Christ; But as was before declared, it proceedeth from two other Causes. First from the nature of Faith it self in comparison of Vision. It is not able to look directly into this excellent Glory, nor fully to comprehend it. Secondly, from the way of its proposal, which is not substantial of the thing it self, but only of an Image of it, as in a Glass. But the sight the view of the Glory of Christ, which we shall have in Heaven, is much more above that which we now enjoy by the Gospel, than what we do, or may so enjoy, is above what they have attained under their Types and Shadows. There is a far greater distance between the Vision of Heaven, and the sight which we have now by faith, than is between the sight which we now have, and what they had under the Old Testament. Heaven doth more excel the Gospel-State, than that State doth the Law. Wherefore, if they did so pray, so long for, so desire the removal of their Shadows and Veils, that they might see what we now see, that they might so behold the Glory of Christ, as we may behold it in the Light of the Gospel; how much more should we, if we have the same Faith with them, the same Love (which neither will, nor can be satisfied without perfect fruition) long and pray for the removal of all Weakness, of all Darkness and Interposition, that we may come unto that immediate beholding of his Glory, which he so earnestly prayed, that we might be brought unto.