Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

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.

OUR present darkness and weakness in beholding the Glory of Christ, is not like theirs. It is not occasioned by a vail 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 excelient 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 excell 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 Vails, 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.