Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

1. WE may consider the state of our minds in Glory. The faculties of our Souls shall then be made perfect, Heb. 12. The Spirits of just Men made perfect. (1.) Freed from all the clogs of the flesh, and all its influence upon them, and restraint of their Powers in their Operations. (2.) Perfectly purified from all Principles of instability and variety; of all Inclinations unto things Sensual and Carnal, and all Contrivances of Self-preservation or Advancement, being wholly transformed into the Image of God, in spirituality and holiness. And to take in the state of our Bodies after the Resurrection; even they also in all their Powers and Senses, shall be made entirely subservient unto the most spiritual actings of our Minds in their highest Elevation by the Light of Glory. Hereby shall we be enabled and fitted eternally to abide in the Contemplation of the Glory of Christ, with joy and satisfaction. The understanding shall be always perfected with the Vision of God, and the Affections cleave inseparably to him; which is Blessedness.

THE very essential faculties of our Souls in that way and manner of working, which by their Union with our Bodies they are confined unto, are not able to comprehend and abide constantly in the Contemplation of this Glory. So that, though our sight of it here be dim and imperfect, and the proposal of it obscure; yet from the weakness of our minds, we are forced sometimes to turn ⟨p. 187⟩aside from what we do discern, as we do our bodily eyes from the beams of the Sun, when it shines in its brightness. But in this perfect State they are able to behold and delight in this Glory constantly, with eternal satisfaction.

BUT as for me (saith David) I will behold thy face in Righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness,