Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

3. The Apostle exalting to the utmost this Glory of Gospel Light above that of the Law, manifesting that now the veil causing Darkness is taken away;¹ so that with open or uncovered face we behold the Glory of the Lord; Tells us how: As in a glass, 2 Cor. 3.18. In a glass. How is that? Clearly, perfectly? Alas no: He tells you how that is, 1 Cor. 13.12. We see through a glass darkly, saith he: It is not a Telescope, that helps us to see things afar off, concerning which the Apostle speaks; and yet what poor helps are they! How short do we come of the Truth of things, notwithstanding their Assistance! It is a Looking-glass whereunto he alludes, (where are only obscure species and images of things, and not the things themselves) and a sight therein, that he compares our Knowledge to: He tells you also that all that we do see [Greek or Hebrew], by or through this Glass, is in [Greek or Hebrew], in a Riddle, in darkness and Obscurity; And speaking of himself (who surely was much more clear sighted than any now living) he tells us that he saw but [Greek or Hebrew], ⟨p. 133⟩in part; he saw but the back-parts of heavenly things, v. 12. and compares all the knowledge he had attained of God, to that he had of things when he was a child, vers. 11. it is a [Greek or Hebrew] short of the [Greek or Hebrew]: yea such as [Greek or Hebrew], it shall be destroyed or done away. We know what weak, feeble, uncertain Notions and Apprehensions Children have of things of any abstru•• Consideration; how when they grow up with any Improvements of Parts and Abilities, those Conceptions vanish, and they are ashamed of them. It is the commendation of a Child, to love, honour, believe and obey his Father; but for his Science and Notions, his Father knows their childishness and Folly. Notwithstanding all our Confidence of high Attainments, all our Notions of God are but childish in respect of […] infinite Perfections. We lisp and babble ▪ […] say we know not what, for the most part; in our most accurate (as we think) Conceptions and Notions of God. We may love, honour, believe and obey our Father, and therewith he accepts our Childish thoughts, for they are but Childish. We see but his back-parts, we know but little of him. Hence is that Promise, wherewith we are so often supported and comforted in our Distress; we shall see him as he is; we shall see him face to face;