The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

3. Some of the Philosophers of old did attain an Apprehension that the Blessedness of men in another world doth consist in the Souls full satisfaction in the Goodness and Beauty of the Divine Nature. And there is a Truth in this Notion which contemplative men have adorned with excellent and rational Discourses. And sundry who have been and are Learned among Christians, have greatly improved this Truth, by the Light of the Scripture. From Reason they take up with Thoughts of the Goodness, the Amiableness, the self-sufficiency, the all-sufficient satisfactoriness of the infinite Perfections of the Divine Nature. These things shine in themselves with such a glorious Light, as that there is no more required unto a perception of them, but that men do not wilfully shut their eyes against it, through bestial Sensuality and Love of Sin. From Reason also do they frame their Conceptions ⟨p. 103⟩concerning the Capacity of the Souls of men for the immediate Enjoyment of God, and what is suited therein unto their utmost Blessedness. No more is required unto these things, but a due consideration of the Nature of God and Man, with our Relation unto him and dependence on him. By the Light of the Scripture they frame these things into that which they call the Beatifical Vision, whereby they intend all the ways whereby God in the highest and immediate Instances, can and doth communicate of himself unto the Souls of men, and the utmost Elevation of their intellectual Capacities to receive those Communications. It is such an Intellectual Apprehension of the Divine Nature and Perfections, with ineffable Love, as gives the Soul the utmost Rest and Blessedness which its Capacities can extend unto.

3. Some of the Philosophers of old did attain an Apprehension that the Blessedness of men in another world doth consist in the Souls full satisfaction in the Goodness and Beauty of the Divine Nature. And there is a Truth in this Notion which contemplative men have adorned with excellent and rational Discourses. And sundry who have been and are Learned among Christians, have greatly improved this Truth, by the Light of the Scripture. From Reason they take up with Thoughts of the Goodness, the Amiableness, the self-sufficiency, the alsufficient satisfactoriness of the infinite Perfections of the Divine Nature. These things shine in themselves with such a glorious Light, as that there is no more required unto a perception of them, but that men do not wilfully shut their eyes against it, through bestial Sensuality and Love of Sin. From Reason also do they frame their Conceptions