Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

(2.) They shall see God, Matth. v. 8. They will be happy in seeing the Father, Son, and holy Ghost (not with their bodily eyes, in respect of which God is invisible 1 Tim i 17. but) with the eyes of their understanding; being blest with the most perfect, full, and clear knowledge of God and divine things, which the creature is capable of. This is called the beatific vision, and is the perfection of the understanding, the utmost term thereof. It is but an obscure delineation of the glory of God, that mortals can have on earth; a sight, as it were of his back part, Exod. xxxiii. 23. But there they will see his face, Rev. xxii. 4. They shall see him in the fullness of his glory, and behold him fixedly; whereas it is but a passing view they can have of him here, Exod. xxxiv. 6. There is a vast difference betwixt the sight of a king in his night-clothes, quickly passing by us; and a fixed leisure view of him sitting on his throne in his royal robes, his crown on his head, and his sceptre in his hand: such a difference will there be, between the greatest manifestation of God that ever a saint had on earth; and the display of his glory that shall be seen in heaven. There the saints ⟨p. 309⟩shall eternally, without interruption, feed their eyes upon him, and be ever viewing his glorious perfections. And as their bodily eyes shall be strengthened and fitted, to behold the glorious majesty of the man Christ; as eagles gaze on the sun, without being blinded thereby: so their minds shall have such an elevation, as will fit them to see God in his glory […] capacities shall be enlarged, according to the measure in which he shall be pleased to communicate himself unto them for their complete happiness.

(2.) They shall see God, Matth. v. 8. They will be happy in seeing the Father, Son, and holy Ghost (not with their bodily eyes, in respect of which God is invisible 1 Tim i 17. but) with the eyes of their understanding; being blest with the most perfect, full, and clear knowledge of God and divine things, which the creature is capable of. This is called the beatifick vision, and is the perfection of the understanding, the utmost term thereof. It is but an obscure delineation of the glory of God, that mortals can have on earth; a sight, as it were of his back part,