374 Of the Ble /dnefs of the Pure in Hear ?. S E R M. fhall I know even as alfo I am known. Such XIII. a difference there is between our prefent L'` ."--j knowledge and that which (hall be attain- ed in the heavenly flate, as between a dark diftant reprefentation and a direst immediate intuition. Of this latter we have now a very imperfet idea, but are helped to form fome apprehenfion of its excellence above the pre - fent method of perceiving divine things, by an allufion to the difference between the knowledge we have of a man by defcription, and feeing him with our eyes face to face, or between our knowledge of fuperior beings, which is very obfcure, and their comprehen- five knowledge of us. This is always re- prefented in fcripture, as the fubftantial feli- city of the glorified faints, Rill, however, as upon a comparifon vaftly tranfcending our prefent attainments, i John iii. z. Now are we the fans of God, but it Both not appear what we (hall be, but we know that when he (hall appear, we fhall be like him, for we 'hall fee him as he is, And not only is it a great happinefs in itfelf, fully fatisfying the under- ftanding with the complete knowledge of the heft object which now it longeth for, and afpireth to with pain, but becaufe of the im- mediate influence which it bath upon the affeáions, and all the attive powers of the mind,
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