Chap. i 3. AnExpofation upon the Book of .JoB. Verf. 24. 59 fired ofthe Lord,. that will 1feekofer,that Imay dwellin the hoof:, ofthe Lord állthe dales of my life ; what to do? To behold the beauty of the Lard. Where Both beauty fit? Beauty (its in the face, and therefore to behold the beauty of the Lord, is'to behold the faceof the Lord.. Thefe are the ordinary viuiions of God in this. 1`ife, or the feeing ofhi's face : and when the Lord is pleafed to give any of his fpecial favourites extraordinary and immediate manifeilations of himfelf(which as he did tofome Saints before the comingof Chrill, fo hecan renew it (when he pleafeth, and fees it fitting) to believers now) when, I fay, God gives immedi ate manifeftations ofhimfelf, they may be faid to fee God face to face, becaufe fuch manifeftations are the firft-fruits of glory, or glympfes of Heavenbefore we come to Heaven, where we ¡hall as fully, and as clearly as a finite nature can take in an infi- nite,fee Godface toface. Now, as unbelievers ¡Ball never fee God face to fait inglory: fo'theyknow not what is means to fee his face in waies ofgrace. And thereforethey entertain it with a kindof fcorn, when it is reported that any man hath feen the face of God;this is a (+range language to themen of the:world, who livewithout God in the world. They who live without God in the world, live without - God in theChurch. and weare as Barbariansto them, theyuri- derftand not what we fay, when. we fay we have Peen God in prayer, or at the word, inprivate duties,orin publick affemblies. In thefe, believers fee the face of God, they who do not, do no- thing in any of thefe. Our bufinefs in fuch duties is to fee God:: we come not to fee one another, or to fee the walls and orna- ments of the place we meet in, we come not (as the Di"fciples fpake, wond ring at the fabrick of the Temple). to féewh'át manner offlones andbnaldtngs are there; but to fee what a holy 'and gracioas God is there; and when the worfhippers in fpirit mifs this fight, though theyknow their labour is not loft, yet the comfort they expelled is not gained, and therefore they mourn, yea, humblS6 complain, Wherefore hsdesrt thon thy.face ? Secondly, Obferve,_ 7 hat God lothfömetime"s withdraw himPelf, and hide his ` ce from .his chojceft fervants: Tt -is the foie priviledge.of the Saints to fee the face of God, but they live not alwaies ih the e,ijoyment of that priviledge : Ka. 8. 1741widt.wait upan the.Lord that hadtthhisftce from the bemire
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