Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v6

Chap. i 9. An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf. z6. 377 And the reafon why this vifion is our joy and happineffe, ari- feth foure wayes. Fidi, Becaufe our feeing of God makes us like him, like him twowayes, orin a double conformitie. Firft, in holineffe ; and therefore, fecondly, in bleffedneffe. Thefe two cannot be feparated. They that are ( according to their capacitie) holy asGod isholy, fhall alfo ( according to their capacitie) be happy as God is happie ; Now that our feeing of God impref- feth upon us a fimilitude of his holineffe, is affirmed by the Apoftle john ( a Epifi 3. 2. ) We ¡hall be like him, (Why ?) for we Jhdfeehim. For if thevifion we have ofGod here, (in pro- portion to it) draw a likeneffe upon our foules (looke how much any foule fees ofGod by faith, by f) much is that foule made like to God inholineffe) we all ai in a glaffe behold the glary ofthe Lord, and arechanged into thefame Image (zCor. 3. r8.)Now ifhere in grace,while we in promifes and providences, and ordinances behold Godwe are made like to him,much more Thal! we be fo, when we fee him face to face. The true reafon why we are not more like God in this life, is becaufe we fee and truely know fo littleofhim. Secondly , Bleffedneffe is nothing but fatisfaftian and content. TheDevill is molt miferable, becaufe he is nothing but diffatisfaRion, and difcontent. And hence the Devil la- bours to put all into a difcontented moode, that they may be miferable, as he is. Now as our likneffe to God rifeth from vifion, fo our fatisfaetion, content, and reft, rife from both. (Pfal. i 7. 15.) As for me, I will behold thyface in righteonfneffe. The Pfalmift fpake in theformer Verfe of the utmoft happines ofworldly men, who have their portion in this life ; and in this Verfe he fpegtes by way ofoppofition to that, ofhis own hap- pineffe, together with the happineffeofall the people of God; As for me I will behold thyface,&c. As ifhe had fayd,Let others place their happineffe in what they will, as for me or for `my pare here is my happineffe, Tobehold theface of961 in righteouf- neffe , ( without holinef a no man canfee the Lord.) E ut what's the benefit ofbeholding the face ofGod ? Thenext words expreffe it ; I (hallbefatisfiedwhen I awake with thy likenele. If we un- derftand the Pfalmift (as force doe) of beholdingGod here in his favoursaid rnercie that confirmes the poynt more ; for ifthe C c c foule

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