ON THE GLO "man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even " so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit " of God. Nowwe have received, not the spirit of the ., world, but the Spirit which is of God: that we might " know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things alsowe speak, not in the words which " man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost as teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the 4' Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: " neither can he know them, because they are spirito- ally discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all ., things, yet hehimself isjudged of no man." Where- fore God gives a superior, a supernatural light, the light of faith and grace, unto them whom he effectually calls unto the knowledge of himself by Jesus Christ. He shines into their hearts, to give thew the knowledge ofhis glory in theface ofhis dear Son. Howbeit this new light Both not abolish, blot out, or render useless the other light of nature, as the sun when it riseth, extinguisheth the light of the stars; bat it directs it, and rectifies it, as unto its principal object and end. Yet is it in itself, a light quite of another nature. But he who bath only the former light, can understand nothing of it, because he bath no taste or experience of its power and operations. Hemay talk ofit, and make inquiries about it, but he knows it not. Now we have received this light of faith and grace, whereby we discern spiritual things, and behold the glory of Christ in the imperfect manner before describ- ed. But inheaven there shall be a superadded light I of glory, which shall make the mind itself shine as a firntantent, Dan. xii. I shall only say three things of it. (I.) That as the light of grace loth not destroy or abolish the light of nature, but rectify and improve it; so the light of glory shall not abolish or destroy the light of faith and grace, but by incorporating with it, - render it absolutely perfect. (2.) That as by the light of nature we cannot clearly comprehend the true nature and efficacy of the light of grace, because it is of another kind, and is seen only in its own light; so by the light of grace, we cannot comprehend this light of glory, being of apeculiar kind and nature, seen perfectly only by its own light It cloth not appear what we shall be. RY OF CHRIST. 61 (3.) That this is the best notion we can have of this light of glory, that in the first instance of its operation, it perfectly transforms the soul into the image and like- ness of Christ. This is the progress of our nature unto its rest and blessedness. The principles remaining in it, concern- ing good and evil, with its practical convictions, are not destroyed, but improved by grace: as its blindness, darkness, and enmity to God are in part taken away. Being renewed by grace, what it receives here ofspirit- ual life and light, shall never be destroyed bot be per- fected in glory. Grace renews nature, glory perfects grace; and so the whole soul is brought unto its rest in God. We have an image of it in the blind man whom our Saviour cured, Mark viii. 22, 23, 24. He wasab- solutely blind, born so, no doubt. Upon the first touch his eyes were opened, and hesaw but very ob- scurely; he saw men walking like trees. But on the se- cond he saw all things clearly. Our minds in them- selves are absolutely blind: the first visitation ofthem by grace, gives them a sight of things spiritual, heaven- ly, and eternal, but it is obscure and unsteady. The sight of glory makes all things clear and evident. 2ndly. The body as glorified, with its senses, shall have its use and place therein. After we are clothed a- gain with our flesh, we shall see our Pedeemer with our eyes. We know not herewhat power and spirituality there will be in the acts of our glorified bodies. Such they will be, as shall bear a part in eternal blessedness. Holy Stephen, the first martyr, took up somewhat of glory by anticipation before he died. For when he was brought to his trial before the council, all that sat chime- in looking stedfastly on him, saw hisface as the face of an angel, Acts vi. l i. He had his transfiguration, ac- cording to his measure, answerable unto that of our blessed Saviour on the mount And by this initial beam of glory, he received such a.piercing vivacity and edge on his bodily eyes, that through all those incon- ceivable distances between the earth and the residence of the blessed, he looked stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand ofGod, Acts vii, 55, 56. Who then can declare what will be the power and acting of this sense of sight when perfectly glorified; or what sweetness and refreshment may be admitted into our souls thereby? 12
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