ON THE GLORY OF CHRIST. se in - thing.. spirituel,-.avh mediate rebellion against its proper conducting light: that is, against the light and rule of grace. There are three sorts of them unto whom the gospel is preached, in whom there are various obstructions of this view. 1. There is in obstinate unbelievers a darkness that is an effect of the power of Satan on their minds, in blinding them, which makes it impossible for them to behold any thing of the glory of Christ. So the apos- tle declares it, 2 Cor. iv. 4. Of thesewe do not speak 2. 'There li in all men, a corrupt, natural darkness; or such a depravation of their minds by nature, as that they cannot discern this glory of Christ in a due man- ner. Hence the light shineth in darkness, and thedark- ness conprehendeth it not. John i. 5. -For Me natural man teceiveth not the things of the Spirit ofGod. I Cor. ii. 14. Hence it is that although Christ be preached among us continually, yet there are very few -who dis- cern any glory or beauty in him, for which he should be desired, as the prophet complains, Isa. liii. 1, 2. But I speak not of this natural darkness in general. But even these persons have their minds filled with pre- judices against the gospel, and darkened as unto the glory of Christ, according as corrupt lusts and affections are prevalent in them, See John i. 4-6. chap. xii. 43. Hence is the difference that is among the common hearers of the word. -For although no man can do any thing of himself for the receiving of Christ and the be- holding of his glory, without the especial aid of the grace of God, Mat. xi. 24. John vi. 44, 4.5. Yet some may make more opposition unto believing, and lay more hindrances in their own way, than others; which is done by their lusts and corruptions. 8. There are those in whom both these evils are cur- ed by faith, wherein the eyes of our understandingsare enlightened to perceive and discern spiritual things. Eph. i. 16, 17, 18. But this cure is wrought in this life but in part, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. And in this cure, I a supply of a principle of saving light unto our minds, there are many degrees. For some have a clearer light than others, and thereby a more clear discerning ofthe mystery of the wisdom of God, and of the glory of Christ therein. But whatever be our attainmentshere- in, that which obstructs this light, that hinders it from shining in a due manner, that obstructs and hinders faith in its view of the glory of Christ. And this is '73 thee, by the .,,,, t.,at, , a,., ptt nen they actin any prevalent degree. For they, darken the mind and weaken it in its spiritual operations. 'l'hat is, where any corrupt and inordinate affections, as love of the world, cares about it, inclinations unto sensuali- ty, or the like spiritual disorders do prevail, faith is weakened in its spiritual acts, especially in discerning and beholding the glory of Christ. For the mind is rendered unsteady in it`s inquiries after it, being con- tinually distracted and diverted with vain thoughts and imaginations. Persons under the power of such distempers may have the same doctrinal knowledge of the person of Christ, his office, and his grace with other men, and the same evidence of its truth fixed on their minds; but when they endeavour a real intuition into the things themselves, all things are dark and confused unto them, from the uncertainty and instability of their own minds. This is the sum of what I do design. We have by faith a view of the glory of Christ. This view is weak and unsteady, from the nature of faith itself, and the way of its proposal unto us as in a glass, in comparison of what by sight we shall attain unto. But moreover, where corrupt lusts or inordinate affections are indulg.. ed unto, where they are not continually mortified, where any one sin hath a perplexing prevalency in the mind, faith will he so far weakened thereby, as that it can neither see nor meditate upon this glory of Christ in a due manner. This is the reason why the most are an weak and unstable in the performance of this duty, yea are almost utterly unacquainted with it. The light of faith in the minds of menbeing impaired, clouded, dark- ened by the prevalency of unmortified lusts, it cannot make such discoveries of this glory, as otherwise it would do. And this makes the preaching of Christ un- to many so unprofitable as it is. Secondly. In the view of the glory of Christ which we have by faith, it will fill the mind with thoughts and meditations about him, whereon the affections will cleave unto him with delight. This, as was said, is inseparable from a spiritual view of his glory in its due exercise. Every one that bath it, must and will have many thoughts concerning, and great affections to him. See the description of these things, Phil. iii. 8, 10. It is pot possible, I say, that we should behold the }2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=