6 MEDITATIONS A this glory of so the means or instrument of the beholding of it, is much more excellent than faith, and in its kind absolutely perfect, as hath in part been be- fore declared. This is vision or sight. Here we walk by faith, there by sight. And this sight is not an ex- ternal aid, like a glass helping the weakness of the vi- áive faculty to see things afar off; but it is an internal power, or an act of the internal power of our minds, wherewith they are endued in a glorified state. Here- by we shall be able to see him face to face, to see him as he is, in a direct comprehension of his glory; for this sight or visive power shall be given us for this very end, namely, to enable us so to do. Hereunto the whole glory of Christ is clear, perspicuous, and evident, which will give us eternal acquiescency therein. Hence shall our sight of the gloryof Christ be invariable, and al- ways the same. 2. The Lord Christ will never in any one instance on any occasion, so much as one moment withdraw himself from us, or eclipse the proposal and manifesta- tion of himselfunto our sight. This he doth sometimes in this life, and it is needful for us that so he should do. We shall be ever with the Lord, (1 Thess. iv. 17.) with- out end, without interruption. This is the centre of good and evil, as to the future different states of men, they shall befor ever. Eternity makes them absolutely good on the one hand, and absolutelyevil on the other. To be in hell under the wrath of God, is in itself the greatest penal evil; but to he there for ever, without the intermission of misery, or determination of time, is that which renders it the greatest evil unto them who shall be in that condition. So is eternity the life of future blessedness. We shall be ever with the Lord, without limitation of time, without interruption of enjoyment. There are no vicissitudes in the heavenly state. The New Jerusalem hath no temple in it, for the Lord God Almightyand the Lambare the temple thereof, Rev. xxi. 22. There is no need of instituted means of worship nor of ordinances of divine service; for we shall need neither increase ofgrace, nor excitations unto its exer- cise. The constant, immediate, uninterrupted enjoy- ment of God and the Lamb supplieth all. And it bath 0' no needof the sun, nor of the moon to shine in it, o' for the glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb g' is the light thereof." The light of thesun is excel- ND DISCOURSES lent; howbeit, it hath its seasons; after it bath shone in its brightest lustre, it gives place to the night and dark- ness: so is the light of the moon of great use in the night; but it bath its seasons also. Such is the light we have of the glory of God and the Lamb in this world. Sometimes it is as the light of the sun, which under the gospel is seven-fold, as the light of seven days in one, in comparison of the law (Isa..xxx. 26.): sometimesas the light of the moon, which giveth relief in the night of temptations and trials. But it is not constant; we are under a vicissi- tude of light and darkness, views of Christ, and a loss of him. But in heaven, the perpetual presence of Christ with his saints, makes it always one noon of light and glory. 4. This vision is not in the least liable unto any weakenings from internaldefects, nor any assaults from temptations, as is the sight of faith in this life. No doubts or fears, no disturbing darts or injections shall there have any place. There shall no habit, no quali- ty, no inclination or disposition remain in our souls, but what shall eternally lead us unto the contemplation of the glory of Christ, with delight and complacency; nor will there be any defect in the gracious powers of our souls, as unto a perpetual exercise of them. And as unto all other opposing enemies, we shall be in a perpetual triumph over them, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56, 27. The mouth of iniquity shall be stopped for ever, and the voice of the self avenger shall be heard no more. Wherefore the vision which we shall have in heaven of the glory of Christ is serene: always the same, always new and indeficient, wherein nothing can disturb the mind in the most perfect operations of a blessed life. And when all the faculties of the soul can, without any internal weakness or external hindrances exercise their most perfect operations on their most perfect object; therein lies all the blessedness which our nature is capa- ble of. Wherefore whenever in this life we attain any com- fortable refreshing view of the glory of Christ, by the exercise of faith on the revelation of it, with a sense of our interest therein, we cannot but long after, and de- sire to come unto this more perfect, abiding, invariable aspect of it.
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