ON THE GLORY OF CHRIST. glory, working in them dispositions unto, and prepara- tion for the enjoyment of it. 2. There is no glory, no peace, no joy, no satisfaction in this world to be compared with What we receive by that weak and imperfect view which we-have of the glo- ry of Christ by faith. Yea, all the joys of the world are a thing of nought in comparison of what we so receive. 3. It is sufficient to give us such a perception, such a foretaste offuture blessedness in the enjoyment of Christ as may continually stir us up to breathe and pant after it. But it is not beatifies'. Other differences of an alike nature between our be- Si holdingof the glory of Christ in this life by faith, and that vision of it, which is reserved for heaven, might be insisted on; but I shall proceed no further. There is nothing farther for us to do herein, but that now and always we shut up all our meditations concerning it, with the deepest self-abasement out ofa sense of our unwor- thiness and insufficiency to comprehendthose things,ad- miration ofthat excellent glory which we cannot com- prehend, and vehement longings for that season when we shall see him as he is, be ever with him, and know him, even as we are known. PART H. THE APPLICATIONOF THE FOREGOING MEDITATIONS CONCERNINGTHE GLORY OF CHRIST. CHAPTER XV. s AN EXHORTATION UNTO SUCH AS ARE NOT YET PARTAKERS OF CHRIST. THAT which remains, is to make someapplication o the glorious truth insisted on unto the souls of them that are concerned. And what I have to offer unto that end, I shall distribute under two heads. The first shall be II ith respect unto them who are yet strangers from this holy and glorious One, who-are not yet made par- takers of him, nor have any especial interest in him. And the second shall be directed unto believers, as a guide and assistance unto their recovery from spiritual decays, and the revival of a spring of vigorous grace, holiness, and obedience in them. For the first of these, although it seems not directly to lie in our way, yet it is suited unto the method of the gospel, that wherever there is a declaration of the excel- lencies of Christ in his person, grace, or office, it should be accompanied with an invitation and exhortation unto X sinners to come unto him. This method he himself first made use of Mat. xi. 27-30. John vii. 37. And he consecrated this method unto our use also. Besides, it is necessary from the nature of the things themselves; for who can dwell on the consideration of the glory of Christ, being called therewith to the declaration of it, but his own mind will engage him to invitelost sinners unto a participation of him? But I shall at present proceed no further in this exhortation, but only unto the proposal of some of those considerations which may prepare, incline, and dispose their minds unto a closure with him as he is tendered in the gospel. As, First. Let them consider well what is their present state with respect unto God and eternity. This Moses wisheth for the Israelites, Deut. xxxii. 29. It is the greatest folly in the world to leave the issues of these 19
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