< 68 cA' Declaration ofthe Glorious MYSTERY corruption. This is that body which was offered for us, wherein he bare our fins on the tree. To fancy any fuels change in or of this body by its glorification, as that it fhould not continue effentially and fabflan. tially the fame that it was, is to overthrow the faith of the church, in a principal article of it. We believethat the very fame body whereinhe fu£ fered forus, without any alteration as unto its fubflance, effence, or integral parts, and not another body ofan mtherial, heavenly flrufture, wherein is nothing offlelh, blood or bones, by which he fo frequently teftified the faith- fulnefs ofGod in lais incarnation, is ftill that temple wherein God dwells, and wherein he adminifters in the holy place not made with hands. The body whichwas pierced is that which all eyes !hall feeand no other. On this foundation I willingly allow all perfections in the glorified hu. manenature of Chrift, which are confaflent with its real form and eifence.- I !hall therefore only in Tome inftanccs enquire into the prefent glory of the humane nature of atilt, wherein it differs either in kind or degree fromthe glary of all other faints, whatever. For even among them I freely allow different degrees in the glory, which the eternal order ofthings, that is, the will ofGod in the difpofal ofall risings unto his own glory, doth require. (r.) There is that wherein the prefent glory of the humane nature of Chrift, differethin kind and ;nature from that which any other of the faints are partakers of, or !hall be fo after the refurre ion. And this is g a.) The eternal fubfiftence of that nature of his, in the perfonof the Son of God. As this belongs unto its dignity and honour, fo it doth alfo unto its inherent glory. This is and fhall be eternallypeculiar unto hint, in diftinfrion from, and exaltation above the whble creation ofGod, angels and men. Thofe by whom this is denied, inftead of the glorious naine whereby God (loth call him wonderful, counfellour, the mighty. Gad, &c. do call him 7cabod, where is the glory, or there is none that is peculiar unto him: But the myftery hereof according unto our meafure, and in anfwer unto our deign we have aready declared. And this glory hehad indeed in this world, from the firft inílant of his incarnation or conception in the womb. But as unto the demonftrationof it, be emptied bimfelf, and madehimfelf of no reputation under the form of a fervant. But now the glory of it is illufirioufly difplayed in, the fight of all his holy ones. Some enquire whether the faints in heaven do perfefily comprehend the myftery of the incarnation of the Son of God. I do not well underftand what is ment by perfeetly comprehend. But this is certain, that what is now by faith, we fhall have there by fight. For as we live nowby faith, fo fhall we there by fight. No finite creature can have an abfolute com- prehenfion of that which is infinite. We (hall never [catch out the al- mighty to perfection in any of his works of infinite wifdom. Wherefore this only I !hall fay i there is fuch a fatisfactory evidence in heaven, not only of the truth, but alfo of the nature of this myfiery, as that the glory of Chrift therein is n,,ianifeft as an eternal objeCt of divine ado, ration and honour. The enjoyment of heaven is ufually called the be- atifical vifion: that is, Each an intelle&ual prefent view,. apprehenfion and fight of God and his glory, efpecially as manifefted in Chrift, as will make us blelfed unto eternity. Wherefore in the contemplation of this myftery doth a great part of our bleffednefs confift. And farther our thoughts cannot attain. This is that wherein the glory of the humane nature of Chrift, Both effentially excel and differ from that of any other bleffed creature whatever. And hereon other things do depend. For, 'a.) Hence the union of the humanenature ofChrift unto God, and the èommunications ofGod unto it, are of another kind, than thofe Of the bleefd-
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