i 8 e/1 Declaration of the Glorious My s T E RY henfible unto our reafon. An apprehenfion, which as it arifeth from the pride which naturally enfuesonthe ignoranceof Godand our felves ; fo it is not on- ly an invention fuited todebafe religion, but anengine to evert the faith ofthe church inall the theprincipal myfteries of the gofpel, efpecially of theTrinity andIncarnationof the San of God. But faith which as trulydivine, is never morein its proper exercife, cloth never more elevate the foul into conformity untoGod, than when itats in the contemplation andadmiration of the molt . incomprebexfible myfleries,which are propofed unto it by divine revelation. Hence things philofophieal, and ofa deep rational indagation, find great acceptance in the world, as in their proper place they do deferve. Men are furnifhed with proper meafures of them, and they find them proportio- nate unto the the principles of their own underftandings. But as forfpiri- tisaland heavenly myfleries, the thoughts of men for the mot part recoil upon their firft propofal, norwill he encouraged to engage in a diligent en- quiry into them, yea commonly 'rejet them as foolifh, or at leaft that wherein they are not concerned. The reafon is that given in another cafe by the apoftle, all men have not faith, 2 Thef. ii. 2. which makes them ab- lurd and unreafonable in the confideration of the proper objects of it. But where this faith is, the greatnefs of the myfteries which it embraceth, heigh- tens its efficacy in all bleffed effets upon the foul. Such is this cárflituti- on of the perfonof Chri, wherein all theglory of all the holy properties and perfetions of the divine natureare manifefted, and do thine forth. So fpeaks the apoftle, aCor. iii. 18. Beholdingas in aglafs theglory of the Lord, we are changed into thefame imagefrom glory to glory. Thisglory whichwe behold is the glory of theface of God in Jefus Chrift, chap. iv. 6. or the glori- ousreprefentation which is made ofhim in the perfonofChrift, whereofwe (hall treat afterwards. The glafs wherein this glory is reprefentedunto us propofed unto our view and contemplation, is divine revelation in the Gofpel. Hereinwe behold it alone by faith alone. And thofewhofe view is ftedfaft, whomolt abound in that contemplation bythe exercifeof faith, are thereby changed into the fame image from glory toglory; or are more andmore renewed and transformed into the likenefs of God fo reprefented unto them. That which (hall at Ialt pettedly effet our utmoft conformity to God, and therein our eternal bleffednefs, is vifion, or fight, We Pallhe likehim, for we fhallfee him as he is, a john in. a. Here faith begins whatfight (hall perfect hereafter. But yet we walk by faith, and not by fight, 2 Cor. v. 7. And although the life of faith and vifion differ in degrees, or as fome think in kind, yet have they both the tune objet, and the fame operations; and there is a great cognation between them. The objet of vifion is the whole myftery of the divine exiftence and will ; and its ope- ration, is a perfekt conformity to God, a liknefs unto him, wherein our bleffednefs (hall conflit. Faith hath the faine objet, and the fame operati- ons in its degree and meafure. The great and incomprehenfable myfteries of the divinebeing, of the will and wifdom of God, are its proper objets, and its operation with refpet unto us, is conformity and likenefs unto him. And this it doth in a peculiar manner in the contemplation of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift; and herein we have our neareft approaches unto the life of vifion, and the effets of it. For therein beholding the glo- ry of God in theface of 7efus Cbrifl, we are changed into the fame image from glory to glory; which perfetly to confummate is the effet of fight in glory. The exercife of faith hereindotty more raife and perfect the mind, more difpofe it unto holy heavenly frames and affetions, than any other duty whatever. To
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