November 11

But we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him.—1 John 3:2.

THIS blessed work of assimilation unto God is begun in regeneration; but how far it is from being perfect, we may soon find by considering, how far short we are from being satisfied in our present state, even in the contemplation of the highest and most excellent objects. How tasteless to our souls are the thoughts of God! How little pleasure do we take in viewing over his glorious attributes! the most acknowledged and adorable excellencies of his being! And whereunto can we impute it but to this, that our spirits are not yet sufficiently co-naturalized to them? Their likeness is not enough deeply instamped on our souls. Nor will this be, till we awake. When we see better, we shall become better; when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. But do we indeed pretend to such an expectation? Can we think what God is, and what we are in our present state, and not confess these words to carry with them an amazing sound, "we shall be like him!" How great a hope is this! How strange an errand hath the gospel into the world! How admirable a design! To transform men and make them like God! Were the dust of the earth turned into stars of the firmament, were the most stupendous poetical transformations assured realities; what could equal the greatness and the wonder of this mighty change? We shall be like him, when he shall appear.

This image will now be perfect: every way, fully perfect.— 1. In all its parts; as it is in the first instance of the soul's entrance into the state of regeneration; the womb of grace knows no defective, maimed births. And yet there is no little advantage, as to this kind of perfection. For now those lively lineaments of the new creature all appear, which were much obscured before: every line of glory is conspicuous, every character legible; the whole entire frame of this image is, in its exact symmetry, and apt proportions, visible at once. And it is an unspeakable addition to the pleasure of so excellent a temper of spirit, that accrues from the discernible entireness of it. Heretofore, some gracious dispositions have been to seek, through the present prevalence of some corruption or temptation, when there was most need and occasion for their being reduced to act. Hence the reward and pleasure of the act, and improvement of the principle, were lost together. Now the soul will be equally disposed to every holy exercise that shall be suitable to its state. Its temper shall be even and symmetrical; its motions uniform, and agreeable: nothing done out of season; nothing seasonable omitted, for want of a present disposition of spirit thereto. There will be not only an habitual, but actual entireness of the frame of holiness in the blessed soul.

2. Again, this image will be perfect in degree; so as to exclude all degrees of its contrary, and to include all degrees of

1 iself. There will be now no longer any resistance with contrary principles; no law in the members warring against the law of the mind; no lustings of the flesh against the spirit. That war is now ended in a glorious victory, and eternal peace. There will be no remaining blindness of mind, no error of judgment, nor perverseness of will, nor irregularity or rebellion of affections: no ignorance of God, no aversion from him, or disaffection towards him. This likeness removes all culpable dissimilitude or unlikeness. This communicated glory fills up the whole soul, causes all clouds and darkness to vanish, leaves no place for any thing that is vile or inglorious; it is pure glory, free from mixture of any thing that is alien to it. And it is itself full. The soul is replenished, not with airy, evanid shadows; but with substantial, solid glory, a massive, weighty glory: for I know not but subjective glory may be taken in with the significance of that known scripture, if it be not more principally intended; inasmuch as the text speaks of a glory to be wrought out by afflictions, which are the files and furnaces, as it were, to polish or refine the soul into a glorious frame. It is cumulated glory, glory added to glory. Here it is growing, progressive glory, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory. It shall, now, be stable, consistent glory; that carries a self-fullness with it; (which some include also in the notion of purity:) it is full itself, includes every degree requisite to its own perfection. God hath now put the last hand to this glorious image, added to it its ultimate accomplishments. Now, a conformity to Christ, even in the resurrection from the dead, in his glorious state, is fully attained. The prize of the high calling of God is now won. And the humble sense of not having attained as yet, and of not being already perfect, in which humility the foundation of the temple of God in a saint is laid, and the building raised, is turned into joyful acclamations, "Grace, grace!" for the laying on of the top-stone, the finishing of this glorious work. And when this temple is filled with the glory of the Lord, the soul itself replenished with the Divine fullness, will not its joys be full too? For here is no sacrifice to be offered but that of praise, and joy is the proper seasoning for that sacrifice.