February 10

For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.—1 Corinthians 13:12.

THOSE weak and dim representations made by faith, at a distance, are the very joy and rejoicing of a believer's soul now, but how sweet and transporting soever these visions of faith be, they are not worthy to be named in comparison with the immediate and beatific vision—face to face. This is the very sum of a believer's blessedness: and what it is we can not comprehend in this imperfect state; only in general we may gather these conclusions about it, from the account given of it in the Scriptures:

1. That it will not be such a sight of God as we now have by the mediation of faith, but a direct, immediate, and intuitive vision of God; "We shall see him as he is." "But then face to face," which far transcends the vision of faith in clearness and in comfort. This seems to import no less than the very sight of the Divine essence, that which Moses desired on earth to see, but could not, nor can be seen by any man dwelling in a body, nor by glorified souls comprehensively; so God only sees himself. Our eyes see the sun which they can not comprehend, yet truly apprehend. God will then be known in his essence, and in the glory of all his attributes. The sight of the attributes of God gives the occasion and matter of those ascriptions of praise and glory to him, which is the proper employment of glorified souls, and of the angels. Oh how different is this from what we now have through faith, duties, and ordinances. See the difference between knowledge by report and immediate sight, in the example of the queen of the south, the former only excited her desires, the latter transported and overcame her very soul.

Some may think such a vision of God to exceed the abilities of nature, and capacities of any creature. But as a learned man rightly observes, if the Divine nature be capable of union with a creature, as it is evident in the person of Christ, it is also capable of being the object of vision to the creature. Beside, we must know the light of glory hath the same respect to this blessed vision, that assisting grace hath to the acts of faith and obedience performed here on earth. It is a comforting, soul-strengthening light, not to dazzle and overpower, but to comfort, strengthen, and clear the eye of the creature's understanding. "I will give him the morning star." "In thy light we shall see light."

2. It will be a satisfying sight; so perfectly quieting, and giving rest to the soul in all its powers, that they neither can proceed, nor desire to proceed any farther. The understanding can know no more; the will can will no more; the affections of joy, delight, and love are at full rest and quiet in their proper centre. For all good is in the chiefest good eminently; as all the light of the candles in the world is in the sun, and all the rivers of the world in the sea. That which makes the understanding, will, and affections move farther, as being restless and unsatisfied in all discoveries and enjoyments here, is the limited and imperfect nature of things we now converse with; as if you bring a great ship that draws much water into a narrow and shallow river, she can neither sail nor swim, but is presently aground. But let that ship have sea-room enough, then she can turn and sail before the wind because there is a depth of water, and room enough. So is it here; all that delighted, but could never satisfy you in the creature, is eminently in God; and what was imperfectly in them, is perfectly to be enjoyed in him, "God shall be all in all;" the comforts you had here were but drop by drop, inflaming, not satisfying the appetite of the soul: but then "the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of waters." The object fills the faculties.

3. It will be a deeply affecting sight: your eyes will now so affect your hearts as they were never affected before. The first view of God will snatch away your hearts to him, as a greater flame doth the less. Love will not now distill from the heart, as waters from a cold still, but gush out in an overflowing fullness of affection. The soul will not move after God so deadly and slowly as it doth now, but be as the chariots of Ammi-nadib. We may say of the frames of our hearts there, compared with what they are here, as it is said in Deuteronomy 12:8, 9, "You shall not love, or delight in God, as you do this day." If the perfection of that state would admit shame or sorrow, how should we blush and mourn in heaven, to think how cold our love, and how low our delights in God were on earth! "God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God." Look, as iron put into the fire becomes all fiery, so the soul dwelling in the God of love, becomes all love, all delight, all joy. O what transports must that soul feel, that abides under the line of love! feels the perpendicular beams of creating, redeeming, preserving love, beating powerfully upon it, and melting it into love!

4. It will be an everlasting vision of God: "So shall we be ever with the Lord:" ever with the Lord.—Who can find words to open the due sense of these few words! This is the everlasting sabbath which hath no night. The eternal happiness purchased for the saints by the invaluable blood of Christ. If one hour's enjoyment of God, in the way of faith, be so sweet, and no price can be put upon it, nothing on earth taken in exchange for it; what must a whole eternity, in the immediate and full vision of that blessed face in heaven be!

Surely, if such sights as these immediately succeed the sight you have on earth, either by sense, of things natural, or by reason, of things intellectual, or by faith, of things spiritual, who that believes the truth, and expects the fulfilling of such promises as these, would not be willing to have his eyes closed by death as soon as God shall please? I have read of a holy man that had sweet communion with God in prayer, who in the close of his duty cried out,—Be shut, O mine eyes, be shut; you shall never see any thing on earth like that I have now seen. Ah! little do the friends of departed believers think what visions of God, what ravishing sights of Christ the souls of their friends have, when they are closing their eyes with tears.

"Come, heavenly Dove My soul remove From life's severe distresses, To that glorious rest above, To my Lord's embraces!

"Saviour, to thee I fain would flee, I would be always praising, Spend a whole eternity In worshipping and gazing!"