§. 78. Of the honor and benefits of seeing God.
THe foresaid point of seeing God, giveth evidence of the great and good re∣spect which God beareth to man: though God be invisible, incomprehensible, yet he is pleased to afford means whereby man may see him. Among the Persians and other Heathen, it was accounted an high honour to be admitted to see the Kings face, Hest. 1. 14. and 5. 2. But what was that to the seeing of the Lord of heaven and earth? It is one branch of that which the Apostle stileth a great mystery, that God was seen of Angels, 1 Tim. 3. 16. What is it then to be seen of sons of men? Moses desired this as an especiall evidence of Gods favour, Exod. 33. 18. and Iac•…•…b, as a testimony of his high account thereof, and as a memoriall to all posterity of that favour, named the place where he saw God, Peniel, that is the face of God, Gen. 32. 30. This honour and favour have all true believers.
This honour is the greater in regard of the many benefits which flow from thence, both in this life and the life to come.
In this world sight of God
- 1. Makes men fearfull of sin: and that not only in the sight of men, but also in secret, where they see God, Gen. 39. 9. Herein lieth a main difference betwixt the unholy and holy. God seeth them both: but the unholy see not God as the holy do.
- 2. It maketh men carefull to please God, instance Enoch, Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 11. 5.
- 3. It imboldneth against all that man can do and maketh Saints endure any thing, Heb. 11. 27. For by seeing God they are assured to have suffici∣ent assistance, and seasonable deliverance.
- 4. It much encourageth, and comforteth, even in death it self: witnesse the case of Stephen, Act. 7. 55, 56.
- 5. It assureth us of a blessed resurrection.
In the world to come that sight which Saints shall have of God, will possesse and fill their souls with all the content, joy and delight that possible can be, Psal. 16. 11.* 1.1 and 17. 15. It is therefore stiled a beatificall vision. The sweetnesse, the fullnesse, the hapinesse thereof, no tongue can expresse, no heart can conceive. The souls of the glorified Saints are ravished therewith. This is it whereof most truely it may be said, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2. 9.