The contemplations upon the history of the New Testament. The second tome now complete : together with divers treatises reduced to the greater volume / by Jos. Exon.

LXXXVII. Upon the view of the World. [ E]

IT is a good thing to see this materiall World; but it is a better thing to think of the intelligible World. This thought is the sight of the Soul, whereby it discerneth things like it self, Spirituall and Immortall; which are so much beyond the worth of these sensible Objects, as a Spirit is beyond a Body, a pure substance beyond a corruptible, an infinite God above a finite Creature.

O God, how great a word is that which the Psalmist sayes of thee, that thou abasest thy self to behold the things both in Heaven and Earth? It is our glory to look up even to the meanest piece of Heaven; it is an abasement to thine [ F] incomprehensible Majesty to look down upon the best of Heaven. Oh what a transcendent Glory must that needs be, that is abased to behold the things of Heaven! What an happinesse shall it be to me, that mine eyes shall be exalted to see thee, who art humbled to see the place and state of my blessednesse? Yea those very Angels that see thy face are so resplendently glorious, that we could

[ A] not overlive the sight of one of their faces, who are fain to hide their faces from the sight of thine. How many millions attend thy Throne above, and thy Footstool below, in the ministration to thy Saints? It is that thine invi∣sible world, the Communion wherewith can make me truely blessed. O God, if my body have fellowship here amongst Beasts, of whose earthly substance it participates, let my Soul be united to thee the God of Spirits, and be raised up to enjoy the insensible society of thy blessed Angels. Acquaint me before∣hand with those Citizens and affairs of thine Heaven; and make me no stran∣ger to my future Glory.