When I look back a few years, I recollect, that my
thoughts about common things were much contracted to what they are now.
"When I was a child, I thought as a child;" for though I heard surrounding
sounds, and the speeches of all about me, yet they were too vast for me to
comprehend; nor could I convey my ideas to them in articulate words. Yes,
when I rose a little from this infantile state, I could not shake myself
free of my ignorance, nor from any proper notion of the embelting oceans,
opposite poles, and the earth hung upon nothing. Still I knew nothing of the
heavenly bodies, of the glorious sun, splendid moon, or sparkling stars; of
the beauteous rainbow, falling showers, and flashing thunders. These things,
then too sublime for me to think on, are now, in some sense, both
intelligible and familiar; and this arises, not from any addition of new
powers—but from an increase of the faculties of my soul.
Now, let me turn the page, and let my meditation stretch
its wings towards eternal bliss. It is a reviving thought, that this soul of
mine, if united to the living Son of God, the life-giving Head, shall know
divine things in the light of glory. Things which I have hardly heard of,
and which, for the grossness of my ignorance now, cannot enter into my
heart—shall then be my darling themes. Moreover, as sun, moon, and stars,
appear more beautiful to me than formerly, not from any new addition of
glory to them—but my clear knowledge of their nature and magnitude; so that
I am convinced, that if the stars were as near us as the torch of day, they
would all appear as so many flaming suns; and that, if the sun himself were
as near as the moon, whether I looked east or west, south, or north, until
my glance were terminated, still I should see nothing but one immense,
insufferable, flaming sky of fire!
Just so, when translated to the paradise of God, how
shall my soul be delighted with the knowledge of the Most High, and ravished
with the prospect of growing wiser and wiser in the things of God! Though my
soul shall then be perfect in comparison of what she is now, and perfect
with respect to all the parts of knowledge, happiness, and bliss; yet as to
the extent of the degree, that shall always be on the increase; for though
the finite mind can never know all that is to be known of an infinite Being,
who only comprehends himself—yet it will be the excellency, the delight, and
employment of glorified saints, still to aspire after more and more of God.
Now, though no new perfections, attributes, excellences,
or glories shall ever be found in God, being all eternally and essentially
in him, yet the longer I am in his presence, the more glorious will he be to
me, because I shall know him more and more. The more of him I know, the more
shall I admire and love him. The more I admire and love him, I shall become
the more like him. The more I become like him, the larger and more capacious
will my soul become. The more the faculties of my soul are, the more shall I
apprehend of God. The the more that God is apprehended and known, the more
he is glorified. Thus, in an eternal progression of knowing, admiring,
loving, and being assimilated to God, and of enlargement of the soul,
whereby she will be enabled still the more to love, admire, and know, be
assimilated to, approach, and participate of the communicable perfections of
the Godhead—shall consist the uninterrupted employment, and entrancing
felicity of the blessed, while, through the whole, God is all in all.
Again, if there be such a difference between my thoughts
when I first attempted to speak—and when arrived at ten years of age; and
between my thoughts at ten years old—and those which I am at present
capable; what shall the divine increase of my soul be, when, in the beatific
vision of Jehovah and the Lamb, I shall have been an astonished, ravished,
ardent adorer for a thousand years—and add to that another thousand—until
numbers fail, and computation is swallowed up in eternity itself? Shall I
not kindle in his love, brighten in his flame, and be assimilated to him in
his eternal irradiation?
Again, when I consider the vast disproportion there is
among the mental faculties of the sons of men, so that one has the most
absurd views of all things, while another has adequate conceptions of most
things, and sublime though imperfect apprehensions of God himself—I stand
amazed to find, not only that the lowest saint, who is united to Christ, far
outshines the wisest men of the world—but that one saint differs greatly
from another, not only in this world—but in the world to come. Star differs
from star in glory, yet every star is glorious, and full of glory. Now, this
difference of degrees in glory is begun below. "He who sows sparingly, shall
also reap sparingly; but he who sows plentifully, shall reap
plentifully"—forever! The soul that burns in the fire of love, shall come
forth in immortal glory; and as beds of gold are said to ripen in the heaths
of the sun, so shall they who lie most in the rays of the Sun of
Righteousness, ripen into the brightest glory.
Now, when all are plunged into felicity and glory, every
soul shall be perfect, and replenished with glory; yet every soul shall
preserve its attainments, and retain its growth. Therefore, the larger and
more capacious the soul is, in an higher manner is God known; and the more
God is known, the more he is glorified; and this advantage is to be pursued
after, even here on earth. This is the seed-time for a plenteous eternity.
This is the ambition God allows, the avarice heaven commends. What are
kingdoms, crowns, or titles; what are riches, glory, fame—in comparison of
this—to get my soul enlarged and capacitated to receive much of God, by
which he will be glorified the more, and in which will consist the
quintessence of my felicity forever?