Things at a distance seem vastly less than what they really are. The lofty
hill that seems so large when we are at its base—so lessens when we recede
from it—that it soon seems no larger than a mole-hill, and then sinks out of
sight.
Now, how true does this hold of spiritual and eternal
things! What narrow notions and confined conceptions have we of the world to
come! Nothing but the eye of faith, through the telescope of Scriptural
revelation, can view the eternal state. But how often do mists of ignorance
darken the eye, and clouds of unbelief obscure the glass! Hence, the
pleasing thought is often interrupted, and the view at best falls very far
short of what it shall be—when faith is changed to sight in
the day of glory.
What a poor and partial opinion we now have of the
celestial paradise! It is so distant from our sight and affections, that we
are apt to think the garden of God no better than a barren desert, and that
there is neither fruit nor flower in all the heavenly Eden. We think nothing
of the hosannas of the higher house—and nothing of the howlings of the
lowest hell. What unconcerned views have we of the wrath to come—and of the
glory that shall be revealed! We dwell at such a distance from the throne of
grace, that we are little benefitted by the healing beams; and the throne of
glory is so far distant, that we behold but little of the heavenly
splendors. Alas! like children who peep through the wrong end of the
telescope—we conceive a future world to be of no great importance; and we
set our own death at such a far distance—that it almost disappears from our
sight!
But, were our glances of eternity rightly guided—we would
believe that obtaining heavenly glory would be all our concern; and behold
our death as always at the door. The sun which lights the world, by his
great distance—appears to us only as a small globe of fire. But, were he as
near as the clouds, his vast bulk would make a magnificent and dreadful
appearance—and wherever we would roll our eye, it would be all one sky of
fire!
Even so, how little do we see of him who kindled up the
sun, and lighted all the stars! Though he be not far from everyone of us,
yet we see him not—who is all things in all! But when our eye is spiritually
enlightened, we shall see him in all things—in heaven above, and on earth
beneath—in creation and providence—in the scriptures of truth, and in the
Son of his love—in the heavenly multitudes, and in his people on earth—in
his own perfections, and in every power of the soul.
No wonder that true religion appears ill-favored and ugly
to the men of the world—who have never taken a close look at her countenance
and charms. But the nearer we live to the Savior, the more of his loveliness
we shall see, and be the more enamored we will be! The more we exercise
ourselves in piety, the duties thereof will still be the more amiable and
engaging.
Now, if glory at this great distance, (for what can be
more removed from each other—than time and eternity—this and the eternal
world?) be so desirable, so divine, whose very anticipation sheds a heaven
into the soul, which rejoices with exceeding great joy, in hope of the glory
of God! What must eternal glory be—when possessed to the full! If the
numbered drops that water the fields below be so refreshful—what must that
overflowing fullness be in the regions above, which satiates and replenishes
the soul! If the Sun of Righteousness shines so bright in the skies of
grace, through all the clouds; where he is but beginning to arise—what must
his clear, his unclouded beams be in the skies of glory, where his meridian
splendor is eternal!
If this eternal bliss, this happiness, this life, this
joy and glory—be accounted by us, while little known—immense, excellent, and
infinite; what must it be, when beheld in full light, possessed in a higher
capacity, and enjoyed to its full extent!