An Appendix Concerning Christ's Manifestation of Himself — Section 3

3. How Christ does manifest Himself to them that love him.

1. Christ does here in this world manifest himself but in part and darkly. The soul is not now capable of the fullest and clearest manifestation of Christ's. This is a happiness reserved for the other world (1 John 3:2): Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (John 17:24): Father I will that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me. It is hereafter that Christ's disciples shall be perfectly like Christ, and shall have a perfect manifestation of Christ, that they shall see him as he is: it is hereafter that they shall behold his glory. The luster and brightness of Christ's glory is so great that should he now let forth the beams thereof upon them, it would dazzle and amaze them, it would strike them blind, indeed it would strike them dead; there is need, because of their weakness, that Christ should keep a veil on his face, when he makes discovery of himself, they cannot now bear the full patefaction and manifestation of Christ; therefore Christ does discover himself but in part. As the Queen of Sheba says concerning Solomon's wisdom and prosperity (1 Kings 10:6-7): It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and your wisdom; however I believed not the words, until I came and my eyes had seen it; and behold the one half was not told me, your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame thereof. It is not the one half which Christ's disciples do now hear or can discern of their master's excellencies. It has not now entered into their hearts to conceive what beauties and glories and most admirable perfections there are hid in their Beloved; not only Christ's love but also Christ's loveliness does pass their knowledge; there are such dimensions of most wonderful glory in Christ's person, as do infinitely transcend the capacity of the most elevated minds, fully to comprehend. Christ does manifest himself truly to them that love him, yet it is but partly, and that but a little part, it is but darkly by the beams of a more obscure light (1 Corinthians 13:9-12): For we know in part, and prophesy in part; But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away: When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things: For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; Now I know in part, then I shall know as I am known. We ministers […] part, we can tell you but a little of what there really is in Christ, and both we and you know but in part; our conceptions of Christ's excellencies and our expressions now are childish, hereafter there will be a perfect manifestation of Christ, and then all imperfections of knowledge will be removed. Now you may see Christ, but it is through a glass darkly; hereafter face to face. Indeed it is said (2 Corinthians 3:18): We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed, etc. There is a comparative open discovery of Christ now in Gospel-times, over what there was under the law; the veil of types and figures, which covered and in a great measure hid Christ from the view, is now removed, our face is now open from that veil, but Christ's face is not fully open, there is glass still between our eye and Christ's face (the glass of ordinances which though it does help us to see him, yet it keeps us from the clearest discovery of him) we see but through a glass darkly; our eyes now need this glass to help our weakness, and that we may see what we do see: there is a time coming when we shall be above the need and use of the ordinance-glasses, I mean when we shall see Christ face to face, and know him in heaven as we are known by him.

2. Christ does now manifest himself gradually to them that love him. Christ does not show at once and altogether what he means to discover of himself and of his love, but he does it by degrees, a little at one time, and a little at another time, a little in this ordinance, and a little in that; now he lets down some comfortable beams of the light of his countenance into the soul, by and by clouds do arise and obscure this light, and darkness is upon the spirit. Sometimes Christ opens the curtain and looks upon the soul, gives gracious smiles, by and by the curtain is drawn, and his face is hid; now he appears, and then he disappears; he manifests himself at one time, withdraws himself at another time, and so leads his people on from one discovery of himself to another, until he brings them at last to the full discovery of himself in glory.

3. Christ does manifest himself most sweetly to them that love him, especially after long absence. When the soul has been seeking and cannot find him, wandering in the wilderness under amazing fears, perplexing doubts, doleful despondencies, sinking and heart-overwhelming grief; after a black night of deep desertion, Oh how sweet is the dayspring from on high! Oh how comfortable are the bright beams of the morning light! when he shines upon their dark and despised and sorrowful spirits, giving them to know assuredly that they are the dearly beloved of his soul, that he has not forgotten them, that he will not forsake them, that he has a more tender love to them than the mother to her sucking child! Oh the ravishments of spirit! Oh the transports of soul which do arise from hence! O the songs which are then in their mouths. This is our beloved, we have waited for him! this is our dear Redeemer we have trusted in him! Tongue cannot express the delight, the joy and gladness of heart, which does arise from the manifestation of Christ's presence and love; the joy of harvest, the joy of the bridegroom on the wedding day, the joy of victory and taking great spoils, spoils from an enemy, the joy of a poor man in finding great treasures; and the greatest delight which ever was found in the sweetest sensual enjoyment is not worthy to be compared with the joys and exaltings of heart, in the manifestation of Christ to the soul.