The Pure In Heart Blessed
The Pure In Heart Blessed
Dated 1753. Preached to the Stockbridge Indians
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they
shall see God.
GOD
formerly delivered his law from mount Sinai by an audible voice, with the sound
of a trumpet, with the appearance of devouring fire, with thunders, and
lightnings, and earthquakes. But the principal discoveries of God’s Word and
will to mankind were reserved to be given by Jesus Christ, his own Son, and the
Redeemer of men, who is the light of the world.
In this sermon of Christ, of
which the text is a part, we hear him delivering the mind of God also from a
mountain. Here is God speaking, as well as from mount Sinai, and as immediately,
but after a very different manner. There God spake by a preternatural formation
of sounds in the air. Here he becomes incarnate, takes on him our nature, and
speaks, and converses with us, not in a preternatural, awful, and terrible
manner, but familiarly as one of us. His face was beheld freely by all that were
about him. His voice was human, without those terrors which made the children of
Israel desire that God might speak to them immediately no more. And the
revelation which he makes of God’s Word is more clear and perfect, and fuller
of the discoveries of spiritual duties, of the spiritual nature of the command
of God, of our spiritual and true happiness, and of mercy and grace to mankind.
John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.”
This discourse of Christ on
the mount seems principally leveled against the false notions, and carnal
prejudices, that were at that day embraced by the nation of the Jews. And those
benedictions, which we have in the beginning of his sermon, were sayings that
were mere paradoxes to them, wholly contrary to the notions which they had
received. That he, who was poor in spirit, was blessed, was a doctrine contrary
to the received opinion of the world, and especially of that nation, who were
exceedingly ambitious of the praise of men, and highly conceited of their own
righteousness. And that he was a blessed and happy man, who mourned for sin, and
lived mortified to the pleasures and vanities of the world, was contrary to
their notions, who placed their highest happiness in worldly and carnal things.
So also that they who were meek were blessed, was another doctrine very contrary
to their notions, who were a very haughty, proud nation, and very revengeful,
and maintained the lawfulness of private revenge, as may be seen in the 38th
verse. Equally strange to them was the declaration that they who hungered and
thirsted after righteousness were happy. For they placed their happiness, not in
possessing a high degree of righteousness, but in having a great share of
worldly good. They were wont to labor for the meat that perisheth. They had no
notion of any such thing as spiritual riches, or of happiness in satisfying a
spiritual appetite. The Jews were dreadfully in the dark at that day about
spiritual things. The happiness which they expected by the Messiah was a
temporal and carnal, and not a spiritual, happiness. Christ also tells them that
they were blessed who were merciful and who were peacemakers, which was also a
doctrine that the Jews especially stood in need of at that day, for they were
generally of a cruel, unmerciful, persecuting spirit.
The truth which Christ
teaches them in the text, that they were blessed who were pure in heart, was a
thing wholly beyond their conceptions. The Jews at this time placed almost the
whole of religion in external things, in a conformity to the rites and
ceremonies of the law of Moses. They laid great stress on tithing mint, and
anise, and cumin, and on their traditions, as in washing hands before meat and
the like. But they neglected the weightier matters of the law, and especially
such as respected holiness of heart. They took much more care to have clean
hands, and a clean outside, than a clean heart, as Christ tells them, Mat.
23:25, 27, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean
the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within ye are full of extortion
and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and
platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
We may observe concerning
the words of the text,
I. That Christ pronounces
the pure in heart, blessed. Christ here accommodates his instructions to the
human nature. He knew that all mankind were in the pursuit of happiness, he has
directed them in the true way to it, and he tells them what they must become in
order to be blessed and happy.
II. He gives the reason why
such are blessed, or wherein the blessedness of such consists, that they shall
see God. It is probable the Jews supposed that it was a great privilege to see
God, from those passages in the law, where there is an account of Moses’s
earnestly desiring to see God’s glory; and from the account that is given of
the seventy elders. Exo. 24:9, 10, 11, “Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab
and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and they saw the God of Israel:
and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as
it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children
of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.”
It is also probable that
they had very imperfect notions of what the vision of God was, and of the
happiness that consisted in it, and that their notion of this matter, agreeably
to the rest of their carnal, childish notions, was of some outwardly splendid
and glorious sight, to please the eye and to entertain the fancy.
From these words I
shall derive two propositions.
First,
it is a truly blessed thing to the soul of man to see God.
Second,
to be pure in heart, is the certain and only way to attain to this blessedness.
First,
it is a truly blessed thing to the soul of man to see God. Here I shall attempt
to show,
1. What is meant by
seeing God.
(1.) It is not any
sight with the bodily eyes. The blessedness of the soul does not enter in at
that door. This would make the blessedness of the soul dependent on the body, or
the happiness of man’s superior part dependent on the inferior. And this would
have confirmed the carnal and childish notions of the Jews.
God is a spirit,
and is not to be seen with the bodily eyes. We find it attributed to God that he
is invisible. Heb. 11:27, “As seeing him, who is invisible.” Col. 1:15,
“Who is the image of the invisible God.” It is mentioned as a part of
God’s glory. 1 Tim. 1:17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” That it is
not any sight with the bodily eyes is evident because the unembodied souls of
the saints see God, and the angels also, who are spirits and were never united
to bodies. Mat. 18:10, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little
ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face
of my Father which is in heaven.”
It is not any form
or visible representation, nor shape, nor color, nor shining light, that is
seen, wherein this great happiness of the soul consists. Indeed God was wont to
manifest himself of old in outward glorious appearances. There was a shining
light that was called the glory of the Lord. Thus the glory of the Lord was said
to descend on mount Sinai, and in the tabernacle of the congregation. There was
an outward visible token of God’s presence, and the seventy elders, when they
saw God in the mount, saw a visible shape. It seems also that when Moses desired
to see God’s glory, and when God passed by and covered him with his hand in
the cleft of the rock, that Moses saw some visible glory. Exo. 33:18-23, “And
he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my
goodness to pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before
thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on
whom I will show mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall
no man see me and live.” But it seems that God then condescended to the infant
state of the church, and to the childish notions that were entertained in those
days of lesser light; and Moses’s request seems to have been answered, by God
making his goodness to pass before him, and proclaiming his name, and giving him
a strong apprehension of the things contained in that name, rather than by
showing him any outward glory.
The saints in
heaven will behold an outward glory as they are in the human nature of Christ,
which is united to the Godhead, as it is the body of that person who is God; and
there will doubtless be appearances of a divine and inimitable glory and beauty
in Christ’s glorified body, which it will indeed be a refreshing and blessed
sight to see.
But the beauty of
Christ’s body as seen by the bodily eyes, will be ravishing and delightful,
chiefly as it will express his spiritual glory. The majesty that will appear in
Christ’s body, will express and show forth the spiritual greatness and majesty
of the divine nature. The pureness and beauty of that light and glory will
express the perfection of the divine holiness. The sweetness and ravishing
mildness of his countenance will express his divine and spiritual love and
grace.
Thus it was when
the three disciples beheld Christ at his transfiguration upon the mount. They
beheld a wonderful outward glory in Christ’s body, an inexpressible beauty in
his countenance. But that outward glory and beauty delighted them principally as
an expression of the divine excellencies of his mind, as we may see from their
manner of speaking of it. It was the sweet mixture of majesty and grace in his
countenance, by which they were ravished. 2 Pet. 1:16, 17, 18, “We were
eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and
glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we
heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” But especially from the
account which John gives of it. John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of
the Father), full of grace and truth;” where John very probably had in his
mind what he had seen in the mount at the transfiguration. Grace and truth are
not outward, but spiritual, glories.
(2.) It is an
intellectual view by which God is seen. God is a spiritual being, and he is
beheld with the understanding. The soul has in itself those powers which are
capable of apprehending objects, and especially spiritual objects, without
looking through the windows of the outward senses. This is a more perfect way of
perception than by the eyes of the body. We are so accustomed and habituated to
depend upon our senses, and our intellectual powers are so neglected and
disused, that we are ready to conceive that seeing things with the bodily eyes
is the most perfect way of apprehending them. But it is not so. The eye of the
soul is vastly more perfect than the eye of the body. Yet it is not every
apprehension of God by the understanding that may be called the seeing of him.
As,
1st. The having an
apprehension of God merely by hearsay. If we hear of such a being as God, are
educated in the belief that there is such a being, are told what sort of being
he is, and what he has done, and are rightly told, and we give credit to what we
hear, yet if we have no apprehension of God in any other way, we cannot be said
to see God in the sense of the text. This is not the beatific sight of God.
2d. If we have an
apprehension of God merely by speculative reasoning. If we come to some
apprehension of God’s being, and of his being almighty, all-wise, and good, by
ratiocination, that is not what the Scripture calls seeing God. It is some more
immediate way of understanding and viewing that is called sight. Nor will such
an apprehension as this merely ever make the soul truly blessed. Nor,
3d. Is every more
immediate and sensible apprehension of God, that seeing of him mentioned in the
text, and that which is truly beatific. The wicked spirits in the other world
have doubtless more immediate apprehensions of the being of God, and of his
power and wrath, than the wicked in this world. They stand before God to be
judged, they receive the sentence from him, they have a dreadful apprehension of
his wrath and displeasure. But yet they are exceedingly remote from seeing God,
in the sense of the text.
But to see God is
this. It is to have an immediate, sensible, and certain understanding of God’s
glorious excellency and love.
1st. There must be
a direct and immediate sense of God’s glory and excellency. I
say direct and immediate, to distinguish it from a mere perception that God is
glorious and excellent by means of speculative and distant argumentation, which
is a more indirect way of apprehending things. A true sense of the glory of God
is that which can never be obtained by speculative ratiocination. And if men
convince themselves by argument that God is holy, that never will give a sense
of his amiable and glorious holiness. If they argue that he is very merciful,
that will not give a sense of his glorious grace and mercy. It must be a more
immediate, sensible discovery that must give the mind a real sense of the
excellency and beauty of God. He that sees God, has a direct and immediate view
of God’s great and awful majesty, of his pure and beauteous holiness, of his
wonderful and endearing grace and mercy.
2d. There is a
certain understanding of his love, there is a certain apprehension of his
presence. He that beholds God, does not merely see him as present by his
essence, for so he is present with all, both godly and ungodly. But he is more
especially present with those whom he loves, he is graciously present with them.
And when they see him, they see him and know him to be so. They have an
understanding of his love to them. They see him from love manifesting himself to
them. He that has a blessed-making sight of God, not only has a view of God’s
glory and excellency, but he views it as having a property in it. He sees
God’s love to him. He receives the testimonies and manifestations of that
love.
God’s favor is
sometimes in Scripture called his face. Psa. 119:58, where it is translated,
“I entreated thy favour with my whole heart;” it is in the original
“thy face;” and God’s hiding his face, is a very common
expression to signify his withholding the testimonies of his favor.
To see God, as in
the text, implies the sight of him as glorious and as gracious, a vision of the
light of his countenance, both as it is understood of the effulgence of his
glory, and the manifestations of his favor and love.
The discoveries
which the saints have in this world of the glory and love of God are often in
Scripture called the sight of God. Thus it is said of Abraham, that he saw him
who is invisible. Heb. 11:27. So the saints are said to see as in a glass the
glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18, “But we all with open face, beholding, as in a
glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Christ speaks of the spiritual
knowledge of God. John 14:7, “If ye had known me, ye would have known my
Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” The saints
in this world have an earnest of what is future, they have the dawnings of
future light.
But the more
perfect view which the saints have of God’s glory and love in another world,
is what is especially called the seeing of God. Then they shall see him as he
is. That light which now is but a glimmering will be brought to clear sunshine.
That which is here but the dawning, will become perfect day.
Those intellectual
views which will be granted in another world are called seeing God.
1st. Because the
view will be very direct, as when we see things with the bodily eyes. God will,
as it were, immediately discover himself to their minds, so that the
understanding shall behold the glory and love of God, as a man beholds the
countenance of his friend. The discoveries which the saints here have of God’s
excellency and grace are immediate in a sense. That is, they do not mainly
consist in ratiocination. But yet in another sense they are indirect. That is,
they are by means of the gospel, as through a glass. But in heaven God will
immediately excite apprehensions of himself, without the use of any such means.
2d. It is called
seeing because it will be most certain. When persons see a thing with their own
eyes, it gives them the greatest certainty they can have of it, greater than
they can have by any information of others. So the sight that they will have in
heaven will exclude all doubting. The knowledge of God which the saints have in
this world, has certainty in it, but yet the certainty is liable to be
interrupted with temptations, and some degree of doubtings, but there is no such
thing in heaven. The looking at the sun does not give a greater nor fuller
certainty that it shines.
3d. It is called
seeing because the apprehension of God’s glory and love is as clear and lively
as when anything is seen with bodily eyes. When we are actually beholding
anything with our eyes in the meridian light of the sun, it does not give a more
lively idea and apprehension of it than the saints in heaven have of the divine
excellency and love of God. When we are looking upon things our idea is much
more clear and perfect, and the impression stronger on the soul, than when we
only think of a thing absent. But the intellectual views that the saints in
heaven will have of God, will have far the advantage of bodily sight, it will be
a much more perfect way of apprehending. The saints in heaven will see the glory
of the body of Christ after the resurrection with bodily eyes, but they will
have no more immediate and perfect way of seeing that visible glory than they
will of beholding Christ’s divine and spiritual glory. They will not want eyes
to see that which is spiritual, as well as we can see anything that is
corporeal. They will behold God in an ineffable, and to us now inconceivable,
manner.
4th. The
intellectual sight which the saints will have of God will make them as sensible
of his presence, and give them as great advantages for conversing with him, as
the sight of the bodily eyes doth an earthly friend. Yea, and more too. For when
we see our earthly friends with bodily eyes, we have not the most full and
direct sight of their principal part, even their souls. We see the qualities,
and dispositions, and acts of their minds, no otherwise than by outward signs of
speech and behavior. Strictly speaking, we do not see the man, the soul, at all,
but only its tabernacle or dwelling.
But their souls
will have the most clear sight of the spiritual nature of God itself. They shall
behold his attributes and disposition towards them more immediately, and
therefore with greater certainty, than it is possible to see anything in the
soul of an earthly friend by his speech and behavior. And therefore their
spiritual sight will give them greater advantage for conversing with God, than
the sight of earthly friends with bodily eyes, or hearing them with our ears,
gives us for conversing with them.
2. I shall now give
the reasons why the thus seeing God is that which will make the soul truly
happy.
(1.) It yields a
delight suitable to the nature of an intelligent creature. God hath made man,
and man only, of all the creatures here below, an intelligent creature. And his
reason and understanding are that by which he is distinguished from all inferior
ranks of beings. Man’s reason is, as it were, a heavenly ray, or, in the
language of the wise man, it is “the candle of the Lord.” It is that wherein
mainly consists the natural image of God, it is the noblest faculty of man, it
is that which ought to bear rule over the other powers. Being given for that
end, that it might govern the soul.
Therefore those
delights are most suitable to the nature of man, that are intellectual, which
result from the exercises of this noblest, this distinguishing faculty. God, by
giving man understanding, made him capable of such delights, and fitted him for
them, and designed that such pleasures as those should be his happiness.
Intellectual
pleasures consist in the beholding of spiritual excellencies and beauties, but
the glorious excellency and beauty of God are far the greatest. God’s
excellence is the supreme excellence. When the understanding of the reasonable
creature dwells here, it dwells at the fountain, and swims in a boundless,
bottomless ocean. The love of God is also the most suitable entertainment of the
soul of man, which naturally desires the happiness of society, or of union with
some other being. The love of so glorious a being is infinitely valuable, and
the discoveries of it are capable of ravishing the soul above all other love. It
is suitable to the nature of an intelligent being also, as it is that kind of
delight that reason approves of. There are many other delights in which men
indulge themselves, which, although they are pleasing to the senses and inferior
powers, yet are contrary to reason. Reason opposes the enjoyment of them, so
that unless reason be suppressed and stifled, they cannot be enjoyed without a
war in the soul. Reason, the noblest faculty, resists the inferior rebellious
powers. And the more reason is in exercise, the more will it resist, and the
greater will be the inward war and opposition.
But this delight of
seeing God the understanding approves of. It is a thing most agreeable to reason
that the soul should delight itself in this, and the more reason is in exercise,
the more it approves of it. So that when it is enjoyed, it is with inward peace,
and a sweet tranquillity of soul. There is nothing in human nature that is
opposite to it, but everything agrees and conforms to it.
(2.) The pleasure
which the soul has in seeing God is not only its delight, but it is at the same
time its highest perfection and excellency. Man’s true happiness is his
perfection and true excellency. When any reasonable creature finds that his
excellency and his joy are the same thing, then he is come to right and real
happiness, and not before. If a man enjoys any kind of pleasure and lives in it,
how much soever he may be taken with what he enjoys, yet if he be not the more
excellent for his pleasures, it is a certain sign that he is not a truly happy
man. There are many pleasures that men are wont violently to pursue, which are
no part of their dignity or perfection, but which, on the contrary, debase the
man and make him vile. Instead of rendering the mind beautiful and lovely, they
only serve to pollute it. Instead of exalting its nature, they make it more akin
to that of beasts.
But it is quite the
contrary with the pleasure that is to be enjoyed in seeing God. To see God is
the highest honor and dignity to which the human nature can attain. That
intellectual beholding of him is itself the highest excellency of the
understanding. The great part of the excellency of man is his knowledge and
understanding. But the knowledge of God is the most excellent and noble kind of
knowledge.
The delight and joy
of the soul in that sight are the highest excellency of the other faculty, viz.
the will. The heart of man cannot be brought to a higher excellency than to have
delight in God, and complacency in the divine excellency and glory. The soul,
while it remains under the power of corruption and depravity, cannot have any
delight in God’s glory. And when its moral relish is so far changed that it is
disposed to delight in it, it is most excellently disposed. And when it actually
exercises delight in God, it is the most noble and exalted exercise of which it
is capable. So that the soul’s seeing of God, and having pleasure and joy in
the sight, is the greatest excellency of both the faculties.
(3.) The happiness
of seeing God is a blessing without any mixture. That pleasure has the best
claim to be called man’s true happiness, which comes unmixed, and without
alloy. But so doth the joy of seeing God. It neither brings any bitterness, nor
will it suffer any.
1st. This pleasure
brings no bitterness with it. That is not the case with other delights, in which
natural men are wont to place their happiness. They are bitter sweets, yielding
a kind of momentary pleasure in gratifying an appetite, but wormwood and gall
are mingled in the cup. He who plucks these roses, finds that they grow on
thorns. He who tastes of this honey is sure to find in it a sting. If men place
their happiness in them, reason and conscience will certainly give them inward
disturbance in their enjoyment. There will be the sting of continual
disappointments, for carnal delights are of such a nature that they keep the
soul, that places its happiness in them, always big with expectation and in
eager pursuit, while they are evermore like shadows, and never yield what is
hoped for. They who give themselves up to them, unavoidably bring upon
themselves many heavy inconveniences. If they promote their pleasure in one way,
they destroy their comforts in many other ways. And this sting ever accompanies
them, that they are but short-lived, they will soon vanish, and be no more.
And as to the
pleasure found in the enjoyment of earthly friends, there is a bitterness goes
also with that. An intense love to any earthly object, though it may afford high
enjoyment, yet greatly multiplies our cares and anxieties through the defects
and blemishes, the instability and changeableness, of the object, the calamities
to which it is exposed, and the short duration of all such friendships, and of
the pleasures thence arising.
Some men take a
great deal of pleasure in study, in the increase of knowledge. But Solomon, who
had great experience, long ago observed that this also is vanity, because he
that increases knowledge increases sorrow. Ecc.. 1:17, 18, “And I gave my
heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also
is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth
knowledge, increaseth sorrow.” But the delight which the sight of God affords
to the soul, brings no bitterness with it, there is no disappointment
accompanies it, it promises not more than it yields, but on the contrary the
pleasure is greater than could be imagined before God was seen. It brings no
sting of conscience along with it, it brings no vexing care nor anxiety, it
leaves no loathing nor disrelish behind it.
There is nothing in
God which gives uneasiness to him who beholds him. The view of one attribute
adds to the joy that is raised by another. A sight of the holiness of God, gives
unspeakable pleasure to the mind. The idea of it is a perception beyond measure
the most delightful that can exist in a created mind. And then the beholding of
God’s grace adds to this joy, for the soul then considers that the Being who
is so amiable in himself, is so communicative, so disposed to love and
benevolence. The view of the majesty of God greatly heightens this joy: to
behold such grace and goodness, and such goodness and majesty, untied together.
Especially will the sight of God’s love to himself, the person beholding,
increase the pleasure, when he considers that so great and glorious a being
loves him, and is his God and friend. Again, the beholding of God’s infinite
power will still add to the pleasure, for he reflects that he, who is his
friend, and loves him with so great a love, can do all things for him. So the
beholding of his wisdom, because he thereby knows what is best for him, and
knows how so to order things, as shall make him most blessed. So the
consideration of his eternity and immutability, it will rejoice him to think
that his friend and his portion is an eternal and unchangeable friend and
portion. The beholding of God’s happiness will increase the joy, to consider
that he is so happy, who is so much the object of his love. That love of God, in
those who shall see God, will cause them exceedingly to rejoice in the happiness
of God. Even the sight of God’s vindictive justice will add to their joy. This
justice of God will appear glorious to them, and will make them prize his love.
2d. This joy is
without mixture, not only as it brings not bitterness with it, but also as it
will not suffer any. The sight of God excludes everything that is of a nature
different from delight. This light is such, as wholly excludes darkness.
It is not in the
power of any earthly enjoyment to drive and shut out all trouble from the heart.
If a man has some things in which he takes comfort and pleasure, there are
others that yield him uneasiness and sorrow; if he has some things in the world
that are sweet, there are others that are bitter, against which it is not in the
power of his pleasures to help him. We never can find anything here below that
shall make us so happy, but that we shall have grief and pleasure mixed
together. This world, let us make the best of it, will be spotted with black and
white, varied with clouds and sunshine. And to them who yield their hearts to
it, it will yield pain as well as pleasure. But this pleasure of seeing God can
suffer no mixture. For this pleasure of seeing God is so great and strong that
it takes the full possession of the heart. It fills it perfectly full, so that
there shall be no room for any sorrow, no room in any corner for anything of an
adverse nature from joy. There is no darkness that can bear such powerful light.
It is impossible that they who see God face to face, who behold his glory and
love so immediately as they do in heaven, should have any such thing as grief or
pain in their hearts. When once the saints are come into God’s presence, tears
shall be wiped from their eyes, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. The
pleasure will be so great, as fully and perfectly to employ every faculty; the
sight of God’s glory and love will be so wonderful, so engaging to the mind,
and it shall keep all the powers of it in such strong attention, that the soul
will be wholly possessed and taken up.
Again. There will
be in what they shall see, a sufficient antidote against everything that would
afford uneasiness, or that can have any tendency thereto. If there were sin in
the heart before, that used by its exercise to disturb its peace and quiet, and
was a seed and spring of trouble, the immediate and full sight of God’s glory
will at once drive it all away. Sin cannot remain in the heart which thus
beholds God, for sin is a principle of enmity against God. But there can no
enmity remain in one, who after this manner sees God’s glory. It must and will
wholly drive away any such principle, and change it into love. The imperfect
sight that the saints have of God’s glory here, transforms them in part into
the same image. But this perfect sight will transform them perfectly. If there
be the hatred of enemies, the vision of the love and power of God will be a
sufficient antidote against it, so that it can give no uneasiness. If the saint
is removed by death from all his earthly friends, and earthly enjoyments, that
will give no uneasiness to him, when he sees what a fullness there is in God. He
will see that there is all in him, so that he possesses him can lose nothing.
Whatever is taken from him he sustains no loss. And whatever else there may be,
that would otherwise afford grief and uneasiness to the soul, it cannot affect
him who is in the presence of God and sees his face.
(4.) This joy of
seeing God is the true blessedness of man because the fountain that supplies it
is equal to man’s desire and capacity.
When God gave man
his capacity of happiness, he doubtless made provision for the filling of it.
There was some good which God had in his eye, when he made the vessel, and made
it of such dimensions, which he knew to be sufficient to fill it. And doubtless
that, whatever it be, is man’s true blessedness, and that good which is found
not to be commensurate to man’s capacity and natural desires, and never can
equal it, is certainly not that wherein man’s happiness consists. Man’s
desires and capacities are commensurate one with another. When once the capacity
is filled, the soul desires no more.
Now in order to
judge how great man’s capacity is, we must consider the capacity of his
principal and leading faculty, viz. his understanding. So great as is the
capacity of that faculty, so great is man’s capacity of enjoyment, so great a
good as the soul is capable of understanding, so great a good it is capable of
enjoying. As great a good as the soul is capable of comprehending in its
perception and idea, so great a good is it capable of receiving with the other
faculty, the will, which keeps pace with the understanding. And that good which
the soul can receive with both faculties, of that is it capable of being made
the possessor and enjoyer.
But it is easy to
perceive that there is nothing here below that can give men such delight as
shall be equal to this faculty. Let a man enjoy as great an affluence of earthly
comforts as he will, still there is room. Man’s nature is capable of a great
deal more. There are certain things wanting to which the understanding can
extend itself, which he could wish were added.
But the fountain
that supplies that joy and delight, which the soul has in seeing God, is
sufficient to fill the vessel. Because it is infinite. He that sees the glory of
God, in his measure beholds that of which there is no end. The understanding may
extend itself as far as it will. It doth but take its flight into an endless
expanse and dive into a bottomless ocean. It may discover more and more of the
beauty and loveliness of God, but it never will exhaust the fountain. The body
of man may as well swallow up the ocean, or his soul embrace immensity, as he
can extend his faculties to the utmost of God’s excellency.
So in like manner
it may be said of the love of God. We can never by soaring and ascending come to
the height of it. We can never by descending come to the depth of it. Or by
measuring, know the length and breadth of it. Eph. 3:18, 19, “That ye may be
able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that ye
might be filled with all the fulness of God.” So that let the thoughts and
desires extend themselves as they will, here is space enough for them, in which
they may expand forever. How blessed therefore are they that do see God, who are
come to this exhaustless fountain! They have obtained that delight which gives
full satisfaction. Having come to this pleasure, they neither do nor can desire
any more. They can sit down fully contented, and take up with this enjoyment
forever and ever, and desire no change. After they have had the pleasure of
beholding the face of God millions of ages, it will not grow a dull story. The
relish of this delight will be as exquisite as ever, there is enough still for
the utmost employment of every faculty.
(5.) This delight
in the vision of God hath an unfailing foundation. God made man to endure
forever, and therefore that which is man’s true blessedness, we may conclude
has a sure and lasting foundation. As to worldly enjoyments, their foundation is
a sandy one, that is continually wearing away, and certainly will at last let
the building fall. If we take pleasure in riches, riches in a little while will
be gone. If we take pleasure in gratifying our senses, those objects whence we
draw our gratifications will perish with the using, and our senses themselves
also will be gone, the organs will be worn out, and our whole outward form will
turn to dust. If we take pleasure in union with our earthly friends, that union
must be broken. The bonds are not durable, but will soon wear asunder.
But he who has the
immediate intellectual vision of God’s glory and love, and rejoices in that,
has his happiness built upon an everlasting rock. Isa. 26:4, “Trust ye in the
Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” In the Hebrew
it is, “in the Lord Jehovah is the Rock of ages.”
The glory of God is
subject to no changes nor vicissitudes, it will never cease to shine forth.
History gives us an account of the sun’s light failing, and becoming more
faint and dim for many months together. But the glory of God will never be
subject to fade. Of the light of that Sun there never will be any eclipse or
dimness, but it will shine eternally in its strength. Isa. 60:19, “The sun
shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give
light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy
God thy glory.” So the love of God, to those who see his face, will never
fail, or be subject to any abatement. He loves his saints with an everlasting
love. Jer. 31:3, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn
thee.” Those streams of pleasure which are at God’s right hand, are never
dry, but ever flowing and ever full.
How much doth the
sense of the sureness of this foundation confirm and heighten the joy! The soul
enjoys its delight in a sense of this, free from all fears and jealousies, and
with an unspeakable quietness and assurance. Isa. 32:17, “And the work of
righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and
assurance for ever.”
From this part of
the subject we may derive several important and useful reflections.
1st. Here we may
see one instance wherein the revelation of Jesus Christ excels all human wisdom.
It was a thing that had been beyond the wisdom of the world, to tell wherein
man’s true happiness consisted. There was a vast variety of opinions about it
among the wise men and philosophers of the heathen. Indeed on no other subject
was there so great difference among them. If I remember right, there were
several hundred different opinions reckoned up respecting it, which shows that
they were woefully in the dark. Though there were many very wise men among them,
men famed through all succeeding ages for their knowledge and wisdom, yet their
reason was not sufficient to find out man’s true happiness.
We can give reasons
for it now that it is revealed, and it seems so rational, that one would think
the light of nature sufficient to discover it. But we having always lived in the
enjoyment of gospel light, and being accustomed to it, are hardly sensible how
dependent we are upon it, and how much we should be in the dark about things
that now seem plain to us, if we never had had our reason assisted by
revelation.
God hath made
foolish the wisdom of this world by the gospel. 1 Cor. 1:20, “Where is the
wise? where is the scribe? where is the dispute of this world? hath not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world?” I.e. he hath shown the foolishness
of their wisdom by this brighter light of his revelation. For all that
philosophy and human wisdom could do, it was the gospel that first taught the
world wherein mankind’s true blessedness consisted, and that taught them the
way to attain to it.
2d. Hence we learn
the great privilege we have, who possess such advantages to come to the
blessedness of seeing God. We have the true God revealed to us in the Word of
God, who is the Being in the sight of whom this happiness is to be enjoyed. We
have the glorious attributes and perfections of God declared to us. The glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ is discovered in the gospel which we enjoy, his
beauties and glories are there as it were pointed forth by God’s own hand to
our view, so that we have those means which God hath provided for our obtaining
those beginnings of this sight of him which the saints have in this world, in
that spiritual knowledge which they have of God, which is absolutely necessary
in order to our having it perfectly in another world.
The knowledge which
believers have of God and his glory, as appearing in the face of Christ, is the
imperfect beginning of this heavenly sight, it is an earnest of it, it is the
dawning of the heavenly light. And this beginning must evermore precede, or a
perfect vision of God in heaven cannot be obtained. And all those that have this
beginning, shall obtain that perfection also. Great therefore is our privilege,
that we have the means of this spiritual knowledge. We may in this world see God
as in a glass darkly, in order to our seeing him hereafter face to face. And
surely our privilege is very great, that he has given us that glass from whence
God’s glory is reflected. We have not only the discoveries of God’s glory in
the doctrines of his word, but we have abundant directions how to act, so that
we may obtain a perfect and beatific sight of God, one of which we have in our
text, and of which I shall speak particularly hereafter.
3d. This doctrine
may lead us to a sense of the blessedness of the heavenly state, and justly
cause us to long after it. In heaven the saints do see God, they enjoy that
vision of him of which we have been speaking in its perfection. All clouds and
darkness are there removed, they there behold the glory and love of God more
immediately, and with greater certainty, and a more strong and lively
apprehension than a man beholds his friend when he is with him, and sees his
face by the noon-day sun, and with far greater advantages for conversation and
enjoyment.
Well may this make
the heavenly state appear a blessed state to us, and make us to breathe after
it. Well may the consideration of these things make the saints wait for and
desire their happy change. Well may it make them long for the appearing of
Christ. This they know, that when he shall appear, they shall “see him as he
is.” 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth 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.”
This may well be
comforting to the saints under the apprehensions of death, and it is a
consideration sufficient to take away the sting of it, and uphold them while
walking through the midst of that valley. This also may well comfort and uphold
them in all troubles and difficulties they meet with here, that after a little
while they shall see God, which will immediately dry up all tears, and drive
away all sorrow and sighing, and expel forever every darksome thought from the
heart.
4th. Hence we learn
that a life of holiness is the pleasantest life in this world, because in such a
life we have the imperfect beginnings of a blessed and endless sight of God. And
so they have somewhat of true happiness while here, they have the seeds of
blessedness sown in their souls, and they begin to shoot forth.
As for all others,
those who do not live a holy life, they have nothing at all of true happiness,
because they have nothing of the knowledge of God.
Second,
to be pure in heart, is the certain and only way to attain to this blessedness.
We have shown what
this seeing of God is, and have represented in some measure how great is the
blessedness of so seeing him. And if what we have heard is believed and
cordially received by us, it will be sufficient to awaken our attention to any
instructions from the Word of God that are to point out the way to us wherein we
may attain to this blessedness.
If men should hear
of some vast estate, or some rich hidden treasure, and at the same time should
hear of some very feasible way in which they might make it all their own, how
ready would they be to hear, with what eagerness would they listen to those who
should bring such news and give them such directions, provided they had reason
to believe that what was told them was true! We are here told of a much truer
and greater blessedness than any treasure of silver, and gold, and pearls can
yield. And we are also told of the way whereby we may assuredly become the
possessors of it, by him who certainly knows. I shall show,
1. What it is to be
pure in heart.
2. That to be pure
in heart, is the sure way to gain this blessedness.
3. That it is the
only way.
1. I shall inquire
what it is to be pure in heart. Purity of heart is here to be understood in
distinction from a mere external purity, or a purity of the outward actions and
behavior in those things that appear to men in an external morality, and an
outward attendance on ordinances, and a profession of the true religion and pure
doctrines, and a making an outward show and appearance of godliness.
Christ had very
probably in our text an eye to the formality and hypocrisy of the scribes and
Pharisees, and other great saints, as they accounted themselves, and were
accounted among the Jews. These were exceedingly exact in their observance of
the ordinances of the ceremonial law, they were careful not to deviate from it
in the least punctilio. For instance, how exact were they in observing the law
of tithes. They were careful to bring the tenth of the herbs in their gardens,
as mint, anise, and cumin. They were very careful to keep themselves from all
ceremonial uncleanness, and they even added to the law in this particular. They
were for being stricter and purer than the law required, and therefore made
conscience of washing their hands before every meal. They were very strict to
avoid conversing with the Samaritans. They would not eat with them, nor have any
dealings with them, lest they should be defiled. They used to say to other
nations, “Stand by thyself, come not nigh, for I am holier than thou.” They
looked upon themselves only as pure, because they were the children of Abraham,
and because they were circumcised and attended the ceremonial law, because they
made clean the outside of the cup and the platter, and because of the external
purity, they looked upon themselves as the peculiar favorites of heaven, and
expected to be admitted to see God, when all the uncircumcised, and those that
were not the children of Abraham, should be excluded.
But Christ corrects
this their mistake, and teaches that such an external purity will never give a
man a title to this blessedness, for it is purity of heart that is requisite in
order to attain to it. Mat. 5:20, “For I say unto you, that except your
righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye
shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
However exact any
man may be in the external observance of moral, instituted duties, if he be
careful to wrong no man, and can say, as the young Pharisee did, “All these
have I kept from my youth,” i.e. as to an external observance, if he be
very strict in keeping the sabbath and in coming to the house of God, in
attending family and secret prayer, yet if he has not holiness of heart, he is
never [likely] to see God. It is no reformation of manners that is sufficient,
but there must be a new heart, and a right spirit. It is the heart that God
requires. Pro. 23:26, “My son, give me thine heart.” It is the heart that
God looks at. However fair and pure an outside there may be, that may be very
pleasing to men, yet if there be not purity of heart, the man is not at all the
more acceptable to God. 1 Sam. 16:7, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not
on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:
for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh on the heart.” If men outwardly behave well and speak
well, yet it is not accepted without trying and weighing the heart. Pro. 16:2,
“All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the
spirits.” It is the spirit which is the subject of this blessedness of seeing
God, and therefore the qualities of the spirit, and not so much those of the
outward man, are regarded.
Now the heart is
said to be pure in the sense of the text,
(1.) With respect
to the spiritual defilement from which it is pure;
(2.) With respect
to certain positive qualities that it is endowed with.
The word pure,
in its common acceptation, merely signifies something negative, viz. the
absence of all mixture or defilement. But in pureness of heart, as it is used in
Scripture, seems to be implied both something negative and positive, not only
the absence or removal of defilement, but also positive qualities, that are
called pure.
(1.) The heart is
said to be pure with respect to the filthiness from which it is pure. Sin is the
greatest filthiness. There is nothing that can so defile and render so
abominable. It is that which has an infinite abominableness in it. And indeed it
is the only spiritual defilement. There is nothing else that can defile the
soul. Now there are none in this life who are pure from sin in such a sense that
there is no remainder, no mixture of sin. Pro. 20:9, “Who can say, I have made
my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” So that if this were the requisite
qualification, none of the children of men would ever come to see God.
But the purity of
heart with respect to sin, that may be obtained in this life, consists in the
following things:
1st. It implies
that the soul sees the filthiness that there is in sin, and accordingly abhors
it. Sin, that is so filthy in itself, is become so sensibly to the man whose
heart is pure. He sees its odiousness and deformity, and it is become nauseous
to him.
To those animals
which are of a filthy and impure nature, as swine and dogs, ravens and vermin,
those things that are filthy and nauseous to mankind, do not seem at all
disgusting. But on the contrary they love them, it is food that suits their
appetites. It is because they are of an impure and filthy nature. The nature of
the animal is agreeable to such things. So it is with men of impure hearts. They
see no filthiness in sin, they do not nauseate it, it is in no way uncomfortable
to them to have it hanging about them, they can wallow in it without any
reluctance. Yea, they take pleasure in it, it is their meat and their drink,
because they are of an impure nature. But he who has become pure in heart hates
sin. He has antipathy to it. He does not love to be near it. If he sees any of
it hanging about him, he abhors himself for it. He seems filthy to himself. He
is a burden to himself. He abhors the very sight of it, and shuns the appearance
of it. If he sees sin in others, it is a very unpleasant sight to him. As sin,
and as committed against God, it is grievous and uncomfortable to him wherever
he discovers it. It is because his heart is changed, and God has given him a
pure nature.
2d. It implies
godly sorrow for sin. The pure heart has not only respect to that spiritual
filthiness that is present to abhor it and shun it, but it has also respect to
past sin. The consideration of that grieves it; it causes shame and sorrow to
think that it ever rejoiced in such defilement, that it ever was so abominable
as to love it and feed upon it. Every transgression leaves a filth behind it
upon the soul, and this remaining filth occasions pain to the renewed and
purified heart. By godly sorrow the heart exerts itself against the filthiness
of past sins, and does, as it were, endeavor to cast it off, and purge itself
from it.
3d. It implies that
sin is mortified in the heart, so that it is free from the reigning power and
dominion of it. Though the heart is not perfectly free from all sin, yet a
freedom is begun. Before, spiritual filth had the possession of the heart,
corruption had the entire government of the soul, every faculty was so wholly
defiled by it, that all its acts were filthy, and only filthy, the heart was
entirely enslaved to sin.
But now the power
of sin is broken, the strong bands by which it was tied and fastened to the
heart are in a great measure loosed, so that corruption has no longer the
possession and government of the heart as before. The principal seal, the throne
of the heart, that was formerly possessed by corruption, is now purged, and
filthiness does now as it were only possess the inferior and exterior parts of
the soul. John 13:10, “He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his
feet.”
4th. The heart that
is pure will be continually endeavoring to cleanse itself from all remaining
filthiness. Though there be remains of impurity, yet the new nature is so
contrary to it that it will never rest or be quiet, but will always be cleansing
itself; like a vessel of fermenting liquor, it will continue working, till it
has worked itself clear, and cast off all the filth and sediment. Or like a
stream of good water, if the water be in itself sweet and good, however it may
be defiled from the muddy banks, it will refine as it runs, and will run itself
clear again, but the fountain that yields impure water will never cleanse
itself. So he who is pure in heart will never suffer himself to live in any sin.
If he be overtaken in a fault he will return and cleanse himself again by
repentance, and reformation, and a more earnest care that he may avoid that sin
for the future.
The remaining
corruption that is in his heart will be his great and continual burden, and he
will be endeavoring to cleanse himself more and more. He will not rest in any
supposed degree of purity, so long as he sees any degree of impurity remaining,
but he will be striving after progress in the mortification of sin and in the
increase of holiness.
5th. The heart is
said to be pure, especially with respect to its cleanness from, and opposition
to, the lust of uncleanness. This kind of wickedness we find to be more
especially called uncleanness and filthiness in Scripture. It brings a peculiar
turpitude upon the soul, and defiles the temple of God. 1 Cor. 3:17, “If any
man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is
holy, which temple ye are.” Pureness in Scripture is sometimes used only in
this restrained sense, with respect to freedom from fleshly impurities. So it
seems to be, Phil. 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Now this sort of
purity of heart is absolutely necessary in order to our coming to see God. There
must be a renunciation of all impure and lascivious practices and conversation.
They who live in the indulgence of such a lust in one kind of practice or
another, or though it be only with their eyes or in their thoughts, are of
impure hearts, and shall never come to see God unless they have new hearts given
them.
They that have pure
hearts, abhor and are afraid of such things. Jude 23. They take heed that they
do not prostitute their souls to so much as mental and imaginary, much less to
practical, impurities, and works of darkness.
(2.) The heart is
said to be pure, in respect to its being endowed with positive qualities, that
are of a contrary nature to spiritual filthiness.
Though purity in
strictness be only a freedom from filth, yet there are positive qualities of
mind that seem to be implied in purity of heart, which may be reckoned a part of
it, because of their contrariety to filthiness. The heart by reason of them is
still more remote from defilement, as a greater light may be said to be purer
than a lesser. For although the lesser light has no mixture of darkness, yet the
greater light is still more remote from darkness.
1st. He is pure in
heart, who delights in holy exercises. Those exercises that are holy are natural
and pleasant to him, he sees the beauty there is in holiness, and that beauty
has such strong influence upon his heart that he is captivated thereby. He
delights in the pure and holy exercise of love to God, in the fear of God, in
praising and glorifying God, and in pure and holy love to men. He delights in
holy thoughts and meditations. Those exercises of the understanding that are
holy, are most agreeable to him, and those exercises of the will. Such
inclinations, desires, and affections, are most delightful, which are spiritual
and holy.
2d. He is pure in
heart, who chooses and takes the greatest delight in spiritual enjoyment. A
spiritual appetite is that which governs in his soul, and carries him above the
mean lust and defiled enjoyments of this world, towards spiritual and heavenly
objects. The enjoyments which he chooses and chiefly desires, such as seeing God
and enjoying communion with him, are enjoyments of the most refined and pure
nature. He hungers and thirsts after the pure light of the new Jerusalem.
2. To be pure in
heart is the sure way to obtain the blessedness of seeing God. This is the
divine road to the blissful and glorious presence of God, which, if we take it,
will infallibly lead us thither.
God is the giver of
the pure heart, and he gives it for this very end, that it may be prepared for
the blessedness of seeing him. Thus we are taught in the Scriptures. The people
of God are sanctified, and their hearts are made pure, that they may be prepared
for glory, as vessels are prepared by the potter for the use he designs. They
are elected from all eternity to eternal life, and have purity of heart given
them, on purpose to fit them for that to which they are chose. Rom 9:23, “And
that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which
he had afore prepared to glory.”
We read of the
church being arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, by which is signified the
church’s purity. And it was to fit it for the enjoyment of Christ. Rev. 19:7,
8, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of
the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready; and to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white: for the fine linen is
the righteousness of the saints.” And in the 21st. chap. 2d verse, the church
thus purified is said to be as a bride adorned for her husband. “And I, John,
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband.” Therefore if God gives the pure heart to
fit and prepare us for the vision of himself, he will obtain his own end. For
who can prevent him from doing what he purposes?
God also hath
promised it. He hath given his faithful word for it in our text; and to the same
purpose is Psa. 24:3, 4, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who
shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who
hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” And again,
Isa. 33:15, 16, 17, “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly: he
that despiseth the gain of oppression, that shaketh his hands from holding of
bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from
seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munition
of rocks: bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure. Thine eyes shall
see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.”
3. This is the only
way to come to this blessedness.
(1.) It is no way
fit or suitable that those who have not pure hearts should be admitted to this
privilege. It would be most unsuitable for those who are all over defiled with
the most loathsome filth, to be admitted into the glorious presence of the King
of heaven and earth. It would not become the majesty of God to allow those who
are so abominable to come into his blessed presence. Nor is it at all becoming
his holiness, whereby he is of purer eyes than to behold such pollution.
It becomes persons
when they come into the presence of a king, so to attire themselves, that they
may not appear in a sordid habit, and it would be much more unsuitable still,
for any to come all defiled with filth. But sin is that which renders the soul
much more loathsome in the sight of God. This spiritual filth is of a nature
most disagreeable to that pure, heavenly light; it would be most unsuitable to
have the pollution of sin and wickedness, and the light of glory, mixed
together; and it is what God never will suffer. It would be a most unbecoming
thing for such to be the objects of God’s favor, and to see the love of God,
and to receive the testimonies of that love. It would be most unsuitable for the
glorious and most blessed God to embrace in the arms of his love, that that is
infinitely more filthy than a reptile.
(2.) It is
naturally impossible that the soul which is impure should see God. The sight of
God’s glory, and impurity of heart, are not compatible in the same subject.
Where spiritual defilement holds possession of the heart, it is impossible that
the divine light which discovers God’s glory should enter. How can he, who is
under the power of enmity against God, and who only hates God, see his beauty
and loveliness at the same time? Sin, so long as it has the government and
possession of the soul, will blind the mind and maintain darkness. As long as
sin keeps possession, the heart will be blinded through its deceitfulness.
(3.) If it were
possible for them to see God, they could not find any blessedness in it. What
pleasure would it give to the soul that hates holiness, to see the holiness of
God. What pleasure to them who are God’s enemies, to see his greatness and
glory? Wicked men have no relish for such intellectual, pure, and holy delights
and enjoyments. As we have observed already, to have a relish for spiritual
enjoyments is one part of the purity of heart spoken of in the text.
(4.) It is
impossible that such should be the objects of God’s favor and complacence, and
therefore they cannot have this part of the blessed-making vision of God, viz.
the seeing of his love. It is impossible that God should take pleasure in
wickedness, or should have complacence in the wicked, and therefore they cannot
have the blessed-making vision of God, for seeing the love of God is an
essential part of it. If a man sees how glorious God is, and has not this
consideration with it, that he has a property in this glory of God, if he cannot
consider this glorious being as his friend, if he takes no pleasure in him, but,
on the contrary, loathes and abhors him, the sight of God will be to him no
blessedness.
APPLICATION
I. Hence we learn
how great a thing it is to be an upright and sincere Christian. For all such are
pure in heart, and stand entitled to the blessedness of seeing the most high
God. The time is coming when they shall assuredly see him. They shall see him
who is infinitely greater than all the kings of the earth. They shall see him
face to face, shall see as much of his glory and beauty as the eyes of their
souls are capable of beholding. They shall not only see him for a few moments,
or an hour, but they shall dwell in his presence, and shall sit down forever to
drink in the rays of his glory. They shall see him invested in all this majesty,
with smiles and love in his countenance. They shall see him, and converse with
him, as their nearest and best friend.
Thus shall they see
him soon. The intervening moments fly swiftly, the time is even at the door,
when they shall be admitted to this blessedness.
II. Let the
consideration of this subject put us all upon inquiring, whether we ourselves
are pure in heart. Is our religion of that kind which has its seat chiefly in
the heart, or doth it chiefly consist in what is outward in morality and
formality? Have we ever experienced a change of heart? Have we a right spirit
renewed within us? Have we ever seen the odiousness and filthiness that there is
in sin? Is it what we hate, wherever we see it? And do we especially hate it in
ourselves, and loathe ourselves for it? Is it the object of our hatred as sin,
and as it is against God?
And are there any
that now hear me, who think themselves to be Christians, who do yet, either in
their imaginations and thoughts, or in any secret practice, allow and indulge
the lust of uncleanness, and live in such a way? If it be so, they had great
need to bethink themselves whether or no they are not of that generation that
are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not cleansed from their filthiness. If
they imagine that they are pure in heart, and live in such wickedness, their
confidence is vain presumption. Inquire whether holy exercises and holy
employments are the delight of your soul, and what you take pleasure in above
all other things in which you can be engaged. Are the enjoyments that you
choose, and take the greatest delight in, spiritual and heavenly enjoyments? Is
the seeing of God, and conversing with him, and dwelling in his presence
forever, what you should of your own accord choose above all other things?
III. I would
earnestly exhort those who hear me, to make to themselves a pure heart. Though
it be God’s work to give it, yet it is as truly your work to obtain it. Though
it be God’s work to purify the heart, yet the actual, or rather the active,
procuring of it is your act. All pure and holy exercises are man’s acts, and
they are his duty. Therefore we are commanded to make us a new heart, and a
right spirit. Eze. 18:31, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby
ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye
die?”
We must not think
to excuse ourselves by saying that it is God’s work, that we cannot purify our
own hearts. For though it be God’s work in one sense, yet it is equally our
work in another. Jam. 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” If
you do not engage in this work yourselves, and purify your own hearts, they
never will be pure. If you do not get a pure heart, the blame of it will be laid
to your own backwardness. The unclean soul hates to be purified. It is opposite
to its nature. There is a great deal of self-denial in it. But be content to
contradict the nature and bent of your own heart, that it may be purified.
However grating it may be to you at first, yet consider how blessed the issue
will be. Though the road be a little rough in the beginning, yet it will grow
pleasanter and pleasanter, till at last it will infallibly lead to that
lightsome and glorious country, the inhabitants of which do see and converse
with God. Pro. 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” If you would be in the way to
have a pure heart,
First,
purify your hands. Cleanse yourself from every external impurity of speech and
behavior. Take heed that you never defile your hands in known wickedness. Break
off all your sins by righteousness. And take heed that you do not give way to
impure lusts that would entice to sinful actions. If you set about the work of
cleansing yourself, but when a temptation comes then plunge yourself into the
mire again, you never will be likely to become pure. But you must be steady in
your reformation and the amendment of your ways and doings.
Second,
take heed you do not rest in external purity, but seek purity of heart in the
ways of God’s appointment. Seek it in a constant and diligent attendance on
all God’s ordinances.
Third,
be often searching your own heart, and seek and pray that you may see the
filthiness of it. If ever you are made pure you must be brought to see that you
are filthy. You must see the plague and pollution of your own heart.
Fourth,
beg of God that he would give you his Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that
purifies the soul. Therefore the Spirit of God is often compared to fire, and is
said to baptize with fire. He cleanses the heart, as fire cleanses the metals;
and burns up the filth and pollution of the mind, and is therefore called the
Spirit of burning. Isa. 4:4, “When the Lord shall have washed away the filth
of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the
midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.”