Saturday, September 4, 1999
Commemoration of Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650

I have seen and read somewhat of the writings of learned men concerning the state of future glory; some of them are filled with excellent notions of truth, and elegancy of speech, whereby they cannot but much affect the minds of them who duly consider what they say. But I know not well whence it comes to pass, in the reading of such discourses, they are like a man who “beholds his natural face in a glass, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was...” The things spoken do not abide nor incorporate with our minds. They please and refresh for a little while, like a shower of rain in a dry season, that soaketh not unto the roots of things; the power of them doth not enter into us. Is it not from hence, that their notions of future things are not educed out of the experience which we have of the beginnings of them in this world? ... Yea, the soul is disturbed, not edified, in all contemplations of future glory, where things are proposed to it whereof in this life it hath neither foretaste, sense, experience, nor evidence. No man ought to look for anything in heaven, but what one way or other he hath some experience of in this life.

... John Owen (1616-1683), The Glory of Christ [1684, 1691], in Works of John Owen, v. I, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1850, p. 290 (see the book; see also John 17:24; Rom. 5:3-5; 2 Cor. 4:17; more at Attitudes)

 
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Last updated: 06/21/16

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