§ 8. (4.) The principal part of this rest, is our nearest enjoyment of God the chief good. And here, reader, wonder not if I be at a loss; and if my apprehensions receive but little of that which is in my expressions. If _it did not appear_, to the beloved disciple, _what we shall be_, but only in general, that _when Christ shall appear, we shall be like him_,[15] no wonder if I know little. When I know so little of God, I cannot much know what it is to enjoy him. If I know so little of spirits, how little of the Father of spirits, or the state of my own soul, when advanced to the enjoyment of him? I stand and look upon an heap of ants, and see them all with one view; they know not me, my being, nature, or thoughts, though I am their fellow-creature; how little then must we know of the great Creator, though he with one view clearly beholds us all? A glimpse the saints _behold as in a glass_;[16] which makes us capable of some poor, dark apprehensions of what we shall behold in glory. If I should tell a worldling what the holiness and spiritual joys of the saints on earth are, he cannot know; for grace cannot be clearly known without grace; how much less could he conceive it, should I tell him of this glory? But to the saints I may be somewhat more encouraged to speak; for grace gives them a dark knowledge and slight taste of glory. If men and angels should study to speak the blessedness of that state in one word, what could they say beyond this, that it is the nearest enjoyment of God? O the full joys offered to a believer in that one sentence of Christ, _Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me_.[17] Every word full of life and joy. If the queen of Sheba had cause to say of Solomon's glory, _Happy are thy men, happy are thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom_;[18] then sure they that stand continually before God, and see his glory, and the glory of the Lamb, are more than happy. To them will Christ _give to eat of the tree of life_; and _to eat of the hidden manna_: yea, he will _make them pillars in the temple of God, and they shall go no more out; and he will write upon them the name of his God, and the name of the city of his God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from his God, and he will write upon them his new name_; yea, more, if more may be, he _will grant them to sit with him in his throne. These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them: The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes._[19] O blind, deceived world! Can you shew us