Spiritual Sight (2)

Knowledge and faith are compared to seeing and beholding, for these reasons:
(1) Sight is the noblest and most glorious sense. It is also the quickest, for in a moment sight apprehends its object in the highest heavens. So it is with faith. It is the noblest sight of all. And it is as quick as sight; for faith is that eagle in the cloud. It breaks through all and sees in a moment Christ in heaven; it looks backward and sees Christ upon the cross; it looks forward and sees Christ to come in glory. Faith is so quick a grace that it presents things past, things above and things to come—all in a moment, so quick is this eagle-eye of faith.
(2) Sight is the broadest sense. We can see almost the whole hemisphere at one view. That a little thing in the eye should apprehend so much in a moment! As it is quick in apprehension, so it is large in comprehension. Sight is the surest sense, surer than hearing, and that is why the divine act of knowledge is compared to seeing. Believing is compared to beholding. When faith looks upon God in the glass of the word and promises, it is as certain as the object itself.
(3) Sight is the sense that works most upon the soul; what the body sees affects and moves the soul. It works upon the affections most. Desire and love rise out of sight. That is why the knowledge that stirs up the affections and works upon the heart is compared to sight. It affects us marvellously: corresponding to our faith, we love, and joy, and delight.
Knowledge alters the whole man.
'Faith is the evidence of things not seen' (Heb. 11:1), and it works upon the heart and soul. We should labour to clear the eye of the soul, that we may behold the glory of God in the glass of the gospel.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 91-92 [99-101]
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