ABSTRACT
There are many reasons why it might seem curious that John Owen would turn his attention to the doctrine of the beatific vision. He will have been well aware that it was not a major topic of reflection for Reformed theologians either in his own generation or earlier.1 He clearly anticipated a doubtful reaction from his readers when he raised the subject in his english works. “Some,” he says, “will say they understand not these things, nor any concernment of their own in them. if they are true, yet are they notions which they may safely be without knowledge of; for so far as they can discern, they have no influence on Christian practice or duties of morality … but take the minds of men from more necessary duties.”2 The very
few who might give it a passing thought do just that, says Owen. They only give it a passing thought, because they consider such reflections and meditations too demanding: “thoughts of this glory … are too high for us, or too hard for us, such as we cannot long delight in.”3
