"Divine Illumination in Conversion” – Jodocus van Lodenstein (1620 – 1677)

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 4:6

“First, observe the benefit of the light of the knowledge of God’s glory. This light has to do with the supernatural illumination of the heart, without which repentance cannot follow. It also has to do with the light whereby man is rendered fit to illuminate others by his instruction, for in the preceding verses Paul referred to himself as an apostle & teacher. He thus expounds the last part of the preceding verse.

He states further that this light was of the knowledge of the glory of God. Thus, it does not pertain to some earthly skills, but to God’s perfections. It pertains to the most glorious mysteries whereby the Lord is glorified. It pertains particularly to God’s counsel regarding man’s salvation & glory.

Therefore, the soul first beholds God’s glory, as well as the fact that everything exists for Him (Rev. 4:11). The soul then beholds God’s all-sufficiency (Gen. 17:1), & the more he reflects on this, the more he loses himself in wonder & awe. The beholding of God’s all-sufficiency & His infinite glory constitutes our felicity (John 17:3, Matt. 5:8).

The greater our knowledge of God’s glory & worthiness, the more we see that all creatures must exist for God, & that it is God alone of whom & to whom we live & have our being (Rom. 11:36). This understanding powerfully influences man daily to turn more & more from self – from his own profit, ease, pleasure, & advantage. By heavenly light, the soul learns to see that God alone is worthy. Hereby the soul perceives within himself as great an inclination toward God’s glory as to his own salvation – two things that are inseparable from each other. It is then that the illuminated soul is truly happy.

The soul does not behold God’s all-sufficiency only in Himself, but also for & to the benefit of His creatures – especially rational creatures. When a soul begins to know God in this fashion, he begins to know God as He is, and that constitutes the salvation of the soul…

We must be taught by the Lord (Isa. 54:13). The anointing of the Holy Spirit teaches us all things (1 John 2:27). ‘Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me,’ the Lord said (John 6:45). The Lord gives such illumination & instruction to whomever He wills according to His good pleasure. Without this illumination, one may speak of the letter that ‘kills’, though ‘the spirit gives life’ (2 Cor. 3:6). If someone were to possess great intellectual knowledge without love, he would be but ‘as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal’ (1 Cor. 13:1). All such intellectual knowledge will neither change nor sanctify his heart.”

– Jodocus van Lodenstein (1620 – 1677), A spiritual appeal to Christ’s bride,
sermon entitled “Divine Illumination in Conversion”