CHAPTER IV.
GOD APPEARING.
We have seen God manifesting Himself in His works: we have perceived Him proclaiming Himself still more distinctly in His spoken and written Word. One wish further, the human heart might entertain—one prayer more it might utter:—O might not God render Himself visible, and actually show Himself to His creatures? for then would the manifestation be perfect, then would belief become absolute assurance and certain knowledge. The wish has been granted: the prayer has been already answered: God has appeared to men in Person. Not, indeed, as He is in Himself—in His Divine Essence: that would be as impossible, or as terrible, as for the blazing sun to descend upon the earth:—all things would be consumed in a moment: as He said to Moses, "thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live." Can a man approach and look into the fire of the sun, when at ninety-five millions of miles' distance it dazzles the eyes? How then could he stand and look upon the present Sun of Righteousness—the infinite God—who ever pours out from Himself and sustains the fires of a million suns? No! God has appeared to men, but in a form accommodated to their sight and apprehension,—namely, with the cloak of humanity about Him,—with a material veil over His Divine Countenance.
Thus enwrapped. He stood in the streets of a city—Jerusalem, and spoke to men, and walked among them.
