November 14

GODLINESS.

PART II.—1 Timothy 3:16.

THE essence of Deity is invisible: no man hath seen God at any time. In the early ages of the world God revealed his mind in various ways to the patriarchs and prophets. On some occasions, he did so by visions of the night; at other times, by striking symbolical appearances by day To Moses he appeared in the burning bush, on Sinai, in the smoke and fire, which covered its rugged top; in the desert he appeared in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire; in the tabernacle and temple, also, there was the cloud of his presence. In Jesus, he gave a full, clear, and glorious manifestation of himself. Jesus was the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person; in Jesus dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily: whosoever saw him, beheld the Father; for the Father and Christ are one. Every perfection of Deity was seen in Christ, and exercised by him. Jehovah's wisdom, power, omniscience, omnipresence, truth, holiness, goodness, and unchangeableness, were manifested by him. And yet, though we have the fullest evidence of this truth, who can understand it? How high above all the flights of the human imagination! How deeply profound, below all that we can fathom! And yet, what a fountain of blessedness is presented to us in this mystery of mysteries!

"But God, made flesh, is wholly ours,

And asks our noblest strain;

The Father of celestial powers;

The friend of earth-born man."

This blessed mystery is the most dignified study of man. Incomprehensible as its heights and breadths, and lengths may be, yet, by spiritual industry, and mental labour, we may know more of it, and our knowledge may be more clear and consolidatory, and we may grow in it daily, until we are filled with the fulness of God. And whatever created spirits are capable of understanding, and what we do not know now, we shall assuredly know hereafter,

When hope in full fruition's lost, And faith exchang'd for sight.

Vov. 15.