Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/31

 "Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. " How are these statements to be reconciled with the historical facts to which we have adverted, and the explanations we have given? The answer we think is evident and simple.

There can be no doubt that God, considered in Himself, as to His infinite esse, was never seen nor heard by any man in the universe. The Infinite Himself is above all heavens: He, as such, transcends the capacity of all finite apprehension; and, therefore, at, particular times, and for the special necessities of men. He has "bowed the heavens and come down;" that is. He has mercifully made use of mediums for the purpose of effecting those visitations which are related; to the end that He might furnish men with that idea respecting Himself which should be the nearest possible approximation to that which is actual in Him and which the finite can have of the Infinite. That, then, which has been seen and heard as God, and which, in conformity with the language of appearances, is said to have been God, consisted in those mediums which He was pleased to assume for the purpose of approaching the spiritual vision and hearing of mankind, and thus to convey to our perceptions that human idea respecting the Supreme which it is important we should possess if we would know, serve, and worship Him, as He would have us do. With this view, there is no discrepancy between the Divine statements which have been cited and the histories adverted to. Men frequently say they have seen a person, when, strictly speaking, they have seen little else than his dress.

This brings us to inquire what those mediums were. In connection with those historical manifestations of the