- Thou canst not:
- This is well explained by Rabbi Jehudah, in Sepher Cosri (P. iv. § 3): "Of that divine glory mentioned in the Scripture, there is one degree which the eyes of the prophets were able to explore; another which all the Israelites saw, as the cloud and consuming fire; the third is so bright, and so dazzling, that no mortal is able to comprehend it; but should anyone venture to look on it, his whole frame would be dissolved." In such inconceivable splendour is the Divine Majesty revealed to the inhabitants of the celestial world, where he is said to "dwell in the light which no man can approach unto" ("Whoª onlyª hathª° immortality,ª dwellingª° in the lightª which no man² can approach unto;ª whomª no¹ manª hath seen,ª° norª canª° see:ª° to whomª [be] honourª andª powerª everlasting.ª Amen.ª" {1Tm 6:16}). By the "face of God," therefore, we are to understand that light inaccessible before which angels may stand, but which would be so insufferable to mortal eyes, that no man could see it and live. "And they sawª°¹ the Godª of Israel:ª and [there was] under¹ his feetª as it were a pavedª workª of a sapphire stone,ª and as it were the bodyª of heavenª in [his] clearness.ª" {Exd 24:10} + "And Jacobª calledª° the nameª of the placeª Peniel:ª for¹ I have seenª° Godª faceª to¹ face,ª and my lifeª is preserved.ª°" {Gen 32:30} + "And ye said,ª° Behold,¹ the LORDª our Godª hath shewedª° us¹ his gloryª and his greatness,ª and we have heardª° his voiceª out of the midstª¹ of the fire:ª we have seenª° this¹ dayª that¹ Godª doth talkª° with¹ man,ª and he liveth.ª°" {Deu 5:24} + "And when Gideonª perceivedª° that¹ he¹ [was] an angelª of the LORD,ª Gideonª said,ª° Alas,ª O Lordª GOD!ª for¹ becauseª¹ I have seenª° an angelª of the LORDª faceª to¹ face.ª" {Jdg 6:22} + "And Manoahª saidª° unto¹ his wife,ª We shall surely²° die,ª° because¹ we have seenª° God.ª" {Jdg 13:22} + "Then saidª° I, Woeª [is] me! for¹ I am undone;ª° because¹ I¹ [am] a manª of uncleanª lips,ª and I¹ dwellª° in the midstª of a peopleª of uncleanª lips:ª for¹ mine eyesª have seenª°¹ the King,ª the LORDª of hosts.ª" {Isa 6:5} + "No manª hath seenª° Godª at any time;ª the¹ only begottenª Son,ª which² isª° inª the¹ bosomª of the¹ Father,ª heª hath declaredª° [him]." {Jhn 1:18} + "Whoª onlyª hathª° immortality,ª dwellingª° in the lightª which no man² can approach unto;ª whomª no¹ manª hath seen,ª° norª canª° see:ª° to whomª [be] honourª andª powerª everlasting.ª Amen.ª" {1Tm 6:16} + "Butª toª whichª of the¹ angelsª said¹ he²° at any time,ª Sitª° onª myª right hand,ª untilªª I makeª° thineª enemiesª thy² footstool?ªª¹" {Hbr 1:13} + "Andª he hadª° inª his²¹ rightª handª sevenª stars:ª andª out ofª his²¹ mouthª wentª° a sharpª twoedgedª sword:ª andª his²¹ countenanceª [was] asª the¹ sunª shinethª° inª his²¹ strength.ª ... Andª whenª I sawª° him,ª I fellª° atª his²¹ feetª asª dead.ª Andª he laidª° his²¹ rightª handª uponª me,ª sayingª° unto me,ª Fearª°° not;ª Iª amª° the¹ firstª andª the¹ last:ª" {Rev 1:16-17}
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