The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-07
THE GLORY OF GOD.

HIS G0ODNESS.-Moses in his eagerneFs
to witness some encouraging manifestations
of Cons continued favorable providence
over Israel, is reported to have said, "Shew
me, pray Thee, Thy glory" The answer
was, 81 will make all my goodness pass be-
fore thee" The glory of GoD is his good
ness. He is good to all, and his tender mer-
cies are over all his works. He is good even
to the unthankful and evil. His punishments
of sin are good for the sinner. His right
eous laws of retribution are fraught with
blessings for mankind. The goodness of COP
is shown both in his penalties and rewards
Whatever reveals the GODDESS of COB displays
his glory. COPS goodness toward Israel was
displayed not only in his long suffering pa
thence and forbearance, bat in their atf1ic-
tions which they endured on account of their
transgressions. Oar "afflictioDs do not
spring up from the ground, bot come down
from the Father of Lights, with whom there
is no variableness nor shadow of turning"
from his benevolent purp oses. GoD's name
is proclaimed when his presence and glory is
manifested in his works and Providences.
REVEALED IN HIS PR0vIDENCEs.--
GoD declared to Moses: "Thou canst notsee
My face, for man cannot see Me and live."
Conditioned in the earthly body the human
spirit cannot see with the bodily senses the
face or form or personality of GOD, who is
absolute spirit; it may be otherwise when the
soul is clothed in a spiritual body. He may,
however, be clearly recognized in the works
of his hand, in the movements of human
history, and in the proyidences of life that
affect human happiness and we'll being.
When the operations of nature and achieve
ments of history are seen to have been good
and to have been a means of promoting
goodness, the devout soul perceives the glory
of COP which they declare. When the good
ness of Con in the providences of life has
passed before us, our eyes are opened to be-
hold his glory. This fact and method of Di-
vine revelation appears to be illustrated by
the picture or vision of Moses standing in
the cleft of rock, with G DDS hand on his
face covering his eyes while he was passing
by, and which was removed after he had
passed, so that Moses saw, not his face, but
his back. This description of how GoD would
reveal himself to Moses may be part of
vision of Moses (see above). 1t has I'M
doubted reference to what is described in
xxxiv. 81, which appears to be description
of storm ON Mount Sinai, and the lesson
impre ssed upon Moses mind and heart. A
similar scene is described in connection with
the prophet Elijah, contained in | Kings xix.
9-13. If not a vision the description of the
scene is bold and striking rhetoric, charac-
teristio of Oriental literature, employed to
declare the truth that GoD will unmistakably
reveal himself to his servants in his provi-
dences and in the results of their faithful
service. In interpreting such passages of
Scripture we must be careful to discriminate
between the dogma and the literature. We
employ different rhetoric to describe the
recognition of the divine in nature and his
tory, but the same truth which Moses de-
scribed and taught is contained in all the
best modern religious literature.