To be near unto God - pagina 58

calm and composed the rest of the body remains in order that the face may speak. For thereby the expression of the countenance be-

comes far nobler and much

finer.

A

rough

fel-

speaks with both hands and feet. A king from his throne speaks with his look and majesty of face. From this it necessarily followed that in our speech regarding our relation to God, "the face of God" appeared in the foreground, and that distinctions were made in that face between what proceeded out of his mouth, what was expressed by his eyes, and what breathes in anger from his nose. In the nobler sense we disclose ourselves by meeting each other face to face. Hence of human fellowship with God it could not be said otherwise than that the highest form of it is to meet God face to face. This can not be taken in a material sense. Temptation leads to this and the Divine Father has been pictured in the form of an old man. Even Moses went astray in this direction when he prayed for a sight of God's face. It was a bold prayer. It brought this answer: "Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man This, then, see Me and live" (Exod. 33:20). We should never think of our is impossible. Holy God in an earthly way. The metaphorical language which is our only point of support in this matter, remains enveloped in mystical A visible face only accompanies darkness.

low

in the street

God is Spirit. Hence no is corporeal. physical features can be attributed to Him. In fact, when we look anyone in the face so intently as at length to grasp, as it were, his inner self, the external face is but the means what

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