We may also distinguish of this sight of God two ways; there is a sight of God first in grace, which is, though a true and real, yet an imperfect sight, of which the Apostle speaks (1 Cor. 13.12.) Now we see as in a glass, darkly. Secondly, There is a seeing of God in glory, which is there called A seeing of him face to face: Of that sight Christ speaks (Math. 5.8.) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. As they now see him in the dispensations of his Grace here, so they shall see him in the givings forth, or manifestations of his Glory to them hereafter. Now when Job complaineth, or Elihu brings him in complaining, That he should not see God, we are not to understand it, as if he despaired of ever seeing God in Glory, or had concluded in his own breast, that he should never see him in his ways of Grace, or professed that at present he had no sight at all of God by faith; for, though I conceive Jobs sight of God by faith, or in the actings of his Grace, at that time was very low and dim, yet some sight he had of him by faith, enough I am sure to preserve and keep him from making any such negative Conclusion against himself, that he should not see God in Glory. But that which he chiefly intendeth, ⟨p. 104⟩is,1 that he feared he should not come to see him in such a day and way of trial, as he before desired in the 23d Chapter, (vers. 8, 9.) or that God would never manifest himself so clearly in his Providences and dealings about his case in this world, as might acquit him, and b•ing the matter in question to a full state, that all might take notice of his wronged integrity. Job was under a great Cloud at that time, and feared that God had cove•ed himself with a Cloud also, (as the Church bemoaned her self, Lam. 3.44.) and therefore said, I shall not see him; I shall not •ee him as a Judge acquitting me, and giving sentence for me. Some conceive, that the Hebrew word rendered Seeing, refers to a person brought before a Judge, for the trial of his Cau•e, and standing before him, not as a guilty Malefactor, with a heavy heart, and a down-look, but as a man conscious of his own innocency, with much honest boldness, and well tempered confidence. The words following intimate such a sense of that word, Although thou sayest, thou shalt not see him, (that is, be b•ought to trial,) yet Judgement is before him, he will certainly try thee.
We may also distinguish of this sight of God two ways; there is a sight of God first in grace, which is, though a true and real, yet an imperfect sight, of which the Apostle speaks (1 Cor. 13.12.) Now we see as in a glasse, darkly. Secondly, There is a seeing of God in glory, which is there called A seeing of him face to face: Of that sight Christ speaks (Math. 5.8.) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. As they now see him in the dispensations of his Grace here, so they shall see him in the givings forth, or manifestations of his Glory to them hereafter. Now when Job complaineth, or Elihu brings him in complaining, That he should not see God, we are not to understand it, as if he despaired of ever seeing God in Glory, or had concluded in his own breast, that he should never see him in his ways of Grace, or professed that at present he had no sight at all of God by faith; for, though I conceive Jobs sight of God by faith, or in the actings of his Grace, at that time was very low and dim, yet some sight he had of him by faith, enough I am sure to preserve and keep him from making any such negative Conclusion against himself, that he should not see God in Glory. But that which he chiefly intendeth, ⟨p. 104⟩is,1 that he feared he should not come to see him in such a day and way of tryal, as he before desired in the 23d Chapter, (vers. 8, 9.) or that God would never manifest himself so cleerly in his Providences and dealings about his case in this world, as might acquit him, and b•ing the matter in question to a full state, that all might take notice of his wronged integrity. Job was under a great Cloud at that time, and feared that God had cove•ed himself with a Cloud also, (as the Church bemoaned her self, Lam. 3.44.) and therefore said, I shall not see him; I shall not •ee him as a Judge acquitting me, and giving sentence for me. Some conceive, that the Hebrew word rendred Seeing, refers to a person brought before a Judge, for the tryal of his Cau•e, and standing before him, not as a guilty Malefactor, with a heavy heart, and a down-look, but as a man conscious of his own innocency, with much honest boldnesse, and well tempered confidence. The words following intimate such a sence of that word, Although thou sayest, thou shalt not see him, (that is, be bought to tryal,) yet Judgement is before him, he will certainly try thee.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Intendit oculos. Verbum viden i forense est, pro astare corum aliquo cum magna causa fiducia, •a ut non demiss• in terram vultu, sed elato capite ad interroganturi respt•teniemque judicem oculos intrepid dirig•re q is audeat. Bold.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Intendit oculos. Verbum viden i forense est, pro astare corum aliquo cum magna causa fiducia, •a ut non demiss• in terram vultu, sed elato capite ad interroganturi respt•teniemque judicem oculos intrepide dirig•re q is audeat. Bold.
