such a face in God. But if now thy conceptions of God are at least so spiritual as not to
imagine Him to be corporeal (of which1897 subject I treated yesterday at considerable length,
if yet it was not in vain), if I have succeeded in breaking down in your heart, as in God’s
temple, that image of human form; if the words in which the Apostle expresses his detestation
of those, “who, professing themselves to be wise became fools, and changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man,”1898 have entered deep
into your minds, and taken possession of your inmost heart; if ye do now detest and abhor
such impiety, if ye keep clean for the Creator His own temple, if ye would that He should
come and make His abode with you, “Think of the Lord with a good heart, and in simplicity
of heart seek for Him.”1899 Mark well who it is to whom ye say, if so be ye do say it, and say
it in sincerity, “My heart said to Thee, I will seek Thy face.” Let thine heart also say, and
add, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”1900 For so wilt thou seek it well, because thou seekest with
thine heart. Scripture speaks of the “face of God, the arm of God, the hands of God, the feet
of God, the seat of God,” and His footstool; but think not in all this of human members. If
thou wouldest be a temple of truth, break down the idol of falsehood. The hand of God is
His power. The face of God is the knowledge of God. The feet of God are His presence. The
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seat of God, if thou art so minded, is thine own self. But perhaps thou wilt venture to deny
that Christ is God! “Not so,” you say. Dost thou grant this too, that “Christ is the power of
God and the wisdom of God?1901 “I grant it,” you say. Hear then, “The soul of the righteous
is the seat of wisdom.”1902 “Yes.” For where hath God His seat, but where He dwelleth? And
where doth He dwell, but in His temple? “For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are.”1903 Take heed therefore how thou dost receive God. “God is a Spirit, and must be
worshipped in spirit and in truth.”1904 Let the ark of testimony enter now into thy heart, if
thou art so minded, and let Dagon fall.1905 Now therefore give ear at once, and learn to long
for God; learn to make ready that whereby thou mayest see God. “Blessed,” saith He, “are
the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Why dost thou make ready the eyes of the body?
If He should be seen by them, that which should be so seen would be contained in space.
1897 Probably the Sermon xxiii., on Ps. lxxiii. 23, seu de visione Dei (Ben.).
1898 Rom. i. 22, 23.
1899 Wisd. i. 1.
1900 Ps. xxvi. 8, Sept. (xxvii. English version).
1901 1 Cor. i. 24.
1902 Wisd. i.
1903 1 Cor. iii. 17.
1904 John iv. 24.
1905 1 Sam. v. 3.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. Chap. v. 3 and 8, 'Blessed are the poor…