Chapter 4. Of God's glory, and blessedness.
WILLIAM PERKINS
Chapter 4. Of God's glory, and blessedness.
Out of the former attributes by which the true Jehovah is distinguished from a feigned god, and from idols, arise the glory of God, and his blessedness.
God's glory or majesty is the infinite excellence of his most simple and most holy divine Nature. Heb 1.3,
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the engraved form of his person, etc. Dan 3.45, You alone are God, and glorious upon the earth.
By this we see that God alone can know himself perfectly. Joh 6.46, Not that any man has seen the Father, save the one who is of God; he has seen the Father. 1Tim 6.16, Who alone has immortality, and dwells in the light, that none can attain to, whom never man saw, nor can see. Exo 33.20, You cannot see my face.
Notwithstanding, there is a certain manifestation of God's glory, partly more obscure, partly more apparent.
The more obscure manifestation is the vision of God's majesty in this life by the eyes of the mind, through the help of things perceived by the outward senses. Isa 6.1, I saw the Lord sitting upon a high throne, and lifted up, and the lower parts of it filled the temple. Exo 33.22, And while my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by; after, I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen. 1Cor 13.12, Now we see as through a glass darkly.
The more apparent manifestation of God is the contemplation of him in heaven, face to face. Dan
7.9-10, I beheld till the thrones were set up, and the
A GOLDEN CHAIN
Ancient of Days sat, whose garment was white as snow, etc.
God's blessedness is that by which God is in himself, and of himself, all-sufficient. Gen 17.1, I am God all-sufficient;
walk before me and be upright. Col 2.9, For in him dwells all the fulness of the godhead bodily.
1Tim 6.15, Which in due time He will show, who is the blessed and only Prince, etc.