Chap. 34, An Expoftion upon the Bookof J o B. Verf. 29. 729 the Lord, Exod. 3 3. 20.) fee myface, andlive ; Bur, as the facè of God is taken for any manifeflation of his being, whether in wrath or in love, in judgement or in mercy, fo it may be feen: Nowwhen Godhideth his face, that is, his favour , and will nor give out anypleafing manifeflations of himfelfe, who can behold lours ? that is, who can behold him with comfort ? who can [land before an angry God ? or abide his prefence ? As the gracious prefence of God is the, fweetell,fo the wrathfull prefence of God is the moll bitter thing in the world. when he hideth his face, who can behold him ? Some expound thus ; if God will not Chew his face, if he is not pleafed to reveale himfelfe,no man can knowy , or fee any thing of him ; that's a truth. We can know nomore of God, then him- felfe will reveale of himfelfe tous ; 'tis in his light ( Pfal: 36. 9. ) that is, in the light which he caufeth to thine from himfelfe, that we fee light, or what and who himfelfe is, who is light,and in whom there is nodarknes at al1.If God will hide his pewer,or his wifdom, or his truth, or his mercy from us,whocan fee any thing of them ? though all there perfeelions ba alwayes more glorious in him then the beams of the Sun, yet unieffe God Phew them us , we cannot perceive them. We fee the light of God in Gods light ; if God hath a minde to conceale himfelfe, or draweth (as it were) a cur- tainebetween the creature and himfelfe, who can behold him ? we cannot by any fludy,or skill, or art, or endeavour ofours come to any fight or knowledge of God, further then himfelfe makes him- felfe knowne. This expofition is both true and ufefull ; yet I con - ceive, when Elihu faith , who then can behold him ? his meaning rather poynts at thefe two things. Pirfr, Who can have any comfortable enjoyment of him; to behold a manwhole difpleafure we fufpedled,and find acceptance and freedome with him, is compared to our beholding the faceOf God. Ihavefeene thy, face as though I hadfeene the face of God and thou wall pleafedwith me, fayd 3aco6 to Efau ( Gen: 3 3. i o.) when his brother treated him fo lovingl contrarÿ to his expec`la- tion, he looked upon it as an evidence of the favour of God to him. Or Jacob being much affe&ed with the countenance and kindnefs of Efau, compared his face to the face of God, becaufe in his reconciled face he faw (as it were) the face of God finii- Mg uponhim. This was Davids argument, that God favoured Aa a a a hit's'.
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