The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 218

Just so. The faculty of imagination is the scnsorium, or seat of the senses of the i;pirit. 11. THAT MORAL PURITY m TIIE OONDITION OF THEIR lilGHEBT EXERCISE. 1. To tl,e pure especwlly God reveals himself in his works. (1) In his works his power, wisdom, and goodness may be "seen" even by the heathen (Rom. i. 20). (2) By the fure all this is invested with superior lustre. Things take complexion from the menta moods of the observer. The best mental mood in which to see God in nature is when the soul is lifted into the sunshine of his grace. (3) The child of God sees tho hand of a Father in the works of God. "My Father made them all." 2. To the pui·e ea;clusively God reveals himself by hui Spirit, (1) 'l'his revelation of God is that more especially intended here. (2) There is the personal manifestation of the Son of God (sec John xiv. 15-23). This vision is peculiar to the spiritual. Philip did not truly see Jesus, though corpormlly before hiw, until the eyes of his spirit were opened to see the Father in the Son-the Godhead in the manhood. (3) The world have no such vision of God. If they regard this doctrine as fanatical, this is just what Scripture leads us to expect from them (see 1 Cor. -ii. 14, 15). "Eyes have they, but they see not; ears, but they bear not." 3. Spiritual revelation is often vivid. (1) The visions of the prophets were so. Whether they came in "dreams" or in "open vision," These were impres- sions made upon the senses of the sonL The "visions of God" were sometimes over- whelming (cf. Ezek. i. 28; Dan. :x. 7, 8; Rev, i. 17). (2) They were so vivid as to be mistaken for corporeal impressions. Samuel thought that a sound came to bis outward ear when God spoke into the ear of his soul. Eli was within the range of natural hearing, but heard not this voice (1 Sam. iiL 8). Peter, when his corporeal senses were addressed, familiar with the vividness of spiritual impressions, "thought be saw a vision" (Acts xii. 9). Paul, in his famous rapture, could not determine whether he was "in the body or out of the body "-whether his bodily or spiritual senses were addressed (1 Cor. :xii. 1-4). 4. We have now the philosophy of religious t!Zperience. (1) What is the "witness of the Spirit" to a man's adoption into the family of God but an address made by the Spirit of God to the spirit of the believer? In such " spiritual revelations" we er.joy communion with God. (2) They are some- times as vivid as were the visions of prophecy. Who has not heard narratives of such experiences· from the children of Gud? (3) Let ne seek earnestly that purity which qualifies us for this nobler spiritual vision. By complete self-consecration. By habit11 of faith. By habiLs of holy living. ill. TlliT THE FUTURE OPENS PilOSPECTS OF 6Ul'EBIOB SENSATION. 1. In the e:cperiences ef the disembodied state. (1) We are in this earth principally conversant with the materiaL It is so by our constitution. Angels are about us, but we see them not. The body acts as a veil to obstruct our spiritual vision. (2) But the veil is tom in death. When the veil of Christ's flesh was tom, the veil of the temple was torn. The most holy place then discovered was the type of heaven. (3) Then shall we see God as the angels do continually behold his face. The most holy place of the temple was the place of the Shechinah. (4) Then also shall we recover our friends. In the spiritual world spirits will take palpable shape. They will appear as embodied, and be identified through the correspondence which there is between the body and the mind. 2. In the ea:periences of the resurrection-state. (1) As these bodies are psychical or soulish, i.e. adapted to the companionship of the appetitive soul, so will the body of the resurrection be "spiritual," i.e. adapted to the companionship ·of the rational, con- templative spirit. (See tLe noble sermons of Bishop Ellicott, in his volume entitled, • The Destiny of the Creature.') Being "spiritual," the body will no longer act as a veil to obstruct the freedom of spiritual sensation. (2) Corporeal sensation will be impro\·ed. Defects, effects of sin, will have no place. The powers of sensation will be enlarged. Vision may be telescopic and microscopic.. Hearing may be telephonio and microphonic. We may experience compound sensation. We may at once see as well as hear sound. We may at once hear as well as see colour. (3) Corporeal and spiritual sensations will articulate. They do so now, in part; but then perfectly. What worlds of fresh experience, comparison, and reflection will be o:pened when we see together the material and spiritual complements of the great um verse ~f God I (4) Divine revelations will then be grander. The new heavens and earth will open to us a materialism of richer harmonics. Added also to the discovery of 1piritual natures, there will be the royal vision of God in a glorified Obrist.  on, v. 1-48.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 211