Wesley Corpus

that God, by hiding himself from man, might teach him humility, and so conduct him to his Maker. Another cause is, to fulfil his eternal purpose, that man, as long as he continues upon earth, should walk by faith not by sight. The design of our Heavenly Father was not that we should see and know, whether we would or not, that all his ways are wise and good and gracious ; but that we should be lieve this, give such an assent as he has given us power to give or to withhold (for the power of choice is his gift) ; and this intention of our Creator is admirably served by the measure of understanding which we now enjoy ; it suffices for faith, but not for knowledge ; we can be lieve in God we cannot see him. Another reason why we are so little ac quainted with his ways, why what the Omni potent doeth, man cannot know, seems to be alluded to in the text, " but thou shalt know hereafter." This knowledge, therefore, is de nied us on earth, because it is a felicity for heaven. And what a felicity ! to have the veil withdrawn at once, and to enjoy the full blaze of Deity! the wisdom, the goodness, the love