Proteus or unity in nature.

  • Radcliffe, Charles Bland, 1822-1889.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proteus or unity in nature. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    not to be explained away. In the vision of the four cherubim and four wheels, and of the glory of God, which Ezekiel saw in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, there was the appearance of a throne, and upon the likeness of the throne the likeness of the appearance of a man above upon it, from the loins upward and from the loins downward irradiant with amber-coloured fire and light, and this was the appear- ance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. In the vision in the Isle of Patmos, S. John saw, still more distinctly, in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, One like unto the Son of man, glorified beyond measure, who declared Himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, alive for evermore. And what S. John saw on this occasion was in keeping with what he had seen at the transfiguration on the mount, and again and again after the resurrection, for it is scarcely to be supposed that the form in which the Saviour then appeared was only that of man. Indeed, it seems to be in accordance with the general tenor of Holy Scripture to believe that there is, as I have said, an anthropomorphic element in the Deity, and that perfect divinity as well as perfect humanity was manifested at all times in the person of Christ, even before the resur- rection. Without disembodiment, therefore, man may be the image of God. His present body, by resurrection, must be changed from the body terrestrial to the body celestial, as the body of Christ was changed by resurrec- tion : and then, even as regards body, the Divine like- ness, which is now marred so terribly, is not wanting in man. This is all. And if so, then there can be little difficulty in advancing further, and seeing more clearly at every step that man may, nay must, be the image of God in other respects also.