To see, in Scripture, is often used to express the sense of
vision, knowledge of spiritual things, and even the supernatural
knowledge of hidden things, of prophecy, of visions, of ecstacies.
Whence it is that formerly those were called seers who afterward were
termed, _nabi_, or prophets; and that prophecies were called visions.
Moreover, to see, is used for expressing all kinds of sensations. It is
said in Exodus, xx, 18, that the Israelites saw voices, thunder,
lightning, the sounding of the trumpet, and the whole mountain of Sinai
covered with clouds, or smoke. And St. Austin observes, that the verb,
to see, is applied to all the five natural senses; to see, to hear, to
smell, to taste, to touch. “To see goodness,” is to enjoy it. “To see
the goodness of the Lord,” Psalm xxvii, 13; that is, to enjoy the mercy
or blessing which God hath promised. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God;” that is, they shall have the perfect and immediate
fruition of the glorious presence of God in heaven; or they shall
understand the mysteries of salvation; they shall perceive the loving
kindness of God toward them in this life, and shall at length perfectly
enjoy him in heaven.
vision, knowledge of spiritual things, and even the supernatural
knowledge of hidden things, of prophecy, of visions, of ecstacies.
Whence it is that formerly those were called seers who afterward were
termed, _nabi_, or prophets; and that prophecies were called visions.
Moreover, to see, is used for expressing all kinds of sensations. It is
said in Exodus, xx, 18, that the Israelites saw voices, thunder,
lightning, the sounding of the trumpet, and the whole mountain of Sinai
covered with clouds, or smoke. And St. Austin observes, that the verb,
to see, is applied to all the five natural senses; to see, to hear, to
smell, to taste, to touch. “To see goodness,” is to enjoy it. “To see
the goodness of the Lord,” Psalm xxvii, 13; that is, to enjoy the mercy
or blessing which God hath promised. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God;” that is, they shall have the perfect and immediate
fruition of the glorious presence of God in heaven; or they shall
understand the mysteries of salvation; they shall perceive the loving
kindness of God toward them in this life, and shall at length perfectly
enjoy him in heaven.