Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

Of Invisibility.

1. What Invisibility is.

2. How God is said to be Invisible.

3. How creatures are invisible.

4. Questions answered.

5. Applications to edifie.

[Sect. 1] First, What Jnvisibility is.

THe word signifies that which cannot be seene: A thing may be invisible two wayes: the one when something is betweene the eye and the object, or the ob∣ject is too neare, or too farre off. The other, because the object is so pure, cleare, and spirituall, that no secon∣dary helpe can make it obvious.

We see not when a Curtaine is drawne, or if a thing be behinde a wall or a mountaine; the object may bee visible in it selfe, but occasionally, by reason of some medium, is hid from us.

Also a thing too neare the eye we discerne not; wee cannot see our eye-lid, because it is too neare.

Againe, we see not that is farre off, and a great way re∣mote from us; as a mountaine, twenty, thirty, or forty miles, because our naturall view, and prospective view hath his bounds which we cannot exceede: all this while the defect is not in the eye, but the object is either hid, or too neeare, or too farre.

In respect of the object there is an invisibility, which being thinne, pure, and spirituall, all advantages cannot make it visible.

That which makes a thing visible is light, for in the darke wee see nothing; also it must be convenient light: for if the eye bee in a perfect Sunne-beam••, it would see nothing, therefore it must bee a convenient well-qua∣lified light: in the Moone-light wee see onely grosse things; in the day light wee see all colours, formes, and shapes; but there is a more exact light that Ingravers and Jewellers use through a glasse of Water from a Candle.

Take the best advantage from Nature and art, take the best sighted man in the best qualified light, naturall, or artificiall, yet he cannot see a Spirit, because of the purenesse and thinnesse of the matter whereof it is made. So much what Invisibility is.

[Sect. 2] Secondly, God is Invisible.

THer. of Tim. 1.17. To the King everlasting, im∣mortall, Invisible: No man ever saw him, Iohn 1.18. nor can see him, and yet live. Exodus Chap. 3••.20.

[Sect. 3] Thirdly, The Creatures are invisible.

1. THe glorious Heavens are invisible; if the Element were drawne away as a Curtaine, the imperi∣all Heavens are of so exceeding brightnesse, that the glo∣ry of them cannot be discerned but by a glorified eye. In his light we shall see light hereafter, not onely of know∣ledge, joy, and comfort, but the light of vision. Psal. 36.9. But whilst we be here it is invisible.

2. The Angels are Spirits, Heb. 1. ult. of a pure sub∣stance, not compounded of the foure Elements: so are invisible.

3. The Winde is invisible; the same word that signi∣fies a Spirit, signifies the Winde; so that we may heare the sound, but cannot see it. Iohn 3.8.

4. The Soule of man is invisible both in conveyance, in being and in departure.

1. In conveyance; some thinke wee have our Soules conveyed to us by participation, as one Candle lights a∣nother: some thinke that our Soules come by propaga∣tion, as a man to beget a man body and soule: some thinke that the soule comes by infusion; when the body is formed, then God infuses the soule, and so the child is alive. But when all is disputed, little is concluded; it is an invisible worke, and hid from us: Eccles. 11.5. Thou knowest not the way of the Spirit.

2. The Soule is invisible in being, and continuance in the body; men heare it speake by the tongue, and worke by the hand, and goe by the feete; as in a Watch, the spring within moves the wheeles, and wee doe see the point of the Dyall: So it is with the Soule; wee see it is, but how it is we know not. It is a Spirit, Psal. 31.••. Heb. 12.23. and therefore invisible.

3. The Soule is invisible at the departure: No dying mans soule was ever seene when it went away, because it is a spirit.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, Questions answered.

[Quest. 1] HOw is God invisible? Moses saw him face to face. Exod. 33.11.

[Answ.] It is spoken by way of comparison; God spake with Moses more familiarly than with the people; to whom he spake from the Mount: Exod. 20. yet Moses stood betweene God and the people. Deut. 5.5. God spake to him without a mid-man. Numb. 12.8. As for his sight of God, it was but of his back-parts. Exod. 33.23. Hee saw so much as hee was capable to conceive. The Pro∣phets had visions, Isai. 6. Ezek. 1. Dan. 7. not of Gods Essence; that the Seraphims cannot behold. Isai. 6.2. but such apparisions and similitudes as they were able to be∣hold, and capable to conceive.

[Quest. 2] By what Reasons can you prove God to be invisible?

[Answ.] 1. The blessed Angels cannot behold him, much lesse can man with his bodily eyes.

2. God is a Spirit, Iohn 4.24. therefore invisible.

3. If God were visible, wee should see nothing but God; for he fills Heaven and Earth.

[Quest. 3] Shall not our eyes see God in the life to come? Iob saith, With these eies I shal see him: And Christ saith, The pure in heart shall see God. Math. 5.

[Answ.] Iob in Heaven with a glorified eye shall see Christ in his Humanity, and the pure in heart shall see God with the eye of the body to satisfaction, but with the eye of the minde more clearely; in neither they shall compre∣hend his Essence, in both they shall have a fulnesse of vision, farre beyond that we can conceive in this life. He that goes to the Sea may fill his vessell, yet leave the O∣cean behinde him. We shall see so much, as wee shall say we have enough; our vision shall be so great, that it is called the beatificall vision.

[Quest. 4] How is Christ married to his Church, and yet

they never saw each other on both sides?

[Answ.] There is a consent of both parties, Christ gives him∣selfe to be a Husband, the Church gives her selfe to be his Spouse; there is the Fathers consent, and his gi••t of her, Iohn 17 24. on the Sonnes demand. Psal. 2.8. There is the pledge of our faith at Baptisme, and the Lords Sup∣per; and he promises in the Covenant of Grace to bee our God, there are reciprocall affections, and the con∣junction is reall, yet spirituall. As for sight, hee sees us with his all-seeing view; wee see him with the eye of faith, Heb. 11.27. which sight of faith makes us to re∣joyce. 1. Pet. 1.8. Our joy proceeds from our Union, without the which we had no sound consolation.

[Quest. 5] Were it not a great helpe to our devotion, to have some Image before us, because God is invisible?

[Answ.] To have an Image of God to helpe our devotion, is for∣bidden. Deut. 4.23.

2. It is unprofitable. Isai. 44.10.

3. The Image drawes the minde downe; for the minde doth much follow the eye.

4. ••t is against Gods nature who is a Spirit.

5. It is not possible to make an Image of God.

[Object.] God made man in his image.

[Answ.] The Image was Knowledge, Colos. 3.10. and Holi∣nesse, and Righteousnesse. Ephes 4.24. That was the i∣mage, not the Substance of the Soule; for that is not lost, but Gods Image was lost. The soules of the wicked are without Gods Image till they be renewed. So then the Image are divine qualities, which Pa••••••ers and Carvers know not how to cut out, or draw.

[Quest. 6] Doe divels see each other, and doe Angels see them?

[Answ.] It is likely that they doe: it is naturall for each species to know his like; and ••ngels have combats with them: Revel 12 therefore see each other.

[Quest. 7] Can the ••oule see an Angell, or devill?

[Answ.] Not in their owne Nature, but in some similitude;

for their substance is spirituall, and not obvious to the bodily eye.

[Quest. 8] How may we know when Sathan tempts us, because we cannot see him: how differ his tentations from our owne corruptions?

[Answ.] 1. His temptations of that kinde, are against the light of nature; as that there is no God, or that he is not gra∣tious, just and merciful, &c.

2. His temptations are to the ruine of nature, as for a man to kill himselfe causelesly.

3. The temptations come rushing suddenly, our cor∣ruptions entice by degrees, by mentall contemplation, or outward obje••ts.

4. He resists holy duties, by injecting false reasonings in the minde, t••at God is dreadfull, we sinfull, unwor∣thy, and shall have no assistance nor acceptance.

5. He workes discomforts in the heart, by hiding the consolations, presenting judgements to the minde, and threatnings, to make us give over a godly course, or walke heavily.

[Quest. 9] Cannot Sathan appeare visible?

[Answ.] No not in his owne nature, but he may by permis∣sion use some of the creatures, as a Serpent to Eve; or may use the foure Elements to forme and apparition, as in the body of Samuel, or rather the likenesse of Sa∣muel: or he can delude the sences, as the Serpent cast downe before Pharaoh; Moses Serpent was true, the Magitians was but a delusion, a deceiving of the sen∣ces.

[Quest. 7] May not the Heathen object against us, Where is your God, seeing he is invisible, and cannot shew wee him?

We can answer them thus. [Answ.]

1. Their question comes from grosse ignorance.

2. We can tell them where our God is: He is in hea∣ven. Psalme 115.3.

3. We retort to them; where is your God? if they

can shew him to the eye, he is no true God, because he is visible, and shall be perishing. Ier. 10.

[Sect. 5] Fifthly, Applications to edifie.

1. TO praise God, as for other excellencies, so for his invisibility. 1. Tim. 1.17.

2. To learne to walke by faith as if wee saw him, who is invisible. Heb. 11.27.

3. To remember him, though we see him not; to re∣member him with affection; to love him, though wee have not seene him, and to rejoyce in him as we are be∣leevers. 1. Pet. 1.8.

4. Would we see the Invisible God? then let us be∣hold his invisible power, and God-head in his workes Rom. 1.20. Would we see him hereafter? then let us labour for pure hearts, that we may be rewarded with the vision of God. Matth. 5.8.

5. Here is comfort against invisible enemies; we have the invisible God, and invisible Angels to helpe us; wee have promises of invisible things to encourage us, we shall have invisible rewards to recompence us.

6. Let us minde more invisible things, desire more in∣visible favours: send vp invisible desires; let the glory of all visible excellency be blasted, and let us raise our mindes to things more excellent and invisible.

7. Observe Gods workes they are invisible in opera∣tion, but visible in manifestation; they are hid and un∣seene in operation, both the works of nature. Eccle. 11.5. thou kn••wst not the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are fashioned in the wombe, and the worke of grace. Iohn 3.3. These workes done secretly are manifested in mans birth and regeneration.

If we will follow God, let us strive to get the in∣ward worke of grace to be wrought in the secret parts of our hearts and soules: to bee inwardly adorned with

humility and wisedome, and heavenly mindednesse, with love, zeale, patience, and contentment. Then outwardly to manifest the same, by gracious speeches and good workes, that the invisible graces of God may have a vi∣sible declaration among men; thus shall wee resemble the invisible God, as the drop doth the Ocean.

Notes

• Isai. 6.2.