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.

[Sect. 3] Thirdly, Of the quallities and effects of fire.

1. FIre gives light so saith the Prophet, Isay 50.11.

2. Fire gives heate, so saith St. Marke, chap. 14. vers. 54.

3. Fire consumes, Amos 2.1. Combusserit ossa, &c.

4. Fire it changes, Psal. 68.2.

5. Fire it purifies, Mal. 3.2.

6. Fire encreases by adding fuell.

7. Fire is never satisfied, Prou. 30.16.

[ 1] 8. It is not lessened by communicating heate.

Fire gives light, so doth Gods word: instructi∣on is the light, shines from the Law, Proverb. 6.23. by preaching men receive light, Acts 26.18.

Considerations.

1. Light doth distinguish; so doth the word, by it we know what is good, and what is evill.

2. Light is comfortable, so is the word, Ier. 15.16.

3. Light makes us walke safely, so doth the word; [ 2] guide us in the waies of peace and safety.

Fire gives heate, so doth Gods spirit; he heates us with zeale and warmes our affections.

Considerations.

1. Heate makes us joyfull: a man that is warmed at the fire saith Aha, Isai. 44.16. so the comforts of Gods spirit makes a man much refreshed, Psal. 94.19.

2. Heate makes a man active, his benumednesse being removed; so Gods peo••••e are active being cheared with the comforts of Gods holy spirit, the joy of the Lord is their strength.

3. The fire giving heate, men presse to it, and desire to be nigh it: so Gods spirit working heate and comfort in our soules, we should ever desire and much pray for it.

[ 3] Fire consumes all combustible matter it meetes with, as wood, straw, coale, &c.

Considerations.

1. The curse of God consumes, Zach. 5.3.4. as the fire consumes two wayes, either secretly by degrees, or violently and swiftly: so the curse is secret, as a moath and rottennesse, Hos 5.12. or more violent and terrible as a Lyon, or Lyons whelp, vers. 14.

2. Fire consumes not only the house where it first kin∣dles, but the next house to it, and if it be not quenched it reaches to many houses: so the curse of God reaches to a sinner, to his next heires, yea if repentance doe not come betweene, it reaches to the third and fourth gene∣ration.

[ 4] Fire changes; it turnes the couler of that you put into it, it meltes the waxe comes neere it, it hardens the clay, it drives the moisture out of the paper or cloth that is held before it.

As fire changes, so doth Gods spirit, 2. Cor. 3.18.

Considerations.

1. In their condition, they were captives, 2. Tim. 2.14. now they have liberty, 2. Cor. 3.17. They were children of wrath, Ephes. 2.2. they be changed to be children of God, 1. Iohn 3.1.

2. They be changed in disposition, Isa. 11.6, 7, 8. they were enemies, Rom. 5.10. now are friends, Ioh. 15.14. they have a divine nature, 2. Pet. 1.4. and a new heart, and a new spirit Eze. 36.26.

3. They be changed in conversation; the old compa∣nions they cry away from me▪ Psal. 119.115. they be changed in their speeches which were once rotten, Eph. 4.29. but now gratious, Col. 4.6. they are changed in their a••tions, they eschew evill and doe good, they pra∣ctice righteousnesse and doe exercise mercy, they doe performe duties of piety from an inward principle, from a new life infused into them, there is an universall change where Gods spirit comes, savingly and effe∣ctually.

5. Fire purifies, and purges, and seperats, the drosse from the mettall.

Considerations.

1. As fire purges and purifies, so doe afflictions; God hath his furnace in Sion, there is fiery tryals to prove and to try the people of God, Psal. 66.10. 1. Pet. 4.12.

2. As the fire is made according to the will of the gold-smith, so our afflictions are according to the will of God.

3. As the time of the mettalls being in the fire is ac∣cording to the wisedome of the goldsmith, so the time of our afflictions are according to the wisedome of God.

4. When the mettall is melted and the drosse taken away, then it comes forth more pure, so when our hearts are humbled, and our corruptions purged, then we come forth as gold.

6. Fire increases by adding of fuell.

Addition breeds multiplication: the more fuell the greater is the fire.

Considerations.

1. So is it with coveteousnesse and riches, as wealth comes in, coveteousnesse encreases, having hundreds the desires run after thousands, the desires are not quenched with money no more then fire is with fuell.

2. Addition of graces are as the fuell: assurance of salvation as the fire; the more graces, the more assurance, by the joyning grace to grace we make our calling and election sure.

3. Wicked men adde ••o the people of God affliction and misery, this they do willingly, but by this meanes they adde fuell to their felicity and glory, this they do unwillingly.

7. Fire is never satisfied: yea may adde till you be weary, fire still desires more.

1. So is it with all earthly things, they doe never sa∣tisfie the restlesse desire of man: the Bee flies from one

flower to another, as unsatisfied: Solomon proved by experience, no full satisfaction in earthly things; like the fire we still desire more.

8. Fire is not lessenned by communicating heate, nor have we the lesse by communicating of our gifts to o∣thers: wealth communicated to others lessenneth our store; but in heavenly graces it is otherwise: in heating others we are not the colder; in quickning others we are not the more dull: the Cock claps his wings, and awakes himselfe, he crowes, and awakes others: The fire burnes if that no body be neare it, if you warme you, there is no diminishing: it burnes, and heates, and doth good with advantage to us, and no dis-advantage to it selfe. So much of proper fire: next

[Sect. 4] Of improper fire; metaphoricall fire.

BY improper fire we may understand the metaphori∣call fire, that is like fire; or the extraordinary fire we read of, which doth differ from our material Fire.

This is of two sorts:

• 1. Supernall fire.
• 2. Infernall fire.

1. Supernall fire comming from above, and of these are two causes.

• 1. From Gods anger.
• 2. From Gods favour.

1. From Gods anger; so Fire came downe from hea∣ven on Sodome and Gomorrah, Gen. 19.24. Also on them that offered Incense in the conspiracy of Korah. Numb. 16.35. On the Captaine and his fifty. 2. Kings 1.10.

2. From Gods favour: so Fire came downe on the sacrifice of Solomon, 2. Chron. 7.1. and on the sacrifice of Eliah, 2. King. 18.38. Thus God shewed his love and favour to these his seruants by fire from heaven.

2. Infernall fire is that which the damned doe feele in hell, set forth in Scripture.

1. For the greatnesse, there is fire and much wood: the Prophet speakes to our capacity. Isaiah 30.33.

2. By the terriblenesse, it is a lake of fire, as St. Iohn saith. Revel 21.15.

3. The eternity of it is everlasting. Matth. 25.41.

This fire ceaseth on the soules of men, it layes hold on spirits and hath

1. Shame, for they shall bee looked upon as spe∣ctacles of wrath to their infamy. Isaiah 66.24.

2. This fire differs from fire on earth, and hath with it darknesse and paine: our fire gives light and warmth.

3. This fire hath with it indignation, and an exceeding vexation; for there is gnashing of teeth.

4. Divines thinke there is horrible blasphemie, because of their torments.

5. The company of the divels most fearefull and ter∣rible. And in this Fire

1. Is no resistance, for now they suffer, Jude 7. and are bound hand and foote. Matth. 22.13.

2. Is not the least mittigation. Luke 16.24, 25.

3. There is a gnawing worme in the fire. Mar. 9.44.

4. A senciblenesse of the torment. Luk 16.24.

5. A knowledge that others be in joy. Luke 16.23.

6. The torment is on the whole man, all the faculties of the soule, and all the parts of the body.

The degrees of torment.

1. According to the measure of wickednesse commit∣ted. Matth. 23.14.

2. According to the meanes of grace they despised. Matth. 11.24.

Notes

• Nehem. 8.10.
• Luke 11.13.
• Job 23.10.
• 2. Pet. 1.