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For our instruction,* 1.1 see here 1 The im∣mensity of God, Job 11.7, 8, 9. Isa. 66.1. Yea whereas the distance of the opposite parts of heaven, is double to the distance of either of them from the center of the earth, yet God fills the whole, Jer. 23.24. Yea it cannot contein Him, 1 King. 8.27. Yea it is but a spanne with Him, Isa. 40.12. & 48.13. Although therefore God be other∣wise in heaven then in earth, otherwise in the
Temple then in private houses, otherwise with the saints then with the wicked: yet He is alwaies every where present; within all things, though no where inclu∣ded, without all things, though no where ex∣cluded.
2 Behold the great condescension of God, Who though He dwells in the highest hea∣vens, yet vouchsafes to take care of earthly things, (it is Davids observation Psal. 113.4, 5, 6.) numbring the haires of His chil∣dren, ordering the flying of every sparrow &c. Mat. 10.29, 30. But especially Our Saviours abasing Himself, in coming down out of the bosome of His Father, from the height of heavenly glory to the earth, and there living above 30 yeares in the forme of a servant, subject to many inconveniences and injuries, and at last being obedient to the death of the crosse, and lying three daies in the heart of the earth, and all this for our sakes, who had very ill deserved it at His hands.
Againe,* 1.2 if the heaven (Gods dwelling place) be so high above the earth, how mad are they that fight against God! For 1 Gods nature admits not that he can suffer any hurt. 2 Suppose He could, yet He is Omnipotent, and so able to repell it. 3 Grant He were
not, yet we know the higher ground is great advantage in fight. It was that the Jebusites were so confident in 2 Sam. 5.6. See Job 35.5, 6. Psal. 2.1, 2, 3, 4.
This should also exhort us to humility and reverence before God.* 1.3 Solomon gives this reason for it in prayer, Eccles. 5.2. And there is the same reason in all other things.
It should also dehort us from the immo∣derate love of this world.* 1.4
Motiv. True felicity is in heaven, Psal. 16.11. Luke 12.33. In a word, there Christ is, Acts 3.21. Heb. 7.26. Coloss. 3.1. Look therefore how great the distance is between heaven and earth, so farre are we distant from true and perfect felicity, and ab∣sent from Christ our hope & our life, whilest we are at home in the body, creeping as wormes upon the ground. Let us not there∣fore say of this world, as S. Peter of the mount in another respect, It is good to be here: but let us so live, whilest we are here, that we may be admitted into heaven after this life; that is, let us doe the will of our Father, Which is in heaven, and then with the Apostle (2 Cor. 5.8.) desire ra∣ther to be absent from the body, and pre∣sent with the Lord.
Instr.
Repr.
Exhort.
Dehort.