Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 2
Now to the second argument whereby God is described in this Preface (namely) the subiect or place, which art in Heauen.
Quest. What doth the word Heauen signifie?
Answ. In Scripture the word (Heauen) is taken in three significations.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; it signifieth all that Region which is aboue the earth and waters, to the Moone, which is called Ayre. Thus Gen. 1.8. Psal. 8.8. Mat. 6.26. Luk. 12.56. the face of Heauen. Hosea. 2.21.
Quest. What is the second proper signification of the word Heauen, in Scripture?
Answ. This; it signifieth all the Celestiall Orbes, from the highest Region of the Ayre to the first moouer; together with the first mouer: as the azure skie or Firmament, wherein the Sunne, Moone, and Starres are placed. Thus Gen. 1.14. Gen. 15.5. Jerem. 33.22. Mat. 24.29.
Quest. What is the third proper signification of the word (heauen) in the Scripture?
2 Cor. 12.2.4. Act. 3.21.Answ. This; it signifieth the seate of the blessed Angells and Saints, whither Christ is ascended, and from whence he shall come to Iudgement, which is called the third Heauen and Paradise.
Quest. What is heere meant by the word Heauen, In that we are taught to say, Psal. 11.4. Isai. 57.15. Isai. 66.1 cited by Stephen Act. 7.49. Obiection.Our Father which art in Heauen?
Answ. The highest Heauen, the seate of the blessed Angels and Saints, whither Christ is now ascended, and where hee sits at the right hand of his Father, and from whence he shall come to iudge the World.
God is infinit and incomprehensible, hee filleth Heauen and Earth: 1 King. 8.27. and he is eueryevery where at one and the same time.
Quest. How then can he be said to be in Heauen?
Answ. God is saide to be in Heauen, not because hee is there locally circumscribed, as if he were included within the compasse of Heauen (Iob. 22.14.) or were so in Heauen as if hee were in no place else, but in three other respects.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; because hee is most glorious and pure, free from all corruption, alteration and change, and inuisible. The Heauen is as it were a curtaine drawne between vsus and the glorious maiestie of God. Psal. 102.26.27.104. & 2.1 Tim. 6.16. Colos. 1.15.
Quest. What is the second respect, in which God is said to bee in Heauen?
Psal. 2.4. & 115.3.Answ. This: because his powerfull prouidence and Wisedome, and Iustice, and Mercy, is made manifest from thence to vsus.
Quest. What is the third respect in which God is saide to bee in Heauen?
Answ. This; because there hee doth especially manifest the tokens of his diuine Maiestie:1 Cor. 13.12. 1 Iohn 3.2. he doth there immediateliy and vsiblely, exhibite and manifest the fulnesse of his glory to his Angels and Saints.
Quest. What vse are we to make of this argument, whereby God is described by the place or subiect where he is, which art in Heauen? in that we are taught in prayer to say Our Father which art in Heauen.
Answ. It serues both for confutation of some erronious and foolish opinions, & also for instruction touching p…ayer.
Quest. What erronious and foolish opinions are hereby confuted?
Ans. Two opinions of the Papists: First in that they thinke that an Image of gold, siluer, wood, or stone,Psal. 123.1. Coloss. 3.1. is a fit meanes to put vsus in minde of God: for God being in heauen, we are in prayer to lift vp our hearts to heauen aboue all earthly things, and not to poare on an Image.
Secondly, in that they thinke God is nearer vntounto vsus in one place then in an other, and therefore goe on pilgrimage from place to place: for heauen is equally distant from all places,Ioh 4.23. and distinction of place in regard of Gods presence and holinesse, is taken away.
Quest. What other opinion is confuted by this argument, whereby God is described by the place or subiect where he is, which art in heauen: in that we are taught in prayer to say, Our Father which art in heauen?
Answ. This; the foolish opinion of ignorant persons, who thinke that God sits in heauen like an old man with a Crown on his head, and a Scepter in his hand;Deut. 4.15.16. 1 Tim. 6.16. which is a carnall conceit of Gods maiestie, which is heauenly and most glorious: and it is forbidden in the word of God.
Quest. What doth this argument, whereby God is thus discribed that he is in heauen, teach vsus touching prayer?
Answ. Three things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; steadfast trust in God, and assurance to be heard if wee pray aright for things lawfull, after a lawfull manner in the name of Christ: for God is not only a Father willing to heare and to helpe vsus, but in Heauen also: and so a God who both seeth our wants, and is of all power able to grant our lawfull desires, and to giuegive vsus whatsoeuer hee in his wisdome sees meete and good for vsus: Psal. 33.13. Hee looketh downe from heauen, and then vers. 18.19. his eye is vponupon them that feare him, and vponupon them that trust in his mercy, to deliuer their soules from death, And to preserue them in Famine; and Psalme, 102.19.20. and this comforted Christ against the power of his enemies,Math. 26.53. that his Father was able (if it pleased him) to deliuer him.
Quest. VVhat is the second thing that this argument, whereby God is discribed that he is in Heauen, doth teach vsus touching Prayer?
Answ. This; that we are to pray with all reuerence, and with heauenly affections and meditations,Eccles. 5.1. Exod. 3.5. auoiding all lightnesse, and vnseemely behauiour; because wee pray to him who is so high aboue vsus,2 Chron. 32.20 and that wee are to pray also with feruencie, that our prayer may ascend into Heauen: we are to put off our shoes when we come to God, (that is) our ordinarie affections.
Quest. What is the third thing that this argument, whereby God is described that hee is in Heauen, doth teach vsus in Prayer?
Answ. This; that we are especially to aske such things in prayer, as are most fit for him to giuegive, (that is) things heauenly and spirituall: Mat. 6.32.33. your heauenly father knoweth that you hauehave neede of all these things: but seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, and all these things shall be ministred vntounto you.