A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 1 · Subpart 3
God a Habitation.
PSAL. 90.1.
foreign *Domine habitaculam fuisti nobis in generatione & generatione. Arias Montan.Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place, (or Habitation) in Generation and Generation— (or, in all Generations.) See Psal. 91.9.
1 JOHN 4.16.
foreign, &c. Et manens (vel qui manet) in charitate, in Deo manet—He that abideth (or dwelleth) in love, dwelleth in God.
UNder the Metaphor or similitude of an Habitation, or dwelling place, the Lord God is exprest by the Psalmist in this Text: The words Habitation, Dwelling-Place, and House, are promiscuously used in Scripture, and signifie the same thing; viz. the chief place of residence, or abode; the nature, usefulness, and conveniency of which, the ensuing Parallel demonstrates.
METAPHOR.
I. A Habitation, or House, is a security against extream and intemperate heat.
II. It is a place of shelter in a tempestuous or stormy season; for when Wind, Rain, Hail, Snow, Thunder, &c. are like to annoy us, that's a safe retiring place.
III. It preserves the body from the injuries of excessive cold: 'Tis a lamentable thing to be housless and harbourless in a sharp Winter; many have been benummed, yea frozen to death that way: Our house is the proper place where fire is made to warm us.
IV. Our Habitation is the place where our choicest comforts remain; as our dearest Relations, Company, chief Riches, or Treasure.
V. A Habitation is a place of rest; for there our bodies (when tired by watching, journeying, or labour) are sweetly reposed.
VI. Our Habitation is our Home; for in other places we are but Strangers and Sojourners, and expos'd to endure many hazards and disorders, which we are safe from at home.
VII. There must be some certain known way, or passage leading to a Habitation or house, by which Enquirers may come to it.
VIII. A Habitation or house is a Sanctuary and safeguard against Thieves, Robbers, and Murderers; it is a mans Castle to secure him and his.
IX. A Habitation hath a Door to let into it, which is opened only to such as are approved Friends.
X. A Habitation or house is adorn'd with Galleries, and other beautiful Ornaments, environ'd with Gardens, Meadows, Pastures, Walks, Fountains, &c. for pleasure as well as profit, which makes it an excellent and lovely Seat.
XI. 'Tis Right and Propriety makes a stately Habitation valuable: Passengers may cast a transient look upon it, but little mind it, because it is none of theirs.
XII. A house or Habitation is a place of Hospitality, there Friends are invited, Strangers entertained, and Beggars relieved.
XIII. He that is totally without a Habitation, is accounted to be in a very desolate and miserable condition, and exposed to all the inconveniencies abovenamed.
XIV. In a Habitation, or great house, are many Lodging-rooms for repose, and some secret Chambers for security in times of danger.
PARALLEL.
I. GOd secures and defends his people from the rage of Satan, (which is called his Fiery Darts) and the malice and persecutions of wicked men; for his protection like a refreshing shade is round about them:Isa. 25.4. Thou hast been a shadow from the heat.
II. God is the Souls chief and only Sanctuary— When I am afraid, saith David, Ps. 56.3. foreign Ebtach.I will trust in thee; that is, as the Emphasis of the word bears, I will retire into thee my blessed Habitation, for thou art a strength to the poor and needy, and a refuge from the storm— When the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall, &c. In the strangest Convulsions of State, Revolutions of Kingdoms,Isa. 25.4. and Epidemical Calamities that afflict the World, the Inhabitants of this blessed Mansion are sure to enjoy certain safety and tranquility.
III. Such as dwell in this heavenly habitation are preserved from a dead, frozen, and benummed frame of spirit, they are made zealous and warm for God, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, inflamed with a divine fervour, (by the influence of the holy Spirit which is called Fire) animating them with courage and resolution to stand for God and his ways against all opposition.
IV. God is a good mans chief comfort, he is the joy and delight of his Soul: for as he is the †Chief good.summum bonum in himself, so all good things are radically and originally derivative from him: therefore such as would partake thereof, must have recourse to him—In him is the Saints treasure laid up, with him is the most desirable Communion: Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee, says David.Ps. 73.25.
V. Such is God to the Soul, thither is the weary and heavy laden sinner invited,Matth. 11.27, 28. in order to receive rest: there's eternal repose (after the troublesome Pilgrimage of the flesh) in reversion for all that die in the Lord: Return unto thy rest, O my Soul, saith David, &c.
VI. God is a Christians Home: one may be said to be absent from God, when he strays abroad, giving the full Reins to a loose, carnal and dissolute mind pursuing the vanities and follies of the world, neglecting the solid comforts and delights of his proper home, exposing himself to the hazards and disorders of a strange and dangerous entertainment among his Soul-Enemies; whereas to live with God,1 Joh. 4.16. in a way or spiritual Love and Communion, is to dwell in God, and makes way for a more immediate and personal participation of his glory after death, which made the Apostle desire to depart, Phil. 1 21, 22, 23. Because death was gain to him, inasmuch as it was to state him in his blessed and eternal home.
VII. The Lord Jesus is the way that leads to this heavenly habitation: I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me:Joh. 14.6 he is a Priest to attone, a King to govern, and a Prophet to teach and direct his people.
VIII. God is a Sanctuary to his Saints ▪ and a safe retreating place from the assaults of Satan, sin, and in-bred corruption.—From these Enemies there is no safety, but by flying to the mercy of God in Christ.
IX Christ is the Door that lets into this heavenly habitation: this Door is always open to such only as are his known and approved Friends: I am the Door, Joh. 10.9 Matth. 11 …7.by me if any man enter he shall be saved: No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son shall reveal him.
X. This heavenly habitation is furnished with all those glorious Ornaments that are needful for spiritual profit or delight: Gospel Institutions and Ordinances are by Expositors understood to be the Galleries of this habitation, where the King is held: In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, Exod 20.24.and I will bless thee— The blood of Christ is a Fountain of life, Rev. 21.6. A Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, Zach. 13.1. His Church is his Garden. A Garden inclosed is my Sister, my Spouse, Cant. 4.12. His word as a green and pleasant pasture, Psal. 23.2. and his Spirit the Spring that waters every plant and flower: I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground— I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, &c. Isa. 44.3.
XI. 'Tis an Interest in God that makes a Soul to value him at so high a rate: Thou art my God, I will praise thee: Thou art my God, Isa. 25.1.I will exalt thee, Psal. 118.28. The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in him.Lam. 3.24.
XII. To this heavenly habitation friends are solemnly invited: Hoe every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters— and he that hath no money come, Isa. 55.1. Mat. 11.28. Act. 11.18 Jam. 1.5. Luk. 1.53.come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy Wine and Milk without mon…y, and without price. Now hath God granted to the Gentiles (who were Strangers and Aliens) repentance unto life. This is the receptacle of poor hungry souls, where a plentiful relief is daily given and freely distributed.
XIII. He that dwells not in God through Christ, is in a very sad and dismal condition, being exposed to the curs… of the Law, and divine wrath; upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest.Psa. 11.6
XIV. The glorious Attributes of God are as so many retiring Rooms, and places of security and repose, to which the Saints must have recourse in times of danger — Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, Isa. 26.2.…hide thy self as if it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast: More particularly, inasmuch as he is Omniscient, he knows what's best for us, and we ought to acquiesce in his will — He is all wise, and therefore orders all things to work for our spiritual good— He is Almighty, and can accomplish, or effectually bring to pass, whatsoever his knowledge dictates for our good —He is faithful, and therefore whatsoever he has promised shall be certainly fulfilled— He is good and merciful, which is a great encouragement to sinners to make application to him, and commit themselves to his protection— When I am afraid (saith David) I will put my trust in thee. He is eternal, and therefore an Everlasting Salvation, &c.
METAPHOR.
I. A Habitation, (or house) though never so stately and magnificent, is yet the work and contrivance of a humane Architect, and is composed of perishing materials.
II. Habitations here below serve only to accommodate the body; the Rich Man in the Gospel that fared sumptuously every day,Luk. 16.9. had no Habitation for his Soul but Hell, verse 23.
III. A Habitation may be overthrown by an Earthquake, blown down by a Storm, demolished by an Enemy, consumed by fire, or the decays of time, &c.
IV. A House may secure from some, but not all dangers; for Thieves may rob us of our Treasure, or an Enemy (if stronger) may dispossess us, and strip us of that, and all our Estate.
V. A Habitation, in its circumference and dimensions, is limited, and may be easily filled; neither is any so compleat, but may admit of further improvement or perfection.
DISPARITY.
I. GOd is an everlasting God, has his being of himself,Gen. 21.33. a most spiritual and immaterial substance, incomprehensible in his Essence, and so beyond Humane and Angelical Conception. If our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, 2 Cor. 5.1an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
II. But God is a Spiritual Habitation, and accommodates the Soul, or inward man, with whatsoever conduces to his eternal happiness: he provided a seat in Abrahams Bosom for poor Lazarus, Luk. 16.22&c. and will receive his Saints into himself where they shall dwell for ever.
III. But God the heavenly Habitation is subject to none of these accidents, can receive no hurt, and is everlasting—Yesterday, to day, and for ever the same, never to be antiquated, and needs no reparation ▪ &c.
IV. But God is a shelter from all kind of spiritual danger; he dwells safely that dwells in him:Psal. 91.5, 6, 9, 10. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night, nor for the Arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction, &c. because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, &c. Here no Thief can b…eak thorough, nor Moth corrupt, nor can the Possessor be turned out by all the Enemies in the world.Matth. 6.19, 20.
V. God cannot be circumscribed by any limits, but is infinitely capacious and receptive of all, that through Christ come to him; and so absolutely perfect, as that he needs no addition, alteration, or diminution.
COROLLARIES.
1. FRom the foregoing particulars we may infer the necessity of self-examination, viz. whether we have any Interest in this Heavenly Habitation; in order to which, the particulars following are presented as the proper Notes and Marks of a Dweller in God.
(1.) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit, 1 John 4.13. which makes men and women heavenly, and spiritual, and so, fi… Inhabitants to dwell there.
(2.) If we dwell in love to God, 1 John 4.16. Deut. 11.1. then we dwell in God; for to love him is to keep his Commandments: This love must be with all our hearts, and to him above all others, for he will have no Competitor.
(3.) If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, 1 John 4.12. and his love is perfected in us; if Brotherly love continues among us each to other, it is a very certain mark that we dwell in this Habitation.
(4.) Sincere confession, and sound belief that Jesus is the Christ, or the Anointed of God, argues a Child of God, 1 John 5.1. to such this Habitation is open— We must believe that he is our Saviour, and our Soveraign, a Priest to attone, a Prince to rule, and a Prophet to teach us, 1 John 4.15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, dwelleth in God, &c.
(5.) A life of Divine Communion and Contemplation is an evident sign of dwelling in God; such are with him in the Mount, and partake of his blessings, &c.
(6.) A serious return from wandering, and a hearty Renuntiation of all resting places short of this, denotes an Interest in this Habitation.
2. From hence we may infer the absolute necessity of a diligent Inquisition, how we may obtain this Eternal Habitation for our Inheritance, considering how many Beasts of Prey are watching to devour us, and the impending Storms that threaten us, in such a day as this is.
3. We may infer the folly and madness of such as take up their rest in the base and contemptible dwellings of this world, that bid their Souls take their ease, wallowing in brutish sensuality, and neglecting this holy Habitation.
4. It concerns us to be very circumspect in our walks, that we be not turned out of Possession, nor lose our hopes and assurance of it. Men are very careful that the Deeds and Evidences relating to their Earthly Possessions be Authentick, and safely kept, much more should Christians be so of this Eternal Mansion.
2. This should keep us from murmuring, if we have not such stately Fabricks as others to dwell in here, because this Heavenly Habitation (that infinitely excels all Earthly Structures, though never so glorious) is ours.
3. Let not God lose the glory of so gracious a condescention, in becoming a Habitation for us— Let us not slight his infinite love, that provided this shelter for us, from the danger of the open and unguarded Fields.
4. Let it be an encouragement against slavish fear; to be afraid of Man (who is a Worm) is to forget where you are.
5. Let sinners be advised to hasten to this resting place, and get an Interest in this Habitation, else their security is a certain fore-runner of destruction. For,
1. They lye open, and exposed to all sorts of Spiritual Enemies, and Soul-calamities, from the Devil, wicked men, and innate corruption.
2. Now there is an opportunity, let it be taken hold of, or else the day of Grace may be past, and the Market …ver, without possibility of recalling it.
3. Christ stands with his Arms spread to receive them, he is an open Door to let them in, and partake of the joys and glory of this house, &c.
4. It is a most unnatural cruelty to their own Souls; for if they slight it, they become Self-Murderers, and Instruments of their own Damnation.
6. Lastly From what hath been said, we may infer the superlative happiness of good men, whose Habitation the Great God is; for they shall be safe there from all kinds and degrees of danger and disturbances, made Partakers of whatsoever is good and desirable, and that for EVER AND EVER.