A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 2 · Section 17 – Section 19
Sect. XVII.
ANd above all in thinking of GOD, to have High, Right thoughts of GodHoly Reverend, yet withal Delightful, Affectionate and Comfortable thoughts, but in (all points) Regular and Scriptural. For thus ſaith the Scripture, Let him that gloryeth, glory in this, Ierem 5, 20that he un…er ſtandeth and knoweth me, that I AM THE LORD which exerciſe LOVING KINDNES, JUDGEMENT and RIGHTEOUSNES in the Earth, for in theſe things I DELIGHT, ſaith the Lord. When …he mind is thus intent upon this moſt glorious Theme of Thoughts, the moſt Glorious LORD, …n his Eſsence, (I am the Lord,) in …is Atributes & Operations (which …xerciſe Loving kindneſs,Pſal: 45, 13 Iudgement and Righteouſneſs) then is his Kings Daughter All glorious within, 2 Cor: 3, 18for We All with open face, beholding as in a Glaſs the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image, from Glory to Glory, as by the ſpirit of the Lord.
The Heavenly mind is an Heaven-like mind; Right thoughts of Him whoſe Name is I AM,Exod: 3, 14 and whoſe Title is THE LORD, muſt needs reſemble Heaven in pureneſs and clarity,Amos 4, 13 (for He declareth to man what is his THOUGHT, and muſt be thought of by Man juſt as He declareth, Pſ: 113, 4, 5) yea riſe above the Heavens in Celſitude and ſublimity (for his Glory is above the Heavens) and be dapled, (like Heaven, with Love and Holy Ioy (becauſe of his loving kindneſs,) and with Reverence an… Godly Fear (for his Iudgement & Righteouſneſs,) and with deligh… in all theſe, the Exerciſe of al… which is his Delight. For though… the Lord be High, Pſal: 138, 6yet hath he reſpec… unto the Lowly, and as He condeſcends to think of us, ſo alſo (provided we do it regularly) to be thought of by VsUs.
To begin then at the beginning of all things, we are inſtructed by Scripture, to think that GOD Is,High thoughts. God moſt HIGH and that he is the MOST HIGH, and therefore to have high Thoughts of him as of the Holy one that inhabiteth Eternity; Hebr. 11, 6HE is higher then the Higheſt, Gen. 14 18To whom there is none like, no equal, Iſai. 57, 15none to be compared, That cuts off the Spirit of Princes, Eccleſ: 5, 8 Iſaia. 40, 18 25That is terrible to the Kings of the Earth, That doth whatſoever pleaſeth him in Heaven and in Earth, in Seas and all deep places; Pſal. 76, 12That giveth no account of any of his matters: Pſal. 135, 6That is high above the the Earth, and exalted far above all Gods; High above the Nations, Job 33, 13yea His glory above the Heavens; High above our Services, Pſalm 97, 9for our Goodneſs extendeth not to him; Pſal. 113.4high above our Praiſes, Pſalm 16, 2nay above Bleſsing and Praiſe (Mens or Angels,Neh: 9, 5) And therefore that we can never think high enough of God, but in Thinking that he is too high for our Thoughts. no… thought of G od high enoughCanst thou by ſearching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Job▪ 1, 7, 8, 9It is high as Heaven, What canſt thou do? But that God is abov all thoughtsDeeper then Hell, What canſt thou know? The meaſure thereof is longer then the Earth, and broader then the Sea. And yet they think amiſs that think Him, as ſome do,Yet minds the loweſt & leaſt things, too high to mind the loweſt matters (non vacat exiguis.) Some think it a diſparagement to his Highneſs that He ſhould mind and order every minute action, motion, inconſiderable worm o… fly, the ſtirring of the hand, o… moving of the foot, &c. but al… theſe muſt be left without particular providential concourſe, and all in reſpect (as they think) to his Highneſs, But Scripture teacheth us to think, that not onelyonly in him we live, but move, Acts 17, 28as well as have our being; Nay that He preſerveth Man and Beast, Pſalm 36, 6that a Sparrow doth not fall without him, Mat. 10, 29That he takes away their breath when they die, Pſal. 104, 29gives them their Food while they live; Nay that not onelyonly our members book'd by Him,147, 9: and but even our Hairs, the very Hairs of our Head numbred, 139, 16and all this no difficulty nor diminution to him whoſe understanding is infinite.Matt 10, 30 Pſal: 147, 5
Sect. XVIII.
TO have Holy and Reverend Thoughts of Him,Right and Reverend Thoughts, Pſal. 111, 9 for HOLY and REVEREND is his ſame, and therefore to Sanctify …e Lord God in our HEARTS,Iſaiah 8, 13 that … be our Fear, and that He be our …ead, Gods eyes pure and pierceing,as He was the FEAR of …ack. To think Him a God of purer eyes then to behold Evil, H…b: 1, 13or that He can look upon Iniquity, (viz) without loathing; And yet to think Him a God of ſuch pierceing Eyes, as that he beholdeth the Evil and the good, Job 24 21 22:for his Eyes are upon the wayes of Man, and He ſeeth all his goings, there is no da kneſs nor ſhaddow of death where the workers of Iniquity may hide themſelves; Dan: 10 6for his Eyes are as Flames or Lamps of Fire, Pſa 139 12and unto him the night ſhineth as the day, Neither i… there any Creature that is not manifeſt in his ſight: Hebr. 4 13But all things a… naked and open in his ſight with whom We have to do.
Sect. XIX.
God unchangeableTO think him God VNCHANGEABLE, without Paſsion Perturbation, Variableneſs or ſo much as ſhaddow of turning Though as a Veſture, Jam. 2, 17he ſhall chang… both the Foundations of the Earth, Ordering all changeslaid by himſelf of old, and the Heavens, the work of his hands, and they ſhall be changed; Pſa, 106, 20and mean while orders all Changes under the Heavens and in the Earth; He prevaileth against man for ever, Job 14, 2and he ceaſeth; He changeth his Countenance, and ſendeth him away; chap. 23, 13But as for Himſelf, He is of one mind, and who can turn him? Do Sinners provoke me to anger? Jerem. 7, 9…ith the Lord, Do they not pro…oke themſelves to the Confuſion of …heir own faces? Job 35, 6ſo that If thou ſin…est, what doſt thou againſt him? … if thy Tranſgreſsions be multi…yed, what doſt thou unto him? …ough thy wickedneſs may hurt a …an as thou art, &c.
Yet withal to think him a God holy, Yet ſeems as moved with Sin,hating ſin ſo infinitely, at He is ſaid to be angred, to be …voked, to be grieved, Pſal. 106, 32 and 43to be …xed, to be made to ſerve, Heb 3, 10to be wearyed, Iſaia. 63, 10to be burthened, nay even to be broken by it.and 43, 24 I am broken (ſaith God,Amos 2, 13) (with their whoriſh heart; yea, a God ſo Gracious, as that He repents himſelf for his Servants, Ezek. 6 9 Saints ſufferings, Deut. 32, 36 Jer. 31, 20 Iſaiah 62 9His bowels are troubled for them, and in all their Afflictions he is Afflicted with them.