A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 35 (Question 9 cont.)
SERMON XXXV.
Seventhly, I Proceed to confider the Time that was taken up in the Work of Crection; it was done in the ſpace of Six Days, This is poſitively aſſerted, Exod. 20 11. And the particular Account of it given, G…n. 1. Thoſe that think that all things were Created, both as to Matter and Form in an Inſtant, and that the Diviſion of the Work of Creation into Six Days, was only to decypher the Order of things themſelves, do directly …o…n …ict the expreſs letter of Scripture. It is read…y granted, that God did not take up ſo much tit…e in it, for … of Power to have done it at on…e; He that … at …al word could have done it at …, …d He ſeen meet; … it othe…riſe pi…ſe Him; and th… the Would be but One i… Order, but One c…eſerence, and One center, One in Conti…ty, all the parts …hing one another, without ſay …ac…ty: and On… in End, being …de for God's glory, yet it contiſts of di…vers parts, diſtinct in Nature & Eſſence; in which …s diſplayed Goods abſolute Sovereignty, in beſt …ing variety of excellencies … ſeveral Creatures, and His …ld Wiſdom in making ſo ma…y ſorts of …, and ſuiting them all to their various Ends, and God was p…aſed to ſet th…ſe Creatures in their Order; and being called His Ar…. He ſo Mar…l…ed them in Creation, as He made them Orderly to come forth into Being; and Leaſ…ely too, to …ive us the better advan…, … conte…plate the nature, o…der & f…nce of … which was a main …ty of Man in … … Goodneſs of God ſhining in the…e thing, to give Him the Ho…our & Pra…ſ… thereof; w…ch in all …lihood was a principal part of the …mploy… of the S…th, th…n given to him: and …t is ſtill a work which … S…ls will delight to be ſp…ing; … Lord with my whe…e …, in the …en …y of the … the …. T… works of the Lord are gr…s, … out of … that … pleaſure therein.
WE may here then take a b…ief … …f the order of theſe things, and therein t…e d…at…ion of the ſveral general kinds of Beings, a…cording to their various natures, as they are … ſ…ed, …. and according as their … are diſ…ble from the ma…d in which … …d. And here the … diſtribution which … …ith in the firſt days wark is, that of the Cr… into conſt… and i…con…eſt …, …d the diſtinction … of …ch of th…ſe … to be …ce g…thered: The …ormer of the … is exproſſed under t…e name of H… the …ther of … of th…ſe wor… …re … uſed …pi…ly, and do …pre…end diſtributively under them the whole O…tion and it i… to b… obſer…, that there in no …re me…tioned …n that …tory concerning Heaven, but what is i…. …ver. 1. …dding …, that God … it in …,…ing, but the reſt of the Chapter it an Expſ…tion of the Earth and the portion… … of …e Production of the ſeveral Spe…in it who …ot we conclude theſe two ſorts of Creatures; vi…. ſome that were made perfect immediate…y, in …e firſt i…ſ…ant of time, which we call Co…n… N…e…; others that were made and perfec… Me…hately … by D…grees, having firſt their Maſter p…par'd, and then their Rom… give a them, which …e call I… Nature….
I. CONSTANT Natures are ſuch …s were …d… with their principle in them ſtanding together, and perfect in the …irſt Moment o… time: they had both their Material and formal Principles at once …oncre…d in the ſ…e Individual Time: and therefore their Principles ſtood together, their ex…tence was compleat from the firſt beginning: there was no world no creature, no beginning of time before theſe were made: they were made with Time, not in ſucceſion of Time, and therefore are as ancient as Time it ſelf: Time and they began at once: and hence it follows that they are not ſubjects of Generation and Corruption, as Inconſtant Natures are: God having made them Immediately of nothing perfect, they have no Ant…c…dent Principle to be reſolved into, and therefore no force but Om…ipotency can alter their Being, or take it from them: they are the… perpetual or Eviternal; there was no time before them, not ſhall there be any after them: They are Ingenerable, can a quire no new ſorm: being always enduced without, ever ſince they were: and Incorraptible, their Being is ſo compact, that no power but God's can di…n it, as will be cleared concerning them in particular. Theſe conſtant Natures then are of two ſorts, …. The Third Heaven, and the Angels …; …eſe are included in the word Heaven.
1. THE To… Heaven, and no other is here …eaot; for we have an account afterwards given of the C…tion of other Heavens; viz. The AE…heri…, and A…r…, but … Hea… … the Hiſtory bot here: be…es theſe Heavens are Inconſtant natures, and lyable to corruption, Heb. 1.11, 12. They ſh… periſh, … but this is a conſtant Nature, called therefore an Eternal Houſe, 2 Cor 5.1.
2. THE A…ge…s alſo are M…y…ically co… …d in this word Heaven, being the Origi… Inhabitants of this Pla…, and of a Nature very ſuitable & proper to it That Angels were Created, is certain; they are ſecond Beings, they were not before …, they are conſtant Natures, and therefore it moſt ag… to the of Creation, that things of a ſort ſhould be made together; beſides they … called the M…r…i… Sears, Job …, and is ſ…ems to …fer not ſo much to the Mo…ing of the World in general, us the Morning or Beginning of the Creation; eſpecially if we confider that they are there brought in as a …rus ſinging & ſhouting, while the frame of Inconſtant natures were making: beſides in the Contexture have the diſtinguiſhing No…es between Heaven & Earth; one whereof is that the Earth was void, i. e. of Inhabitants; intimating the Heaven was ſ…pplied with theſe, which could be no other but the Ange…s. We may therefore here take a particular account of each.
1. OF the Third Heaven take this Deſcription: It is the Holy Habitat… of God, h…t by H… in the ſ…rſt moment of Time; filled and f…r…tſh…d with …elights … Everlaſting B…eſ…ea…, and where God is to be … immediately enjoyed. Here are theſe things obſervable;
I. THERE is ſuch a P…ece or Heaven es this. The Scripture tells us of it, in ſuch Ter…rs as can be underſtood of no other; witneſs the Epithe… put upon it 1.2 Cor. 5. …. — A …lding of God, … houſe not m…de with b…s, …ol in the Heavens. And ſee, Heb. 11.15, 16. Beſides, the Angels, as well as other Creatures muſt have their proper Place, which is here, or no where; Matth. 18 10. — In heaven their Angels … always be…id the face of my father. It is therefore one Penalty of fallen Angels, to be excluded from hence; Jude ver. 6. They kep… not their firſt Eſtate, but left their …n Habitation, &c.
2. IT is God's Holy Habitation: So called, Iſ…. …2.15. It is his Palace or Throne, Pſal. 23. 12, 14. Not that His Infinite Eſſence is here comprehended; but partly becauſe it is the moſt Glorious Place in the World, hence moſt ſuitable to be His Throne, Iſa. 66.1. partly, becauſe here He makes moſt of his Glory known; here Saints ſee b… as be is, 1 Joh. 3.2. It is therefore an Holy Place; both for it's Native Purity, having never been defiled by Sin; 1 Pet. 1.4. Tis an Inhabitance undef…od; therefore the n…w Devils, once Angels, fell not there, Heaven not admi…ing any pollution into it, Rev. 21.27. And becauſe it is conſecrated by God, to be His Dwelling place; 2 Chron. 30. …lt. — His Holy dwelling place, even Heaven.
3. It was hath by God Himſelf in the firſt … …ent of Time. Hence that, 2 Cor. 5 1.—We have a Building of God—. And ſo, Heb. 11.10. Gen. 1.1. It is then made of no pre-exiſting Matter, & conſequently an Incorruptible Place, 1 Pet. 1.4. An Inheritance Incorruptible: Hence ſubject to no Changes; …i… in Eternal Houſe: it's Creator hath made it to be an Houſe that …n … decay … moulder; it is a …, …b. 11.10.
4. IT was f…d & … with all Delights …eedſu… to Everlaſting Bleſſ…neſs. It being to be the place for Entertainment of God's Friends and Children for ever, … was therefore in Infinite Wiſdom ſuited for i…, to the beſt advantage that might be.
For,
1. IT is a moſt Glorious Place: It is made of the moſt pure and ſubtle …atter of all Bodies in the World; the moſt curious and ſtately Earthly Palace, is but a Dungeon compared with it; all the Excellency of the lower World, is not fit to ſet off the Glory of the Third Heaven, ſo much as by a S…a…. It is ſo glorious and ſhining, that it needs no Sun to give …ght there; precious Stones and Pearls are there trodden on; Rev. 21.18, —23.
2. IT is a moſt Spacious Place. If any Place could contain God, it were this; 1 Kings 8.27. —But, behold the Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee—. It is of ſufficient Capacity to entertain all the Heirs of Glory; … great City, Rev. 21.10. It graſps in its Concavity, the whole frame of Inconſtant Natures; the Earth is but a point to it; the Starry Heaven, as large as it is, is but a ſtrait room compared with it.
3. IT is filled with all poſſible Delights, and tranſcendent Pleaſures. All that this World affords; Food, Raiment, Muſick, Fountains, Rivers, Gardent, &c. are but a dark ſhadow of the Pleaſures of this Place; it was made for Delights and theſe all of them Full and Eternal, Pſal. 16. ….— In thy preſence is fullneſs of Joy, at thy right land are pleaſures for evermore.
4. THE titles given it in Scripture ſhew its excellency. 'Tis called Paradiſe, Luk. 23.43. An Houſe not made with bands, 2 Cor. 5.1. A City whoſe builder & maker is God, Heb. 11.10. The City of the Living God, Heb. 12.22, The Father's Houſe, Job. 14.2. The Third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12.2.
5. HERE God is more Inmediately to be enjoyed. Here He is to be ſeen in great Majeſty, and ſtately Glory for ever. When the Children of God come to Heaven, they approach near Him, into His preſence; there the thick glaſs is taken away, and the beatifical Viſion is compleated, 1 Cor. 13.12. New we ſee through a glaſs d…rbly, but then face to face. But who can declare, that hath not ſeen it, the gloriouſneſs of this Fabrick?
II. OF the Angels take this Deſcription: They are a great Company of Spiritual Natures, or Subſtances, Created on purpoſe to be miniſtring Spirits unto God. We may take the Explication in theſe particulars;
1. THAT the Angels were Created, it evident by Scripture, which numbers them among God's Creatures; Pſal. 148.2, with 5th. Col. 1.16. For by him were all things created that are i… Heaven, &c. That they were Created in the firſt moment of Time, together with the Third Heaven, we have heard.
2. THERE is a great Company of them: Luk. 2.13. —A multitude of the heaventy boſt. Matth. 26.53. — More than twelve Legions — Hets 12.22. — An innumerable Company—. In regard of us they are Innumerable, tho' God … …th their Number and their Names.
3. THEY are Spiritual Natures or Sub… They are Natures, i. e. They have both Ma… ter and Form; Form they have, becauſe they and eſſentially diſtinguiſhed each from other: … briel is not another Angel. And to think them Immaterial is abſurd; for wh… ſerves the F… …or? Beſides they have a common Kind, H… 2.16. —The Nature of Angels— Which Community flows from hence. They are capable of Torment! they are not a mere A…, as God is, but have a Protention; they are Quantity and not Infinite; though they can contract and dilate themſelves, yet they are limited to place, and haves local motion, which is not inſt…ma… neous, but ſucceſſive, Dan. 9.21. But they … Spiritual, and therefore In-corporeal; they have the fineſt Matter; our ſenſes cannot perceive them; Luk. 24.39. — A ſpirit bath not fleſh and bones —. If ever they become Viſible, it is by aſſuming a Body for the Time, without … perſonal Union: And being Spirits, they are Perſons, inaſmuch as they are Individual Subſtances of a Rational Nature, or Cauſes by Counſel, ſubſiſting of themſelves, and hence are capable of happineſs or miſery.
4. THEY were Created on purpoſe to be Miniſtring Spirits unto God. Here conſider,
1. THEIR Miniſtry it ſelf, aſſerted. Heb 1.14. Are they not all Miniſtring Spirits, ſent ſ…rth to miniſter for them who ſhall be b…irs of ſalvation And it is two fold, 1. TO Celebrate the Glory of God. Pſal. 103.20. Bioſs the Lord ye his Angels, &c. Pſal. 148.2. Praiſe him all ye his Angels —. To advance his great Name in his Works; hence that. Luk. 2.13, 14. — A multitude of the heavenly hoſt praiſing God, ſaying, Glory to God the bigheſt— The Heaven paſlively glorifies God, but theſe …o it actively; waiting at his Throne, and confe…ng with Adoration; Iſa. 6.1, 2, 3. 2. TO fulfill his Commands. Pſal. 102.20. — His Ange…s that do his commendments, &c. It is the Honour of the great King, to have theſe noble Perſonages waiting on his Throne; and their Employment is about Matters of greateſt Moment: Hence they have great Names put upon them, Thrones, Principelities, &c. They do all according to the Pleaſure of the moſt high; Ezek. 1.12.—It hither the ſpirit was to go, they went—. And their ſpecial Miniſtry is for the good of the Children of God; Heb. 1.14. Are they not all miniſtring ſpirits, ſent ſ…h to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of ſalvation? Pſal …1 11. For whoſe ſakes they intermeddle with the Affairs of Kingdoms, and interpoſe to deſeat the Plots of Potentates againſt God's People, Dan. 10.13, 20. Hence they attend all the Wheels of Providence.
2. THEIR Fitneſs for this Miniſter appeareth in thoſe Endowments that God beſtowed upon them in their Creation, fitting them to this Service; 1 GREAT Clearneſs of Underſtanding, enabling them fully to diſcern God's Mind. They underſtand in a way of Reaſon, and by Revelation, and ſee Effects in the Cauſes, &c. Epb. 3.10. but in … way they are the moſt intelligent …; being Spirits: Hence compared to Eagles, as being Inhabitants of Heaven, dwelling at Court, Matth. 18.10. 2. GREAT Freedom of Will, fitting them for the Service of God, in a moſt enlarged manner: Hence they are ready to ſerve God, Pſal. 103.20. Hence they delight to do the Will of God faithfully and throughly, Ezek. 1.9, 12. And Love Gods People: Are theirs, Matth. 18.10. And Rejone in their Welfare, Luk. 15.10.
3. GREAT Strength, that they be able to carry thro' their Work without Reſiſtance. They are Conſtant Natures, and therefore are very ſtrong; and they are Spirits, and ſo no other Creatures on grapple with them: One Angel can Cope with an Army of Men. We ſee what Work they make where they come, Matth. 28. beg.
4. GREATEST Activity, that they may with all ſpeed perform the Commands of God. Their Spiritual Nature makes them ſo: Nothing can ſtop their Courſe: They are winged, E…. 1.6. They are to ride Poſt from Heaven to Earth: They have the largeſt Journeys to go; and the Kings's Buſtneſs requires haſt, and the Neceſſity of God's People is very urgent, and calls for greateſt Celerity; Dan. 9.21.
USE: FROM the conſideration of the Third Heaven; Learn,
1. THE great Love of God to His Croſen, in providing a Heaven for them, before they were. This was the firſt work of Efficiency that God wrought: Before he made Man, he made Proviſion for him; and that not only for his Tempotary Abode an Earth, but for his Eternal Habitation. What Tho'ts then ſhould God's Children entertain of Him, who had ſuch Tho'ts of good Will for them, in the Days of Eternity?
2. WHO they … this are moſt ſ… f…r Heaver, and like to go …er when they dye: They are H…ly Ones, ſuch as are ſanctified by the Spirit of God, and ſo made meet for the Inhentance. Groundleſs are the hopes of Unboly Perſons. to have any part here: Heaven indeed is not for their Turn, neither the Place, nor the Company. hor the Employment; nor can it give them Entertainment, but would ſpue them out, if they were in it. This conſideration invites all to Holineſs, that would not be aſhamed of their Hope; 1 John. 3.3. He that b… this … puriſ…th himſelf.
3. IS there ſuch a Place, what do me Here? Doth it not juſtly reprove our neglect of ſeeking an Intereſt in it? It is to be obtained, being part of the Price that is ſet before us; and we have need of it: Here is no Reſt to be enjoyed in this evil World, nor is it a Place for us to abide in: And how deſirable a Place is it for us, where alone we can be Happy?
4. WE may well congratulate the Pelitity of God's Children, who have ſuch a Place provided for them, after all their Labours and Travel… Bear courag…ouſly all the hardſhips of this Wilderneſs; Heaven will make you amends for all.
USE 2. FROM the conſideration of the Angels; Learn,
1. WHAT little need God hath of our Service. If we ſpeak of his declarative Glory; ſee what an innumerable Company of Glonous Servitors are always attending on his Throne ſpeedily, chearfully, conſtantly doing his Will; what a Wonder then is it that he will accept of ſuch dull, cold, and liſtleſs Services as ours are?
2. WHAT Royal Perſons God's People are … for whom God hath provided ſuch Miniſters of State, to attend upon them: How honourable are they in God's Eyes, and how ſafe from Evil, Pſal. 91.10, 11. There ſhall no evil befall thee, for he ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. How dangerous then is it for any to dare to meddle with them, or offer to do them any …njury?
3. WHAT is the higheſt Glory of the … Creatures. The greateſt Honours they are capable of, is to be …iſters to, and Attendants upon God: This is the Honour of Angels and it is their Glory, that they do it with the greateſt Freedom: And would we be like them, let it be our greateſt Ambition to imitate them herein; endeavouring to get our Sonls as the Chariots of Aminadab, running with all Chearfulneſs the Race of God's Commandmente.
[OCTOBER 7. 1690.]