If this be the eternity of God, 1then to him all time, that is to come, is, as it were, past, Psal. 90.4.2 A thousand years in his sight are but as yesterday, when it is past: that is, a thousand years that are to come, they are to him as past; they are nothing to him. And again, a thousand years that ⟨p. 160⟩are past, are as it were, present to him, as we heard before: Before Abraham was, I am: For he possesseth all things together; by reason of the vastness of his being, to him all things are present. As he that stands upon an high mountain, and looks down (it is a simile that the School-men often use;) though to the passenger that goes by, some are before, some behind, yet to him they are all present. So though one generation passeth, and another cometh; yet to God, that inhabits and stands upon eternity, they are the same, they are all present, there is no difference. And then this follows from hence, that to God no time is either long or short,3 but all times are alike to him; therefore he is not subject to any delays or expectances; he is not subject to any fears, for they are of things to come; nor to the translation of grief, or pleasure, or the loss of any excellency, that before he had not, as all creatures are; therefore we should consider of the excellency of God, to give him the praise of it: this use is made of it, in 1 Tim. 1.17.4 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, and the only wise GOD, be honour, and glory for ever and ever, Amen: As if he should say; this very consideration, that God is eternal, should cause us to give him praise: and so is that in Isai. 57.15.5
If this be the eternity of God, 1then to him all time, that is to come, is, as it were, past, Psal. 90.4.2 A thousand yeares in his sight are but as yesterday, when it is past: that is, a thousand yeares that are to come, thay are to him as past; they are nothing to him. And againe, a thousand yeeres that ⟨p. 160⟩are past, are as it were, present to him, as we heard before: Before Abraham was, I am: For he possesseth all things together; by reason of the vastnesse of his being, to him all things are present. As he that stands upon an high mountaine, and lookes downe (it is a simile that the Schoole-men often use;) though to the passenger that goes by, some are before, some behinde, yet to him they are all present. So though one generation passeth, and another commeth; yet to God, that inhabits and stands upon eternity, they are the same, they are all present, there is no difference. And then this followes from hence, that to God no time is either long or short,3 but all times are alike to him; therefore he is not subject to any delayes or expectances; he is not subject to any feares, for they are of things to come; nor to the translation of griefe, or pleasure, or the losse of any excellencie, that before hee had not, as all creatures are; therfore we should consider of the excellencie of God, to give him the praise of it: this use is made of it, in 1 Tim. 1.17.4 Now unto the King eternall, immortall, invisible, and the only wise GOD, be honour, and glory for ever and ever, Amen: As if he should say; this very consideration, that God is eternall, should cause us to give him praise: and so is that in Isai. 57.15.5
- 1Consect. 1.
- 2He possesseth all things together; and all time is present and as it were past with him. Psal 90.4.
- 3To God no time is either long or short.
- 41 Tim. 1.17.
- 5Isai. 57.15.
