In that God calls the 1Church his House, it shows the special respect that he hath to his Church. God though he be present every where, yet he is present in another manner in his ⟨p. 96⟩Church. As for instance, 2the soul is present in all the parts of the body: but the soul as far as it understands, is only in the brain, as far as it is the fountain of life, it is in the heart: it hath offices, and functions in all the parts: but in the special function, the rational function of it, as it discourseth, and reasoneth, it is in the brain: so (for our apprehension sake) God is every where: but as he sanctifies, and pours out his blessings, and opens, and manifests his secrets, so he is in his Church especially. God is every where, but he is ⟨p. 97⟩in another way in heaven then in other places, he is there gloriously: so in earth he is every where, but he is in another manner in the Church, (the heaven upon earth) then in other places, he is there as in his house to protect them, & provide for them, as his family, and there he abides by his Ordinances, and takes solace, and delight; God delights himself in his Church, and Children, that attend upon his Ordinances; where Two or three are met together, I will be in the middest of them. When Gods people meet together in the ⟨p. 98⟩Church, God is present among them. So you see in what respect, the Tabernacle then, and particular Churches now (which answer it) are called the House of God.
In that God calls the 1Church his House, it shewes the speciall respect that hee hath to his Church. God though he be present every where, yet he is present in another manner in his ⟨p. 96⟩Church. As for instance, 2the soule is present in all the parts of the body: but the soule as farre as it understands, is onely in the braine, as farre as it is the fountaine of life, it is in the heart: it hath offices, and functions in all the parts: but in the speciall function, the rationall function of it, as it discourseth, and reasoneth, it is in the braine: so (for our apprehension sake) God is every where: but as hee sanctifies, and poures out his blessings, and opens, and manifests his secrets, so he is in his Church especially. God is every where, but hee is ⟨p. 97⟩in another way in heaven then in other places, hee is there gloriously: so in earth hee is every where, but he is in another manner in the Church, (the heaven upon earth) then in other places, hee is there as in his house to protect them, & provide for them, as his family, and there hee abides by his Ordinances, and takes solace, and delight; God delights himselfe in his Church, and Children, that attend upon his Ordinances; where Two or three are met together, I will bee in the middest of them. When Gods people meet together in the ⟨p. 98⟩Church, God is present among them. So you see in what respect, the Tabernacle then, and particular Churches now (which answer it) are called the House of God.
- 1Gods respect to his Church.
- 2Simile.
