Besides, minding to gall such to the quick, as served God by halves, and in hypocrisy; he begins at the description of his nature. For in assigning unto God the heavens for his dwelling place, his meaning is to say, that his Majesty fills all things, and is present every where; neither can he be shut up, nor circumscribed within any place whatsoever: so far is it off, that they can include him within the Temple. The Scriptures often affirm that God is in heaven; not that he should be shut up there, but to raise up our minds far above the world, lest we should imagine ought of him that were contemptible or earthly: for the only aspect of the heavens ought to raise up our minds higher, and to ravish us into an admiration. And yet he testifies in infinite places, that he is present with us: that his power is manifested every where, to the end we should not think it to be enclosed within the heavens. It seems this was no hard matter to be believed; and that all then confessed as much. For who among them was ignorant, that Gods Majesty filled both heaven and earth? Thus they might object Object. then, who goes about to pluck God out of heaven? Therefore Isaiah, thou art angry, and inveighest against us without cause. Neither is it to be doubted but the people insolently rejected this doctrine of the Prophet, and were sharply incensed against him, a• if he had offered them great wrong. But the answer Ans. was ready; namely, that whilst they endeavoured to pacify God, according to their own fantasies, they did as much as in them lay, thereby forge an Idol, quite contrary to his Majesty. These superstitious ones trusted in their bare & naked ceremonies, thinking they had quit themselves wondrous well, if they had been once at the Temple, and offered ⟨p. 663⟩up their prayers and sacrifices there. The Prophet shows that we must not measure Gods Majesty by such an ell; as also, that whatsoever we offer him without the purity of the heart, is nothing else but vanity.1 For seeing by Gods dwelling in the heavens, it is evident that he is of a spiritual nature; if his service be not answerable thereunto, it must needs be corrupt and wicked.
Besides, minding to gall such to the quicke, as serued God by halues, and in hypocrisie; hee begins at the description of his nature. For in assigning vnto God the heauens for his dwelling place, his meaning is to say, that his Maiestie fils all things, and is present euery where; neither can he be shut vp, nor circumscribed within any place whatsoeuer: so far is it off, that they can include him within the Temple. The Scriptures often affirme that God is in heauen; not that he should be shut vp there, but to raise vp our mindes farre aboue the world, lest wee should imagin ought of him that were cōtemptible or earthly: for the onely aspect of the heauens ought to raise vp our mindes higher, and to rauish vs into an admiration. And yet he testifies in infinit places, that hee is present vvith vs: that his power is manifested euery where, to the end wee should not thinke it to bee inclosed within the heauens. It seemes this was no hard matter to bee beleeued; and that all then confessed as much. For who among them was ignorant, that Gods Maiestie filled both heauen and earth? Thus they might obiect Obiect. then, who goes about to plucke God out of heauen? Therefore Isaiah, thou art angry, and inueighest against vs without cause. Neither is it to be doubted but the people insolently reiected this doctrine of the Prophet, and were sharply incensed against him, a• if hee had offered them great wrong. But the answer Ans. was readie; namely, that whilest they indeuored to pacifie God, according to their owne fantasies, they did as much as in them lay, thereby forge an Idoll, quite contrarie to his Maiestie. These superstitious ones trusted in their bare & naked ceremonies, thinking they had quit themselues wondrous well, if they had been once at the Temple, and offered ⟨p. 663⟩vp their praiers and sacrifices there. The Prophet shewes that we must not measure Gods Maiestie by such an elle; as also, that whatsoeuer wee offer him without the puritie of the heart, is nothing else but vanitie.1 For seeing by Gods dwelling in the heauens, it is euident that he is of a spirituall nature; if his seruice bee not answerable thereunto, it must needes bee corrupt and wicked.
- 1Whatsoever is offered to God, without the purity of the heart, mere vanity.Whatsoeuer is offered to God, without the puritie of the heart, meere vanitie.
