Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Therefore observe, that when God is said to draw near to us, when we draw near to him^*; 'tis not by local motion or change of place, but by special and spiritual influences, by exciting and supporting grace. As we ordinarily say, the Sun is come into the House when yet it remains in its place and order in the Heavens, because the Beams pierce through the Windows and enlighten the Room: So when God is said to come down or descend^*; 'tis not by a change of place, but a change of outward acts, when he puts forth himself in ways of fresh Mercy or new Judgments, in the effluxes of his Love or the flames of his Wrath. When good men feel the warm Beams of his Grace refreshing them, or wicked men feel the hot Coals of his Anger scorching them. Gods drawing near to us, is not so much his coming to us, but his drawing us to him:^* As when Water-men pull a Rope that is in one end fastened to the Shore, and the other end to the Vessel; the Shore is immovable, yet it seems to the eye to come to them, but they really move to the Shore. God is an immovable Rock; we are floating and uncertain Creatures; while he seems to approach to us, he doth really make us to approach to him: He comes not to us by any change of place himself, but draws us to him by a change of Mind, Will and Affections in us.

Therefore observe, that when God is said to draw near to us, when we draw near to him^*; 'tis not by local motion or change of place, but by special and spiritual influences, by exciting and supporting grace. As we ordinarily say, the Sun is come into the House when yet it remains in its place and order in the Heavens, because the Beams pierce through the Windows and enlighten the Room: So when God is said to come down or descend^*; 'tis not by a change of place, but a change of outward acts, when he puts forth himself in ways of fresh Mercy or new Judgments, in the effluxes of his Love or the flames of his Wrath. When good men feel the warm Beams of his Grace refreshing them, or wicked men feel the hot Coals of his Anger scorching them. Gods drawing near to us, is not so much his coming to us, but his drawing us to him: