Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

GODS OMNIPRESENCE.

Jeremiah 23.24. Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him, saith the Lord? Do not I fill Heaven and Earth, saith the Lord?

THE occasion of this Discourse begins vers. 16. where God admonisheth the people, not to hearken to the words of the false Prophets which spake a Vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They made the people vain by their Insinuations of Peace, when God had proclaimed War and Calamity; and uttered the Dreams of their Fancies, and not the Visions of the Lord; and so turned the people from the expectation of the evil day which God had threatened, ver. 17. They say still unto them, that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace: and they say unto every one that walks after the Imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. And they invalidate the Prophesies of those, whom God had sent, v. 18. Who hath stood in the Counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? Who hath marked his word, and heard it? Who hath stood in the Counsel of the Lord? Are they acquainted with the Secrets of God more than we? Who have the word of the Lord, if we have not? Or, it may be a continuation of Gods Admonition: Believe not those Prophets; for who of them have been acquainted with rhe Secrets of God? or by what means should they learn his Counsel? No, assure your selves, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind, it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. v. 19. A whirlwind shall come from Babylon, 'tis just at the door, and shall not be blown over, it shall fall with a witness upon the wicked people, and the deceiving Prophets, and sweep them together into Captivity. For v. 20. The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart. My fury shall not be a childish fury that quickly languisheth, but shall accomplish whatsoever I threaten; and burn so hot, as not to be cool, till I have satisfied my vengeance; in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly, v. 20. when the storm shall beat upon you, you shall then know, that the Calamities shall answer the words you have heard. When the Conqueror shall waste your Grounds, demolish your Houses, and manacle your hands, then shall you consider it, and have the wishes of Fools, that you had had your eyes in your heads before;