Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

^*Some refer it to time. Do you imagine me a God new framed like your Idols, beginning a little time ago, and not existing before the foundation of the World; yea, from Eternity? a God afar off, further than your acutest understandings can reach? I am of a longer standing, and you ought to know my Majesty. But it rather refers to place, than time. Do you think I do not behold every thing in the earth, as well as in Heaven? Am I locked up within the walls of my Palace, and cannot peep out to behold the things done in the World? or that am I so linked to pleasure in the place of my Glory, as earthly Kings are in their Courts, that I have no mind, or leisure to take notice of the carriages of men upon earth? God doth not say, He was a far off, but only gives an account of the inward thoughts of their minds, or at least, of the Language expressed by their Actions.

^*Some refer it to time. Do you imagine me a God new fram'd like your Idols, beginning a little time ago, and not existing before the foundation of the World; yea, from Eternity? a God afar off, further than your acutest understandings can reach? I am of a longer standing, and you ought to know my Majesty. But it rather refers to place, than time. Do you think I do not behold every thing in the earth, as well as in Heaven? Am I lockt up within the walls of my Palace, and cannot peep out to behold the things done in the World? or that am I so linkt to pleasure in the place of my Glory, as earthly Kings are in their Courts, that I have no mind, or leasure to take notice of the carriages of men upon earth? God doth not say, He was a far off, but only gives an account of the inward thoughts of their minds, or at least, of the Language exprest by their Actions.

1. *Munster, Vatablus, Castalio Oecolamp.

The Interrogation carries in it a strong Affirmation, and assures us more of Gods care, and the folly of men in not considering it. Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places? Heb. in Hiddenesses, in the deepest Cells: What? are you besotted by your base Lusts, that you think me a God careless, ignorant, blind, that I can see nothing, but as a purblind man, what is very near my eye? Are you so out of your wits, that you imagine you can deceive me? Do not all your behaviours speak such a Sentiment to lie secret in your heart, though not formed into a full conception, yet testified by your Actions? No, you are much mistaken, 'tis impossible but that I should see and know all things, since I am present with all things, and am not at a greater distance from the things on earth, than from the the things in Heaven; for I fill all that vast Fabric which is divided into those two parts of Heaven and Earth; and he that hath such an infinite essence, cannot be distant, cannot be ignorant, nothing can be far from his eyes, since every thing is so near to his Essence.