Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

As Eternity is the perfection whereby he hath neither beginning nor end; Immutability is the perfection whereby he hath neither increase, nor diminution: so Immensity or Omnipresence is that whereby he hath neither bounds, nor limitation. As he is in all time, yet so as to be above time; so is he in all places, yet so as to be above limitation by any place. It was a good Expression of a Heathen to illustrate this, That God is a Sphere or Circle, whose Centre is every where, and Circumference no where. His meaning was, that the Essence of God was indivisible; i. e. could not be divided. It cannot be said, here and there the lines of it terminate; 'tis like a line drawn out in infinite spaces, that no point can be conceived where its length and breadth ends. The Sea is a vast mass of waters; yet to that it is said, Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further. But it cannot be said of Gods Essence, hitherto it reaches and no further; here it is, and there it is not. 'Tis plain, that God is thus immense, because he is infinite; we have Reason and Scripture to assent to it, though we cannot conceive it. We know that God is eternal, though Eternity is too great to be measured by the short line of a created understanding. We cannot conceive the Vastness and Glory of the Heavens, much less that which is so great, as to fill Heaven and Earth; yea,^* not to be contained in the Heaven of Heavens.

As Eternity is the perfection whereby he hath neither beginning nor end; Immutability is the perfection whereby he hath neither increase, nor diminution: so Immensity or Omnipresence is that whereby he hath neither bounds, nor limitation. As he is in all time, yet so as to be above time; so is he in all places, yet so as to be above limitation by any place. It was a good Expression of a Heathen to illustrate this, That God is a Sphere or Circle, whose Center is every where, and Circumference no where. His meaning was, that the Essence of God was indivisible; i. e. could not be divided. It cannot be said, here and there the lines of it terminate; 'tis like a line drawn out in infinite spaces, that no point can be conceived where its length and breadth ends. The Sea is a vast mass of waters; yet to that it is said, Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further. But it cannot be said of Gods Essence, hitherto it reaches and no further; here it is, and there it is not. 'Tis plain, that God is thus immense, because he is infinite; we have Reason and Scripture to assent to it, though we cannot conceive it. We know that God is eternal, though Eternity is too great to be measured by the short line of a created understanding. We cannot conceive the Vastness and Glory of the Heavens, much less that which is so great, as to fill Heaven and Earth; yea,