1. He is indeed said to sit in heaven*, and to dwell on high*; but he is no where said to dwell only in the heavens, as confined to them. 'Tis the Court of his Majestical presence, but not the Prison of his Essence. For when we are told, that the heaven is his throne, we are told with the same breath, that the earth is his footstool3. He dwells on high in regard of the excellency of his nature; but he is in all places in regard of the diffusion of his presence. The soul is essentially in all parts of the body, but it doth not exert the same operations in all; the more noble discoveries of it are in the Head and Heart: In the Head, where it exerciseth the chiefest senses for the enriching the understanding. In the Heart, where it vitally resides, and communicates life and motion to the rest of the body. It doth not understand with the foot or toe, tho' it be in all parts of the body it informs. And so God may be said to dwell in Heaven, in regard of the more excellent and majestic representations of himself both to the Creatures that inhabit the place, as Angels and blessed spirits; and also in those marks of his greatness which he hath planted there, those spiritual natures which have a nobler stamp of God upon them, and those excellent bodies, as Sun and Stars, which as so many Tapers light us to behold his glory4, and astonish the minds of men when they gaze upon them. 'Tis his Court, where he hath the most solemn Worship from his Creatures, all his Courtiers attending there with a pure love, and glowing zeal. He reigns there in a special manner, without any opposition to his government; 'tis therefore called his holy dwelling-place5: The Earth hath not that title, since sin cast a stain, and a ruining curse upon it. The Earth is not his Throne, because his government is opposed. But Heaven is none of Satan's precinct, and the Rule of God is uncontradicted by the Inhabitants of it. 'Tis from thence also he hath given the greatest discoveries of himself: Thence he sends the Angels his Messengers, his Son upon Redemption, his Spirit for Sanctification. From Heaven his gifts drop down upon our heads, and his grace upon our hearts6. From thence the chiefest blessings of Earth descend. The motions of the heavens fatten the earth; and the heavenly bodies are but stewards to the earthly comforts for man by their influence.
1. He is indeed said to sit in heaven*, and to dwell on high*; but he is no where said to dwell only in the heavens, as confin'd to them. 'Tis the Court of his Majestical presence, but not the Prison of his Essence. For when we are told, that the heaven is his throne, we are told with the same breath, that the earth is his footstool3. He dwells on high in regard of the excellency of his nature; but he is in all places in regard of the diffusion of his presence. The soul is essentially in all parts of the body, but it doth not exert the same operations in all; the more noble discoveries of it are in the Head and Heart: In the Head, where it exerciseth the chiefest senses for the enriching the understanding. In the Heart, where it vitally resides, and communicates life and motion to the rest of the body. It doth not understand with the foot or toe, tho' it be in all parts of the body it informs. And so God may be said to dwell in Heaven, in regard of the more excellent and majestick representations of himself both to the Creatures that inhabit the place, as Angels and blessed spirits; and also in those marks of his greatness which he hath planted there, those spiritual natures which have a nobler stamp of God upon them, and those excellent bodies, as Sun and Stars, which as so many Tapers light us to behold his glory4, and astonish the minds of men when they gaze upon them. 'Tis his Court, where he hath the most solemn Worship from his Creatures, all his Courtiers attending there with a pure love, and glowing zeal. He reigns there in a special manner, without any opposition to his government; 'tis therefore call'd his holy dwelling-place5: The Earth hath not that title, since sin cast a stain, and a ruining curse upon it. The Earth is not his Throne, because his government is oppos'd. But Heaven is none of Satan's precinct, and the Rule of God is uncontradicted by the Inhabitants of it. 'Tis from thence also he hath given the greatest discoveries of himself: Thence he sends the Angels his Messengers, his Son upon Redemption, his Spirit for Sanctification. From Heaven his gifts drop down upon our heads, and his grace upon our hearts6. From thence the chiefest blessings of Earth descend. The motions of the heavens fatten the earth; and the heavenly bodies are but stewards to the earthly comforts for man by their influence.
- *Psal. 2.4.
- *Psal 113 5.
- 3Isa. 66.•.
- 4Psal. 19.1.
- 52 Chron 3.27.
- 6James 3.15.
