Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

This is so clear, that nothing is more spoken of in Scripture. The very name Lord imports it, a name originally belonging to Gods, and from them translated to ⟨p. 703⟩others. And he is frequently called the Lord of Hosts, because all the Troops and Armies of Spiritual and Corporeal Creatures are in his hands, and at his service. This is one of his principal Titles. And the Angels are called his Hosts, 21. ver. following the Text; his Camp and Militia. But more plainly, 1 Kings 22.19. God is presented upon his Throne, encompassed with all the Host of Heaven standing on his Right hand, and on his Left, which can be understood of no other than of the Angels, that wait for the Commands of their Sovereign, and stand about, not to Counsel him, but to receive his Orders. The Sun, Moon, and Stars are called his Hosts, Deut. 4.19. Appointed by him for the Government of inferior things. He hath an absolute Authority over the greatest, and the least Creatures; over those that are most dreadful, and those that are most beneficial; over the good Angels that willingly obey him, over the Evil Angels that seem most uncapable of Government. And as he is thus Lord of Hosts, he is the King of Glory, or a glorious King. Psal. 24.10. You find him called a great King; the most High. Psal. 92.1. The supreme Monarch, there being no dignity in Heaven or Earth, but what is dimm before him, and infinitely inferior to him; yea he hath the Title of Only King. 1 Tim. 6.15. The Title of Royalty truly and properly only belongs to him. You may see it described very magnificently by David, at the freewill offering for the Building of the Temple. 1 Chron. 29.11, 12. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory, and the Majesty, thine is the Kingdom, O God, and thou art exalted as Head above all. Both Riches and Honour come of thee, and thou Reignest over all, and in thy hand is Power and Might, and in thy hand it is to make Great, and to give strength to all. He hath an eminency of Power or Authority above all. All Earthly Princes received their Diadems from him, yea even those that will not acknowledge him, and he hath a more absolute power over them, than they can challenge over their meanest Vassals. As God hath a knowledge infinitely above our knowledge;