We may look to the Heavens and not see, we may see the Heavens and not behold them. Let me here again mind the Reader of the Emphasis of that word; it notes a looking unto, or upon the Object, as a Hunter looks for a Hare, or a Fowler for a Bird; how doth he pry and look into every tuft and bush? So the word is used (Jer. 5.26.) Among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait (or they eye and behold) as one that setteth snares, they set a trap, they catch men. All the visible works of God, much more the Heavens should be diligently considered, looked into, seen, and beheld. It was a good Conclusion of one of the Ancients, who said, That man hath not looked unto Heaven, 1that hath only looked upon Heaven. A bare look is not sufficient, he must look with admiration, or till he cannot forbear to admire, as the first Latin word in that sentence signifies properly. A man may look upon a Picture, and yet not behold it discerningly; he may say, that's the ⟨p. 28⟩picture of a man, yet not consider the Art of the workman in drawing it; he may see it is the picture of a man, not of a beast, at a look, but he must see it exactly, if he would find out the worth and workmanship o• it. A man in passage (as some speak) may see a house, yet not apprehend the Symmetry of the Plot-form, the skill of the Architect, no• the commodiousness of its Situation; to discern these calls for serious consideration, and settled reviews. As in the Natural works of God, the Heavens made for man, so much more in his Spiritual works, the making of a Heaven in man, or man Heavenly, require our deepest thoughts, and most studious re-searches. O how many are there who look transiently upon those works of God, who never see nor behold them, never enter into the secrets of them! many know some Truths, yet never looked into any, nor laboured to comprehend with all Saints (or as all Saints ought to do) what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of them; and therefore attain not to that riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, as the Apostle speaks (Col. 2.2.) but are like children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, as the same Apostle describes them, Eph. 4.14.
We may look to the Heavens and not see, we may see the Heavens and not behold them. Let me here again mind the Reader of the Emphasis of that word; it notes a looking unto, or upon the Object, as a Hunter looks for a Hare, or a Fowler for a Bird; how doth he pry and look into every tuft and bush? So the word is used (Jer. 5.26.) Among my people are found wicked men: they lay waite (or they eye and behold) as one that setteth snares, they set a trap, they catch men. All the visible works of God, much more the Heavens should be diligently considered, lookt into, seen, and beheld. It was a good Conclusion of one of the Ancients, who said, That man hath not looked unto Heaven, 1that hath only looked upon Heaven. A bare look is not sufficient, he must look with admiration, or till he cannot forbeare to admire, as the first Latine word in that sentence signifies properly. A man may look upon a Picture, and yet not behold it discerningly; he may say, that's the ⟨p. 28⟩picture of a man, yet not consider the Art of the workman in drawing it; he may see it is the picture of a man, not of a beast, at a look, but he must see it exactly, if he would find out the worth and workmanship o• it. A man in passage (as some speak) may see a house, yet not apprehend the Symmetry of the Plat-form, the skill of the Architect, no• the commodiousnesse of its Scituation; to discern these calls for serious consideration, and setled reviews. As in the Natural works of God, the Heavens made for man, so much more in his Spiritual works, the making of a Heaven in man, or man Heavenly, require our deepest thoughts, and most studious re-searches. O how many are there who look transiently upon those works of God, who never see nor behold them, never enter into the secrets of them! many know some Truths, yet never looked into any, nor laboured to comprehend with all Saints (or as all Saints ought to do) what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and he•ght of them; and therefore attain not to that riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, as the Apostle speaks (Col. 2.2.) but are like children tossed to and fro, and carryed about with every wind of Doctrine, as the same Apostle describes them, Eph. 4.14.
- 1In coelum ron suspicit, qui coelum tantum aspicit. Origen.
