2. Beyond the line of all Creature expectations, Eph. 3. 20. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. He doth so in Spirituals; as appears by those two famous Parables, Luke 15. 19. 22. And am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants. But the Father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. The Prodigal desired to be but as an hired servant, and lo, the fatted Calf is […] for him, and music to his meat, and the gold ⟨p. 178⟩ring upon his finger. And in Matth. 18. 26, 27. The Debtor did but desire patience, and the Creditor forgave the Debt. O, thinks a poor humbled Sinner, if I might have but the least glimpse of hope, how sweet would it be! But God brings him to more than he expects, even the clear shining of assurance. It is so in Temporals, the Church confesses the Lord did things they looked not for, Isa. 64. 3. And in both Spirituals and Temporals this power moves in an higher Orb than our thoughts, Isa. 55. 8, 9. My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways your ways; but as far as the heavens are above the earth, so are my thoughts above your thoughts, The earth is but a punctum to the Heavens; all its tallest Cedars, Mountains, and Pyramids cannot reach it: He speaks, as was said before, of Gods pitying, pardoning, and merciful thoughts, and shows that no Creat•re can think of God, as he doth of the creature under sin, or under misery. Our thoughts are not his; either First by way of simple cogitation we cannot thi•k such thoughts towards others in misery, by way of pity; or under sin against us by way of pardon, as God doth: Nor Secondly, are our thoughts as Gods in respect of reflexive comprehension; i. e. We cannot conceive or comprehend what those thoughts of God towards us are, when we fall into sin or misery; j•st as he thinks them, they are altered, debased, and straitened as soon as ever they come into our thoughts. See an excellent instance in Gen. 48. 11. I had not thought to see thy face, and lo God hath showed me all thy seed. A surprising providence; and thus the Divine power works in a Sphere above all the thoughts, prayers and expectations of men.
2. Beyond the line of all Creature expectations, Eph. 3. 20. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. He doth so in Spirituals; as appears by those two famous Parables, Luke 15. 19. 22. And am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants. But the Father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. The Prodigal desired to be but as an hired servant, and lo, the fatted Calf is 〈…〉 for him, and musick to his meat, and the gold ⟨p. 178⟩ring upon his finger. And in Matth. 18. 26, 27. The Debtor did but desire patience, and the Creditor forgave the Debt. O, thinks a poor humbled Sinner, if I might have but the least glimpse of hope, how sweet would it be! But God brings him to more than he expects, even the clear shining of assurance. It is so in Temporals, the Church confesses the Lord did things they looked not for, Isa. 64. 3. And in both Spirituals and Temporals this power moves in an higher Orb than our thoughts, Isa. 55. 8, 9. My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways your ways; but as far as the heavens are above the earth, so are my thoughts above your thoughts, The earth is but a punctum to the Heavens; all its tallest Cedars, Mountains, and Pyramids cannot reach it: He speaks, as was said before, of Gods pitying, pardoning, and merciful thoughts, and shews that no Creat•re can think of God, as he doth of the creature under sin, or under misery. Our thoughts are not his; eit•er First by way of simple cogitation we cannot thi•k such thoughts towards others in misery, by way of pity; or under sin against us by way of pardon, as God doth: Nor Secondly, are our thoughts as Gods in respect of reflexive comprehension; i. e. We cannot conceive or comprehend what those thoughts of God towards us are, when we fall into sin or misery; j•st as he thinks them, they are altered, debased, and straitened as soon as ever they come into our thoughts. See an excellent instance in
