A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

Briefly, to conceive how God is in Heaven, we must consider, ⟨p. 112⟩1. The several ways of his Presence: He is in Christ, hypostatically, essentially, or (as the Apostle speaks) bodily; Col. 2. 19. The Fullness of God dwells in him bodily. In the Temple under the Law, there God was present symbolically, because there were the Signs and Tokens of his Presence. The Jewish Temple was a Sacramental Place, and Type of Christ, in whose Name▪ and by whose Merit, Worship was acceptable to God. But now in Christians, he is present energetically, and operatively, by his Spirit. And in Heaven, he there dwells by some eminent Effects of his Wisdom, Power, Greatness, and Goodness. God hath showed more of his Workmanship in the Structure of the Heavens, than in any other part of the Creation, that being the most glorious part of the World. Psal. 19. 1, 2, 3. The Heavens declare the Glory of the Lord, and the Firmament showeth his handy Work, &c. Certainly it is meet, God should dwell in the most glorious part of the World; now Heaven is the most glorious part of the Creation. Heathens in their Straits would not look to the Capitol, where their Idols were; but to Heaven, where God hath impressed his Majesty and Greatness. When ever we look upon these aspectable Heavens, the vast Expansion of those glorious Luminaries, the Purity of the Matter, and Sublimity of its Posture, it cannot but raise our Hearts to think of a glorious God that dwelleth there. When we come by a poor Cottage, we guess the Inhabitant is no great Person; but when we see a magnificent Structure, we easily imagine some Person of account dwells there: So, tho the Earth doth declare the Glory of God, and show much of his ⟨p. 113⟩Wisdom and Power, yet chiefly the Heavens, when ever we look upon them, we cannot choose but have awful Thoughts, and be struck with a Religious Horror, at the remembrance of the great God, which hath stretched out these Heavens by his Wisdom and Power.

Briefly, to conceive how God is in Heaven, we must consider, ⟨p. 112⟩