A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

how shall we conceive of it? You can never do it by your Reason or Imaginations; For as the Heavens is above the Earth, so are my thoughts in this matter above your thoughts. This is an expression to set out the largest and most unconceivable distance that may be. The creation will afford no more significant expression or representation of it. The Heavens are inconceivably ⟨p. 224⟩distant from the Earth, and inconceivably glorious above it. So are the Thoughts of God; they are not only distant from ours, but have a Glory in them also that we cannot rise up unto. For the most part when we come to deal with God about forgiveness, we hang in every briar of disputing quarrelsome unbelief. This or that Circumstance or Aggravation, this or that unparalleled particular, bereaves us of our Confidence. Want of a due Consideration of him with whom we have to do, measuring him by that line of our own imaginations, bringing him down unto our Thoughts and our Ways, is the cause of all our disquietments. Because we find it hard to forgive our pence, we think he cannot forgive Talents. But he hath provided to obviate such thoughts in us, Hos. 11. 9. I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I AM GOD AND NOT MAN. Our satisfaction in this matter, is to be taken from his Nature; where he a man, or as the Sons of men, it were impossible that upon such and so many provocations, he should turn away from the fierceness of his Anger. But he is God. This gives an Infiniteness, and an inconceivable boundlessness to the forgiveness that is with him; and exalts it above all our thoughts and ways. This is to be lamented; Presumption which turns God into an Idol, ascribes unto that Idol, a greater largeness in forgiveness, than faith is able to rise up unto, when it deals with him as a God of infinite Excellencies and Perfections. The reasons of it I confess are obvious. But this is certain, no presumption can falsely imagine that forgiveness to it self from the Idol of its heart, as faith may in the way of God, find in him, and obtain from him. For,

how shall we conceive of it? You can never do it by your Reason or Imaginations; For as the Heavens is above the Earth, so are my thoughts in this matter above your thoughts. This is an expression to set out the largest and most unconceivable distance that may be. The creation will afford no more significant expression or representation of it. The Heavens are inconceivably