A Body of Practical Divinity

1st, Unchangeable in his Nature: 1. There is no Eclipse of his Brightness. 2. No Period put to his Being.

1. No Eclipse of his Brightness: His Essence shines with a fixed Lustre, Jam. 1.17. With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Psal. 102.27. Thou art the same. All created Things are full of Vicissitude, 1. Princes and Emperors are subject to Mutation. Sehostris, an Egyptian Prince, having subdued divers Kings in War, made them draw like Horses in his Chariot, as if he intended to turn them to Grass, as God did King Nebuchadnezzar. The Crown hath many Successors. 2. Kingdoms have their Eclipses and Convulsions: What is become of the Glory of Athens? the Pomp of Troy? Jam seges est ubi Troja fuit. Kingdoms tho' they have a Head of Gold, yet Feet of Clay. 3. The Heavens change, Psal. 102.25, 26. As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. The Matter of the Elements as it is more pure, so more firm and solid; the Heavens are the most ancient Records where God hath written his Glory with a Sun-beam; yet these shall change, though I do not think they shall be destroyed as to their substance, yet they shall be changed as to their qualities: They shall me•t with fervent heat, 2 Pet. 3.12. and so be more refined and purified. Thus the Heavens shall be changed, but not He who dwells in Heaven: With him is no Variableness or Shadow of Turning. 4. The best Saints have their Eclipses and Changes: look upon a Christian in his Spiritual Estate, and he is full of Variation: though the Seed of Grace doth not dye, yet the Beauty and Activity of it doth often wither. A Christian hath his Aguish Fits in Religion, sometimes his Faith is at an high Tide, sometime• low Eb•, sometimes his Love flames, and at another time like Fire hid in the