It is said of a wicked man (Psal. 10.4.) God is not in all his thoughts; that is, he is in none of his thoughts, or God is not at all in his thoughts. But is any man so void of God, that God is not in all his Thoughts? can any man utterly extinguish or blot the thoughts of God out of his heart? is not the notion of a God, written with indelible characters upon the heart of man by nature? if not, how is the Law written there by nature? I answer, wicked men have thoughts, and cannot but have thoughts of God. But, first, They like not to retain God in their thoughts, or (which is the same) in their knowledge (Rom. 1.28.) Secondly, The thoughts which they have of God, are unworthy of God; while they think of God, they think below God, and so indeed their thoughts are not at all the thoughts of God. While we think of God otherwise then he is, and hath revealed himself to be, we do not think of the God that made us, but we make an Idol-God in our own thoughts. Now wicked men think either that God hath no strength, power, goodness and wisdom, or can do little with what he hath; What can the Almighty do for them? They who are afar off from God by unbelief, are not able to discern his power, his goodness, his wisdom, his faithfulness, his All-sufficiency; They neither understand what God affirms of himself, nor give credit to what he hath promised unto us. We say of those things, which appear more then they are, that they affect more afar off then near at hand; but those things which are more then they appear, affect more when they are nigh, then when they are afar off. God is infinitely more, then he appears; And he being near to those who believe, affects them wonderfully. But God is far from unbelievers, and they are far off or in a state of farthest distance from God, therefore they are not affected with him; But say, who is God? what is Gods power? ⟨p. 164⟩what is his almightiness? We have heard much of him, but we see little in him. They look upon God, as if he were like the Idols (described, Psal. 115.4, 5, 6, 7.) Who have eyes, and see not, ears, and bear not, hands and handle not &c. All the attributes of God, that he is almighty, unchangeable, &c. are but a sound of words or empty titles in their ears. A believer can make a living out of any attribute of God;
It is sayd of a wicked man (Psal. 10.4.) God is not in all his thoughts; that is, he is in none of his thoughts, or God is not at all in his thoughts. But is any man so voyd of God, that God is not in all his Thoughts? can any man utterly extinguish or blot the thoughts of God out of his heart? is not the notion of a God, written with indelible characters upon the heart of man by nature? if not, how is the Law written there by nature? I answer, wicked men have thoughts, and cannot but have thoughts of God. But, first, They like not to retaine God in their thoughts, or (which is the same) in their knowledge (Rom. 1.28.) Secondly, The thoughts which they have of God, are unworthy of God; while they thinke of God, they thinke below God, and so indeed their thoughts are not at all the thoughts of God. While we thinke of God otherwise then he is, and hath revealed himselfe to be, we doe not thinke of the God that made us, but we make an Idol-God in our own thoughts. Now wicked men thinke either that God hath no strength, power, goodnesse and wisdome, or can do little with what he hath; What can the Allmighty doe for them? They who are afarre off from God by unbeliefe, are not able to discerne his power, his goodnes, his wisdome, his faithfullnesse, his Allsufficiency; They neyther understand what God affirmes of himselfe, nor give credit to what he hath promised unto us. We say of those things, which appeare more then they are, that they affect more afarre off then neere at hand; but those things which are more then they appeare, affect more when they are nigh, then when they are afarre off. God is infinitely more, then he appeares; And he being neere to those who beleeve, affects them wonderfully. But God is farre from unbeleevers, and they are farre off or in a state of farthest distance from God, therefore they are not affected with him; But say, who is God? what is Gods power? ⟨p. 164⟩what is his allmightinesse? Wee have heard much of him, but wee see little in him. They looke upon God, as if he were like the Idolls (described, Psal. 115.4, 5, 6, 7.) Who have eyes, and see not, eares, and beare not, hands and handle not &c. All the attributes of God, that he is allmighty, unchangeable, &c. are but a sound of words or empty titles in their eares. A beleever can make a living out of any attribute of God;