A81210:52
Heaven and earth embracing; or, God and man approaching
Heaven and earth embracing; or, God and man approaching: showed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their public fast at Margarets Westminster, January 28. 1645. By Joseph Caryl minister of the Gospel at Magnus near London Bridge.Heaven and earth embracing; or, God and man approaching: shewed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their publike fast at Margarets Westminster, January 28. 1645. By Joseph Caryl minister of the Gospel at Magnus neer London Bridge.
London: printed by G.M. for George Hurlock book-seller, 1646
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, Look to the steps. There are seven steps (and you shall have them almost in so many words) by which we draw near to God.
Thirdly, Look to the steps. There are seven steps (and you shall have them almost in so many words) by which we draw neer to God.
1. The sense of our own wants. We never come near the fullness of God till we know our own emptiness. He that is full l•atheth a honey-comb; and he who thinks he is full (though none are so empty as he) shall never have his emptiness filled, He filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the rich empty away. The whole have no need of a Physician; and though none have so much need, as they who say they are whole, yet these shall not be healed.
1. The sense of our own vvants. We never come neer the fulnesse of God till we know our owne emptinesse. He that is full l•atheth a honey-comb; and he vvho thinks he is full (though none are so empty as he) shall never have his emptinesse filled, He filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the rich empty away. The vvhole have no need of a Physician; and though none have so much need, as they vvho say they are vvhole, yet these shall not be healed.
The second step is a sense of our own utter inability to supply our wants, yea, and of the inability of all the creatures under heaven, and in heaven too, without God, Psal. 73. 25, 26. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee; My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. David having thus protested against the expectation of help from any creature in heaven or earth, without or within himself, and laid all his help upon him that is mighty, finds his soul in a fit frame to approach to God, v. 28. It is good for me to draw near to God.