Great is that distance, that is between a King and a Beggar; and yet, there is but creature and creature; greater is that distance between Heaven and Earth; and yet these, but creature and creature; and yet greater is the distance between an Angel and a Worm; and yet still, there is but creature and creature. But now the distance that is between God and us, is infinitely wider; For behold, There is the Mighty, Almighty Creator, 1Before whom all the Nations are but as a drop of a bucket, and the small dust of the balance; and the poor nothing-creature vanity, and altogether lighter then vanity. And yet, this is not all; yea, this is the shortest measure of that distance, whereof we speak; The distance of Creator and Creature; lo it is found between God and the Angels in Heaven, and the Spirits of just men made terfect; in respect whereof, the Psalmist saith of God, 2He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven: It is a ⟨p. 72⟩condescension for that infinitely glorious Being, who dwells in Himself, and is a undantly satisfied in the beholding of his own uncomprehensi•le Excellencies, to vouchsafe to look out of himself, and behold the things that are in Heaven; the best of those glorious Inhabitants that stand round about his Throne; Who therefore, 3conscious of that infinite distance wherein they stand, make their addresses with the greatest self abasements, Covering their faces, and casting themselves down upon those heavenly pavements. But behold upon us, poor wretches, that dwell here below, in these houses of Clay, There is found that which widens this distance beyond all expression or apprehension; Sin, set us farther beneath a Worm, then a Worm is beneath an Angel: I had almost said (bear with the expression, I use it, because no other expression can reach it.) Sin sets us as much beneath our Creatureship, as our Creatureship sets us beneath the Creator. Surely, there is more of God to be seen in the worst of a Creature, then there is of a Creature to be seen in the best of sin; There is nothing vile and base enough under Heaven, to make a simile of sin.
Great is that distance, that is between a King and a Begger; and yet, there is but creature and creature; greater is that distance between Heaven and Earth; and yet these, but creature and creature; and yet greater is the distance between an Angel and a Worm; and yet still, there is but creature and creature. But now the distance that is between God and us, is infinitely wider; For behold, There is the Mighty, Almighty Creator, 1Before whom all the Nations are but as a drop of a bucket, and the small dust of the ballance; and the poor nothing-creature vanity, and altogether lighter then vanity. And yet, this is not all; yea, this is the shortest measure of that distance, whereof we speak; The distance of Creator and Creature; loe it is found between God and the Angels in Heaven, and the Spirits of just men made terfect; in respect whereof, the Psalmist saith of God, 2He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven: It is a ⟨p. 72⟩condescention for that infinitely glorious Being, who dwells in Himself, and is a undantly satisfied in the beholding of his own uncomprehensi•le Excellencies, to vouchsafe to look out of himself, and behold the things that are in Heav•n; the best of those glorious Inhabitants that stand round about his Throne; Who therefore, 3conscious of that infinite distance wherein they stand, make their addresses with the greatest self abasements, Covering their faces, and casting themselves down upon those heavenly pavements. But behold upon us, poor wretches, that dwell here below, in these houses of Clay, There is found that which widens this distance beyond all expression or apprehension; Sin, set us farther beneath a Worm, then a Worm is •eneath an Angel: I had almost said (bear with the expression, I use it, because no other expression can reach it.) Sin sets us as much beneath our Creatureship, as our Creatureship sets us beneath the Creator. Surely, there is more of God to be seen in the worst of a Creature, then there is of a Creature to be seen in the best of sin; There is nothing vile and base enough under Heaven, to make a simile of sin.
- 1Isai. 40.15. Psa. 62.9.
- 2Psa. 113.6.
- 3Revel. 4.8.9, 10, 11.
