Use 2. If God be infinite in his glorious essence, learn to admire Avhere you cannot fathom. The angels wear a vail ; they cover their faces, as adoring this infinite majesty, Isa. vi. 3. Elias wrapped himself in a mantle Avhen God's glory passed by. Admire where you cannot fathom. Job. xi. 7., " Canst thou by searching find out God.?" Here we see some beams of his glory, — we see him in the glass of the crea- tion,— we see him in his picture, his image shines in the saints, — but who can search out all his essential glory ? What angel can measure these pyramids ? " Canst thou by searching find out God ?" He is infinite. We can no more search out his in- finite perfections, than a man upon the top of the highest mountain can reach the fir- mament, or take a star in his hand. O have God- admiring thoughts ! Adore where you cannot fathom ; there are many mys- teries in nature which we cannot fathom, — why the sea should be higher than the earth, yet not drown it, — why the Nile should overflow in summer, when, by the course of nature, the waters are lowest,— how the bones grow in the womb, Eccl. xi. J. If these things pose us, how may the infinite mystery of the Deity transcend our most raised intellectuals ! Ask the geo- metrician, if he can, with a pair of com- passes, measure the breadth of the earth : so unable are we to measure the infinite perfections of God. In heaven we shall see God clearly, but not fully, for he is in- finite ; he will communicate himself to us, according to the bigness of our vessel, but not the immenseness of his nature. Adore then where you cannot fathom.
If God he infinite in all places, then let to limit (iod, Ps. Ixxviii. 41-,
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'* They linutod the Holy One of IsraeL**
OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
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It is a limiting God to confine liim within the narrow compass of our reason. Rea- son tliinks God must go such a way to work, or the business will never be effect- *^d. This is to limit God to our reason ; whereas he is infinite, " and his ways are past finding out," Rom. xi. 33. In the deliverance of the church, it is a limiting God, either to set him a time, or prescribe him a method for deliverance. God will
deliver Sion, but he will be left to his own liberty ; he will not be tied to a place, to a time, to an instrument, this were to limit him, and then he should not be infinite. God will go his own way, — he w'lW jwse and nonplus reason,— he will work by im- probabilities,— he will save in such a way as we think he will destroy ; now he acts like himself, like an infinite, wonder-work- ing God.
OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
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" FOR the Lord is a God of know ledge, and by him actions are weighed," 1 Sam. ii. 3, Glorious things are spoken of God ; he transcends our thoughts, and the angels' praises. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, " Tlie Lord is a God of knowledge ;" or, as the Hebrew word is, * A God of knowledges.' Tlirough the bright niiiTor of his own essence, he hath a full idea and cognizance of all things. The world is to him a transparent body. He makes an heart anatomy ; Rev. ii. 23., " I am he which searcheth the reins and the heart." Tlie clouds are no canopy, the night is no curtain to draw between us and his sight, Ps. cxxxix. 12., " The darkness hideth not from thee." There is not a word we whisper, but God hears it, Ps. cxxxix. 4., " There is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altoge- ther !" There is not the most subtle thought comes into our mind, but God perceives it, Isa. Ixvi. 18., " I know their thoughts." Thoughts speak as loud in God's ears, as words do in ours. All our actions, though ever so subtilely contrived, and secretly conveyed, are visible to the eye of omni- sciency, Isa. Ixvi. IS., " I know their works." Achan hid the Babylonish gar- ment in the earth, but God brought it to light, Josh. vii. 21. Minerva was drawn in such curious colours, and so lively pen- ciled, that which way soever one turned, Minerva's eyes were upon him : so, which way soever we turn ourselves, still God's eye is upon us, Job xxxvii. 1 6.. " Dost
thou know the balancing of the clouds ! the wondrous works of him that is per- fect in knowledge ?" God knows what- ever is knowable ; he knows future con- tingencies. He foretold Israel's coming out of Babylon, and the virgin's conceiv- ing. By this the Lord proves the truth of his Godhead against idol gods : Isa. xli. 23., " Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know ye are gods." The perfection of God's knowledge is pri- mary. He is the original, the pattern, and prototype of all knowledge ; others borrow their knowledge of him ; the an- gels light their lamps at this glorious sun.