[2.] Therefore God is said to dwell in heaven, because from thence he manifesteth his powerful providence, wisdom, justice, and goodness. God is not so shut up in heaven as not to mind human affairs, and to take notice of what is done here below : Ps. xi. 4, ' The Lord's throne is in heaven : his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.' Though his throne be in heaven, yet his providence is every- where ; his eyes behold, he seeth how we behave ourselves in his pre- sence ; and his eyelids try the children of men. He may seem to wink now and then, and to suspend the strokes of his vengeance, but it is but for our trial. He owneth his children from heaven : Deut. xxvi. 15, ' Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people." And from thence he punisheth the wicked : Kom. i. 18, ' The wrath of God is revealed from heaven.'
[3.] There is God most owned by the saints and glorified angels, therefore he is said to dwell there ; as a king is beloved by his sub- jects, but most immediately served and attended upon by those of his own court. So that in heaven, there we have the highest pattern of all that duty which doth immediately concern God. In this prayer, ' Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,' these three petitions concern God more immediately. Now before we put them up, Christ would have us think of our Father in heaven, praised by angels and saints that fall down before his throne, crying. Honour,
Mat. VI. 9.] the lord's prayer. 59
glory, and praise. There he reigneth, his throne is there, and there he is perfectly obeyed and served without any opposition.
[4.] There God is most enjoyed, and therefore lie dwells there, for there he doth more immediately exhibit the fulness of his glory to the saints and angels. In heaven God is all in all. Here Ave are supplied at second or third hand : Hosea ii. 18, ' I will hear the heavens, and the heavens shall hear the earth,' &c. But there God is immediately and fully enjoyed. Here there are many wants and vacuities to be filled up ; but ' in thy presence there is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore :' Ps. xvi. 11. Look, as when the flood was poured out upon the world, you read that the windows of heaven were opened,' Gen. vii. 11 ; the drops of rain Avere upon earth, but the cataracts and floodgates were in heaven ; so when he raineth down drops of sweetness upon his people, the floodgates are above, they are reserved for that place where they are fully enjoyed.
Thirdly, Why hath God fixed and taken up his dwelling-place in the heavens ? I answer,
[1.] Because mortal men they cannot endure his glorious presence: Deut. V. 23, ' When ye heard the voice out of the midst of the dark- ness, for the mountain did burn Avith fire, ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory, and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire : now therefore why should we die ? For this great fire will consume us ; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die.' Any manifestations of God, how easily do they overset and overcome us ! A little spiritual enjoyment it is too strong for us. If God pour out but a drop of sweetness into the heart, we are ready to cry out. Hold, Lord, it is enough ; our crazy vessels can endure no more. Therefore, when Christ was transfigured, the disciples were astonished and fell back ; they could not endure the emissions and beamings out of his divine glory, because of the weakness and incapacity of the present state : therefore hath God a place above, where he discovereth his glory in the utmost latitude. It is notable in scripture, sometimes God is said to ' dwell in light,' 1 Tim. vi. 16 ; and sometimes to 'make darkness his dwelling- place,' Ps. xviii. 11. How doth he dwell in light, and how in dark- ness ? Because of the glorious manifestations which are above, there- fore it is said he dwells in light ; and because of the weakness and incapacity of our comprehension, therefore he is said to dwell in darkness.
[2.] To try our faith and our obedience, that he might see whether we would live by faith, yea or no ; whether a believer would love him and obey him, though he were invisible and withdrawn within the curtain of heaven. You know when the Israelites saw the glory of God, then they cried, ' All that God hath commanded us we will do :' Deut. v. 27. But as soon as that manifestation ceased, they were as bad as ever. If all were liable to sense, there would be no trial of this world ; but God hath shut up himself, that by this means the faith of the elect might be manifested ; for ' faith is the evidence of things not seen :' Heb. xi. 1. Where there is no sight there is exer- cise for faitli. And tiiat our love might be tried : 1 Pet. i. 8, * Whom