[4.] So great that he is fain to put a covering on, to interpose the clouds between us and him, for we are not able to bear his glorious and majestic presence : Job xxvi. 9, ' He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.' What would become of us if he should discover all his glory ? This is his condescension to the lower world to appear under a veil, and cover his throne with clouds.
But though we do not know his full majesty, yet there is enough •discovered both to faith, reason, and sense, that God is great and glorious, both in himself and in all his works. Scripture declareth it to faith, and reason will soon subscribe to so evident a truth, that he that made and sustaineth all things must needs be a great God. What other conceptions can we form of him when we look to the heaven and this earth which he sustaineth by his great power, and he declareth himself to sense by his daily providence to be a God of great ■majesty.
The proof of it needeth not so much to be spoke to as the improve- ment of it, Avhich we are called upon for everywhere.
(1.) It is a mercy that, being so great, he taketh notice of us : Ps. viii. 3, 4, ' When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; wdiat is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him ? ' When we consider how the majesty of God shineth forth in the heavenly bodies, and those many glorious creatures God hath made besides us, we may wonder that God should esteem of man, and take care of man, and be so solicitous about man's welfare, who was formed at first out of so vile materials as the dust of the earth, and is still of Fo very frail, infirm, and mortal condition, and hath carried him- .^elf so unthankfully to God, that he should take care of him above his whole creation : Ps. cxiii. 6, 7, ' The Lord our God dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things in heaven and earth.' That the great God of such glorious majesty should take notice of worms, and behold us not only by visiting, over-seeing, and governing the affairs of this lower world, but should condescend to this low estate of ours in taking our flesh, whose excellency and majesty is so great that he might despise the angels, of whom he hath no need ; but to stoop so low towards men is matter of wonder, praise, and adoration.
Mat, XVII. G-S.] Christ's transfiguration. 405
(2.) We should be humble in our conversing with him, considering what he is and we are : Job xlii. 5, 6, ' I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear, now mine eye seeth thee, therefore I abhor myself in dust and ashes.' This should keep his children in a holy awe. Oh ! how low should we lie before this great God : G-en. xviii. 27, 'Who am I, that am but dust and ashes, that I should speak unto God?'
(3.) That we must not please ourselves with the performance of ordinary service to him, but we should raise it to an eminent degree of worship and adoration : Ps. xlviii. 1, ' Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God ; ' and Ps. cxlv. 3, ' Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.' Alas ! the best we do is much beneath God. What low thoughts had Solomon of his stately temple^ 2 Chron. ii. 6, ' Who is able to build him an house, seeing tM heaven of heavens is not able to contain him ? who am I that I should build him an house ? ' Thus should we see that our best resolutions and performances come much short of the excellency and greatness of God. All formality and lifeless service proceedeth from hence, that we have not due and raised thoughts of his majesty and being : Mai. i. 14, ' I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts.' The great- ness of God calleth for other service than usually we give to him — he gets nothing from us that is perfect. But surely we should not put him off with our refuse, but spend the best of our strength, time, parts, and affections, in his service. Superficial dealing in it argueth mean thoughts of God, it is a lessening of his majesty.
(4.) We serve a great master, and so may expect great things from him. He discovereth himself unto his people according to the great- ness and majesty of his being : Ps. cxxvi. 2, 3, ' The Lord hath done great things for them, yea, the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.' Kings or princes do not give pence or brass farthings, but bestow gifts becoming their magnificence. The hea- thens were forced to acknowledge it, and the people of God do willingly acknowledge it. So Joel ii. 21, ' Fear not, 0 land, be glad and re- joice, for the Lord will do great things.' Be the mercies never so rare, the way never so difhcult, God is able to accomplish them.