Chap. 37. 4nExpofrin upon t/oe Bock. of ]oB. VerC.tì;. 569 itfroRg?Hów are the Heavensor Sit" firong ? Pnilofophers and In- terpreters upon this place,have largely d icon fed the matter of the Heavens, which toour fence are a very thinn ïubt:iance, and theiefore feera to have little(Trench in them. I anfwer, Though to fenfe and view theSky or HLavens fectn tohave little firength In the. ,yet indeed their figength is be} ond that of Pocks and Mountains. The learned Language s;both Greek and Latine, expreffe the Sky by words which p ()petty fgnifie firength and firm, efs and we following the Latine word corn- &tau tri&u. manly call it in our Engliúi tongue, The Fern;anent, as much as rtt'rr ca'orròp- to fay, et firwe thing. Vifh,,rt the Apofile would fec forth the f..iea ter immurabi- uncle dinefs ( oras we tranflace) the fîedfafinefs of the faith of the Co- Seotuatitatemgi, nra lof.ont, he makes We of this word (sep=e+uz Chcp,z. ç.) As if he dicurtc ç- had raid, I rejoyce to,behold thefsrna.3utent ofyourfaith, or that ft.: L tiui Fir.. your faith is as firme as the Firmament. Surely then the Sky or iaamétttuta. Fi: tnament is very firong, elfe the firength of faith ( which being firong, is the firongefi thine, both actively and paillyely, in the world) had never linen expreffed by ir. The Heavens are Paid to be firorig (as faith is) becaufe of their laílingnefs and durati- on. The Angels are pure Spirits, they are purer and of a more fpiritual fubfiance than the Sky or Heavens , yet they are (iron?, fo firong and powerfull,that they are called Povers;their fi'engrh is not acorporal firength of Beth and bone, as ours, and chag of beans is, nor is it a firength by compa&nefs of earthyparts, as that of Stones and Metals is, but 'cis a firength of laCtingnefs and activityarifng from their fpiritualnefs. Thus the Sky, efpecially taking it for the Heavens above the air, is pure, there is a fpiri- tualnefs in its nature, and fo a firength of la{Iingnefs in ir,beyond that of any earthly or elementary body. The Heavens are not !p,`17a f&:riea made up of contrary qualities, as elementary bodies are: In them } 5 r " "fiere heat and coldnefs, moyfictre and drinefs, are mingled together, ),a``aï, and thee contending with each other, at lati fithdue. each other; c zrfJaré. whence all elementary bodies become weak and corruptible. The rdero Heavens have fume cognation with elementary bodyes, yet with- out the contrarietyof active qualiries.Heaveti is like the Element of theEarth, inregard of firmnels and Colidity; it is like the wa-. rer,in regard of its moveablenefs ; it is like the air,in regard of irs pellucidnefs orclear nefs; it is like the fire, with refpe t to its a6ivenefs. Heavenalines,yet 'tis without heat; 'cis folìd,yet D d d d with-
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