HEAVEN and HEAVEN OF HEAVENS
are expressions generally made use of to denote the more immediate place where JEHOVAH hath fixed his throne. For thus it is expressed in Scripture. "Thus saith the Lord, The heaen is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1) But Solomon breaks out in an expression, as one overwhelmed with surprise and wonder in the contemplation: "But will God indeed (said he) dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee!" (1 Kings 8:27) But what would this mighty monarch have said, had he lived to have seen the Lord of heaven and earth tabernacling in the substance of our flesh?
But, though, according to the language of Scripture, we call that place heaven which John saw opened, and where the more immediate presence of the Lord is gloriously displayed, yet it were to limit the Holy One of Israel to suppose, that JEHOVAH dwelleth in any place, to the exclusion of his presence or glory elsewhere. In the immensity of his GODHEAD, and the ubiquity of his nature and essence, he is every where; and, consequently, that place is heaven where JEHOVAH'S presence, in grace, and favour, and glory, is manifested. How little do they know of heaven, or of the divine love and favour, that conceive, if they could get to heaven in the crowd, though they know not how, and I had almost said, they care not how, provided they could get there, how little do they know in what consists the felicity of the place! Alas! an unsanctified, unrenewed, unregenerated heart would be miserable even in heaven. Sweetly doth David speak of the blessed work of assurance and grace in the soul respecting heaven, and in that assurance describes the suited preparation for it. "I shall behold (said he) thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake; with thy likeness." (Psalms 17:15)