PART VI.

The BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES,

CONC RN

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I. CREATION and REDEMPTION.

2. LAW and GOSPEL.

3. JUSTIFICATION and SANCTIFICATION. 4. FAITH and SENSE.

5. HEAVEN and EARTH.

CHAP. I.

The BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES Concerning Creation and Redemption; or, Some of the firft Principles of the Oracles of GOD.

SECT. I.

Of CREATION.

The firft chapter of Genefis, compendized; or, the first feven days work, from the following Latin lines, Englished.

PRIMA dies cœlum, et terram, lucemque, creavit.
Altera diftendit fpatium, difcrimen aquarum.
Tertia fecernens undas, dat gramina terris.
Quarta creat folem et lunam, cœleftiaque aftra.
Quinta dedit pifces, eadem genus omne volantum.
Sexta tulit pecudes, bominem quoque quem Deus ipfe
Condidit; inde operis requis lux feptima fulfit.

In English thus:

1. The first day heav'n, earth, light, JEHOVAH
fent.

2. The next, a water-fundring firmament.
3. The third made dry-land spring with flow'ry
pride.

4. The fourth fet up bright lamps time to divide., 5. The fifth brought fwimming fish and flying fowl.

6. The fixth, earth's herds, and man to bear the rule.

7. The feventh brought forth no more, yet brought the best,

The lab'ring creature's and creator's reft.

Or thus:

The firft day at JEHOVAH'S Word,
Did heav'n and earth, and light afford.
The next, a firmament fo wide
As might the water's courfe divide.

The third, fevering land from feas,

Made earth produce herbs, grafs, and trees.
The fourth, fun, moon, and ftars of light,
Set up to rule the day and night.

The fifth made fifh in depths to move,
And fowls to fly in air above.

The fixth all earthly beafts did bring,
And man to be the creature's king.
The seventh of all these days the best,
Was made for God and man to rest.
Redemption-work doth bring again
The firft of these to be the main,

1

Fetching new heav'ns and earth in fight,
And immortality to light.

Since then the firft is now the best,
Keep well this pledge of endlefs reft.

The Sum of CREATION.

All things from nothing, to their Sov'reign
Obedient rofe at his commanding word. (Lord
Fair in his eye the whole creation ftood;
He faw the building, and pronounc'd it good.
And now each work, (while nature's fabric
ftands)

Loud for its wife and mighty Lord demands
A rent of praise, a loud and lofty fong,
From ev'ry rational beholder's tongue.

SECT. II.

Of REDEMPTION.

The mystery of the Redeemer's incarnation ; or, God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. iii. 16. John i. 14.

WT

HAT though the waters ftruck with
Rife up and form a pyramid? (dread,
Though floods fhould gufh from rocks and
Or living fouls from wither'd bones? (ftones,
To hear of an incarnate God

Is yet more wonderful and odd
Or to behold how God moft high
Could in our nature breathe and die.
What though the bright angelic forms
Degraded were to crawling worms?

Thefe creatures were but creatures ftill,
Transform'd at their Creator's will.
Though creatures change a thousand ways,
It cannot fuch amazement raife,
Nor such a scene as this display,
Th' eternal Word a piece of clay.
God-man a ftrange contexture fix'd;
Yet not confufed nor commix'd;
Yet still a mystery great and fresh,
A Spirit infinite made flesh.

What though when nothing heard his call,
Nothing obey'd and brought forth all?
What though he nothing's brood maintain,
Or all annihilate again?

Let nothing into being pafs,
Or back again to what it was?
But, lo! the God of beings here,
As turn'd to nothing doth appear.
All heav'n's aftonifh'd at his form,
The mighty God became a worm.
Down Arian pride to him fhall bow,
He's Jefus and JEHOVAH too.

The Sum of REDEMPTION.

With haughty mind to Godhead man afpir'd, With loving mind our manhood God defir'd : Man was by pride from place of pleasure chas'd, God-man by love in greater pleasure plac'd. Man feeking to afcend procur'd our fall,

God yielding to defcend remov'd our thrall: The judge was caft, the guilty to acquit, The Sun defac'd to lend the fhades the light.

SECT. III.

The REDEEMER'S WORK;

OR,

CHRIST all in all, and our complete Redemption. A Gofpel-Catechifm for young Chriftians.

K'

Question.

IND teacher, may I come to learn
In this abrupt address,

By framing queftions that concern
My endless happiness?

Anfwer.

Yea, child; but if you'd learn to run
The great falvation-race,

Know that the name of Chrift alone
Can answer ev'ry case.

Q. By fin, my God and all is loft,
O where may God be found?
A. In Chrift; for fo the Holy Ghoft
Shews by the joyful found.

Q. But how will God with finful me
Again be reconcil'd?

A. In Chrift, in whom his grace to thee
And favour is reveal'd.

Q. O how fhall I a fharer prove,
And fee his glorious grace?
A. In Chrift, the image of his love,
And brightness of his face.

Q. Where fhall I feek all divine ftore,
And without fail obtain ?

A. In Chrift, in whom for evermore
"His fulness does remain.
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