CHA P. IV.

THAT GOD'S WORKS OUGHT TO EXCITE US TO FEAR

AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

SINCE the works of creation are all of them

fo many demonftrations of the infinite wisdom and power of God, they may ferve to us as fo many arguments exciting us to the conftant fear of God, and to a fteady, hearty obedience to all his laws. And thus we may make these works as ferviceable to our fpiritual intereft, as they all are to our life, and temporal intereft. For if whenever we see them, we would confider that these are the works of our infinite Lord and Mafter, to whom we are to be accountable for all our thoughts, words, and works, and that in these we may fee his infinite power and wisdom; this would check us in finning, and excite us to ferve and please him who is above all controul, and who hath our life and whole happinefs in his power. After this manner God himself argues with his

own

own foolish people, and without understanding, ' who had eyes, and faw not, and had ears, and heard not,' Jer. v. 21, 22. Fear ye not me? faith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my prefence, who have placed the fand for the bound of the fea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pafs it; and though the waves thereof tofs themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?'

This was an argument that the most ignorant, stupid wretches could not but apprehend; that a Being that had fo vaft and unruly an element, as the fea, abfolutely at his command, ought to be feared and obeyed, and that he ought to be confidered as the fovereign Lord of the world, on whom the world's profperity and happiness did wholly depend; ver. 24. Neither say they in their heart, let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter in his feafon: he referveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harveft.'

CHAP.

THAT GOD'S WORKS OUGHT TO EXCITE US TO THANKFULNESS.

A

S the demonstrations which God hath given of his infinite power and wifdom should excite us to fear and obedience; fo I fhall fhew in this chapter, that the demonstrations which he hath given of his infinite goodness in his works, may excite us to due thankfulness and praife. It appears throughont the foregoing furvey, what kindness God hath fhewn to his creatures in providing every thing conducing to their lie, profperity, and happiness ; how they are

all

Si pauca quis tibi donaffet jugera, accepiffe te diceres beneficium: immenfa terrarum late patentium fpatia negas effe beneficium? Si pecuniam tibi aliquis donaverit,beneficium vocabis ; tot metalla defodit, tot flumina emifit in aera, fuper quæ decurrunt • fola aurum vehentia; argenti, æris, ferri immane pondus omnibus • locis

all contrived and made in the best manner, placed in the fittest places of the world for their habitation and comfort; accoutered in the best manner, and accommodated with every, even all the minutest things that may minifter to their health, happiness, office, occafions, and business in the world.

Upon which account, thankfulness and praise is fo reasonable, so just a debt to the Creator, that the pfalmift calleth upon all the creatures to praise God, in Pfalm cxlviii. Praise him all his angels, praise him all his hofts; fun, moon, ftars of light, heavens of heavens, and waters above the heavens.' which is, ver. 5, 6. they were created;

The reafon given for For he commanded, and he hath also established

them for ever and ever; he hath made a decree which they fhall not pafs.' And not the fe celeftials alone, but the creatures of the earth

and

locis obrutum, cujus inveftigandi tibi facultatem dedit,-negas te accepiffe beneficium? Si domus tibi donetur, in qua marmoris aliquid refplendeat, &c. Num mediocre munus vocabis; Ingens tibi domicilium, fine ullo incendii, aut ruinæ metu ftruxit, in quo ⚫vides non tenues cruftas-fed integras lapidis pretiofiffimi moles, ' &c. negas te ullum munus accepiffe? Et cum ifta quæ habes magno æftimes, quod eft ingrati hominis, nulli debere te judicas? • Unde tibi iftum quem trahis spiritum ? Unde iftam, per quam ductus vitæ tuæ difponis atque ordinas, lucem.' &c. Senec, de Benef 1. 4. c. 6.

and waters too, even the meteors,

Fire and

hail, fnow and vapours, ftormy winds fulfilling his word.' Yea, the very mountains and hills, trees, beafts, and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowl.' But in a particular manner, all the ranks and orders, all the ages

and fexes of mankind are charged with this duty; Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heavens,' verfe 13.

a

AND great reafon there is we should be excited to true and unfeigned thankfulness and praise * to this our great benefactor, if we reflect upon what hath been fhewn in the preceding furvey,

on:

that

Tempeftivum tibi jam fuerit, qui in hifce libris verfaris confiderare, in utram familiam recipi malis, Platonicamne ac Hippocraticam, et aliorum virorum, qui naturæ opera mirantur; an eorum qui ea infectantur, quod non per pedes natura conftituit ⚫ effluere excrementa.' Of which, having told a story of an acquaintance of his, that blamed nature on this account, he then goes At vero fi de hujufmodi pecudibus plura verba fecero, melioris ⚫ mentis homines merito mihi forte fuccenfeant, dicantque me polluere facrum fermonem, quum ego CONDITORIS noftri verum hymnum compono, exiftimoque in eo veram effe pietatem,-ut fi noverim ipfe primus, deinde et aliis expofuerim, quænam fit ipfius fapientia, quæ virtus, quæ bonitas, Quod enim cultu conveniente • exornaverit omnia, nullique bona inviderit, id perfectiffimæ bonitat s nobis eft celebranda. Hoc autem omne inveniffe quo pacto omnia potiffimum adornarentur, fummæ fapientiæ eft: effeciffe au em omnia, quæ voluit, virtutis eft invictæ.' Galen. de ufu Part 1. 3. c. 10.