The Triumph of Mercy in the Chariot of Praise, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Beneficence of God, the Spring and Source of preventing Mercies.
THE infinite goodneſs of God beſtows more Mercies upon us in the method of prevention, then of anſwer to particular Prayers. We enjoy moſt things before we ask, and oftentimes more excellent in kind, and more abundant in meaſure then we ask. The Lord began thus with Man at the firſt Creation, when there was none as yet to know his mind,Rom. 11.35. or ſit in Council with him. He framed the ſtupendious and glorious Fabrick of the Univerſe.Job 26.7 By his Wiſdom he ſtretched out the North upon the empty place, and hung the Circle of the Earth upon nothing. He thruſt up its Glebe into aſpiring Mountains,Iſa. 40.22. faſhioning their Concave Heads for Springs, their Bowels for a Matrix to Minerals, and their external Convexities and Declivities for beautiful Proſpects. He commanded ſome Portions to ſubſide into humble Valleys, and to be extended into Champain Plains. He clothed its ſurface with ſtately Cedars, ſhady Palms, and Sea travelling Pines, with all the Fruitful, Medicinal, and Sweet-ſented Groves, Balſamick Shrubs, and wholeſom Herbs, graceful and various in curious Flowers, wherewith the lovely Meadows laugh and ſing at the return of their ſhiningPſal. 19.5. Bridegroom in his vernal Progreſs. He ſpread its native Landſcapes with that green Carpet of Graſs woven by the hands of the blew Nitre of the Air, and the yellow Sulphur of the Earth into that delectable Colour, which ſalutes the eye of Man with ſo grateful a pleaſance when painted upon its inward Veſtment or Coat the Retina. He enjoyned the Ocean to compaſs and embrace the habitation of Man, to miniſter Rain to the Bottles of Heaven, and Liquor to the bubling Fountains when ſtrained through the Veins of the Earth. And laſtly, for ſupport to Ships for Navigation and Commerce. 'Twas the work of his Hand to interweave the Fertile Vales with Chryſtal Streams in their ſporting Meanders,Pſal. 104.10. curing the fat Pastures of anxiety about Summer droughts, relieving the chafed and ſweltring Air with cooler Vapours, and indulging to the neighbour Villages eaſie conveyance, and many delicious pleaſures.
Neither was his Divine Bounty withheld from the dark Caverns of the Earth, repleniſh'd with his hid Treaſures: Thoſe deep and gloomy Regions being impregnated with various Salts, with ſubterraneous Steams and Juices to give origin and food to Metalline Concretes, for the ſervice of Manual Arts, and for the cure of the more obſtinate Diſeaſes in the bodies of Animals, ſhortly to be formed out of the ſame congenial Earth.
Then his Curious Pencil embroiders the Land with rare variety of living Creatures, and his Voice inſpires the healthful Air with Vocal Muſick from the winged Choriſters that ſing among the Branches;Pſal. 104.12. whoſe warbling notes are not more pleaſant to the Ear, then their painted Feathers beautiful to the Eye of Man. His Hand furniſhes the liquid Seas with numerous Paſſengers, who Sail under water, fearing neither ſtorms nor ſtifling.
At length, having eſtabliſht the Heavens by his Wiſdom, he caſts a glittering Canopy over all his Sublunary works, admirably garniſht with ſpangling Stars, glorious for Luſtre, harmonious for Motion, and powerful in Influence.
Lo, theſe are part of his ways,Job 26.14 but how little portion is heard of him! We are in deep darkneſs to what's viſible: The eſſence of a ſmall pebble gravels our ſtupid underſtandings; the Eye of our Reaſon is ſo blunt, that it cannot pierce into the ſhape or Emerald Colour of the growing Green-ſword. How much leſs able to Anatomize the Entrails of the Earth of ſome thouſand miles Diameter? Who can account for the Sand's being a bound to the Ocean; though the Waves toſs themſelves, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar,Jer. 5.22. yet cannot go over it? Who can ſolve the flux of the Sea, either by the Moon or the Earths motion?Lydeat. Spagnet Enchir. philoſ. c. 20. & l. 12. c. 22. l. 13. & c. 15. Auſtin confeſſ. l. 13. c. 32. Or who ſo hardy to dive to the top of the under-wave Mountains, or ſet their foot on the ridge of thoſe hidden Ararats? What Philoſopher ever fathom'd the Air, and all its Meteors, in his Arms, or formed a genuine conception of that liquid Aether, wherein the Stars do ſwim, or of thoſe waters above the Heavens?Gen. 1.7; Pſal. 148. 4. What Teleſcopes (thoſe curious Spectacles of our late Aſtronomers) ever pierced into that Saphire pavement beyond their Convex,Exod. 24.10. Ezek. 1.26. Eph. 4.10. the Place of the Bleſſed, and the Seat of our Lords Glorified Body, where Angels and Saints ſtand trumpeting his Praiſes through voluminous ſtations of Eternity, who is wonderful in Counſel, and excellent in Working.Iſa. 28.29.
Whoſe Infinite Power and Goodneſs having finiſh'd his ſix days wonders, and prevented the wiſhes of Man by theſe excellent preparations for him; laſt of all forms the Head of the viſible Creation, and exalts him into the Chair of Dominion over all this capacious Theatre, antedates his moſt ample deſires, rarifies his Heart with ſacred wonder, and inſtalls him for High Prieſt of the whole Creation, to offer their Tribute, to worſhip, adore and love him, and to ſing his Praiſes.
But oh heedleſs Man! being fix'd upon the Pinacle of the Temple of Honour, was ſoon inchanted by a vertiginous blaſt of the ſubtile Serpent,Jer. 17.13 and forgat his Sovereign, the Fountain of Living Waters; and falling headlong, drank deep of the muddy Ciſtern invenomed by his poiſon, and became like the Beaſts that periſh. But being ſenſible of his ſhame, and confounded at his baſe diſloyalty, and afraid of Gods awful Majeſty, fled into the Woods to hide his diſtruſtful Countenance, yet found no ſhelter for his guilty Conſcience. Juſtice might now have purſued him with the flaming Sword of Cherubims; but preventing Mercy ſteps into the cloſe and ſhady Thickets, and proffers a Covenant of Grace, to the amazement of Angels, and admiration of them that believe. A Covenant flowing from the good pleaſure of his Will,Eph. 1.5. and founded in the myſtical Union of the Son of God with the Nature of Man in the promiſed Seed, and eſtabliſht upon better promiſes. Hence iſſued that Living Fountain of all that beneficence, that comforts his choſen Flock in the ſtate of Grace, and beautifies their Souls in Glory.