The Beauty and Order of Creation, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Meditations on the second Days Work.
FRom the fi…st, come we to the second day, which we ord…narily call Monday. Here you are to consider the wisdome and wonderfull power of God, in making a division between the huge heap of the Waters, spreading the Firmament of the Ayr between its parts; raising the Clouds above, and there making treasuries for Rain Hail, Snow, and other m… teors: Oh consider the goodness of God in giving thee this admirable Creature of the Ayr, wh…ch feedeth thee with Breath continually, whereof the poorest Beggar hath as large a portion, as the greatest Monarch. Consider that the least draught of this Ayr is more than thou canst deserve at the hands of God, who yet art apt to repine and murmur, when thou hast not fulness of Bread▪ and art abridged in some small degree of the plenty which thou hadst at other times.
1. Consider, that as without this Ayr the natural Man cannot live, so neither can the spiritual Man, without the blessed spirit, which giveth an heavenly breathing to the Soul regenerated, as the Ayr doth to the Body. And as the Ayr doth pass unseen into the Body, but then is breathed out again in a visible manner, so the spirit of God worketh and conveyeth his heavenly influence in an hidden invisible manner into the minds of the faithfull; but is visibly breathed forth again (as it were) in regard of its fruits, in holy speeches, and heavenly actions, that Men may see the good works which he bringeth forth in the godly, and glorify their Father who is in Heaven. Wonderfull are the effects of the Ayr, and according to it our Bodies are usually enclined and disposed; yea, and our Souls too in some respect, by reason of the neer Neighbourhood between the Soul and the Body, and the special affinity between the Ayr and the Spirits in the Body, which are the immediate instruments of the Soul. We of this Kingdome have special cause to bless God for one of the sweetest and most temperate Ayres in the World, se… ving much for delight, for health, for our furtherance even in the best things, if we were car…full to make the best use of such a blessing; a quick and kindly Ayr being no small help to the spirits, even in the service of God.
2. We may further consider, that as such stoppings as hinder the Ayr from passing too and fro, do endanger the natural life: so those sins that stop the lively working, moving and breathing of the sanctifying spirit, do endanger the spiritual life. The Wind (which is the Ayr stirred and moved) and is (as it were) the same in the Ayr, which the Waves are in the Sea, is of wonderful force and strength: it beareth down Trees, Buildings, and things of wonderfull strength and bigness; it tosseth the Seas, and rouleth in the Waves, and worketh wonders in the deep; hereby magnifying the Almighty Power of its Creator; W…o (as the Psalmist saith) rideth upon the Wings of the Wind. And yet you must remember, that the Winds and Seas obey him, who sent a calm, when Ionas was cast out of the Ship; and at another time, when Christ came into the Ship: so when sin is cast out of the Soul, and Christ received and embraced, then the tempest of an accusing conscience is calmed, and a swe… peace followeth upon it, which passeth all understanding.
3. As the Ayr is sometimes more, sometimes less stir…ed by the Winds; so the blessed spirit of God, blowing when, where, and how he listeth, doth sometimes (as it were) breath more st…ongly, and sometimes impart a l…ss measure of h…s heavenly vertue. In the second Chapter of the Acts, at the Feast of Pentecost, he cam… down like a mighty rushing Wind upon the Apostles, who were gathered together, and so they were carried mightily in the Power of the spirit, to spread the Gospel of Christ throughout the World. But ordinarily, the blasts of the spirit are not so strong, and to our pace is but …low in the ways of God: and therefore should we pray with the Spouse in that song of Songs. Arise O Northwind, and come O South, Cant. 4.16.and blow upon my Garden, that the s…ic…s thereof may fl…w forth.
4. But in this Days work, we are especially to consider the Clouds above, which are those Waters above the Firmament, and in these admire those store-houses of sweet refreshing showres, which water the Earth with a fa… tening dew and fruitfull moisture, that it may yield encrease for the use of Man and Beast, which should make us to admire his goodness: and on the other side, to tremble at his displeasure, who once did open the flood-gates of Heaven, so as to overwhelm the World of the ungodly destroying all that breathed, those only excepted which were contained within …he compass of one Ark: where also we are …o admire his patience, who thus long forbeareth sinners, being continually provoked; al…hough he hath not only flood-gates of Rain and Water but also store-houses of Hail-shot, mortal Thunder-bolts, treasuries of Fire and …imstone▪ &c. whereby he could in a moment many thousand ways avenge himself of his Enemies.
5. Consider, that as that ground is neer unto cursing, which drinketh of the dew of Heaven, and receiveth the Rain, and yet … forth no encrease: so that case is dreadfull, when the Heavenly dew of the Word falleth continually upon the heart, and yet it remaineth altogether bar…en and fruitless to…a…d God.
6. Consider also how the Lord giveth snow like wool, c…ste…h forth his Ice like morsels, …ereth the …oar… first like ashes. In this Ayr are to be admired the hideous claps of …under, the dreadfull flashes of lightening, whereby the Lord sheweth his Almighty Power and Majesty: and as he made shew of these terrible things in the delivery of his Law; so even common sense may teach us, that he will be much more dreadfull, when he calleth to account the impenitent transgressors of his Law; yea, we should consider, that the same reverence is to be yielded to Him, when he speaketh in the soft still voice of the Gospel, which was due unto his voice, when it was attended with thunder and lightning.
7. Learn to acknowledge Him in the different change of weather, be it seasonable or unseasonable, and to call upon Him, and give Him thanks, as the cause requireth.
8. Let the Ayr, filling all empty corners in the World, in a wonderfull manner, leaving no creek nor crany in any degree not filled, put thee in mind of the infinite presence of God, who filleth all in all, and through all: And thus m…ch for the second Day.