The Beauty and Order of Creation, Chapter 7

The Beauty and Order of Creation · Chapter 7

p. 88CHAP VII. Meditations on the fifth Days Work.

SECT. 1.

COme we now to the fifth day, which with us is usually called Thursday; the story of p. 89which days work we have laid down in Gen. 1.20, 21, 22, 23. Wherein the waters were furnished with fishes, and other Creatures that live there; and the air with fouls, and such creatures as live in it.

1. Here consider, that after those four days, when the heavens were furnished with lights▪ and the earth beautified with plants springing out of it by vertue of the word of God; yet all this while there was not one creature throughout the whole Creation, that had sense, or power to move from place to place; not one fly, or the least thing moving in the air; not one fish swimming throughout the seas, rivers, or other waters; not one worm creeping on the earth▪ here then admire the wonderful power and wisdom of God, who on the fifth day by his All-commanding word filled the air with multitudes of Creatures flying there, the waters with abundant of fish…s swimming there: this was done even in a moment. Consider what numberless swarms there were both of fouls and fishes brought forth on the fifth day; whereas the very day before, there was not one of any kind to be found in any part of the Creation. And as the wisdom of God joined these two sorts of creatures together, so he made in many respects a special affinity between them; as the fouls are covered with feathers, so the fishes with scales: as the fouls move in the air, so do the fishes in that element which cometh nearest the nature of the air: as the fouls have wings p. 90to fly withall, so the fishes have …innes whereby they swimme; and that is a motion very like to that of flying: yea some of either kind do communicate with each other in their element for, as we have water-fouls, so there have been flying-fish in great abundance: so that here you may magnifie the wisdome of God, who in the day that these creatures were made, did imprint upon them such properties and qualities, as should be evidences to the end of the world in some sort, that they were but the work of one and the same day.

2. Consider here, that as the Lord hath appointed the fouls to fly in the air, and the fishes to swimme in the sea, confining each to his own element for the general, though some few particulars be suffered to live in both; this should teach us to walk within the compass of our callings, and not to think we shall mend our selves in a different element, or another kind of course, without some special cause. Some few may have some special warrant to change their callings, as Amos to leave his flock, and teach the people; and Peter to leave his nets, and fish for men. These had an immediate call from God; and so I dare not deny, but that in case of great necessity, when the Church is destitute of able Ministers, some well-studied in the Scriptures, and experienced in the mysteries of grace, may take upon them the office of the Ministry, being lawfully separated unto that function: yet this will prove no more that every one may at his pleasure p. 91run from the shop to the pulpit, than it will follow, that all the fishes in the sea may fly up into the air, because some few do so. And this should especially …each Christians, who are called unto holiness, to take heed how they leave their element. They are bidden to walk in the spirit, even as birds fly in the air, and in this element they must keep: for as the air giveth breath unto the fouls that fly in it, so the sanctifying spirit giveth the new life unto those that walk in him; the waters would choak and drown the fouls if they should fall into them: so sin is that which endangereth the spiritual life, when a christian falleth into it. The air giveth a speedy flight and motion to the Birds, whereas the waters would wet their wings, and cause them to move but slowly if they fall into it: so the spirit, when a Christian walketh in it, carrieth him along with winged-affections, and setteth his heart in a speedy motion upon the things of God, making him ready unto every good work; but if he fall into sin, which is like the waters of the dead sea, that Lake of Sodom, his heart is like a bird drenched in water, his affections are deaded, his heart moveth but slowly; yea many times he lieth for dead, and there is scarce any motion of the spirit to be discerned in him. And as in such cases, a foul had need of more than ordinary means to help, as to be held over a warm fire, &c. So a christian, that he may recover his wings again, and have his heart spiritually affected, and enlarged toward p. 92God, had need of special humiliation, special meditation, p…aier, and other warming and quickening means to raise him up.

3. As the air giveth breath and motion, so also it giveth support to the birds,The Beasts find no support in the air, but sink to the earth. and it carrieth them even as the earth doth the beasts, which go up and down upon it: so doth the spirit also give support unto all that are born of the spirit. They are kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation. If it were not ordinary, it might seem strange, that the air which none can see, being so thin a substance, should carry so many millions of souls as there are in it flying up and down; wonderful is the power of the blessed invisible spirit, who supporteth so many thousand christians by his sanctifying vertue against all the powers of darkness.

4. As these birds do now live in the air, so were the fouls created in the air at the first: so whosoever walketh in the spirit, was also born of the spirit; he had his begining in this element.

5. Consider, that as the Birds, although they live and move in the air, yet they come down to receive some refreshment from the earth: so the Lord alloweth his children to receive some nourishment from the earth, and to partake of its refreshments; yet so, as they must not delight in the earth as in their element, nor in the things of the earth as their chiefest contentment: but like the birds of heaven, having supplied their necessities, must be ready to soar aloft again, and not in their affections be still groveling here below.

6. You see how sparingly the birds take of the water; a bird doth not drink like a beast, it rather sippeth: so should a christian sparingly use the pleasures of this life; rather sipping like the bird, than swilling like the swine. As for those that give themselves to drink down iniquity like water, and to commit sin with greediness, they are none of those who have their conversation in heaven; nay, those that glut themselves with earthly pleasures, knowing no better contentments than in such things as please the senses; the appetite▪ the eyes, ears, tast, &c. They are none of those that are born up by the spirit of God above the earth. Consider how little contenteth one of these creatures, and then learn to be ashamed that thine appetite is so much beyond thy necessity, and practise mortification. As far as we can guess, the birds take more delight in flying and singing, than they do in feeding, and therefore they have soon done with this: so should a christian be more delighted in conversing with God, in walking in the spirit, in running the ways of his commandments, than in serving the necessities of nature: yea, it should be his meat and drink to do the will of God, as it is a delight to the bird to sing and soar aloft. Again, as the bird useth not these things, so as to make her unfit to fly; so a Christian must not abuse p. 94meat and drink, so as to clogg and dull his spirits, and make him more dull and dead in the service of God; but so to refresh himself, that he may be the more chearful and lively in his heavenly flight.

7. As the Bird not sowing nor gathering into Barnes (as our Saviour telleth us) yet is fed by our heavenly Father; so should a child of God depend upon his providence without distrustful eares against the providence of God, though not without moderate and christian cares, which serve the providence of God.

8. As the Bird having found somwhat to satisfie its hunger, by its chirping, calleth others to partake with it: so should christians chearfully invite others to partake with them of those things that God hath given them, and not like the hog, grunt and wrangle at any that feedeth near them.

9. As the Bird doth not so much as light upon the ground without the All-guiding providence of God, Mat. 10. So should a christian learn to depend upon the providence and protection of God, who is of far greater price in the esteem of his heavenly father, than many sparrows: know certainly, that thy hairs are numbred, and that none of them can fall to the ground without thy heavenly Father.

10. Consider, that as when the Bird flyeth highest, it taketh least notice of earthly things, and is least moved with them, and affected toward them; so when a Christian is most raised p. 95in spiritual affections to the greatest height of heavenly-mindedness, keeping nearest heaven, then is the earth farthest out of sight, and he is least moved with the things here below, and best able to contemn earthly vanities: he is too far above these to be much affected toward them. Therefore this should make us think of the exhortation of the Apostle, Mind the things which are above: and this should teach us to help our selves against earthly affections and fleshly lusts. Think with thy self, what is the reason that I am so earthly-minded, that my affections are so engaged to this or that in the world, yet I cannot come off, nor free my self, that I can scarce perswade my own heart to be without these and these things; it is this, because my heart is not carried aloft; it draweth too near the ground, it withdraweth too much from God: if I should keep up my heart closer to God, these things would be out of sight; the earth would seldome be in my thoughts, at least not so as to work much upon my affections. On the other side, you see that those Birds which use so much upon the ground, they fly but softly, as may be seen by those that use about our houses: so also those Christians, that are much taken up with the dealings and business of the world, they fly but softly, have but slow affections, and sluggish motions to the things of God; they go but coldly about good duties: and therefore we should pray for a greater measure of the spirit to bear us upward.

p. 9611. Consider also, that as the Bird can mount up into the air, and yet light upon the earth too, and receive some refreshment there; whereas the Beast cannot mount up and live in the air: so a Christian can, and may partake of the natural comforts and refreshments of this life, though in a moderate manner and measure, as well as the natural man. But the natural man cannot mount up to heaven, cannot live in the air, cannot live by the spirit, he hath no relish of spiritual things. The spiritual man judgeth all things▪ he can discern what is in nature, but himself is judged of no man, his excellency cannot be discerned by the eye of nature.

12. Again, as the Birds live in a stormy element, and feel much alteration of weather, heat cold, winds, &c. as the air is the most unsetled of all other parts of the Creation: so Christians do live in a condition subject to manifold alterations, subject to many stormes of persecution, and temptation. And as the Birds are then especially in danger by snares and ginnes, when they are upon the earth; to which they are not subject, when they are aloft in the air; so a Christian is then in danger to be ensnared and entangled when he dealeth with earthly things, and is most affected to the things below: when he is most heavenly-minded, then is he most out of danger of these snares.

13. The Birds in the air meet with Birds of prey there also, which are ready to seize upon them, and destroy them: so the Devil, who p. 97is called the prince that ruleth in the air, doth especially chuse to assault those that walk in the spirit, even then when they are most spiritual, endeavouring to pull down those that are highest in the favour of God, as David, &c. therefore special watchfulness must be used by such.

14. As the Birds are of all other living Creatures, the most chearful: as they are highest above the earth, and nearest heaven: so should a Christian labour of all other men to be most chea…ful, & replenished with heavenly joys, as he is nearer heaven, and farther from the earth than others: God is infinite in all goodness and happiness; and the nearer to God, the more happy, and the greater cause of chearfulness. As the Birds are most chearful in a clear sun-shiny day: so is a Christian, when the light of Gods countenance shineth on him. As the Birds sing most chearfully after a sweet refreshing showr; so should a Christian go away most cheared from the word of God, when it hath distilled upon him as the dew of heaven. As the Birds are merry in the spring; so a Christian is, when there is a spring and encrease of grace in his soul, and a nearer approach of the sun of Righteousness, and a special warmth of Gods love is shed abroad into his heart. As the birds by chirping do set others on singing, and many join together in consort: so one christian should draw another by example to yeild up sweet songs of praise to God, and many should join together p. 98with one spirit to glorifie the Lord. As the Birds sing, although they know not where to have their next supply of food: so should a Christian labour, out of the providence, love, and promise of God, to gather matter of chearfulness and contentedness, even then when he seeth no special means for supply in outward things. Moreover, as the Bird singeth although she be in the Cage; so a Christian must rejoice in his afflictions, and like Paul and Silas, sing in fetters: as it is reported of the Nightingale, that she setteth her breast against a thorn to keep her waking, that she may not through sleep cease to sing: so a Christian must even enforce himself to spiritual watchfulness, and use special means to keep his heart awake, that he may shew forth, and sing out the praises of God, even in the night; that is, at such times when others sleep in sin, and care not to honour the Lord. Finally, as a bird preferreth her liberty in the Wood or Hedge, before a dwelling in a princes pallace, where she hath her meat continually brought unto her: so a Christian preferreth that spiritual liberty, whereby his heart is freed from the fetters of sinful lusts, above the greatest earthly estate in the world, with thraldome under sin, and want of an enlarged spirit.

SECT 2.

WE might also speak of many particulars among the Birds.

p. 991. The Stork may teach children their duty toward their parents; of which it is said, that as the old nourisheth her young, so the young nourish the old again; a lesson which many children have not yet learned, though this unreasonable Creature teach it. So the Turtle may teach conjugal love between Husband and Wife, these (as it is reported) being so so constant and entire unto each other. The Pellican may teach special love of Parents toward their children, who is said to feed her young wi…h her own blood; especially, it may make us with all thankfulness and holy admiration to bless Christ Jesus for his unspeakable love to us, who gave his body to be meat indeed, and shed his blood to be drink indeed, whereby we might be fed, and live for ever. The Ostrich, in leaving her eggs in the sand, and not considering that the foot may crush them, is an image of careless unnatural parents, who use no Christian providence in behalf of their children.

2. As those Birds of Prey, and ravenous fouls, make use of that advantage which they have in height and strength, to seize upon divers things here below; so many oppressours, and greedy worldlings abuse that advantage which they have in wealth and power, to seize upon the estates of others that are below them, and not able to make resistance. And as those ravenous Birds are of all other the most hateful; so these greedy and over-bearing oppressours do carry the curse and de…estation of the p. 100Country with them. Again, as some Birds hate the light; so some men, in love to the works of darkness, cannot endure the light that shineth in the Ministry of the word, or in the conversations of the Godly.

3. Consider also, that as the fouls do gather and cherish their young ones under their wings; so the Lord doth shrowd his children under the wings of his protection: and as the little ones are thereby safe against the ravenous Birds; so the Godly are thus sheltered against cruel enemies and manifold dangers. As the young ones are cherished and refreshed by this means with a kindly warmth; so the godly are wonderfully refreshed in the bosome of Gods love, with a lively and most comfortable warmth from the presence and favour of God. And as the young ones, after a storm, are apt to stray abroad, and play about in the sun again, untill the Kite be ready to seize upon them: so the Children of God, in time of prosperity, are apt to withdraw themselves from that near communion with God, untill that Prince of the air flying all about, and seeking his Prey, do fall upon them with some dangerous temptation.

4. As the Birds are affrighted and driven away from the corn when one of them is killed, and hanged up there for terror to the rest. So should men learn by others punishments to abstain from things forbidden. Gods judgments upon many swearers, drunkards, oppressours, adulterers, scoffers at godliness, railers, p. 101persecuters, unnatural children, &c. should skare away others from those sins which have proved so deadly and dangerous to the former. When Herods carkass was eaten up with worms, it was a fair warning to all the enemies of Gods Word and Ministers, such as Herod was. And He that not long since hanged himself in this parish, after he had continued long in a course of railing against the Minister that then was, may justly be thought to be hanged up by the special providence of God, as a dreadful skare-crow to all other tongues set on fire of hell in the like kind.

5. Again, we may here think of Solomons comparison; as a Bird, when it is in hand, may soon make an escape, and never be seen again: So Riches get themselves wings; saith he, Riches vanish away many times like a Bird in the air, and the owner can never catch them nor come near them again: if the father hold fast, the son lets them fly; or if the son be as sure of his hand as the father, yet the next heir letteth go his hold; or the Lord himself by some special judgment or other cutteth the string, and they are gone; especially when men get wealth as …oulers catch Birds with snares, nets or ginns, by unlawful means, or too much niggardly sparing. This should teach us not to make much account of these things, much less to purchase them with the loss of everlasting life.

6. In a word! we may here consider the wonderful wisdom and excellency of the Lord, p. 102in the abundant variety of these winged Creatures, in the beauty of many of them, in the swiftness of many and most of them; the variety of kinds, of colours, of quantity, of quality. And to those we must refer those lesser sorts of creatures, viz. Bees, Flies, Wasps, Hornets, Locusts, Caterpillers; yea, the least Gnats, or whatsoever flieth in the air; all which might yeild us much matter of meditation and admiration. Gloriously doth the wisdom and goodness of God appear in the little Bees, which are said to have their King whom they follow and obey, which out of many flowers suck that which they digest into honey, and set it into such a frame of the Comb, as no wit of man can make the like. This honey, as sweet as it is! yet every child of God must get such a spiritual relish, that like David, he may find the word of God more sweet than it. And as the honey is both pleasant and nourishing, … is the word to that soul which hath a spiritual appetite. But in one respect the Bee may put thee in mind of the nature of sin, which carrieth honey in the Mouth, but a sting in the tail: therefore we should hereby learn not to be deceived with the seeming sweetness which sin bringeth at the first, but to beware and tremble at that venemous and smarting sting which it leaveth behind. Again, as flies are most busie in the sun, so are temptations in prosperity: and as the flies are apt to light upon that part of the body where there is a fore; so is Satan wont to assault the p. 103soul where it is weakest, and to take advantage of those corruptions that do most prevail in in the heart. And as when flies are beaten away, they come again very speedily; so when Satans temptations are resisted, and put back, another swarm of flies is at hand, other temptations are ready to assault: and of this especially, Christians have experience when they are pestered with blasphemous thoughts cast into their minds by Satan: against which they must take comfort, in that by the power of the spirit they are enabled to renew their resistance, even as the assaults are renewed.

SECT. 3.

THe other sort of Creatures made this day were the Fishes, wherewith the sea and rivers were wonderfully stored: Admirable were these works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep; and it is thought, that of all sensible creatures in the world, there is the greatest numbers of fishes; yea, and some kinds of them of the greatest Bulk and bigness of any other creature that liveth and moveth; their abundance appeareth in the story of the Creation, Gen. 1.20. And God said, let the Waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life; and ver. 21. it is said, the Waters brought forth abundantly. And again▪ v. 22. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas. He saith of the fouls, let them multiply; but he doth not say, let them fill the air, as he biddeth the fishes to fill the Waters. p. 104And as the Lord gave this extraordinary power of multiplication to the fishes of the sea, so they enjoy this grant of his unto this day; and as may be seen by the rowes of fishes, they bring forth thousands at once, insomuch that it hath been used as a Phrase of speech, To encrease as the Fish, imploying an extraordinary encrease. Here admire the wonderfull goodness of God, in providing so abundantly for us; not only by these Creatures, which we daily see walking in the fields, or flying in the air, but also by an innumerable multititudes of fishes covered under water▪ abounding in the seas and rivers.

SECT. 4.

1. THe greatness of some fishes is as admirable as the multitude. Pliny in his Natural History reporteth, that about Arabia have Whales been found six hundred foot in length,Plin. Nat. Hist. Lib. 32. cap. 1. and three hundred and sixty foot in breadth; so, that if his report be true, the length should seem to be above the sixth part of a mile, six hundred foot making two hundred paces, and a thousand paces making a mile. Howsoever! the greatness of these fishes is admirable, as the experience sheweth of our Merchants daily trafficking toward Greenland to take them; and they are far greater than any other living creature in the world, which should make us to p. 105magnifie the admirable power and infinite greatness of him that made them. Oh Lord our God, how wonderful are thy works in all the world! And the holy Text it self takes notice in special of this creatures greatness, Gen. 1.21. God created great Whales. Admirable it is in these fishes, that whereas the Beasts and Birds cannot live, if they be kept any long time under water: These on the other side, cannot live unless they be under water. So whereas a Christian liveth by the spirit, and it is the life of his life, and the joy of his heart to partake of the spirit, and to be conversant in the ordinances of God: on the other side, it is even death to a Carnal heart to be exercised this way, and he thinketh not himself a free man, untill he is let loose from these. The fish, though it live, yet it is not lively, but lieth almost for dead when it is in the open air out of the waters: and the natural man, though he be alive, not yet dead, yet is he not lively, but like one as good as dead when he is taken out of his element, and restrained by any means from his beloved sins, and tyed to holy duties in publick or in private: He hath no life in these things, his heart is dead toward them.

2. And as the fish living in the salt waters remaineth fresh, so a carnal man living in the Church, and in the middest of the means of grace, remaineth in his unsavoury natural condition, not having the salt of mortification, whereby to eat out his corruptions and p. 106dead flesh, and make him an acceptable sacrifice unto God (as it is said, every sacrifice must be salted with salt) though he live under the word, yet he carrieth no relish of the word in his heart and life. Therefore we must not onelyonly look what means we have, but how these means do work upon us, whether we be transformed into the word: for a man to imagine▪ that he is therefore a Christian, because he heareth Christ preached, is as idle as to say, the fish must needs be salt, because it liveth in the salt waters.

3. Again, in that the Lord feedeth such innumerable multitudes of Fishes in the waters, by what means we cannot imagine: so should we be confident that he will provide for us, though the means as yet seem to be hidden from us: for, though some of the greater fishes do feed upon the lesser, yet it cannot be imagined, how such an admirable number of them should be continually supplied; but the Lord Al-sufficient openeth his hand of bounty, and filleth them with good things.

4. Wonderful is the work of God in the strange variety of kinds, in the strange shapes of these creatures: insomuch that it is thought there be few Beasts on earth, but that there be fishes in the sea which resemble them: so they speak of sea-calves, sea-horses, &c. Wonderful strange are the properties of some fishes,Plin. Nat. Histor. which the Al-mighty Creator hath given them. Pliny speaketh of a little fish like a great p. 107snail, which by cleaving to a Ship under sail, and driven with strong winds, will stay it, that it shall not be able to go forward; and that even about his own time, the Gally of the Emperour Caligula was held fast by one of these against the uttermost endeavour of four hundred Mariners with their Oars. It were strange, that a Man of his dignity and place in the Common-wealth, should expose himself as a laughing-stock to the Common people in reporting so notorious a lie concerning a thing done in his own time, and his own countrey: Therefore for my part, I conceive it to be true, and being supposed to be true, how wonderfully doth it set forth the admirable power and wisdom of God! and in this particular example it is to be thought, that the great God did purposely befool the madness of this arrogant Emperour, who would take upon him to be God, and required (among other people) the Jews also to yeild him divine honour: here now let this wretched man take notice of his own Godhead, that cannot stir against a poor fish like a snail, with the help of the winds, and four hundred Oars, when the true and living God shall appoint it to stop his course. Wonderful also is that property given to the fish called Torpedo, which, if it be taken with a Net, so soon as the Fisher takes hold of the Net wherein this fish is, though he doth not touch the fish it self, yet presently, it is said, his hand will be benumed, and he shall lose the use of it for p. 108the present, as if it were taken with a dead palsey. This is not only reported by Pliny in the place fore-cited,Zabarel. but Zabarel (as I remember) also discourseth of that point in natural Phylosophy, shewing how natural agents do agere per contactum, and bringeth in this by way of objection. The wisdome of the Creator is notably seen in this, and we may consider of it, that those who with Nets of fraud, and indirect means, do fish for things of this life, their wealth proveth to them like this Fish; it worketh a kind of dead palsie in their consciences, which in such men usually become seared and past feeling; it worketh a kind of dead palsie also in their hands, which do not freely open to receive the necessities of others; for, commonly they who are unjust getters, are also niggardly keepers; this Tropedo in the Net, taketh away that charitable use to which their hands should be put; they come hardly by that which they have, viz. with the loss and forfeiture of their own souls, and therefore are loath to part with it to supply others.

5. The unseemliness appearing in some Fishes going backwards, should make us consider, how shameful and unseemly it is for a Christian to go backward in the ways of God, cooling in zeal, slackning his pace begun: the Lord saith, If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him, Heb. 10.38. We must therefore stir up our selves with St. Paul, to reach and press forward toward p. 109the Mark, and prize of the high calling that i… in Christ Iesus, Phil. 3.13, 14.

6. You see the Fish by catching at the bait, swalloweth down the hook, and so by the greediness in getting it, loseth it self: this should put us in mind of our carnal folly, who by catching at such things which Satan offeret, h pleasing to our corrupt affections, are caught our selves, and take a ready course to lose our souls by satisfying our lusts: let us not then so much set our eyes upon the bait, but especially have our thoughts upon the hook which lyeth under it.