Londons Resurrection, Discourse 49
DISCOURSE XLIX.
On Gods being the maker and builder of all things.
THe leſs and greater world are both of Gods making, as the Apoſtle declareth, Heb. 5.6. But he that built all things is God. He made us (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and not we our ſelves. The upper and lower world are both of them Gods workmanſhip. He made a Chaos out of nothing, and out of that Chaos all things.
How fitly is the world compared to a building? what a ſtately roof is the Heaven over our heads? what a goodly floor is the earth under our feet? certain it is theſe could not make themſelves, nor could any thing elſe that was made, make it ſelf: For whatſoever was made, ſometimes was not, and and that which ſometimes was not, or was nothing, could never have been, but for him who always was, or who did exiſt from eternity, who calleth himſelf by the name of I am, I never knew that creature yet that could create any thing, that is, that could make any thing out of nothing, were it but a mote in the ſun, or if there be any thing more mean, and inconſiderable then that.
Who can make a building to ſtand as the world doth ſtand, hanging upon nothing, but poiſed as it were with its own weight? By the work of creation, or building a world of nothing; doth the true, and the living God, diſtinguiſh himſelf from all that are but called Gods, and particularly from Idols, Jer. 10.11. The Gods that have not made the Heavens, and the earth, they ſhall periſh from the earth, and from under theſe Heavens. Men and Angels, can no more make a worm, than they can make a world.
How fearfully and wonderfully are we our ſelves made? what a curious houſe is the body of man? what chryſtal windows are his eyes? How full of rare workmanſhip? how many doors are in that building, ſome greater ſome leſs, by which to let in and to let out: every pore in the body being as it were a ſeveral door, which when they are all ſhut, we find the houſe ſo hot, there is no induring it, till we can open them again.
What ſtrong and firm timber are our bones, compared to ſuch a building as the body is? what pretty hinges are the Vertebrae, or turning joynts? what neat rafters are the ribs? what ſtrong pillars, and ſupporters are our leggs? what wonderful contrivances are there, that man, though a walking dunghill, I mean though he always carry about with him a great deal of filth, and excrement, of ſeveral kinds, yet ſhould be no offence to himſelf, or others, though that be many times hard to prevent, even in great houſes, many of which have unavoidable nucencies.
What a kitchin is the ſtomack? what dairies are the breaſts of Women? what delicate thatch is the hair upon our heads, what drains are the glandules, and emuncteries of the body? what cunduit pipes are the veins, and arteries? what chimneyes are our mouthes; always letting out ſmoke as we experiment in froſty weather, when our breath can be diſcerned, as being by the cold condenſated? What handſome lattices are the pores of our bodies to let in air by? what ſpouts are the noſtrils? I ſtand upon no order, but only deſign to enumerate moſt things in the body, which bear a proportion to building, or to a houſe, taking them as they come to hand. To proceed then, what a roof is the head? what window-ſhutters are the eye-lids? what little wickets are the valves? what locks, and keyes are the ſphincteral muſcles? what props, and ſhores, are our hands, and armes to keep thoſe houſes from falling to the ground, when they are in danger ſo to do? Whither might I not purſue this allegory? methinks I am in a kind of meander wandring backwards and forwards, and cannot find the way out.
What pretty cloſets and butteries, are the ſeveral ventricles of the head, and heart, &c. what partition walls are the midriffe, and the mediaſtinum? what a long entry is the throat, and meat-pipe? what bloody ſlaughter-houſes are the liver and ſpleen? (and yet without annoyance) what a ciſtern is the bladder? what a ſtove is the heart, heating the whole body by certain pipes without any viſible fire? how are pipes and ſmall veſſels conveying ſuch nouriſhing juices as the body ſtands in need of, laid into every part of it? what neat plaiſtring is our fleſh? what curious painting, or colouring is the blood that is in the faces of ſanguine, and ruddy perſons? how is every man built three ſtories high, for ſo I call the three venters, as Anatomiſts do ſtile them, viz. the head, breaſt, and belly:) and how many good, and neceſſary rooms are there in every one of thoſe ſtories? what a houſe within a houſe, is a child within the womb? and how little ground doth one (yea ſometimes two or three together) ſtand upon? Thus have I taken a ſhort, and a confuſed Survey of the little world (our bodies I mean) the maker and builder whereof is God. Well may I cry out with the Pſalmiſt, Pſ. 104.24. O Lord how manifold are thy works, in wiſdom haſt thou made them all.
How many artificers and labourers go to the building of one houſe, where men are the builders? Carpenters, Bricklaiers, Plaiſterers, Smiths, Joy…ers, Glaziers, &c. each of theſe ordinarily have their ſeveral imployments about one houſe, ere it be brought to perfection, beſides a Surveyor to ſuperviſe the work, and poor labouring men to be ſubſervient thereunto: God had no ſuch trouble in making the whole world, he did but ſpeak and it was done, he made all things by the word of his power. The building of one houſe by men, requireth a great deal more time, than God took to make the whole world in, that is, than ſix daies, and he whoſe pleaſure it was to be ſix daies in making it, could …ave made it in one minute, or moment of time.
Muſt we attribute to God only the building of …e world at firſt? or muſt we not alſo acknowledg …im, the author of all the buildings which have been …er ſince, whether Cities, Towns, Villages, or particular houſes? It is ſaid we are Gods off-ſpring, Acts 17.28. and why, but becauſe we are the children of Adam who was the Son of God, Luk. 3.38. The …auſe of the cauſe, is the cauſe of the effects. By …he ſame reaſon, God having made men, by whom …ouſes are built (for every houſe is builded by ſome …an, Heb. 3.4.) and given unto men all that wiſdom which they have for building (as for every other purpoſe) (Exod. 33.35.) it being he that gives men leave to build, when he could hinder it, …nd opportunity to build which he could eaſily with-hold, and ſtrength to build, which he could …ave denied, and ſucceſs in building, which none …ut himſelf could give, theſe things conſidered, we ſee great reaſon for what the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 127.1. Except the Lord build the …ſe they labour in vain that build it.