A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 37 (Question 9 cont.)
SERMON XXXVII.
2. PERPECTLY mixt Bodies are ſuch which have the Mixture of the Elements more cloſe & compact in them. In th… f…mer, they were but tack'd together, but in theſe they are ſtrongly faſtened, and therefore not ſo readily diſſolved again; and hence more d…able. Theſe are of Two ſorty, Inanimates and Animates; things without Life, and things with Life: Some have only a Body, others have both a Rody and a Soul.
And,
[1.] INANI MATES, or things without Life, are uſually known by the general and comprehenſive Name of Minerals: Which may be Defined; Elementaries perfectly mixt, conſiſting only of a Body. The Creation of theſe is not vouchſafed an expreſs mention in the Hiſtory, Gen. 1. But it is implyed & comprehended in the Third Days Work; being made in and together with the Earth: Theſe are Creatures of God, and made alſo to ſhow forth his Glory and therefore muſt have a room allowed them in the Creation; and here it, is moſt proper, being of things perfectly mixt, of the moſt imperfect Nature: We have accordingly an Account of the… Creation and Nature, Job 28. beg. Surely … is a vein for Silver, and a place for G…la; …n is taken cut of the Earth, & Braſs is molten cut of the Stone. Theſe are God's Subterranean Treaſures, hidden under ground from the Vul…e…s Eye, and yet are Found out by the ſearch of Men's greedy Deſire.
OF theſe Minerals ſome are accoauted more …try, vis. 1. Metals; and theſe are either more Pare, ſuch as Gold and Silver; Theſe are two adored Metals with which the God of this World ſeduceth Men into Idolatry; Or more Impure, as Iron, Copper, Tin & Lead, which are very ſerviceable for the Uſe of Men. 2. Mineral Juices, ſuch as Brimſtone, Allom, &c.
SOME are more Earthy, as, 1. Stones, ſome whereof are eſteemed Precious; and whether for Colour, Rarity, or curious Compoſure, are adornized and uſed for Ornament; Or Comman, which lye in the Streets without being regarded. 2. Precious kinds of Earth, ſuch as Terra Sig…llat…, Arme…a, &c. Theſe were at firſt made in the Earth, and its womb was then impregnated, and made Frui… of them, which are continually generated by Influence of the Sun, on the Places naturally adapted for them.
USE 1. HERE alſo the Wiſdom & Goodneſs of God further commend themſelves to us. His Wiſdom in the various mixing the ſame Matter into ſo many Forms & Kinds; ſome ſo excellent, o…ers ſo mean; Wiſdom in putting into each of theſe a particular Goodneſs, and making it ſome way or other ſerviceable: Some for Ornament, others for Improvement, and Utenſils, for the Comfort & Convenience of Man; Some for the advantage of Commerce; Others for Medicine: The courſe Iron, dull & heavy Lead, are as neceſſary as the purer Gold and Silver: Pebbles have their ſervice not leſs than Jewels. His Goodneſs alſo in laying in ſo liberally of this Proviſion for the Uſe of Man; not meerly for his Neceſſity, in ſuch things without which his Life would be very uncomfortable; nor meetly for his Convenience, in theſe portable Metals by whi… …raffick is rend red more eaſy; but alſo for … Delight, in pleaſing their childiſh Age with … …things, as when they are come to perfect Age, they will as much deſpiſe, as Men do Children's baubles.
USE 2. SEE here the different Esteem which God & Man put upon theſe things. God would not ſo much as give them a Name or Mention in the Works of Creation, but paſſed them over with ſilence: But Men make their greateſt Diſcourſes about them, either repining at the Want of them, or boaſting themſelves in their Enjoyment of them, or contriving how they may compaſs them. God laid them low, placed them in the Bowels of the Earth, to be trodden upon; But Man adores them, ſets them up in his Heart, and worſhips theſe … them as high as God, and ſetting them in his Things, Pſal. 135.15. The Idols of the heather are Silver & Gold, the work of men's hands.
[2.] ANIMATES, or things with Life. are ſuch things as were Created with both a Body and a Soul. Life is properly the Act of the Soul upon the Body; I therefore conſiſts in the union of theſe two; Gen. 35.1…. — As …r ſoul was in departing, for ſhe died. Life then conſiſts in Union, which Union is made by an Act; for which reaſon Life is called an Act, which is the Principle of Operation: Here then we may conſider ſomething in general of the Nature of a Soul; It is a Quichning Spirit, affording Nutrition to a thing, and Self-Mor…on in its proper place.
1. IT is a Spirit: Not In material as ſome, for then it wound be God; Nor yet are Souls of any Inferiour Being Quinteſſential, For Elementary, made of the more refined Farticles of them; and are therefore called Spirits.
2. A Quickning Spirit. Hence we oppoſe Quick & Dead: When Soul & Body are united, they are ſaid to be Quick; when ſeparated Dead: And the more Spirits, the more Quick.
3. THAT which affords Nutrition to a thing: It uſeth the bodily Organs fitted theſe…o whereby it attracts that Nouriſhment which is needed, and makes uſe of it for Preſervation and Augmentation: There is a Power in the Creature to do this, and this diſcovers a Principle of Life.
4. IT gives to the Creature Self-Motion in its proper place: It gives It Self-Motion; Meteors are moved, but not by themſelves, but an adventitious Impulſe: Life principally conſiſts in Self Motion, Death in the Ceſſation of that Power; Other things may move when moved, but theſe have an internal Principle of it: And it is in its proper place: Elements move towards their place when out of it, but when they come, there they reſt; but this is not Life, but a Principle of Gravity & Levity; But Living things have a Spring of Motion in their proper places; which is an Effect & Diſcovery of Life.
NOW Living things may be diſtributed according to the Kind of Life which they live; and ſo, they are either ſuch as have a Simple, or ſuch as have a Compound Life: An account is given of both theſe, Gen. I.
1. THOSE with a Simple Life are … ſo be handled; for the Compound Life ſuppoſeth the Simple, as being made out of it by Compoſition.
THINGS that enjoy only a Simple Life are of Two ſorts: They are ſuch as only have a Vegetative, or only a Motive Life: Of theſe,
1. VEGETATIVES are the Firſt; and are therefore firſt named in the Hiſtory, being Created on the Third Day, together with the Earth, Gen. 1.11, 12. and they are of the two the more Imperfect. Theſe are called by the general name of Plants; and may be de…i…ed, ſuch things as have only a Vegetative Life; They grow up of the Earth, that at firſt by a …e Fiat brought them forth, and that with a Principle of Vegetation in them, Ver. 11. … Wh…ſe ſeed it in it ſelf. Which Principle is the F…getative Soul; and in it there are ſeveral Faculties ſuitable for this ſort of Life: There is the Faculty of Nutrition, Attractive, Potentive, Conctetive, Expulſive: There are Organs fitted for this Service; the Root, Body, Bark, &c. Hence Augmentation & Generation: By the former the Plant grows to it's Stature; by the latter it propagates its Kind. Plants are of Two ſorts, the Herb, and the Tree, ver. 11. The Herb is a leſſer and more tender Plant; and hence is of a ſhorter Duration continuing for the moſt part but One Year or Two; and then either dying altogether, or into the ground: and comprizeth under it Graſs, Flowers. Corn, and all ſuch as we ſtrictly call Herbs or Weeds: The Tree is of a more ſolid ſubſtance, and conſequently more durable, and for the moſt part outgrows the former; and to this Head doth belong Shrubs of all ſorts; And Trees whether for the Nouriſhment of Man, or for the Nouriſhment of Beaſts, or whether ſuch Uſes as are ſerviceable for the Nouriſhment of Mankind, Building, Fire, &c. And upon this Shelf of Plants, God hath ſet the greateſt part of the Furniture of this lower World.
USE 1. HOW much of God we have here to contemplate. Every Spire of Graſs ſets God before us: Upon the Earthly Carpet is ſet the wondrous Glory of God: Some things have only a Being, and they ſay that He is; Others have Life, and they proclaim that He is the Living God, yea a mighty Fountain of Life, there being ſo many ſorts of Living Beings, and ſo many Millions of every ſort, that derive their Life from Him. And how admirable is His Wiſdom in Framing of theſe things, as well as his Power in Producing of them: The Earth had not brought forth one Blade of Graſs, had He not impregnated it by his Word: He made theſe at firſt, and ſtill cauſeth the Graſs to grow, Pſal. 147.8. He keeps the Wheels of Nature ſtill a going: Hoſ. 2.21, 22.—I will hear, ſaith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they ſhall hear the earth, And the earth ſhall hear the corn, and the wine, & the oyl, & they ſhall hear Jezreel. Hence they are called His, Ver. 9.—My corn, — my wine, — my wool, and my flax —. And there are more Myſteries of Wiſdom in the moſt deſpicable Plant, than human Wiſdom can dive into: Who can contemplate all the Wonders of Generation, Growth and Perfection of Plants, without Wonder? What admiration is to be had in obſerving the Variety of Colours, fragrant Odours in Flowers, the neat Faſhion and party co…loured Bravery in them, excelling Solomon in all his Glory? And there is never an One of them but ſtands and laughs at Men and Women, who are at ſo much coſt to trigg up thenſelves, and are at laſt out ſhone by one poor Flower, that is in the Morning and withers before Night.
USE 2. WHAT cauſe hath Man then to acknowledge God's Beneficence, in providing for him ſuch ſorts of Creatures. Here we have our Food & Delight, our Preſervation and Fle… ſanſies: It is God Himſelf that made theſe things; It is His Earth that they grow upon, His Rain that makes them, His Sun that nouriſheth them: The works of Creation and Providence do meet in every Harve…: God's E… ciency is at work in Hear…n, Earth and Sea to provide us with our Livelihood; and yet what a ſtately Magnificence doth he uſe in providing to Super…uity; the wild Beaſts have a large Range afforded them. When God ſor…d his Table on the Earth, he intended not to give his Brean by Weight, or Drink by Meaſure. How then ought we to honour God with our Subſtances? And how unreaſonable a thing is it, that when God is thus pro…iding for his Creatures, they ſhould be taking up Arms of Pebellion, and drawing their Swords againſt him? Let Sinners think on it and be humbled; and remember theſe are His Creatures, and He can ſtarve you when He will: And if you abuſe theſe things unto Luxury, they will but feed you as Oxen againſt the Slaughter.
2 NOW let us conſider thoſe Animates that have a Simple Motive Life; & thoſe are called by the general name of Lights, Gen. 1.14. Lights are Animates, endowed with a Locom tive Life.
1. THEY are Animates. or Living things, conſiſting of a Body and Soul. Philoſophers have been aſtoniſhed at their ſwift Motion, and hence ſuppoſed them to be fixt unto their Orbs, and moved by Intelligences; as if Infinite Power and Wiſdom could not put into them a Power of Self Motion, as well as Create another Power to move them: But that they are Living Beings appears, partly by their Ord… of Creation; they were made among Living Creatures; and how immethodical a conceit is it, that God ſhould firſt begin to Create o… ſort of Animates, and the… after that to return to make another ſort of I…mates? Partly from the Nature of their Motion, which is conti… al; which proves a conſtant Spring of Action natural to them; for violent Motions are not permanent and regular: It was the Wiſdom of the Creator to fit every thing for its F… and Uſe; and that was by putting into it a Nature ſuitable to its Op…ration, and tho… were for Motion and Revolution; and as it is continual ſo it is regular: The Sun knows it's riſing; … Star keeps his place acco…ding to … of Creation.
2. THEY have a Locomotive Life. That Self-Motion is Life, or an Indication of it, we have already heard, Such do theſe exert, this is the manner of their Living. Here obſerve,
1. THE Subject Place they move in, is the Element of Fire: Said to move in the Exp…nce, Ver. 14. by a Metony my of the Adjunct, the Firmament being next: There are but Three Heavens; the Third is above them: They move not in the loweſt, for then they would only diffuſe Air by their Motion; whereas their Beams are Fiery, as appears partly by their Light, partly by their Heat.
2. THEIR Formal Spirit or Soul, being Motive, doth participate of F…rc, which is moſt Active and hence they have their Ap… and a ſeppi… Piety Sp…ts … L…e and Motion: Here then … ſ…ion … in the Sea…or fly as B…s in th… A…, m…ng in their ſeveral Stations, as in their own Element: Hence called … …ſ …. Gen. 22.1….
THEIR Mo… … him…, tho' Fire be Predominant. They are, or belong to the Earth, mention… …. The F… Matter, which was Firſt formed into Elements, and then into Elementaties, among which they are placed in the Order of Creation: And they have a Circular Motion …otted them. The End or Uſes of them are ſuch as theſe:
1. TO Divide…e Day … Night: The Light did it in the Three firſt Days, but it was now ſtampt upon theſe Bodies as their deſigned Office to the Worlds End; and they do … by ſeperating the Light and Darkneſs in their diſtinct Way and End.
2. TO give Light upon the Earth: And for this Reaſon, they have their Names. Light; as being Light Keepers, and Light Carriers: All of them do more or leſs Illuminate, tho' principally the …n.
3. TO befor Signs & Seaſ…, Days & Years: …r Signs. Progs …ating ſeveral Natural Effects, likely to enſue. Seaſons. i. e. ſeveral Times of the Year, made by the Motion of the Sun eſpecially, tho' influenced by other Constellations; Job 28.31, 32, 33. Days, by the Acceſs and Receſs of Light and Darkneſs; yea by the Revolation or Per…di…al Circle of the Sun finiſhing his Courſe, and coming into the ſame Point, which conſtitutes a Year.
LIGHTS are either the Great Lights, or the Stars; i. e. Some give more Light, and ſome give leſs: The Great are the Sun and the Moon; The former appointed to Rule the Day, and the latter to Rule the Night; i. e. by ſhining on the Earth to denominate theſe, for as long as the Sun ſhines on the Horizon, it dazzles the Light of the Moon and Stars: The other, viz. the Stars, help to Rule the Night together with the Moon, affording ſome Light to the Earth, when the Sun doth not appear.
USE. LET us here alſo make a ſtand, and give God the Glory of this Part of his Workmanſhip: The Heaven̄s declare abundance of the Glory of God: Theſe glorious Lights diſcover many Beams of His Divine Excellency: Here is Infinite Wiſdom in Framing, and ſetting in Order all the Armies of Stars; which tho' there be ſuch a Multitudinous Hoſt of them, are yet Marſhalled in their ſeveral Conſtellations, obſerve, their Order and Motion go their Circuit, return in their Courſes; and break not their Ranks: Here is a Bright Ray of Divine Power in making ſo many, and ſo great Bodies, many bigger, few leſſer, than the Earth; which ſtrongly move through the Fiery Region continually. The Activity of His Being ſhines through the nimble Agility of theſe, in their Diurnal Motion; the Fixed Stars being reckoned to move Forty two Million Miles in an Hours ſpace. Divine Goodneſs is Radiant, in … up theſe I … in Heaven, ſ… … …ing the R…f of the … to the to Light, to help us with … us for out Good. …he… we H…m, whom S… and Moon obey: Rear H… Com… … C… ma… and the S… I…ſeth ….
[DECEMBER 2. …]