The Incomprehensibleness of God, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
HAVING after our poor Manner meditated how unſearchable and incomprehenſible GOD is in his Eſſence; I am now with Humility and Reverence to go on and ſay,
II. GOD is Incomprehenſible in his Works. In theſe his Greatneſs does ſenſibly appear to us, but they are unſearchably Great too. He doth great Things and unſearchable, marvellous Things without Number, ſaid Eliphaz, Job 5.9. To which Job fully agreed, 9, 10. He doth great Things paſt finding out, and Wonders without Number. Elihu leaves it in Charge upon us, 36 Chap. 24. Verſe. See that thou magnify his Work which Men behold; every Man may ſee it; Man may behold it afar off: Behold, GOD is Great, and we know him not.
THIS is a very great Article of Chriſtian Devotion. The holy Pſalmiſt of old abounded in the Meditation: Among the Gods there is none like to thee OLORD, nor are there any Works like unto thy Works: for thou art Great, and doeſt wondrous Things, thou art GOD alone. This alſo is a part of the Song of the Lamb, (what Saints on Earth, and thoſe in Heaven, will never ceaſe to mention) Rev. 15.3. Great and marvellous are thy Works, LORD GOD Almighty.
THE Works of GOD are Three; Creation, Providence and Redemption. I ſhall attempt to ſay a little of each of them in their order.
1. GOD is unſearchable and incomprehenſible in his Works of Creation. The inviſible things of GOD, his eternal Power and Godhead, are clearly ſeen from the thing that are made. But when we ſurvey them all, how unſearchable are they to us? As the great GOD condeſcended to enquire and argue with his Servant Job, 38 Chap. init. Where waſt thou when I laid the Foundation of the Earth? declare if thou haſt Underſtanding? Who has laid the Meaſures thereof, if thou knoweſt & or who hath ſtretched the Line upon it! Haſt thou entered into the Spring of the Sea? or haſt thou walked in ſearch of the Depth? Where is the Way where Light dwelleth? and as for Darkneſs where is the Place thereof? that thou ſhouldeſt take it to the Bound thereof, and know that Path to the Houſe thereof? What can be more elegant and convictive than this condeſcending and yet diſdainful Expoſtulation?
LET us contemplate a little,
1. The Univerſe together.
2. Our Globe of Earth and Sea more particularly.
1. HOW unſearchable is the Univerſe; its Space and Limits! Who knows the Extent of the Creation? how many Worlds there are? or even the Meaſure of our own Syſtem? thoſe Spaces which our Eyes and Glaſſes do after ſome manner reach. It is the fixt Opinion now of learned Men, from what they do ſee and know of the Creation by Telleſcopes, that there may be, and in all probability are, many ſuch Worlds as this which we behold; many ſuch Circles as this which our Eyes view, when we take the Compaſs of the Heavens with them. And if it be ſo, how does it enlarge the Creation to us, and the Greatneſs of the Creator? If our Heavens and Air, the Sun, Moon and Planets in our vaſt Circle, are but one ſingle World, equal or ſuperior to which there may be many others; to which our Sun is but a Star as theirs to us: I ſay, ſuppoſing this to be the Truth of the Univerſe, how does it magnify the Work of GOD, and extend our poor Conceptions of his Greatneſs?
How ſoon ſhould I loſe my ſelf in ſpeaking of what we call the Sky, containing as we imagine vulgarly the Sun, Moon and Stars. It would only aſtoniſh and amaze moſt of you, if I ſhould repeat what Philoſophy has advanced about 'em, by the beſt Obſervations, and niceſt Calculation. The Learned think that the fixt Stars, abundance whereof are inviſible to us, and ſeen only with the help of Glaſſes, do not belong to our Syſtem; but are Suns to other Worlds, like what the Sun (in our Heaven, we ſay) it to our World. And to come within our own certain Limits, they tell us ſuch inconceivable Things of the Diſtances and Magnitude of the Sun and Planets within our own Circle, that it quite aſtoniſhes a common Mind.
So that ſuppoſing our own Syſtem, which we ſee thro' but very darkly, to be indeed the Univerſe, yet is it demonſtrably ſuch a Space as we know not ſcarce how to ſpeak of, but as Immenſe, Infinite, &c. tho' in Truth and ſtrictly Speaking multiply this Space a Million times over, and thoſe again Millions of Millions, all together would have a Limit at laſt, and not be properly Immenſe. However, to abide by the Word in the Text, it is a Space properly unſearchable, while we loſe our ſelves in Numbers.
THE Almighty put it to Job, 38.18. Haſt thou perceived the Breadth of the Earth? Declare if thou knoweſt it all. So far our Moderns dare I ſuppoſe to anſwer, juſt now in the Ends of the Word, having attained, as they think, to meaſure our Earth and Planetary World. And what do they tell us of its Vaſtneſs? I'm afraid truly to repeat in a common Audience what they count themſelves pretty certain of. If it were not to glorify the CREATOR to you, and let you ſee how unſearchable his Works are, I would not hint them to you.
THE Diameter of the Earth is computed to be thout Eight Thouſand Miles. The Diameter of Jupiter *Whiſton's Theory 81, 000. Sun, 763, 000.(the Star ſo called) Fifty Two Thouſand. But (to name no more) the Diameter of the Sun 494,000. See then how much vaſter than our Earth other Orbs are that belong to our World, and which look ſo ſmall to us. The Reaſon of their appearing ſo ſmall to us is, becauſe of their wonderful Diſtance from us.
WE are calculated to be Fifty Four Million Miles ‖81,000,000diſtant from the Sun. And yet there are other Planets unſpeakably further from it than we are: For Inſtance, The Star Saturn (which is tho't to be †61,000Forty Three Thouſand Miles Diameter, when our Earth is but Eight Thouſand) is alſo ſuppoſed diſtant from the Sun, Five Hundred and Thirteen millions of Miles.*777,000,000.
THESE things theys tell us, who ſhould beſt know the Syſtem of the Creation, after a profound Study, and laborious Search thereinto. In all which, ſuppoſing them at laſt to err and be miſtaken, what is the Conſequent thereform but the Truth I am upon; ſcil. That GOD and his Works are unſearchable to the moſt improved, diligent and enlarged Minds on Earth.
BUT if this ſould be ſome pretty juſt Meaſure of the World we belong to, then ſay, how great the LORD GOD is! Does it not magnify the Creator to you? Don't it raiſe and extend your narrow Thoughts of him? And will you not be conſtrained thereby to admire, reverence and fear him the more? And to worſhip him with the more Humility, and Awe, and Fervor of Devotion.
BEFORE I deſcend from theſe mighty Circles which my Meditations wou'd have been compaſſing; let us paſs one Thought on Comets in their unknown, but it is likely no leſs regular Courſes; tho' they ſeem wandring as well as blazing Stars to us, paſſing from World to World; The frightful Miniſters it's probable of divine Juſtice *Dr. Cheyne.that may have brought, and may ſtill bring about the great Cataſtrophees of our Syſtem; by lending us their noxious Vapours, by raiſing our Waters, changing the Figures and Poſitions of the Planets, and the very Nature of the Orbits themſelves. Or are they the firſt Rudiments of Planets not yet bro't into any Syſtem? Or father the Ruins of them baniſh'd thence? And ſo the Habitations of Creatures in a State of Puniſhment?†See Whiſton's Theory, 4th. Edit. 188, 437.
BUT whither have I wandred after theſe portentous Prodigies! Yet having gone ſo far, let me take yet one Step higher, and think—
WHAT muſt the Dimenſions of the higheſt Heavens be? The Heavens of Heavens—which as Solomon ſays, cannot contain GOD; how much leſs our Earth and viſible Heavens? How ſpacious as well as glorious (think you) is that World of Light and Bliſs, where is the Throne of GOD and of the Lamb, and where the higheſt created Intelligences dwell, and whither all holy Spirits are at laſt gather'd? How many thouſand Kinds of rational Creatures there may be in the Creation of GOD, equal or ſuperior to our Selves in our firſt State, GOD only knows, known unto whom are all his Works. But this we know, that there are innumerable Myriads of holy Angels, bright Morning Stars, and heavenly Hoſts, who excel in Wiſdom and in Strength, who ſee the Face of GOD, and miniſter in his Preſence; the happy Objects of his Complacency and Love. Now how ſuperior theſe Realms of Light are to our dark World, and how ſpacious this Palace of the eternal King of Glory; no Eye has ſeen nor can ſee. 1 Tim. 6.16. The bleſſed and only Potentate, who only hath Immortality; dwelling in the Light which no Man can approach unto; whom no Man hath ſeen, nor can ſee, to whom be Honour and Power everlaſting. Amen.
LEAVING then the angelical Nature to their native Heaven; that and their Orders and Capacities and Bliſs unknown; let us deſcend to our ſublunary World, and obſerve,
II. HOW unſearchable our Globe of Earth and Sea is to us who inhabit it, and over which GOD has given us the Dominion.
And,
1. HOW myſterious is it to think, What this and the other mighty Orbs di hang on, or roll in? *See Chambers his Univerſal Dictionary, on Attraction, Gravitation, Magnetiſm, Electricity, and Newtonian Philoſophy.How do they keep their Places, Diſtances and Motions in ſuch Conſtancy and Celerity, for ſo many thouſand Years together? The Word of GOD has fixt 'em ſo; and at laſt we muſt ſubmit to ſay with Job, 26.7. He ſtretcheth forth the North over the empty Place, and hangeth the Earth upon nothing. It has no viſible Foundations, but is like a Ball hanging in the Air, we know not how.
THE Almighty put this among his Queries to Job, 38.6. Where upon are the Foundations thereof faſtned? or who laid the Corner-Stone thereof? or who ſhut up the Sea with Doors, and brake up for it it's decreed Place? How unſearchable is the Law of it's Center or Gravitation, whereon it is fixt? He has founded it upon the Seas, ſays the Pſalmiſt, and eſtabliſhed it upon the Floods. But theſe Expreſſions do but confeſs and amplify upon the Myſtery of its Scituation and Conſiſtence where it is. Pſal. 104.5. He laid the Foundation of the Earth that it ſhould not be removed for ever; he cover'd it with the Deep as with a Garment. This is all that GOD ſees good to tell us of the matter. Pſal. 33 8. Let all the Earth fear the Lord; let all the Inhabitants of the World ſtand in awe of him: for he ſpake and it was done, he commanded and it ſtood faſt.
2 HOW unſearchable are the Clouds which water the Earth. I will not go back again ſo far as the Moon, which is a Body inferior to our Earth; nor ſpeak of its myſterious Dominion over the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, the Juices of Plants and Trees, the Humours of our Bodies, and thoſe of other Animals. But to aſcend no higher than the Clouds, which in Storms of Rain and Thunder do often deſcend lower than the Tops of our Mountains and Hills; — what a Myſtery are they to us? Let us meditate them with Eliba, Job 36. 26, 29. Behold, GOD is great, end we know him not; he maketh ſmall the Drops of Water, they pour down Rain according to the Vapour thereof!— Can any underſtand the Spreading of the Clouds, or the Noiſe of his Tabernacle? Behold, he ſpreadeth his Light upon it, and by the Terrors of his Lightnings he judgeth the People. Read on in the 37th Chap. At this alſo my Heart trembleth and is moved out of his Place. Hear attentively the Noiſe of his Voice, and the Sound that goeth out of his Mouth. He directeth it under the whole Heaven, and his Lightning unto the Ends of the Earth: After it a Voice roareth, — GOD thundreth marvelouſly —; Great things deeth he which we cannot compretend. — Hearken unto this, O Job: ſtand ſtill, and conſider the wondrous Works of GOD. — Doſt thou know the Ballancings of the Clouds, the wondrous Work of Him that is perfect in Knowledge?
3. EVERY Creature here on Earth, even to the loweſt Degrees of Life, are myſterious and unſearchable. So is the very Graſs we tread on, and every Weed in the Field, as well as the green Herb and painted Flower in the Garden. We are ignorant how theſe grow, and what dies and colours them, ſo that Solomon in all his Glory was never in any like Array. But then the living Creatures in the Air, Earth and Sea are an inexpreſſible Variety of divine Workmanſhip, both for Beauty and Uſe. So are the Furrs of the Beaſts, the gaudy Feathers of the Birds, and the ſilver Scales of the Fiſh. Innumerable Wonders fill the Land and Sea and Air. The moſt common Creatures wear 'em; whether we diſcern it in 'em as we might and ſhould, or not. The Almighty therefore ſent Job to conſider the wild Goats of the Rocks, and the wild Aſſes of the barren Wilderneſs.
THREE Things are unſearchable in the Creatures, which I would ſelect out of the many thouſand Inſtances that might be given.
1. THE Minuteneſs of ſome of the wonderful Works of GOD is unſearchable. The Diſcoveries of this kind made by Microſcopes are aſtoniſhing. In leſs far than a Grain of Sand we find as curious Workmanſhip, Proportions, Imbroideries, Parts and Figures, as you ſee in any of the greater Creatures. No Man alive can ſay how ſmall a Duſt may be animated, and be a perfect living Creature. But then how incomprehenſibly fine are the Parts and Proportions of that animated Mite? The Wing of a Moth is ſeen to contain as perfect and gay Feathers, as do the goodly Wings of the Peacock. This we ſee with our Eyes by the help of Glaſſes. The Grain of a common Chip of Wood, and more of a piece of Cork or Spunge, and more yet the Wing of a Fly, are all ſuch delicate Embroideries as the Necks of Queens never wear. The Crowns of Princes are nothing ſo magnificent as what GOD has ſet on the Head of a Fly: nor their poliſh'd Armour to be compar'd to the ſilver Studds wherein the Body of this deſpicable Creature is incas'd.
THUS the ſmalleſt Inſect is full of Wonders. The Greatneſs of the Creator is ſeen in the leaſt Things, as much as in the greater: but the Minimum quod ſit can never be known by us. It was the Saying of the religious and learned Judge Hale; That if a Man ſhould ſpend his whole Life in the Study of one poor Fly, he could not with the moſt ſingular Wit diſcover one Half of the Wonders therein. The Great GOD, out of the infinite Riches and Fulneſs of his Perfection, crouds unſearchable Treaſures into the Compaſs of a Grain of Sand.
2. ON the other Hand, How unſearchable are the Wonders of divine Power and Majeſty, in the Creatures of greater Bulk and Magnitude? There are not wanting huge and vaſter Creatures, as well as ſmaller and more minute; together with innumerable intervening Kinds and Degrees, between the Humm-Bird and the Oſtritch, between the Mite and the Elephant, between the Shrimp and the Whale. The Almighty inſtances to Job in the greater Creatures of one Kind and of another; the Oſtrich, the Horſe, the Elephant, and the Crocodile. Theſe are ſome of the chief of the Ways of GOD Hear the Words of GOD concerning the laſt of them: Job 41.12. &c. I will not conceal his Parts, nor his Power, nor his comely Proportion; who can open the Doors of his Face? his Teeth are terrible round about. — When be raiſeth up himſelf the Mighty are afraid: — be eſteemeth Iron as Straw, and Braſs as rotten Wood: — he makes the Deep to boil as a Pot, (to ſwell and foam by his ſtrong Motion.)— Upon Earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. When Job had heard this magnificent Deſcription of this ſingle Creature, he immediately reply'd to GOD with the utmoſt Abaſement; I know that thou canſt do every Thing, and that no Tho't can be withbolden from thee: — Now mine Eye ſeeth thee, in thy Works, wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in Duſt and Aſhes. I had tho't alſo to have ſaid.
3. How unſearchable the Inſtinct of the Creatures is? which is to them inſtead of Reaſon; and whereby even ſome of the leaſt and vileſt of them do act with that Art, Prudence, Sagacity and Foreſight as may inſtruct, ſhame and aſtoniſh Mankind. Such is the Wiſdom and Diligence of the Ant and Bee, the Spiders Webb, the Waſps Neſt, and the Beavers Houſe: theſe and other Things are little upon Earth, but exceeding wiſe. Inimitable their Works. The moſt deſpiſed things hath GOD choſen to vie with all human Underſtanding and Diſcretion. Thus in all Creatures, even to the loweſt Degrees of Life, we ſee the unſearchable Greatneſs of GOD.
2. To have done with theſe Inſtances in the viſible Creation, and to riſe the higheſt in them on the Earth, We our Selves are unſearchable to our Selves; both in the Formation of our Bodies, & in the Nature and Faculties of our immortal Spirits.
1. OUR Bodies are a ſtupendous Piece of divine Workmanſhip. We are fearfully and wonderfully made: Pſal. 139.13. yet originally of the Clay. But who knows the Myſtery of his own Formation? or can diſſect and anatomize himſelf? So as to diſplay the Wonders of every Veſſel, Artery and Fibre in his Fleſh? Our Suſtentation alſo is next to miraculous, our Life hanging on ſo many fine Threads. Confider the Elegance of the whole Form, the Harmony and Uſe of every Part, and how the Frame anſwers the Ends of a rational Nature, in reſpect of Dominion over the Creatures, Society, Diſcourſe and Worſhipping GOD; and we muſt needs ſee much of the Greatneſs of GOD in theſe Bodies of Clay.
2. How much more unſearchable are our Sculs, the more immediate Offſpring & expreſs Image of the Father of Spirits. Indeed we have but poor and confus'd Ideas of our own Souls; but that we have Souls we feel and know, being endowed with ſuch Faculties as can in no wiſe agree to Matter in it ſelf alone, but only to a ſpiritual Nature. We find in our ſelves the Powers of thinking, reaſoning, remembring, willing, chooſing, deſiring, loathing, ſelf-judging, &c. We can eaſily argue that theſe do not belong to dull and ſtupid Matter, and therefore that there is in us a Spirit, which tho' united to this Body is yet diſtinct from it, and performs theſe noble and ſuperior Operations, and by its vital Union enlivens and uſes the Body in its various Offices and Actions of Life, to whoſe Service therefore the Body is adapted. It is the living Soul that gives the Body its Life, Majeſty, Beauty, Vigour: without this it becomes a Carcaſe, unſightly, gaſtly, noiſome. The Soul ſits on the Eye, and iſſues out its Will at the Lips, and all the Members are under its Authority.
MOST wonderful is the ſtrict Union of Soul and Body, in which Union both do delight inexpreſſibly, and by a moſt tender Sympathy ſhare in each others Joys and Sufferings. But what Art or Power could join Spirit and Matter thus together? and make them ſo natural that their Eaſe and Pain, their Pleaſure and their Grief ſhould be one and the ſame! What has ſo endear'd Things ſo widely different in their Natures!
THUS are we a Myſtery to our ſelves, and find that within our ſelves which we know not how to deſcribe: A Mind, a Will, a Conſcience, Deſires and Affections, which how they are, and how we received them, and how we exerciſe'em we know very imperfectly: but that we have 'em, and that we exerciſe 'em we are very ſure. We know we have Souls by their Operations, but what they are, or where ſeated in the Body, or how united to it, or how they ſuffer from it, or it from them, is all inconceivable to us.
THE Soul of Man is a moſt wonderful thing; the Light is not brighter nor ſwiſter than its Motion; it ſurveys the viſible World in a Moment of Time, and forms Images of infinite inviſible Things. It is made to rule, to rule the Body, and over the lower Creatures, yea and one ſingle Mind over mighty Nations. It is nobly endow'd, and form'd for great things. A ſovereign Power reſides in it: high are its Attainments: Itaſcends to GOD and Heaven, can know much of him who is inviſible, be like him, honour and glorify him: which is more than to ſay, that it can dive into the Secrets of Nature, take the Rule of the Univerſe, and enjoy the Good of every Thing in it. How tranſcendently Great and Glorious is the Father and Former of theſe noble Beings, the Spirits of Men.
Now if we know not our little Selves, how ſhall we conceive of GOD? if we are puzled in our Searches into the Nature of a finite Spirit, the Perfection and Powers of an Angel or human Soul, how ſhall we underſtand Him who is the infinite and eternal Spirit!
To Conclude, If the Creatures be unſearchable, much more is the CREATOR incomprehenſible. If ſuch dazling Wiſdom and Perfection ſhines forth in the things that are made, what then is the Light wherein GOD dwells? Whom no Man hath ſeen nor can ſee.
ALL this while I have omitted to ſpeak of that firſt and moſt wondrous Work of GOD, the Light: by which we ſee all other Things, and the eternal GODHEAD clearly in them, but leaſt of all is it ſeen it ſelf. ‖Mr. Henry.It is the great Beauty and Bleſſing of the Univerſe; and like the firſt-horn it doth of all Bodies moſt reſemble its great Parent, the Father of Light and Glory; in Purity, Brightneſs, Beneficence, and Spirituality; for of all things viſible Light comes the neareſt to the Nature of a Spirit. There is nothing more excellent and admirable in the viſible Creation of GOD. An immenſe flowing Tide of Glory.
*Mr. Milton.Etherial Stream! thy Fountain who can tell? "Before the Sun, before the Heavens thou wert. The Velocity of the Rays of Light is amazing, and ſo the infinite endleſs Emiſſions of many Millions of them every Moment of Time, for ſo many thouſand Years together, without any ſenſible Diminution. What a vaſt Globe of Flame muſt it be, and how extreamly ſmall and fine the Particles of Light! Immenſe the Benefit alſo of its Effuſions to all the diſtant rolling Worlds, in the Center of which it ſtands. It was it may be the moſt excuſable of all the Pagan Idolatries to worſhip the Sun.
BUT after all, where is the Way where Light dwelleth? and by what Way is the Light parted? that thou ſhouldeſt take it to the Bound thereof, and know the Parth to the Houſe thereof? Job 38. 19, 20. All our Hypotheſes of the Light are full of Darkneſs and Obſecurity. We are loſt and ſtruck blind with the Exceſs of Radiancy and Luſtre. But how much more doth GOD dwell in Light unapproachable, and full of Glory!
GIVE me leave to add upon the whole,
1. UNSEARCHABLE is the Power of GOD that thines forth in the Work of Creation. To crease is the Top of almighty Power. By a Word to command all things into Being, out of Nothing. How great is it to do this! Rev. 4.11. Thine is the Power, — for thou haſt created all things. pſal. 150 Praiſe him in the Firmament of his Power: (i. e. for here is the admirable Evidence of it, within the Compaſs of the Firmament, wherein are ſo many vaſt Effects of it to be ſeen:) Praiſe him for his mighty Acts; praiſe him for his excellent Greatneſs.
HERE God began to ſhew his Greatneſs and his mighty Hand, and what GOD is there that can do according to theſe Works and this Might? Moſes his Account of the Creation is the moſt auguſt, abſolute and worthy of GOD that can be: And GOD ſaid, Let there Light, and there was Light: Let a Firmament be, and it was, Let the Warers bring forth abundantly, &c. How eaſy is every thing to this powerful Will and Word? He ſpake and it was done, he commanded and things were! By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all the Hoſts of them by the Breath of his Mouth, Pſal. 33.6.
AN inſtantaneous Production by a Word was incomprehenſible to the old Philoſopher Ariſtotle; he choſe therefore to allow the Eternity of Matter and of the World. He err'd not knowing the Scriptures and the Power of GOD. By Faith we underſtand that the Worlds were framed by the World of GOD. Heb. 11.3. He commanded and they were created. Pſal. 148. 5. Thus ſaith the LORD of Hoſts, the GOD of Iſrael,—I have made the Earth, the Man and the Beaſt that are Upon the Ground, by my great Power, and by my ſtretched-out Arm, Jerr. 27.5.
2. UNSEARCHABLE is the Knowledge and Wiſdom of GOD diſplay'd in the Works of Creation. This is legible in the whole Frame of the Univerſe. Prov. 3.19, 20. The LORD by Wiſdom bath frounded the Earth, by Underſtanding bath be eſtabliſhed the Heavens, by his Knowledge the Depths were broken up. Every Creature bears the Signatures of manifold Wiſdom. Pſal. 104.24. O LORD, how manifold are thy Works! in Wiſdom thou haſt made them all.
WHAT Beauty, Variety and Harmony is there in each diſtinctly, and in all conjunctly? What Art in their Compoſition, and what wiſe Deſign in their Uſes, Subordinations, and mutual Services? The World by Wiſdom know not GOD; to its reproach be it ſpoken, for it might eaſily and ſhould have ſurely done ſo by the infinite Variety and Depths of Wiſdom in the Works of Nature.
OUR Underſtandings ſerve to the Contemplation of the divine Wiſdom, in the Form, Order, Motions and Creatures of the Univerſe, and when we ſee a little into theſe Things we are loſt in Admiration. Wiſdom and Strength are his, he is mighty in Strength and Wiſdom, Job 36.5.
HOW ſoon are the truly knowing and wiſe convinced of their own Ignorance? How ſoon do they confeſs with Amazement that they know nothing at all! that they are loſt in their Searches into the leaſt Creature? The brutiſh Perſon knows not, neither does the Fool underſtand this: He overlooks the admirable Effects of divine Wiſdom that encompaſſes him on every Side, in a wretched Careleſsneſs and ſottiſh Inconſideration! Whereas would Men but open their Eyes and ſee, would they give their Minds to contemplate GOD in his Works, would they uſe their Reaſon and ſurvey the ſame Things that daily occur to them; wou'd they but ſeriouſly ſet themſelves to think of what they behold every Day with their Eyes; the Wiſdom of GOD would neceſarily appear raviſhing to their Minds, and in its exquiſite Beauty captivate their Souls.
BUT at laſt put all together that has ever been ſeen or ſaid, by philoſophical and devout Perſons, the Learned and Religious of all Ages, concerning the Wiſdom of the Creation, and it infinitely falls ſhort of the Truth of the glorious Subject. After all we muſt ſay of it, as the wiſe Queen of Sheba did to Solomon when ſhe had ſeen his Works, and heard his Wiſdom; not Half has been told us, nor ever can be. That Queen of the South felt her Spirit fail her, and there was no more Strength left in her, when ſhe did but behold the Art and Elegance of Solomon's Architecture, and the Aſcent by which he went up to the Houſe of the LORD: But behold, a greater than Solomon is here, and how much greater a Fabrick than his Temple! The Builder and Maker of it is GOD, and unſearchable is the Wiſdom in the Deſign and Finiſhing hereof. Job 11.5. O that God would ſpeak, and open his Lips unto thee, and that he would ſhew thee the Secrets of Wiſdom; that they are doable to that which is!
3. UNSEARCHABLE is the Goodneſs of GOD that appears in the Works of Creation. All Beings flow'd from the meer Good-Will and Bounty of the firſt Cauſe, who only is good. "He was eternally poſſeſs'd of infinite Felicity in himſelf, and had no need of the Exiſtence of any thing. He created the reaſonable Creature to communicate of Bleſſedneſs unto them. He deſign'd infinete Communications of Good unto them, when he ſtampt his Image on them. He knew himſelf to be eno' to make 'em everlaſtingly happy, and therefore he created them. He ſtor'd the Earth with an unſearchable Variety of Bounties and Delights, and then he brought forth Man upon it. As are our Deſires, Wiſhes, Hopes, and far beyond the Conceptions of any Creatures, ſo is the Goodneſs of GOD. He has endow'd us ſo richly that he may repleniſh and fill us.
LOOK thro' the viſible Creation, and ſee the Proviſion made thro'our it all for the Entertainment of Man, his Soul and Body! Immenſe Stores from the divine Fulneſs and Munificence! What Wonders of Wiſdom for our muring Minds? What Beauties for our gozing Fyes? What pleaſing Sounds for our Ears? What Delicacy of Food for our Palates? What a Paradiſe the Earth—if by our Sins we had not blaſted it? and GOD Himſelf for our Souls if we had not apoſtatiz'd and cut our ſelves off from Him?
GOODNESS form'd our Body for the Soul, and Goodneſs breath'd the heaven-born Spirit into the Body. Goodneſs furniſh'd the World for our Suſtenance, and Goodneſs made us for GOD and Immortality. Goodneſs made all Things very Good, and fills them with their proper Good of every Kind, and in every Meaſure. But who can trace the eternal Spring of the divine Munificence, thro' every Stream of it? We know not how to ſpeak of it ſuitably and adore it. He is the One GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and thro' all, and in all.
USE 1. See the Uſe and End of all the Creatures, of one part of the Creation of GOD and another; Namely, to ſhew forth the Greatneſs, the unſearchable Gratneſs of the CREATOR. The Univerſe can have no greater Deſign, nor any more worthy Uſe than this. Rev. 4.11. Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive Glory and Honour and Power: for thou haſt created all things, and for thy Pleaſure they are and were created. What other Reaſon or Motive could there be for the creating any thing? Surely GOD has made all things for Himſelf. Of him, and thro' him, and to him are all things. All Creatures look to GOD, and lead us to him, and ſpeak to us of him, and call upon us to glorify him. The Heavens declare his Glory, and the Firmament ſheweth his Handy-Work: Day unto Day uttereth speech, and Night unto Night ſheweth Knowledge: There is no speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard. The Creation in all its Parts unite in that Acclamation, and in a manner anſwer and fulfil that Viſion, Rev. 19.6. And I heard as it were the Voice of a great Multitude, and as the Voice of many Waters, and as the Voice of mighty Thunderings, ſaying, Alleluia, for the LORD GOD omnipotent reigneth.
THE higheſt Creatures can have no higher End than this, to ſerve unto the Creator's Glory: and the leuſt of Creatures can have no leſs an End, and in their Places do as truly ſerve thereunto as the beſt and greateſt. Man's chief End is to glorify GOD, and the End of any Worm or Inſect is his Glory alſo: only the one is to ſerve hereunto in a free and active Way, the other in a more paſſive; the one is to give GOD the Glory of the other Iſai. 43.20, 21. The Beaſts of the Field ſhall honour me, the Dragons and the Owls:— this People alſo have I formed for my ſelf, they ſhall ſhew forth my Paraiſe.
2. LET us infer the Duty of the raitional Creature, reſulting from the viſible Creation, to contemplate GOD in his Works, and to give him Adorations and Praiſes on account of them. The rational Mind, the Eyes and Tongues of Men were certainly made for this. At the Formation of the Earth the Morning Stars ſang together, and all the Sons of GOD ſhouted the Praiſes of the CREATOR. The ſtupid Maſs, out of which our Bodies were formed, and the Creatures brought forth, could not praiſe him: but Angels beheld theſe Worlds of ours come into Being, and then into Order, and gave him the Glory due unto his Name. So neither can the World that now is, the Earth and Sea, with the dumb Creatures in them, know and laud the Creator; but We have Underſtanding and Speech to do it for them and from them, and from us the Almighty expects the Tribute. The Heathen Poet this and ſaid, Os Homini ſublime dedit, &c. The Creator gave to Man this Face and Eye, that he ſhould behold the Heavens, and look thro' the ſpacious Worlds, and give the Maker of them Glory. And this Date of Contemplation, and conſequent Admiration and Worſhip is abundantly preſſed on us in the Holy Scriptures. A Duty which Mankind are ſadly wanting in, tho' why has GOD made us wiſer than the Beaſts of the Field, and than the Fowls of Heaven, but for this! Why are the Beaſts dumb, and we ſpeak? Why look they down, and we up and abroad thro' the Univerſe? Sorely 'tis to ſee GOD in his Works, and adore his Greatneſs in them. We ought frequently to conſider with David, GOD's Heavens, the Work of his Fingers, the Moon and the Stars which he has created; and while we do ſo we ought to be making our devotional Reflections on the Greatneſs, Glory, Wiſdom, Goodneſs and Power of the great CREATOR. The Works of the Lord are great, ſought out of all them that have Pleaſure therein. I will praiſe thee, O LORD, with my whole Heart, I will ſhow forth all thy marvellows Works. Among the Gods there are none like unto thee, O LORD, neither any Works like unto thy Works: All Nations whom thou haſt made ſhall come and worſhip before thee, O LORD, and ſhall glorify the Name: for thou art Great, and doeſt wondrous Things, thou art GOD alone. Thus ought the great GOD to be greatly reverenc'd and honoured by his reaſonable Creatures. And indeed the very Heathens are left inexcuſable in their Idolatries and groſs Immoralities, from what GOD has ſhewn us of his Greatneſs and Glory in his Works. Excellent is the Strain of Argument and Reaſoning to this purpoſe in the firſt Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Romans. No Man that will uſe his Senſes, and obſerve the Heavens and the Earth, can without forfeiting his Reaſon, and the higheſt Contradiction to it, worſhip a Stock and Stone, or the Image of Heaven; for if he will but think he muſt eaſily know that all theſe things have ſome glorious Maker, whoſe Creature he himſelf is alſo, and whom only he muſt therefore Worſhip If a Heathen will not thus uſe his Reaſon, he deſpiſes his Maker, and diſhonours and abuſes his own Nature: or if he violates his Underſtanding and Conſcience, lives like a Brute or worſhips a brutal Form, he does deſpight unto GOD and is guilty before him as truly, tho' not ſo heinouſly, as we Chriſtians are if we periſh under the written Law. The Law of Nature is a very ſacred Law, and the Light of Nature a very great Light: to live up to it is a very great Thing; and to quench it by Luſt, or wilfully to Sin againſt it is a very high Guilt.
3, and laſtly, NONE of the Creatures of GOD are in themſelves vile or diminutive; but how little a Creature is Man in the Univerſe and before his MAKER? We cannot lightly eſteem the leaſt Creature, nor may we vilify any one, becauſe the leaſt and meaneſt are unſearchable. All are admirable: Much of GOD, his Wiſdom, Power, Goodneſs and Dominion is to be ſeen in each, and in all of them. GOD who knows his own Work treats them all with a Regard. Not a Sparrow miſſes it, and even the Hairs of our Heads are numbred by him. He has given Man the Dominion over and Uſe of the inferior Creatures, and put them under our Feet; but it becomes us not to trample, either in Pride or Careleſsneſs, on a very Worm; which as no Man can form, nor eno' admire the Formation of, ſo the great GOD that made it feeds it and cares for it. We ſhould look upon every Creature we uſe with Wonder, and while for our Neceſſities and Conveniences, Comfort and Delight, GOD hath ſubjected them to us, let us neither needleſly ravage and deſtroy them, nor abuſe them to Wantonneſs and Luſt. Let the Work of GOD be always honourable and glorious to us; and as GOD has put the Honour of a ſuperior Nature on us, crowning us with his own Image and Likeneſs; ſo let us reverence our ſelves and debaſe neither Soul nor Body from thoſe rational and religious Services, which the LORD our GOD has deſign'd us for.
BUT at the ſame time, in the midſt of this vaſt Creation, LORD, what is Man! What Reaſons for Humiliation and Abaſement in our own Eyes may we fetch from the Unſearchableneſs of GOD in his Works? How little is it that any ſingle Perſon poſſeſſes of this vaſt Creation? The Kings and Princes of the Earth parcel it out among themſelves, but what have they at laſt to be proud of? Like ſome Maſter-Ant upon his Hillock, compared to the wide Extent of the Creation round about them! What have the richeſt Mortals to caſt into the Treaſury of the GOD of Nature, but a Widow's Mite. How ſoon muſt Man be diſpoſſeſs'd of his Earth, and return to his Duſt? And when he's gone, the Earth miſſes him not, the World keeps on its Courſe, as if he never had been.
AGAIN, HOW little can Man command of the Things he ſees and is converſant with? Will the Winds and Seas obey him? Can he lift up his Voice to the Clouds, that abundance of Waters ſhould cover him? Haſt thou commanded the Morning ſince thy Day? Or ſhall the Earth be removed out of its Place for thee?
TO have done, How little is Mans Knowledge after he has ſearch'd into the vaſt Works of GOD! What ſeems he then to himſelf but Ignorance and Darkneſs! even as a Beaſt before GOD! He that's Half-learned may Conceit that he knows a great deal, and they that are truly Learned among Men do ſo compared with their unread or tho'tleſs Nei'bours; but he that knows moſt here below ſees moſt his own Defects and Incapacity, and the unſearchable Riches of Knowledge, which he cannot now attain unto. We are of Yeſterday, and know nothing.