Established and upheld Psal 51.12 and by the power whereof we must mortifie the deeds of the flesh Rom. 8.13 And where the power of that Spirit is wanting there the Word is a dead letter the Sacraments dead Elements and we dead Creatures It is the Spirit that giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 and quickens Joh. 6.63 2. Let us ascribe all unto the Spirit that we receive from God whether it be in the works of Nature or Grace whatsoever be the means or instruments the shape of our bodies the abilities of our minds much more all spiritual graces as Knowledge Faith Holinesse and the like which are all the effects of the Spirit which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.8 9 11. Grieve not then that Spirit Ephes 4.30 Resist it not Act. 7.51 but walk in it Gal. 5.16 The darknesse then which was upon the face of the deep did not hide this rude masse from the eyes of God the Spirit notwithstanding that darknesse came down upon it or hovered over it and so was present there notwithstanding the very darknesse it self Whence 6. Observe The Spirit of God is present every where yea even in the middest of the greatest darknesse Observ 6 UNto God the darknesse is as the noon-day Psal 139.11 12. The Land of darknesse that is the state of the dead Job 10.21 and Hell the Kingdom of darknesse these are naked before him and have no covering nay the very conscience of a man in lightened by the Spirit is a light in the most secret closet of the he rt searching and discovering the very hidden parts of the belly saith Solomon Prov. 20.27 Reason 1. God himself is light 1 Joh. 1.5 and consequently there can be no darkness to him as there is none in him 2. And it must be so that the Judge of all the World may do right judging the very secrets of men Rom. 2.16 Let all men then tremble and fear before him even in their secret places nay in the very secret thoughts of their hearts which he knowes afar off Psal 139.20 whose eyes run to and fro through the whole earth 2 Chro. 16.9 and searching the very reins Jer. 11.20 much more observing the wayes of men and their works though done in the most secret corners which he shall one day bring to light even the most hidden things of darknesse and make manifest even the very counsels of mens hearts 1 Cor. 4.5 The manner of this work of the Spirit followes in the next place It is said to move or hover upon the face of the deep Thus the Holy Ghost is pleased to stoop to mens weak capacity to speak to men in the phrase and expressions of men rather shadowing out unto us than opening the manner of that Wonderfull and secret work which when all is done can neither be Expressed nor Comprehended by us as it is Only we must suppose that by the expressing of it in such an obscure form there is implyed both a secret and yet withall an effectual working of the Spirit upon that unformed and rude mass to bring it into those various shapes and forms of severall kinds of Creatures which we do now behold Whence 7. Observe The Way of Gods Working is secret and undiscernable though the effect when it is wrought be manifest Observ 7 THe Apostle tells us that Gods wayes are past finding out Rom. 11.33 The word in the Original hath very great force and signifies that God leaves no print of his steps behind him by which men might trace him out in his goings Job tells us that one cannot behold him though he work fast by us upon the right or left hand Job 23.9 As we cannot behold the Workman so we cannot the manner how he works neither without us we know not how the corn growes though we can sâ—e that it is grown Mark 4.27 nor how the wind blowes John 3.8 although we hear the sound of it nor how the clouds are balanced and the like Job 37.16 Nor in our own bodies the Mother knowes not how the child is fashioned in her womb Eccles 11.5 nor any man how his meat nourisheth and quickens him nor so much as how his cloathes keep him warm when the South wind blowes Job 37.7 Reason 1. That we might admire God the more in all his waies and be the more abased in our selves by the consideration of our own ignorance 2. The work it self is sufficient to discover unto us God himself and to direct us in our duties though we know not how it is wrought Let it silence our carnal reason in enquiring curiously into that which God hath purposely hidden from our eyes that we might be sensible of our own weaknesse that cannot understand the wayes of God in those works that we behold with our eyes It is true indeed that the works of God Are and Ought to be sought out of those that fear him Psal 111.2 but that which they search out in them is the manifestation of his power Wisdom Psal 104.24 Loving kindnesse Psal 107.43 Righteousnesse and Holinesse Psal 145.17 that we might honour fear and trust in him As for the manner of his working we are at present unable to comprehend it nor could profit by it if we knew it We cannot but take notice of the degrees by which the Creatures were brought on to perfection First they were nothing at all next they are a rude lump Lastly the Spirit moves upon them and by degrees gives them their several shapes and natures which now they have Whence 8. Observe All Creatures are perfect by degrees AS they were in their first Creation so are they much more in their successive generation Man himself hath his body fashioned in time Psal 139.16 And experience shewes us that Corn growes up first into a blade then to an ear and at last comes to be ripe corn Mark 4.28 Reason 1. That we might the more easily take notice of Gods workmanship upon and in them For we are not able to observe those things that are done in an Instant 2. Because if all things were made perfect at the first Perfection might be conceived to be natural to them if they received that together with their being Let it quiet all our hearts in observing the work of grace which is wrought in them Let us take notice of our present infirmities with the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.9 yea be sensible of them and groan under them Rom. 7.24 striving earnestly to a farther degree of perfection Phil. 3.12 Heb. 6.1 but without murmuring at our present condition or despairing of attaining to farther perfection having Gods promise to perfect that which is begun in us Phil. 1.6 Eph. 5.27 Although at present he think fit to leave us in much weaknesse and wants many wayes and that 1. To humble our hearts and keep them low 2. To quicken us both to fervent prayers and constant endeavours to attain what we want 3. To manifest our Faith and dependance on Gods Povver
infinite Mercy and Justice in bestowing or taking away those useful Creatures without which we cannot subsist that we may receive them as a gift from Gods Hand with all thankfulnesse and use them with all moderation and sobriety unto the Glorie of his Name who both made them and bestowed them upon us These plants and herbs God commands to spring out of the Earth which yields them the substance of that Body which they have and nourishment by which they are maintained Whence 3. Observe The substance of all Trees and Plants is from the Earth Observ 3 GOd brings food out of the earth saith the Prophet David Psal 14.104 and our Saviour himself tells us that the earth brings forth fruit out of her self Mark 4.28 Let us then behold and admire the wonderfull power of that God who out of the same masse of the Earth is able to produce such infinite variety of Creatures so far different one from another in Shape Nature and Use so many comely proportions out of such a rude lump so many various Smells and Tastes out of that which of it self hath neither Taste nor Sent at all Nay life it self out of that which is wholly without life as the Earth is which notwithstanding yieldeth such variety of sundry sorts of living Herbs and Plants which may occasion us farther to 4. Observe God can and usually doth draw Life out of Death it self Observ 4 THis he manifested That he was able to do in that vision of the Dry bones representing the state of his own people Ezek. 37.10 This he doth in the whole course of nature All seeds dye before they be quickened as the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 15.36 Yea our own bodies are nourished by dead food and receive Life and strength thereby Reason 1. God can do it who is the Life and hath Life both In and Of Himself Joh. 5.26 and therefore can quicken the dead vers 21. 2. And it is fit he should do it for his own honour that he may be the more wonderful and admired of all men in all his wayes and works Let it strengthen our faith when in our own judgment we seem to be in a dead condition as feeling in our selves no power of Grace no Life the Spirit of God that quickned us when we were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 both can and will certainly recover us out of that seeming deadnesse of our hearts that sicknesse is but like unto Lazarus his short death only for Gods further glory Ioh. 11.4 And let it encourage us to expect the resurrection of our bodies with holy Job Chap. 19.26 by the power of him that quickeneth the dead Rom. 4.17 whereof the ordinary course of natural effects give evident testimony as the Apostle proves at large 1 Cor. 15. We see besides that God takes further order that these herbs and plants should every one of them have seed in it self by which though they perish daily yet the Kinds of every one of them might be preserved lest the Creatures should in time be utterly destroyed Whence 5. Observe God provides for all his Creatures that though they decay daily yet they shall not wholly perish Observ 5 ALl Creatures that are nourished waste every moment but God hath provided them food by which they are repaired and kept alive and when they dye and perish in their own bodies yet he hath ordained that by propagation they should be renewed in their kinds Psal 104.30 This continual decay and change God hath in his Wisdom decreed 1. To shew his own unchangeable continuance by the mutability of the Creature Heb. 1.11 12. 2. To quicken us to a longing desire after heaven where all things are durable and constant whereas here below they are subject to change every moment He hath likewise decreed the renewing of the face of the Earth Partly to shew himself a faithful Creator And partly to preserve his own works to be monuments of his Goodnesse Wisdom and Power Let Gods example teach us to extend our care to make provision for Posterity not only in our own Children in whom every man desires to continue his name and in furnishing our own store with continual supplyes although God is pleased to make use of such private respects for the preservation of Community but in General to provide for posterity that is to come after that we may leave all things and deliver them over into the hand of succeeding ages in as good estate as we found them since we cannot but acknowledge that God hath as it were put his stock into our hands not to waste and consume it but to manage it discreetly for our own use and necessary preservation and to deliver it over to our Successours for the same end God we see not only provides for the perpetuation of the Creature by successive Propagation but besides that the nature of every Creature might continue the same without change takes order that the Seed of every plant may be according to the kind of the plant that yeelds it Whence 6. Observe Fruits ought to do and certainly Will resemble the Nature of the Stock of which they come Observ 6 EIther Good or Evil according to the Tree or plants on which they grow Matth. 12.33 so that men gather not grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles Matth. 7.16 And this seems to be thus ordered by the Wisdom of God 1. For our sakes that we might more fully and perfectly know the kinds and natures of things which are manifested by the fruits which they produce And 2. for the manifesting of his Truth who desires that every thing should appear as it is seeing He himself is as He appears 1. Let good men then endeavour to shew forth the renewing of their nature by the works of the Spirit and not of the flesh that men may know and approve of them by their fruits and for them glorific God Matth. 5.16 lest they otherwise dishonour God scandalize Religion and corrupt others by their ill examples which men readily take up when they have the countenance of any godly mans failing to cloak the evils of their wayes 2. Let all men abhor all hypocrisie 1. As being in it self unnatural 2. Extreamly dishonourable both to God and to Religion 3. Dangerous to others when they are graves that appear not Luk. 11.44 4. Damnable to our selves seeing we cannot be hid from him that seeth in secret and knowes our thoughts afar off Psal 139.2 or left unpunished by him who being a God of Truth must necessarily pour out his wrath upon all false dissemblers VERSE 14. LEt there be Lights in the Firmament They that conceive that the Sun Moon and Stars were made the First day because otherwise there could have been no distinction of Day and Night as we see there was and thereupon conceive that in these verses there is related only the fixing of them to their places it seems never well considered the letter of the Text.
that it is not so much a quality flowing from the Nature of the Creature as planted in it by the Creator who could as well have continued it without the Sun as he Created it before the Sun Whence 1. Observe The Excellencies of the Creatures are not of themselves but are bestowed on them by Him that made them Observ 5 THe beauty of the flowers Matth. 6.30 the feathers of the Ostritch and Peacock Job 39.13 Strength and Courage of the Horse verse 21 22. and divers others Much more the wisdom of men which God hath put into the inward parts Job 38.36 Most of all their spiritual gifts Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 12.8 11. So that all Creatures are comely or graceful by his beauty as himself speaks of the Church Ezek. 16.14 Reason 1. Because Excellencies and Perfections are Originally in God and therefore wheresoever else they be found they must come by dispensation from him according to his VVill. 2. That the honour of all might return to him alone who bestowes all by which any Creature excels according to his own good pleasure Let all men then acknowledge all their abilities to that God that gives them 1. Seeking all at his hand who bestowes freely Jam. 1.5 2. Enjoying them without Pride or lifting up our selves above others alwayes remembring that we have nothing but what we have received 1 Cor. 4.7 3. Giving thanks alwaies unto Him for his free mercy in bestowing that on us according to his good pleasure which he hath withheld from others Eph. 1.3 4. Job 35.10 11. 4. And using whatsoever we have received to his glory as being his own 1 Cor. 6.20 and bestowed on us that he might be honoured by them lest he take away that which we abuse Matth. 13.12 As he did Nebuchadnezzar's understanding when he was lifted up in the pride of his heart Dan. 4.31 33. What it was that carried the Light about the World before the Sun was made is uncertain only this is evident that when God had created the body of the Sun and made it fit for that use he planted the Light therein and then that other means ceased whatsoever it was So that we may 2. Observe Wheresoever God provides Ordinary Means there he usually takes awry those which are Extraordinary Observ 2 WHen his people had Corn in Canaan then the Mannah from heaven ceased Josh 5.12 And when once they had a King then God forbare to raise them up extraordinary Judges as he had done before Judg. 2.16 The widow of Zarephath's meal and oyl shall multiply and last no longer than till God send rain on the earth 1 King 17.14 And Apostles Miracles and the gift of Tongues and Prophecying are now taken away since the Government and Ministery of the Church is settled in an ordinary course Reason 1. Because God makes nothing in vain and consequently must needs take away that whereof there is no farther use 2. Lest otherwise Ordinary means should be despised if those which were extraordinary should still continue Let no man expect or depend upon Extraordinary Means when God supplies us with those that are Ordinary If we have Moses and the Prophets let us not look for a Messenger from the dead Luke 16.29 Look not for Grace by a Miraculous Influence of the Spirit from heaven when God offers us a supply of it by the Ministery of the Word in an Ordinary way No man expects to be supported fourty dayes without food when he hath in his house sufficient provision of food to sustain him Seeing it is neither Means Ordinary nor Extraordinary that produce the effect but God alone that worketh by and in them or without them at his pleasure doing All in All 1 Cor. 3.7 Who by providing us Ordinary Means not only directs us to the use of them but besides to expect his blessing on them as being his own Ordinances which he never gives us in vain Now though the Sun be wonderfully adorned and made glorious by the Light that is planted in it above all other Creatures that are visible yet we see here that it hath this light given it by God not for it self but for the use and service of the world below and of the Creatures therein Whence 3. Observe The Light which God bestowes upon the Creature he gives for the use of Others as well as for those that Receive it Observ 3 AS he gave Wisdom to Aholiah and Bezaleel but it was to enable them to perform the work about building the Tabernacle a Spirit of Government to the Seventy Elders to rule the people Numb 11.17 and to Solomon to judge the people at all times as he desired it for that end 1 King 3.9 And for the same end he bestowes all graces upon men 1 Cor. 12.9 and abilities upon other Creatures Fruitfulnesse on the ground to furnish men and beasts with food healing properties on herbs and plants and the like Reason 1. That no man might esteem that to be his own wherein other men have an interest as well as himself 2. That the benefit of any good might be doubled to the owner who by employing it to the good of others shall find the benefit received by them put to his account hereafter and considered in his reward Let every man improve that Talent which he hath received for the good of those for whom he hath received it Abilities of body to labour for the good of others as well as for his own Ephes 4.28 Wealth to relieve other mens necessities 2 Cor. 8.13 14. Knowledge to instruct and build them up Col. 3.16 Duties of holinesse to provoke others to imitation by our example 1 Pet. 3.1 2. And all Graces to Admonish Exhort Reprove and Comfort Luke 22.32 2 Cor. 1.4 Heb. 1.13 As 1. Being members one of another by consequence every member of the body may justly challenge an interest in whatsoever any part enjoyes 2. Whatsoever we receive is given to that end that thereby we might be useful and serviceable one to another of our faithfulnesse or failing wherein we must at the last come to account before him that bestowed what we have 3. Our faithful employing what we have received for that end invites God to trust us with more See Matth. 13.12 25.29 It hath been noted that it was not the least of Gods Wonders that these Planets cast their influence upon the Earth at the distance of so many millions of miles so that the wide space between heaven and earth hinders neither their light nor influence upon the Creatures of this lower world Whence 4. Observe No distance can hinder us of the fruits and effects of Gods Care and Providence over us for our good Observ 4 THough Gods Throne be in heaven yet his ey-lids behold the Children of men Psal 11.4 and he looks on things below Psal 113.5 6. And that not with a regardlesse eye but he takes care for them 1 Pet 5 7. Even for bruit beasts 1 Cor. 9.9 and
he can Whence 2 OBSERVE All men by nature are apt to colour and conceal all that they can and that even from God himself Observe 2 NOt only such as are grossely wicked as Cain Gehazi Saul Ananias yea the whole body of Gods people Psal 78.36 even when he trusted them Isa 63.8 10. but even godly men are sometimes apt to slip into the same evil as Sarah doth Gen. 18.15 at least when the fact cannot be denied yet to conceal any circumstances of the evil committed or to colour it over with some faire excuses That which made Moses so unwilling to accept the employment unto which God called him was certainly the feare of his own life upon which he had fled out of Egypt before as appears by this that the Lord for his encouragement after he had accepted the charge to bring up Israel out of Egypt assures him that they were all dead that had sought his life Exod 4.9 This Moses conceales and pretends other excuses as we see The reason is 1. Because all men desire to justifie themselves and are by nature liars Rom. 3.4 and therefore easily fall into that evil to which their nature inclines them 2. The want of the full apprehension of Gods Providence Truth and Majesty emboldens them to take this liberty to halt even with God himself Let no man then trust his own heart in the censure of his own sins as being a partial Judge in his own case and therefore apt to deceive him 1. Through want of the observation of divers circumstances in his actions whereof notwithstanding God takes special notice 2. Through his partial affection towards himselfe which cannot but easily pervert and blinde his judgement in those things that concern himself Adam had first highly offended in breaking Gods Commandment now to colour that evil he falls into a second the concealing and hiding of his sin and for the clearing of himself the casting of an imputation upon God or at least implying as much as if he had been the occasion of his sin Whence 3 OBSERVE One sin commonly drawes on another Observe 3 WHen Sarah had laughed at Gods Promise of giving her a childe she presently colours it with a grosse lie Gen. 18.15 When David had committed adultery with Urijahs wife he labours to cloak it over with a fouler sin the contriving of her husbands death Now these are the infirmities of good men no marvel then if wicked men adde drunkennesse to thirst Deut. 29.19 and draw iniquity with cart-ropes Isa 5.18 Reason 1. Any sin committed weakens the heart and consequently leaves it the more unable to withstand a second assault As a Castle is the more easily taken when the breach is once made 2. And sins are usually fastened one to another like the linkes of a chain so that he who takes hold of one of them necessarily drawes on all the rest As when Jeroboam had set up Altars in Dan and Bethel expresly against Gods Command he was in a sort enforced to take in other Priests then God had allowed 3. And God in justice may punish one sin with another and to that end both withdraw his restraining grace from wicked men that being delivered over to the lust of their own hearts they may run on to all excesse of riot that they may fill up the measure of their sin that Gods wrath may come upon them to the uttermost and many times for a while withholds the power of his sanctifying grace from his own children 1. That they beholding the progresse of sin to be so dangerous may abhor it the more throughly for time to come and avoid it the more carefully 2. That they may be the more sensible of Gods mercy in recovering them out of so dangerous a quick-sand of evil into which otherwise when they were once entred they must of necessity have sunk in farther and farther to their own utter destruction at the last Adam acknowledgeth that it was the voice of God that made him hide himself although he conceals the true ground of that terrour which was indeed the guiltinesse of his own conscience within Whence 4 OBSERVE Gods Word is terrible to a guilty conscience Observe 4 AS it was to Cain Gen. 4.13 14. and to St. Paul Acts 9.6 Not only when it is delivered immediately by himselfe as when he delivered the Law upon Mount Sinai to the children of Israel Exod. 20.18 19. and sent the hand-writing to Belshazzar Dan. 5.6 but when it is delivered by the mouth of his Ministers as Elijahs message from God affrighted Ahab 1 Kings 21.27 and Pauls Sermon made Felix tremble Acts 24.25 and Saint Peters Sermon pricked the hearts of three thousand hearers at once Acts 2.37 and a Sermon makes an unbeliever that comes in casually fall down on his face 1 Cor. 14.25 and howsoever this effect be not wrought alwayes upon wicked men of dead and unsensible hearts who sometimes scoffe at the Word which they heare Jsa 28.14 15. and otherwhiles oppose and desperately reject it Jer. 44.16 nor alwayes in the godly though they usually do and alwayes should tremble at the Word Isa 66.2 who too often heare it with dead hearts when God withholds from them the power of his Spirit through which only it is mighty Notwithstanding at the last day the Power of it shall appear at full when it shall pierce the hearts of the most desperate with unsupportable terrours The reason 1. The very letter of the Word represents unto us both Gods Authority Power and Holinesse and withal our own sinfulnesse which cannot but affect our hearts with terrours and astonishment 1 Cor. 14.25 2. It comes accompanied with the Power of the Spirit by which in Gods children it is mighty to cast down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. for their conversion or farther reformation and to the wicked it is the execution upon them of the judgement that is written Psal 149.8 9. and is as chaines and fetters binding them over to the great and general Assize of the last day Let it move all that are godly to heare that Word with feare and trembling which God expects and delights in Isa 66.2 as having a sense of their own guiltinesse in themselves though by Christ it be taken away submitting where it commandeth stooping where it reproves 2 Chron. 12.6 and trembling where it threatens And withal admiring the goodnesse of God to us who makes that Word which is so terrible to the wicked unto his children the rejoycing of their hearts Psal 119.111 162. the desire and longing of their soules ver 131. the quickening of their spirits ver 50. especially when they consider that there is in them the same guiltinesse by sin which is in the wicked though it be not imputed which only melts and humbles them when it overwhelmes others with terrours Adam could not deny his flight for God took him in the manner but yet we see he conceales what he can and hides the cause of his flight