Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	church_n	militant_a	triumphant_a	2,228	5	11.7299	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80790	The doctrine of faith. Or, The prime and principall points which a Christian is to know and believe. Handled in sundry sermons upon texts of scripture selected and chosen for the purpose. Wherein the method of the creed, (commonly called the Apostles Creed) is observed; and the articles thereof are confirmed, explained and applied, for the instructing of the ignorant, and the establishing of all in the truth. / By Christopher Cartwright, Minister of the Word at York.	Cartwright, Christopher, 1602-1658.	1650 (1650)	Wing C687; Thomason E1231_1; ESTC R14778	283,812	488

Church but so far as I see the Scripture speaks of the Church as consisting of men only and not of Angells The Angells are called Elect 1 Tim. 3. 21. but they are never said to be called which the Originall word for Church doth properly import The Angells I speak of the good Angells never were in any other estate then now they are in though now they be more confirmed in that estate then they were at first as appears by the fall of the evill Angells who kept not their first estate Jude v. 6. They never were in any estate of sin and misery out of which they should be called And for the Angels that sinned God spared not them as S. Peter tells us 2 Pet. 2. 4. Again the Angells are clearly distinguished from the Church Eph. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalites and powers in heavenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold wisdom of God But further the Church thus taken for such a Of the Church militant and the Church triumphant company of persons is divers wayes distinguished 1. There is the Church militant and the Church triumphant The Church militant is that company which is here upon earth in warfare warring with Satan the world and the flesh The Church triumphant is that company which having vanquished and overcome those adversaries doth reign and triumph in heaven This distinction is grounded upon the words of the Apostle I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole Family in heaven and earth is named Eph. 3. 14 15. And in other places sometimes the Church militant sometimes the Church triumphant is hinted Fight the good fight of faith said Paul to Timothy being a member of the Church militant 1 Tim. 6. 12. I have fought a good fight said he when he was about to passe from the Church militant to the Church triumphant 2 Tim 4. 7. So it is the Church triumphant that S. John speaks of saying After this I beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palmes in their hands viz. in token of the victory that they had atchieved Rev. 7. 9. But the Church militant is that which usually is spoken of in the Scriptures God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with mine understanding that by my voice I might teach others also then ten thousand words in an unknown tongue 1 Cor. 14. 19. And so in many other places And the Church as here upon earth consists partly of such as are indeed of it partly of such as onely in shew and profession belong unto it For all are not Israel that are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. that is all are not indeed the people of God who professe themselves to be of that number No some call themselves Jewes that is Gods people yet are not but are the synagogue of Satan Rev. 2. 9. Onely true believers are indeed of the Church For if any one have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Rom. 8. 9. Prophane persons and hypocrites are rather in the Church then of the Church like woodden leggs that are outwardly joyned to the body yet are indeed no parts of the body They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 1 Joh. 2. 19. So speaks S. John of some Apostates and back-sliders shewing that then when they professed themselves to be of the Church yet indeed they were not of it And hence is another distinction of the Church into the Church visible and the Church invisible Of the Church visible and the Church invisible The visible Church is a visible company of people professing the Gospell whether they do it in truth and sincerity or no it doth consist of good and bad of elect and reprobate It is compared to a ●et that was cast into the Sea and gathered of every kind c. Mat. 13. 47. c. And to a field wherein were both wheat and tares Mat. 13. 24. c. And to a great house wherein are vessells of severall sorts some to honor and some to dishonor 2 Tim. 2. 20. The invisible Church consists only of such as are elect and are indeed that which they professe themselves to be like Nathanael Israelites indeed in whom is no guile Joh. 1. 47. The Church in this respect is called invisible because it is not visible to the eyes of men they can see the profession but whether it be sincere and proceed from the heart or no they cannot see For God only knowes the hearts of all the children of men 1 King 8. 39. And so he only knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Of a particular Church and the Church universall 3. The Church is distinguished into particular and universall A particular Church is a company professing the faith in some particular place Thus we read of the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1. 4. that is of Churches that were in seven Cities of Asia as it followes there v. 11. So we read of the Church that was at Antioch Acts 13. 1. the Church which was at Jerusalem Acts 8. 1. Yea we read of Churches in particular houses as in the house of Aquila and Priscilla Rom. 16. 5. in the house of Nymphas Col. 4. 15. in the house of Philemon Philem. v. 2. The universall Church This is the universall Church as upon earth otherwise the universall Church comprehends both the Saints on earth and the Saints in heaven is the whole company of believers throughout the world The Apostle having spoken first of a particular Church Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth c. presently after he speaks of universall Church with all that in every place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ c. 1 Cor. 1. 2. The universall Church is that which is mentioned in the Creed and is called the Catholike Church for Catholike is as much as generall or universall The Church of Rome most absurdly will be the Catholike Church Roman Catholike is frequent in the mouths of Papists but this is over-grosse Catholike importing the whole and Roman but a part The Church of Rome was once indeed an eminent part yet but a part of the Catholike Ribera ● Iesuite is forced to confesse that by Babylon is meant Rome or universall Church Rom. 1. But now it is so degenerate and corrupt that it is termed Babylon Rev. 17. and the people of God are required to come out of it Rev. 18. 4. In the Creed the Church is stiled holy and so it is They that are indeed of the Church are indeed holy Ye are washed ye are sanctified

my Prophets no harm Psal 105. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. The Church hath been much and often persecuted by her adversaries yet it hath been preserved maugre all their malice fury against it they were not able to destroy it Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say many time have they afflicted me from my youth but they have not prevailed against me the plowers plowed upon my back made long their furrows The Lord is righteous he hath cut asunder the coards of the wicked Psal 129. 1 2 3 4. Pharoah and the Egyptians did wickedly conspire against the people of God and did cruelly oppresse them yet could they not prevail against them The Church was but as that bush that Moses saw all on fire yet not consumed Exod. 3. 3. God was in the bush he was in his Church he preserved it and with a strong hand and an out-stretched arm he did deliver it Afterward the people of God were many a time grievously afflicted in Canaan by Moabites Ammonites Philistines and others yet stil God did raise them up one or other to deliver them as is recorded in the book of Judges I will only cite one place to this purpose viz. that Judg. 2. 14 15 16. And the anger of the Lord waxed hot against Israel because of their sins mentioned in the verses immediately going before and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about so that they could no longer stand before their enemies Whithersoever 〈…〉 went out the hand of the Lord was against the 〈…〉 r evill as the Lord had said and as the Lord had sworn unto them and they were greatly distressed Neverthelesse the Lord raised up Iudges which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them After the time of the Judges when in the daies of Eliah the Saints and servants of God were so persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel that Eliah thought they were all destroyed and none left besides himself God let him know that it was otherwise then he supposed Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him 1 King 19. 18. After this also when the ten Tribes were carried away captive into Assyria as is related 2 King 17. besides many particular persons that remained of those Tribes there remained still the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin It s said indeed 2 King 17. 18. There was none left but the Tribe of Judah only but Benjamin is comprehended in Iudah So it 's said 1 King 12. 20. that when the Kingdom was divided in the reign of Rehoboam There was none that followed the house of David but the Tribe of Iudah only Yet 2 Chron. 11. 1. it 's said that Rehoboam gathered of the house of Iudah and Benjamin a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men c. And v. 12. that he had Judah and Benjamin on his side After this again when Judah and Benjamin were carried away into Babylon yet besides that some still remained in the Land Ier. 40. 6. God caused the rest to return after seventy years 2 Chron. 36. 22 23. Ezr. 1. 1. c. After all this when that misery came upon Jerusalem which our Saviour f 〈…〉 ●ld Luk. 19. 41. c. besides that God did re 〈…〉 e unto himself some among the Jews a remnant according to the Election of grace as the Apostle calls them Rom. 11. 5. God in stead of the Jews that were rejected took in the Gentiles so that the Church was so far from being destroyed that it was exceedingly amplified and inlarged The fall of the Jews was the riches of the world and the dimihishing of them the riches of the Gentiles as the Apostle saies Rom. 11. 12. Thus far the history of the Scripture doth lead us and Ecclesiasticall history yet further tells us that the Christian Church was under fierce and fiery persecution for a matter of 300. years after Christ but though infinite numbers were slain yet still many remained yea their Sanguis martyrum semen Ecclesiae Semen est sanguis Christianorum Tertul. Apolog. very sufferings were a means to make them increase and multiply the more As it is said of the Israelites in Egypt that the more they were afflicted the more they multiplied and grew Exod. 1. 12 So was it with the Christians in those primitive times whence arose that saying The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church Thus likewise in after ages Antichrist under a pretence of being Christs vicar and head of the Church making great havock in the Church yet was never able to destroy it but it hath subsisted still and continued unto this day and so will continue as long as the world continues yea when the world is destroyed yet the Church shall continue still even for ever and ever Come out of her my people saith the Lord speaking of mysticall and Antichristian Babylon Revel 18. 4. Which shews that God would have a people even in Babylon even under the tyranny of Antichrist and would in his good time bring them out of Babylon from under Antichristian tyranny as he hath in these last ages done in great measure and will at length do in full measure as the Book of the Revelation sufficiently testifieth The reasons why the Church cannot so be prevailed Reasons why no adverse power can prevaile against the Church to destroy it against as to be destroyed are reducible to these two heads God is able to preserve the Church and he will preserve it 1. God is able to preserve the Church the Apostle argueth from Gods power and thence proveth the stability of a particular member of the Church though a weak member Yea he shal be holden up for God is able to make him stand So our Saviour from hence likewise sheweth the certainty of the perseverance salvation of the whole Church and all the members of it My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them eternall life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater then all and and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one Joh. 10. 27 28 29 30. 2. God will preserve his Church and that in divers respects 1. In respect of the relation that is betwixt him and the Church It is his Church So Christ who is God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. calls it in the Text my Church and 1 Tim. 3. 15. it is called the Church of the living God In the same place it is called the house of God And Psal 48. 8. and in other places the City of God It is his Spouse Cant. 4. 9 10 11. his Body 1 Cor. 12.

27. Ephes 1. 23. The Church having such near relation unto God he will assuredly look to it and preserve it 2. In respect of his decree and purpose in predestinating and electing the Church The Apostle having spoken of some whose faith was overthrown adds Neverthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure the Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 20. Many are called but few are chosen Mat. 22. 12. But they that are chosen are sure to be saved Fear not little flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit ye the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25. 34. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called viz. according to his purpose v. 28. and whom he called viz. in that manner them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8. 30. 3. In respect of the price that he hath purchased his Church with Take heed c. to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act. 20. 28. He that hath paid so dear for a thing as God hath for the Church will not loose it if he can keep it 4. In respect of the Seal that he hath set upon his Church and the earnest which he hath given unto it even his holy Spirit Men seal things which they would have preserved and kept safe and by giving earnest they make a bargain So God hath sealed his Church by his spirit and hath given it the earnest of his spirit Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts 2 Cor. 12. 22. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance c. Ephes 1. 13 14. And grieve not the Holy spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. 5. In respect of the great affection that he bears towards the Church Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest to thy people O visit me with thy salvation Psal 106. 4. That intimates that God doth bear a singular favour to his people and so will visit them with his salvation His soul was grieved for the miseries of Israel Judg. 10. 16. In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angell of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them c. Isai 63. 9. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye Zach. 2. 8. These expressions are used to shew how dear Gods Church is unto him 6. In respect of his Covenant which he hath made with his Church and by which he hath ingaged himself unto it I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16. 8. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine viz. by Covenant and what then When thou passest thorough the waters I will be with thee and thorough the rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walk●st thorough the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the Holy one of Israel thy Saviour Isai 43. 1 2 3. The people of God being in distresse cry unto him and plead with him thus Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give the praise for thy mercy and thy truths sake Psal 115. 1. Gods mercy moved him to make the Covenant both his mercy and his truth will move him to keep the Covenant He will ever be mindfull of his Covenant Psal 111. 5. My Covenant will I not break c. Psal 89. 34. Therefore also Jeremy in a time of calamity and misery prayed unto God saying Remember break not thy Covenant with us Jer. 14. 21. 7. In respect of his glory which is concerned in the preservation of his Church and in the establishment of it This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Isai 43. 21. So v. 7. I have created him for my glory c. The most of the world dishonour God and blaspheme his Name but God hath and will have a people that shall honour him and give him the glory due unto his Name It 's said Psal 22. 3. That God inhabits the praises of Israel And both to provoke his people the more to praise him and also that his enemies may have lesse occasion to blaspheme though he afflict his people and suffer their enemies a while to tyrannize over them yet his eye is still upon them he hath a care of them and in due time will deliver them For my Names sake will I defer mine anger and for my praise will I refrain for thee that I cut thee not off Isai 48. 9. And v. 11. For mine own sake even for mine own sake will I do it for how should my name be polluted viz. if his Church should be destroyed and I will not give my glory unto another See also Ezek. 36. 20 21 23. Therefore the people of God make use of this as a most strong argument whereby to prevaile with God Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy Name and deliver us and purge away our sins for thy Names sake Wherefore should the Heathen say where is now their God Let him be known among the Heathen in our sight c. Psal 79. 9 10. And v. 13. So we thy people and sheep of thy Pasture will give thee thanks for ever we will shew forth thy praise to all generations So Jer. 14. 7. O Lord though our iniquities testifie against us do it for thy Names sake And v. 21. Do not abhor us for thy Names sake Vse 1. This then serves to convince the adversaries and opposers of Gods Church and people it serves to let them see how vain their enterprize and attempt is in so setting themselves against the Church and people of God as they do Come say they let us cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance Psal 83. 4. But they do but imagine a vain thing Psal 2. 1. a thing that they are never able to effect He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn the most High shal have them in derision Psal 2. 4. If they be able to do any thing against the Church it is but as they are the rod of Gods anger as he calls the Assyrian Isai 10. 5. as the instruments that he doth make use of for the correcting of his people They mean not so neither doth their heart think so but it is in their heart to destroy and to cut off c. Isai 10. 7. But shal the axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or shal the saw magnifie it selfe against him

incouraged himselfe in him so Jehoshaphat Art not tho● our God 2 Chron. 20. 7. And again O our God wilt thou not judge them v. 12. Hence it was that Balaam with all his inchantments and divinations could do the people of Israel no hurt The Almighty God was the God of that people The Lord his God is with him said Balaam Num. 23. 21. And therefore surely there is no inchantment against Jacob nor any divination against Israel v. 23. Now if we would have interest Gen. 17. 7. in God we must have interest in Christ I will be a God to thee this is Gods Covenant and it is fulfilled in Christ In whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. they that are without Christ are also without God Eph. 2. 12. There is no Mediator betwixt God and Man but Christ 1 Tim. 2. 5. No man cometh unto the Father but by me saith Christ Joh. 14 6. And as by Christ we must have interest in God so by faith we must have interest in Christ Faith is that whereby we receive Christ Joh. 1. 12. whereby Christ doth dwell in us Eph 3. 17. Vse 3. Thirdly Let this make us to fly unto God in all our necessities and in our greatest dangers and distresses to trust in him Our condition cannot be so dismall nor so deplorable but he is able to deliver us He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we can either aske or thinke Eph. 3. 20. Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands said Nebuchadnezzar to the three Nobles but our God said they whom we serve is able to deliver us c. Dan. 3. 15. 17. Though there be never so many against us yet if God be with us there are more with us then with those that are against us as Elisha told his servant 2 King 6. 16. and so Ezekiah in like manner comforted and incouraged the people 2 Chron. 32. 7. Hereupon the Saints and Servants of God triumph saying God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Though the waters thereof roare c. The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Iacob is our refuge Psal 46. 1 2 3 7. What time I am afraid saith David I will trust in thee In God I will praise his Word in God I have put my trust I will not feare what flesh can do unto me Psal 56. 3 4. And again In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me v. 11. So the Apostle saith We may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not feare what man shall do unto me Heb. 13. 5. If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8. Ne existimemus plus ad impugnandum posse humana conamina quàm ad protegendum valet divina tutela 31. that is so against us as to prevail against us Let us not thinke as Cyprian saith excellently that man can be more able to hurt then God is able to defend Vse 4. Finally this consideration of Gods omnipotency should make us to feare him and not to dare to provoke him as we use to do but to study to please him and to approve our selves before him We labour that whether present or absent whether alive or dead we may be accepted of him saith S. Paul 2 Cor. 5. 9. And great reason why we should all so labour God being Almighty and therefore able abundantly both to reward those that obey him and also to avenge himselfe on those that rebell against him Wherefore camest thou not unto me Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour said Balak to Balaam because he made him send the second time before he came unto him Num. 22. 37. How much more may God thus expostulate with us when we are slow and negligent to do what he requires For this reason did God tells Abraham that he is the Almighty God that so he might be the more incited to obey him knowing that he should lose nothing by his labour but that his reward should be exceeding great as God told him Gen. 15. 1 And as God is able to blesse those that fear him so is he to curse those that despise him Do we provoke the 1 Cor. 10. 22. Lord to jealousie saith the Apostle are we stronger then he Indeed if we were stronger then God we might be the more bold to provoke him but he being stronger infinitely stronger then we it is madnesse for us to provoke him Can thy heart indure and can thy hands be strong when I shall have to do with thee saith God Ezek. 22. 14. Thou even thou art to be feared saith David unto God for who may stand when once thou art angry Psal 76. 7. Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fiercenesse of his anger his fury is powred out like fire and the Rocks are throwne down by him Nah. 1. 6. Let us therefore fear the Lord and walk humbly with him even in all holinesse and obedience before him that so his Almighty power may be for us and not against us to our comfort and salvation not to our terror and destruction THE SIXTH SERMON HEB. 3. 4. He that built all things is God THe Apostle speaking of Christ and setting forth his excellency compares him with Moses who was of great account with the Jews to whom the Apostle wrote Who was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all Gods house v. 2. But least any should conceive an equality betwixt Christ and Moses he goes on and shewes the excellency of Christ above Moses For this man was counted worthy of more glory then Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honor then the house v. 3. Moses was but a part of the house viz. the Church but Christ the builder of the house and so the Lord and Master of it whenas Moses though he had a great place in it yet was but a servant v. 5. 6. Now having thus occasionally mentioned house and building he inserts as by way of Parenthesis these words For every house is builded by some man but he that built all things is God That built That is made as Gen. 2. 22. And the rib c. made he woman In the Originall it is built and that which 2 Sam. 7. 11. is He will make thee an house is 1 Chron. 17. 10. will build thee an house All things Calvin liketh rather to limit this to all things belonging to the Church the house of God mentioned both before and after yet he confesseth that it may be extended to the whole Creation This sense seems most agreeable to the words that as every house hath some man or other by whom it is

built so the great house of the world that comprehends all things in it had God for the builder or maker of it Hence then the conclusion is this That God is Doct. he who made all things In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth saith Moses Gen. 1. 1. And then he shews distinctly how all the severall kinds of creatures were made of God So Neh. 9. 6. Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made Heaven the Heaven of Heavens with all their host the Earth and all things that are therein the Seas and all that is therein And Revel 4. 11. Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Moses writing of the Creation makes no expresse mention of the Angels It seems that his purpose was onely to expresse the Creation of things visible yet they may be implicitly mentioned in the word Heaven thereby being meant all things in heaven all the host of heaven as it is expressed Gen. 2. 1. Neh. 9. 6. Now by the host of heaven are meant both the Sun Moon and Stars Deut. 4. 19. and also the Angels 1 King 22. 19. Howsoever though it be not so cleare when the Angels were created yet the Scripture is expresse for this that they were created and that they also as all other things are Gods creatures Praise ye him all his Angells Let them praise the Name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created Psa 148. 2. 5. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers c. Col. 1. 16. The light of naturall reason is sufficient to demonstrate that God made the world the heaven and earth and all things therein for whatsoever is must either be of it self or be made by some other if it be of it self then it is God for only God is of himself if it be made by some Quòd Deus mundum fecerit nulli tutius crededimus quàm ipsi Deo Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 11. c. 4. Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa other then either by God immediately or by that which was made by God so that either immediately or mediately all things are of him But as Austine saith that God made the world we do not more safely believe any then God himself His testimony is above all other arguments and ratiocinations whatsoever Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God Heb. 11. 3. The work of the Creation is common to all the three Persons To the Father To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. to the Son All things were made by him Joh. 1. 3. By him were all things created c. Col. 1. 16. to the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God hath made me Job 33. 4. Vse 1. Hence let us see and consider the excellency of God and so give him the glory due unto him God is excellent Psal 8. 1. and because of his excellency he is to be glorified Psal 148. 13. Now Gods excellency appears by the creation of the world the world is a glasse wherein to behold Gods excellency His eternall power and Mundus est speculum Deitatis Godhead are clearly seen from the creation of the world being understood by the things that are made Rom. 1. 20. The heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19. 1. His glory is above the earth and Pulchra terra pulchrum coelum sed pulchrior ille qui fecit illa heaven Psal 148. 13. Whatsoever excellency is in any thing is from God and consequently much more in God and therefore the glory of all must be given unto God For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. 36. Blessed be thy glorious Name which is exalted above all blessing and above all praise Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made heaven c. Neh. 9. 5 6. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for thou hast created all things c. Revel 4. 11. More particularly by the Creation of the world we may see 1. The excellency of Gods power that could make all things of nothing Philosophy tells us that nothing is made of nothing It is true in respect Ex nihilo nihil fit of naturall agents they must have some matter to work upon else they can do nothing But Divinity tells us that all things were made of nothing that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Heb. 11. 3. This is most true in respect of God a supernaturall agent By this God shewes himself to be God doing that which none can do but he One saith excellently If any besides One shall say I am God he must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew us such a world as this is and say this is mine of my making The Lord saith David is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the Nations are Idols but the Lord made the Heavens Psa 96. 4 5. The gods saith Jeremie that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from under these Heavens He hath made the earth by his power Jer. 10. 11 12. 2. The excellency of Gods wisdome who could make such an infinite variety of creatures and not the least or meanest of them but to have its use and office in the universe He hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out Deus cum sit bonum nullo indigens bono non nisi ex benigno honitatis suae affectu mundum creavit Aug. Confess the heavens by his discretion Jer. 10. 12. 51. 15. O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdome hast thou made them all Psal 104. 24. 3. The excellency of Gods goodnesse Thou art good and doest good saith David unto God Psal 119. 68. This was it that moved him to make the world not that he had any need of the creatures for from all eternity he was most blessed and happy in himself but that he might communicate his goodnesse to the creatures The earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord saith David Psal 33. 5. And again The earth is full of thy riches so is this great and wide Sea c. Psal 104. 24 25. Moses saith of the severall things that God made God saw that it was good and of them all collectively that they were very good hereby intimating unto us as Austine observes that there was no Scriptura per omnia Dei opera subjungens Et vidit Deus quia bonum est completisque omnibus inferens Et vidit Deus omnia quae secit ecce bona valdè nullam aliam causam faciendi mundi intelligi voluit nisi ut bona fierent à