воок XI.

PRACTICAL INFERENCES FROM THE FORE GOING SURVEY.

HAVING, in the preceding books, carried

my furvey as far as I care at present to engage myself, all that remaineth, is to draw fome inferences from the foregoing scene of the great Creator's works, and fo conclude this part of my intended work.

СНАР.

CHAP. I.

THAT GOD'S WORKS ARE GREAT AND EXCELLENT.

TH

HE firft inference I fhall make, fhall be by way of confirmation of the text, that the • works of the Lord are great 9.' And this is neceffary to be obferved, not against the atheist only, but all other carelefs, incurious obfervers of God's works. Many of our ufeful labours, and fome of our best modern books, fhall be condemned with only this note of reproach, that they are about trivial matters, when in truth they

Equidem ne laudare quidem fatis pro merito poffum ejus ⚫ fapientiam ac potentiam, qui animalia fabricatus eft. Nam ejuf⚫ modi opera non laudibus modo, verum etiam hymnis funt majora, quæ priufquam infpexiffemus, fieri non poffe perfuafum habeamus, confpicati vero, falfos nos opinione fuifle comperimus.'

de ufu Part 1. 7. c. 15.

Galen.

Num tamen pigere debet lectores, ea intelligere, quem

• admodum ne naturam quidem piguit ea reipfa efficere?' Galen. ibid. 1. 11. fin.

they are ingenious and noble difcoveries of the works of God. And how often will many own the world in general to be a manifeftation of the infinite Creator, but look upon the feveral parts thereof as only toys and trifles, fcarce deferving their regard! But in the foregoing, I may call it, tranfient view I have given of this lower, and moft flighted part of the creation, I have, I hope, abundantly made out, that all the works of the Lord, from the moft regarded, admired, and praifed, to the meanest and most flighted, are great and glorious works, incomparably contrived, and as admirably made, fitted up, and placed in the world. So far then are any of the works of the Lord, even thofe efteemed the meaneft, from deferving to be difregarded, or contemned by us, that on the contrary, they deserve, as fhall be fhewn in the next chapter, to be fought out, enquired after, and curiously and diligently pried into by us; as I have fhewed the word in the text implies.

An igitur etiamfi quem admodum natura hæc, et ejufmodi, fumma ratione ac providentia agere potuit, ita et nos imitari aliquando poffemus? Ego vero exiftimo multis noftrum ne id quidem poffe, neque enim artem naturæ exponunt: eo enim modo omnino eam admirarentur, fin minus eam faltem non vituperarent.' Galen. ibid. 1. 10. c. 3.

CHAP.

CHA P. II.

THAT GOD'S WORKS OUGHT TO BE ENQUIRED

INTO, AND THAT SUCH ENQUIRIES ARE COM

MENDABLE.

HE Creator doubtlefs did not beftow fo

THE

much curiofity and exquifite workmanship and skill upon his creatures, to be looked upon with a carelefs, incurious eye, especially to have them flighted or contemned; but to be admired by the rational part of the world, to magnify his own power, wisdom, and goodness, throughout all the world, and the ages thereof. And therefore we may look upon it as a great error, not to answer thofe ends of the infinite Creator, but rather to oppofe and affront them. On the contrary, my text commends God's works, not only for being great, but also approves of thofe curious and ingenious enquirers, K 3

that

that seek them out, or pry into them. And the more we pry into, and difcover of them, the greater and more glorious we find them to be, the more worthy of, and the more exprefly to proclaim their great Creator.

COMMENDABLE then are the researches, which many amongst us have, of late years, made into the works of nature, more than hath been done in fome ages before. And therefore when we are asked, Cui bono? To what purpofe fuch inquiries, fuch pains, fuch expence? The anfwer is eafy, It is to answer the ends for which God bestowed so much art, wisdom, and power about them, as well as given us fenfes to view and furvey them; an understanding and curioûty to search into them: it is to follow and trace them, when and whither he leads us, that we may fee and admire his handy-work ourselves, and fet it forth to others, that they may fee, admire, and praife it alfo. I fhall then conclude this inference with what Elihu recommends, Job xxxvi. 24, 25. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may fee it, men may behold it afar off."

CHAP.