Use. It serveth to quicken us to think of the creation. But oh, bow backward, cold and sluggish are we in this work! either we use the creatures as beasts, without thankfulness, and looking up to the
392 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. VII.
creator ; or else, as philosophers, there is more curiosity than profit ia our researches : but I observe christians are coldly affected with such an ar<?ument. The causes are these —
1. We have an higher light. Sense in beasts is more acute, so reason in heathens, because it is their only light. But this should not be, we should not slight the works of God, because of a higher revela- tion. Wlien a man is able to read, he should not lay aside the use of letters. The creation is a good primer for us to spell in, though not so good as the grammar of the scriptures. When we have a free use of reason, we find a good help in books ; in youth, because we have no experi- ence, we ;vre more ])rone to thoughts of atheism ; therefore, says Solomon, Eccles. xii. 1, ' Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth." But excellent arguments for conviction may be drawn hence, when we have higher knowledge.
2. Because these objects are familiar and frequent. Homini ingen- itum est magis nova, quani magna vii'rari. This is the wretched disposition of man, to admire things that are new, rather than things that are great. We give money to see strange beasts ; you may think with yourselves, when you see people pressing to see a new sight, there is a greater miracle every day ; Ave are injurious to God, when we do not glorify him in his creatures, when we do carelessly pass by such goodly works.
3. This proceeds from laziness. It is easier to read a chapter in the word, than the book of the creatures, the act is more outward and corporeal, the other putteth us to the pains and trouble of discourse : there is no duty so spiritual as meditation, therefore we withdraw the shoulder. Though this was pleasant to David, Ps. civ. 34, ' My medi- tation of him shall be sweet ; I will be glad in the Lord.'
4. From worldliness. Our heads and hearts are so taken up about our own work, that we have little leisure to mind God's ; like a company of ants, we crawl up and down, and do not regard the great things about us.
Here I shall— (1.) Lay down motives to quicken us to this necessary work of reflecting upon the creation of the world, that was made by the power of God out of nothing. (2.) Oiler directions how to reflect upon the creature with comfort and profit.
^irst, for the motives.
1. The creatures are apt to teach us. All the creatures of God, they have a voice, and read a lecture to us of the glory of the divinity. The first bible was the book of nature ; God spake to the world, not by words, but by things, and taught men by what he had written of his glory upon the creation. As many creatures as there are, so many letters there are, out of which we may spell God ; the book is written within with glorious angels, and without with corporeal substances that discover the glory of God ; it may teach us unspeakable wisdoin, unmeasurable goodness, infinite ])owei'. The world is a book, God's power was the hand with which it was written, and his wisdom was the pen, and the letters are the creatures ; some are lesser letters, some greater, but out of the whole there is a volume of praise to the creator. Nay, the world is not only a book, but a teacher ; not only a dead letter, but a living voice : Ps. xix. 1, ' The heavens declare the glory
\lR, 3.] SERilONS UPON IJEBUEWS XI. 393
of Grod, and the firmament showeth his haudy work/ Lesser creatures have a voice to proclaim the excellency of their creator. An ant and a gnat may take the pulpit, and preach a God to us. ' Their line is gone out into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world/ saith the psalmist, ver. 4. We should so hearken to the creature, as if we did hear God himself speak to us ; ' and day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge,' ver. 2. Other preachers are soon spent and tired, but the creatures are constant preachers, always calling upon us night and day to mind God ; and, ver. 3, ' There is no speech nor language, where their voice is nc* heard.' Though the languages of all nations scattered over the world be very ditierent, yet there is one book may be read in every country : the heavens speak Greek to the Grecians : they speak English to us-; so many creatm-es, so many preachers there are of God's wisdom, power, and goodness. Xay, tlie creature that seems most gross, the dull earth, the heaviest and grossest element, and the mute fishes, proclaim God : Job xii, 8, ' Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.' Though the fishes have no sound, cannot make so much as a rude noise, though they have no voice, yet they are able to preach God unto us, and teach us, that there is a sovereign providence by which all things are guided and governed.