2. God hath made man fit to learn, he hath given us faculties to this purpose, that we may understand the creatures: Eccles. iii. 11, 'He hath set the world in their heart' The great work ot" Gods Spirit is to pluck the world out of our hearts ; what is the meaning then of it ? He hath not only given us the creature to contemplate, but an ability, jui earnest desire, to search into the secrets of nature, that we may imderstand the voice of the creation. Men are the most considerable, and the m«^)st considering part of the world. The creatures praise God, that is, they ofi:er matter of praise : Ps. cxlv. 10, ' All thy works shall praise thee, 0 Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee ; ' they are as a well-tuned harp, but man maketh the music. We should not be silent, when the creatures proclaim their creator. Man is made to consider all the rest of the creatures, therefore is placed in the middle of the world, that he may look round about him. Man hath reason given him ; and shall man that hath reason make no more use of the stars than the creatures do, only to see by them? Man is to discourse of them. He hath given us a body bored through with five senses to let out thoughts, and to take in objects ; to ta.><te the goodness of God in the creatures, and see divinity in them, and hear the voice by which they proclaim tlie glory of God. A philosopher, being asked, why he had eyes? answered, Ut miracida Dti confemphr. Creatures are mutes, when neglected, and vowels, when we consider them.
3. God hiniseh delights in the view of his own works. God observed every day's work, and said, it was good ; he took a complacency in it : Prov. viii. 30, ' Rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth.' Ps. civ. 31, The Lord rejoiceth in his works : ' God rejoiceth in the view of his own works: therefore there is great reason for us to study and contemplate them.
4. This was Go<l's srreat aim and end in making:: man, that he
394 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. VII.
might have a witness and publisher of his own glor)-. That this was the aim of God, to have his works viewed distinctly, may be discovered by many tilings ; that he did prolong his work for six days, when he might have made all things in one day. And this was the reason why he made man last, that when he was made he might contemplate all the rest of the creatures. Deus te quasi testem, laudatorernque tanti operis nci in Jmnc mundum induxit, Lactantius. When God had made the whole world, there wanted one to be a witness of the work, one to admire the greatness and goodness of it, therefore man is brought into the world for this purpose ; when God's feast was pre- pared, then man was invited to come and taste. TJje first sabbath was appointed for contemplation ; it is the sweetest rest that we can enjoy, to view the works of God. Now consider what an injury and unthank- fulness will this be to God, to cross the aim of the creation, and to pass by such a goodly frame with a careless eye. If a father should build a great house or palace for his son, and he should not so much as deign to look upon it, what an ingratitude would this be ! So when God hath fm-nished his palace with such variety of all creatures, then not to consider and regard the operation of his hands, what an unkind return would this be ! If you should make a sumptuous feast, and your guests will not so much as look upon your table, you would count this a great aifront; so this is a great affront to the divine majesty, not to look upon his works, since the beauty and order of the creation is a feast for the mind. The world is not only the house of man, but the temple of God, Many came to see Solomon's temple from afar. and many go to Jerusalem to see the temple of the sepulchre ; you need not go so far. When the ethnics slandered the primitive christians, that they had no temple, they answered, Dei templum esse iiniversuni hoc quod cerniiur — this world that we behold is God's temple.
5. The creatures signify nothing to us, if we do not consider them ; without meditation we receive no good: Ps. cxlv. 10, 'All thy works praise thee.' The creatures are as a well-tuned instrument, but it is man that must make the music. The creatures, if they be not regarded, are but mutes, they make no sound. There we read the beauty, wisdom, and majesty of God : Job xii. 7, ' Ask now of the beasts, and they shall teach thee ; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.' Ask the creatures questions. Though the creatures have neither voice nor ears, yet we may consult and confer with them ; when we think of them, they answer and resolve the questions put to them, though not to the ear, yet to the conscience. Ask the creatures, Is there a God ? they answer. Yea. What kind of God is he ? they will answer, A wise, powerful, and good God. By meditation we may easily make out these collections. It is great unthankfulness, that the creatures should proclaim the glory of God to no pin-))ose ; that we should be silent Avhen the creatures speak. Chiist said, the stones would cry if these should hold their peace. Shall the heavens declare the works of God, and shall man regard them not ? Shall we be deaf, when the creatures don't cease to cry to us.