innumerable Company of them too, as I have fhewn the Heavens do contain? What Mathematician could fo exactly adjust their Distances? What Mechanick fo nicely adapt their Motions, fo well contrive their Figures, as in the very beft manner may servè to their own Confervation and Benefit, and the Convenience of the other Globes alfo? What Naturalift, what Philofopher, could impregnate every Globe, with a Thing of that abfolute Neceffity to its Confervation, as that of Gravity is? What Optician, what Chymift, could ever have hit upon fuch a noble Apparatus for Light and Heat, as the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars are? could amass together fuch a Pile of Fire as the Sun is? could appoint fuch Lights as the Moon and other Secondaries are? None certainly could do these things but GOD. CHA P. III. of GOD's Relation to us, and the Duties refulting from thence. I T appearing, from the last Chapter, how great a Being the CRÊ ATOR is, it is time to confider what Relation he ftands in to us, and what is due from us to him. His Relation to us is that of CREATOR; and as fuch, of Confervator, Sovereign LORD, and Ruler, one that hath an abfolute Power over us, and all Things belonging to us, that can fubject us to what Laws he fees fit, and that can reward or punish us as we deserve.. And in this Cafe, the leaft we can do, is to revere and fear him at all Times, to worship and Serve Serve him with all our Power, to comply with his holy Will fincerely and heartily, and to obey him in all things he hath either forbidden, or enjoined. And confidering also how great Indulgence and Love the CREATOR hath fhewed in his Works throughout the Universe, it naturally follows that we ought to be truly thankful to him for his Mercy and Kindness, and to love him for his Love and Goodnefs. Thefe Kind of Conclufions are fo natural, that the very Heathens have in fome measure made them. Thus Cicero's Stoick before cited, (a) Quid verò? hominum Ratio non, &c. What? doth not Man's Reason penetrate as far as even the very Heavens? For we alone of all Animals have known the Rifings, Settings, and CourJes of the Stars: By Mankind it is (a) De Nat. Deor. 1. 2. c. 61. that that the Day, the Month and Year, is determined; that the Eclipfes of the Sun and Moon are known, and foretold to all Futurity; of which Luminary they are, how great they will be, and when they are to happen. Which thing the Mind contemplating, it receives from hence (b) the Knowledge of the Gods: From whence arifes Piety; to which is joined Justice, and the other Virtues; from which Springs that bleffed Life, which is equal unto, and like that of the Gods themselves, and in no refpect yielding to those Cœleftials, except in Immortality, which is not necessary to happy Living. And in his Book De Legibus, (c) Cicero brings in his Collocutor faying, Sit igitur hoc à principio perfuafum, &c. i. e. Let this be what every Mem (b) Some read it instead of Accipit ad Cognitionem Deorum; Accipit ab his Cognitionem Deo rum. (c) Lib. 2. c. 7. ber ber of the Commonwealth is fully convinced of from the Beginning, That the Gods are Lords and Governors of all things; that whatsoever things are done, they are managed by their Influence, Rule, and Divinity; that they merit a great deal of Mankind; and obferve what every one is, what he doth, what he admits into his Mind; with what Mind, what Piety be cultivates Religion; and that they take an Account both of the Righteous and Wicked. For, faith he, Minds that are endued with thefe Principles, will fcarce ever depart from that Opinion that is ufeful and true. And a little af ter, (d) one of the Laws arifing from hence he faith is, Let Men approach the Gods with Purity, let them practife Piety; for he that doth otherwife, God himself will be the Avenger of. This Purity and Sincerity is fo necef (d) Cap. 8. fary |