The common principiles of Christian religion clearly proved and singularly improved, or, A practical catechism wherein some of the most concerning-foundations of our faith are solidely laid down, and that doctrine, which is according to godliness, sweetly, yet pungently pressed home and most satisfyingly handled / by that worthy and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Hew Binning ...

Heb. 11. 3. & Heb. 1. 14.

Are they not all ministring Spirits, sent forth to minister, &c.

THere is nothing more generally known than this, that God at the beginning made the hea∣ven

and the earth, and all the hosts of them, the upper or the celestiall, the lower or sublunary World, but yet there is nothing so little believed or laid to heart: By faith we understand that the Worlds were made. It is one of the first Articles of the Creed indeed, Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, but I fear that Creed is not written in the Tables of flesh, that is, the heart: There is a twofold mistake among men a∣bout the point of believing; some, and the commoner sort, do think it is no other than simply to know such a thing, and not to question it, to hear it, & not to con∣tradict it, or object against it: Therefore they do flatter themselves in their own eyes, and do account themselves to have faith in God; because they can say over all the Articles of their belief, they think the Word is true, and they never doubted of it: But, I beseech you, consider how greatly you mistake a main matter of weighty concernment? If you will search it, as before the Lord, you will find you have no other belief of these things than children use to have, whom you teach to think or say any thing; there is no other ground of your not questioning these truths of the Gospel, but because you never consider on them, and so they passe for current: Do not deceive your selves, with the heart man believes; it is a heart-businesse, a soul-matter, no light and uselesse opinion, or empty expression, which you have learned from a child: You say, you believe in God the Maker of Heaven and Earth, and so say children who doubt no more of it than ye, and yet in sadnesse they do not retire within their own hearts, to think what a one he is; they do not remember him in the works of his hands, there is no more remembrance of that true God than if no such thing were known: So it is among you, you would think we wronged you, if we said, ye believed not that God made the world; & yet, certainly, all men have not this faith, whereby they understand truly in their

heart the Power, & Wisdome, and Goodnesse of God appearing in it, that is the gift of God only given to them that shal be saved. If I should say, that you be∣lieve not the most common Principles of Religion, you would think it hard, & yet there is no doubt of it, that the most common truths are least believed; and the reason is plain, because men have learned them by tongue, and there is none that question them, & there∣fore very few ever in sadnesse and in earnest consider of them: You say, that God made Heaven & Earth, but how often do you think on that God? And, how often do you think on him with admiration? Do ye at all wonder at the glory of God when you gaze on his works? Is not this volume alwayes observant be∣fore your eyes, every thing shewing and declaring this glorious Maker, yet who is it that taketh more notice of him than if he were not at all; such is the generall stupidity of men, that they never ponder & digest these things in their heart till their soul receive the stamp of the glory & greatnesse of the invisible God, which shines most brightly in these things that are vi∣sible, and be in some measure transformed in their minds, and conformed to these glorious appearances of him, which are engraven in great Characters in all that do at all appear. There is another mistake pe∣culiar to some, especially the Lords people, that they think faith is limited to some few particular and more unknown and hid truths and mysteries of the Gospell. Ye think, that it is only true believing, to imbrace some special Gospell-truths, which the multitude of people know nothing of, as the tenor of the Covenant of Grace and of Works, &c. And for other common Principles, of Gods making and ruling the World, you think that a common thing to believe them. But, saith the Apostle, By faith we understand that the worlds were made; it is that same faith spoken of in the end of Chap. 10. by which the just shal live: So then,

here is a point of saving faith, to believe with the heart in God the Creator and Father Almighty, to take a view of Gods Almighty Power, and sufficient Goodnesse, and infinite Wisdome, shining in the Fa∣brick of the World, & that with delight and admirati∣on at such a glorious Fountain-being; to rise up to his Majesty by the degrees of his creatures, this is the climing and aspiring nature of Faith. You see how much those Saints in the Old Testament were in this; and certainly, they had more excellent and be∣seeming thoughts of God than we. It should make Christians ashamed, that both Heathens who had no other Book opened to them, but that of Nature, did read it more diligently than we: And that the Saints of Old, who had not such a plain testimony of God as we now have, yet did learn more out of the Book of the Creature, then we do both out of it and the Scri∣ptures: We look on all things with such a carelesse eye, and do not observe what may be found of God in them: I think verily there are many Christians, and Ministers of the Gospel, who do not ascend into those high and ravishing thoughts of God, in his being and working, as would become even meer Naturalists; How little can they speak out of his Majesty, or think, as it becomes his transcendent glory. There is little in Sermons or discourses that holds out any singular admiring thoughts of a Deity, but in all these we are so common and carelesse, as if he were an Idol.

It is not in vain that it is expressed thus, By faith we know that the worlds were made, for certainly the firm believing & pondering of this one truth, would be of great moment and use to a Christian in all his jour∣ney. You may observe in what stead it is to the Saints in Scripture: This raises up a soul to high thoughts, and sutable conceptions of his glorious Name, & so conforms the worship of his Majesty un∣to his excllency, it puts the stamp of Divinity upon

it spiritualizes the thoughts and affections so, as to put a true difference between the true God, and the gods that made not the Heavens & the Earth. Alace, the worship of many Christians speaks out no diviner or higher object than a creature, it is so cold, so for∣mall, and empty, so vain & wandring, there is no more respect testified unto him, than we would give to some eminent person: You find in the Scripture how the strain of the Saints affections and devotion rises, when they take up God in his absolute Supremacy a∣bove the creatures, & look on him as the alone foun∣tain of all that is worth the name of perfection in them. A soul in that consideration cannot chuse but assign unto him the most eminent seat in the heart, & gather those affections which are scattered after the creatures into one channell, to pour them out on him who is all in all, and hath all that which is lovely in the creatures in an eminent degree. Therefore know what you are formed for, to shew forth his praise, to gather and take up from the creatures all the fruits of his praise, and offer them up to his Majesty: This was the end of man, & this is the end of a Christian, you are made for this, and you were redeemed for this, to read upon the volumes of his works, & word, and from thence extract songs of praise to his Majesty.

As this would be of great moment to the right wor∣shipping of God, and to the exercise of true holiness, so it is most affectual to the establishing of a soul in the confidence of the promises of God: When a soul by faith understands the world was made by God, then it relyes with confidence upon that same word of God, as a word of power, and hopes against hope: There are many things in the Christians way be∣twixt him and glory, which look as insuperable: thou art often emptied into nothing and stript naked of all encouragements, and there is nothing remaining but the word of Gods promises to thee and to the Church

which seems contrary to sense and reason; Now, I say if thou do indeed believe that the world was made by God, then out of all Question thou may silence all thy fears with this one thought, God created this whole frame out of nothing, he commanded the light to shine out of darknesse, then certainly he can give a beeing to his own promises, is not his word of pro∣mise as sure and effectuall, as his word of command? This is the grand incouragement of the Church, both offered by God, from Isa. Chap. 40. and made use of by his Saints, as David, Hezekiah, &c. What is it would disquiet a soul if it were reposed on this Rock of creating power and faithfulnesse? This would al∣wayes sound in its ears, faint not, weary not, Iacob, I am God, and none else, the portion of Iacob is not like others, be it inward or outward difficulties, suppose Hell and Earth combined together, let all the ene∣mies of a soul, or of the Church assemble, here is one for all, the God that made the Heaven and the Earth can speak, and it is done, command, and it stands fast: He creates peace, and who then can make trouble, when he gives quietnesse to a Nation, or to a person. Al∣mighty power works in Saints, and for Saints, let us trust in him.