§. 134. Of the Reasons why the Heavens are said to be the works of Gods hands.
THE Heavens are here and in other Scriptures expresly said to be the works of Gods hands, In that,
- 1. They were made as well as the earth. There be that grant that the earth and the things here below had a beginning; but imagine that the heavens and the things therein were eternall without beginning: The very first verse of the Bible expresly disproves this errour, for there it is expresly said, that the Heaven was created: So also in sundry other places.
- 2. God himself made the Heavens, They were the work of his own hands, made* 1.1 by his own power, n•…•… by Angels, as the Menandrians, Saturnirians, Cerinthians, Merinthians, and other hereticks thought. Nor were they made by the casuall con∣currence of certain motes, which they call Atomi, as Democritus Lucippus and o∣ther Epicurean Philosophers dreamed. They imagined their Atomi to be small, indi∣visible bodies, such as appear in the Sunne-beams when the Sunne shineth through an hole: They say that by the conjunction of these all things at first were made; and that into these all things at last shall be dissolved.
- 3. The heavens were made without instruments; even with Gods hands and no∣thing else; It is one of the Epicurean Philosophers Arguments against the making of the Heavens, that there could not be sufficient instruments for effecting so great a work: What iron tools, saith he, what leavers, or crows, what Ministers could be had to help on so vast a fabrick? O blinde and stupid Philosopher, that can no bet∣ter discern between divine and humane works! Betwixt the first creating of things by God, and the after-making of things by man: God had no need of any help at all.
- 4. The Heavens are as a canopy to cover all the earth; For the use of hands, especially when both hands are used, is to stretch a thing and to spread it abroad; The Lord in expresse terms saith My hands have stretched out the heavens, Isa. 45. 12. These phrases of stretching forth and spreading out the Heavens are oft attributed un∣to God as Isa. 40. 22. Ier. 41. 15. Psa. 104. 2. Iob. 9. 8. & 37. 18.
- 5. Great diligence was used in making the heavens: Mention of hands in the plurall number implieth thus much; For carefull and diligent persons will put both their hands to what they do; Slothfull and carelesse persons will use but one hand, and put the other into their bosome or pocket, Pro. 9. 24. & 26. 15.
- 6. The Heavens being said to be the work of Gods hand, imply the great power of God, who with his hands, that is, by himself can make so fair and great a work as the Heavens are: Therefore the Heaven is called the Firmament of his power, Psa. 150. 1. And God is said to have made the Heaven by his great power and stretched out arm; and thereupon it is inferred, that there is nothing too hard for him, Jerem. 32. 17.
- 7. The heavens bear the cleavest evidence of Gods excellencies, Psa. 8. 3. & 19. 1. Of a picture made by Apelles, which was admirable in all mens eyes, they said, This is the work of Apelles hands.