The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy-work.
How doe the heavens declare the glory of God? Shall we believe the Rabbines, or any magicall Reciter? that the heavens declare the glory of God, not as other inanimate creatures doe; but that they doe it as things that have souls, and prognosticating souls too. Since they have no reason for their assertion but this; because (say they) the word which here signifies to declare, is never attributed (in all the Scripture) to things inanimate. Say it were not so elsewhere; is it not enough that it is so here? Must we for the more common usage of the phrase, change the proper nature of the thing? In Job 12: 7, 8. that very word with others as rationall, is attributed to the irrationall creatures: shall we therefore say they are rationall creatures, and so make a metamorphosis for a metaphors sake? But wee believe the heavens do so declare the glory of God, as the firmament sheweth his handy-work, viz. after their own kind and way, and not after ours. In the sim∣plicity of their nature, not in the curiositie of an Art. In their naturall end and use, not in their preternaturall abuse. In their works, as obedient creatures, not by their words, as if they were intelligent creatures. By clear and dilucide manifestations, not by obscure and aequivocall predictions. By Miracles and prodigies from the wise and powerfull God, not by Oracles and prestigiousnesse, from blind, vain, and prodigious men. By the ministry of Divines, Prophets and Apostles; not by the magistry of Diviners, Spe∣culators, Circulators, Prognosticators, Calculators, &c. By their proper natures, numbers, qualities, quantities, efficacies: not by their Planetarian and genethliacall numbrings, figurings, erectings, themes, schemes, tables and fables, &c. By admonishing the hearts and consciences, not by enfor∣cing the wills and reasons of men. By orderly producing their effects from naturall causes, not by confusedly ominating of future contingencies from arbitrary actions. In a word, all creatures in heaven and earth, are declarations of Gods glory in themselves; yet are they not so to us, but as we are enlightened and sanctified, so to apprehend and use them.