The beauty and order of the creation together with natural and allegorical meditations on the six dayes works of the creation : with the addition of two compendious discourses : I. of the creation of man after the image of God, II. of the creation of angels, with a description of their several properties / by ... Mr. John Maynard ... ; published by William Gearing ...

SECT. 4.

THe Stars also, those glistering pearls of the Orb of heaven, are notable and bright evidences of an infinite and most glo∣rious Creatour; every one doth set forth his praise, even as if the heavens had as many Tongues as Stars to proclaim his excellency to the Earth.

1. Admire him therefore in the number∣less multitude of the stars; admire him in their constant and orderly motions: admire him that telleth the number of the Stars, and calleth them all by their names. Think of the star that guided the wise men unto Christ, and pray that the day Star may rise in thine heart.

2. Consider how bright the Stars shine in a cold night, and think how thy soul should shine in grace in time of adversity.

3. Consider that neither Moon nor Stars do carry any special brightness in the presence of the Sun; and though the Moon be seen. yet she shineth but dimmely, or not at all; but the Stars are not apparent: so the Church in general hath no excellency in comparison of the Excellency of Christ: and as for the parti∣cular members, they are like stars after Sun rising; their beauty is scarce to be discern∣ed.

4. Remember our Saviours comparison, who calleth the Ministers of the Church, Stars which he holdeth in his right hand. Rev. 1. and therefore think, that as the Stars are the ornaments of the heaven, so are faithful Mi∣nisters the ornaments of the Church, and not esteemed by Christ, as they are by the world, the off-scouring of all things.

5. Consider those Comets or Blazing-stars; though they make a greater blaze than the true stars of heaven, yet were they never fix∣ed in the heavens, and therefore are soon ex∣tinguished: so those hypocrites, that make but a blaze for a time, they were but Mete∣ors wandring in the air of unstable affections, not fixed in the Church, nor engraffed into Christ.

6. As the stars are numblerless; so are the heirs of glory, though far short of the repro∣bates: let the hope of a glorious condition like that of the stars, make thee heavenly-minded, and teach thee to comfort thy self in God, who hath provided such great things for thee.