An enquiry into the nature, necessity, and evidence of Christian faith, in several essays part I [-II] of faith in general, and of the belief of a deity / by John Cockburn ...

ESSAY VI.

Evidences of a Deity in other Parts of the World.

AS it is of the highest importanee to know whether there is a God, so we need not go far to be convin∣ced; for upon the first serious inspection it doth ap∣pear that every one of us carrieth in us, and about us, a Demonstration of the Deity, Whenever we look upon our selves, we see him; for we read his Wisdom and Power in our Make and Frame, in our first Pro∣duction and daily Preservation, and by both our ex∣ternal and internal Senses.

I. But if one Evidence be not sufficient for so weighty a Point, let us interrogate other Creatures, and they will all unanimously answer the same thing. We are indeed a wonderfull Work, but we are not the only Work of our Maker, he hath framed other Pieces be∣sides; which no less manifest his great Power and un∣searchable Wisdom. It is evident that he who made us, made other things, and had both of us in his view when he made either. What should be the use of an Eye, if there was not Light? And to what purpose should there be Light, if there was no Eye to see it, nor any Creature to discern the Beauties which it discovers. He then, who formed the Eye, created the Light; and he who ordai∣ned Light, resolved to have a Creature capable of Seeing. We cannot live without Food; nor can the Earth afford us necessary Food without the warm and kind influences of the Sun: that therefore there should be a Sun to render the Earth fruitful, by its benign influences, could not be Chance, but Contrivance, and this proves an in∣telligent Being.

II. If there was but one instance that looked like Art and Design, we should not lay much stress on't; we might be tempted to think that was only a lucky hit of blind Fortune. But we have many Thousand instances in the Heavens, in the Earth, and in the Seas, in both the Ve∣getable and Animal World, where each individual is not only wonderfully contrived in reference to the Ends and Uses of its particular being; but also in reference to one another: for they are admirably fitted to one ano∣ther, and are made to serve other most wisely: The Ʋniversal Frame is as a huge Machine; the vast Globes above and this in which we dwell, are as so many Wheels and suitable Parts, which the Artist hath most Skilfully joined, that not only each may have its proper Motion easily, but that the particular Motion of one may be beneficial to another, and all of them serviceable to the general Design. Was it possible to put so many stupen∣dous masses of Matter in motion without Omnipotency? We may as well imagine that an Ant or Worm may cause an Earthquake. And what less than Infinite Wisdom could so adjust and direct their Motions, that no part can jolt out of its place, nor interfere with ano∣ther. A Fleet of 500 Sail can hardly keep together without falling foul on each other: and behold those innumerable and prodigious Globes move continually in their immense space, without rubbing, though they naturally gravitate towards one another, which shews that they are steered by a most dexterous Pilot. What Job saith of the Earth, is applicable to all the rest, viz. That it is hanged upon Nothing. They have no Natural or Mechanical Support, but are only sustained by the Almighty Word of God: For they move in an empty space, and therefore nothing but his Word keeps them from tumbling upon one another. Neither is there any other cause of their constant and regular Mo∣tions for serving and promoting their appointed Ends. He appointed the Moons for seasons, and therefore it still keeps that course which shews different phases or ap∣pearances

to the several Parts of the World. He or∣dained this to rule the Night, to be a Lamp for directing the Inhabitants of the Earth, when the Sun is gone down; and it never fails to shine in its due time. But nothing can be a greater Demonstration of Infinite Wisdom, than the Course of the Sun. The Argument is of equal force, if the Sun be supposed fix'd, and the Earth to move about it. But to speak to vulgar ap∣pearance: If the Sun stood always still, or was either nearer or farther off, or did move by any other than the present Annual and Diurnal Motion, What Inconve∣niencies would follow? Then the Earth should be all a Frigid Zone, or burnt up at once according to the Fa∣ble of Phaeton; then there would be neither Seed-time nor Harvist, nor Summer nor Winter, nor those changes of Seasons, which are so universally useful and com∣fortable. How sad and desolate would the Earth be, if it wanted the Heat and Light of the Sun? And how ab∣surd is it, to suppose that this great Comfort of Man and Beast could be dispensed so equally, to all Parts of the Earth, without the greatest Wisdom? And we shall be further confirmed, that the Sun was so placed and is still so disposed only by Infinite Wisdom, when we consider that it serves for the same uses to the other Planets; for by the curious and admirable Observations of Astronomers, they are found to be of the same nature with the Earth, and to have no Light or Heat but what they receive from the Sun; for which cause they also move round their own Axis and about the Sun. Who then can resist the Wisdom of the Sun's Situation? What Impudence is it to deny such a stupendous Contrivance for dispensing and one at the same time the necessary Influence of Light and Heat to so many prodigious Globes. Wherefore, as the Psalmist has observed, certainly the Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto Day uttereth speech, and Night unto Night sheweth knowledge; nor is there any Lauguage where their voice is not heard; that is, though the several Nations of the World speak

with different Tongues, which makes them that they cannot understand each other; yet the Heavenly Bodies, by their regular and useful Motions, speak an Ʋniversal Language intelligible to all of common Sense, for con∣vincing them that they are the Work and Contrivance of an Almighty and most Wise God. He must be natu∣rally deaf and without judgment, the faculties of his Mind must be strangely corrupted, who is not affected and convinced by these things.

III. Again, Let us consider the Vegetable and Animal World as a well-govern'd Common wealth, where the People are wisely employed according to their Stations and Capacities, whose different Employments breed no Confusion, but do preserve the Order and Peace of the State, and promote its Wealth, Power, Strength and Glory. The Earth sends forth Trees, Herbs, and Plants of all sorts for Food or Medicine, to ser•••• the Necessi∣ties or Advantages of humane Life; and all these spring up in their proper Situation, as if planted by the Hand of some Skilful Gardner, which are sorted into diffe∣rent Climates, to whet and encourage Industry, for en∣gaging and securing a good Correspondence amongst Men. Animals are destined to several Uses, and are as∣signed to such Regions as are proper to their Nature and these Uses. Fowls have the Air to rove in; Fishes sport themselves in the Waters; and Quadruped's walk on firm Land; Camels are allotted to Arabia, where there is no Water. Salvage Beasts are sent to Desarts, where they may do less Harm; and they who are mild, tracta∣ble, and useful, are kept amongst Men. Such Animals as are dangerous to others, or of less Use, are generally barren and unfruitful, whereas other Kinds do multiply in Abundance: For there would be no Living in the World, if Lions, Tigres, Bears, Wolves, Foxes, and the like, were as numerous as Sheep and Oxen. And the Air should shortly be dispeopled of its feathered In∣habitants, if the Vulture, Eagle, and Hawk, could draw out Armies like the Flocks of Crows and Pigeons.

Now who impos'd these hard Laws upon those Beasts and Birds of Prey? What Pharaoh forbad them to mul∣tiply to the danger of the State? Is it possible that the Terrour of Man could have made them drown or de∣stroy their Brood? Was it by the Art of Man that Foxes, Wolves, &c. produce all Dogs, and almost but one Bitch at every Litter, whereas other Animals bring forth Males and Females equally. Can this proceed from any but the wise and potent Author of all things? But to go on; the climbing Goats feed upon the Rocks; the simple Sheep and unweildy Oxen graze in the Valleys, and the frighted Deer are removed to range in the Woods. The fierce and undaunted Horse is appointed for the Battle; the Ox to Labour, the Sheep for Food and Cloathing: the Hare and Partridge for Diversion, and the Hound and the Hawk for catching them. Thus there is Use and Design to be seen in every Creature, nay, even in Insects and creeping Things, which we look upon with so much Contempt. The very common dull Worm hath its Use; and lest they should be over numerous, the blind Mole is given to check them. But how useful is the Silk-Worm? What a Treasure doth it yield? And how splendid are Men by its Labour? What might be said of the Bee? Its Conduct and Industry are admirable; like an excellent Chymist, it extracts the mellous Juice from the Herbs and Flowers, but does not spoil their Beauty and Figure, as Chymists do by their Operations. It admirably composes Wax, which serves to many Uses, and yet conceals from Mankind both the Matter and Art of that Composition; for it not yet discovered: For they are mistaken, who think that with which their Thighs are loaded is the Substance of Wax; for this is of different Colors, whereas the Combs at first are almost a pure white: And besides, I my self have observed several Cells in the Combs, filled with that Matter which is upon their Thighs, but for what Use I have not yet discover'd, except it be for hatching their Eggs.

IV. If any Object, the Locust and Caterpillar; they may well upbraid the Prudence and Policy of a State for keeping Forces, which generally are made up of very rude and insolent People; for these are a Party of the Army of the Lord of Hosts, which he sends out at his pleasure, to chastise the Pride, Wantonness, Ingratitude, and For∣getfulness of Man, who is the only disorderly Part of the Creation: He only breaks the Peace and moves Se∣dition in this excellent and large Common-Wealth; and he does to his own Prejudice, as generally all rebellious and seditious People use to do: But his unruly and dis∣orderly Behaviour is no Ground of impeaching the Wis∣dom of the Almighty Head of this great Common-Wealth of the World, far less than the rebellious and seditious practising of Subjects is chargeable upon the Go∣vernment, who often times (as all Histories inform us) run into it without just Provocation, through their own Wantonness or Ignorance, or foolish Fears, or the evil Counsel of cunning Men, who make them misapprehend some things, and beguile them with a Pretence of making other things better, which in the end turns worse. All the Disorders in this Universal State, which is made up of all Creatures, proceed from these very Causes, which give Disturbance to particular humane States. If I may be allowed to borrow a little Light from Revelation, when I reason against Atheism: The Devil or Lucifer being proud, and full of himself, became disaffected, and turned Male content: and to make himself a Party, he addressed to Man, preying upon his Weakness and Inadvertency, whom having once deluded, he still keeps into that rebellious Interest, by suggesting evil Thoughts, cherishing their Corruption and bad Inclinations.

V. Some may say, That this overturns all we have said about Design and Contrivance, seeing it seems to prove a grand Mistake in the Master-piece. If the World, the several Parts in it, and the Conjunction of these Parts be the work of infinite Wisdom, would one have been made to disturb all the rest, to disorder the

whole Contrivance? Or would the Power and Domi∣nion over these have been committed to one altogether unqualified and unworthy of it, as Man seems to be? Or must it be said, That the contriving of vegetative and sensitive things was within the Skill of this wise Being, but that rational things, or what is of a higher Nature, is above his Reach; and therefore he missed his Aim, and came short of his Design? No, none of these things follow. The Almighty God would shew his Power and Wisdom by creating an Infinite Variety of Beings, en∣dued with all Degrees of Perfections; and therefore one who was to be free, to be entrusted with the Go∣vernment of himself, and who was to be under no other Force than that of Reason and Truth, nor to have any other Tyes than that of Gratitude and Interest, which he might know sufficiently by the Exercise of his intelle∣ctual Faculties, and the Application of his Mind to what is always before him. Other things could not be left to themselves; being endued with no Sense or Reason of their own, they are still guided by the Wisdom of their Maker; and hence it is that they never step aside, but always move regularly: Infinite Wisdom appears in all their Motions, and from this it is that some Creatures without Sense, and others which have no more than Sense, do out-do all the works of Men: Without Un∣derstanding, some know the Rules of Architecture, the Nature and Uses of things, and the means of compassing them better than Man with all his Reason, and after all his Study and Application. Which is demonstrable by various Instances and particularly from the Swallows Nest, the Spiders Circular Web which hath diverse Diametrical Lines or Cords passing from the Centre through all the Circles to that which is outmost, and the Sexangular Combs of Bees, which figure is of all others the most capacious and solid and consequently most proper. The Perfection of human Art is but a faint Imitation of what other Creatures do by that which is called Natural Instinct, which is truly the Guidance

of that Infinite Wisdom which contrived them. Mens best Knowledge, is but experience and Observation from the inferiour Creatures. And as it thus appears, that those Creatures are under the Management of their Ma∣ker, whose Wisdom manifests it self in their Motions and Actings: So it is no Defect in this most perfect Wisdom, that Men do not act perfectly or exactly right, because they are left to their own Freedom, and the Direction of an imperfect and limited Reason, which yet was sufficient, if they had adverted to the Marks and Instructions given them.

As by Revelation we are assured that Man was at first made upright, so there are Reasons and Prints to convince us of it without Revelation. And as he is en∣dued with Perfections above others in this part of the World, with intellectual Faculties which they want, so it seems evident, that all those other things were invent∣ed to be subject Matter for those intellectual Faculties to work upon. Pictures are not hang'd up but to be seen, for they cannot talk together; so neither can Plants or Beasts. This World therefore would have been but as a wast House; tho' richly furnish'd, yet it would have been altogether desolate of Inhabitants, if there had been wanting one of Understanding and Judgment, and capable of making wise Reflections on what there is in it. Man's Life would be very miserable if he had not the Service of those other Creatures, and they would be use∣less if it were not with a Respect unto him. Either they were designed to administer unto him, or he was made to receive the Advantage which redounds from them: They are excellently fitted to one another; which could only proceed from an intelligent Being of infinite Wis∣dom and Power.

Thus there are so many and so great Instances of De∣sign and Contrivance, that no thinking Man is able to re∣sist this Faith in God. He who doth not admit this Faith, must be strangely stupid, and consequently much to be pitied, or unreasonably obstinate, and therefore exceed∣ing censurable.

VI. I would ask such Persons what they would be at to satisfie them? Do they require a Sight of God? They may as reasonably ask to see a Voice, to touch a Tune, or to try the Objects of one Sense by another, as Colours by the Ear, and Odours by the Eye. Will they deny the intellectual Faculties of Perception, Judgment, Ra∣tiocination, Memory, &c. to be in others, because they have no immediate Intuition of them? Is it not sufficient Demonstration, that this, or the other Man doth possess these Faculties, when the one or the other sheweth the proper Signs of them, and that the necessary Effects thereof may be perceived in his Discourse and Actions! And what greater Demonstration would any have of an Almighty, Intelligent Being, than prodigious and infi∣nite Instances of Wisdom and Power, such as the World every where presents us with! God's Essence is invisi∣ble at least to us. What Organs the Angels of Heaven have for beholding him, we do not know; but he dwell∣eth in a Light which no Man can approach unto, whom no Man hath seen, nor can see. But that which may be known of GOd is manifest, for he hath shew'd it; for the Invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and God-head; so that they are without Excuse, viz. who doubt or deny a Deity, or who are not perswaded of his Eternity, Power, Wisdom, and Goodness, and who doth not glorifie him as such.

VII. If God was not eternal, nothing could have been made, for there was then nothing to have produced any thing; therefore his eternal Existence is evidently pro∣ved by the Existence of other things, which do not exist necessarily: And there is not any thing but himself which has necessary Existence included in its Idea. And though the creating of any one thing was a Demonstration of his Almighty Power and Wisdom, because nothing less could produce any thing out of nothing; yet he hath created innumerable things of vastly different Natures and Properties, that by this infinite Diversity and Va∣riety

of Beings, his infinite Power may be visible to those who are capable to perceive it. The Immensity of his Power appears in the Immensity of the World, to which our very Imagination can prefix no Limits. The Circumfe∣rence and Great∣ness of the Earth, with the vast Deep, doth astonish us when we have it in our view; but how little doth this Greatness ap∣pear, when we lift up our Eyes to the Heavens, and be∣hold the innume∣merable multitude of those shining Globes, two or three of which, viz. in the Planeta∣ry World, are only less than the Earth; and some of them, not only many Thousands, but Millions of times greater, as we are assured by the Au∣thority and Ob∣servation of Ma∣thematicians, and which, without

them, we may rudely conjecture by their Appear∣ance at so vast a Distance: By the help of Glasses, we may discern many more Stars, than what appear to the naked Eye. And there be very good reason to believe, that there are many more which Glasses cannot reach; so that Ima∣gination it self cannot grasp the Universe: And all our perceptive Faculties fail us, when we offer to view the Extension of it. Lo, all that we see, are but Parts of his Ways; for how little a Portion is heard of him, saith Job, chap. xxvi. 14.

VIII. How these Celestial Orbs are filled and furnish∣ed, we know not; but we have very good Reason to be∣lieve, that they are not waste and deso∣late Places, or meer Masses of Matter to fill up the immense Space of Vacuity. Without doubt they are admirably re∣plenish'd by his Almighty Wisdom, as well as this which is inhabited by us, where are infinite Diversity of Instances, for forming and enlarging in us an Idea of the God-head, and to con∣vince us that his Wisdom and Power cannot be bounded. In one Place Matter lies heaped in loose Particles as Sand which can be easily separated, nay, blown asunder: In another Place it is kneaded like Dough, we know not how, as in Clay and such like Ground: Again, it is both closely united, and also hardned wonderfully, as Stone, of which there are divers sorts, some of a bright and dazzling Lustre, as the Diamond and Crystal; other al∣together Black, or of an unspotted White, or admira∣bly variegated with different Colours, as the several sorts of Marble. Sometimes this hardned Matter is com∣bustible, as Coal; sometimes malleable, as Metal, which may be beat so thin, that a very small Quantity of Gold

could be made to cover the whole Surface of the Earth, as can be demonstrated from Leaf-Gold, and the draw∣ing of Gilded-Wire; for a Grain Weight or two may be extended to some Thousand Ells of Length. Thus the Power of God doth wonderfully appear in the very Dis∣posal of the Atomes and Particles of Brute and Lifeless Matter, which also sheweth his Wisdom no less; for by this means, Matter is made to serve to many different Uses and Purposes, which otherwise could only have served one or a few. Convenient Houses, strong and magnifi∣cent Buildings, could never have been erected of Sand and loose Dust, nor could Stone be beat out into useful Plough-Shares and Pruning-Hooks, Swords and Knives, and such other Instruments as the Conveniency of Life requires. Of what Advantage Iron is, we may under∣stand by the imperfection of Arts in America, before the Europeans carried it thither: Tho' it be commonly rec∣koned the coursest of Metals, yet none is more useful, and without it other things could not be so well ma∣naged. It would be tedious to run over the several Species of Brute Matter, but it is evident, That the won∣derful Variety thereof renders the State and Condition of Mankind more convenient and happy; and if but a few of them had been wanting, they must have la∣boured under great Inconveniencies: As for Instance, how inconvenient would it be for those who inhabit In∣land Countries, remote from the Sea, if there were not Rocks and Mines of Salt; and therefore the Contri∣vance of such Variety, speaks out both the infinite Pow∣er and Wisdom of God.

Which doth yet more appear when we consider Vege∣tables, which is Matter raised to the First Degree of Life, being made capable of Nourishment and Growth. Some have written several large Volumes about the Number, Kinds, and Vertues of Plants, and many more might be written without exhausting the Subject. There are ma∣ny different Genders or Kind of Plants, and every one of these in the same Gender differ from other as to Size,

Shape, Figure, Colour, Odour, Vertue, Duration, and the like; so that the Number of known Plants are com∣puted to be Eighteen or Twenty Thousand; and there may be yet many more undiscovered. Some are almost insensibly small, others vastly great; some proceed from the Seed, others by the Root; some bear Seed, others none at all; some send forth a Flower, others are with∣out it; in some the Flower puts out first, in most others it is last; some have no Odour, others either refresh with their Fragrancy, or they offend with their Stink; some are only commendable for their Beauty and Orna∣ment, as the Tulip, others, for their Use and Vertue; and some have Beauty and Vertue conjoined, as the Violet, the Rose, the Lily, and the Gilly Flower. Some wither almost as soon as they spring up, others last a Season; some are Annual, and others perpetual; and all these divers Kinds have one common Nourishment, viz. the Rain and Dew from Heaven. What Admiration may it breed, to consider that such an insipid thing as Rain-Water, is capable to be distilled into Liquors of so many different Colours, Tasts, Smells, and Vertues, as are the Juice of Plants! And it is no less Matter of Admiration, that this same liquid Rain should be consolidated into so firm, hard, and strong Parts, as are the Roots, Trunks, and Barks of Trees: For their Accretion and Growth is only from Rain, the Earth being only a fit Receptacle to preserve it for them, as is evident from divers Experiments. Is not all this the wonderful Work of God, of which who can make any doubt? Especially if the inward Structure and admirable Mecha∣nism of Plants and Vegetables be consi∣dered; for they are composed of different Parts, wisely fitted for Nourishment, Growth, and Pre∣servation: The Root fixeth it in the Earth, sucks in Nou∣rishment, and is as the Stomach in Animals, to digest and prepare it. Then there are various Fibres as Veins to receive the Sap, and thro' which it circulates. There are also some Vessels to take in Air for Respiration, to

facilitate the Circulation of the Sap. The outer and in∣ner Bark of Trees preserve them from the Injury of the external Air: The leaves are not only for Beauty, but to defend the Fruit, and to Shade the Tree it self from ex∣cessive Heat, and to gather the Dew, which returning with the inward Sap, helps to nourish the Fruit and Branches. Every Vegetable has its peculiar Contrivance suited to its Nature and Use; which abundantly demon∣strates that they are all the Effects of infinite Power and Wisdom: But there are some more remarkable Instances, which, like strange Prodigies, seem to be planted with a Design to force our Admiration and Acknowledgment. Take this short Account of them, which Mr Ray hath given in his ingenious and pious Treatise of the Wisdom of God in the Creation.

First, The Coco or Coker-nut-Tree, that supplies the Indians with almost whatever they stand in need of, as Bread, Water, Wine, Vinegar, Brandy, Milk, Oyl, Honey, Sugar, Needles, Thread, Linen, Cloths, Cups, Spoons, Besoms, Baskets, Paper, Masts for Ships, Sails, Cordage, Nails, Coverings, for their Houses, &c. which may be seen at large in the many Printed Relations of Voyages and Travels to the East-Indies, but most faithfully in the Hortus Malabaricus, Published by that immortal Patron of natural Learn∣ing, Henry Van Rheed van Drankenstein, who has had great Commands, and employs in the Dutch Colonies.

Secondly, The Aloe Muricata, or Aculeata, which yields the Americans every thing their Necessities re∣quire, as Fences, Houses, Darts, Weapons, and other Arms, Shooes, Linen and Cloths, Needles and Thread, Wine and Honey, besides many Utensils, for all which Hernancles, Garcilasso de la Vega and Margrave may be consulted.

Thirdly, The Bandura Cingalensium, called by some Priapus Vegetabilis, at the end of whose Leaves hang long Sacks or Bags, containing pure limpid Water,

of great Use to the Natives, when they want Rain for Eight or Ten Months together.

Fourthly, The Cinnamon-Tree of Cylon, in whose Parts there is a wonderful Diversity. Out of the Root they get a sort of Camphire, and its Oil; out of the Bark of the Trunk the true Oil of Cinnamon; from the Leaves an Oil like that of Cloves, out of the Fruit a Juniper Oil, with a Mixture of those of Cin∣namon and Cloves. Besides they boil the Berries into a sort of Wax, out of which they make Candles, Plaisters, Unguents. Here we may take Notice of the Candle-Trees of the West-Indies, out of whose Fruit boiled to a thick fat Consistence, are made very good Candles, many of which have been lately distributed by that most ingenious Merchant, Mr. Charles Dubois.

Fifthly, The Fountain or Dropping-Trees in the Isles of Teno, St. Thomas, and in Guinea, which serve the Inhabitants instead of Rain and fresh Springs.

Sixthly, and Lastly, we will only mention the Names of some other Vegetables, which with Eighteen or Twenty Thousand more of that Kind, do manifest to Mankind the Illustrious Bounty and Providence of the Almighty and Omniscient Creator towards his unde∣serving Creatures, as the Cotton-Trees, the Manyoc or Cassava, the Potatoe, the Jesuits Bark-Tree, the Poppy, the Rhubarb, the Scammony, the Jalap, the Coloquintida, the China, Sarsa, the Serpentaria Virginia, or Snake-weed, the Nisi or Genseg, the nu∣merous Balsam and Gum-Trees, many of which are of late much illustrated by the great Industry and Skill of that most discerning Botanist, Doctor Leonard Pluke∣ned. Of what great Use all these, and innumerable other Plants are to Mankind, in the several Parts of Life, few or none can be ignorant. Besides, the known Uses in curing Diseases, in feeding and cloath∣ing the Poor, in building and dying, in all Mechanicks, there may be as many more not yet discovered, and which may be reserved on purpose to exercise the

Faculties bestowed on Man, to find out what is ne∣cessary.

X. But if we make one Step higher to view the Ani∣mal Life, we shall see Wisdom and Power still more wonderfully displayed and diversified. What a prodi∣gious Bulk of Life and Animal Motion is the Whale! What a huge Animal Machine is that Leviathan! By whose Neezings a Light doth shine, and whose Eyes are like the Eye-lids of the Morning. Out of whose Nostrils goeth Smoak as out of a Seething-pot or Cauldron. He maketh the Deep to boil like a Pot, the Sea like a Pot of Ointment. He maketh a Path to shine after him, so that one would think the Deep to be hoary. And is not the Epitome of the Ani∣mal Life as astonishing which we have in the Mite, and others almost imperceptible Creatures! Which tho' they be but as Motes in the Sun, nay according to the Obser∣vation of some, there are some Animals less than a Grain of Sand by several Millions, yet they have Life and Mo∣tion, and consequently are inwardly composed of Heart, Lungs, Veins, Arteries, and Fibres, which proves the wonderful Divisibility of Matter, and the Art of Al∣mighty Power, which can produce the same Motions and Sense in an Atome which we see in the hugest Ani∣mals. It is observed by some, That a Whale is a Mean proportional between one of those Animals that are seen in Pepper Water or in Semine Masculino, and the whole Earth; So that a Whale bears the same propor∣tion to one of these Animals, or contains them as often as the whole Earth does the Whale.

Again, we see here all imaginable Qualities distributed into Various Sizes, Shapes, and Figures; and also, all or most of them united together into one. Some are designed to fly in the Air, and for that end are furnished with Feathers, Wings, and very strong Muscles, by which means they are capable to continue and support themselves a long time in the Air, without wearying: And because their Feathers may be spoiled by Rain and Dew, and so rendered useless; therefore each Fowl has Two Pots of Oil, that is, Two Glandules upon its Rump, which always

produce an Ʋnctuous Substance, for anointing the Feathers that they may not be wet, or receive any prejudice from Rain or the Moisture of the Air. Others are framed to swim in the Waters, and therefore have a peculiar Stru∣cture of their Lungs and inward Parts, which makes them require less Air than Terrestrial Animals. And tho' the Animals proper to one Element cannot live in another, for Fishes brought to the open Air pant and die; Land-Fowl, and the Generality of Terrestrial Creatures, when they fall into the Water, cannot sub∣sist long without Drowning. Yet to shew that nothing is impossible to Almighty Wisdom, there be some Fishes framed to fly above Water, and a great many Fowl to swim and dive under it. So there are Terrestrial Qua∣drupedes, which, without Feathers, fly in the Air, as Bats, which may be called Flying-Mice, and some Indian Squirrils; and there be others, whose Food being Fish and Water-Insects, they range continually in the Waters, as the Beaver, the Otter, the Phoca or Sea-Calf, The Water-Rat, and Frog all which have their Toes interwoven with a thin Membrane to fit them for Swimming, and also are furnished with a Wind-Bladder to afford them what Air is necessary to the Circulation of the Blood, so that they can continue long in the Water without Suffocation. Now could all these different proper Structures of Animals have been contrived without Wisdom? Could they have been distinguished in some, and united and inter∣mingled in others, according to the Elements for which they were designed without infinite Understanding?

To proceed, the Power of Seeing far is given to the Eagle and others, Swiftness to the Hare, Hound, and Roe∣buck; Strength to the Ox and Bear; Fierceness to the Lion; Cunning to the Fox; Docility to the Dog; Courage and Fleetness to the Horse; and the Elephant is made both formidable and tame, cunning and docile, strong and fierce.

And lastly, there is Man to manage this and all the other Animals, who, tho' he be neither so clear sighted

as some, nor so strong, nor so fierce, nor so swift as others, yet by his Reason and the Ordinance of God, he has Dominion over the Fowls of the Air, the Beasts of the Field, and the Fish of the Sea, and maketh them all to do Homage unto him. O Lord, how manifold are thy Works! In Wisdom thou hast made them all, the Earth is full of thy Riches.

XI. We need not ascend higher, nor go further to fetch Proofs of a Deity, nor Instances of eternal and in∣finite Wisdom and Power. They who are so peevish as to quarrel what they see here, would not lay aside this unreasonable Humour, tho' they were carried to the Regions above. And had discovered unto them all that is transacted there: for tho' there may be o∣ther Instances of Wisdom and Power in these Upper Parts of the Universe, yet there cannot be greater or more evident than those here below. So that they who are not convinced by these things which are continually before them, would not be satisfied with any thing which might be produced from Remoter places. As they are hardned against the ordinary Works of God, so they would resist obstinately such as are extraordinary, for they mock all of this kind which have been. Where∣fore it is wisely observ'd, That God never wrought a Miracle to convince an Atheist; for besides that it is not reasonable that God should indulge an unreasonably wil∣ful, and obstinate Humour, no Miracle can be more effectu∣al, or less liable to Exception than the regular Motion of those prodigious Globes in the Heavens above, and the Multitude of Productions in the Earth below, all of which shew admirable Art and Contrivance. When common Food ceased to nourish, Delicacies and Dainties seldom do good. If the Body be clean and sound, common Food would be both savoury and nourishing. And if Men would lay aside their Pride, Malice, and Super∣fluity of Naughtiness; if they would be meek and do∣cile, they should soon perceive the reasonable Force of what we have touched, to perswade to a Belief of the

Existence of God. And if any would have the Satisfa∣ction of a fuller View of these o rks of Wisdom and Power, I reserr them to the forementioned Treatise of Mr. Ray, because it may be easily had, and is made plain and intelligible by the meanest Capacity.

Notes

• *

  By the latest and exactest Galculation of the Modern Mathematicians, there goes 69 Miles and a Tenth Part to a Degree; so that the Periphery or Circumference of the Earth is 24876 English Miles. Its Diameter is 7915; and the whole Solidity may be reckon'd Two Hun∣dred Fifty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Seventy and Eight Million, Nine Hundred Thirty Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Five Cubical Miles.

  By the Theory of the Planets, it is known how much is nearer or farther distant from the Sun; and their appa∣rent Diameters being discoverable by the Telescope, there∣fore Astronomers, by comparing these together, have ad∣ventured to determine their real Magnitudes, and the Pro∣portion which they bear to one another. According to this method, Christianus Hugenius, the late famous Mathe∣matician, gives the following Accompt of them, as may be seen both in his Book de Saturni Phaenomenis, and in that de Terris Coelestibus, lib. 1. p. 14.

  The Dia∣meter of the SƲN is to the Diame∣ter of

  • ...Saturn
  • ...Jupiter
  • ...Mars
  • The Earth
  • ...Venus
  • ...Mercury

  as or

  • 37
  • 11
  • 166
  • 111
  • 84
  • 163
  • 290

  to

  • 5
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1

  Juxta Hevelium.

  Where∣fore the SƲN is to

  • ...Saturn
  • ...Jupiter
  • ...Mars
  • The Earth
  • ...Venus
  • ...Mercury

  as

  • 50653
  • 1331
  • 4574296
  • 1367631
  • 592704
  • 4741632

  to

  • 125
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1

  • ...Ptelomeus
  • ...Copernicus
  • ...Tychebrake
  • ...Longomontanus
  • ...Kepplerus
  • ...Lans••ergius
  • ...Wendelinus
  • ...Ant. Mar. de Reita

  makes the SƲN grea∣ter than the Earth

  • 166
  • 162
  • 140
  • 196
  • 3375
  • 434
  • 262, 144
  • 1000

  times.

  • ...Prelomeus
  • ...Copernicus
  • ...Tychobrahe
  • ...Longemontanus
  • ...Kepplerus
  • ...Lanthergius
  • ...Wendelinus
  • ...Ant. Mar. de Reita

  makes the EARTH greater than the Moon

  • 40
  • 43
  • 51
  • 51
  • 52
  • 45
  • 53
  • 43

  times.

  The Magnitude of the Fixed Stars cannot be conjectured, but there are Demenstrations offered to prove them greater than any of the Planets, seeing they shine so bright at a most stupendous Distance: For a Telescope which mul∣tiplieth 200 times, doth not shew them bigger than they appear to the naked Eye, but rather less. Whence it fol∣lows, That this Planetary Orb is but as a Point, in re∣spect of the Distance of the Fixed Stars; and consequently, That the Ʋniverse, which comprehends the Planets and all the Stars, visible and invisible, each of which has a par∣ticular Orb, must be Immense beyond all Imagination and Apprehension.
• See Christian. Hugens, de Ter∣ris Coelestibus, 4^to. Hagae Co∣mitis, 1698.
• See the Anatomy of Vegetables, by Dr. Grew.