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Sins by which we have deferved that fearful judgment; yet we are not without fome Grounds of hope alfo to ballance our fears: God hath of late eminently appeared for us notwithstanding all our Sins, by discovering the bloody Counfels of our Enemies, and in great part blafting them: and this affords us Come encouragement to hope that he will not now forfake us, and after all that he hath done for us abandon us at laft, and give us up to the will of our Enemies.

2. If God, to punish us for our Sins, and for other Reafons known to himfelf, fhould permit Popery to break in upon us with an Irrefiftible Torrent, yet he can quickly turn the Torrent, and Re establish the true Religion amongst us with advantage. Though the Storm may be sharp, yet he can fo over-rule matters, that it fhall be foon over.

3. If fuch a rueful ftate of things fhould continue long, yet he who referved to himself Seven Thousand in Ifrael that never bowed the Knee to Baal even in a time of Univerfal Corruption and Apoftacy, most easily could, and we are well affured would referve to himself a remnant to maintain and keep up

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the true Religion, foundness of Doctrine, and purity of Worship, and to propagate, deliver over, and transmit the fame to pofterity, by training up the younger fort in the principles and This was practice of the Reformed Churches. In Preached short, whatever times come, God will were un- take order, and provide means, that der great whatever shall tend most to his Glory, Popery. the good of his Church, the propoga

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tion of his true Religion, and the accomplishing of his Promises, fhall in his time be fulfilled: and there we must leave it. Great things belong unto the Lord; but things revealed to us and to our Children, that we may do them. Wherefore do your Duty while you are here, and caft all your care upon God for the future. You muft Dye, but God will still be alive to take care of fuch as you leave behind you. Trust in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

SERMON

SERMON XIII.

Pfalm 147. 5.

His understanding is Infinie.

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HERE are two Books which Reveal God unto us; the Book of the Creatures, and the Book of the Holy Scriptures.

In the Book of the Creatures, we may read God in fuch broad and legible Characters, that he must shut his Eyes and fee nothing that will not fee and acknowledge a God.

Not only the whole Creation, the intire Body and Syftem of the Creatures, and the admirable Order, Connexion, and Dependance of the parts thereof in relation to one another, and in relation to the whole, proclaim aloud unto us the Being, Wisdom, Power and Goodnefs of God; but every fingle Creature confidered in it felf, and apart from the whole Mass of Creatures, may difcover

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fomething of God unto us; even the very meanest and most ignoble of all the Creatures; there is not a small Shrub or Plant, though no better than a Weed, but hath the imprefs of God's Workmanship,and therein of his Wifdom and Power, Præfentemque refert, quælibet herba Deum.

And this is that which the Apostle teacheth us, Rom. 1. 20. The invisible things of God from the Creation of the World are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead.

But among the visible Creatures, there is none that bears fuch lively Impreffions of the Deity as Man doth, who was made after the Image of God: Whole Image though he principally bears in Respect of his nobler part the Soul, yet is there fo much of God's Wisdom and Power difplayed in the admirable Frame and Compofure of his very Body, that Galen, though an Heathen, after his Excellent Difcourfes of the frame of Mans Body, the various ufes of the feveral parts, and the wonderful exactness of the Workmanship, and the most Wise and Admirable accommodation and fitness of every part

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for the ufes unto which it was defigned, being even wrapt into admiration, he could not contain himself, but he must Compose an Hymn in the Praises of his Maker.

But however, the Book of the Creatures discovers much of God, yet the Book of the Scriptures difcovers much more; and in truth, this Book helps us the better to read and understand the other Book.

This corrects our falfe Notions of God, and furnisheth us with found and right principles concerning him. Which principles we bringing along with us to the Study of the Book of the Creatures, we shall be enabled to make a right use of them, and through the Manuduction of them as by a Clew, be lead more fafely into the Knowledge of God, and be kept from becoming vain in our imaginations of God like the Heathen, Rom. 1. 21.

We shall be kept from those Mistakes and Errors concerning God, which without the light of the word, notwithftanding all the help the Creatures afford us, we should certainly run into. Among many other things which the Scriptures acquaint us with concerning God

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