the bleffings of goodnefs upon them, and thereby made them partakers and witneffes of his inriching and ennobling beneficence.

7. Now this holinefs, which is effential to GOD, is commenfurate with his being, or runs parallel with the whole extent of his nature. Correfpondent to his effence, which is uncompounded and unconfined, is the quality of it: It is pure and univerfal, the fame in earth and heaven; for though heaven is filed his throne, and the earth his footftool, yet that is only a popular political reprefentation of the government of his creatures, and different manifeftations of himself in reference thereto Earth is the place of probation, whereon he placed man for his trial; in which probationary condition, being united to, and involved in, flesh and blood, he fees but little of the glory of GoD. Heaven is the place of reward, where flesh and blood cannot enter, and where every fenfe will be adapted to, and rendered receptive of fuch discoveries of glory and bleffedness, as he will make of himfelf and the celeftial world. But God, who filleth both, is the fame in, though not manifeft alike in both.

8. Forafmuch then as the nature and, quality of GOD are equally extenfive, and both univerfal; fo his holinefs has different effects, according to the different objects it has to do with. To the holy, or fuch as agree with itfelf, it is wholly exhibited in love; to the completely wicked, in intire difpleafure; and to thofe of a mixed quality, in love and hatred, proportionably as they agree with, and differ from it: In heaven, it beams forth in beatitude only; in hell, in

unmixed

unmixed wrath; and on earth, in bleffing and curfing both. And thus, like the rays of the fun, whofe nature is one, yet operating on differently qualified matter, produces different effects.

9. Hence then, as God is a pure and univerfal fpirit; fo his fpirituallity and purity are the ground of his attributes.

The Attributes of GoD are the properties of his nature, exhibited in, and made known by his works; which attributes, univerfal nature and its infinite particulars, proclaim to intelligent minds, the goodness, hamony, and perfection of: And

1. His Wifdom is confpicuous in all his works, fo wonderfully formed, preferved, and governed. The Sky, that ample region and noble arch, in which are placed thofe immenfe bodies of light and heat, of different magnitudes, and at different diftances from the earth; and which, ferving as well for ornament as ufe, exhibit in the cleareft point of view, the excellent understanding of their author. Amongst which confpicuous witnees and public afferters of the wifdom of GOD, none fpeak fo lofty a language as the matter and immenfity of the Sun; the collection and combination of whofe infinite particles of luminous matter, and the comparative fize or circumference of his orb, (eing much larger than the earth) by which it is rendrea iufficient, in a fixed pofition, to ferve the whole and every part thereof; for the service of which, is probable, it was wholly defigned: For though he influences other planets, efpecially the moon, with his irradiating rays; yet, perhaps, not

fo

fo much for her real as relative use, she being defigned, in conjunction with the ftars, to minifter to the earth as a ruler of the night..

2. The fun's fituation and diftance from the earth, are alfo manifeftly the works of defign; which, tho' they produce not equal effects on every part of the globe, yet are evidently beft calculated for the good of the whole. For had he been nearer the earth, his heat in fome parts of it had been infupportable; and if at a greater distance, other parts had been too cold to be inhabited with comfort. And from this medium of fituation, flows all the profit and pleasure of his enlightning and reviving rays, which ferve for direc tion, warmth, delight, and other excellent purposes, to all creatures capable of their influence..

3. The fame wifdom is exhibited in the earth; par ticularly in its globular form with refpect to its motion; which is not only excellently adapted to anfwer that purpofe, but is also beft calculated for the im pelling power of motion, as well as the perpetuity and regularity of it, and imperceptiblenefs of its inhabitants: For though its perpetual motion is at the. rate of above a thoufand miles an hour, yet it is fa regular and smooth,, as not to be perceived by any

creature.

4. The numeroufnefs of its inhabitants: The many different fpecies of animals, and infects, the vast variety of trees and fruits, the immenfe numbers of berbs and roots, of grafs and corn; likewife its internal furniture of metals and other materials, which give a folidity and firmnefs to the furface, without

incumbring

13

incumbring or preventing its fruitfulness and cultivation, or incommoding its inhabitants.

5. And as this great variety of things give an in-conteftible evidence of the wifdem of GOD, manifefting itself in innumerable and inconceivable ways; fo efpecially in the particular, as well as general differences which obtain amongst many orders of beings. For, as one fort is fufficiently diftinguifhed from all others, fo in the fame kind, especially where property is concern'd, there is a particular diftinction in fize, form, colour, or other external matter or mark of evidence, whereby confufion is prevented, and property fecured: And this is fo general, that, perhaps, there is not an inftance in ten thousand, either amongst men or other things, wherein two exactly agree. And as thefe are evident indications of the creator's fkill, who but atheifts in principle or practice, will be proof againft, can avoid fome ferious impreffions from a confideration of them!

6. The Air, which is light and yielding, and fo textured, that, perhaps, it cannot be feen, is, notwithstanding, wonderful in its operation and ufe. It is abfolutely neceffary for the beginning and continuance of animal life, it being impoffible for any creature to subsist without it: It is also the element of, and is replenished with, a vaft variety of fpecies of flying inhabitants, with different and variegated plumage, in which they hover at pleafure, and through which they wing their way for fafety and delight. It is the vehicle of founds, and conveys the effluvia of fragrant nature to our noftrils. It tempers the earth for agriculture, and is the purifier and preferver of

the

the whole ftore-houfe of nature. It bears the clouds. on its wings, and carries them from one quarter of the heavens to another. By this the mariner is wafted to his defired haven; or intimidated, terrified, and utterly disappointed in his intended purpose. Yea, this animates all nature; is the fpring which moves the whole machine: Nature without it would be as a dead putrifying carcafs; creation worse than chaos!

It is the meffenger of good, and the minister of evil. When the Almighty condefcends to deliver, he can chafe one element with another, and drive back or dry up the overflowing flood, that the dry land may appear*: And when to fatisfy the wants of his indigent creatures, or gratify the cravings of an impatient people, he conducted quails, multitudes of quails, on the wings of the wind to the Ifraelitish camp†: If to afflict or punish, he can difpatch by this invifible vehicle the deftructive locuft, plague, or other mortal difeafe. By this, which is the breath of our noftrils, he performeth his wonders in the firmament above, and in the earth beneath, and in the fea, and in all deep places; fo wonderfully diverfified is the wifdom of him, who fashioned all things according to the council of his will; and who, in his government of the natural world, acts without controul, bringing his wind out of its treafures, and caufing it to blow where he lifts, in whofe hand are its ways, and by which he ferveth his purposes; for his way is in the whirlwind and ftormy blaft.

7. The deep and widely extended Ocean; which,

* Ġen, viii. 1. + Numb. xi. 31.

without