A Golden Chain

for before man was created he provided for him a dwelling place, and all things necessary for his perpetual preservation, and perfect happiness and felicity. So also he created beasts and cattle: but not before he had made herbs, plants, and grass, and all means whereby they are preserved. And if God had this care over man when as yet he was not: much more will God have care over him now when he is, and hath a being in nature.

for before man was created he prouided for him a dwelling place, and all things necessarie for his perpetuall preseruation, and perfect happines and felicitie. So also he created beasts and cattell: but not before he had made hearbs, plants, and grasse, and all meanes whereby they are preserued. And if God had this care ouer man when as yet he was not: much more will God haue care ouer him now when he is, and hath a beeing in nature.

And thus much concerning the points of doctrine touching the creation. The duties follow. And first by the work of creation we may discern the true Jehovah from all false gods and idols in the world. This Isaiah maketh plain, bringing in the Lord reasoning thus: I am God, and there is none other God besides me. How is that proved? thus: I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. ¹If a man ask thee how thou knowest the true God from all false gods: thou must answer, by the work of creation: for he alone is the maker of heaven and earth, and all things in them. This property can not agree to any creature, to any man, Saint, or Angel: nay, not to all men and all Angels they can not give being to a creature which before was nothing. Secondly, whereas God the father is Creator of all things, and hath given unto man reason, understanding, and ability, more then to other creatures, we are taught to consider and meditate of the work of Gods creation. This the wise man teacheth us, saying, Consider the work of God. ²And indeed it is a special duty of every man which professeth himself to be a member of Gods Church, as he acknowledgeth God to be the Creator, so to look upon his workmanship and view and consider all creatures. A skilful workman can have no greater disgrace, then when he hath done some famous thing, to have his friend pass by his work, and not so much as look upon it. If it be demanded for what end must we look upon the work of Gods creation? I answer, that in it we may see and discern Gods power, wisdom, love, mercy, and providence, and all his attributes, and in all things his glory. This is a most necessary duty to be learned of every man: we think nothing too much or too good to bestow on vain shows, and plays, idle sports and pastimes, which are the vanities of men, and we do most willingly behold them: in the mean season utterly neglecting and contemning the glorious work of Gods creation. Well, the