Beloved, 1as I said to you the last day, the creature is not able, considered without the influence of the first mover,2 to do you the least good, or hurt; as the words are Jer. 10. 5.3 speaking of Idols, they can do neither good, nor hurt, and therefore fear them not. As if he should say. If they could do you, either good, or hurt, you might fear them, and it is certain, if any creature were able, in manner aforesaid, to do you any good, or hurt, you might fear the creature: for, God alters no Law of nature, that which is in it self to be feared, we may fear, that which is to be observed and regarded, we may regard it. Now, if any creature were able to do good, or hurt, certainly it were to be feared in regard of the hurt it could ⟨p. 47⟩do, and to be regarded and observed in regard of the good it could do. Then, again, the Law of the Lord should be unequal, if the Lord should require all worship, that the intention of the mind be wholly taken up about him, and that we should have no eye to the creature, if the creature had any self-part with him in doing us good or hurt; for, if the creature could do us hurt, we should not only look to God, that he should be a Buckler, but we should have an eye upon the creature. If a man should say, I will be a defence to you, I will keep you safe; but I cannot do it wholly, such a one stands by, that may reach you a blow, from which I cannot defend you; In nature and reason, a man will have an eye to that man, and so we would to the creature, if it were able to hurt us: And so, likewise, for good, the Lord restrains not that, nor saith, you shall have a partial happiness, you shall have no more then is in me, though there might be something besides in the creature; but he suffers our souls to be at full liberty, to seek their happiness to the utmost, and, therefore, if the creature did add the least drop of happiness, or if the least beam of happiness did spring from the creature, certainly, you might have an eye upon it, you might so far worship it, and regard it; but it is wholly from the Lord: therefore, saith he, let your hearts be only fixed upon me, let your eye be only towards me, let your affections be taken up about nothing but me, you shall spend all the strength of your souls in obeying me, and keeping my Commandments:
Beloved, 1as I sayd to you the last day, the creature is not able, considered without the influence of the first moover,2 to doe you the least good, or hurt; as the words are Ier. 10. 5.3 speaking of Idols, they can doe neither good, nor hurt, and therefore feare them not. As if he should say. If they could doe you, either good, or hurt, you might feare them, and it is certaine, if any creature were able, in manner aforesaid, to doe you any good, or hurt, you might feare the creature: for, God alters no Law of nature, that which is in it selfe to be feared, we may feare, that which is to be observed and regarded, we may regard it. Now, if any creature were able to doe good, or hurt, certainely it were to be feared in regard of the hurt it could ⟨p. 47⟩doe, and to be regarded and observed in regard of the good it could doe. Then, againe, the Law of the Lord should be vnequall, if the Lord should require all worship, that the intent•ō of the mind be wholly taken vp about him, and that we should haue no eye to the creature, if the creature had any selfe-part with him in doing vs good or hurt; for, if the creature could doe vs hurt, we should not onely looke to God, that he should be a Buckler, but we should haue an eye vpon the creature. If a man should say, I will be a defence to you, I will keepe you safe; but I cannot doe it wholly, such a one stands by, that may reach you a blow, from which I cannot defend you; In nature and reason, a man will haue an eye to that man, and so we would to the creature, if it were able to hurt vs: And so, likewise, for good, the Lord restraines not that, nor sayth, you shall haue a partiall happines, you shall haue no more then is in me, though there might be something besides in the creature; but he suffers our soules to be at full libertie, to seeke their happines to the vtmost, and, therefore, if the creature did adde the least drop of happines, or if the least beame of happines did spring from the creature, certainely, you might haue an eye vpon it, you might so farre worship it, and regard it; but it is wholly from the Lord: therefore, sayth he, let your hearts be onely fixed vpon me, let your eye be onely towards me, let your affections be taken vp about nothing but me, you shall spend all the strenght of your soules in obeying me, and keeping my Commandements:
- 1Ans.
- 2In doing us good, or hurt.In doing vs good, or hurt.
- 3Jer. 10. 5.Ier. 10. 5.
