Let us not once think then, that David his meaning here is too make a comparison, and an equal proportion, of the continuance of this world, and the constancy which we see in the order of nature, with the trueth of God. But he showeth unto us that even in these corruptible things, we might the better perceive how faithful GOD is: and if he be true in these things on the earth, what shall he him self then be? I beseech you tell me, from whence hath the earth her foundation? It is founded both upon the water and also upon the air: Lo her foundation. We can not possibly build a house fifteen foot height upon the firm ground but that we must lay a foundation. See all the whole earth is founded only wavering, and as it were hanging, yea, and upon so bottomless depths, as that it might be turned upsidedown in the minute of an hour, and the whole substance of it utterly overthrown. It must needs then be, that there is a wonderful power of God showed in the conserving of it, in the same sort it standeth. And that is it which is here showed unto us: to wit because that God hath said, That the earth was in the middest of the world, and that it was so ⟨p. 100⟩laid as it is: hereby we know what the certainty of his trueth is. But we must here forsooth compare the less things with the greater, as we say. How from the lesser to the greater? I will show you by example, If I say we did see such excellency in the body of a man, as that it might bethought to be even the very image of God: whereby we know the thing that is written, that God hath ordained man to be the chief of all his creatures, and given him great dignity, nobleness, and power over all living creatures.1 Even so also, in praising that which is in man, we may descend from the body to the soul: and this is from the hiest too the lowest, and from the less to the more: So likewise is it in this place, when David setteth before our eyes the order of nature: This is not (as I have already said) to measure and compare the trueth of God, with such a measure: But to the end we might reason and say, If in these frail and transitory things which are subject to corruption, we see such a constancy because it is God his will it should be so: What shall we then say of his trueth, which surpasseth all the world?
Let vs not once thinke then, that Dauid his meaning heere is too make a comparison, and an equall proportion, of the continuance of this worlde, and the constancye which wee see in the order of nature, with the trueth of God. But he sheweth vnto vs that euen in these corruptible thinges, wee might the better perceiue howe faythfull GOD is: and if hee bee true in these thinges on the earth, what shall hee him selfe then bee? I beseech you tell mee, from whence hath the earth her foundation? It is founded bothe vpon the water and also vpon the ayre: Loe her foundation. Wee can not possibly build a house fifteene foote hight vpon the firme grounde but that wee muste lay a foundation. See all the whole earth is founded onely wauering, and as it were hanging, yea, and vppon so bottomlesse deapthes, as that it might be turned vpsidedowne in the minute of an houre, and the whole substaunce of it vtterly ouerthrowne. It must needes then be, that there is a wonderful power of God shewed in the conseruing of it, in the same sort it stādeth. And that is it which is here shewed vnto vs: to witte because that God hath sayde, That the earth was in the middest of the worlde, and that it was so ⟨p. 100⟩layde as it is: heereby we knowe what the certaintie of his trueth is. But wee must heere forsooth compare the lesse thinges with the greater, as we say. How from the lesser to the greater? I wil shew you by example, If I say we did se such excellēcie in the body of a man, as that it might bethought to be euen the very image of God: wherby we knowe the thing that is writtē, that God hath ordayned man to be the chiefe of all his creatures, and giuen him greate dignitie, noblenesse, and power ouer all liuing creatures.1 Euen so also, in praysing that which is in man, we may descende from the body to the soule: and this is from the hyest too the lowest, and from the lesse to the more: So likewise is it in this place, when Dauid setteth before our eyes the order of nature: This is not (as I haue already sayde) to measure and compare the trueth of God, with such a measure: But to the ende wee might reason and say, If in these frayle and transitory thinges which are subiect to corruption, wee see such a constancy because it is God his will it shoulde be so: What shall we then say of his trueth, which surpasseth all the worlde?
- 1Psal. 8.6.
