The second thing to be obserued1 2is, ex quo, whereof they were made, viz. of nothing, only by his mighty powerful Word. So as the things we see, were not made of things that do appear, as the iApostle saith to the Hebrews, that is, were made of nothing. By kthe Word of JEHOVAH, as it is in the Psalms, the Heavens were made, and by the breath of his Mouth all the host of them. So it is in the 148. lPsalm, He commanded, and they were created. This appeareth evidently in the History of the Creation, throughout all the parts: God msaid, Let there be Light, and there was Light: And so in the rest. God therefore needed not (as silly men do) stuff or matter to work upon; he needed not tools or other instruments, neither used he the aid or help of any Assistant; as the nProphet teacheth us, when he crieth out, Who helped the Spirit of JEHOVAH? or as a man of his counsel gave him Knowledge? And this being against the course of nature, and contrary to the beaten axiom of all Philosophy, that of nothing it is impossible any thing should come, is worthily made a fruit of Faith for men to believe; the oApostle bearing witness, that by faith only we understand it: for howsoever many of the Heathen who knew not God, especially the wiser sort, have in a kind acknowledged a Creation: Neither in truth can any be so blockish, as not to see it, if he look but up to Heaven, and the frame of this World, which have the name of their Workman and Creator written in their fore-head: yet never was there any, not so much ⟨p. 73⟩as the wisest of them, that could attain to this, How the World should be made of nothing. Here therefore all reason of man must stoop, and be content to learn of him, in whose School it is better to be Scholars, then Teachers and Professors any where besides; who not only maketh men wiser then the beasts of the field, as it is in the pBook of Job, but teacheth his wisdom above the wisdom of the wise, and guideth them by paths, that no foot of vain Philosophy is able for to walk.
The second thing to bee obserued1 2is, ex quo, whereof they were made, viz. of nothing, onely by his mighty powerfull Word. So as the things wee see, were not made of things that doe appeare, as the iApostle saith to the Hebrewes, that is, were made of nothing. By kthe Word of IEHOVAH, as it is in the Psalmes, the Heauens were made, and by the breath of his Mouth all the host of them. So it is in the 148. lPsalme, He commanded, and they were created. This appeareth euidently in the History of the Creation, thorowout all the parts: God msaid, Let there bee Light, and there was Light: And so in the rest. God therefore needed not (as silly men doe) stuffe or matter to worke vpon; hee needed not tooles or other instruments, neyther vsed hee the ayde or helpe of any Assistant; as the nProphet teacheth vs, when hee cryeth out, Who holpe the Spirit of IEHOVAH? or as a man of his counsell gaue him Knowledge? And this being against the course of nature, and contrary to the beaten axiome of all Philosophie, that of nothing it is impossible any thing should come, is worthily made a fruit of Faith for men to beleeue; the oApostle bearing witnesse, that by faith onely wee vnderstand it: for howsoeuer many of the Heathen who knew not God, especially the wiser sort, haue in a kinde acknowledged a Creation: Neyther in truth can any bee so blockish, as not to see it, if he looke but vp to Heauen, and the frame of this World, which haue the name of their Workeman and Creatour written in their fore-head: yet neuer was there any, not so much ⟨p. 73⟩as the wisest of them, that could attaine to this, How the World should bee made of nothing. Heere therefore all reason of man must stoope, and bee content to learne of him, in whose Schoole it is better to bee Schollers, then Teachers and Professors any where besides; who not onely maketh men wiser then the beasts of the field, as it is in the
- 1Of nothing.
- 2Those that held all or some of the Creatures, whether Angels or the souls of men to be made or traduced (as they call it) out of Gods own essence.Those that held all or some of the Creatures, whether Angels or the soules of men to bee made or traduced (as they call it) out of Gods owne essence.
- iHeb. 11. 13.
- kPsal. 33. 6.
- lPsal. 148. 5.
- mGen. 1. 3.
- nIsaiah 40. 13.Esay 40. 13.
- oHeb. 11. 3.
- pJob 35. 11.Iob 35. 11.
