The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…

Reas. 3. Unless God directed and governed all things that he created, his work would be imperfect, as not bringing it to its destinate end. It would also be subordinate to the operation or influence of some other upon it, that is not the principal, as we see it is among men. For he that makes a Ship, and directs, and governs her not afterwards in her •ailing; his work about her, it is but imperfect, and as it were vain, and his art and work is subordinated to the art of sailing, which doth the other and better sort of the work about that Ship.

Reas. 4. Common experience teacheth, that there is some present and powerful wisdom every where, that is efficacious in its workings and intentions, whereby creatures are directed in their operations. For without it, the kinds of all things could not have been preserved, and propagated under the same forms and figures, parts and dispositions, through all generations. Without it also, creatures that want reason, could not be directed to tend to ⟨p. 74⟩some certain end unknown to themselves, and to possess certain places most convenient for them, and to seek the order and preservation of the universe or whole, rather than their own particular. Without this providence it cannot be understood, how some beasts have such instinct, & as it were some beams of a certain wisdom imparted unto them, as they have; as may be seen, in Ants, Bees, Spiders, Swallows, Storks, of which the Scripture it self speaks, and in many other beasts, which are rightly said to be borne, as it were with a Law, a Book and a Lantern; with a Law, which they follow and observe constantly▪ in all their operations, in which Law a certain art and wisdom manifestly appears. With a Book, wherein they have that Law written down to them, because it is ever present with them, and indeed written or engraven on their souls. With a Lantern also, because at all times they so readily read therein, and perceive all such things, as agree to their condition.

Reas. 4. Common experience teacheth, that there is some present and powerfull wisdome every where, that is efficacious in its workings and intentions, whereby creatures are directed in their operations. For without it, the kinds of all things could not have been preserved, and propagated under the same forms and figures, parts and dispositions, through all generations. Without it also, creatures that want reason, could not be directed to tend to