Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

4. Sin is the Contempt and Abuse of his excellent Goodness. This Argument is as vast as God's innumerable Mercies, whereby he allures and obliges us to Obedience: I shall restrain my Discourse of it, to three things wherein the Divine Goodness is very Conspicuous, and most ungratefully despised by Sinners.

1. His Creating Goodness. 'Tis clear without the lea st shadow of Doubt, that nothing can give the first being to it self; for this were to be before it was, which is a direct Contradiction: and 'tis evident that God is the sole Author of our Beings. Our Parents afforded the gross matter of our compounded Nature, but the Variety and Union, the Beauty and Usefulness of the several Parts, which is so Wonderful, that the Body is composed of as many Miracles as Members, was the Design of his Wisdom, and the Work of his Hands. The lively Idea and perfect Exemplar of that regular Fabric, was modelled in the Divine Mind. This affected the Psalmist with Admiration: I am fearfully and wonderfully made, ¹marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knows right well. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. And Job observes, Thy hands have made me and fashioned me round about. ²The Soul, our principal Part, is of a celestial Original, inspired from the father of Spirits. The faculties of Understanding and Election, are the indelible Characters of our Dignity above the Brutes, and make us capable to please, and glorify, and enjoy him. This first and fundamental Benefit, upon which all other Favours and Benefits are the Superstructure, was the Effect from an eternal Cause, his most free Decree, that ordained our Birth in the spaces of time. The Fountain was his pure Goodness; there was no necessity determining his Will, he did not want external declarative Glory, being infinitely happy in himself, and there could be no superior Power to constrain him. And that which renders our Maker's Goodness more free and obliging, is the consideration he might have created Millions of Men, and left us in our Native Nothing; and, as I may so speak, lost and buried in perpetual Darkness. Now, what was Gods end in Making us? Certainly it was becoming his infinite Understanding, that is, to communicate of his own Divine Fullness, and to be actively glorified by intelligent Creatures. Accordingly 'tis the solemn Acknowledgement of the Representative Church. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they were created.