Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

Let us now briefly consider the indispensable Duties of rational Creatures with respect to the Maker of all things. And those are,

LEt us now briefly consider the indispensible Duties of rational Creatures with respect to the Maker of all things. And those are,

1. To acknowledge, and admire the Deity, and his perfections that are so visible in his Works. For there must be a first Cause from whom that receives being, that cannot proceed from it self. In all the forms of things there are some Characters stamped of the Divine Wisdom, that declare his Glory, some footsteps imprest of his Power that discover him; some ⟨p. 107⟩lines drawn of his Goodness that demonstrate him. And so much praise is justly due to the Artificer, as there is excellence of Art and Perfection of workmanship appearing in the Work. This Duty is especially incumbent on Man, because the World was made with a more eminent respect for him, than for Angels or Animals. For if we consider the diversity of its parts, the multitude and variety of sensitive Natures, of which it consists, and the Art whereby 'tis framed according to the most noble Idea and design of highest Wisdom, 'tis evident it was principally made for Man, there being an adequate correspondence between them, with regard to the faculties and the objects. 'Tis true the Angels understand more perfectly than Man ⟨p. 108⟩the union order and beauty of the World, an incomparable proof of the Makers perfections, but they are not capable of knowledge or pleasure by tastes, smells, sounds, which are only proportioned to make impressions on material Organs. And is it agreeable to Wisdom that an Object purely sensible should be chiefly intended for a Power purely Spiritual? Neither are the Beasts fit spectators of the Divine Works. For the material part to which sense can only reach, is the least notable in the frame of Nature, and the economy of the World. They cannot discover the dependence between Causes and Effects, the Means and End, nor the Wisdom that ordered all. These are only for the vision of the mind, which they want. The volume of the World to them