The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

The upholding of the world is a continual causing of it; and differeth from creation, as the continued shining of a Candle doth from the first lighting of it. If therefore the Creation do wonderfully declare the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness of God; so also doth the conservation. And note that Gods ordinary works are as great demonstrations of him in all his perfections, as his extraordinary: Is it not as great a declaration of the Power of God, that he cause the Sun to shine, and to keep its wondrous course from age to age, as if he did such a thing but for a day or hour? and as if he caused it to stand still a day? And is it not as great a demonstration of his knowledge also, and of his goodness? Surely we should take it for as great an act of Love, to have plenty, and health, and joy continued to us as long as we desired it, as for an hour. Let not then that duration and ordinariness of Gods manifestations to us, which is their aggravation, be looked upon as if it were their extenuation: But let us admire God in the Sun and Stars, in Sea and Land, as if this were the first time that ever we had seen them.

The upholding of the world is a continual causing of it; and differeth from creation, as the continued shining of a Candle doth from the first lighting of it. If therefore the Creation do wonderfully declare the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness of God; so also doth the conservation. And note that Gods ordinary works are as great demonstrations of him in all his perfections, as his extraordinary: Is it not as great a declaration of the Power of God, that he cause the Sun to shine, and to keep its wonderous course from age to age, as if he did such a thing but for a day or hour? and as if he caused it to stand still a day? And is it not as great a demonstration of his knowledge also, and of his goodness? Surely we should take it for as great an act of Love, to have plenty, and health, and joy continued to us as long as we desired it, as for an hour. Let not then that duration and ordinariness of Gods manifestations to us, which is their aggravation, be lookt upon as if it were their extenuation: But let us admire God in the Sun and Stars, in Sea and Land, as if this were the first time that ever we had seen them.

And yet let the extraordinariness of his works have its effects also: Their use is to stir up the drowsy mind of man, to see