CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Here is briefly laid down that position which the great and wise Philosophers of the world did boldly gainsay, for it tells us, This great Universe had a beginning, The world was not from Eternity; This Truth will tend much to particular Edification, for I shall not handle it in a mere speculative and metaphysical way, as some Philosophers do, while they debate this Point.

Here is briefly laid down that position which the great and wise Philosophers of the world did boldly gainsay, for it tels us, This great Ʋniverse had a beginning, The world was not from Eternity; This Truth will tend much to particular Edification, for I shall not handle it in a meer speculative and metaphysicall way, as some Philosophers doe, while they debate this Point.

Obs. That the world was not from Eternity, but had its beginning in time; The Sun and Stars though such glorious creatures, yet began to be in time, yea,¹ those glorious Angels, which have no principle of corruption within them, they were also made in time, although it was the general opinion of most of the Ancients, that the Angels were made long before this visible and corporeal world, but that is not so consonant to Scripture.

1. 1Observ. That the world was not from Eternity.

For the proof of this Point we might allege the first Chapter of Genesis, ¹where there is not only a relation of the worlds Creation, but an exact description of the manner how, and also all the effects of this Creation, so that that Chapter hath more divinity and philosophy in it then all the books of the wisest Heathens put together, and indeed whatsoever the Heathens have of Antiquity they have it from Moses, though they have added thereunto many foolish Fables; I shall add one pregnant Text to confirm this,