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

2. This may convince the world had a beginning, because it could not make it self, and God was not a natural Agent necessitated to make it; For upon these two supposed grounds it might be thought, that the world had no beginning, and as for making it self that's plain, it could not, no more then an house, or a musical Instrument, or a Book; Hence it is that the Apostle Rom. 1. makes these creatures the Looking glass to represent the wisdom and power of God, and certainly the world had it made it self, would have given a more ⟨p. 157⟩glorious being to all the parts thereof, so that it's plain it was limited in its nature and parts, as the author thereof pleased, and in the next place, God was not necessitated to make it; As the fire cannot but burn, as the Bee necessarily makes it's curious honeycomb, so that although some have said, that as soon as the Sun is, so necessarily and immediately the Sun beams will be also, so as soon as God is, there must necessarily be a world, yet we must not conceive a less perfection in God then is in man, who is a free Agent, and works his effects of art, when he pleaseth; The Artificer is not necessitated to make a house, or a garment, then certainly much more must be allowed to God himself, who doth in heaven and in earth what he pleaseth, and this should satisfy those curious Questions why God made the world no sooner, what he did in that long imaginary time before the world was, the freedom of God and his absolute Sovereignty, with his infinite wisdom, may easily stop such mouths.

2. This may convince the world had a beginning, because it could not make it self, and God was not a naturall Agent necessitated to make it; For upon these two supposed grounds it might be thought, that the world had no beginning, and as for making it self that's plain, it could not, no more then an house, or a musical Instrument, or a Book; Hence it is that the Apostle Rom. 1. makes these creatures the Looking glasse to represent the wisedom and power of God, and certainly the world had it made it self, would have given a more ⟨p. 157⟩glorious being to all the parts thereof, so that it's plain it was limited in its nature and parts, as the authour thereof pleased, and in the next place, God was not necessitated to make it; As the fire cannot but burn, as the Bee necessarily makes it's curious honeycomb, so that although some have said, that as soon as the Sunne is, so necessarily and immediatly the Sun beams will be also, so as soon as God is, there must necessarily be a world, yet we must not conceive a lesse perfection in God then is in man, who is a free Agent, and works his effects of art, when he pleaseth; The Artificer is not necessitated to make a house, or a garment, then certainly much more must be allowed to God himself, who doth in heaven and in earth what he pleaseth, and this should satisfie those curious Questions why God made the world no sooner, what he did in that long imaginary time before the world was, the freedom of God and his absolute Soveraignty, with his infinite wisedom, may easily stop such mouths.