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

Use 1 1. Did God make the world and that not from Eternity, but in time, about almost six thousand years ago, and no longer? Then here we see he made it not because he needed it, because he wanted it, for if it had been necessary to God, it would have been from Eternity, but now seeing there is such a vast distance between Eternity and the beginning of the world: It's plain that he made it not for his use but mans use; It was his goodness communicating himself to the creature, not any want of it: God then had been happy sufficient, ⟨p. 158⟩and blessed, though he never had created any world, for by what reason he staid so long and did not make the world, he might have stayed always; So that this serveth to magnify the glorious nature of God, that all the world with all the creatures therein make not at all to his happiness; They add not to him; All the obedience of Angels and men doth not profit God, This should teach us great humility even under our best and rarest duties: Think with thy self if God had never created me, if he had never given me any being, he would have been glorious howsoever, What then is my drop to this Ocean?

Ʋse 1 1. Did God make the world and that not from Eternity, but in time, about almost six thousand years agoe, and no longer? Then here we see he made it not because he needed it, because he wanted it, for if it had been necessary to God, it would have been from Eternity, but now seeing there is such a vast distance between Eternity and the beginning of the world: It's plain that he made it not for his use but mans use; It was his goodnesse communicating himself to the creature, not any want of it: God then had been happy sufficient, ⟨p. 158⟩and blessed, though he never had created any world, for by what reason he staid so long and did not make the world, he might have staied alwaies; So that this serveth to magnifie the glorious nature of God, that all the world with all the creatures therein make not at all to his happinesse; They adde not to him; All the obedience of Angels and men doth not profit God, This should teach us great humility even under our best and rarest duties: Think with thy self if God had never created me, if he had never given me any being, he would have been glorious howsoever, What then is my drop to this Ocean?