Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Is it not a folly to deny the being of a wise Agent, who sparkles in the beauty and motions of the Heavens; rides upon the wings of the wind, and is writ upon the flowers and fruits of Plants. As the cause is known by the effects, so the wisdom of the cause is known by the elegance of the work, the proportion of the parts to one another. Who can imagine the world could be rashly made, and without consultation, which in every part of it is so Artificially framed?^* No work of Art springs up of its own accord. The world is framed by an excellent Art, and therefore made by some skilful Artist. As we hear not a melodious instrument, but we conclude there is a Musician that touches it, as well as some skilful hand that framed, and disposed it for those Lessons. And no man that hears the pleasant sound of a Lute but will fix his thoughts, not upon the Instrument it self, but upon the skill of the Artist that made it, and the art of the Musician that strikes it, though he should not see the first, when he saw the Lute, nor see the other when he hears the harmony. So a rational Creature confines not his thoughts to his sense when he sees the Sun in its Glory and the Moon walking in its brightness; but riseth up in a contemplation and admiration of that infinite Spirit that composed, and filled them with such sweetness.

Is it not a folly to deny the being of a wise Agent, who sparkles in the beauty and motions of the Heavens; rides upon the wings of the wind, and is writ upon the flowers and fruits of Plants. As the cause is known by the effects, so the wisdom of the cause is known by the elegancy of the work, the proportion of the parts to one another. Who can imagine the world could be rashly made, and without consultation, which in every part of it is so Artificially framed?^* No work of Art springs up of its own accord. The world is framed by an excellent Art, and therefore made by some skilful Artist. As we hear not a melodious instrument, but we conclude there is a Musitian that touches it, as well as some skilful hand that framed, and disposed it for those Lessons. And no man that hears the pleasant sound of a Lute but will fix his thoughts, not upon the Instrument it self, but upon the skill of the Artist that made it, and the art of the Musitian that strikes it, though he should not see the first, when he saw the Lute, nor see the other when he hears the harmony. So a rational Creature confines not his thoughts to his sense when he sees the Sun in its Glory and the Moon walking in its brightness; but riseth up in a contemplation and admiration of that infinite Spirit that composed, and filled them with such sweetness.