2. God richly furnished the World for Man. He did not only Erect a stately Palace for his Habitation, but provided all kind of Furniture as a Mark of his Goodness for the Entertainment of his Creature Man: He Arched over his Habitation with a bespangled Heaven, and Floored it with a solid Earth, and spread a curious wrought Tapestry upon the Ground where he was to tread, and seemed to sweep all the Rubbish of the Chaos to the two uninhabitable Poles. When at the first Creation of the Matter the Waters covered the Earth, and rendered it uninhabitable for Man, God Drained them into the proper Channels he had founded for them, and set a bound that they might not pass over, that they turn not again to cover the Earth*. They fled and hasted away to their proper Stations,† as if they were ambitious to deny their own Nature, and content themselves with an Imprisonment for the convenient Habitation of him, who was to be appointed Lord of the World. He hath set up standing Lights in the Heaven, to direct our Motion and to regulate the Seasons: The Sun was Created, that Man might see to go forth to his Labour*: Both Sun and Moon though set in the Heaven, were formed to give light on the Earth†. The Air is his Aviary, the Sea and Rivers his Fish-ponds, the Valleys his Granary, the Mountains his Magazine; The first afford Man Creatures for Nourishment, the other Metals for Perfection: The Animals were Created for the support of the life of Man, the Herbs of the Ground were provided for the maintenance of their Lives, and gentle ⟨p. 610⟩Dews, and moistening Showers, and in some places slimy Floods appointed to render the Earth fruitful, and capable to offer to Man and Beast what was fit for their Nourishment. He hath peopled every Element with a variety of Creatures both for necessity and delight; all furnished with useful qualities for the Service of Man. There is not the most despicable thing in the whole Creation, but it is endued with a Nature to contribute something for our Welfare; either as Food to Nourish us when we are Healthful, or as Medicine to Cure us when we are Distempered, or as a Garment to Clothe us when we are Naked, and Arm us against the Cold of the Season, or as a refreshment when we are weary, or as a delight when we are sad; All serve for Necessity or Ornament, either to spread our Table, beautify our Dwellings, furnish our Closets, or store our Wardrobes:*
2. God richly furnisht the World for Man. He did not only Erect a stately Palace for his Habitation, but provided all kind of Furniture as a Mark of his Goodness for the Entertainment of his Creature Man: He Archt over his Habitation with a bespangled Heaven, and Floor'd it with a solid Earth, and spread a curious wrought Tapestry upon the Ground where he was to tread, and seemed to sweep all the Rubbish of the Chaos to the two uninhabitable Poles. When at the first Creation of the Matter the Waters cover'd the Earth, and rendred it uninhabitable for Man, God Drain'd them into the proper Chanels he had founded for them, and set a bound that they might not pass over, that they turn not again to cover the Earth*. They fled and hasted away to their proper Stations,† as if they were ambitious to deny their own Nature, and content themselves with an Imprisonment for the convenient Habitation of him, who was to be appointed Lord of the World. He hath set up standing Lights in the Heaven, to direct our Motion and to regulate the Seasons: The Sun was Created, that Man might see to go forth to his Labour*: Both Sun and Moon though set in the Heaven, were form'd to give light on the Earth†. The Air is his Aviary, the Sea and Rivers his Fish-ponds, the Valleys his Granary, the Mountains his Magazine; The first afford Man Creatures for Nourishment, the other Metals for Perfection: The Animals were Created for the support of the life of Man, the Herbs of the Ground were provided for the maintenance of their Lives, and gentle ⟨p. 610⟩Dews, and moistening Showers, and in some places slimy Flouds appointed to render the Earth fruitful, and capable to offer to Man and Beast what was fit for their Nourishment. He hath peopled every Element with a variety of Creatures both for necessity and delight; all furnisht with useful qualities for the Service of Man. There is not the most despicable thing in the whole Creation, but it is endued with a Nature to contribute something for our Welfare; either as Food to Nourish us when we are Healthful, or as Medicine to Cure us when we are Distemper'd, or as a Garment to Cloath us when we are Naked, and Arm us against the Cold of the Season, or as a refreshment when we are weary, or as a delight when we are sad; All serve for Necessity or Ornament, either to spread our Table, beautify our Dwellings, furnish our Closets, or store our VVardrobes:*
- *Gen. 1.9.
- †Psal. 104.7, 8, 9.
- *Psal. 104.22, 23.
- †Gen. 1.15, 17.
- *Psal. 104.24.
