Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

They could not but naturally know themselves sinners, and worthy of death, they might be easy reflections upon themselves, collect that they were not in that comely and harmonious posture now, as they were, when God first wrought them with his own finger, and placed them as his Lieutenants in the World; they knew they did grievously offend him, this they were taught by the sprinklings of his judgments among them sometimes. And since he did not utterly root up mankind, his sparing patience was a prologue of some further favours, or pardoning Grace to be displayed to the World by some methods of God yet unknown to them. Though the Earth was something impaired by the curse after the fall, yet the main pillars of it stood; the strate of the natural motions of the Creature was not changed, the Heavens remained in the same posture, wherein they were Created, the Sun and Moon and other heavenly bodies continued their usefulness and refreshing influences to man. The Heavens did still declare the Glory of God, day unto day did utter speech, their line is gone throughout all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World. Psal. 19.1, 2, 3. 4. Which declared God to be willing to do good to his Creatures, and were as so many legible letters or rudiments, whereby they might read his patience, and that a further design of favour to the World lay hid in that Patience. Paul applies this to the Preaching of the Gospel. Rom. 10.18. Have they not heard the word of God? yes verily their sound went into all the Earth, and their words unto the end of the World. Redeeming grace could not be spelled out by them in a clear notion, but yet they did declare that which is the Foundation of Gospel Mercy. Were not God patient there were no room for a Gospel Mercy, so that the Heavens declare the Gospel, not formally but fundamentally in declaring the long-suffering of God without which no Gospel had been framed, or could have been expected. They could not but read in those things favourable inclinations towards them. And though they could not be ignorant, that they deserved a mark of justice, yet seeing themselves supported by God, and beholding the regular motions of the Heavens from day to day and the Revolutions of the seasons of the year, the natural conclusion they might draw from thence was, that God was placable:

They could not but naturally know themselves sinners, and worthy of death, they might be easie reflections upon themselves, collect that they were not in that comely and harmonious posture now, as they were, when God first wrought them with his own finger, and placed them as his Lieutenants in the World; they knew they did grievously offend him, this they were taught by the sprinklings of his judgments among them sometimes. And since he did not utterly root up mankind, his sparing patience was a prologue of some further favours, or pardoning Grace to be display'd to the World by some methods of God yet unknown to them. Though the Earth was something impair'd by the curse after the fall, yet the main pillars of it stood; the strate of the natural motions of the Creature was not chang'd, the Heavens remain'd in the same posture, wherein they were Created, the Sun and Moon and other heavenly bodies continued their usefulness and refreshing influences to man. The Heavens did still declare the Glory of God, day unto day did utter speech, their line is gone throughout all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World.