Though we rightly distinguish the works of God (as was touched before) into ordinary and extraordinary, common and wonderful, yet did we fully understand them, there is a kind of wonder and miraculousness in all the works of God, even in his most common, ordinary, or every days wo•ks. What is more ordinary and common than the generation and formation of man, Yet (saith David, Psal. 139.15.) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. And the reason why we do not look out the wonders of that and of many other common works of God, is, because they are so common. The very falling of the Rain hath a wonder in it, the blowing of the Wind hath a wonder in it, the motion of the Clouds hath a wonder in it, the growing of every spire of grass out of the earth hath a wonder it it, the budding out of every leaf and blossom on the tree hath a wonder in it; yet because ⟨p. 534⟩these things are common, we do not think nor call them wonderful. Every one would think i• a wonder to see a dry rod, a rod cut off from the tree, blossom, as Aaron's did (Numb. 17.8.) but who thinks it a wonder, to see a tree well rooted in the earth blossom every Spring? yet there is a wonder, a wonderful work of God in that al•o.1 A Heathen Philosopher could say from his own observation of things and persons, Custom takes away admiration. Such is the genius or spy it of mankind, that we never admire what we often see or meet with, though in it self it be never so admirable. Who admires the motion of the Sun every day? yet the Suns motion every day is as miraculous and stupendous, as its standing still was in that day of Joshua's battle with the Kings, or as its retrograde motion or going back was in that day of King Hezekiah's recovery from a mortal disease. That such a vast body as the Sun, should take and fulfil such a journey, should pass such an unconceivable space in twenty-four hours, is an amazing wonder,2 yet no man wonders at it. I• hath been said, The Sun and Moon have hardly any beholders (they can scarcely get a look from us) unless when Eclipsed, and then all men stand gazing and wondering at them, every one will be looking towards them with hands lifted up, & say, O strange!
Though we rightly distinguish the works of God (as was touched before) into ordinary and extraordinary, common and wonderfull, yet did we fully understand them, there is a kind of wonder and miraculousness in all the works of God, even in his most common, ordinary, or every dayes wo•ks. What is more ordinary and common than the generation and formation of man, Yet (saith David, Psal. 139.15.) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marveilous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. And the reason why we do not look out the wonders of that and of many other common works of God, is, because they are so common. The very falling of the Rain hath a wonder in it, the blowing of the Wind hath a wonder in it, the motion of the Clouds hath a wonder in it, the growing of every spire of grass out of the earth hath a wonder it it, the budding out of every leaf and blossom on the tree hath a wonder in it; yet because ⟨p. 534⟩these things are common, we do not think nor call them wonderfull. Every one would think i• a wonder to see a dry rod, a rod cut off from the tree, blossom, as Aarons did (Numb. 17.8.) but who thinks it a wonder, to see a tree well rooted in the earth blossom every Spring? yet there is a wonder, a wonderfull work of God in that al•o.1 A Heathen Philo•opher could say from his own ob•e•vation of things and persons, Custom takes away admiration. Such is the genius or spi it of mankind, that we never admire what we often see or meet with, though in it self it be never so admirable. Who admires the motion of the Sun every day? yet the Suns motion every day is as miraculous and stu•endious, as its standing still was in that day of Joshua's battel with the Kings, or as its retrograde motion or going back was in that day of King Hezekiah's recovery from a mortal disease. That such a vast body as the Sun, should take and fulfill such a journey, should pass such an unconceivable space in twenty-four houres, is an amazing wonder,2 yet no man wonders at it. I• hath been said, The Sun and Moon have hardly any beholders (they can scarcely get a look from us) unless when Eclipsed, and then all men stand gazing and wondering at them, every one will be looking towards them with hands lifted up, & say, O strange!
- 1Magnitudine rerum cons•etudo subducit: I•a enim compositi su••us, ut nos, quotidi ant etiamsi admiration digna sint. tran•eam. Sen: l, 7. Nat: quaell: c. 11.Magnitudine rerum cons•etudo subducit: I•a enim compositi su••us, ut nos, quotidi ant etiamsi admiratione digna sint. tran•eam. Sen: l, 7. Nat: quaell: c. 11.
- 2Sol spectatorem, nisi cum d•fi it, non habet; nemo observat lunam, nisi laborantam.
