1. I will prove, that the gre•t•st Glory the Creature is capable of, is to serve the Will, and set forth the Praise of its Creator: for every thing that attaineth not its end is vain. What matter is it whether I be a Dog or a Man, a Beast or an Angel, if I serve not the end for which I was made? and that is not the personal and particular benefit of any Creature, but the glory of ⟨p. 61⟩the Creator: for God made all things for himself; Prov. 16.4. whether he made Beasts or Man or Angels, it was still with a respect to his own glory and service. God is independent, and self-sufficient of himself, and for himself. Self-seeking in the creature is monstrous and incongruous: 'Tis as absurd, and unb•seeming, to seek its own Glory, as to attribute to its self its own being; Rom. 11.36. Of him and through him, and to him are all things. Gods glory is the end of our being, and doing; for being and doing are both from him, and therefore for him alone. Above all it concerneth man to consider this, who can glorify God not only objectively, by the impressions of God upon him, and passively as God will overrule all his actions to his own Glory, but actively as he is the mouth of the Creation, not only to honour God himself, but to give him the praise which resulteth from all his works: It was well s•id of a Heathen, si essem lus•inia; If I were a Nightingale, I would sing as a Nightingale, si alauda: If I were a Lark, I would pere as a Lark. When I am a man, what should I do but know, love and praise God without ceasing and glorify my Creator. Things are unprofitable, or mis-placed, when they do not seek or serve their end; therefore ⟨p. 62⟩for what use are we meet, who are so unmeet for our proper end? Like the wood of the vine that is good for nothing, not so much as to make a pin whereon to hang any thing, Jer. 20.15. Good for nothing but to be cast into the fire, unless it be fruitful. What are we good for, if we be not serviceable to the ends for which we were created.
1. I will prove, that the gre•t•st Glory the Creature is capable of, is to serve the Will, and set forth the Praise of its Creator: for every thing that attaineth not its end is vain. What matter is it whether I be a Dog or a Man, a Beast or an Angel, if I serve not the end for which I was made? and that is not the personal and particular benefit of any Creature, but the glory of ⟨p. 61⟩the Creator: for God made all things for himself; Prov. 16.4. whether he made Beasts or Man or Angels, it was still with a respect to his own glory and service. God is independent, and self-sufficient of himself, and for himself. Self-seeking in the creature is monstrous and incongruous: 'Tis as absurd, and unb•seeming, to seek its own Glory, as to attribute to its self its own being; Rom. 11.36. Of him and through him, and to him are all things. Gods glory is the end of our being, and doing; for being and doing are both from him, and therefore for him alone. Above all it concerneth man to consider this, who can glorifie God not onely objectively, by the impressions of God upon him, and passively as God will overule all his actions to his own Glory, but actively as he is the mouth of the Creation, not onely to honour God himself, but to give him the praise which resulteth from all his works: It was well s•id of a Heathen, si essem lus•inia; If I were a Nightingal, I would sing as a Nightingal, si alauda: If I were a Lark, I would pere as a Lark. When I am a man, what should I do but know, love and praise God without ceasing and glorifie my Creator. Things are unprofitable, or mis-placed, when they do not seek or serve their end; therefore ⟨p. 62⟩for what use are we meet, who are so unmeet for our proper end? Like the wood of the vine that is good for nothing, not so much as to make a pin whereon to hang any thing, Ier. 20.15. Good for nothing but to be cast into the fire, unless it be fruitful. What are we good for, if we be not serviceable to the ends for which we were created.
