§. 16 These things being premised, we shall consider what Light is given unto this Sacred Duty from the Law of our Creation. The first End of any Law is to instruct, direct, and guide them in their duty, unto whom it is given. A Law which is not in its own Nature instructive and directive, is no way meet to be prescribed unto Rational Creatures. What hath an Influence upon any creature of any other kind, if it be internal is Instinct, and not properly a Law; if it be external, it is Force and Compulsion. The Law therefore of Creation comprised every thing, whereby God instructed man, in the creation of himself, and of the Universe, unto his Works, or Obedience, and his Rest or Reward. And whatever tended unto that End, belonged unto that Law. It is then as hath been proved, unduly confined unto the ingrafted Notions of his mind, concerning God, and his Duty towards him, though they are a principal part thereof. Whatever was designed to give improvement unto those Notions, and his natural Light, to excite or direct them, I mean in the Works of Nature, not superadded positive Institutions, doth also belong thereunto. Wherefore the whole Instruction that God intended to give unto man, by the Works of Creation, with their Order and End, ⟨p. 145⟩is as was said, included herein. What he might learn from them, or what God taught him by them, was no less his Duty, than what his own inbred Light directed him unto, Rom. 1. 18, 19, 20. Thus the framing of the world in six Days, in six Days of Work, was intended to be instructive unto man, as well as the consideration of the things materially that were made. God could have immediately produced All out of Nothing, [Greek or Hebrew], in the shortest measure of Time conceivable. But he not only made all things for himself, or his glory, but disposed also the Order of their Production unto the same End. And herein consisted part of that Covenant Instruction which he gave unto man in that condition wherein he was made, that through him he might have glory ascribed unto him, on the Account of his Works themselves, as also of the Order and Manner of their Creation. For it is vain to imagine, that the world was made in six Days, and those closed with a Day of Rest, without an especial respect unto the Obedience of Rational Creatures, seeing absolutely with respect unto God himself, neither of them was necessary.
§. 16 These things being premised, we shall consider what Light is given unto this Sacred Duty from the Law of our Creation. The first End of any Law is to instruct, direct, and guide them in their duty, unto whom it is given. A Law which is not in its own Nature instructive and directive, is no way meet to be prescribed unto Rational Creatures. What hath an Influence upon any creature of any other kind, if it be internal is Instinct, and not properly a Law; if it be external, it is Force and Compulsion. The Law therefore of Creation comprized every thing, whereby God instructed man, in the creation of himself, and of the Universe, unto his Works, or Obedience, and his Rest or Reward. And whatever tended unto that End, belonged unto that Law. It is then as hath been proved, unduly confined unto the ingrafted Notions of his mind, concerning God, and his Duty towards him, though they are a principal part thereof. Whatever was designed to give improvement unto those Notions, and his natural Light, to excite or direct them, I mean in the Works of Nature, not superadded positive Institutions, doth also belong thereunto. Wherefore the whole Instruction that God intended to give unto man, by the Works of Creation, with their Order and End, ⟨p. 145⟩is as was said, included herein. What he might learn from them, or what God taught him by them, was no less his Duty, than what his own inbred Light directed him unto, Rom. 1. 18, 19, 20. Thus the framing of the world in six Dayes, in six Dayes of Work, was intended to be instructive unto man, as well as the consideration of the things materially that were made. God could have immediately produced All out of Nothing, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in the shortest measure of Time conceivable. But he not only made all things for himself, or his glory, but disposed also the Order of their Production unto the same End. And herein consisted part of that Covenant Instruction which he gave unto man in that condition wherein he was made, that through him he might have glory ascribed unto him, on the Account of his Works themselves, as also of the Order and Manner of their Creation. For it is vain to imagine, that the world was made in six Dayes, and those closed with a Day of Rest, without an especial respect unto the Obedience of Rational Creatures, seeing absolutely with respect unto God himself, neither of them was necessary.
