When the Psalmist made that general summons to the Angels, Heavens, Sun, Moon, Stars, Waters, Dragons, Deep, Fire, Hail, Snow, Vapours, Wind, Trees, Beasts, Cattle, creeping Things, flying Fowl, even all the hosts of Nature to sing praises to their great Makes, he added this as the supreme Reason of all, he commanded and they were created, Psal. 148. 5. Sermo Dei Volunt as 1est, Opus Dei Naeturae est. Unto whatsoever ⟨p. 141⟩his Will speaks a fiat, it comes forth into being; but if that be silent, not the least Atom can appear. The Egyptian Magicians cannot produce so much as the shadow or counterfeit semblance of a Louse, but as men mazed and nonplussed they are forced to cry out, This is the finger of God, Exod. 8. 19. And what these wicked Atheists mutter out touching this poor Creature upon the rack of Conviction, that the Catholic Church confesses touching all the World in a triumphant Gratulation. The Twenty four Elders (in the name of all Saints) falling down and worshipping before the Throne of the Everliving God, cry out, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created, Rev. 4. 11. O thou divine Will! thou art worthy to be adored in the Angels above, and Men below; in the Luminaries of Heaven and fruitfulness of Earth; in the Meteors of the Air and wonders of the Deep; in the life of the Plants and senses of the Beasts: at thy imperial Word all these came pouring out of the barren Womb of Nothing; the births of their Existence were all dated by thine hand; ⟨p. 142⟩the dowries of their goodness were all given by thy Love; the proprieties of their Being were all stamped on them by thy Ideal Truth; and the various Ranks and Orders of their standing were all set out by thy glorious Wisdom. O glorious Creator! who hast made all these things, go on one step further; create in us an admiring Heart, which by the scale of Creatures, as by Jacob's Ladder, may ascend higher and higher in the Adorations of thee; when we are at the lowest step of all, I mean mere Being, let's remember thee the chief and first of Beings; when at the second step, which is Being with Life, let's praise thee the only Fountain of Life; when at the third, which is Being and Life crowned with Sense, let's tremble at thee the All-seeing and All-hearing Deity;
When the Psalmist made that general summons to the Angels, Heavens, Sun, Moon, Stars, Waters, Dragons, Deep, Fire, Hail, Snow, Vapours, Wind, Trees, Beasts, Cattel, creeping Things, flying Fowl, even all the hosts of Nature to sing praises to their great Makes, he added this as the supreme Reason of all, he commanded and they were created, Psal. 148. 5. Sermo Dei Volunt as 1est, Opus Dei Naeturae est. Unto whatsoever ⟨p. 141⟩his Will speaks a fiat, it comes forth into being; but if that be silent, not the least Atom can appear. The Egyptian Magicians cannot produce so much as the shadow or counterfeit semblance of a Louse, but as men mazed and nonplus'd they are forced to cry out, This is the finger of God, Exod. 8. 19. And what these wicked Atheists mutter out touching this poor Creature upon the rack of Conviction, that the Catholick Church confesses touching all the World in a triumphant Gratulation. The Twenty four Elders (in the name of all Saints) falling down and worshipping before the Throne of the Everliving God, cry out, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created, Rev. 4. 11. O thou divine Will! thou art worthy to be adored in the Angels above, and Men below; in the Luminaries of Heaven and fruitfulness of Earth; in the Meteors of the Air and wonders of the Deep; in the life of the Plants and senses of the Beasts: at thy imperial Word all these came pouring out of the barren Womb of Nothing; the births of their Existence were all dated by thine hand; ⟨p. 142⟩the dowries of their goodness were all given by thy Love; the proprieties of their Being were all stamped on them by thy Ideal Truth; and the various Ranks and Orders of their standing were all set out by thy glorious Wisdom. O glorious Creator! who hast made all these things, go on one step further; create in us an admiring Heart, which by the scale of Creatures, as by Jacob's Ladder, may ascend higher and higher in the Adorations of thee; when we are at the lowest step of all, I mean mere Being, let's remember thee the chief and first of Beings; when at the second step, which is Being with Life, let's praise thee the only Fountain of Life; when at the third, which is Being and Life crowned with Sense, let's tremble at thee the All-seeing and All-hearing Deity;
- 1Ambr. H•••m Li. 1. cap. 9.
