1. By a survey of all the Creatures; Angels are under God the strongest of Spirits, but cannot subsist one moment without him; he is [Greek or Hebrew], Heb. 1. 7. he is making the Angels even to this day by a daily Conservation; their Immortality is a continual. Spiration from the Father of Spirits. The Heavens are the strongest of Bodies, yet cannot stand alone; God is [Greek or Hebrew] building his stories in the Heavens, Amos 9. 6. he is still a building ⟨p. 147⟩of them, or else all those glorious Arches would totter down; If he be but angry, the Pillars of Heaven tremble and are aghast, Job 26. 11. If he withdraw his hand, all the heavenly Volumes pass away as a Scroll, and out go the fair Letters of Sun, Moon and Stars in the twinkling of an Eye. The Earth is the Centre of the World, and as to Sense it hangs upon nothing, as if it were only poised by its own gravity; but this created Centre is bore up by the infinite Centre of all Being, and as to Faith and Reason hangs upon him; The pillars of it are the Lord's, 1 Sam. 2. 8. he by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Psal. 65. 6. or else they would be wavering towards nullity. The Sea is a vast spreading Element, but (lest it should be contracted into nothing) it is held in the hollow of his hand, Isai. 40. 12. and that imports no less than a preservative comprehension. All the numberless Birds in the Air, Beasts in the Earth, and Fishes in the Sea wait on him for their preservation; the sending forth of his Spirit is their Being, the opening of his hand their Provision, and the shadow of his wings their Protection; not a Sparrow forgotten before him; not a poor ⟨p. 148⟩Fly without an infinite Preserver. Man (who is the Epitome of all the rest) cannot but own him; O how soon would the earthen Pitcher break, if he did not keep it! how soon would the Lamp of the Soul go out, if he did not light it even every moment! Hence God is styled the preserver of men, Job 7. 20. a most universal preserver, even from the utmost hairs which are numbered by him, Matth. 10. 30. unto the inmost spirit which is preserved by his visitation, Job 10. 12. Thus running through the whole Catalogue of Creatures we must conclude with St. Austin, Deus est per omnia diffusus, non ut qualitas mundi, sed ut substantia cratrix; sine labour regens, & sine onere continens omnia.
1. By a survey of all the Creatures; Angels are under God the strongest of Spirits, but cannot subsist one moment without him; he is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Heb. 1. 7. he is making the Angels even to this day by a daily Conservation; their Immortality is a continual. Spiration from the Father of Spirits. The Heavens are the strongest of Bodies, yet cannot stand alone; God is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 building his stories in the Heavens, Amos 9. 6. he is still a building ⟨p. 147⟩of them, or else all those glorious Arches would totter down; If he be but angry, the Pillars of Heaven tremble and are agast, Job 26. 11. If he withdraw his hand, all the heavenly Volumes pass away as a Scroll, and out go the fair Letters of Sun, Moon and Stars in the twinkling of an Eye. The Earth is the Centre of the World, and as to Sense it hangs upon nothing, as if it were only poised by its own gravity; but this created Centre is bore up by the infinite Centre of all Being, and as to Faith and Reason hangs upon him; The pillars of it are the Lord's, 1 Sam. 2. 8. he by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Psal. 65. 6. or else they would be wavering towards nullity. The Sea is a vast spreading Element, but (lest it should be contracted into nothing) it is held in the hollow of his hand, Isai. 40. 12. and that imports no less than a preservative comprehension. All the numberless Birds in the Air, Beasts in the Earth, and Fishes in the Sea wait on him for their preservation; the sending forth of his Spirit is their Being, the opening of his hand their Provision, and the shadow of his wings their Protection; not a Sparrow forgotten before him; not a poor ⟨p. 148⟩Fly without an infinite Preserver. Man (who is the Epitome of all the rest) cannot but own him; O how soon would the earthen Pitcher break, if he did not keep it! how soon would the Lamp of the Soul go out, if he did not light it even every moment! Hence God is stiled the preserver of men,
