A Body of Practical Divinity

The wise Gubernation of all things evince there is a God: God is the great Superintendent of the World, he holds the Golden Reins of Government in his Hand, guiding all things most regularly and harmoniously to their ⟨p. 21⟩proper end; who that eyes Providence, but must be forced to acknowledge there is a God? Providence is the Queen and Governess of the World: it is the Hand that turns the Wheel of the whole Creation; Providence sets the Sun its Race, the Sea its Bounds. If God should not guide the World, things would run into an Ataxy and Confusion. When one looks on a Clock, and sees the motion of the Wheels, the striking of the Hammer, the hanging of the Plummets, he would say there were some Artificer did make it, and put it into that Order: So when we see the excellent Order and Harmony in the Universe, the Sun that great Luminary dispensing its Light and Heat to the World, without which the World were but a Grave or Prison, the Rivers sending forth their silver Streams to refresh the Bodies of Men, and prevent a Drought, and every Creature acting within its Sphere, and keeping its due Bounds, we must needs acknowledge there is a God who wisely orders and governs all these things. Who could set this great Army of the Creatures in their several Ranks and Squadrons, and keep them in their constant March, but he whose Name is, The LORD of Hosts? And as God doth wisely dispose all things in the whole Regiment of the Creatures, so by his Power he doth support them: Did God suspend and withdraw his Influence never so little, the Wheels of the Creation would unpin, and the Axle-tree break asunder. 3. The Motion of the Creatures: All Motion (as the Philosophers say) is from something that is unmoveable. As for Example: The Elements are moved by the Influence and Motion of the heavenly Bodies: The Sun and Moon, and these Planets, are moved by the highest Orb, called Primum Mobile; now if one should ask, Who moves that highest Orb, or the first Mover of the Planets? Sure it can be no other hand but God himself.

The wise Gubernation of all things evince there is a God: God is the great Superintendent of the World, he holds the Golden Reins of Government in his Hand, guiding all things most regularly and harmoniously to their ⟨p. 21⟩proper end; who that eyes Providence, but must be forced to acknowledge there is a God? Providence is the Queen and Governness of the World: it is the Hand that turns the Wheel of the whole Creation; Providence sets the Sun its Race, the Sea its Bounds. If God should not guide the World, things would run into an Ataxy and Confusion. When one looks on a Clock, and sees the motion of the Wheels, the striking of the Hammar, the hanging of the Plummets, he would say there were some Artificer did make it, and put it into that Order: So when we see the excellent Order and Harmony in the Universe, the Sun that great Luminary dispensing its Light and Heat to the World, without which the World were but a Grave or Prison, the Rivers sending forth their silver Streams to refresh the Bodies of Men, and prevent a Drought, and every Creature acting within its Sphere, and keeping its due Bounds, we must needs acknowledge there is a God who wisely orders and governs all these things. Who could set this great Army of the Creatures in their several Ranks and Squadrons, and keep them in their constant March, but he whose Name is, The LORD of Hosts? And as God doth wisely dispose all things in the whole Regiment of the Creatures, so by his Power he doth support them: Did God suspend and withdraw his Influence never so little, the Wheels of the Creation would unpin, and the Axle-tree break asunder. 3. The Motion of the Creatures: All Motion (as the Philosophers say) is from something that is unmoveable. As for Example: The Elements are moved by the Influence and Motion of the heavenly Bodies: The Sun and Moon, and these Planets, are moved by the highest Orb, call'd Primum Mobile; now if one should ask, Who moves that highest Orb, or the first Mover of the Planets? Sure it can be no other hand but God himself.