Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The…

IN order to a right understanding of the scripture doctrine, and drawing just inferences from what we find said in the word of God relative to this matter; so to open the way to a true and definitive answer to the above enquiry, I would lay down the following positions,

Position, 1. THAT which appears to be spoken of as God's ultimate end in his works of providence in general, we may justly suppose to be his last end in the work of creation—This appears from what was observed before (under the fifth particular of the introduction) which I need not now repeat.

Pos. 2. WHEN any thing appears by the scripture to be the last end of some of the works of God, which thing appears in fact, to be the result, not only of this work, but of God's works in general. And although' it be not mentioned as the end of those works, but only or some of them, yet being actually the result of other works as well as that, & nothing appears peculiar, in the nature of the case, that renders it a fit, and beautiful and valuable result of those particular works, more than of the rest; but it appears with equal reason desirable and valuable in the case of all works, of which it is spoken of in the word of God as (and seen in fact to be) the effect; we may justly infer, that thing to be the last end of those other works also. For we must suppose it to be on account of the valuableness of the effect, that it is made the end of those works of which it is expressly spoken of as the end: and this effect, by the supposition, being equally, and in like manner the result of the work, and of the same value, 'tis but reasonable to suppose, that it is the end of the work, of which it is naturally the consequence, in one case as well as in another.

Pos. 2. WHEN any thing appears by the scripture to be the last end of some of the works of God, which thing appears in fact, to be the result, not only of this work, but of God's works in general. And altho' it be not mentioned as the end of those works, but only or some of them, yet being actually the result of other works as well as that, & nothing appears peculiar, in the nature of the case, that renders it a fit, and beautiful and valuable result of those particular works, more than of the rest; but it appears with equal reason desirable and valuable in the case of all works, of which it is spoken of in the word of God as (and seen in fact to be) the effect; we may justly infer, that thing to be the last end of those other works also. For we must suppose it to be on account of the valuableness of the effect, that it is made the end of those works of which it is expresly spoken of as the end: and this effect, by the supposition, being equally, and in like manner the result of the work, and of the same value, 'tis but reasonable to suppose, that it is the end of the work, of which it is naturally the consequence, in one case as well as in another.