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

5. THAT God uses the whole creation, in his whole government of it, for the good of his people, is most elegantly represented in Deut. 33. 26. "There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rideth on the heavens in thine help, and in his excellency on the sky". The whole universe is a machine, which God hath made for his own use▪ to be his chariot for him to ride in; as is represented in Ezekiels vision. In this chariot God's seat, or throne is heaven, where he sits, who uses and governs and rides in this chariot (Ezek. 1. 22, 26, 27, 28.) The inferior part of the creation, this visible universe, subject to such continual changes and revolutions, are the wheels of the chariot, under the place of the seat of him who rides in this chariot. God's providence in the constant revolutions and alterations and successive events, is represented by the motion of the wheels of the chariot, by the spirit of him who sits in his throne on the heavens, or above the firmament. Moses tells us for whose sake it is that God moves the wheels of this chariot, or rides in it sitting in his heavenly seat; and to what end he is making his progress, or goes his appointed journey in it, viz. the salvation of his people.

6. GOD's judgments on the wicked in this world, and also their eternal damnation in the world to come, are spoken of as being for the happiness of God's people. So are his judgments on them in this World. Isai. 43. 3, 4. "For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel, thy saviour. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou hast been precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life". So the works of God's vindictive justice and wrath, are spoken of as works of mercy to his people,