The PREFACE. 



fuch a thing as one ofthefe ; and if they cannot do it^ 

 who can or did make it but God? To tell them that 

 it made itfelf^ or fprung up by chance^ would be as 

 ridiculous as to tell the great eji Philojbpher fo. 



Secondly, The Particulars of this Difcourfe ferve 

 not only to de^nonjlrate the Being of a 'Deity ^ but alfa 

 to illiijlrate fome of his principal Attributes ; aSy 

 namely^ his infinite Power a7id Wifdom\ the vafl 

 * Multitude of Creatures^ and thofe 7iot only fmall^ but 

 imme?ifely greats the Sun arid Moon^ and all the hea-- 

 'vejily Hofi^ are EffeBs and Proofs of his Almighty 

 Power, The Heavens declare the Glory of God^ 

 and the Firmament iheweth his Handy-work, 

 PfaL xix. I. The admirable Co7itrivance of all and 

 each of them y the adapting all the Parts of Animah 

 to their feveral Ufes^ the Provifion that is made for 

 their Suftenance^ which is often taken notice of in 

 Scripture, Pfal. cxlv. 15, 16. The Eyes of all 

 wait upon thee: thou giveft them their meat in 

 due feafon. Thou opened thy hand, and fatisfieft 

 the deiire of every living thing. Matth. vi. 26. 

 Behold the fowls of the air, for they fow not, nei- 

 ther do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your 

 heavenly Father feedeth them. Pfil- cxlvii. 9. 

 He giveth to the beaft his food, and to the young 

 Ravens when they cry. And lafily^ their ??mtual 

 Subferviency to each others and imani?HOus confpiring 

 to promote and carry on the Publick Good^ are e-vt- 

 de?2t Demonft rat ions cf his Sovereign IVifdom. 



Laft!y, They few e to fiir up and increafe in us 

 the Afi-ecl ions a?id Habits of Adtniration^ Hu?ni!ityy 

 and Gratitude. Pfal, viii. 3. When I confider 

 the heavens, the work of thy fin§ers> the moon 



B z and 



