Introdu&. Cods Providence in&enerats andparticthrs. Chap.7. 3r Now to prove that there is a Providence. r... In generals. 2. In fingulat:and z. particulars. 3. Not only by the ordinary courfe offecondary caufes, but imme- diately fromGodhimfelf. There is ,a Providence in general matters. . J. It is natural toevery one, ur curet quadprocreavit, tohave a s oi, a natural love r. and affeftion to that which it bringeth forth ; and thisbeing the gift ofGod in his , Creatures, cannot be wanting in himfelf. A9fiorgia is a vice, and tobe reproved in Heb, ta. man, and therefore cannotbefal God, but when it feemeth to fall inGod, by his laying afirtionsand troubles upon any of his creatures, it is not 4;9'1,4 or want of love to them, but a trlanifelt providence over them; for whom he loves he cha- ftens, and thereby furthers their chiefeft good. 2. No wife Artificer will give over his work before he have finifhed it, and brought it to perfeCtion : but every day God bringeth forth forenew thing, Tome new effeft, things which are tending to perfeEtion, for things are yet daily in gene- ration ; and therefore God hash his Providence over them to bring them thereunto. r. In particulars. We fee (withAriflotle) that theSea is far higher than the Land. the Waters far above the brims of the Earth, andWater is an unruly Element, apt to overflow by its nature : yet Philofophers being unable to render a fatisfaftory reafon, why it overflowsnot the earth, it follows, that it is of Gods providence, who limitsthe bounds thereof, and commands it to pafs nofurther. And ifany fay, that the water and earth make one fphere or globe, and there- fore the fwellingof any part, is onely in appearence, that fpherical figure being the natural figure ofthewhole ; yet herein providence plainly appears, in that fora parts of the earth are made hollow, to be receptacles for the Sea, which otherwife Mould by order ofnature cover the whole earth, and fo the dry land appear for the ufeof Men. and Beafts. 2. The next reafon is from Plotinus, fetcht from the plants , which if they ftartd between two kinds of foyle, foyle of two natures , one dry andbarren,and the o- ther moyft and fruitful, they will naturally (hoot all their roots to the fruitful foyle. As alto fromLillies, and Marigolds, and divers other flowers , that of themfelves o naturallydole toward evening with the Sunfet, left they fhould receive evil and corrupt moyfture in the night , and in the morning open again ; toreceive the heat of theSun. 3. The next is fromBirds. Our Saviour in a Sermon to his ßifhiples, concerning Luke rs. äq; Gods Providence, bids them obferve and markwell. Confider (faith he) theRavens, for theyneither lownor reap, they have neither Store.houle norBarn; and yet God feedeth them. And King David teftifieth, the like, that theRavens are fedofGod. Pfaim 47.9. And it is reported, that their youngones being forfaken by the Dam and left bare , a Wormarifeth out of their Dung, creepethup to their Bìll,and feedeth them. 4r The fourth is from Fifhes. Ariffotlereporteth ; that the littleFi(h Pinnothera entring league with theCrab, takerh aftone in her Mouth and when the Oyfter openeth againft theSun, fwimmeth in with the ftone in her Mouth, fo that theOy- fter not being able to dole again , the Ctab pulleth out the Meat, and'theyboth divide thePrey. 5. The nextis from Beafts. We fee that the Providenceof Godhath.taken order, that wild Bealls fhould .not be fo generative as tame, leftby their multiplicity they Mould do much harm. Secondly, Though they be naturallydefirous ofprey, yet God bath fo difpofed, that when the Sun arifeth in the day-tithe,, ( when they might heft fir themfelves) they getthem away and lay them downin their Dens; and Man goeth forth to his labour ( and worketh fecurely ) till the evening , as the Prophet (peaks. And when Man goeth to his rail; then go they to feek theirprey. Pfal, ro4, z Which muttnecefi'arily bo a great argument of Gods Providence, 33. 6. And fo generally from .all living Creatures; by difcernirg their feveral places of nourifhment. As the filly Lamb, amonga multitudeof Ews , to choofeout its Own Darn. As alto id avoiding things noyfome and hurtful to them : as the Chicken to run away at the noy feofa Kite even alnioft as loon as it is hatched; theLamb to flee from the Woolf; and the like. 7. From the extraordinary love ofParents to their Children , though never fo .deformed, ir, as great meafure, as if they had nodefeti in nature. 8. Laftíi
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