96 aAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. of my departure cometh : that is best which is, for it is the work of God: the world cannot be better at this instant than it is, nor any thing better, which is of God, because' it is as he willeth it to be ; but when God bath changed them, it will then be best that they are changed. W'e;e there no other good in my departure hence, but this simple good, the fulfilling of .God's will,'my reason telleth me that Ì should be fully satisfied in it: but there is also a subordinate sort of good. II. For my change will tend to the perfection of the universe ; even thatmaterial good orperfection, which is'its aptitude for the use to which God bath created and doth preserve it: as all the parts, the modes, the situation, the motions of a clock, a watch, or other engine, do' to the ends of the artificer. Though God bath not told me particularly, why every thing, and mode, and motion, is as it is, I know it is all done in perfect wisdóm;'and suited to its proper use and end. If the hen' or bird knoweth how to make her nest, to lay her eggs secretly together, when and how to sit on them till they are hatched, and how to feed them, and preserve them, and when to forsake them, as sufficient for themselves with- out her help, lac ; if the bee knoweth when, and whence, and how to gather her honey and wax, and how to form the repository combs, and how to lay it up, and all the . rest of her marvelous economy,shall I think that God doth, he knoweth not what, or what is not absolutely the -best ? Doth he want either skill, or will, or power? And should the stone grudge to be hewed, the brick tobe'burnt, the trees to be cut down, and sawed, and framed, the lead and iron to be melted, &c., when it is but to form an useful edifice, and to adapt and compose every part to the perfecting of the whole ? Shall the waters grudge that they must glide away, and the plants that they most die, and halfdie every winter, and the fruits and flowers that they must fall, or the moon that it must have its changing motions; or the sun that it must rise and set so oft, &c., when all is but the action and order which maketh up that harmo- ny and perfection which was designed by the Creator, and is pleasing to his will ? III. But lawful self-love is yet further hereingratified : the good- ness expressed in the text is that analogical, subordinate good, which is mihi bonum, my own felicity, and that which tendeth thereunto; it is most reasonable to love God best, and that next which is likes him, (if known,) and why should it not be the easiest and the sweetest ? But experience findeth it so easy:to love ourselves, that, certainly, if I firmly believe thát it is hest for me, shall desire to depart, and to be with Christ. And have I not reason to believe it ?
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