Chap, 28. e.An Expofitiox upon the Book of J o a. Verf. 27. 35 which, wifdom challenges precedency in time. And chofe parti- culars arevery worthy to be touched upon for theailiultration as well as confirmationof this great point of faith. And fir('t he be- gins with depths and fountains(v. 24.)When there were no depths, 1 was brought forth, when there were no fountains ab4uniing with water. Depths are thole channels, thole vall veffels or ci(terns, wherein the waters are conveighed or contained , which other- wife, would overflow the earth, and make it unuieful both for man and built. Fountaines (as the Hebrew word elegantly im- plyes) are thole eyes by which the Seas look out here and there among the hills. And fuch is the fathomlefs depth ofmany wa- ters, fuch the continual flowing of force fountaines, that they may Teem to have flowed continually, even from everlafting ; yet there was a time when there were nodepths, all things being wrapt up in that unconceivable deep of Gods infinity. There was a time when there were no fountains, the will of God having Pealed up hìmfelf to himfelf who is the fountain of all things ;; yet even before the birth either of depths or fountaines by the wifdom of God, was the wifdom , the eternal wifdom of God brought forth. From depths and fountaines he proceeds to the hits and mountains (v. 25.) Before the mountaines were fettled ; before the bills, was Ibrought forth. Of which he faith, that they were fetled, or (as the Hebrew elegancy bath it)drowned,becaufe the rootesand botcomes of them are laid fo deep out of fight that they cannot be diCcovered, as a drowned land cannot. Ha- ving fpoken of the earth in its rude unformed mafhe (v. 23 .) he mentions the earth again as feparated and formed (0.26.) While asyet hehad net made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highefl part of thedull of the world ; that is, the open fields,plainesand cham- pions, which are fitted for corn and grafs, for tillage, or for tra- vel ; there he talleth the hither!part (or head ) of the duff of theworld, where indeed all the dull is railed, and mo[f of the bufineffe which concernes mans life,are tranfaeced and done.Now as in there former paffages, Wifdom or the S: n of God !heaved the exit ence of his perfon eternally before the creation, fo in the 27Th 28-h 29th verfes following, he declares his prefence ar,yea and efLiency in the whole work of creation, and he in them makes mention of four parts of that mightywork; Cr(f, of the heavens ; fecoadly, of the ayr ; thirdly,of thewaters ; fourthly, Zzz of
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