Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

898 Oftbeioyesofhcemen. flore; how glorious, how gratious, how beautiful! and in- fink in all perfeSlion is he in his owne nature and eflence, which wanteth nothing, though he hauemade his creatures to abound? To this purpofe the author ofthe book of Wif- dome faith :that though they had frtch pleafurein the beautie of their idols,(as the Sun, Moone, and rea of the creatures) yet Wifdotme t 3.. fhonld they bane knowne hot' much more excellent he is that 344.5 made them : for the firfi author of beautie bath created thefe things ; ori f they marvelled at the power and operation of them, yet lbould they bane perceioted thereby, how much be that made theft things is mightier : for by thegreatnes and the beautie of the creatures, the Creator being compared with them may bee confrdered. For if the fingular parts of beautie and goodnes, being diuided and difperfed amongfl the creatures, be fo louely and delightfull; then what admirable loue and de- light (hall we ;bane in the chiefe goodneffe, in whom alone they are contained, compa &ed,and infinitly furpaf ed and excelled? ìflife created be fo pleafant,how much more is life Auguft.Ltedi the Creator? if healthbe fofweete and comfortable, how 'zt.,cap.'s. much more is he that made health ? if wifdome be louely, confining in the knowledge of thingscreated,how infinitly louely is that wifdome, which bath created them all of no- thing? Do we therefore loue beautie in the creatures? we Thal fee it infinitely redoubled in the Creator, from which crynallfountaine thefe little drops haue flowed. Do we loue vertueandgoodnesinmen? they are infinit in the God of vertue and goodnes. Do we delight in wifdome ? he is the God of wifdome and knowledge,from which great light, men haue receiued thefe little fparkes. Do we delire honors, riches, and pleafures? why he is the God of all glorie, who fatisfieth and filleth all with his hidden treafures; andin hit Pfalmu 16.4:. prefencers fulneffe ofioy, and at hit right hand pleafures fore sermore.ln a word, whatfoeuer is good, pleafant, and deli - rable in all the creatures, it is conioyued andby infinite de- grecs furpaffed in the Creator, from whom they haue had ail their excellencie, without any diminution of his fulnes and perfeccfion. 4.Seç?.4,. And thus it appearesh, that the perfe&ion.ofour happi rk t,a1 ;he kip. neffe