268 ARM, H A N D, A N D in the whole vifible Creation about them. 'Tis our Ig- norance alone, which deprives our Hearts of the higheft Degreeof that Ravifhmentand Delight, which thofe only can conceive (though but in a lowDegree), who have difcovered the Agreements ofTruthupon a laborious In- veftigation, or fome Demonftrations in Science ofhigh Importance and Concern. And if the Aftronomer and the Mathematician can receive fo intenfe a Pleafure, as fume have received, from the mere Shadowof a Specula- tion; how much more exalted mutt the Happinefs of the Chriftian be, when the Spirit of GOD, not only explains the Myfteries of the Kingdom to his Intellect, but feals upon his Soul a Demonftration of his eternal Intereft in them"? The INVISIBLE Things of GOD (fays the Apoftle) from the Creation of the World are CLEARLY SEEN, being UN- DERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE : * i. e. Things, invifible to the carnal Eye, are clearly feen by the enlightened Eye of the Mind ; being underf}ood, from the lively and fenfible Defcription of them, in the Things that are made. The material World and its Objects are Pictures, in fome View or other, of the Act- ingsofGOD in the fpiritual World. Upon this Plan, the lively Oracles of Truth appear to have been written. Grace takes Occafion from Nature to explain itfelf to thofe, who are the Subjects of Grace ; and Nature re- tains a faithful Defcription, and exhibits a conftant Lef- fon, to thofe Subjects, of what they are and of what they owe to Hias, who hath difplayed Rich Wonders in the vifible.and fpiritual World for their Salvation. Thus, to a gracious Heart, Nature is but a material Modifica- tion of divine Grace, or Grace acting in a lower De- gree ; though, to the World at large, it not only feems, but is, far otherwife. Now, as we can neither borrowIdeas from others, nor conceive the Relations of Things to ourfelves, but by the Objects of Senfe around us, or throughforce fenfible Medium ; fo the Objects, proper for conveying the In- * Rom, i, 20. teiligence
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