534 THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SFIiti' ; OR DISC. \. and purposes through all ages of the world, and all nations on earth ! What inconceivable wisdom is that . which hath effectuallyappointed them all to centre in the accomplishment of his own eternal counsels ! And with what overwhelming amazement will this scene appear, when he shall shut up the theatre of this earth, and fold up the heavens as a curtain, and this visible structure of things shall be laid in ashes ? What an astonishing view must this be of the all -surveying knowledge,, all-compre- hending wisdom of a God, and with what holy and hum- ble pleasure must the pious soul be filled, who takes in and enjoys this scene of infinite varieties and wonders? How near doth such an hour approach to the bliss of heaven, and the raptures of contemplation, which, be- long to the blessed inhabitants of it ? 3. I might add somethingof the almighty power of God in his creation and government of the world, in -his king- doms of nature-and providence. " Did not the angelsre- joice at the birth-dayof this universe, and those " morn- ing stars shout forjoy" at the first,appearance' of this crea- tion ? Job xxxviii. 7. And what the inhabitants of heaven make their song, may not a holy soul be entertained with it, even to extacy and rapture? " I behold, says he, in divine meditation, I behold this huge structure of theuniverse, rising out of nothing, at the voice of his command ; I behold the several planets in their various orders, set a moving by the same word of power. With what delightful surprise do I hear them pronouncing the words, " Let there be light," and, lo, the light appears, Gen. i. 3, Let there be earth and seas ; let there be clouds and heavens let there be sun, moon, and stars, and, lo, the heavens, and the dry land, and the waters appear, the clouds and the stars in their various order and situation, and all the parts of the creation 'arise, all replenished with proper ornamentsand animals accord= ing to his word." At his command nature exists in all its regionswith all its furniture the beasts, and birds, and fishes, in all their forms arise, and at once they obey the several almighty orders he gave, and by the unknown and inconceivable farce of such a word, they leap out into existence in ten thousand forms. "Again what divine pleasure is it to hear a God be= ginning the work pf his providence, and speaking those
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=