30 THE KNÒtNLEDGE OF SOD. is impossible : for if ten thousand generations cannót subsist of themselves without dependance on something before them, nei- ther can infinite or endless generations subsist of themselves With- out dependence. Suppose a chain of ten thousand links hung down from the sky, and could not support itself unless some mighty power upheld the first link : then it is certain, a chain of ten thousand times ten thousand links, or an endless chain, could never support itself. As the chain grows longer and heavier, the addition of new links can never make the chain more indepen- dent, orbetter support itself. There must be therefore some first bird, some first beast, some first man, from whom all these succeeding generations begun ; and since they are all dead, and could not preserve them- selves out of their own original sufficiency, it is certain they could not make themselves; they all must depend therefore on some mighty Being, who has ever lived, and will ever live, and who is the first Cause and Maker of all things besideshimself. Fur- ther argument for the beingof, a God will appear under the next particular. 2. We learn by the light of nature what God is, viz. that he is a Spirit, perfect in wisdom and perfect in power, who knows all things and can do all things, or who is all-wise and almighty. The amazing works of God in the heavens, the sun, moon and stars, their regular and unerring motions for so many thou- sand years, the progress of the hours, the changes of day and night, winter And summer, which depend oti these motions and revolutions, they all abundantly discover that the Maker of them was wise, and skilful beyond all our conceptions. If, we observe the operations of a clock or watch, which doth but imitate the mo- tions of these heavenly bodies, and point out to us the day and the hour, and distinctseasons ; we say, it is impossible this curi- ous engine could be made without great wisdomand skill in some artificer who contrived it ; and can we be so foolish as to imagine, thatthis vast andglorious engine ofthe heavens,with all its bright furniture, which makes times and seasons, day and flight, could ever come into being by chance, or be made without wisdom or contrivance. The wonderful production of plants, herbs, trees, and flow= ers, the astonishing operations of living creatures, and their se-, veral parts and powers fitted for the proper ends and designs of their life, discover to us the deep wisdom and knowledgeof the Beingthat made them. When we Observe the strange and sur- prizing actions of some animals, of dogs or foxes, of hen and chickens, of bees and emmits, we can scarce with-hold ourselves fróm ascribing knowledge and reason to them; and is it possible
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