having faid, Thou, even thou, art Lord alone: Thou haft made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens with all their Hofs; the Earth and all Things that are therein; the Seas and all that is therein; it is added, and thou preferveft them all. We must not imagine that, when the Creatures are once brought into Being, they are able to continue themselves in Existence, without any farther Care of the Almighty; No. They depend on the Hand which firft formed them for their continual Confervation. He upholdeth all Things by the Word of his Power, and it is by or in him that all Things confift. It is by his conftant wife and powerful Influence, acting on every Part of this vaft universal System, that what we ufually call the Courfe of Nature is maintained, and that all Things in the inanimate. Creation ftill proceed according to a fettled Rule and Order. To this it is owing, that the Sun, Moon, and Stars preferve their feveral Courses or Stations, from which they have not deviated through fo long a Succeffion of Ages; that the feveral Viciffitudes of Seafons conftantly return, fo that Seed-time and Harvest, and Cold and Heat, and Summer and Winter, and Day and Night do not cease. Gen. viii. 22. and that the Earth continueth to bring forth abundantly in

F

an

an orderly Series fuch an amazing Variety of Productions. The Minerals are ftill generated and ripened in it's Bowels; and the Herbs, Trees, Flowers, and various Kinds of Grain, preferve their several Virtues, and their diftinct Forms and Appearances.. To this also it is owing, that the different Species of Animals are preferved, and conti ́nue to be furnished in all Ages with the fame Organs and Appetites for exercifing the various Functions of the fenfitive Life. The fame Obfervation holds with Regard to the higher Orders of rational intellectual Beings, none of them have an independent Exiftence. By the fuftaining Influence of the Almighty the glorious Angels are maintained in their noble immortal Life, and in the Ufe and Exercife of their admirable and fublime Powers. And, as to the human Race, it is in him that we live, and move, and have our Being, as St. Paul obferves, Acts xvii. 26. To his providential Care and Concourfe it is to be afcribed, that the human Body ftill retaineth it's curious Form and all it's exquifite Organs; that the ani mal and vital Functions are carried on; and that the human Soul is upheld in it's noble Faculties, and inabled to put them forth to Action. Who can attentively confider this univerfal Dependence of the

whole

whole Creation upon God, and not be filled with the most adoring Thoughts of that incomprehenfible Jehovah, whofe everlasting Exiftence is the ftable Support of the Existence of all other Beings whatsoever! And what Satisfaction muft it yield to a truly good and religious Mind to reflect, that the Order of Nature is maintained by that infinitely wife and almighty Being who first formed and established it, and without which it would foon be diffolved and fall into Confufion.

Secondly, The Providence of God is to be confidered as governing the World as well as preferving it: The Lord hath eftablished his Throne in the Heavens, and his Kingdom ruleth over all. Pf. ciii. 19. This vast Universe is his Empire, the Extent of which tranfcendeth all human Imagination. How many different Orders of Beings there are which inhabit the several Parts of this vaft ftupendous Frame, we cannot tell. But, whatever, they be, they are all of them, from the highest to the meanest, under the Government of God. If we could but carry our Views to the heavenly World, how would our Hearts be ravished with the Beauty and Harmony of the Divine Administrations, as exercised there towards the Angelic Orders, thofe pure and glorious

Spirits

Spirits which inhabit the boundless Realms of Light and Joy! and even the Devils themselves are under his fovereign Controul. By a Wisdom which exceedeth our Comprehenfion, he fetteth Bounds to their Rage, and over-ruleth their moft pernicious Counfels and Attempts to the further Manifeftation of his Glory, and often ordereth it fo, that, whilft they only think of gratifying their own Malice and evil Inclinations, they are really carrying on the Defign of his Providence. But these are Things we know little of at prefent. There is enough, in that Part of the System which cometh within our own particular Notice, to fill us with admiring Thoughts of God's providential Government. Even the inanimate Creation, though incapable of being ruled by Laws in the ftrict Sense of the Word, yet may be faid to be under his Government, and are applied by him to answer the wife Purposes of his Adminiftration. Thus, in the noble Language of Scripture, Hail and Rain, and ftormy Vapour fulfil his Word. Pf. cxlviii. 8. The Lightnings fay unto him, Here we are, Job Xxxviii. 35. The Clouds are turned about by bis Counfels, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the Face of the Earth. Job xxxvii. 12. Even when Things go

on

on in their usual Way, and nothing happeneth but what is agreeable to the ordinary Powers and Properties of Things, God in his wife Providence fo ordereth and governeth the Courfe of material Caufes as to correfpond with and fulfil the Intentions of his moral Adminiftration towards Mankind. But fometimes it pleaseth him to interpofe in a more extraordinary and miraculous Way, the more effectually to awaken in Men a Senfe of his fupreme Dominion, as he is the abfolute Lord of Nature, who can over-rule the Courfe of Things in the material World, as feemeth fit to his infinite Wisdom, for excellent and valuable Purposes.

God's providential Government may be alfo confidered as exercised towards the Animal Creation, As he hath furnished the feveral Sorts of Animals with their various Organs, Appetites, and fenfitive Powers; fo he governeth them in fuch a Manner as is fuited to the Natures he hath given them, and to the Ends and Ufes for which they are defigned. The wonderful Inftincts, which ferve as a Guide to them in many Cafes, are not properly owing to any Reafon or Wifdom of their own, but to the fuperior Wisdom and Power of him who first formed them, and still exerciseth

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