Page images
PDF
EPUB

the Natures and Effences of Things. Even the meanest living Creatures have a Life and Enjoyment of their own, fuited to the Rank they hold in the Scale of Beings, and may have many Ufes both with regard to themselves, and other Beings, that we know nothing of. And to fuperior Intelligences, that do not judge by grofs Senfes, as we do, but have a clear Difcernment of their nice and curious Mechanifm, the numberless Variety and exact Adjustment of their several Parts, their Appetites and Instincts, and the Ufes to which they are defigned, they may appear far from despicable, and may reveal many Wonders and Beauties; and fo they would do to us if we had more enlarged Views. All the living Creatures are admirable in their feveral Ways; and the great Author of Nature, and Parent of the Univerfe, who feeth not as Man feeth, but looketh with a benign Eye upon all his Works, delighteth in communicating Happinefs to them in their feveral Gradations, and is pleased with their feveral Enjoyments. The Sun, which diffuseth its Rays to the meanest Infects and Reptiles, as well as to the nobler Kind of Animals, and imparteth its Light and Warmth to them all, and which, were its Beams intellectual, might be fuppofed to extend its Care and Cognizance to the smallest as well as the greatest,

[ocr errors]

greatest, exhibiteth a fignificant Emblem of the univerfal Care of Divine Providence ; which reacheth to all the living Creatures, not neglecting or defpifing the meanest of them. As the making a World full of Beings that have Life, fo the exercifing a continual Care over them in all their various Kinds and Degrees of Life, giveth a noble Idea of the immenfe Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of the Supreme Being. The Objection that is made against this, as if it were beneath the Majefty of God to concern himself about fuch trifling Matters, which even Men themselves would think unworthy of their Notice; I fay, this Objection, though varnished over with a Pretence of confulting the divine Honour, doth in Reality argue very narrow and unworthy Conceptions of his infinite Majefty. It is in effect a judging of God by ourselves. Man's not concerning himself about fuch Things is owing to his Imperfection. He is not capable, in this prefent State, of difcerning their real inward Natures and Esfences. His Views are narrow and limited, and he cannot take in many Things at once. If therefore he were to attend very closely to fuch minute Matters, he must neglect Things which are of greater Confequence to his Happiness; and his Mind would foon be distracted and overwhelmed with a Mul

F 2

[ocr errors]

Multiplicity of Cares. But it is otherwise with a Being of infinite Perfection, who is intimately prefent to every Part of this vaft Creation, and knoweth, and taketh Care of all Things at once, with the fame Ease as if he had only one fingle Thing to mind. His noticing the leaft Things doth not at all take him off from thofe Things which appear to be of greater Importance; nor doth his attending to the highest, cause him to neglect the meaneft. He taketh Care of all, in a Way fuited to their feveral Natures, Conditions, and Circumstances. And as he hath wifely established general Laws, according to which he proceedeth in his Dealings with the feveral Orders of fenfitive Beings, fo in his conftant Providence he feeth to the Execution and Accomplishment of those Laws. The Events relating to them, their beginning to exift, their continuing in Life, and having an End put to their Life and Existence, are all known to him, and ordered by him, agreeably to thofe general Laws and Conftitutions; except where in extraordinary Cafes he may think fit to appoint otherwife.

Secondly, God's Government of the Brute Animals may be also considered as refpecting Man, in as much as he frequently maketh Use of them for carrying on and executing his wife, his benevolent,

or

righteous

righteous Purposes towards Mankind. It is an Inftance of the Wisdom and Goodnefs of Divine Providence, that as there is a near Relation between the feveral Orders of Beings, fo the lower, befides their own proper Exercises and Enjoyments, are often made to contribute to ferve the Ufes of Creatures of an higher Rank in the Scale of Beings. The merely fenfitive are in many Inftances fubordinate and fubfervient to the rational and moral; and as Man is the chief Inhabitant of this lower World, the inferior Brute Animals are manifeftly defigned to be fubfervient to his Ufe. And indeed, with regard to many of them, it seems evident that the peculiar Instincts given them are intended not merely for their own Benefit, but to render them more serviceable to Man, that they may contribute in various Ways to his Neceffities, his Convenience, or Pleasure. They are frequently made Ufe of by the wife and righteous Governor of the World, to anfwer the Ends of his moral Adminif tration towards Mankind, in a Way of Reward or Punishment. It is a Promife of the Law of Mofes to the Ifraelites, that if they hearkened diligently unto the Voice of the Lord, blessed fhould be the Fruit of their Cattle, the Increase of their Kine, and the Flocks of their Sheep. Deut. xxviii. 4. and the

CODR

COLL

CMN

F 3

[blocks in formation]

the contrary is denounced against them in Cafe of their Difobedience. Ver. 18. It is mentioned as a great Inftance of national Profperity, when their Sheep bring forth Thoufands, and their Oxen are strong to labour. Pfal. cxliv. 13, 14. And on the contrary, it is justly looked upon as a grievous Judgment upon Mankind, when the Beafts groan, and the Herds of Cattle are perplexed, because there is no Pafture; yea, the Flocks of Sheep are made defolate. Joel i. 18. In these Cases the Hand of God must be acknowledged governing and difpofing the Events that immediately relate to the Brute Creation, fo as to turn to the Benefit or Punishment of Men. How often has it happened that a contagious Diftemper among the Cattle has proved a very heavy Calamity upon a Nation. This ought to awaken ferious Reflections. Divine Providence fhould be awfully reverenced in fuch Difpenfations. And if Care be not taken to improve them, it may provoke a righteous God to inflict ftill feverer Judgments.

Among the Things threatened in the Law of Mofes against the Ifraelites, as Punishments to be inflicted upon them for their Idolatry and Wickedness; one was, that they should be infefted by wild Beasts,

of

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »