finite manner. Therefore is he infinite in life, that is, eternal; infinite in power, that is, cmnipotent: So likewife is he ommifcient, and altogether good without any exception.

SECT. VI.

That GOD is the Author and Caufe of all Things.

FA

Arthermore, it follows from that which hath been fpoken, that what things foever fubfift, the fame have the original of their being from God: for we have proved, that that which is ne ceffary of it felf, can be but one, whence we collect, that all other things befides this had their original from fomewhat different from themselves.

Now fuch things as have their beginning from another, we have feen before how that either in themselves, or in their caufes, they proceeded from him which had no beginning, that is, from God.

Neither is this manifeft by reafon only, but also after fome fort by very fenfe: for if we confider the wonderful frame and fashion of Man's body, both within and without, and how that each part and parcel thereof hath its proper use without the ftudy or induftry of his Parents, and yet with fuch art that the moft accomplished Philofophers and Phificians could never fufficiently admire it; this verily fhews the Author of Nature to be a moft excellent Mind: concerning which matter Galen had written well, efpecially where he speaks of the ufe of the eye, and of the

band.

band. Yea more, the very bodies of mute beafts do teftifie the fame: for their parts are not framed and compofed by the power and vertue of the matter whereof they confift, but by fome fuperior and higher caufe, deftinating them to a certain end.

Neither is this plain by man and beafts alone, but alfo by plants and herbs, as hath accurately been obferved by fome Philofophers. This farther is excellently noted by Strabo, concerning the fituation of the waters, which, if we confider the quality of their matter, ought to be placed in the middle between the earth and the air, whereas they are now included and difperfed within the earth, to the end they might be no inderance, either to the fruitfulness of the ground, or to the life of Man. Now to propofe that, or any other end, to any action, is the peculiar property of an understanding nature. Neither are all things only ordained for their peculiar ends, but alfo for the good and benefit of the whole Univerfe, as appears particularly in the water but now mentioned, which againft its own proper nature is moved upward, left by the interpofition of a vacuity there fhould be a gap in the Univerfe: which is fo framed, that by the continued cohæfion of its parts, it fuftains and upholds it felf. Now it cannot poffibly be, that this common end should be thus intended, together with an inclination in things thereunto, but by the power and purpofe of fome intelligent nature, whereunto the whole, Univerfe is in fubjection. Moreover amongst the Beasts there are certain actions obferved to be fo regular and orderly done, that it is manifeft enough they proceed from fome kind of reafon; as is plain in Pifmires B 4

and

and especially in Bees, and likewife in other creatures, which before they make any tryal, do naturally efchew fuch things as are hurtful, and feek after fuch things as are profitable for them. Now that this inftinct or inclination of finding and judging things, is not in them by their own power, it is clear, for that they do always operate after the fame manner, neither have they any vertue or efficacy at all to the doing other things which are no more weighty: wherefore they muft needs receive their power from fome reasonable external Agent which directs them, or imprints in them fuch efficacy as they have; and this reafonable and intelligent Agent, is no other than God himself.

In the next place confider we the Stars of Heaven, and amongst the reft, as moft eminent, the Sun and the Moon, both which for the making the earth fruitful, and preferving living Creatures in their health and vigour, do so feafona bly perform their courfe of motion, that a better cannot be devifed. For when otherwife their motion through the Equator had been much more fimple, we fee that they have another motion by an oblique Circle, to the end, the benefit of their favourable afpects might be communicated to more parts of the Earth.

Now as the Earth is ordained for the ufe and benefit of living Creatures, fo are all terreftrial things appointed chiefly for the fervice of Man, who by his wit and reafon, can fubdue the moft furious creature among them; whence the very Stoicks did collect, that the World was made for Man's fake.

Howbeit, fince it exceeds the fphere of human power, to bring the heavenly bodies in fub

jection

jection to him, neither is it to be imagined that they will ever fubmit themselves to man of their own accord, it follows therefore that there is fome fuperior mind or fpirit, by whofe fole ap pointment thofe fair and glorious bodies do perpetual fervice unto man, though he be placed far below them; which fame mind is no other than the framer of the Stars, even the Maker of the whole World, Alfo the motions of thefe Stars which are faid to be Excentrical and Epicyclical (i. e. in a Circle within the Orb of another Star) do plainly fhew, not the power of matter, but the appointment of a free Agent, The fame do the Pofitions of the Stars teftifie, fome in this part, others in the other part of Heaven: together with the fo unequal form of the Earth, and of the Seas. Nor can we refer it to any thing elfe, that the Stars move this, rather than another way. The moft perfect form alfo and figure of the World, viz. roundness; as alfo the parts thereof, fhut up as it were in the bofom of the heavens, and difpofed with a marvellous order, do all exprefly declare, that they were not tumbled together, or conjoined as they are by chance, but wifely ordained by fuch an undertanding as is endued with fuper-eminent excellency. For what Ninny is there fo fottish, as to expect any thing fo accurate and exact from chance? he might as well believe that ftones and timber got cafually together, and put themselves into the form of a Houfe: or that out of Letters fhuffled carelefly, as it happen'd, there came forth an excellent Poem. A thing fo unlikely, that even a few Geometrical figures efpied on the Sea-fhore, gave the beholder juft ground to argue, that fome man had been there; it being evident enough

enough that fuch things could not proceed from meer chance.

Farthermore, that Mankind was not from all Eternity, but at a certain time had a common beginning, may be manifefted among other things from the progrefs of Arts and Sciences; yea, by the very ground whereupon we tread, which was anciently rude and untill'd, but afterward became poffeffed with Inhabitants; which also the Language Spoken in Islands, derived from adjacent Countries, doth witnefs. The fame is apparent by certain ordinances, fo generally received amongst Men, that the inflitution thereof may not be thought to have proceeded fo much from the inftinct of nature, or evident deductions of reafon, as from perpetual and conftant Tradi. tion, fcarce interrupted in a few places, either by the malice or mifery of Man: fuch was that of killing Beafts in Sacrifice, ufed in former times; and fuch alfo are now the modefty and fhame-fac'dnefs about venereal things, the folemnities of Marriages, and the abhorrence of all incestuous Embraces.

Anfier to that Objection concerning the Caufe of Evil.

Either ought we to doubt of that which

NE hath been fpoken, because we fee many

evil things come to pass; the fource and caufe whereof cannot be afcribed unto God, who (as before hath been fhewn) is good, after the most

perfect