1the Sea; That the viciſſitudes of the Windes return into their
primitive State; That ſome men ſucceed others? But who con
ſidereth that the ſelf-ſame Scene of Life is ever acting, by diffe
rent perſons; and that nothing is new in humane affairs? There
fore Solomon inſtancing in thoſe things which all men ſee, doth
put men in minde of that which many thorowly know, but too
ſlightly conſider.
primitive State; That ſome men ſucceed others? But who con
ſidereth that the ſelf-ſame Scene of Life is ever acting, by diffe
rent perſons; and that nothing is new in humane affairs? There
fore Solomon inſtancing in thoſe things which all men ſee, doth
put men in minde of that which many thorowly know, but too
ſlightly conſider.
* Chap. 1. v. 4, to
9.
9.
But the 104. Pſalm is thought by ſome to contain a Diſcourſe
altogether Phyſical, in regard it onely concerns Natural Philoſo
phy. Now God is there ſaid, To have laid the Foundations of
the Earth, that it ſhould not be removed for ever. But here al
ſo the Pſalmiſt is far from the Speculation of Phyſical Cauſes:
For he doth wholly acquieſce in the Greatneſſe of God,
who did all theſe things, and ſings an Hymne to God the
Maker of them, in which he runneth over the World in order,
as it appeared to his eyes. And if you well conſider this
Pſalme, it is a Paraphraſe upon the ſix dayes work of the Crea
tion: For as in it the three firſt dayes were ſpent in the Separa
tion of Regions; the firſt of Light from the exteriour Dark
neſs; the ſecond, of the Waters from the Waters, by the inter
poſition of the Firm ament; the third, of the Sea from Land;
when alſo the Earth was cloathed with Herbage and Plants:
And the three laſt dayes were ſpent in the filling the Re
gions thus diſtinguiſhed; the fourth, of Heaven; the
fifth, of the Seas and Aire; the fixth, of the Earth: So
here in this Pſalme there are ſo many diſtinct parts pro
portionable to the Analogy of the ſix dayes Works. For
in Verſe 2. he cloaths and covereth the Creator with Light
(the firſt of Creatures, and work of the firſt day) as with a
Garment. The ſecond part beginneth at Verſe 3. and treats of
the Waters above the Heavens, the extent of Heaven and of Me
teors (which the Pſalmiſt ſeemeth to intend by the Waters a
bove) as namely of Clouds, Winds, Whirl-winds, Lightnings.
The third part begins at Verſe 6. and doth celebrate the Earth
as the foundation of all thoſe things which he here conſidereth.
For he referreth all things to the Earth, and to thoſe Animals
which inhabit it, for that in the judgment of Sight the two prin
cipal parts of the World are Heaven and Earth. He therefore
here obſerveth that the Earth after ſo many Ages hath not falte
red, tired, or decayed; when as notwithſtanding no man hath
yet diſcovered upon what it is founded. He goeth not about to
teach men what they do not know, but putteth them in minde
of what they neglect, to wit, the Greatneſſe and Power of God
in creating ſo huge a Maſs ſo firm and ſtedfaſt. If an Aſtrono
mer ſhould teach that the Earth is placed among the Planets, he
altogether Phyſical, in regard it onely concerns Natural Philoſo
phy. Now God is there ſaid, To have laid the Foundations of
the Earth, that it ſhould not be removed for ever. But here al
ſo the Pſalmiſt is far from the Speculation of Phyſical Cauſes:
For he doth wholly acquieſce in the Greatneſſe of God,
who did all theſe things, and ſings an Hymne to God the
Maker of them, in which he runneth over the World in order,
as it appeared to his eyes. And if you well conſider this
Pſalme, it is a Paraphraſe upon the ſix dayes work of the Crea
tion: For as in it the three firſt dayes were ſpent in the Separa
tion of Regions; the firſt of Light from the exteriour Dark
neſs; the ſecond, of the Waters from the Waters, by the inter
poſition of the Firm ament; the third, of the Sea from Land;
when alſo the Earth was cloathed with Herbage and Plants:
And the three laſt dayes were ſpent in the filling the Re
gions thus diſtinguiſhed; the fourth, of Heaven; the
fifth, of the Seas and Aire; the fixth, of the Earth: So
here in this Pſalme there are ſo many diſtinct parts pro
portionable to the Analogy of the ſix dayes Works. For
in Verſe 2. he cloaths and covereth the Creator with Light
(the firſt of Creatures, and work of the firſt day) as with a
Garment. The ſecond part beginneth at Verſe 3. and treats of
the Waters above the Heavens, the extent of Heaven and of Me
teors (which the Pſalmiſt ſeemeth to intend by the Waters a
bove) as namely of Clouds, Winds, Whirl-winds, Lightnings.
The third part begins at Verſe 6. and doth celebrate the Earth
as the foundation of all thoſe things which he here conſidereth.
For he referreth all things to the Earth, and to thoſe Animals
which inhabit it, for that in the judgment of Sight the two prin
cipal parts of the World are Heaven and Earth. He therefore
here obſerveth that the Earth after ſo many Ages hath not falte
red, tired, or decayed; when as notwithſtanding no man hath
yet diſcovered upon what it is founded. He goeth not about to
teach men what they do not know, but putteth them in minde
of what they neglect, to wit, the Greatneſſe and Power of God
in creating ſo huge a Maſs ſo firm and ſtedfaſt. If an Aſtrono
mer ſhould teach that the Earth is placed among the Planets, he