beseeming
thoughts of God than we. It should make Christians ashamed, that both
heathens, who had no other book opened to them but that of nature, did
read it more diligently than we, and that the saints of old, who had not
such a plain testimony of God as we now have, did yet learn more out of
the book of the creature than we do both out of it and the scriptures. We
look on all things with such a careless eye, and do not observe what may
be found of God in them. I think, verily, there are many Christians, and
ministers of the gospel, who do not ascend into those high and ravishing
thoughts of God, in his being and working, as would become even mere
naturalists. How little can they speak of his majesty, or think as it
becomes his transcendent glory! There is little in sermons or discourses
that holds out any singular admiring thoughts of a Deity, but in all these
we are as common and careless as if he were an idol.

It is not in vain that it is expressed thus: "through faith we know that
the worlds were framed." For certainly the firm believing and pondering of
this one truth would be of great moment and use to a Christian in all his
journey. You may observe in what stead it is to the saints in scripture
this raises up a soul to high thoughts, and suitable conceptions of his
glorious name, and so conforms the worship of his majesty unto his
excellency. It puts the stamp of divinity upon it, and spiritualizes the
thoughts and affections, so as to put a true difference between the true
God, and the gods that made not the heavens and the earth. Alas! the
worship of many Christians speaks out no diviner or higher object than a
creature, it is so cold, so formal and empty, so vain and wandering. There
is no more respect testified unto him, than we would give unto some
eminent person. You find in the scripture how the strain of the saints'
affections and devotion rises, when they take up God in his absolute
supremacy above the creatures, and look on him as the alone fountain of
all that is worth the name of perfection in them. A soul in that
consideration cannot choose but assign unto him the most eminent seat in
the heart, and gather those affections which are scattered after the
creatures, into one channel, to pour them out on him who is all in all,
and hath all that which is lovely in the creatures in an eminent degree.
Therefore know what you are formed for,--to show forth his praise, to
gather and take up from the creatur