INTRODUCTION.
In Psal. cxi. 2. The Psalmist asserts, That the[a] Works of the Lord are great; sought out of all them that have Pleasure therein. This is true of all God’s Works, particularly of his Works of Creation: Which, when sought out, or, as the Hebrew Word [] signifieth, when heedfully and deeply pried into, solicitously observ’d and enquir’d out, especially when clearly discovered to us; in this Case, I say, we find those Works of God abundantly to deserve the Psalmist’s Character of being Great and Noble; inasmuch as they are made with the most exquisite Art, [c] contrived with the utmost Sagacity, and ordered with plain wise Design, and ministring to admirable Ends. For which reason St. Paul might well affirm of those Ποιήματα of God, [d] That the invisible Things of God, even his eternal Power and Godhead, are understood by them. And indeed they are the most easy, and intelligible Demonstrations of the Being and Attributes of God;[e] especially to such as are unacquainted with the Subtilties of Reasoning and Argumentation; as the greatest part of Mankind are.
It may not therefore be unsuitable to the Nature and Design of Lectures[f] founded by one of the greatest Vertuoso’s of the last Age, and instituted too on purpose for the Proof of the Christian Religion against Atheists and other Infidels, to improve this occasion in the Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of an infinitely wise and powerful Creator, from a Cursory Survey of the Works of Creation, or (as often called) of Nature.
Which Works belong either to our Terraqueous Globe, or the Heavens.
I shall begin with our own Globe, being nearest, and falling most under our Senses. Which being a Subject very various and copious, for the more methodical and orderly proceeding upon it, I shall distribute the Works therein:
I. Into such as are not properly Parts, but Appendages or Out-works of the Globe.
II. The Globe it self.
FOOTNOTES:
[a] It is not unlikely that the Psalmist might mean, at least have an Eye to, the Works of the Creation in this Text, the Word מעשה being the same that in Psal. 19. 1. is translated God’s Handy-work, which is manifestly applied to the Works of Creation, and properly signifieth Factum, Opus, Opisicium, from עשה Fecit, Paravit, Aptavit. And saith Kircher, significat talem affectionem, quâ aliquid existit vel realiter, vel ornatè, velut non sit in pristino statu quo fuit. Concord, p. 2. col. 931.