Vol 01 - Chapter 06 - Of the living creatures; the work of the sixth day.

Chapter 06 - Of the living creatures; the work of the sixth day
1. If God take so much care for the comfortable subsistence of all his creatures, we cannot think that he made man for perpetual anguish and sorrow; but is pleased to see us cheerful in the fear of God. So we are directed to pray, that "God would comfort us again, after the time that he has plagued us, and for the years in which we have suffered adversity," Psal. 90: 15. And, lsai. 65: 13, he promises his servants that they shall eat, drink, and rejoice. And, from the words of holy David, it plainly appears, that he intends to feed his. servants, not sparingly, but plentifully and bountifully; to which end, he maketh his " clouds drop fatness," Psal. 65: 11. Experience itself also teaches us, that all the creatures are so plentifully fed by GOD, that, at proper seasons, the birds of the air, the wild beasts of the forest, the cattle in the fields, and the fish of the sea, may offer themselves for the use and nourishment of man. So wonderful is the providence of our great Master; so transcendent is the wisdom, so great is the concern of GOD, to provide for all the necessities of his children.
2. And whereas the Psalmist adds, "When you hidest thy face, they are troubled; when you takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust when you lettest thy breath go forth, they are made. You renewest the face of the earth," Psal. 104: 29: his meaning is, that the life of all creatures is nothing else but the breath of God; or that enlivening spirit and virtue implanted in all creatures. Thus it is said, " O Lord, you lover of souls, thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things," (Wisd. 11: 26, 12: 1;) 1: e. thy quickening and preserving power, by which at first you createdst, and still preserve all things. And this quickening virtue and power of God is that Word, by which all things were made. "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth," Psal. 33: 6. And this Word was not a bare, empty sound, but became the life of all creatures, resting upon them as a principle of life and power; as St. Paul tells us, "The Lord sustaineth all things by the Word of his power,'' Hebrews 1:3. So that the life and being of all things does as much depend on GOD, as the shadow of a tree does upon the substance.
3. So that when God withdraws this word of life from the creatures, they immediately sink into their primitive nothing. The whole world is full of God; "from whom, and by whom, are all things." He is said "to be above all, and through all, and in us all. So that the Lord is the strength of our life." For as men of sorrowful and distressed spirits perceive a true and vital power in the Word of God; so there is in all creatures a sort of natural and vital power, which is nothing else but the Word of creation; the privation of which is death. By this Word also all the creatures are blessed and multiply. By this the face of the earth is every year renewed by a succession of plants, fruits, and living creatures, as if there were a new world every year. "While the earth remaineth," says God to Noah, "seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease," Genesis 8:22. And by the same blessing the world is preserved to this day.
4. But this wonderful and universal providence of God consists chiefly in three things. First, in his knowledge "Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world." By this infinite and incomprehensible wisdom he knows, seeth, and heareth all things; therefore he is called in Scripture, "The God that liveth and seeth," Genesis 16:14. For no creature is hidden from him; but all things are naked and open in his sight. And he is called "the Living;" not only because he himself liveth for ever, but also because he is the life of all things.
5. The second head of Divine Providence is, his fatherly goodness; by which he taketh care of all things. " He maketh his sun to rise on the good, and on the evil," Matthew 6:26. And if his mercy be not only extended to the least, but even to the undeserving parts of his creation; how ungrateful are we, if ever we entertain any suspicion of the kindness of so indulgent a Father And if nothing be done upon earth but by his direction, we may from hence learn to submit with patience to every thing that befalls us, without murmuring; firmly believing that he careth for us; and by his unsearchable wisdoin ordcreth all things for our good, and for his own glory.
6. The third head of God's universal providence over all his creatures is, his omnipotence. By this he is always present to his creatures, governing and preserving them. By this he governeth the hearts of all men, and turneth them which way he pleases, Psal. 33: 15. Whence it follows, that in all our thoughts, words, and actions, we ought to have a lively and devout sense of his omnipresence, and dread to do any thing that is hateful in his sight. For as is the clay in the hand of the potter, such are men in the hand of God.
7. Moreover, as God is every where, and preserveth and governeth every thing, so he is so exactly careful of his own servants, " that not an hair of their heads can fall to the ground without his permission." He preserveth and kcepeth us " in the midst of our enemies." Therefore, when we are in distress, and have no apparent hopes of relief, we should support ourselves with this consideration, That the Lord himself, " great in counsel, and nighty in work," (Jeremiah 32:19,) that laid our cross upon us, can easily lighten it, or strengthen us to bear it" Let us commit our way unto the Lord," (Psal. 37: 5,) like Abraham, who was ready to offer up his only son, without questioning flow God could perform his promise unto hint, but cast all his care upon GOD.