Opus domini priority free#

Man speaking to the dumbe Creatures though they vnderstand him not, yet his owne bounden duty, together with the strength and vehemency of his affections, (that he can doe no lesse then speake in a cause which concernes Gods glory) this makes it no fruitlesse labour, and surely some profit thereby redounds: for whereas otherwise man were a stranger to beasts, and they seruing God in their owne kinde, their seruice should no way concerne him yet now by vertue of his exhortation, he hath a part and portion in their obedience, and thus very cunningly, what is wanting in himselfe, he desires to supply it in them, to make their seruice seeme as his owne, as if forsooth they had beene rebellious, had it not beene for his perswasion though himselfe be dissolute, yet it is he, that keepes all in good order: a pretty policy. * The most learned Preacher speaking to the most iudicious Auditory, yet cannot pro∣mise vnto himselfe happy successe wee must looke to the discharge of our owne dutie, and not to the euent. Perswading them not to any impossibility aboue their condition, as to beleeue the mysteries of Grace, and the like, but applauding them in their owne naturall course, therein he seemes to exhort them, and thus exhorting them, stirs vp himselfe, and magnifies the Diuine proui∣dence, who first appointed the course: As God speaking the Word, all things were made: God speakes to nothing, and by vertue of his words, behold a Creation: so wee speaking to the dumbe Creatures, and in them approuing Gods workes, wee shew the conformitie of our wills to the Diuine institution.įor in our speech wee doe not alwaies respect others, but sometimes our selues.

Opus domini priority free#

Man perceiuing and apprehending this, falls instantly to admiration, which is a kinde of naturall trance, wherein his speech failes him, as if he were for a time strucken dumbe together with the dumbe Creatures, to shew his fellow-feeling and symbolizing affection with them at length he comes to himselfe, begins to breathe, then is he tied to his vtterance, as it were to comment vp∣on their silence, or to be their interpreter for as God re∣quires no more then the ability of the Creature, so he will admit no lesse, but expect, the vttermost extent of our power: In the dumbe Creatures their silence did suffice: Man hauing the free vse of his tongue, is therefore tied to adde Speech to their silence, Reason to their sence, and *And though they seeme dumbe, yet in verity and truth they speake in their silence: for obiecting, or presenting themselues to our view, shewing their excellent nature, their rare and wonderfull properties, therein they speake their Maker. Now man exhorting them to this their bounden duty, ioynes with them in their seruice, and as it were seemes to congratulate their praises of God: notwithstanding his owne disobedience and sinne, yet he reioyceth in their seruice, and exhorts them still to continue their praises of God. Thus the stocks and the stones in their silence, and in their naturall properties the beasts in their sounds and their cries, in their sence and in their motions, all serue to praise him: for God requires no more then he hath first giuen, the right imployment of his gifts is indeed to praise him. *Both these are easily satisfied, if we rightly consider that the praises of God doe not necessarily imply the most exact and magnificent order and forme, such as might well beseeme the Maiestie of a Deitie (both men and Angels come short in that excellent seruice) but the praises of God require no more in effect, then the power and ability wherewith God hath first inabled the Creature: for he accepts our imperfect prayers, and descends to our weake∣nesse. TWo absurdities may here seeme to be committed at once, with one breath either that man should speake and exhort such Auditors, who are without sence, and there∣fore not capeable of exhortation, or that Creatures dumbe in them∣selues, should be exhorted to praise God, which seemes to be a thing proper to Angels and men. Beasts and all cattell, wormes and feathered fowles. Mountaines and all hilles, fruitfull trees and all Cedars,ġ0. Fire and haile, snow and vapours, stormy winds, fulfilling his word:ĩ. Praise the Lord vpon earth, yee dragons and all deepes:Ĩ.