By these they are enabled to exercise the various Functions of the fenfitive Life, and are directed to what is moft proper for their Nourishment, their Defence, and their Pleasure. To his Providence it is owing, that even the feveral Tribes of Infects are preferved, and go through their orderly Tranfmutations, and come forth in their proper Seafons in numberlefs Swarms, and

1

in all the Beauty of Colours. To this it is to be ascribed that the Ants continue in all Ages to be the fame provident and induftrious Tribe, and fo dexterously manage the Affairs of their little Commonwealth; that the Bees fo artfully build their waxen Cells, and make their Honey, and maintain their well-ordered Polity; that the Silk-worm undergoeth its feveral won> derful Changes, is provided in its Seafon with proper Food, and fpinneth fo precious a Thread out of its Bowels; that the Waters still bring forth abundantly after their Kind, and the Rivers, Lakes, and Seas continue to be plentifully stored with innumerable Quantities of Fishes, in their various Forms, from the huge Whales to the smallest living Creatures which inhabit the watery Element: To which may be added the feveral Species of Birds, which with great Agility wing the airy

Region,

Region. The Hawk is faid to fly by his Wisdom; the Eagle mounteth up at his Command, and maketh ber Neft on high; from whence she feeketh her Prey, and her Eyes behold it afar off. Job xxxix. 26, 27, 29. The Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed Times; and the Turtle, the Crane, and the Swallow, and other Birds of Paffage, obferve the Time of their coming. Jer. viii. 7. And the feveral Sorts of finging Birds chaunt forth their melodious Notes, and fing among the Branches. To the Care of his powerful Providence it, is to be afcribed that the feveral Kinds of Cattle are preferved, and provided with their proper Suftenance; that the Dogs retain their Sagacity and wonderful Inftincts, and the Horfe his Strength and Swiftnefs, for the Ufe and Delight of Mankind. Yea, to this it is owing that the wild Beafts of the Defarts are provided for. As it manifeftly tended to the Beauty and Perfection of the animal Creation, that there fhould be fuch Creatures formed, and endued with extraordinary Degrees of Fiercenefs, Strength, and Courage, fo there is the fame Reason for continuing, that there was for creating them. Thus are the feveral Species of Brute Animals maintained and kept diftinct, and are provided for fuitably to their respective Natures and Circumftances, and

the Individuals of each Species preferve their feveral Shapes and Forms, Organs and Appetites, and when they go off leave others to fucceed them, fo that the admirable Scheme is ftill carried on. The continuing Things in such an established Course and Order, which we behold without Aftonishment, because we are accustomed to it, exhibiteth a manifest Proof of a wife and powerful Providence conftantly preferving and watching over the various kinds of fenfitive Beings. We may therefore on this Occafion justly apply those Words of Job: Afk now the Beafts, and they shall teach thee; and the Fowls of the Air, and they fhall tell thee; and the Fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all thefe, that the Hand of the Lord bath wrought this? Job xii. 7, 8, 9.

But fecondly, Let us especially confider God's Providence as exercised in the Prefervation of the higher Orders of rational and intellectual Beings. It is he that preferveth the Angels in their feveral Degrees. None of them have an independent Existence. Strong and mighty as they are, they cannot uphold themselves in Being, merely by the Force of their own

excellent Natures, but are maintained inn

that

noble and fublime Life which he hath given them, and in the Ufe and Exercife of their

admirable Faculties and Powers, by the constant sustaining Power and Influence of the Almighty.

But what we are most nearly concerned to confider, is the Care of Divine Providence in preferving Man. This is what St. Paul fignifieth, when in his excellent Difcourfe to the Athenians, Acts xvii. he declareth that God giveth to all, (i. e. to all Men,) Life, and Breath, and all Things. Ver. 25. and that in him we live, and move, and have our Being. Ver. 28

In him we exist or have our Being. As he gave us our Existence at firft, and made us of fuch a particular Order of Beings, fo by him we are continued in Existence, and in that kind of Exiftence which belongeth to us as Creatures of fuch a Species. To his Providence it is to be afcribed, that one Generation of Men rifeth up after another in the Manner and according to the Laws wifely established by him in the Beginning; that the curious Structure of the human Body is preferved and maintained in its proper Form, and with all its admirable Organs; and that the human Soul continueth to retain its noble Faculties.

In God we not only exift or have our Being, but in him we live. As it was he that firft eftablished the wonderful vital

Union between Soul and Body in Man, fo it is by his Care and Influence that it fubfifteth. To this it is owing that our Food nourisheth and refrefheth us, that the vital Functions are carried on, and that we are enabled to exercife our feveral Senfations. Juftly, therefore, doth the Pfalmift call him the God of his Life. Pfal. xlii. 8. and fob declareth, that in his Hand is the Soul of every living Thing, and the Breath, or Life, of all Mankind. Job xii. 10. And again, Thou haft granted me Life and Favour, faith he, and thy Vifitation hath pre-· ferved my Spirit. Ch. x. 12.

And as it is in God that we exift and live, fo it is in or by him that we move. It was he that originally gave us the Power of Motion, and Organs admirably fitted for carrying it on, and it is through him that we are continued in the Ufe and Exercife of thofe Organs; fo that it may be justly faid, that we cannot move a Foot, or lift up a Hand without him. And this holdeth equally with regard to the Operations of our Souls, as the Motions of our Bodies. As he hath endued our Souls with the admirable Faculties of Underftanding, Will, Memory, free Agency, and hath implanted in us Affections of various Kinds, fo by his providential Concourse, and Support of our Faculties, we apprehend, judge,