Page:Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand.pdf/6

 Spending alone thus an Eternity,

It fully proves his Self-ſufficiency,

And that before he made this earthly Frame,

As after that, was ſtill unchang'd the ſame.

Still in himſelf of Happiness poſſeſt,

That could ne'er be diminiſh'd or increaſt.

To God's eſſential Glory, tho' 'tis true.

From all his Works there nothing does accrue;

Yet ſearch the Scriptures, and enquire the Cauſe,

God made the World, and all created was;

The Reaſon for it there we ſee aſſign'd,

Is God, his Glory in it all deſign'd;

His ſovereign Will and Pleaſure being the Thing

Whence all he does doth take its Riſe and Spring.

And tho' his Glory is not thus increaſt,

It is declar'd, and is made manifeſt.

That he is glorious; all his Creatures ſhew it,

Altho' they do add no Addition to it.

The Divine Goodneſs, like a Fountain ſeal'd

Had been, if not thus open'd and reveal'd,

God's Power and Wiſdom which before were hid

Them in Creation manifeſt he did:

Angels and Adam were made ſo divine.

That Holineſs did here with Luſtre ſhine;

That Man of his Creator might ſtand Awe,

For him then Juſtice did enact a Law,

With Promiſe, Precept, and a Penalty;

T' obey was Life, but if not, he muſt dy.

While Truth engaged was he ſhould be ſerv'd,

Which ever Way it was his Works deſerv'd.

Into Creation-Work we may ſee there

Theſe Attributes of Glory each had Share: