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The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation; In Two Parts, Viz. the Heavenly Bodies, Elements, Meteors, Fossils, ... with Answers to Some Objections
1750 edition.
Excerpt: ...of Glory, as to make the World and all the Creatures therein, only for his own Honour, and and to be praifed by Man. To aflert this, were, in Des Cartes s Opinion, an abfurd and childifh thing, and a refemblingof God to a proud Man. It is more worthy the Deity to attribute the Creation of the World to the exundation and overflowing of his tranfcendent and infinite Goodnefs, which is of its own Nature, and in the very Notion of it moft free, diffufive, and communicative. To this I fhall anfwer in two words. Firft, The Teftimony of Scripture makes God in all his Actions to intend and defign his own Glory mainly, Prov. 16. 4. God made all things for himfelf. How for Himfelf He had no need of them: He hath no ufe of them. No, he made them for the manifeftation of his Power, Wifdom, and Goodnefs, and that he might receive from the Creatures that were able to take notice thereof, his Tribute of Praife. Pfal. 50.14. Offer unto God thanksgiving And in the next Verfe, / will deliver thee, and thu flialt glorifie me. And again in the laft Verfe, Whofo offereth Praife, glorifieth me. So Praife is called a Sacrifice, and the Calves of the Lips, Hofea 14. i. Efay 42.8. lam, the Lord, that is my Nawe, and my Glory will I not give to another. Efay 48 11. And And I will not give my Glory to another. The Scripture calls upon the Heavens and Earth, and Sun and Moon, and Stars, and all other Creatures, to praife the Lord $ that is, by the Mouth of Man, (as I (hewed before) who is hereby required to take notice of all thefe Creatures, and to admire and praife the Power, Wifdom, and Goodnefs of God manifefted in the Creation and Defignations of them. Secondly, It is moft reafonable that God Almighty mould intend his own Glory: For he being infinite in..
Excerpt: ...of Glory, as to make the World and all the Creatures therein, only for his own Honour, and and to be praifed by Man. To aflert this, were, in Des Cartes s Opinion, an abfurd and childifh thing, and a refemblingof God to a proud Man. It is more worthy the Deity to attribute the Creation of the World to the exundation and overflowing of his tranfcendent and infinite Goodnefs, which is of its own Nature, and in the very Notion of it moft free, diffufive, and communicative. To this I fhall anfwer in two words. Firft, The Teftimony of Scripture makes God in all his Actions to intend and defign his own Glory mainly, Prov. 16. 4. God made all things for himfelf. How for Himfelf He had no need of them: He hath no ufe of them. No, he made them for the manifeftation of his Power, Wifdom, and Goodnefs, and that he might receive from the Creatures that were able to take notice thereof, his Tribute of Praife. Pfal. 50.14. Offer unto God thanksgiving And in the next Verfe, / will deliver thee, and thu flialt glorifie me. And again in the laft Verfe, Whofo offereth Praife, glorifieth me. So Praife is called a Sacrifice, and the Calves of the Lips, Hofea 14. i. Efay 42.8. lam, the Lord, that is my Nawe, and my Glory will I not give to another. Efay 48 11. And And I will not give my Glory to another. The Scripture calls upon the Heavens and Earth, and Sun and Moon, and Stars, and all other Creatures, to praife the Lord $ that is, by the Mouth of Man, (as I (hewed before) who is hereby required to take notice of all thefe Creatures, and to admire and praife the Power, Wifdom, and Goodnefs of God manifefted in the Creation and Defignations of them. Secondly, It is moft reafonable that God Almighty mould intend his own Glory: For he being infinite in..
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1691
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About the author
John Ray
274 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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September 29, 2024
A CLASSIC OF "NATURAL THEOLOGY," WHICH INFLUENCED PALEY
John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. (This book greatly influenced William Paley's famous 'Natural Theology.')
Here are some representative quotations:
"the Almighty discovers more of his Wisdom in forming such a vast multitude of different sorts of creatures, and all with admirable and irreprovable art, than if he had created but a few; for this declares the greatness and unbounded capacity of his understanding."
"If the works of Nature are better, more exact and perfect than the works of Art, and Art effects nothing without reason, neither can the works of Nature be thought to be effected without Reason; for, is it not absurd and incongruous, than when thou beholdt a Statue or curious picture, thou should acknowledge that Art was used to the making of it..."
"I persuade myself, that the bountiful and gracious Author of man's being and faculties, and all things else, delights in the Beauty of his Creation, and is well pleased with the industry of Man, in adorning the Earth with beautiful cities and castles, with pleasant villages and country houses, with regular gardens and orchards..."
"the Eye is already so perfect, that I believe the reason of Man would easily have rested here, and admired at his own contrivance."
It should be noted that Ray is no fundamentalist, as he states, "As to the Scripture, when speaking of these things, it accommodates itself to the common and received opinions, and employs the usual phrases and forms of speech ... without intention of delivering any thing doctrinally concerning these points, or confuting the contrary."
John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. (This book greatly influenced William Paley's famous 'Natural Theology.')
Here are some representative quotations:
"the Almighty discovers more of his Wisdom in forming such a vast multitude of different sorts of creatures, and all with admirable and irreprovable art, than if he had created but a few; for this declares the greatness and unbounded capacity of his understanding."
"If the works of Nature are better, more exact and perfect than the works of Art, and Art effects nothing without reason, neither can the works of Nature be thought to be effected without Reason; for, is it not absurd and incongruous, than when thou beholdt a Statue or curious picture, thou should acknowledge that Art was used to the making of it..."
"I persuade myself, that the bountiful and gracious Author of man's being and faculties, and all things else, delights in the Beauty of his Creation, and is well pleased with the industry of Man, in adorning the Earth with beautiful cities and castles, with pleasant villages and country houses, with regular gardens and orchards..."
"the Eye is already so perfect, that I believe the reason of Man would easily have rested here, and admired at his own contrivance."
It should be noted that Ray is no fundamentalist, as he states, "As to the Scripture, when speaking of these things, it accommodates itself to the common and received opinions, and employs the usual phrases and forms of speech ... without intention of delivering any thing doctrinally concerning these points, or confuting the contrary."
Displaying 1 of 1 review