SERMON XV. God the first Cause, and laft ROM XI. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be Glory for ever. H Amen. Aving confider'd the more Eminent and Abfolute Perfections of the Divine Nature, as alfo that which refults from the infinite Excellency and Perfection of God, compar'd with the Imperfection of our Understandings, I come in the laft place to treat of fuch as are mereDd 2 ly ly and purely Relative; as that He is the first Cafe, and the laft End of all things; to which purpose I have chofen these words of the Apostle, for the Subject of my prefent Difcourfe; For of him, and through him &c, The dependence of these Words upon the former is briefly this. The Apoftle had been speaking before in this Chapter, feveral things that might tend to raise us to an Admiration of the Wisdom, and Goodness, and Mercy of God, in the difpenfation of his Grace, for the Salvation of men, both Jews and Gentiles, and therefore would have us afcribe this work wholly to God; the contrivance of it to his Wifdom, and not to our own counfel, v. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? and who hath been his counsellour? and the beftowing this grace, to his free Goodnefs and Mercy, and not to any defert of ours, v. 35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompenfed to him . again? Yea, and not only in the difpenfation of Grace, but of all good things; not only in this work of Redemption, but also of Creation, God is the Fountain, and Original, and first Caufe, from whenceevery thing proceeds; and the last End, to which every thing is to be referr❜d. For of him, &c. ur, from him, the efficient Caufe producing all things; & ur, by, or through him, as the efficient conferving Caufe of all things; es durov, and to him, as the final Caufe of all things, and the End for which they were made. The Propofition I fhall speak to is, that God is the first Caufe, and laft End. 10 First, I fhall a little Explain the Terms. Secondly, Confirm the Propofi tion. D d 3 Thirdly, Vol. VII. Vol. VII. Thirdly, Apply it. First, For the Explication of the I. That God is the first Caufe 1. Negatively, that he had no Caufe, did not derive his Being from any other, or does depend upon any other Being; but that he was always, and eternally of himself. 2. Pofitively, that he is the Caufe of all things besides himself, the Fountain and Original of all Created Beings, from whom all things proceed, and upon whom all things depend; or, that I may ufe the expreffion of Saint John, Joh. 1. 3. which I know is appropriated to the Second Perfon in the Trinity, By him all things were made, and without him was nothing made that was made. So that when we attribute to God, that he |