Let the Words of my Mouth, and the Meditations, &c.

And God said, Let the Earth bring forth the living Creature after his kind ; Cattel, and creeping things, and Beasts of the Earth after their kind ; and God saw that it was very good. Gen. 1.24.

Consider now, O my Soul, that God had filled the Seas and the Air with his Bounty, and abundance of living Creatures ; and having richly adorn'd the Earth with Herbs, Flowers, Grass, Corn and Fruits, he would not let it be without Inhabitants, both to use the foresaid Blessings, and be serviceable to Man. He made three sorts of Beasts and Cattel this Day ; the one labouring Beasts, to help and assist Man, as also to feed and sustain him ; the other creeping things upon the Earth, generally comprehended under the Name of Serpents ; the third, wild or salvage Beasts. In all which, his Wisdom, Power, and Goodness is to be seen, making in a Moment a multitude of Beasts in sundry parts of the World ; and in every part placing those which were proper for such a Climate, or Soil ; the Earth ministring Matter whereof to make them, and obeying the divine Power without Resistance.

Of all these Kinds he made divers Species, and wonderful Forms, Properties and Inclinations ; for all which he provided sufficient Maintenance, with admirable Providence giving each one apt Instruments for the same, and withal gave them defensive and offensive Weapons, and marvellous Subtilties, that they might both defend themselves from others, and get that of others which they should desire and seek. Of all which God doth glory, Job. 38. And in Chap. 40. (having before passed thro’ the Air and Sea, and all therein) he there speaks concerning the Beasts. Wilt thou (saith he to Job) hunt the Prey of the Lyon, or fill the Appetite of the young Lyon? Who provideth for the Raven his Food, when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of Meat? Job 39. Knowest thou the time when the wild Goats of the Rock bring forth, or canst thou mark when the Hinds do calve?