But let us hear what they have to say for the Abolition.
Their first and most weighty Argument is taken from the End of the World’s Creation,4 which was partly and chiefly the Glory of the Creater, and partly the use of Man, the Lord Deputy, as it were, or Viceroy thereof. Now for the Glory of the Creator, it being by the admirable Frame of the World manifested unto Man, Man being removed out of the World, and no Creature being capable of such a Manifestation besides him, we cannot imagine to what purpose the Frame itself should be left, and restored to a more perfect Estate. The other End, being for Man’s Vse, either to supply his Necessity in matter of Diet, of Physick, of Building, of Apparel; or for his Instruction, Direction, Recreation, Comfort and Delight; or lastly, that therein, as in a Looking-glass he might contemplate the Wisdom, the Goodness and Power of God: when he shall attain that blessed Estate, as he shall have no further use of any of these, enjoying perfect Happiness and seeing God as he is, face to face, the second or subordinate End of the World’s Being must needs be likewise frustrate. And what other End can be given or conceived for the remaining or restoring thereof? &c.
To this I answer, there may be an end of the restoring of the World, tho’ we are not able to find out or determine what. We are too short-sighted to penetrate the Ends of God. There may be a new Race of rational Animals brought forth to act their parts upon this Stage, which may give the Creator as much Glory as Man ever did or could. And yet if there should be no material and visible rational Creature made to inhabit the Earth, there are spiritual and intellectual Beings, which may be as busie, and as much delighted in searching out, and contemplating the Works of God in this new Earth, and rendring him the Praise of his Wisdom and Power as Man could be. These things we may conjecture; but we must leave it to the only wise God to determine what use shall be made of it. It seems to me to be too great presumption, and over-valuing our selves to think that all this World was so made for us, as to have no other end of its Creation; or that God could not be glorified but by us.
This first and principal Argument being answered, the second admits of an easie Solution. They enquire whether the Vegetables, and Creatures endued with Sense shall all be restored, or some only? namely such as shall be found in being at the Day of Judgment. If all, where shall we find Stowage for them? Surely we may in this case properly apply that which the Evangelist in another useth figuratively, if they should all be restored, even the World itself could not contain the things which should be restored. If some only, then would I gladly know, why those some should be vouchsafed this great Honour, and not all, or how those Creatures without a Miracle shall be restrain’d from propagating and multiplying, and that infinitely in their kinds by a perpetual Generation. Or lastly, How the several Individuals of these kinds, shall contrary to their primitive Natures, live and dure immortally?
To all this I answer, That not only all Animals, but all Vegetables too, yea, and their Seeds also, will doubtless be mortified and destroyed by the violence of the Conflagration; but that the same should be restored, and endued with eternal life, I know no reason we have to believe; but rather that there should be new ones produced, either of the same with the former, or of different kinds, at the will, and by the power of the Almighty Creator, and for those Ends and Uses for which he shall design them. This Question being answered in this manner, all that follows concerning the Earth remaining without any Furniture or Inhabitants, &c. falls to the Ground. So I have dispatch’d these Seven Questions concerning the Dissolution of the World, there remains now only the Inference or Use of the precedent Doctrine.
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