A Prospect of the City of Jerusalem

George Wyllys Secr.

PSALM CXLVII. 2.

The LORD doth Build up Jerusalem,

AS every house is builded by some man; so he that built all things is God. The Heavens and the Earth, the upper & lower Stories of the vast and stupendous ◊rame and goodly Structure of the Universe, 〈…〉 glorious piece of divine Architecture: And ◊o are all the Hosts of them; the Angels of Light, those morning Stars, those first-born and eldest Sons of time, those bright Intelligences of the superior World; Thousands and Ten Thousand times Ten Thousands of whom People the Empyrean Heavens, inhabiting those blissful Abodes where they do always behold the face of their Father which is in Heaven; and are continually feasled with the Joys of Beatisick Vision: Together with Mankind, who dwell in houses of Clay, whose foundation is in the Dust: And all the other various Kinds and Species, Ranks and Orders of ◊nferior Creatures, whether Animate or Inanimate, belonging to this visible Creation p. 2He whose Name alone is Jehovah, who was before & is above all Worlds, a Being Super-intellectual, Self-existent, Independant, Self-sufficient & alsufficient; this alwise Artificer by his mighty Fiat, call'd up & caus'd this stately Fabrick to start forth out of nothing: That high vaulted Roof, that spacious & glittering Canopy spread over our heads (imbellish'd & bespangled with numerous bright Luminaries; the Sky which is strong and as a molten Lookingglass, enamel'd, bedeck'd & emboss'd with innumerable worlds of Light, of various Magnitudes Immensity more orient & glistering than the most sparkling Diamond or Pearl, than the Gold of Ophir, the precious Onyx or the Sapphire) this is the work of his Fingers; the wondrous Work of Him which is perfect in Knowlege. 'Tis he who by his Wisdom hath thus garnished the Heavens, who hath there pitched a Tabernacle for the Sun, and appointed the Ordinances of Heaven; who hath made and guides Arcturus with his sons Orion and Plei◊des and the Chambers of the South, those influential & useful Constellations.

p. 2Tis the same alwise & alpowerful Being who hath also laid the beams of his chambers in the Waters, and fix'd the Groundfills & Foundations of this Earth, or rather hangeth the same upon nothing: For his huge, ponderous te◊◊◊q◊◊ous Globe has no Atlas to support it p. 3No, there's nothing underneath save everlasting Arms; an incontestible proof of a Divine Being, an eternal Power and Godhead, Job 26.7. He stretcheth out the North over the empty place, and hangeth the Earth upon nothing.

Terra pilae similis nullo fulcimine nixa, aere sublato, tam grave pendet onus.

How wonderful! to see an Orb of such vast Bulk, hang equally poiz'd with its own weight and swimming about in the liquid AEther. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the Earth, and the Heavens are the work of thy hands, Psal. 102.25. The Earth (no less than the Heavens) with all its Appurtenances; its useful Atmostphere and all its beautiful Apparatus and rich Furniture; the winged Choristers which sing among the Branches, and what time they life up themselves on high scorn the House and his Rider; every Beast of the Forrest and the Cattle upon a thousand Hills; the Finny Nations and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the Seas, these all loudly proclaim the Wisdom, the Power and the Goodness of their Munificent Creator. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the Earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide Sea, &c. Psal. 104.24, 25.

And as all things were made by him, so by him all things consist: His Omnipotent Manutenency p. 4upholds and keeps them from relapsing into their primordial Abyss of Nonentity, their original Nothing. As He spake and it was done, so be commanded and it stood fast. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in Heaven, in or among the heavenly Bodies, which by virtue of that Word of God's Power by which they were made, do constantly continue the same in their Substance and Order and Courses, which, by virtue of the fix'd and establish'd Laws whereby they are govern'd, are continually fulfilling their Annual and Diurnal Revolutions, and shedding down their benign Influences of Light & Heat upon this Earth: And it follows, Thou hast establish'd the Earth & it abideth: They, viz the Heavens & the Earth continue this day according to thine Ordinances, Psal. 119.89, 91.

p. 4As for Mankind they are his peculiar Workmanship: His hands have made & fashioned them, and that in wondrous wise; the Inspiration of the Almighty hath given them Understanding, whereby they are capable of superior pleasure & felicity in the Contemplation of, and an Assimulation to, and Communion with the Ever-being and Ever-blessed Jehovah, in whose presence there is fulness of Joy; and the fruition of whom, and nothing else, yields consummate Beatitude to an intelligent Mind.

p. 5The Lord is good unto all, and leaves not himself without Witness among the Heathen, in that he gives them Rain and fruitful Seasons, filling their hearts with food & gladness,—But his Divine Philantrophy, his Love & good-will to his own dear chosen People (together with all the other Excellencies & Perfections belonging to his thrice glorious Essence, which have time immemorial been Employ'd for their welfare and Happiness; particularly his amazing Contrivance and Transaction for their recovery from the ruins of their Apostasie) merits our special Notice and challenges our most devout Resentment and grateful Acknowledgments.

This is what the Psalmist takes special Notice of and summarily mentions in the Text, as an Argument whereby he would stir up himself & others to celebrate the high Praises of God.

Who was the inspired Author and Penman of this Psalm is uncertain, whether David or some Prophet who liv'd after the Jews restoration from the Babylonish Captivity and the Rebuilding of their City and Temple in Jerusalem: But undoubtedly the Text has a primary reference to that great, notable and wonderful Event. …