He again persuades them to compose their divisions.
THUS has the humility and
godly fear of these great
and excellent men recorded in
the Scriptures, through obedience,
made not only us, but also the
generations before us better;
even as many as have received his
holy oracles with fear and truth.
2 Having therefore so many,
and such great and glorious
examples, let us return to that
peace which was the mark that
from the beginning was set before
us;
3 Let us look up to the Father
and Creator of the whole world;
and let us hold fast to his glorious
and exceeding gifts and benefits
of peace.
4 Let us consider and behold
with the eyes of our understanding
his long suffering will; and think
how gentle and patient he is
towards his whole creation.
5 The heavens moving by his
appointment, are subject to him
in peace.
6 Day and night accomplish the
courses that he has allotted unto
them, not disturbing one another.
7 The sun and moon, and all the
several companies and constellations
of the stars, run the courses that
he has appointed to them in concord,
without departing in the least from
them.
8 The fruitful earth yields its
food plentifully in due season both
to man and beast, and to all animals
that are upon it, according to his
will; not disputing, nor altering
any thing of what was ordered by him.
9 So also the unfathomable and
unsearchable floods of the deep,
are kept in by his command;
10 And the conflux of the vast
sea, being brought together by his
order into its several collections,
passes not the bounds that he has
set to it;
11 But as he appointed it, so it
remains. For he said, Hitherto
shalt then come, and thy floods
shall be broken within thee.
12 The ocean impassable to
mankind, and the worlds that are
beyond it are governed by the
same commands of their great
master.
13 Spring and summer, autumn
and winter, give place peaceably
to each other.
14 The several quarters of the
winds fulfil their work in their
seasons, without offending one
another.
15 The ever-flowing fountains,
made both for pleasure and health,
never fail to reach out their breasts
to support the life of men.
16 Even the smallest creatures
live together in peace and concord
with each other.
17 All these has the Great Creator
and Lord of all, commanded to
observe peace and concord; being
good to all.
18 But especially to us who flee
to his mercy through our Lord
Jesus Christ; to whom be glory
and majesty for ever and ever.
Amen.