I am currently reading a book by N. H. Keeble which has the title Richard Baxter: Puritan Man Of Letters. It looks at the life of Richard Baxter through his extensive collection of written materials.
In chapter 5 the author brings to light Baxter's appreciation of the natural world and how, contrary to some religious movements, the Puritans had a great respect for the natural world and what we could learn from it.
The author quotes Bunyan in making his point: "since it is the wisdom of God to speak to us ofttimes by trees, gold, silver, stones, beasts fowls, fishes, spiders, ants, frogs, flies, lice, dust &c., and here by wood; how by them should we understand his voice, if we count there is no meaning in them?" (110)
In Baxter's words, "What deal of the Majesty of the great Creator doth shine in the face of this fabrick of the world?" (112)
I am reminded that He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (1 Corinthians 15-17)
He is before all things and in him all things hold together. Should we expect anything less than seeing God's glory displayed in the spiders, ants, frogs, flies, lice and dust?
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