Against anthropocentrism

For my part, I cannot believe that all the things in the world were so made for Man, that they have no other use. For it is highly absurd and unreasonable, to think that Bodies of such vast magnitude as the fixt stars, were only made to twinkle to us...

But though in this sence it be not true, that all things were made for Man; yet thus far it is, that all the Creatures in the world may be some way or other useful to us, at least to exercise our Wits and Understandings, in considering and contemplating of them, and so afford us Subject of Admiring and Glorifying their and our Maker.

- John Ray, Wisdom of God, pp. 128-9.

Doing science in eternity

Life after life after death - see also Byron's excellent series - but what will we be doing on the new earth? Perhaps some of the same things we've been doing on this earth, including, for John Ray, science!

It may be (for ought I know, and as some Divines have thought) part of our business and employment in Eternity to contemplate the Works of God, and give him the Glory of his Wisdom, Power and Goodness manifested in the Creation of them. I am sure it is part of the business of a Sabbath-day, and the Sabbath is a Type of that eternal Rest; for the Sabbath seems to have been first instituted for a commemoration of the Works of the Creation, from which God is said to have rested upon the Seventh Day.

- John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, London, 1691, p. 124

I hope that means it's ok that I'm working on my PhD on a Sunday...

Take that, you atomical and Epicurean atheists!

Whosoever thinketh that the admirable Order and incredible Constancy of the Heavenly Bodies and their Motions, whereupon the Preservation and Welfare of all things doth depend, is not governed by Mind and Understanding, he himself is to be accounted void thereof.

- John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, London, 1691, p. 50.