2. The Soul of man; this is the man of the man. Man, in regard of his soul, partakes with the angels; nay, as Plato saith, The understanding, will, and con- science, are a glass that resemble the Tri- nity. The soul is the diamond in the ring ; the soul is a vessel of honour; God him- self is served in this vessel. It is a sparkle of celestial brightness, saith Damascene. If David did so admire the rare contexture and workmanship of his body, Ps. cxxxix. 14, 15., " I am wonderfully made, I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the eartii," — if the cabinet be so curiously wrought, Avhat is the jewel ? How richly is the soul embroidered? Thus you see how glorious a work the creation is, and man especially, who is the epitome of the world.
Quest. Btit why did God moke the icurld ?
Alls. 1. Negatively: Not for himself: he
did not need it, being infinite. lie was happy before the world was, in reflecting upon his own sublime excellencies and per- fections. 2. God did not make the world to be a place of mansion for us, we are not to abide here for ever. Heaven is the man- sion-house, John xiv. 2. The world is only a passage-room to eternity ; the world is to us as the wilderness was to Israel, not to rest in, but to travel through to the glorious Canaan. The world is a dressing-room to dress our souls in, not a place where we are to stay for ever. The apostle tells us of the world's funeral, 2 Pet. iii. 10., " The ele- ments shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up."
A. 2. Positively : God made the world to demonstrate his own glory. The world is a looking-glass in which we may see the power and goodness of God shine forth : " The heavens declare the glory of God," Ps. xix. 1. The world is like a curious piece of arras or tapestry, in which we may see the skill and wisdom of him that made it.
Use Isf. Did God create this world ? This convinceth us of the truth of his Godhead ; to create is proper to a Deity, Acts xvii. 24. This convinced Plato of a Deity, when he saw all the world could not make a fly. Thus God proves himself to be the true God, and distinguisheth himself from idols, Jer. X. 11. It is written in Chaldee, " Tims shall ye say to them. The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish." Who but God can cre- ate ? The creation is enough to convince the heathen that there is a God. There are two books out of which God will judge and- condemn the heathen, viz. the book of Con- science, Rom. ii. 15., " Who have the law- written in their heart ;" and the book of the Creation, Rom. i. 20., " The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God- head." Tlie world is full of emblems and hieroglyphics ; every star in the sky, — every bird that flies in the air, — is a witness a- gainst the heathen. A creature could not- make itself.
Use 2d. Here is a migh*y support for faith, God creates. He that made all tilings with a woid, what cannot he do ? He can
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create strength m weakness; he can create driving man out of paradise, v. 24., " So he
a
supply of our wants. What a foolish question was that, Ps. Ixxviii. 19., " Can he prepare a tahle in the wilderness ?" Can- not he that made tlie world do much more ? Ps. cxxiv. 8., " Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Rest on this God for help, who made hea- ven and earth." The work of creation, as it is a monument of God's power, so it is a stay to faith. Is thy heart hard; he can with a word create softness. Is it unclean, he can create purity ? Ps. li. 10., " Create in me a clean heart, O God !" Is the church of God low, he can create Jerusalem a praise, Isa. Ixv. 18. No such golden pillar for faith to stay upon, as a creating power. Use Sd. Did God make this world full of beauty and glory, every thing very good, — then, what an evil thing is sin, that hath put out of frame the whole creation ! Sin hath much eclipsed the beauty, soured the sweet- ness, and marred the harmony of the world. How bitter is that gall, a drop whereof can embitter a whole sea? Sin hath brought vanity ad vexation into the woi-ld, yea, a curse. God cursed the ground for man's sake, Gen. iii. There were several fruits of the curse. — 1. " In sorrow slialt thou eat of it," ver. 17. By that word sorrow, is to be understood all the troubles and cares of this life. — 2. " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," v. 19. In innocency Adam did till the ground, (he must not live idly) but it was rather a delight than a labour ; that tilling was without toiling. The eat- ing in sorrow, and the sweat of the brow, came in after sin. — 3. " Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth," v. 18.
Quest. Wlietlur in innocency did not the earth hear thorns, because it is threatened as a punishment 1