Ans. It is likely it did bear thorns ; for, when God had done creating, he made no new species or kinds of things ; but the meaning is, Now, after sin tlie earth should bring forth more plenty of thorns, and now those thorns should be hurtful, and choke the corn, which hurtful quality was not in them before. Ever since the fall, all the comforts of this life have a thorn and a this- tle in them.
4. The fourth fruit of the curse was the
drove out the man." God at first brought Adam into paradise, as into an house ready furnished, or as a king into his throne, Gen. i. 28., " Have dominion over every living thing that moveth;" now God's driving Adam out of paradise, signified his dethron- ing and banishing him, that he might look after an heavenly and a better paradise. — 5. A fifth fruit of the curse was death, y. 19., " To dust thou shalt return." Death was not natural to Adam, it came in after sin. Joseph us is of opinion, man should have died though he had a longer term <Jt years added to his life ; but out of question, death grew out of the root of sin ; the apos- tle saith, Rom. v. 12., " By sin came death." See then how cursed a thing sin is, that hath brought so many curses upon the crea- tion. If we will not hate sin for its defor- mity, let us hate it for the curse it brings.
Use Mh. Did God make this glorious world ? Did he make every thing good ? Was there in the creature so much beauty and sweetness ? Oh ! then what sweetness is there in God ? Qidcquid efficit tcde, illud est magis tale, — the cause is always more noble than the effect. Think with your- selves, is there so much excellency in house and lands — then how much more is there in God, that made these ! Is there beauty in a rose ? What beauty then is there in Christ, the rose of Sharon ! Doth oil make the face * shine ? Ps. civ. 15. How will the light of God's countenance make it shine ! Doth wine cheer the heart ? O what virtue is there in the true vine ! How doth the blood of this grape cheer the heart ! Is the fruit of the garden sweet ? how delicious are the fruits of the Spirit ! Is a gold mine so pre- cious ; how precious is he who founded thia mine ! What is Christ, in whom are hid all treasures? Col. ii. 3. We should ascend from the creature to the Creator. If there be any comfort here below, how much more is there in God, who made all these things ! How unreasonable is it, that we should de- liirht in the world, and not much more in him that ma^e it? How should our hearts be set on Cod, and how should we lonjr to
be witii Cod, who hatli infinitely more sweetness in him, than any creature ! Use bth. Of Exhortation. 1. Did God
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
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create the world? let us wisely obseive those works of creation. God hfitli given us not only the book of the scriptures to read in, but the book of the creation ; look up to the heavens, they shew much of God's glory, — the sun gilds the world with its Ibriglit beams, — behold the stars, their regu- lar motion in their orbs, their magnitude, their light, their influence. We may see God's glory blazing in the sun, twinkling in the stars. Look into the sea, and see the wonders of God in the deep, Ps. cvii. 24. Look into the air, thei*e the birds make melody, and sing forth the praises of their Creator. Look into the earth, there we may wonder at the nature of minerals, — the power of tlie loadstone, — the virtue of herbs ; see the earth decked as a bride with flowers ; all these arc the glorious effects of God's power. God hath wrought the crea- tion as with curious needle-work, that we may observe his wisdom and goodness, and give him the praise due to him, Ps. civ. 24., " O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all."
2. Did God create all things ? Let us obey our Maker. We are his Jure creationis ; we owe ourselves to him ; if another gives us our maintenance we think ourselves bound to serve him, much more should we serve and obey God who gives us our life, Acts xvii. ^28., " In him we live and move." God hath made every thing for man's service, — the corn for nourishment, — the beasts for use- fulness,— the birds for music, — that man should be for God's service. The rivers come from the sea, and they run into the
sea again. All we have is from God ; let us honour our Creator, and live to him that made us.