(1.) It is a part of their vanity that they are made to serve man in a state of corruption, and the most wicked of the kind, that refuse to come out of the apostasy and defection from God. The creatures natu- rally take the part of the creator, — are to be accounted friends or enemies to us, as God is ; for the scripture speaketh of them as involved in his league and covenant ; yet they are forced to serve those whom they are appointed to punish. God causeth his sun to shine on the good and the evil ; and causeth his rain to fall upon the just and imjust ; to serve wicked men's turns with whom they are at no peace. It is an old and a vexed question, What right and interest wicked men have in the creatures ? As much as needeth to be now spoken to it may be comprised in these propositions :
First, Man never had the right of an absolute and supreme lord, but only of a steward and a servant. The supreme original right was in the creator, but the subordinate and limited right was in man, who had nothing absolutely his own, but was to use all for God, to whom he was accountable. All things are ours for God; nothing is properly and ultimately our own.
Secondly, Upon the fell, man lost the right of a servant ; for when the first charter was broken, the rights that accrued thereby were lost, and by lapse forfeited into the hands of the true owner again.
Thirdly, Though the right of a servant was forfeited and lost, yet God was pleased out of his patience and indulgence to continue fallea
VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 161
man the use and benefit of the creature, and some kind of right to them, — a civil right and providential right. First, acivil right ; as Nabal's sheep were said to be his sheep, 1 Sam. xxv. 4, and he is a thief that should have stolen them from him. A man is a thief before God and man that robbeth a wicked man ; still we have such a right to the creatures that our fellow-servants may not take from us witliout «ur Lord's consent. Secondly, a providential right ; as God puts them into our hands by the fair allowance and disposure of his providence : Ps. xvii. 14, ' They have their portion in this life : thou fiUest their bellies with thy hid treasure.' So Jer. xxvii. 5, ' I have given it to whom it seemeth meet unto me ; ' corn, houses, lands, goods, cattle. He that hath an absolute right and interest in the creature may dispose it at his pleasure.
Fourthly, Though they have a civil and providential right, yet they have not a filial and evangelical right ; for that is by Christ. In him all things are ours : 1 Cor. iii. 22, ' All things are yours, and you are Christ's, and Clirist is God's ; ' and with him he hath given us all things, Eom. viii. 32 ; and it is said, 1 Tim. iv. 3, 4, that ' every creature of God is good,' and created ' to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe, and know the truth.' These are heirs of promise who have right by Christ.
Fifthly. The evaagelical right is that which sanctifieth the creature to us ; and so thereby the creature may more comfortably serve us, our right being restored by Christ : 1 Tim. iv. 4, ' The creature is sanctified by the word and prayer.' The more we believe and acknowledge God in Christ, the more comfortable use of the creature ; whereas unre- generate men, who have forfeited the right of a steward, use the creature as if they had the right of a lord ; use goods, lands, moneys, as their own, and given to them for themselves, and not for God ; and this is a part of the vanity the creature is subject unto.
(2.) The creatures are often employed as instruments to fulfil our lusts, which in their original use were intended for God's glory ; and so God is dishonoured rather than glorified by them. Some abuse the creatures to pride in apparel, some to gluttony and drunkenness, some to base sparing ; whereas those that would be good stewards for God should use wholly what God hath put into their hands for God's glory ; that the creature may not be turned from the end and use for which it was first made, as it is when the provisions of this life are used, not for strength, but for surfeiting and drunkenness ; our clothes not for warmth, but for pride and wantonness; and the remainder and overplus of o\u' estates employed in pomp, not in charity. But now, when this is little minded, the creature is abused to our vain ends.
Secondly. The manner how it came into this state of vanity. It is expressed negatively and positively.
1. Negatively ; ovx eKovaa, not willingly, that is, by its own natural projiension. Voluntariness is attributed to the senseless crea- ture by translation from man ; and what is against the natural in- clination of the creature, or the use for which it was ordained by God, it is said to be done imwillingly. The first institution of the creature was for God's glory and the benefit of man ; and all crea- tures were fitted for the use for which they were made ; and if