(3.) His mercy during the day of his patience. In the midst of judg- ment he remembereth mercy. Though there be much vanity in the creatures, yet there is still a usefulness in them to mankind. Though the air might poison us, and the earth swallow us up, and the mouth of the great deep vomit forth an inundation of waters, and the fire scorch up the earth, yet it is great mercy that God hath so bound up the creatures by a law and decree, that the earth is still a commodious habitation to man ; that many of the changes and commotions in the elementary and lower world conduce to our benefit, but esjiecially the stated course of nature ; that the earth doth bring forth its fruits in due season, and the sun rejoiceth to run its course ; all this is goodness to poor creatures, while God offereth pardon of sin and restitution by Christ ; we still enjoy the blessings we have forfeited ; though with some diminution and abatement, we are restored to the use of the creatures ; but these are subject to vanity. We have our lives, but not that perfect constitution of body which Adam enjoyed before his fall. Creatures are not so useful and serviceable to us as they were in their first creation. In the inward righteousness and holiness restored to man, there is a mixture of corruption. It was needful there should be some continual remembrance of sin, that we might be the more abased in ourselves, and more sensible of God's mercy ; and yet for the honour of God some monument should be left of his benignity and bounty to his creature.
Thirdly, The reasons why the innocent creature is punished for man's sin.
1. To destroy the image of jealousy, or the great idol that was set up against God. Man's great sin was his forsaking the creator, and seeking his happiness in the creature: Jer. ii. 13, 'For my people have committed two evils ; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them out cisterns, broken ci.sterns, that will hold no water.' He forsook God by distrust, and betook himself to the
164 SERMONS UPON ROMANS Vlir. [SeR. XXVII.
creature out of necessity; for man cannot subsist of himself, but must have somewhat to lean unto. Tlie first temptation did entice man from God to some inferior good more pleasing to his fleshly mind. Man was made for God, to serve him, love him, and de- light in him, and to use all the creatures in order to God, for his service and glory ; he was to use nothing but witli this intention. But by sin, all that man was capable of using was abused to please his flesh. Now as Satan, the tempter, aimed at this, that by clepending on the creature we might have no cause to look back upon God any more, — as when they break off a treaty of marriage, they set another match a-foot ; or rather, as those that endeavour to draw away a man's heart from his own wife, entangle himin the love of a strange vi^oman ; — so God, to counterwork Satan, blasts the creature, and much of the beauty and virtue of it is lost, that we may think of returning to him : Hos. ii. 7, ' I will return to my first husband ; for then it was better with me than now.' Disappointment in the creature sendeth many to God, who otherwise would never think of him; for they are made the more sensible of their disadvantage in forsaking him.
2. The creature is still made an instrument of sin, and therefore is involved in God's curse, as to the disorder, ruin, and destruction of many of the parts of it. For if we use these creatures contrary to their nature and end, and to the wrong of their proper lord and owner, no wonder if he blasted what is so abused. The creatures are some- times abused as objects of worship and trust, to the alienating men's hearts from God, as in gi-oss idolatry : ' They worshipped the queen of heaven,' meaning the sun, whom they made a female, Jer. xliv. 18. And the Lord complaineth, Ezek. xvi. 16, 17, 18, 19, that they decked their high places with gold and silver, and did set oil and incense be- fore them. So still we set up the creature for our end and happiness, as if it were more attractive and amiable than God, and fitter to con- tent and delight the soul ; use so much of the world as is within our grasp and reach, against God and our true happiness. Besides brutish wickedness, how many saci'ilegious morsels do men offer to an intem- perate appetite, and abuse other things by their sinful desires, — meat to surfeiting, drink to excess, apparel to pride ; wealth, power, and in- terest to serve their revengful minds ?
3. In the curse on the creature, man is punished. His blessings cursed, Mai. ii. 2. Those things which were made for our use and service, become first instruments of our sin, and then of our punish- ment. It is just with God not only to punish us in our persons, but in the things belonging us ; as demolishing the houses and castles of fi rebel is taken to be a part of his punishment among men. Pharaoh's house was smitten for Sarah's sake : Gen. xii. 17, ' And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house for Sarah's sake;' and Num. xvi. 32, ' The earth swallowed them up, and their houses, and their goods.' So God brought vanity on the creature for man's sake ; murrain on the beasts and cattle ; blasts upon corn and vines, and other fruits of the earth. We have interest in them, and our subsistence is by them ; yea, the king himself is served by the field ; their destruction is our loss ; as mei-cy to the earth is mercy to men.