3. They are instructive groans ; for they teach us many good lessons. [1.] They teach us the vanity of the creature, which is now often
changed, and must at length be dissolved. To a common eye this world seemeth to be in its highest splendour and beauty, because worldly men judge of things by their carnal affections: Ps. xlix. 11, ' Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations.' The)' think their heritages and honours shall for ever continue in their name and family, and . carry themselves accordingly ; their carnal complacency possessetii them with vain conceits ; and when their posterity are swept away and shifted, new comers that are established in their room are as vain as they. But now, if we bring the word to the creature, and God by his Spirit giveth us an heart to observe these things, we shall see that all is passing and perishing, that the whole world hath a great evil that burdens it, and will at length prove its destruction ; namely, sin ; that the groaning universe doth in effect say to us, ' Arise, depart; this is
VeK. 22.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 181
not your rest,' Micah ii. 10. It is spoken to the Jews ; the land of Canaan was given for a rest at first, but by their sin it had lost much of that use ; the frequent changes of estate they met with there for their sins was a summons to remove and look hij^her. It is true of all the world, it is not our resting-place, since it was defiled by sin ; there- fore the groaning creature should wean us from the world, and inflame us with a desire of heaven, where is perfect and eternal happiness.
[2.] It teacheth us the evil of sin ; it is the burden of the whole creation, of which it would fain be eased. All the vanity that is upon the creature, and all annoyance which we have from the creature, is the fruit of our rebellion against God ; which should make us more humble for sin past, and more cautious for the time to come. So much sin as you introduce, so much you disturb the harmony of the creation, and are accessary to the many destructive changes wrought in the world.
[3.] It readeth us a lecture of patience. We live in a groaning •world, and must expect to bear our share in the common concert ; the world is a valley of tears. Now to seek for joy in a valley of tears, to affect an exemption from groaning, it is to be singular, and be out of tune from the rest of the creation. What is in Ps. Isxsiv. 6, ' the valley of Bacha,' the SepfMagint renders 'the valley of weeping;' it means the scorched weeping ground they passed tlirough ; and because their going to Jerusalem to worship was a figure of our progress or journey towards heaven, therefore many apply it to the world, resembled by a valley, as heaven is by a mountain, like Mount Sion ; and a valley of tears, because we frequently meet with mourning occasions. Now it should not trouble us to be put upon groaning in a groaning world. We have company with us in our mourning ; not only our fellow saints ; the apostle urgeth, 1 Pet. v. 9, ' These things are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world.' Every one of God's children have their share of hardships in the world ; we think no sorrow like to our sorrow, and that none are so hardly dealt with as we are ; others have their sorrows and hardships ; the measure and weight of others' sorrows we know by guess, but our own by feeling. All things con- sidered, you will find your lot no harder than the saints of God who went to heaven before you. But here is more company offered ; the whole creation groaning for a burden brought upon them, not by their fault but ours ; yet submitting to that appointed service till it be the will of God to ease them.
[4.] A lecture of long suffering ; which is patience extended. When we are oppressed with many persecutions and affiictions, and these continue long, and we see no end, we despond : ' The creature groaneth and travaileth in pain until now ; ' that is, from the time sin entered into the world until the whole be dissolved. The continuance of the universe is much longer than the continuance of our lives ; therefore let us not repine at so short a time, for the creature hath been in a groaning condition these six thousands years, or thereabout. Surely the softness and delicacy of our flesh is too great, if we must see the end of our troubles as soon as we enter into them. If the creature is obedient to the creator in bearing the burden he lays on it, though it
182 SERMONS UPON ROMANS Vlir. [SeB. XXIX.
groan under it, then surely we should submit to his disposing will, so lonp; as he will have us in a suft'ering condition : Jam. i. 4, ' Let patience have its perfect work.'