HOMILETICS. Yer. 27.-1'he (lreatness of man. I. THE TilllE OF HIS APPEAnANCE. The latest of God's works, he ~-as produced towards the close of the era that witnessed the intro- duction upon our globe of the higher animals. Taking either view of the length of the creatin day, it may be supposed that in the evening the animals went forth "to roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God," and that in the morning man arose upon the n.riegated scene," going forth to his work and to his labour un°til the evening" (Ps. civ. 20-23). In this there was a special fitness, each being created at the time most nppropriate to its nature. Man's works are often mistimed; God's ne,·er. Likewise in man's being ushered last upon the scene there was peculiar sig- n·ificance; it was a virtual proclamation of his greatness. II. THE SOLEMNITY OF HIS MAKING, which was preceded by a Divine consultation: "Let us make man," &c. The language of-1. Resolutwn. As if, in the produc- tion of the other creatures, the all-wise Artificer had been scarcely conscious of an effort, but must now bestir himself to the performance of his last and greatest work. 2. Foret,hought. As if his previous makings had been, in comparison with this, of EO subordinate importance that they might be executed instantaneously and, as it -.rere, 'Without premeditation, whereas this required intelligent arrangement and wise consideration beforehand. 3. Solu:itude. As if the insignificance of these other labours made no special call upon his personal care and attention, whereas the vast- ness of the present undertaking demanded the utmost possible watchfulness and caution. 4. Delight. As if the fashioning and beautifying of the globe and its replenishing with sentient beings, unspeakably glorious as these achievements were, afforded him no satisfaction in comparison with this which he contemplated, the creating of man in his own image (cf. Prov. viii. 31). Ill. THE DIGNITY OF HIS NATURE. "Created after God's image and likeness," suggesting ideas of-1. .djfi.nity, or kinship. The resplendent universe, wilh its su1111 and systems, its aerial canopy and green-II?antled !?;round, its Alps and H\malayas, its oceans, rh-ers, streams, was only as plastic clay m the hands of a sk1!£ul potter. Even the innumerable tribes of living creatures that had been let loose to swarm the deep, to cleave the eky, to roam the earth, were animat~d by a principl~ of being that had no closer connection with the Deity than that which effect has with cause; but the Efe which inspired man was a v~rita~le outcome from the perso;1ality of ~od (Gen. ii. 7). Hence man was somethmg Ingber than a creature. As imago Dei he was God's son (Mai. ii. 10; Acts xvii. 28). 2. Resemhlance. A distinct advance upon the previous thought, although implied in it. This likeness or similitude con- Risted in-(1) Personality. Light, air, land, sea, sun, moon, stars were "things." Plants fishes fowl~, animals were "lives," although the first are never so charac- terised in Scripture. Man was a "person." (2) Purity. The imag·e of absolute holiness must itself be immaculate. In this sense Christ was "the express image of God's person " (Heb. i. 3) ; and though man iR not now a complete likeness of his Mnker in the moral purity of his nature, when he came from the Creator'a hnnd he ,•:as. It is the object, of Christ's work to renew in man tho image of hiR l\faker (E1,i1,,s. iv. 24). (3) Power. Tliat man's Creator was a Go<l of power Wat:i implied CR. I. 24-31.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
in bis name, E1,0HIM, nn l demonstrated by hie works. Even fallen man we clln perceive to Le possessed of many elements of power that are the shadows of that which resided in Elohim-the power of self-government, and of lordsbip over the 1Jreatures, of language and of thought, of volition and of action, of originating, at least in a secondary sense, and of combining and arranging. In the first man they resided in perfection. 3. Representation. Man was created in God's image that he might be a visible embodiment of the Supreme to surrounding creatur6s. "The material worlrl, with its objects sublimely great or meanly little, as we judge them; its atoms of dust, its orbs of fire; the rock that stands by the seashore, the water that wears it away; the worm, a birth of yesterday, which we trample underfoot; the sheets of the constellations that gleam perennial overhead ; the aspiring palm tree fixed to one spot, and the lions that are sent out free-these incarnate and make visible all of God their natures will admit." Man in his nature was intended as the highest representation of God that was possible short of the incarnation of the Word himself. IV. THE GRANDEUR OF ms DOMINl0N. Man was designed to be God's image in respect of royalty and lordship; and as no one can play the monarch without a kingdom and without subjects, God gave him both an empire and a people. 1. -"n empire. (1) Of wide extent. In the regal charter reaching to the utmost bounds of thi~ terrestrial sphere (ver. 26). (2) Of available character. Not a region that was practically unconquerable, but every square inch of it capable of subjugation and occupation. (3) Of vast resources. Everything in heaven, earth, and sea was placed at his command. (4) Of incalculable value. Nothing was absolutely useless, ,ind many things were precious beyond compare. (5) Of perfect security. God h11d given it to him. The grant was absolute, the gift was sure. 2. A people. (1) Numerous. "Every living thing·" was subjected to his sway. (2) Varied. The fishes, fowls, and beasts were his servants (3) Submissive. As yet they had not broken loose against their master. (4) Given. They were not acquired by the sword, but donated by their Maker.