to be in his Hand Dan. 5.23 So that if He take away their Breath they die Psal 104 19. And that sometime he engageth Himself to continue it by promise in expresse termes Psol 21.4 2 Kings 20.6 Luk. 2.26 And alwaies to strengthen and support it unto the time determined in His own Counsell which he hath given us sufficient warrant to depend upon But above all Eternall Life is his Gift Rom. 6.23 which He hath assured unto all that are in Christ with whom their life is hid or laid up safely in God Col. 3.3 Acknowledge it then unto him alone by Living unto him alone and seek it at his Hand 1. by prayer Psal 30.8 9. with Hezekiah and Jonah seeing He is the length of our daies Deut. 30.20 And in a Course of Obedience for God preserveth not the life of the wicked Job 36.6 who live not out half their daies Psal 55.23 The Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evill a sign unto Adam that he was to take the VVill of God as his rule to direct him what to choose and what to forbear was placed near the Tree of life in the middest of the Garden as we shall see to teach him to lay hold on that Promise of God for the continuing and perpetuating of his life onely under the Condition of his obedience VVhence 11. Observe All Gods promises must be Understood and Embraced under the Condition of the Performance of our Obedience Observ 11 THus we find them all proposed unto us by God Himself under the Conditions of Faith and Obedience both in things Temporall Psal 37.3 Isa 1.19 2 Chron. 20.20 and Spiritual Psal 50.23 John 3.18 1. This brings most honour unto God to blesse us and do us good only in a way of Righteousnesse which is the end of all his Administrations both of Mercy and Judgment that he may be known to be a God that loves Righteousnesse and hates Iniquity Psal 92.15 Hos 14.9 2. It is the best means to further holinesse in us by our endeavours to become such that God may do us good and blesse us without any impeachment of His Own Honour The name of the Tree of the knowledg of Good and Evil was as we have seen given it that Adam being by Gods Allowance permitted to eat freely of all the rest of the fruits of the Garden and by the same Commandement restrained from eating of this only might know that nothing was lawfull unto him but what God allowed not unlawful or evill but what He forbad Whence 12. Observe Good and Evill are bounded and limitted onely by the Will of God Observ 12 THis our Saviour the pattern of Righteousnesse proposed to Himself as his Rule Heb. 10.19 to do the Will of God and it is the doing of His Will that makes any service of ours properly a good work or acceptable to Him Heb. 13.21 And therefore are servants directed to take this for their rule even in serving their Masters Eph. 6.6 And on the same ground we are commanded to make that our request that the Will of God may be done by us and other men on Earth as the Angels do his Will in Heaven see Psal 103.20 This indeed and this alone is that which makes any service a duty of Obedience that we perform it as the Will of God and because He wills or commands it for thereby onely we honour Him both in his Soveraignty and Holinesse when we seal unto both by conforming our wills and actions thereunto Let us then inquire after that VVill of God as the rule of our practice as we are directed Rom. 12.2 which he hath laid before us in his word Deut. 29.29 And look at nothing else in the course of our practice but the conforming of our wills and actions thereunto that we may with comfort expect the promises that onely belong to the fulfilling of his VVill Heb. 10.36 working even the works of Righteousness it self upon that and upon no other ground VERSE 10. A River Or Rivers as some understand it after the use of the Hebrew phrase which oftentimes puts the Singular for the Plurall Number as Chap. 1. verse 12. By the Tree bearing seed are understood Trees yea all Trees yielding seed By this River some understand Euphrates others both it and Tigris and some Tigrs alone Went out of Eden It did not arise in Eden but went either through or by Eden and so watered that Garden of Paradise which was in Eden a Countrey of Mesopotamia or as some will have a larger Countrey compassing both Mesopotamia and divers countreyes adjoyning thereunto To water the Garden By running through it as most will have it some conceive it compassed the Garden round imagining that Garden to be an Island lying in the bosome of Tigris or Hiddekel about ten miles in circuit inhabited to this day by Christians called Gozoria distant about two miles from Nineve but these are onely conjectures And from thence Not immediately after it had watered the Garden but a great many miles below for some refer from thence not to the Garden but the countrey of Eden through which the River flowes And from thence it became into four heads Properly Heads are Fountains from which Rivers spring but a River parting into four branches as this is described to do the beginning of those severall channels into which it divides may not unfitly be termed Heads Especially seeing in the Hebrew tongue the VVord here used signifieth indifferently either a Head or a Beginning The description or the Situation of this Garden upon so fair a River is added to commend unto us both the pleasure and fruitfulnesse of this Garden of Delights planted with all variety of fruits at present and watered with such a stream as might continue the fruitfulnesse of that soil for the future Whence 1. Observe Gods blessings are every way compleat and perfect full and lasting Observ 1 IN their kind and nature and with respect had to the use and end for which they were appointed to serve He greatly enricheth the Earth with his River which is full of waters Psal 65.9 VVhich makes glad the Cittie of God Psal 46.4 It may well be so in respect of the cause whence these blessings flow which is Gods Boundlesse Love and All-sufficiency And must be so in respect of the end at which they aim which is the manifesting both the one and the other that mens hearts might be brought to rejoyce and depend upon Him alone Let our services in some proportion be answerable to Gods Blessings wanting in their parts nothing of what is required howsoever they come short in their degrees and flowing from and supplied and continued by an inward spring of Grace which may hold us on in a constant course to keep us alwaies fresh and flourishing as a good man is described unto us Psalme 1.3 It is recounted amongst the speciall commendations of this Garden of pleasures that it was well watered by a fair River which
is for that purpose described unto us here at full VVhence 2. Observ Springs and Rivers of waters are not amongst the least of Gods Blessings Observ 2 ANd are therefore recounted amongst them Psal 104. It was the commendation of the plain of Jordan that is was watered like the Garden of God Gen. 13.10 VVaters were the strength of Egypt and Her Glory Nahum 3. And the honour of Pharaoh Ezek. 29.3 as indeed they are the Delight Strength and Profit of any Countrey where they are Therefore God Promises springs and waters as especiall blessings Isa 35.6 7. and amongst his Curses threatens as a speciall judgment the smiting and drying up of the waters Isa 11.15 Psal 107.33 Let us then take notice of and acknowledge such Commodities amongst Gods speciall blessings which no man can purchase at any rate nor want without great inconvenience howsoever for the most part they are lightly esteemed because they are common VERSE 11. PIson A fair branch of a River falling into Hiddekel or Tigris at Apamia from whence they both joyn their names as well as their streams and are called Pisi-Tigris or Pasi-Gigris and fall at last in to the Sea of Persia The Land of Havilah So called from Havilah the son of Cush and borders upon Chaldea This is that Havilah which by other Authors is called Susiana There is also another Havilah so named from Havilah the Son of Jocktan which lies in East India far distant from this in another quarter of the world There is Gold In Havilah and in all probability in former ages in some good quantity as if Moses had said that Countrey is famous for Gold or abounds in Gold and the Gold there found is good There is Bdellium and the Onyxstone Whether this Bdellium to which Mannah is compared in the colour thereof Numb 11.7 be a gum or a precious stone or what else it skils not much this seemes to be the Holy Ghosts Intention to intimate by this description the goodnesse of the Countrey that abounds in those things which are of great price and esteem amongst men Whence we may 1. Observe Gold is a Creature of great Price and account with Men. Observ 1 IT is indeed in it self the Purest of all mettals for which Cause God was pleased to make choise of that especially for the adorning and setting out of His Tabernacle first and his Temple afterwards but the estimation that men have put upon it beyond the true worth of it hath occasioned the inordinate love of it which the Apostle calls the root of all Evill 1 Tim. 6.10 And the Truth is whatsoever account men put upon it the things necessary for the support of mans Life must needs be esteemed of more worth then it seeing we not onely passe it away in exchange for them as Solomon tells us Mony serves to all but besides desire it onely for that end that by it we may purchase necessaries for the maintaining of our Lives as Food Cloathing and the like Let not men then turn that which they esteem at so high a rate to the basest of all uses to make it fewel for our filthy lusts yea and by it to defile our own hearts in casting our love upon it and making it our confidence as most men do Considering that the worth of it should lead us to honour Him that gives it and Consists in the use of it which must be in honouring God by it and in making use of it to relieve his poor servants that when we fail they may receive us into Heavenly places and with these transitory things may purchase to our selves an heritage immortall that fadeth not away We find gold and Pretious Stones reckoned amongst the riches of Havilah but not amongst the Treasures or Delights of Paradise it is most probable because there was none there or at least because the Holy Ghost thought it not worth the naming or recounting amongst the riches which God bestowed upon our first Parents Whence 2. Observe Gold is none of the Creatures in which our happinesse consists Observ 2 AS being in the matter of it no better then thick clay Hab. 2.6 in the form of it without life or soul in the use of it at the most not so profitable as many other Creatures and little more then the measure or balance of the price and worth of things of true value unprofitable to keep us warm or to fill our bellies or to maintain our lives any way much more to enrich our souls and thereby to make us acceptable in Gods Sight as the Apostle manifests in opposing the odorning of a meek Spirit which God sets much by against the adorning with Gold 1 Pet 3.3 4. Let no man complain of the want of that without which our first Parents were fully happie which God many times bestowes upon the wicked whom He hates and that to their greater judgment and Condemnation which brings a man neither Wisdome nor Grace nor any thing that truly advanceth one man above another which our Saviour despised the Apostles enjoyed not the wisest amongst the Heathen esteemed of no value which shall not be named or known in Heaven hereafter or at least shall be of no accompt there VERSE 13 14. THe manner of the three other branches of this River of the Countries through which they passe are set down as well for the greater Credit of the relation as for the better understanding of the place where Paradise stood Gihon is said to compasse Ethiopia or rather Cush under which name is included all that countrey which lies between Havilah or Susiana and Egypt called for the most part Aralia inhabited at the first by the posterity of Havilah whose plantation might be in all likelihood upon the River Gihon although his posterity spred afterwards farther into the parts of Arabia neer Egypt VERSE 15. ANd God took the man and put him That is set and appointed him to be and Continue there by His Command either Outwardly by his Word or Inwardly by the Secret Direction and Motion of his Spirit For that He took him by the hand to lead or cary him thither as the Angel carried Lot out of Sodom seems not so probable it is not needful This setting of man in Paradise seemes to imply that he was made at the first out of the Garden and brought into it afterwards which seemes the more probable Partly that Adam comparing his Garden with the ground out of which he was made which he first beheld he might observe how much this place of pleasure surpassed the rest of the earth and might upon that ground set the higher price upon that blessing which God had prepared for him And partly that he might know and acknowledge that Garden to be Gods free Gift and not his own inheritance seeing he had neither footing in it nor Title unto it untill God placed him there And perhaps withall to raise him up unto the expectation of a greater change to
person and the pattern according to which he intends to make it after his Own Image all those Circumstances laid together cannot but raise up our hearts to the Expectation of some great and extraordinary piece of work to follow So that we may 1. Observe Man is a singular and Extraordinary Piece of Work Observ 1 MAde a little lower then the Angels Psal 8.5 and Crowned with honour advanced above all the Creatures of this Visible World in the Majesty of his Person in the Abilities of his Mind Job 35.11 in Soveraignty over all the Works of Gods Hands but above all in his Spiritual Estate wherein he is made a Member of Christ a Son of God and Heir of Glory that the consideration thereof may justly ravish us with Admiration as it doth Holy David Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him Psal 8.4 1. Then questionlesse he must be Gods Chiefest Care more worth in himself then many Sparrowes Matth. 10.31 than Oxen 1 Cor. 9.10 created after the most perfect pattern the Image of God Himself Purchased at the Dearest rate even with the blood of the Son of God and ordained unto the highest end the Advancing unto and enjoying of Glory And shall he that so graciously cloaths the Lilies of the Field that so carefully feeds the young Ravens when they cry satisfies the desire of every living thing neglect to provide necessary supplies for man the Glory of all the Creatures and Lord of all the works of his hands See how our Saviour presseth this Argument Matth. 6.26.30 and 10.30 And the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.10 Now if men in generall may rest upon those grounds the assurance of Gods Children must needs be much stronger both for needfull supplies and protection seeing he that hath given unto them his own Son cannot but with him give them all things Rom. 8.23 Especially being Members of his Body who is Lord of all things and therefore cannot suffer his own Members to pine for hunger to starve for cold to be persecuted afflicted and tormented having received besides a charge from his Father to lose none of those that are given him but to raise them up at the last day Joh. 6.39 So that he cannot but be the Saviour of his own body Eph. 5.23 2. Let men who are so far advanced above all other Creatures do him service above them all Let the rest of the Creatures which in their places continue according to his Ordinance Psalme 119.91 stir us up that more especially are appointed for his service engaged by greater Mercies and furnished with greater abilities to serve and honour him with all our Endeavours rendring unto him proportionally to what we have received of him that as God hath put more Honour upon us then He hath done upon any other Creature so we may advance and Honour him in a greater Measure then any other Creature Remembring that we must give up an account unto him of the Talent which we have received from him and according to the proportion of what we have received as it is represented unto us by our Saviour Himself in that Parable Matth. 25. Before we come to the examination of the particular circumstances Considerable in Mans Creation it will not be amisse to take notice of the Order in which he was Created he was the last of all Gods Visible Works when the Heavens were framed and furnished with Lights both to guide and cherish him the Earth made dry for him to walk and dwell upon and furnished with all variety of Herbs Plants and Cattel for food Service and Delight when nothing was wanting which was needful and useful for him then was man made Whence 2. Observe God provides before hand all things needful and convenient for mans supply Observ 2 THus he prevents us with the blessings of his goodnesse Psal 21.3 causing his Care and Providence to go before our necessities Thus when he had resolved to call for a Famine upon Canaan and the Countries adjoyning he provided and sent into Egypt Joseph before to make provision and to lay up store of corn before-hand Gen. 45.7 And thus before any request be presented unto him he considers beforehand what we need Matth. 6.32 And in the course of nature God provides milk for children before they be born as their Parents provide them cloathes whose care notwithstanding comes far short of Gods as David found by experience Psal 27.10 Out of the same provident care of his he brings forth store of provisions in the Summer to supply the pinching necessities of the Winter following which if he should forbear to do all flesh must necessarily perish Moses in this History of mans Creation to apply himself to our weak capacity sets God before us undertaking and proceeding in his work after the manner of men by way of advice and consultation before-hand as men use to do when they undertake any businesse of importance although it be true that God who apprehends all things at once cannot be capable of deliberation but thus far he is pleased to abase himself in compassion towards us to shadow his wayes unto us by the actions of men that we may the better understand them Whence 3. Observe God is pleased in compassion of our Weaknesse to expresse Himself and his Actions unto us many times after the manner of Mon and their Actions Observ 3 THus God sometimes in his VVord represents himself as moved with humane Affections Grief Joy Wrath Compassion with humane expressions in forms of speech as Expostulations Complaints and Deliberations with humane Actions Coming Going Sitting still Arising Standing Sleeping Forgetting Remembring and the like And this he doth 1. That he may condescend to our weaknesse which moves him to feed us as Paul doth his hearers with milk because we cannot brook strong meat 1 Cor. 3.2 representing Heavenly things to Earthly men by earthly means as our Saviour speaks Joh. 3.12 And 2. To affect us the more by representing spiritual things by those which being Earthly are nearest to Sense which usually works most on our affections Let it fill our hearts with the admiration of Gods mercy and compassion towards such unworthy wretches as we are unto whom he is pleased to descend so low seeing we cannot ascend up unto Him cloathing himself as it were with our flesh and appearing to us in a sort in the form of a man laying aside his own Glory and Majestie for our encouragement and instruction A special end which the Spirit of God aymes at in setting out this history of Mans Creation with such variety of Circumstances and representing God consulting in such a manner is to raise up our hearts to a more serious consideration of and diligent searching into the work it self which must be supposed to be of more then ordinary importance unto which there is such unusual preparation VVhence 4. Observe Eminent and Extraordinary Works of God require of Men more Especiall and Extraordinary observation of them
by way of question and enquiry till he might see how those would be first digested that if they made any impression upon the womans heart he might go further and more roundly to work as he should see occasion Whence 12. OBSERVE Satan and his Agents in tempting men to sinne are very wary in discovering their full intentions at first till they see how they will be entertained Observ 12 THus Abimelech dares not at the first discover the bloody design which he had entertained in his heart against his own brethren till he had first assured unto himself the hearts of the people of Sichem Judg. 9.2 In like manner dealt Absalom in his treason against his father which he covered over with a shew of courteous behaviour and zeal for justice 2 Sam. 15.2 and the pretence of performing his vow ver 8. and never shews himselfe in open rebellion till he was sure of the peoples hearts and saw that the treason grew strong The reason whereof is First because sin in it selfe hath so ugly a shape that if it should appear at first in the full proportion thereof it must needes raise feares and terrours in the hearts of any that are not desperately minded so that they who hope to prevaile with men to draw them to evil must discover it by degrees that it being by the modest beginnings thereof entertained with some liking by degrees the heart may be insensibly brought on to close with it at the last Secondly if by the discovery of the foulnesse of sin the heart of man should be once possessed with the detestation of it and of the Agents that sollicite him thereunto It would be impossible that either the motion it selfe or the person that presents it should find any acceptance for time to come Let all men then beware of the deceitfulnesse of sin as the Apostle termes it Heb. 3.13 and be alwayes jealous and suspect more in it then appears at the first view and to that end look not only upon the modest countenance of evil which first shewes it selfe but let us take a full view of the whole body thereof the Beginnings Progresse and at last the full Growth of that foule Monster never indeed sufficiently discovered unto us but in Gods Word which calls Anger and Hatred Murther Lust Adultery c. Look not on the first steps of superstition in names gestures and the like but upon the foule body of idolatâ—y which we see they have and still will bring in after them Mirth seemes modest till it turnes to madnesse wicked men seem to walk fairly and civilly with us for a while but if we grow inwardly acquainted with them and walk in their way they lead us at last into hell Withal we must take notice that Satans warinesse hinders not the effectual prosecution of that which he intends For even in this first insinuation though in the forme of an enquiry yet he conveighs withal such grounds of discontent and distaste of Gods dealing with man into the womans heart and makes such an impression in it thereby that she shall not easily shake off as we shall see in the sequel Whence 13. OBSERVE Discretion and warinesse in mens actions ought not to hinder the effectual prosecution of that which they intend Observe 13 GOd was justly angry with Moses when he was so wary in undertaking the charge of bringing up Gods people out of Egypt that at last he refused to engage himself in that service at all though God called him unto it Exod. 4.14 Jacob was so wary in departing from Laban that he would not break away openly but having Gods command to returne into his countrey he makes a shift to steale away privily Gen. 31.3 17. Discretion may temper zeale as Physicians correct ingredients in their medicines that they may work within compasse as fire burnes within the chimney but it must not quench it We have intimated Satans policie in concealing and forbearing to mention any thing that might manifest Gods bounty and kindnesse to man that the woman might fixe her eye only upon that fruit in Paradise which was denied unto her Whence 14. OBSERVE The forgetting of Gods mercies is a great meanes to take off a mans heart from cleaving to him Observe 14 THat was it which begat in Gods own people Disobedience Psal 78.10 11. Lusting Psal 106.13 14. Idolatry ver 20 21. and flat Apostasie Hos 2.5 8. wherefore God gives a special charge to prevent Apostasie by remembring his mercies Deut. 8.11 14. It cannot indeed be denied that mercies received are the clearest and strongest evidences to discover unto us Gods All-sufficiency Love and Goodnesse upon the assurance whereof our affiance in him and readinesse to his service do especially depend Let every man carefully 1. Observe all the experiments of Gods mercies to his people in general and more particularly towards his own soul 2. And lay them up in minde carefully for time to come whereof we have precedents from holy men of God Moses Deborah David c. who composed songs some upon particular others upon general mercies received for the preserving of the memory of them as indeed he hath made his wonderful works to be remembred Psal 11.4 3. Call them to minde upon all occasions and enlarge them in every circumstance for the encreasing of our thankfulnesse upon new and fresh experiments for the strengthening of our faith aggravating our sinnes quickening our deadnesse and encouraging us in our duties of Gods service as still feeling in our hearts a fresh taste of Gods goodnesse that our soules may still rejoyce in him as we are directed Phil. 4.4 Out of the same policie by which Satan labours to turne away the womans eyes from looking back upon the mercies which she had received in so large a measure he endeavours to fixe them upon this pleasant fruit which was denied her pointing at Gods restraint thereof with a note either of admiration or indignation that God should deny man the use of so excellent a fruit Whence we may 15 OBSERVE It is a dangerous snare to a man to have his eyes too much fixed upon his wants Observe 15 TO take notice of our wants whether inward or outward as far as the sense of them may be a meanes 1. To humble us Or 2. To quicken us to prayer or to the use of lawful meanes to supply us in what we need is not only warrantable but is our duty also not to have them alwayes before our eyes and them alone without observing what we enjoy may easily 1. Beget in us unthankfulnesse and murmuring against God as it did often in the children of Israel especially Numb 11.1 4 5. 2. Envy towards others as in Rachel against her Sister Leah Gen. 30.1 3. Disquietnesse and unsetlednesse in our wayes as it fell out in David Psal 73.3 14. 4. Yea sometimes the adventuring upon unwarrantable courses to provide for the supply of those wants that pinch us See Prov. 30.9 Let