_Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them_ THE COMPLETED CREATION I. THE CREATION WAS A GRADUAL PROCESS. The reasons might be-- (1) To show that God’s works were not the offspring of hasty impulse, but planned from everlasting, and executed with minute and lingering... [ Continue Reading ]
_He rested on the seventh day_ THE DIVINE SABBATH: I. THE DIVINE COMPLETION OF HIS CREATIVE WORK. No further creations. II. THE DIVINE CONTEMPLATION OF HIS CREATIVE WORK. Everything complete. Everything in subordination. Everything ready for the higher and more glorious exercise of the Divine act... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth_ THE PRIMEVAL CONDITION OF THE EARTH, AND OF MAN AS A SENTIENT, SPIRITUAL, AND SOCIAL BEING I. The economy of the kingdom of Inanimate nature, or of the vegetable world, was fitted at once to maintain the sovereignty of God, and to provide... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every plant of the field_ THE LEAF One of the most beautiful scientific generalizations was the result, not of the patient, persevering researches of the naturalist, but of the dreamy reverie of a peer. On the meditative mind of Goethe on one occasion dawned the bright idea, that the flower of a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground_ THE HUMILITY AND DIGNITY OF MAN “The Lord God formed man,” etc. I. THEN MAN OUGHT NOT TO INDULGE A SPIRIT OF PRIDE. II. THEN MAN OUGHT NOT TO INDULGE A SPIRIT OF HOSTILITY TO GOD. Shall we contend with our Maker, the finite with the infinit... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden_ THE GARDEN OF EDEN I. IN THIS GARDEN PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE HAPPINESS OF MAN. 1. The garden was beautiful. 2. The garden was fruitful. 3. The garden was well watered. II. IN THIS GARDEN PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE DAILY OCCUPATION OF MAN. 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To dress it and to keep it_ OBSERVATIONS I. EVERY SON OF ADAM IS BOUND TO SOME EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER IN A PARTICULAR CALLING. This ordinance of God concerning man’s labour (as are all the rest of His laws) is both equal and good. 1. That men might exercise their love to the creatures, wherein they... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die._ THE FALL OF MAN These words were fulfilled at the time they were spoken; they have been fulfilled ceaselessly thereafter. We live in a universe of death. The phenomenon is common to us, but no familiarity can rob it of its dreadfulness;... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will make him an help meet for him_ THE CREATION OF WOMAN I. WOMAN WAS BROUGHT TO MAN IN ORDER THAT SHE MIGHT RELIEVE HIS SOLITUDE BY INTELLIGENT COMPANIONSHIP. II. WOMAN WAS BROUGHT TO MAN THAT SHE MIGHT BE HIS HELPMEET IN THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE. 1. To develop his intellectual thinkings. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That was the name thereof_ THE NAMING OF THE ANIMALS BY ADAM 1. The man was thus to be made conscious of his lordship over the animal tribes. 2. In token of his relations to them, respectively, he was to give them their respective names. 3. His knowledge of animal nature, (in which he had been... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam_ THE FIRST SLEEP How profound is the mystery of sleep! It is one of those riddles of familiar life of which we know so little; about which thought will occupy itself and fancy speculate. Sleep has been beautifully spoken of by the Germans as the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cleave unto his wife_ MARRIAGE I. THE NATURE AND END OF MARRIAGE. It is a vow of perpetual and indissoluble friendship. 1. It has long been observed that friendship is to be confined to one: or that, to use the words of the axiom, “He that hath friends, has no friend.” That ardour of kindness, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not ashamed_ NAKEDNESS WITHOUT SHAME There they stood, just as they came from the hands of God. They did not need to blush; they felt no shame. It is sin that has connected nakedness and shame together. No sin, no shame. There is no blush upon an angel’s brow. Unfallen man had the unashamed naked... [ Continue Reading ]