The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 9
I Of man in his first creation.
Q. Rehearse the letter I?
A. IN the beginning God made Man, consisting of soule and body: the body of the dust, in it selfe mortall, yet possibly immortall, if man had not sinned: the soule of spirituall substance, immortall in its selfe: in both a most excellent creature, aboue all others, except the Angels.
For hee was created in the image or likenesse of God, and had dominion and rule ouer all other creatures in the world.
Q. What is to bee vnderstood by the word Man?
Man, what it signifiethA. By the word Man is meant both sexes, man and woman; as we may see Gen. 1.27. & 5.2. where God being sayd to make man, it is added immediatly, male and female created he them and blessed them, and called their name Adam, or Man, in the day when they were created.
Q. Why did God at the beginning make one man and one woman?
Why God made one man and one woman.A. God made one man and one woman, not only for propagation, as it is Gen. 1.28. Be fruitfull and multiply, and replenith the earth; but also that by making onelyonly one man and one woman, hee might establish holy mariage, and lawfull procreation of children. Which our Sauiour proueth, Matth. 19.4.5. HaueHave you not read, sayth he, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female? And thence concludeth, that two shall be one flesh. The like is in Mal. 2.15. And did not hee make one? yet had hee abundance of spirit: and wherefore one? because he sought a godly seed.
Q. Proue that man doth consist of soule and body?
A. That man doth consist of these two parts, Man consists of soule and body,soule and body, is euident in the story of the creation, Gen. 2.7. as also by many instances else where in the word of God: as for example. Matth. 10.28. Feare not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soule: but rather feare him▪ which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell. 1 Cor. 6.20. Glorifie God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods, And 1. Thes. 5.23. I pray God your whole spirit, and soule, and body bee preserued blamelesse vntounto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Q. Proue that God made the body of the dust?
The body is of the dust.A. It is written, Gen. 2.7. That the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.1 Cor. 15.47. and 3.9. Dust thou art, and vntounto dust thou shalt returne. This made Abraham confesse with great humility, Gen. 18.27. I am but dust and ashes. And it is alleaged by Dauid as an argument of Gods pity, Psal. 103.13.14. Like as a father pitieth his children, to the Lord pitieth them that feare him. For hee knoweth our frame: hee remembreth that we are dust.
Q. What is the difference betweene the creation of man and woman?
The difference of man and womans creation.A. The difference is this; First the man was made before the woman, to note his authority & her subiection: as Saint Paul reasoneth, 1 Tim. 2.13. For saith he, Adam was first formed, then Eue. As also to shew the neere affinity betweene man and man: seeing, as it is Acts 17.26. God hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on the face of the earth.
Q. What is the second difference?
A. Secondly man was made of the dust primarily, A second difference.the woman secondarily; in that she was taken out of him, who was made of the dust: for she was made of the rib of Adam. Gen. 2 22. Not of the head, nor of the foot: to shew, that God would neither hauehave her a ruler nor a seruant to her husband, but a companion, as shee is called, Mal. 2.14. Againe it was a type of the Church, the life and saluation whereof issued by water and blood, Io. 19.34.out of the side of Christ, as the woman receyued her being out of the side of the man.
Q. Proue that the body of man was made possibly immortall?
A. The body of man was in its selfe mortall, Man body possibly immo…tall.yet by the appointment of God, were it not for sinne, had beene possibly immortall. For God gaue vntounto man possibility not to sinne, and so consequently not to die; as may be gathered by his generall threatning, Genes. 2.17. The day thou eatest thereof, (that is, of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill) thou shalt surely die. And by the speciall sentence of bodily death, Gen. 3.29. Dust thou art, and vntounto dust shalt thou returne. So Ro. 5.12. it is said, by one man sinne entred into the world, and death by sinne. And Ro. 6.23, The wages of sinne is death.
Q. Proue that the soule is of spirituall substance, immortall in its selfe?
The soule is immortall.A. That the soule of man…s of spirituall substance, immortall in its selfe by nature, existing as well out of the body, as in the body, and giung life to the body, it is euident both in the creation, Gen. 2.7. where it is said, That God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a liuing soule. As also by the parting of soule and body in death, Eccles. 12.7. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall returne to God, who gaue it. Else Christ could not hauehave said of the Patriarchs deceased, Matth. 22.32. God is not the God of the dead, but of the liuing. And Matth. 16.26. What shall it profit a man, though hee should winne the whole world, if hee lose his owne soule?
Q. Proue that man was made a most excellent creature, aboue all others, excep… the Angels?
A. That, Man a most excelent creature.next to the Angels, man excelled all other creatures in the world, see Psal. 8.4.5. What is man that thou art mindfull of him? or the sonne of man, that thou visitest him? for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Q. Proue that man was created in the image of God?
Created in the image of God.A. That God made man in his own image and liknesse, is specially noted in the creation, more then onee, as it is written, Gen. 1.26. God said, Let vsus make man in our image, after our likenesse. And verse 27. So God created man in his owne image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created hee them.
Q. Proue that man had dominion and rule ouer all other creatures?
Had rule ouer all creatures.A. It is granted to man in his first creation, Gen. 1.26.28. To hauehave dominion ouer the fish of the sea, and ouer the fowle of the aire, and ouer eueryevery liuing thing that moueth vponupon the earth. And the grant is humbly acknowledged, Psal. 8.6. Thou madest him to hauehave dominion ouer the workes of thy hands: thou hast put all things vnderunder his feete▪