Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 30
VERSE 30.
ANd to every Beaſt of the Earth] But whence comes it then, that we ſee divers beaſts feed not on herbs at all, but divers both of the Beaſts of the field, and Fowles of the ayr feed upon the fleſh of other Creatures, which they take for their prey? This certainly muſt be acknowledged to be the fruit of ſin, which amongſt other evils brought in enmity amongſt the Creatures; but from the beginning it was not ſo. Wherefore we have this in particular expreſſed amongſt the Conſequents of the reſtauration of all things by Chriſt, that this enmity between the Creatures ſhall be taken away, that none of them ſhall deſtroy or hurt another, but they ſhall all of them return to their wonted food, which was appointed them in their Creation, Iſa. 11.6, 7. & 65.25.
Wherein there is life] That is, (as it hath been expounded) a ſenſitive Soul. A clauſe added, not only under that general name to include all the particulars of ſuch Creatures as are partakers of ſuch a life, which were mentioned before; but, it may be perhaps to imply withall, that though they had life in themſelves, yet that it might be known that they live not by themſelves, they ſhould maintain their lives by ſuch proviſions of food as God here allowes them.
Every green herb] It may be, not all kinds of herbs to every beaſt and fowl, ſeeing that ſome of them delight to feed on ſome kinds of herbs, and others upon others, but God gives all to all; all the Herbs to all the beaſts to make uſe of, and to feed upon thoſe that ſhould beſt agree with their Natures and Conſtitutions. We find onelyonly herbs given to beaſts for their food, although it may be that under that name ſome fruits of trees may be included, which we ſee divers beaſts and fowles feed on to this day; as it is probable they did from the beginning. Howſoever,
1. Obſerve, God allowes Sufficient, and Plentifull Proviſion for the ſuſtaining of the Creatures that he hath made.
Obſerv. 1 HE ſatisfies the deſire of every living thing, Pſal. 145.15, 16. feeds the young Lions that ſeek their meat of God, Pſal. 104.21. and the young Ravens that cry, Pſal. 147.9. This, 1. God, who is All-ſufficient, is able eaſily to do. 2. And it is fit for him to do it, not onelyonly to ſhew himſelf a Faithful Creator, but beſides, to fill the hearts of men with the admiration both of his Allſufficiency and Goodneſſe.
1. Let it fill our hearts with the Admiration of his Infinite Bounty, that from day to day feeds the whole world, as it were, at his own Table, giving them all their food in due ſeaſon, Pſal. 145.15. What are the large Proviſions that Solomon made for his Family, in compariſon thereof? Moſes thought it impoſſible to make proviſion of fleſh, for ſix hundred thouſand men, for one monethmonth: How then ſhould we ſtand amazed at the Conſi…eration of Gods infinite ſtore, by which he hath ſuſtained ſo many thouſand millions of Creatures from the foundation of the world unto this day! Let this be a means to ſettle our hearts firmly, in a conſtant dependance on him at all times, for the ſupply of all our wants, who provides ſo abundantly for the meaneſt Creature that he hath made.
2. Let no man judge of Gods love towards him, by the enlargement of his hand unto him in outward bleſſings, which he poures out ſo abundantly upon the meaneſt of his Creatures, and many times to the worſt amongſt men, in a larger proportion then he beſtowes them upon his own children, filling their bellies with his hidden treaſures, Pſal. 17.14. ſo that they have more then their heart could wiſh, Pſal. 73.7. but that is all the portion that they ſhall have from him. The differencing bleſſings, which he reſerves to his Children for their portion, are Grace and Glory, Pſal. 84.11. to guide them by his Counſel here, and bring them to Glory hereafter, Pſal. 73.24.
Again, it is worthy our Obſervation to take ſpecial notice of the ſmall difference, which we find here between the proviſions allotted by God to Men and Beaſts: both of them have their food not only from the Earth, but out of the ſame Herbs and Fruits that grow out of the Earth. Whence,
2. Obſerve, Men and Beaſts are allowed by God the ſame proviſions of food for the ſuſtaining of their lives.
Obſerv, 2 ALl live upon Gods allowance; all are fed by the Creatures; all upon Herbs and Fruits by Gods firſt allowance to Adam, as we ſee here; and howſoever it pleaſed God in renewing his Covernant with Noah after the Flood, to enlarge mans proviſions for food, by granting him the uſe of the fleſh of beaſts and birds, and fiſhes; yet we ſee, that even herein, none of thoſe Creatures come far behind us. Beaſts and Birds of Prey, feed upon other Creatures that we account ſome of them amongſt our chiefeſt delicates; from them in our feeding we differ only in this, that we prepare our food in a more orderly way.
Let us then leave our glorying in the proviſions of our Tables, which the beaſts themſelves enjoy in Common with us, and are partakers with us even in our Choiceſt Dainties.