Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 27
VERSE 27.
SO God created] That is, as he had reſolved, and decreed, ſo he did: and it is obſervable, that the word Created, is thrice repeated in this Verſe. Perhaps to make man the more ſenſible, that he, as well as the reſt is but a Creature, howſoever made little lower then the Angels, and crowned with honour and dignity, leſt any man ſhould think of himſelf above that which is meet. Or, it may be withall, to make the deeper impreſſion of Gods goodneſſe, that made him ſo excellent a Creature as he is.
In his own Image] Such an Image, as is expreſſed in the former Verſe, in which he carried the likeneſſe or reſemblance of God, which though it be not here repeated, muſt be ſupplyed, out of the Verſe precedent.
In the Image of God] Theſe words are added, both to take away the Ambiguity of the former expreſſion, wherin that clauſe (his own) being appliable, either to God, or Man, that the mind of the Holy Ghoſt might the more clearly appear, he addes, that he was Created, not after Mans own Image, but after the Image of God: and (which is more probable) to fixe our hearts the more fully, upon man, above all other Creatures, that was made like unto, and after the Image of God himſelf.
Male and Female] That is, both Sexes, the man, in the manner, and of the Matter after mentioned; and the woman, in the manner, and of the Matter expreſſed in the Chapter following. And but one of either Sex, as the Prophet teſtifies, Mal. 2.15. as a Cake of bread, and a flaggon of wine, 1 Chron. 16.3. is ſaid to be but One cake of bread, and one flaggon of wine, 2 Sam. 6.19. as the Original hath it.
What God intended, and reſolved to do, we have ſeen; whatſoever he purpoſed he performs, in all things, as he intended. Whence we may,
1. Obſerve, Gods Purpoſes, and Promiſes, are all of them Yea, and Amen.
Obſerv. 1 SEE Obſervation 6. on Verſ. 3. and Obſerv. 1. on Ver. 7.
The often repetition of this ſpeciall honour, which God put upon Man, expreſly mentioned in the former verſe, and twice repeated here, of the Image of God, in which Man was Created, gives us juſt occaſion to,
2. Obſerve, Gods Special, and more Eminent Favours, ought to be ſeriouſly Weighed, and often Remembred.
Obſerv. 2 THis was the occaſion of Compoſing, and was the ſubject of divers Pſalms, left upon record in Scripture; as that of Moſes, Exod. 15. upon the deliverance of the Children of Iſrael at the Red Sea; of Deborah, Judg. 5. upon the like occaſion; Of Nannah, 1 Sam, 2. when God had given her a ſon; And, of the bleſſed Virgin, Lake 1.
For the ſame End God was pleaſed to Ordain the Sabbath, that it might be the employment of his Children, to exerciſe themſelves in the meditation of Gods great Works in the Creation, Conſervation, and Redemption of the World; and the Sacraments, to preſerve in the hearts of Men, the freſh Remembrance of the Sacrifice of Chriſt, and the benefits purchaſed to the Church, and to our ſelves in particular, thereby.
In Mans Creation, we have ſpeciall mention made of the diſtinction of the Sexes of Man and Woman; and it is affirmed, That God both Created them, and diſtinguiſhed them by their Sexes; he made them Male and Female: both their Perſons, and the diſtinction of their Sexes were his work. Whence,
3. Obſerve, The Diſtinction of the Sexes of Man and Woman, is Ordained by God Himſelf.
Obſerv. 3 THis Truth our Saviour atteſts, Matth. 19.4. That he that made them at the firſt, made them Male and Female; which diſtinction, as he made in Nature, ſo he appoints in his Law to be manifeſted, in the difference of their garments, Deut. 22.5. It is true, that he obſerved the ſame rule, in making other Creatures, though it be mentioned onelyonly in the Creation of Man. Whether it were to draw us to the more ſerious conſideration of the Work it ſelf, by reckoning up ſo many particulars, in relating the Hiſtory thereof: or to teach man, being of the worthier Sex, not to deſpiſe the woman as the weaker veſſel; and the woman not be diſpleaſed with her condition, though ſhe be inferiour in ſex, ſeeing God that gave them their being, gave withall, and appointed that diſtinction in their Being: or for any other end, it is not eaſie to determine.