Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 1
VERSE 1.
THus] Or, And, as that Copulative is indeed, Uſually, but not Alwaies rendred. Howſoever, that Connexion points unto the Beginning, Means, Order, Manner, and Space of Time and Perfection, in which all things were Created, and related in the former Chapter.
The Heavens and the Earth] The two principal parts of the World, here named, include all the reſt, as the Ayr and Seas, and all the Creatures wherewith they are furniſhed, as in the next words.
All the hoſts] That is, all the Viſible, and (as ſome conceive) Inviſible Creatures, which are contained in the Heavens and Earth, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fowles, Beaſts, and Fiſhes; termed Hoſts, both for their Multitude, and Order, in which they are placed by God, as an Army ſet in Array, in a Comely, and Uſeful manner. Hence God is oftentimes named, The Lord of Hoſts. The Connexion of this Chapter (wherein the Government of the Creatures is repreſented unto us) with the former, (which records their Creation) as it were ſuſpending our thoughts, and carrying them at once, both Backwards, to remember what God had made; and Forward, to obſerve how he diſpoſed of what he had made, gives us juſt ground from thence to
1. Obſerve, It muſt be our Care to Obſerve, not onelyonly what God Works, but withall how he diſpoſeth, and ordereth that which he hath wrought.
Obſerv. 1 THus did the Jewes, in the birth of John Baptiſt, they wondred, what God would do with that child, which was ſo ſtrangely born, Luke 1.66. And the bleſſed Virgin, concerning our Saviour Chriſt, laid up whatſoever he did or ſpake, in her heart, to obſerve what would be the iſſue of his Words and Actions, to ſee what would become of them at the laſt, Luke 2.51.
And this we muſt do, 1. Becauſe the Excellency, and Perfection of every Work, is in the End whereunto it is directed, and applyed.
2. Becauſe the Wiſdom of God is moſt diſcovered, in the Ordering and Diſpoſing of his Works, as his Power is moſt ſeen in Creating of them: As uſually the Workmans Skill, is more Com…nded, in the Uſe of an Inſtrument, then in the making and fra…ing of it.
Again, out of the name here given to the Creatures, that they are termed the Hoſts of Heaven and Earth, we may,
2. Obſerve, The Creatures that God hath made, are to be looked on, as an Army arrayed in an Excellent, and Well Compoſed Order.
Obſerv. 2 COmely and Beautiful in their times, places, and proportions, Eccl. 3.11. all of them Ordered and Commanded by God, Pſal. 145.15. the Stars in their Courſes, Judg. 5.20. the Clouds in theirs, Job 37.12. Yea, the very Sparrows in their motions, Matth. 10.29. and the Graſhoppers, Joel 2.15. Much more men, whoſe ſteps God orders, Prov. 16.9. Iſa. 45.13. So that their way is not in themſelves, nor the directing of the ſteps in him that walketh, Jer. 10.23. All theſe are ſo directed by God, that they ſtill hold correſpondent order one to another, and all of them to the End whereunto they are directed, from which though they ſwerve, in their own inclinations, or intentions, yet they are all of them at laſt brought about to fulfill the thoughts of His heart that guides them.
1. Let all men carefully ſearch into the Order, mutual Correſpondence, and Scope, whereunto all the Wayes of God, in the Adminiſtration of the Creatures, tend: 1. Judging of his Works in and by them; not apart, but layed all together. 2. Looking to, and waiting for, the End of the Work which he hath in hand, as we are adviſed to do, Pſal. 27.37. Wherein if we diſcover not the Wiſdom, Juſtice, and Mercy of God in all his waies; blame not him whoſe work is Perfect, Deut. 32.4. but our ſelves, who through Ignorance, or inadvertency, do not underſtand it. This thorough-ſearching, into the Acts of Providence, will keep us from murmuring, and preſerve our hearts in a Continuall admiration of his Wiſdom, (as the Queen of Sheba was aſtoniſhed at Solomons Wiſdom, when ſhe obſerved the well ordering of his family, 1. King. 10.5.) That we may alwaies fear before him, and be wiſe for time to come.
2. Tremble before that God, and Truſt in him that hath power in his hand, to command all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth, and to arm them at his pleaſure, for the defence of thoſe that fear him, and againſt ſuch as hate him.
The next phraſe is not lightly to be paſſed over, which the Holy Ghoſt here uſeth, affirming that the Heavens and Earth were finiſhed, or rather Perfected, as the Originall will bear it. Whence we may,
3. Obſerve, God perfecteth and fully finiſheth every work that he takes i… hand.
Obſerv. 3 HIs work is perfect, Deut. 32.4. not onelyonly without Error, but without any Defect. Eccl. 3.14. Not onelyonly his Law, Pſal. 119.96. but all his works towards us, (ſee his promiſe to Jacob, Gen. 28.15.) as David confidently believes, Pſal. 138.8. Thus indeed they are, all of them taken together, and every one conſidered apart by it ſelf. 1. In their Meaſure, which is proportioned to the end, whereunto they were appointed. 2. And in their Time, for they are brought to perfection by degrees, as David profeſſeth of the framing of his own body, Pſal 139.16.
1. Let us in imitation of God, work till we bring things to perfection; as Naomi aſſures Ruth, that Boaz would do, Ruth. 3.18. Eſpecially in the works, that more immediately concern Gods Honour, and our own ſalvation; not contenting our ſelves, with laying the foundation, but labouring to go on to perfection, Heb. 6.1. Adding ſtill one grace to another, 2 Pet. 1.5. and growing ſtrong in every grace, that we may perfect Holineſſe, 2 Cor. 7.1. And abounding in every good work, Heb. 13.21. Leaſt we prove like the fooliſh builder, Luk. 14.30. or the Oſtritch, Iob. 39.14.15.
2 Let it be a means to ſtrengthen our hearts, in the aſſurance of the perfecting the work, 1. Of Sanctification: God, according to his promiſes will not leave purging us, till he have made us without ſpot or wrinckle, Eph. 5.17.20. Of our Salvation, Phil. 1.6. He that ſuffered for us, till all was finiſhed, Joh. 19.30. Will not leave till he have brought us into the full poſſeſſion of the gloty, which he hath purchaſed for us.