Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 18
VERSE 18.
VVE have taken a ſurview of the Lawes given to man for the worſhip and ſervice of God, and for his employment. The means of Propagating mankind, and the Law that God gives man concerning it, we have ſet down unto us in the reſt of this Chapter: wherein (as in the relation of the planting of Paradiſe) we have an addition to the works of the Sixth day, as we had there to the works of the Third day, the chief whereof were ſet down in the former Chapter. In recounting the works of the Sixth day, Moſes had related the Creation of the man, and addes, that he created man in both Sexes; how this was done, the Holy Ghoſt records at large in this place: Wherein he ſets before us,
1. The Cauſe or Occaſion of Creating the Woman, which was the Inconvenience of Adam's Solitarineſſe, and the Unfitneſſe of his Society with any other of the Creatures.
2. Gods obſerving of it, and Reſolution thereupon to make him ſuch an help as might be every way meet for him.
3. We have recorded the Preparation to the Work, 1. By caſting Adam into a deep ſleep. 2. By taking out of Adam's ſide one of his ribs, of which the Woman was to be made.
4. We have the Creation of the Woman, of that rib.
5. The marriage of the Man and Woman preſented unto him by God himſelf, and accepted by him, as we ſhall ſee anon.
6. The Duties of the married Couple one to another.
7. The ſtate and Condition in which both of them were, Naked, and yet not aſhamed.
ANd the Lord God ſaid] Or, Had ſaid, as ſome render it; for it cannot be denyed, but the Woman was Created the Sixth day; although the Manner, Matter, and Occaſion of her Creation be related here out of order, the better to ſhew the ground of their Matrimonial Conjunction, and of the Law that was given them thereupon. Now whether God ſaid this in Himſelf, (and then ſaying is no more but foreſeeing, and acknowledging) or whether he ſaid unto Adam, either Vocally, or by Mental repreſentation, it is uncertain. This is out of queſtion, that God in his Wiſdom ſo reſaw it firſt, and made Adam by ſurveying all the Creatures to ſee and acknowledge it afterwards.
It is not good] That is, Not convenient, in reſpect of his preſent condition in this life, either for his own comfort, or for his employment in which he was to be exerciſed; but above all, impoſſible in reſpect of Poſterity, which could not be propagated by the Man alone. And this is the Good which he ſeems principally to aym at, as only enforcing the neceſſity of Creating another Sex. For otherwiſe man might have had as much comfort in Society, and help and aſſiſtance in his employment by the creating another Man, only he could have no Iſſue but by a Woman.
That the Man ſhould be alone] Without the Help and Comfort of another Sexe. Which muſt be underſtood, 1. In reſpect of his preſent condition in this Life. For in Heaven they ſhall neither marry, nor be given in marriage, Matth. 22.30. 2. Upon the ſuppoſal of Gods decree that men ſhould be encreaſed by way of Natural Generation. Otherwiſe God, if he had ſo pleaſed, might have multiplyed men by Creation, as he did the Angels.
I will make him] Not We, as he had ſaid before in the Creation of the Man; Of which difference in the manner of Gods ſpeaking, it is a vain Curioſity to enquire a reaſon; as alſo, Whether thoſe words be ſpoken Poſitively by way of Reſolution; or Deliberatively, by way of Conſultation, in that manner in which he is repreſented ſpeaking, in the hiſtory of the Creation of the man, in the former Chapter, it is not neceſſary for us to know.
An help] Every way, for the comfort of Society, for aſſiſtance in governing the Family, for encreaſing of Piety; and more eſpecially, for propagation for the encreaſe and continuance of poſterity. Such a one ſhe was not only intended to be by God, but was found to be by experience while ſhe continued in the Condition in which God Created her. Although by Satans malice and policy ſhe being beguiled, inſtead of an help became a ſnare unto him.
Meet for him] As before him; (ſaith the Original) a phraſe pointing at either the Anſwerableneſſe of the Woman to the Man both in Shape and Nature, in Body and Mind, as the Image in a Looking-Glaſſe anſwers in all properties the face that ſtands before it: Or at her Office and Duty of ſervice which ſhe was by God deputed unto, to be ſtill in his preſence, and to miniſter unto him, as the phraſe, to ſtand before the Lord, implyes, to miniſter unto him, Deut. 10.8. And in that ſenſe we find this phraſe often uſed, 1 Sam. 16.22. 1 King. 1.2. and in other places. It is probable that both may be implyed in this Significant phraſe, which Adam cunningly changeth, when in the next Chapter he chargeth God to his face to have given him a Deceiver inſtead of an Helper.
When God had made Man after his own Image, he firſt provides him unasked a comfortable place to dwell in, a Garden of pleaſures; now He conſiders that he wants a Mate to converſe withal, and to do him ſervice: this God ſaw and conſidered, and provides for accordingly. Whence,
1. Obſerve, God Knowes and conſiders all our Wants, and out of his own Goodneſſe makes Proviſion to ſupply them.
Obſerv. 1 HE conſidered before-hand what wants would fall upon Jacob's Family, and ſends. Joſeph beforehand to provide for him, Pſal. 105.16, 17. He conſidered what Noah would want, and gave order before-hand for the preparing of an Ark to preſerve him and his Family in the Flood, Gen. 6. Thus he provides an hoſteſſe for Elijah at Zarephath againſt the time that the brook Cherith ſhould be dryed up. Thus he careth for every ſoul, 1 Pet. 5.7. not only for Canaan, Deut. 11.12. not only when we preſent our wants before him in our prayers, but conſiders them before we ask, Matth. 6.32. So that he prevents us with his bleſſings, Pſal. 21.3. providing for us, not only before we ask, but before we know what we need. And this. 1. He muſt do, or elſe we ſhuold often periſh. 2. And it is fit he ſhould do ſo, to magnifie his free mercies.
Let Gods dealing with us move us to deal in like manner with our brethren, conſidering the poor and needy, Pſal. 41.1. after the example of the Diſciples of Antioch, Act. 11.29. Not ſtaying till our Almes be wreſted from us by importunity; but taking care one of another as members of the ſame body. Eſpecially conſidering one anothers wants in ſpiritual things, of which men themſelves are moſt inſenſible: Conſidering one another to provoke to love and good works, Heb. 10.24. Thus the Spouſe cares for her little Siſter the Church of the Gentiles, Cant. 8.8.
Let the Conſideration hereof lead us and raiſe up our hearts to the admiration of Gods unſpeakable goodneſſe, eſpecially in taking care for our ſoules, giving his own Son to redeem us when we were loſt, calling us when we ſought not after him, Iſa. 65.1. ſeeking us out when we are gone aſtray, Pſal. 119.176. preventing and ſtrengthening us with his grace, when Satan buffets us, 2 Cor. 12.9. and the like. So that we may with aſtoniſhment cry out, What is Man? Pſal. 8.4. and ſtaying our hearts on his Faithfulneſſe and Truth, 1 Pet. 5.7. who loves us more tenderly then we can do our ſelves; provides for us more carefully then our own Parents do, or can do, Pſal. 27.10. may reflect upon our ſelves, and conſider what we ſhall render, Pſal. 116.
Nothing was now wanting to Adam to make his happineſſe in this preſent condition abſolutely compleat but a Wife. He was made after Gods Image, perfectly righteous and holy, Lord over all the Creatures, heir of the world, ſeated in Paradiſe: Only he wants a fit Companion to converſe comfortably withall; and we ſee God ceaſeth not till he have ſupplyed him in that want alſo. Whence,
2. Obſerve, Gods Providence and abundant Goodneſſe failes us not, till it hath ſupplyed us with all that we need that is fit for us.
Obſerv. 2 WE have his promiſe, that ſuch as fear the Lord ſhall want nothing that is good, Pſal. 34.10. He withholds no good thing from thoſe that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84.11. The experience whereof made David ſo confident, Pſal. 23.1. This he performs chiefly in ſpiritual things, wherein we are Sanctified wholly, 1 Theſſ. 5.23. purged till we be made without ſpot or wrinckle, Epheſ. 5.27. And this he doth, firſt out of his All-ſufficiency and Infinite Love, which both enables him to do what he will, and moves him to ſupply us in what we need; and withall, out of reſpect to his own honour, which is infinitely advanced, when he manifeſts Himſelf to be, as He is, a Fountain of All-ſufficiency and Goodneſſe, in ſatisfying the deſire of every living thing.
Let us anſwer him, according to our proportion, in our ſervices, not ceaſing to do his Will as long any thing remains to be done that concerns us, and is in our power, labouring to be in our ſelves perfect and entire, lacking nothing, Jam. 1.4. and to walk ſo, that we may Perfect holineſſe unto God, 2 Cor. 7.1. having reſpect to all his Commandements, Pſal. 119.6. as he hath to all our neceſſities.
Let it quiet all our hearts in the conſideration of our preſent condition, when our inordinate luſts provoke us ſometimes to cauſeleſſe complaints and murmurings upon ſuppoſed, but miſtaken grounds. Whereas, 1. Either we have that which we conceive we want, as Hagar wept for want of water when ſhe ſaw not the Well which was faſt by her, Gen. 21.19. Or, 2. that which we want, would do us hurt and no good if we had it, as the Iſraelites found by experience, when they murmured for want of fleſh, Numb. 11.33. But much more when they would needs have a a King, which by the Juſt Judgment of God upon them became a Tyrant, as Samuel foretold them, he would, 1 Samuel 8.11.
God ſaw it was not good for the man to be Alone, although it be Gods Happineſſe that He is alone. So that we may upon ſufficient warrant
2. Obſerve, A Solitary life is an Uncomfortable, and an Unprofitable life.
Obſerv. 2 WOe to him that is alone, ſaith Solomon, Eccl. 4.10. 1. In reſpect of himſelf becauſe he is left without Comfort or help, which he muſt often want, and without it cannot ſubſiſt. 2. In reſpect of others he is made unſerviceable and unprofitable every way. A man indeed is like a member in the body, which can neither be preſerved it ſelf, nor be any way ſerviceable to the reſt of the members, unleſſe it remain in the body.
From whence then came the affecting, and admiring of a Monaſticall Life, which croſſeth, 1. The very Law of Nature, by which men are inclined to Society; And 2. and Gods Ordinance, who hath appointed us, 1. to cauſe our light to ſhine before men, that they might glorifie him Matth. 5.16. And to ſerve one another through love, Gal. 5.13. So that a Solitary life, 1, deprives God of his honour; 2. Men, and the Church eſpecially, both of that encreaſe of an holy ſeed, which they might have of the fruit of their bodies, of the comfort of their fellowſhip, the ſervice of Love which they owe, and of the examples of their godly lives: 3. Themſelves in preſent, of many ſweet comforts and needfull helps; and hereafter of the increaſe of their Reward, enlarged according to the proportion of their preſent improving of their Talents, in advancing Gods Honour, and ſeeking and procuring the Good of his Children.
Man had the company of all the beaſts of the field, and Fowls of the Ayre, and yet the Holy Ghoſt ſaith [The man was alone] becauſe he had none like himſelf, that he might converſe withall, as a Man; that is, in the exerciſe of Speech and Reaſon; the Birds in this reſpect were no way fit companions for him; but of that hereafter.
God then, in his Wiſdom, ſeeing that it was not good for the man to be alone, reſolves of himſelf, to Create him an help meet for him, which as we ſhall ſee he performes accordingly, Whence,
4. Obſerve, God takes not notice of our wants, as an Idle Spectator; but, as a Faithful Helper, puts forth his hand to help us in what we need.
Obſerv. 4 HE not onelyonly hears the complaint of the Poor, but helps and delivers them, Pſal. 12.5. He alſo deales with his Church, Iſa. 63.5. Thus he looks on Hannahs affliction, and gives her a Son: ſaw the affliction of Iſrael, and ſent them a Saviour, Exod. 3.7.8. Indeed this is the end of his ſeeing, and obſerving, that he may do and execute, as occaſion ſhall require in diſpenſing either Mercy, or Judgment, beholding Miſchief to requite it with his hand, Pſalm. 10.14. And hereunto both his own Compaſſion ſtirs him up, and his power enables him, and the reſpect to his own Honour (never advanced but in reall effects) carries him forwards.
Let it encourage us to depend on Him. If God know our condition, behold our Wants, take notice of our Preſſures, He can as ſoon deny Himſelf, as deny to help us, and relieve us; Let us only wait on him in the way of his Judgments, and attend his appointed time: when he makes Inquiſition for blood, He remembers the poore, Pſalme 9.12. and in the Day of Salvation will ſuccour us.
Let us do likewiſe; Obſerve, take Pitty, and Relieve. 1. Otherwiſe our Brethren have no benefit by us, if we expreſſe our compaſſion in words onelyonly, and not in deeds, Jam. 2.16. but prove like clouds and wind without rain, Prov. 25.14. 2. We make our own thoughts or words evidences againſt our ſelves, when we know what our Brother needs and help him not, and provoke God to neglect us as we neglect him: See, what he threameth in ſuch a caſe, Prov. 24.11, 12.
The manner and occaſion of Gods Reſolution to provide man a meet help is worthy our obſervation; The conſideration of mans need of a woman, is the onelyonly ground upon which he reſolves to make one. Whence,
5. Obſerve. God makes nothing but for ſome neceſſary uſe, and unto ſome profitable End.
Obſerv. 5 IT is true, that in the firſt Creation no Neceſſity enforced God to make the world, and all the Creatures but; when his own will moved him to do it, he made all things ſo, that they might be uſefull, and ſerviceable one to another, and directed them all unto the moſt excellent end, even his own Glory, Prov. 16.4. The Uſefulneſſe, and Serviceableneſſe of the moſt of them we have taken notice of in the former Chapter, the like we ſhall find in the reſt; See Iſa. 45.18. Whereof we have a Model in our own bodies; wherein there is nothing ſuperfluous, but ſerves for ſome uſe or other, whereof nothing could be wanting, without ſome maim or Deformity: So ſhall we find it in this great Body of the world, all things will appear uſefull in their places, and kinds.
Let it move us before we undertake any thing, to enquire before hand what Need there is of it, or to what Uſe it may ſerve. It is obſerved by Solomon, to be a ſore vanity amongſt men, that they enquire not before hand, what need there is of that labour and toil, which they take in hand, and what the uſe or end of it may be, Eccl. 4.8. What need ſo much exceſſe in Eating and Drinking, to the oppreſſing and not the ſtrengthening of nature? what need ſo much expence both of time, and mony, in coſtly cloathing, Sumptuous buildings, rich furniture? What need ſo much labour in lading our ſelves with thick clay? So much caring for the things of this Life, as if God took no care of us at all? Or ſuch large proviſions, for ſo ſhort a time of our abode here? Of enriching our minds with knowledge, ſtrengthening our hearts with Faith, adorning our ſelves with Meekneſſe, and every other Grace, & ſhewing forth the fruits of Holineſſe in our lives, of purging out our corruptions, and getting intereſt in Chriſt, and laying up for our ſelves Treaſure in Heaven; There is need, and there will be uſe, of thoſe things, when there ſhall be no uſe of the things of this preſent life, nor of our labours about them. Now there can be nothing more unbeſeeming a man, a rationall creature, than to do things upon no ground, or to no end,
Now if we apply this Generall conſideration to this particular caſe, that God would not make Adam a wife, till he found that he needed a Wife, and could not comfortably ſubſiſt without a Wife; We may thence in Generall,
6. Obſerve, A Wife is not good, till it be not good to be without a Wife.
Obſerv. 6 TIll it be not good, either for the health of ones body; Thus David was adviſed to take a young Concubine into his Bed, for his healths ſake, 1 King 1.2. And marriage is found to be very needfull, to many perſons for their health; 2. Or, for the ſubduing of unquiet thoughts, 1 Cor. 7.9. 3. Or, for the better governing of the Family, to which the Wife is, or ſhould be a great help, Prov. 14.1. (See 2 Tim. 5.14.) 4. Or for the publick good of the Church, or State; as it ſometimes falls out in publique perſons, as Kings, or other Magiſtrates, and oftentimes Miniſters of the Goſpel, who being eaſed of the care of the Family by their Wives, are the more free to attend the Churches Service. In any of thoſe caſes, we may take Marriage to be a Call from God, from whom every man muſt be warranted to undertake any particular ſtate and Condition of life, if he deſire to abide in it with comfort, and in expectation of Gods Bleſſing upon him therein.
Now if we obſerve the Inference, that God therefore makes a Wife for Adam, becauſe it was not good for him to be without a Wife; it neceſſarily implyes, That he ſhould find that Good in a Wife, which he wanted without her. So that we may thence,
7. Obſerve, A man May, and it is Gods Will that he Should, be the better for his Wife.
Obſerv. 7 ANd ſo indeed it will fall out, if ſhe be a Good Wife, ſuch a one will do him Good, and not Evil, all the dayes of her life, Prov. 31.12. She builds up the houſe, Prov. 14.1. She profits him in his eſtate, ſo that he will need no ſpoyl, Prov. 31.11. She eaſeth him of a good part of the burthen of his cares, in looking to the wayes of her Family, Prov. 31.27. She adviſeth him by her counſel, as Sarah doth Abraham, Gen. 21.10. and Rebeccah Iſaac, Gen. 27.46. She comforts him in his ſorrowes, upon better grounds, and with a better heart, then Jezabel doth Ahab, 1 King. 21.5. She helps to foreſee, and prevent any danger that threatens him; as Abigail both Foreſees, and Prevents the deſtruction of her Husband Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.18, 33. She furthers him in Piety, by ſeaſonable Encouragements, reverend Admonitions, joyning with him in hearty Prayers, holy Conferences, and the like; ſo that Man and Wife converſe one with another, as heirs together of the grace of life, 1 Pet. 3.7.
1. Woe be to thoſe fooliſh Wives, that pluck down the houſe which they ſhould build, Prov. 14.1. proving moaths in their Husbands Eſtates, by their Idleneſſe, and Waſtefulneſſe; and thorns in their ſides, vexing thoſe whom they ſhould comfort, with their continnal dropping, Prov. 19.13. Perverting thoſe whom they ſhould adviſe, as Solomon's ſtrange wives did him, and Jezabel Ahab, 1 King. 21.7. and Corrupting the children and family whom they ſhould Inſtruct. And the like woe to all ſuch as wax worſe and worſe by their Matches, more Earthly minded, more Idle, Prophane, more Luſtful, &c. abuſing that Sacred Ordinance of God (as they do all things elſe) unto their own deſtruction.
2. Let every man labour to be the better for his Wife; and to that end, 1. Let him labour to be good in the ſight of God. 2. Let him look well to his Choice, that he may take a godly VVife, and a Wife fit both for his Condition, and Diſpoſition. 3. Let him dwell with his Wife, as a man of Knowledge, governing her with all meekneſſe, inſtructing her, and bearing with her infirmities, 1 Pet. 3.7.
God having concluded, that it was not good for the man to be alone, reſolves to make him an help meet for him; ſo that He Himſelf undertakes the work. None indeed could provide for Adam a meet help but God alone. Whence,
8. Obſerve, It is only God Himſelf that muſt ſupply us with that which we ſtand in need of.
Obſerve. 8 HE muſt give food to the hungry, Pſal. 146.7. and pour water upon him that is thirſty, Iſa. 44.3. much more muſt he make the barren a mother of children, Pſal. 113.9. A good VVife is his favour, Prov. 19.14. He muſt build the houſe, Pſal. 127.1. and give ability to get wealth, Deut. 8.18. Moſt of all, it is He that muſt furniſh us with all ſpiritual treaſures, Eph. 1.3. yea, with Grace and Glory, Pſal. 84.11. Although he makes uſe of the Miniſtery of men for the moſt part, and of other ſecond means to conveigh them unto us; as Houſes and Lands by inheritance from the Parents, Prov. 19.14; Faith and Spiritual Life by the Miniſtery of the Goſpel uſually, although be can and doth beſtow all thoſe immediately when he pleaſeth.
Let our prayers be directed to him for any thing that we want, and our praiſes returned to him alone when we are ſupplyed; and let our hearts ſtay upon Him alone who only is able to help us, and will not fail to do it in the time of our need.
Adam we ſee never moves God to beſtow a VVife; neither doth any ſollicit him in his behalf. Only God in his VViſdom finds it to be needful, and fit for him; and He, out of His Free Love and Bounty provides for him, unasked, and unſought unto. Whence we may,
9. Obſerve, Nothing moves God to take compaſsion on us, to ſupply us in what we need, but his own Bounty and Goodneſſe.
Obſerv. 9 NOthing but his Mercies, and the multitude of his Loving kindneſſes, Iſa. 63.7. his meer Love and Pity, verſ. 9. And therefore the Church, in her diſtreſſe, flyes unto nothing but the ſounding of his bowels, and his mercies, Iſa. 63.15. or to his Truth, Pſal. 89.49. Or to the Reſpect to his own glory, Joſh. 7.9. which alone is ſufficient to move him, Ezek. 36.22. The truth is, God can neither Owe any thing to his own Creature, neither can he be engaged by any deſert, Job 35.7. ſeeing when we have done all, we are unprofitable ſervants; neither can it be for Gods honour, that his Bounty ſhould not be every way free, and meerly from Himſelf, out of his own abundant goodneſſe.
Let it quiet all our hearts, when the ſenſe of our own unworthineſſe ſeems to cut off our hope and expectation of any favour from God towards us. Conſider what could move him to make us at firſt, when we were not; to give us the Soveraignty over all his Creatures, the poſſeſſion of the whole world; nay, to give us his own Son Jeſus Chriſt, when we were Weak, Ungodly, and Enemies, Rom. 5. The ſame free mercy, which moved him to ſet his heart upon us at the firſt, will move him to continue his Goodneſſe to us ſtill, becauſe his Compaſſions and Truth fail not, Lam. 3.22. Nothing can ſeparate us from him, but our own departing from him by Unbelief, and deſpiſing the Salvation freely offered unto us.
The Title given unto the Woman by God in this place, is not to be paſſed by, without obſervation, God calls her an Helper. VVhence,
10. Obſerve, A Wife is but an Helper to her Husband.
Obſer. 10 NOt his Guide, for ſhe was Created for the Man, not the man for her, 1 Cor. 11.9. and that too, Inferiour unto him, both in dignity, and uſually in abilities. So that ſhe is truly and worthily called the weaker veſſel, 1 Pet. 3.7.
Let both married perſons know their places, the woman contenting her ſelf with that place, in which God hath ſet her, …d for which He hath furniſhed her with abilities proportionable without affecting, or endeavouring to aſpire to the higher place of Government, which God hath denyed unto her. And let the man ſo uſe his place of ruling and governing, that he may look on his Wife as his helper: ſo ordering the affaires of the family, that ſhe may have employment for thoſe abilities that God hath given her; and yet not laying the weight of his affaires upon her ſhoulders, remembring that though ſhe be an Helper, yet ſhe is but an helper; ſo that he muſt undertake the greateſt employment, in the government of the Family.
The help that God reſolves to Create for the man, was a meet help, one every way fiited for the office of Aſſiſtance, for which God intended her. Whence,
11. Obſerve, A Wife cannot be a good Wife, unleſſe ſhe be a Meet and a Fit Wife.
Obſerv. 11 ANſwerable, if it may be, 1. in Blood and Parentage, See, 1 Sam. 23. 2. In Eſtate, 3. Education. 4. Eſpecially, in the temper of her Diſpoſition. 5. But above all the reſt, in Religion; Seeing there can be no fellowſhip of Righteouſneſſe with Unrighteouſneſſe, nor of Light with Darkneſſe, 2 Cor. 6.14. Leaſt of all beween married perſons. Inequality indeed, either in Blood, or Eſtate, may occaſion either Scorn or Preſumption, either on the one ſide or the other; unanſwerableneſſe in Education, hinders Fitneſſe for Employment, Unſuitableneſſe in Diſpoſition, may cauſe many jarres, and unquietneſſe, in commerce one with the the other. But above all, difference in Religion, utterly cuts off all manner of Holy Communion; in Prayers, in Comforts, in Counſels, for mutuall Edification, and Endangers the corrupting of the perſon thus unequally yoaked, as appears in the examples of the Old World, of Solomon, of the Children of Iſrael, after their return from the Babyloniſh Captivity, Neh. 13.23. For which cauſe, God ſo preciſely forbad ſuch matches, to his own People, Deut. 7.3, 4.