Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 2
VERSE 2.
THe ſeventh day] The Hebrew Shevang, (which retaining the Letter, as well as expreſſing the ſenſe) we render Seven is derived from a word which ſignifies (to be full) as if ſeven were a full and perfect number, made up by the meaſure of time, in which God finiſhed the Creation of the world, and by his reſting after he had ended it, declared the full and perfect accompliſhment and finiſhing that Glorious work.
God Ended] That is, both finiſhed whatſoever he intended to make; and beſides eſtabliſhed, and ſetled, all that he had made, to continue (as it doth to this day) in that eſtate, in which he had Created it: and alſo in that Correſpondency that the Creatures had one with another.
Which he had made] A Phraſe added, to diſtinguiſh the works of Creation, from the works of Providence, in which God, both the Father, and the Son work to this day, John 5.27.
He reſted] Not properly; for God being a pure Act muſt needs be alwaies working, and can no more ceaſe to work than to be; OnelyOnly in reſpect of the Creation he is ſaid to reſt, or ceaſe, or forbear to do any more: Manifeſting thereby, that he had fully perfected, and finiſhed all that he purpoſed and decreed to make: This was Gods Reſt taken Privitively. If we conceive, that there is any thing more implyed in this phraſe, it muſt be Gods reſting in himſelf: and in the Contemplation of his own works delighting himſelf; as the Reſt which he enjoynes Man, upon that day, is not a meer privitive Reſt, in ceaſing from our labours; but beſides a poſitive Reſt in which we ſtay our hearts upon God, rejoycing in his glorious Works, and Mercies towards Mankind. So, that Reſt of God upon the Seventh Day, laies before us the ground of the Inſtitution of the Sabbath in the words following, as a Day advanced by God above the reſt, by manifeſting the perfecting of that glorious Work, of the worlds Creation.
Thus we ſee God, although he hath power to give what lawes he pleaſeth: yet is pleaſed to manifeſt the Equity of that which he commands, that we may acknowledge his Will to be a rule of Righteouſneſſe. VVhence,
1. Obſerve, God who may command What he will, yet is pleaſed to command nothing, but that which appears to be equall and Convenient.
Obſerv. 1 THus is the obſervation of this day of Holy Reſt, equall and juſt in reſpect of God; whoſe Wiſdom, Power, and Goodneſſe in Creating all things out of nothing, and all of them exceeding good, were fit to be remembred in ſome ſolemn day, wherein Men, by exerciſing themſelves in the meditation of thoſe glorious VVorks of God, might be ſtirred up to an Holy rejoycing in him, and to the publiſhing of his praiſe, in the aſſemblies of his Saints, for advancing of his glorious Name.
Secondly, neither is it more juſt and equall in reſpect of God, then it is profitable and beneficial to Man; 1. By refreſhing himſelf, wearied with the labours of the ſix daies precedent. 2. For the encreaſe of Piety, and inward Comfort to the ſoul, by enjoying an Holy Communion with God, in his Ordinances: and ſuch are all the reſt of Gods Lawes, equall and juſt in all things, Pſal. 119.128. and good unto Men, Deut. 6.24.
1. Let it move all Men, that have power in their hand, to exerciſe it according to the Rules of Equity and juſtice, and for the good of others, which muſt needs procure the reſpects of Love, and reverence to their perſons that Command, and ready Obedience to their commands with chearfulneſſe.
2. Let it encourage all men to ready and willing Obedience, to all Gods Lawes, and that for their own good, by conſidering; 1. That at preſent they have their fruit in holineſſe, exerciſing themſelves in ſuch duties, as are both honourable and comfortable; 2. And that hereafter, they ſhall receive a ſure and plentiful reward Rom. 6.22. 1 Cor. 15, 58.
Now although God were pleaſed to found his law upon grounds of Equity, and Conveniency, yet it was more then he was bound unto, to give us an account of either: notwithſtanding we ſee that he is pleaſed to acquaint us alſo, with the reaſonableneſſe, and Equity of the Law that he gives. VVhence,
2. Obſerve, God not onelyonly makes his Lawes Equall, and Reaſonable; but beſides, is pleaſed to make it appear unto us, that they are So.
Obſerv. 2 THis God is pleaſed to manifeſt to his People in reaſoning the caſe with them, Ezech. 18.25. To the ſame end he is pleaſed to prefix a preface to his Law, in delivering ft upon Sinai: that they might conſider in their own hearts, how juſt and equall it was, that he ſhould have power to command them, whom he had delivered from ſo Cruel a Bondage, and ſlavery. And for particular Lawes, though the world judgeth them to be bonds, and Coards; yet he makes his Children to underſtand, that his Lawes are right in all things, Pſal. 119.128. And his Teſtimonies very Righteous and faithful, ver. 138.
Reaſons, 1. We never truly honour God, till in our judgment we approve and allow his Law to be juſt and equall, as Saint Paul doth, Rom. 6.16. And David as we have ſeen already: whereby we ſet to our Seal, that Gods Will is the rule of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe,
2. That is the onelyonly meanes to draw men on to ready and Chearfull, and by conſequent, Conſtant Obedience, when the mind diſcerning both the Equity, and Goodneſſe of Gods Laws, prevails with the will to make choice of them, and drawes on the whole heart to delight in them, and the whole Man to follow them, with the uttermoſt endeavours: which is a clear teſtimony to the world of the price that we ſet upon thoſe holy Lawes; and of our aſſurance that we have, of an exceeding great reward in keeping them, Pſal. 19.11.
Let it move all that are Godly, to ſearch into all Gods Lawes, begging Wiſdom, and underſtanding at Gods Hand, for that purpoſe; and undertaking the work with fear and reverence: Conſenting to and delighting in that which we know, and adoring the depth of Gods Wiſdome, in general: in thoſe things that through our own Ignorance, we underſtand not ſo fully in particular; that we may with our whole heart yield unto, and walk in all duties of obedience, which it requires,
The phraſe in which the Holy Ghoſt expreſſeth Gods reſting from his Works, muſt be carefully obſerved; He reſted (ſaith Moſes) from all the workes that he had made, or from Creating any more. Whence,
3. Obſerve, God, to the Worlds end Creates no more, then What he made in the beginning.
Obſerve, 3 THe works were finiſhed from the foundation of the world, Heb. 4.3. So that ſince that time he makes; 1. no new Kinds of Creatures, nor ordinarily ptoduceth the Particulars of any kind by way of Creation, but by Generation. For, as for the raining down of Mannah, or the aſſuming of bodies by Angels, and the like, they were works extraordinary. And howſoever the propagation of Creatures, be termed Creation in Pſal. 104, 30. as being the effect of the ſame power, by which things were at firſt Created, and therefore are aſcribed unto God, Job 33.4. yet becauſe God is pleaſed therein, to make uſe of Second Cauſes, both Material, and Efficient; it cannot be properly termed Creation: whereof there is no more need at preſent, God having Created at the firſt, as much as was needful, for the Ends at which he aimed.
In the ſame expreſſion, we may yet take farther notice, that the Reſt of God is limited only to his ceaſing from the Works of Creation, and not extended to the Acts of Conſervation and Adminiſtration, the Holy Ghoſt by that limitation implying that he Reſted not, or Ceaſed from Them, but Continues working in Them ſtill. So that we may,
4. Obſerve, Though God Ceaſe from the Works of Creation, yet he Ceaſeth not from his Works of Providence, in Suſtaining, Conſerving, and Governing the Works which he hath made.
Obſerv. 4 IN thoſe Acts of Providence, he works even to this day, as our Saviour teſtifies, Joh. 5.17. ſupporting all by his Power, Heb. 1.3. and guiding and turning all things about, by his Counſel, ſo that they do whatſoever he commandeth and appointeth, as Elihu ſpeaks, Job 37.12.
1. Let us then wiſely obſerve the Works of God, in the Supporting of all his Creatures, with the Prophet David, Pſal. 104.27, 30. & 145.15, 16. But eſpecially in diſpoſing and ordering all things, principally, in the affaires of men; which bruitiſh men indeed underſtand not, Pſal. 92.6. but the wiſe ſhall know the Wayes of God, Hoſ. 14.9. that they are Right, and his work every way perfect, Deut. 32.4.
2. Let us bring our hearts to a Firm, and Conſtant dependance on him, for Supplies in all our Wants, and for Aſſiſtance, and Support, in all our diſtreſſes, eſpecially remembring his Promiſe to his own, I will not leave thee nor forſake thee, Heb. 13.5. That our Converſation may be without Covetouſneſſe, and without Care.