2 ta S. E K 1V1 0 N S upon Serm. XXIX: ed by reafon 5 the Creation did as it were mourn at the crucifying of Chrift ; for na- ture feemed to be routed into a diforder 5 The Rocks were rent, the Earth quaked, the Sun was (truck blind with a (tonif imeny there is an intelleaive affiftancc, which runneth along with the creature; that is, the Wife and Powerful Providence of God leadeth them, and governeth them, and direaeth them to a better efface 5 fo that they do in their kind groan under their prefent burden, till they be delivered from it, 2. How are we concerned in theft groans ? Very much. 1. They are upbraiding groans, As they upbraid us of our fecurity and unthankful= nefs ; we that have reafon, aremore fe[iflefs than the creatures 5 the creature groaneth, and we are ftupid,neither affeaed with our fin or mifery, Jer. 12. 14. The land mourn. ethiyet they fay,he (hall not fee our lafi ead :That is,no evil (halt come unto us; they thought all would be well enough. So for fwearing,and lying, and [leafing, and adultery, the land mourneth,Hof.4. 2, 3. But doth the (wearer mourn,the adulterer mourn ? The vines howl, and the figtree languifheth, Ifs. 24. 7. But doth thedrunkard mourn, becaufe God is provoked by his filthy excels? It is very obfervable, that the Prophets do often turn from men, and fpeak to creatures, as Lament. 2. 18. 0 wall of the daughter of Lion, let thy tears run down as a river day and night ; let not the apple of thine eye ceafe. I-te calls on the wall, either becaufe no men left to mourn, or no men had an heart to mchrn, or for both reafon; fo Micah 6.r, 2. Hear ye mountains,the Lords controverte, and the firong foundations of the earth, hear the word of the Lord 5 fo Jer. 2.2\29. O Wirth, earth ! As if it were in vain to fpeak to men 5 infenfible creatures are more ht to be fpoken to, than an incredulous and felf willed and obdurate people 5 they keep (till their obedien- tial fubjeaion to their Creator, and do tremble when he threatneth , and groan when he affiaeth ; and therefore the creature is brought in groaning here, as in our (lead; the earth groaneth, which hath not finned, but only fuffereth for fin, to upbraid the hardnefs of our hearts, becaufe we who are the criminal parties groan not. 2. They are awakening groans: 'Tis fpoken hyperbolically, to quicken our confiders tion, and to reprefent the moreemphatically the great mifery the creatures are in, while they ferve finful man, elpecially in fulfilling his lu(ts 5 carnal men do not think of there things, and fo have noear to hear there groans g the creatures fpeak by our thoughts, and they groan by our affeaions ; namely, as they excite and flit us up to figh and long for a better efface than is to be had in this reeling and uncertain world, where fin hath introduced fo many changes; yob faith, chap. 12. 7, 8. Asknow the beafis, and they (hall teach thee, the fowls of the air, and they 'hall tellye : or fpeakunto the earth, and it (ball teach thee; and the fifhes of the fea, and they fhall declare unto thee. What was the point he had then in hand ? That by the Providence of God wicked men may profper 5 not only as thefe things do molt ferve thewicked, but the thong keep under the weak, and the great devour the leis ; but bow do the creatures fpeak, or tell, or declare? Even the mute fillies, that fcarce make any found ornoife? we task them by our (tudy and meditation, and they anfwer us by our own thoughts, by the conviaions and conclufions we draw, from them 5 there is a great deal of morality in the bofom of nature, and much Wif- dom to be learned from the creature , if we would pick it our, and ferioufy employ our thoughts that way. This is one leffon among the re (t, the creature bath fomething to fay to us concerning the vanity and decay of all things, and a better eftate to come : We hear the creature groaning, as itoffereth matter to us to figh, and groan, and long for a better c tate, that wemay be at home withGod,.and free from the miferies of the pre- fent world. 3. They are in firutlive groans: For they teach us many good leffons. r: They teach us the vanity of the creature 5 which is now often changed, and muff at length bediffoived; toa common eye this world feemeth to be in its higheft fplendor and beauty, becaufe worldly men judg of things by their carnal affeaions, Pfal. 49. t r. Their inward thought is, that their houfes (hall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They think their heritages and honours (hall for ever continue in their Name and Family, and carry themfelves accordingly ; their carnal complacency poffeffeth them with vainconceits 5 and when their pofterity are fwept away, and fhifted , new comers that are ettablifhed in their room, areas vain as they ; but now if we bring the word to the creature, and God by his Spirit giveth us an heart to obferve thefe things, we (hall fee that all is patting and peri(hing, that the whole world bath a great evil that burdens it, and will at length prove its deftrueeion 5 namely, fin; that the groaning Uni. verle
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