28 8 An Expofition upon Chap.8. Part. e tccllent then the reboring of the crea- ture s : and there come no aflliaions up- on us from God, but they are by our finites molt jufily de(erved; whereas the creatures fuffer for our fake. T t M. Now let us !vow what be the parts ofrhiaText? S5L.ltfeueth forth theft two things unto us t Firft, the condition of the creatures, both in refpea of their prefent mifery, which is here figuified by the names of vanity, corruption, and bon - dage,verfe zo,21.Alfo oftheir further reflauration,which is here called deli- verance,glory,liberty, verfe at. The fe- cond thing is the affeétion of the crea- tare,in regard both of the mifery, and reforing of them. This affcaion is de- clared both for the kinde and meafure of it, by the termes of fervent delire, waiting,grdaning, travelling in paine, verf s 19.72. T 1 M. Expound now the wordy, and tell us what is meant by the fervent defile of the creature, S 1 L. his to be read word for word, [theexpeaation of the creature expe- aeth,].that is,with greedineffe and con- tinuance looketh for. There is in this phrafe,both a Profopopeia, and a Pico- nafmus. For he putteth upon the crea- ture the perfon of one who molt deft- redly expefteth and looketh after Come perfon or thing ; fuch are wont to put forth their heads and to looke when fuch perlons or things (bould appeare, Pial.1 21.1. So the creature looks after liberty. TIM. Whas are we to underfiand by Creature? S r L. Neither the Angells,as Origen, nor men good nor bad, as Auguftine thought ¡ but the whole frame of hea- ven and earth, with creatures therein contained ; as the Scarres, Elements, all celebiallbodies,brate bealts,fruit of the earth, fifties of the (ea, with whatfoever elfe was made for mans ufe. T 1 M. But what manner of de fire is it that things treatedhaze? S 1 L. It isacertaineinitin&, or incli- nation put into them of God, whereby they fecretly (after a manner unknowne Interpre- tation. to us) are moved to covet to attaine to the end for which theywere made. This end is that perfeetion and moti giuri- ous efface in which the creature was at firft created, and from which it is now fallen for mans finne,and unto which it {till tendeth by a naturall defìre,evenas heavy things by naturall propenfon tend downwards,and light things up- wards. T i M, What it meant by the revealing of the formes of God ? S 1 L. The meaning is, nntill that glory which is prepared for the fonnes of God, be indeed manifefled : the fons ofGod (by a Metonymy of the fubjea for the adjoynt)are put for the glorious liberty that is ordained for them, as verfe 21. expounds it. T 1 M. Wbatinfiru&'iondoth aril from hence? S t L. A two-fold inflruaion : Firl, Deilris. that the glory of heaven is mofe certain and fure, it is not doubtfull whether there be fuck a thing or no, or a thing in adventure, but there is fuch a thing indeed: and it (hall be certainely perfor- med to all Gods children which beleeye the promifes, and repent of their fauns. The reafon hereof is,becaufe God bath Reajd; infpired the creatures with an inflinEt and delire after the glory of Gods fbns; and feeingGod doth nothing in vaine, it mutt needs be, that this delire is after fume thing that truely is,and not a Chi- mera or fiaion. TIM. What is the aft of this in f iruiiien I S 1 L. Such as are Gods children by Adoption, mutt learn from hence to ftrengthen their faith,as concerning the truth and certainty of their glory to come,ifhaply any doubt through temp- tation fhould arife about it. Secondly,it informes our judgements about the e- ftate of the creature, what it (hall be af- ter this world is ended, that they (hall after their fort and manner be partakers of the glory of Gods founts, for other - wife they (hould delire it in vaine. T 1 m. What other dottrine will arife from this 19. verfe ? S I L. Seeing the creatures doe gree- dily and continually delire the glory of Gods s Duíir.
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