292 An Expofition upon Chap. 8. faint in their calamities,feeing the crea- ture quietly fuflereth mifery for their fake. Secondly,this fhould move us to abhorre fin,which is fuch a venomous thing, in that it bath infe&ed all crea- tures aboveus, about us, and beneath us. Thirdly, it mull move us to pity the creature being liable and fubjea un- to labour,wearineffe, yea and death for our fakes.Laflly,it reproveth the cruel- ty of fuch,as fport thentfelves in the mutual murdering of the creature ; the death and deflru&ion whereof, being a part of the curie for our fins,we may not make it our recreation; Gods curie may not be forted with. I mean it not of the lawful fport,by hawking, hunting, &c.where the ufe of the creature for fu -, flentation of our life is fought after. For all creatures given to man to ufe, may for his ufe be killed, yet with the leali cruelty. DIA LOGUE XXI. Verles 22,23. For we know that every creature groaneth with us alfa, and travefeth together unto this prefent time, and not only the creature , tut we alfo that have the firff-fruitr of the Spirit, even we do figh in our felves, wai- ting`or the Redemption of our body. T I M O T H E U S. WWHat doth thin Scripture contain? V S t L. It further proves che cer- tainty of heavenly glory, by a double delire,thecne of Gods creatures,ver. 2 2. the order of Gods children, verf.23. T r M. In what words it the defire of the creature fet down!' S L t. In two borrowed Ifpeeches : the one of groaning together,the other of travelling in pain. The former is ta- ken from fuch as figh and groan under a common burthen which is too heavy for them; the other is taken from wo- men,which bring forth children with great forrow and pain. T r m. It it meant that the creatures do; groan togetherwith us, or one together with another? S I L. Though fome take it, that their groans be on our behalf and for our caufe,craving vengeance upon the wicked our enemies, and defiring liber- ty for us ; yet becaufe this fenfe doth croffe the beginning of the next verfe, where he fpeaketh ofour groaning : ìt is rather to be thought that the mean- ing of the Apoftle is, that the creatures among} themfelvesmutually, do with forrow expe& the end of their mifery. That this is fo, appeareth firft, by our own fenfè, for we do fee that the crea- tures are under vanity,and made by the providence and commandement of God, to ferve our neceflity. Secondly, by the word of God, whichteacheth us plainly, both the original and end of their mifery. T i m. What are we to learn out of this 22.verfe? S r L.Matter of great comfort both for the creature, and for fo many as are Gods children; which confifteth here- in, that both their and our vanity and mifery Thal not only have an end, but Thal end joyfully : for as at the travail ola woman in the birth of a childe, there is joy when a child is brought in- to the world,fo Thal the conclufion of our mifery be joyful and happy both for men and creatures. T I m. But have Godr children no other and furerground of their delivery from mife- ry S I L. Yes verily,for their delire and hope of deliverance, is built upon two firm grounds laid down in the 23 verf. The firf} is, the link and feeling of the gifts of the holy Ghof}, (for 'they have the Aril fruits of the Spirit.) The fe- cond is, their waiting for the full ac- complifhment oftheir heavenly inhe- ritance, (redemption of their bodies.) T I m. What is that which it here called the Spirit? S I L. By a Metonymic of the capfe fortheeffe&, the Spirit is put hereto lignifie all the gifts of the Spirit, (which be not miraculous gifts ,)which we cannot finde that the Romans had, nor yet common gifts, fuch as hypo- crites and wicked men have ; but fpeci- all
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