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18 JANUARY

Ruins restored

‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Genesis 1:26
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Genesis 1:26–2:3

The subject we are upon is so mysterious and so briefly related that it would be easy to start curious speculations—but it is our wisdom to avoid an attempt of being wise above what is written. Let us fix to what is profitable.
(i) Cause for lamentation: How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!… The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers … (Lamentations 4:1–2). What an awful difference—instead of dominion, misery and confusion. Instead of the moral image of God, the image of Satan full drawn upon the soul. Nothing remains but immortality and capacity—and these constitute our wretchedness, so that if men have no more than sin has left them, they will one day wish they had been dogs or toads to crawl upon the earth awhile and then be for ever forgot.
(ii) Cause of praise: to say, ‘Blessed be God for Jesus Christ—this ruin is under his hand.’ He is come that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly [John 10:10]. Believe in him and your souls shall live.

FOR MEDITATION:
Oh! When flesh and heart shall fail,
Let thy love our spirits cheer;
Strengthened thus, we shall prevail
Over Satan, sin and fear:
Trusting in thy precious name,
May we thus our journey end;
Then our foes shall lose their aim,
And the Judge will be our Friend.

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [4/4], GENESIS 2:7

17 JANUARY

Made in his image

‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ ‘In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.’ Genesis 1:26, Genesis 5:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Colossians 1:15–20

In his own image, or likeness. I will not be scrupulous about distinguishing these expressions. Taken together, I apprehend they signify:
(i) Man was formed in the image of God as his representative here below, honoured with the subordinate dominion of the earth and all its creatures (1:27).
(ii) Perhaps the expression may intimate ‘in the image and likeness of that body which the Word of God would in time take into union with himself.’ For this was in his purpose before either man or the earth was made. Man was therefore formed according to the resemblance of him who now sits upon the throne—the Head of the whole creation.
(iii) The capacities of man bore some faint image of the divine perfections—understanding, consciousness, will, and vast affections—which the possession of all the creatures could not satisfy (verse 20). And this natural dignity and vastness of the soul, which makes it incapable of being satisfied with anything short of an infinite good, still remains under the ruin of the fall—though this likewise becomes a curse and punishment, sin having rendered a union between the soul and its chief good impracticable without the interposition of free grace.
(iv) Man was created in the moral image of God, indeed with a portion of his goodness, holiness and truth, by which he was qualified for communion with his Maker and fully enabled for obedience to his righteous law (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). This image was totally lost and defaced by sin and therefore the work of grace which restores it is called a new creation.
This account agrees likewise to the woman, though she was made afterwards and immediately from the substance of the man.
FOR MEDITATION:
On man in his own image made,
The whole creation homage paid,
How much did GOD bestow?
And owned him, LORD, below!

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [3/4], GENESIS 2:7

16 JANUARY

Designed for eternity

‘And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ Genesis 2:7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 37:1–14

The LORD God formed man. The formation of man’s body:
(i) The materials: the dust of the ground, and yet by nature capable of immortality; for that man was afterwards liable to death was the consequence of sin. Here we may observe that everything is what it is in consequence of the divine appointment. Dust, by the will of God, may be immortal, and stones become bread.
(ii) The expression formed: the word is properly used of the skill and power of the potter over the clay which he moulds according to his own will, and makes it very different from what it was in the mass. Much of the wisdom of God is manifest to an attentive eye in the admirable structure of our bodies. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The LORD God breathed. The communication of life: he breathed, which seems to import the union of an immortal soul—for the animals were living creatures likewise, yet no such expression is used of them. The life of the soul was distinct from the life of the body and did not, like that, depend upon his obedience, for the wicked are immortal. Only sin perverts this primitive blessing and honour into the greatest curse. Consider this, ye that forget God [Psalm 50:22]—you are not creatures of a day, but designed for eternity.

FOR MEDITATION: O for a new heart, a new sight, that my mind may be active. Leave me not to my own foolishness but lead me and guide me and restore unto me the joy of thy countenance for thy name’s sake. Amen.
Diary, 8 and 17 November, 1755

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [2/4], GENESIS 2:7

15 JANUARY

Finished and furnished for the praise of his glory

‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Genesis 1:26
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 96:1–13

When the earth was finished and furnished, a suitable inhabitant was wanting, capable of admiring the Creator’s work and yielding a tribute of worship and praise. Such an inhabitant was man in his original state. Yet man was not made for the sake of the earth, but the earth for the sake of man—concerning whom the divine counsels had been engaged from eternity. And when the appointed season of his existence drew near, the earth was fitted to receive him. We may note a particular form of expression, Let us, which seems to intimate:
(i) that mysterious distinction in the Godhead which we call the Trinity. The word is plural, though joined with a verb in the singular (compare 3:22, And the LORD God said, Behold the man is become as one of us …).
(ii) the excellency and importance of the design. This is pointed out to our weak capacity by the idea of an act of council and agreement. And indeed the great events and the manifestation of the divine glory which depended upon the creation of man, give us cause to consider this as the chief of all the works of God.

FOR MEDITATION: ‘Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them’ (John 17:24–26).

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [1/4], GENESIS 2:7

14 JANUARY (PREACHED 31 DECEMBER 1769)

Take stock

‘For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.’ Psalm 90:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 116:1–19

It would be seasonable to take a review of our lives, especially of the past year. I would willingly assist you herein and help you to set out some of the particulars before your conscience: God’s dealings with you and your returns to him. The Lord’s dealings with us may be comprised under mercies, afflictions and ordinances.
(i) Mercies: as life itself—a measure of health, deliverances from danger, a supply of your returning wants; he has given to many of you the lives of your friends, comfort in your families, restored some who were dear to you from the borders of the grave. Now all temporal mercies and comforts are from his gift. They are talents and shortly you must give an account of your stewardship. How have you improved them? I trust he has taught some of you to own them as his gifts and to improve them to his glory. But alas, are there not too many who have abused his mercies to occasions of sin?
(ii) Afflictions: these indeed, when sanctified, are mercies likewise. But how many suffer in vain. Many changes have happened amongst us in a year: pain, sickness, death in our families, crosses and losses in our affairs. None of these things have happened by chance. The Lord has done it. Every rod has a voice. Have you heard it, taken it to heart? Did you humble yourself before him in affliction?
(iii) Ordinances: we have been favoured with a year more of gospel ordinances. The word of the Lord has been with you precept upon precept, line upon line [Isaiah 28:13]—to what effect? What have you known of Jesus? Are you convinced of sin? Are you considering your latter end?

FOR MEDITATION: If you cannot answer such an enquiry with comfort, still the Lord waits to be gracious. Now at least, cry to him for light and faith that you may receive a free pardon and be turned by the power of Jesus, for there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. Believers will find cause of humiliation, but you have an Advocate with the Father. Thank him for all that is past, trust him for all that’s to come.

SERMON: PSALM 90:9 [3/3] [ALSO PREACHED 28 DECEMBER 1783]