For who ever heard the groaning of the whole creation?1. They "travail in pain." Walk worthy of vocation.5. But if the man of science goes on to argue from the imperfections, and failures, and waste in creation, that the universe had no intelligent Creator, St. Paul vehemently persists that with all the imperfection, failure, and waste, there are transcendent manifestations of the Creator's "eternal power and Godhead. They shall fully answer their end, viz, God's glory. )Creation groansT. Groaneth and travaileth — not willingly subjected. (1)From the powers of darkness. The second is the cause or occasion of this condition, which is laid down two manner of ways. Romans 1:11-15. Godet. The creature has fallen into the hands of God's enemies, and is forced to serve them. The powers of the material creation are bound by fetters of decay.(Prof. But more! As we are to share the glory of Christ because of our union with Him, the earth is to share our glory because of its union with us.3. They, too, are liable to diseases, which are curiously similar to ours. Hear the cry of the brute world, itself the prey of man, and, in turn, its own tyrant and murderer. Conclusion. As the breaking of the bud renders sterile the branch which bore it, so the fall of man involved that of the world. It is because they have no more pre-apprehensions of these things in themselves; which if they had, they would be otherwise affected. The duty of yielding to that Spirit who is working out our deliverance.(C. There must be holiness before there can be happiness. )Divine SonshipD. Each man of us has a prophecy of future rewards and punishments written in his own conscience. Secondly, by virtue of that union which they have to Christ. The earth, trees, and plants upon it, lay aside their ornaments, and every head among them is bald.3. Now both of these ends does it in a sort very much come short of; yea, is opposite unto them. As then we, so many as are in Christ, perish not utterly, but put off only corruption, to be, by a new and immortal birth, clothed with incorruption, so also they. Any sin against them, any violation of these sacred human relations, touches something Divine. It falls and rises again with the fall and rise of man. Thomas, D.D. To vindicate the wisdom and goodness of God in this dispensation. They shall fully answer their end, viz, God's glory. And then assuming immortality, there are surpassing compensations. Animals devour other animals to maintain life. Be concerned for those who are strangers to all this.(W. St. Paul might have read one of Mr. Darwin's books, for this is what Mr. Darwin has made certain: "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth together in pain until now."2. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. The four elements being contrary one to another, are still wasting one another till all fail; heat against cold, and moisture against dryness. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." We have but to compare the huge saurian monsters with the finer, compacter creatures which have taken their place to measure the enormous advance.2. The oppressor builds his house by blood and oppression, and the very stones and timber cry out (Habakkuk 2:11).6. Nature's challenge is not accepted, and why? The more that Christians do partake of the comforts of the Holy Ghost in this world, the more earnestly do they desire the accomplishments of glory in the world to come. Therefore we should not be discouraged when we reflect upon ourselves or others, which are near unto us in this particular; God will not cast away the first-fruits which Himself hath wrought in us. Now both of these ends does it in a sort very much come short of; yea, is opposite unto them. This is a state which quickly passes away, or, which is the same, out of which we quickly pass by death into another, in every respect almost exceedingly different from the present.III. How the racer kindles with fresh fire as he glances at the goal!(D. How? THIS HOPE WILL BE REALISED. First, because the things themselves have so much sweetness and delightfulness in them. To fill the body, lest it fail; to make it hunger, unless it be oppressed with food; to rest it, lest it be exhausted by labour; to labour, lest it be weary through repose; to sleep, lest it be worn with watching; to wake, lest it be listless through rest: what were life so lengthened out but a long disease?3. Wills, M.A. (3) So with youth. And so much may suffice of the first thing considerable of us here in this verse, which is the creature's passion. (2)And "in hope. Conclusion. The visible heavens were made the roof of his house, the earth his floor; the sun, moon, and stars were made to be his lights, the air to breathe in, the wind to refresh him; the various produce of the earth to afford him necessaries, conveniences, and delights. ).Creation's travail and deliveryT. We know how it is sometimes in the affairs and businesses of men; that some kind of malefactors they are punished not only in their persons, but in their relations, to put the greater terror upon their miscarriages, and to make them more odious. They groan and travail together. He was lord of sea and land. The soul of the world is man. But the Christian, when he now looks forward and thinks of the coming of the second man, even the Lord from heaven, has still to read the present prophetic signs and tendencies of things forwards by faith. The use which we may make of this observation to ourselves comes to this, namely, to teach us to labour to have the creature sanctified to us; and so in a sort reduced to that estate which at first it was set in. And yet, as we consider the scriptures assigned to us this day, we still observe that the Holy Spirit is central to all that we read. A purified conscience.4. Possibly in some of the lower spheres of life the doctrine of the transmigration of souls may be truer than we think. There is a liberty which implies the slavery of others. No such men are happy — their Maker has taken good care of that. That is the great lesson for us.(T. In unthankfulness or luxury, or daintiness, or hardness of heart, if we have much; if little, through sin in procuring it. But let us attend to some instances by which this truth may be illustrated. They took one of them and began with one stop or department of pipes, and put each in its place, and tried to see how it sounded relative to itself. Many a one takes a light lift because there are so many to bear a share of it. Some of them are in heaven, and groan no more, and those on earth must also be excepted (ver. Thomas, dreading the privations that may come, keeps back that which should have been given to decrepit old men. This, it serves to satisfy and compose our minds in all the evils which here in this world we are exposed unto, as no new or strange matter. (5) There is this advantage in the present state as a state of vanity, and corruption, that it carries in it a continual admonition to turn our thoughts and affections towards a better state, and to be more diligent in our preparations for it. As regards the thing itself, a truth of revelation. 4. 2. Make silence within, and listen to your own better self. This cannot be annihilation. Thirdly, in regard of their signification. If they had reason, they would be thus affected. The second is, the actions attributed to those persons, "Groan within ourselves, waiting," etc. When we speak of hope, it is considerable two manner of ways: either in the subject of it, or in the ground of it; either in the person, or in the condition. All that we can say is, that we have not seen the last and consummate manifestations of the power and wisdom of the Creator. "We are saved by hope." First, the creatures do groan and travail in pain together; that is, they do so with us, who have the lordship and dominion over them. Whence Holy Scripture says, "the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner." This, it serves to satisfy and compose our minds in all the evils which here in this world we are exposed unto, as no new or strange matter. First, because the things themselves have so much sweetness and delightfulness in them. Secondly, as there shall be a liberty of the body at that time, so of the soul likewise. Each man of us has a prophecy of future rewards and punishments written in his own conscience. They that have life live groaning with him; they are liable to sickness, pains, and sores as well as he; and they die groaning with him. Message: Can you believe the cold weather we have been having lately? It was not a pleasant change from a body preserved in independent vigour and immortality by the efficacy of the Tree of Life to a mortal body; from gardening in Paradise to ploughing a stubborn and comparatively barren soil. Clark.Two wrong ways of regarding the visible creation around us —1. First, the word of donation. (5) True, there is heavenly knowledge and sacred converse with God, but the wants of the body demand supply, and hence numberless cares and anxieties. But all these are dreams. (1)To what a place will it give us access! His identical soul does not pass into its but the shadow of what he is always rests upon it. The sensible part of creation really groans, each after its kind (Joel 1:18).2. Take notice of that, the very unreasonable creature itself, it does in a sort lament and bewail the sin of man. It is very observable that the prophets often turn from men and speak to creatures (Lamentations 2:18; Micah 6:1, 2; Jeremiah 22:29).2. First, take it in its insufficiency, and consider it there. It seems to echo the groans of his more conscious pain. )The vanity of the creatureJ. Did we not take into account the life of future blessedness that awaits us, our present trials and afflictions would shake our faith in the wisdom and love of God's government of the world.2. Then they put in another stop, and tried to see how it sounded relative to itself. )The connection between man and natureC. And when all the various mechanical parts have been constructed and tested, they are carried to their destination and set up. By the same right one takes a sword from a man wherewith he is running at him. Secondly. Only: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."2. As the breaking of the bud renders sterile the branch which bore it, so the fall of man involved that of the world. This is the nature of these worldly matters, but as a show and pageant, and there is an end. They, even now, see dimly, yet surely, reflected on the face of nature the image of the Creator. First, in the failing of its first end, for which it was made. The whole creation falls in man, and is to rise again in his moral uplifting. "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards." The second is in regard of its uncertainty, its transitoriness and shortness of continuance. Garbett, M.A.Apply the text to —I. Where is the creature that has no evil about it now? The consideration of this point is thus far useful to us. The stains that redden the track of civilisation, the masses of victims who lie crushed under the chariot wheels of progress, the anguish that writes its record on the faces of the myriads who, too weak for life's struggle, fall out of the ranks of the advancing army, struggle awhile painfully in the rear, and then drop in broken-hearted despair, are appalling. Men have prayed for the realisation of this vision, fought, suffered, and died for it.4. Imagine the fulness of all outward things, "the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them," all delights, all knowledge, all power, all honour, all possessed for ever. It is therefore bound. The globe is yet to be touched by the hand of God; and every pipe in the vast multitude is to stand out with beautiful voice, and in absolute harmony with every other voice. THE PARTY WHOSE UNEASINESS IS TAKEN NOTICE OF. They, too, are liable to diseases, which are curiously similar to ours. The present life of the good. Enter the gates of the hills and pass up to their wilder altitudes; trees are there, lonely, scattered, fighting sternly with rock and avalanche. They perish from want of rain. It is very observable that the prophets often turn from men and speak to creatures (Lamentations 2:18; Micah 6:1, 2; Jeremiah 22:29).2. But then comes sorrow and disappointment, and hopes prove dreams that lie and disappear when one awakes, and the joy of youth departs, and nothing remains but the profound conviction that though all that was so pure and beautiful has a home somewhere, yet certainly it is not to be found upon earth, which is a place of sighing and earnest longings for deliverance.II. This is that bright epoch foretold by the prophets, the time of the restitution of all things, when the Creator shall say, "Behold, I make all things new."2. The second is, the actions attributed to those persons, "Groan within ourselves, waiting," etc. Without them the universal evolution pauses. "I saw new heavens and a new earth." Thomas, D.D. Could he gaze unmoved upon this great, swarming population "looking for so much, bringing in so little," earning its wages only "to put them into a bag with holes"? 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