Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field… I. GOD MANY TIMES WILL NOT SO MUCH AS REASON THE CASE WITH SUCH AS HE DESTINES TO DESTRUCTION. II. WHOMSOEVER HATH A HAND IN ANY SIN SHALL BE SURE TO HAVE A SHARE IN THE PUNISHMENT. 1. God is able both to convince and punish; and nothing can be hid from His pure eye, or escape His revenging hand. 2. The respect to His own honour necessarily moves Him to declare Himself to be just, in rendering to every man according to his deeds, and according to his works (Psalm 62:12). III. EVERY INSTRUMENT IN THE ACTING OF SIN, AND WHATSOEVER IS DEFILED THEREBY, IS LIABLE TO GOD'S CURSE. IV. ONE MAN'S PUNISHMENT OUGHT TO BE OTHER MEN'S INSTRUCTION. Whether inflicted by men in a course of justice (Deuteronomy 13:14), or laid on by God's immediate hand (Zephaniah 3:5, 6). V. GOD LAYS HIS JUDGMENT UPON NO CREATURE BUT UPON JUST DESERTS. Reason — 1. His nature; fury is not in Him (Isaiah 27:4), but long suffering and abundant goodness (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8, 13). 2. Respect to His own honour, infinitely advanced by manifesting His justice, mercy, faithfulness, and truth, which appears when He dispenseth all His administrations according to men's deserts. 3. Neither could He otherwise encourage men to His service, but by accepting and rewarding them in well-doing, and punishing only their errors, and that too with so much moderation that it tends only to their good, and not to their destruction. VI. GOD'S CURSE UPON ANY CREATURE IS THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL PLAGUES AND MISERIES. VII. IT IS USUAL, WITH GOD IN HIS JUDGMENTS SO TO ORDER THEM THAT THEY MAY POINT AT THE SIN FOR WHICH THEY ARE INFLICTED. 1. To justify Himself, that by such lively characters His righteousness in all His ways may be read by him that runs. 2. To farther men's repentance, by pointing out unto them the sin that brings the judgment upon them. VIII. IT IS ONLY SIN THAT MAKES ONE MORE VILE THAN ANOTHER. IX. IT IS A SHAMEFUL ABASEMENT TO BE GLUED TO THE EARTH. (J. White, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: |
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