Genesis 2:7 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. I. THE SUBSTANCE OF MAN'S BODY IS EXCEEDING BASE AND VILE. II. HOW BASE SOEVER THE MATTER OF MAN'S BODY IS, YET GOD HATH FRAMED IT INTO A CURIOUS AND EXCELLENT PIECE OF WORK. III. THE SOUL OF MAN BY WHICH HE LIVES, COMES IMMEDIATELY FROM GOD HIMSELF. 1. Let our souls seek unto Him, who gave them, and serve Him, as we are directed (1 Corinthians 6:20). (1) Praising Him with all that is within us (Psalm 103:1). (2) Submitting all the abilities of our souls to be guided by His Spirit, that we may be led by it and walk in it. (3) And labouring with all our endeavours to lay hold on heavenly things, whence we had our original, forgetting the things that are here below (Colossians 3:1). 2. Lay hold on this as a ground of special comfort; that which God hath given more immediately, He will certainly most carefully preserve and provide for, as it appears He hath done, by redeeming the soul from hell, and purging it from sin by the blood of His own Son, and adorning it with the graces of His Spirit, and reserving it hereafter to enjoy His presence, and there to be satisfied with His image. IV. THE LIFE OF MAN CONSISTING IN THE UNION OF THE SOUL WITH THE BODY, HATH BUT A VERY WEAK FOUNDATION. V. THE LIFE OF MAN IS ONLY BY HIS SOUL. VI. THERE IS NONE WORTHY OF THE NAME OF A LIVING SOUL, BUT HE ONLY THAT LIVES BY A REASONABLE SOUL. (J. White.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |