usefull for habitation then we now find it to be Secondly for the use of mans life it is beneficial 1. By furnishing them with more plentiful provision of food by the infinite store and variety of fishes that are bred therein 2. By affording the means of entercourse between Nation and Nation and thereby in some measure uniting the far distant parts of the earth and making way for the dispersing of those various commodities in which some Countries abound when others want them so that by this means all the fruits which the earth produceth are communicated to every part of it VERSE 10. ANd God called the dry Land Earth The word Eretz in the Original to which our English Earth comes very near and the Radical letters whereof both the Latine and some other Languages seem to retain whether it be derived from Rutz which signifies to Run or Ratsats which is to wear or presse down both which seem to point at either the Firmnesse of the Earth which yeelds sure footing to the Creatures that run and tread upon it Or at the Scituation of it which by its own weight is pressed down into the lowest place the other Elements of Ayr and Fire if there be any such circuiting and being carried about it in a perpetual motion comprehends the whole body of the dry land so that it seems to be more general then Tebel which signifies only the habitable earth Seas Or Waters called Seas by a kind of Eminency because all the waters to speak of are contained in the Seas And God terms them Seas in the Plural number because that collection of waters hath many parts and branches This name of Sea we find also given to Lakes as the Lake of Genesaret is also called the Sea of Galilee Matth. 4.18 nay to Solomons huge brasen vessel which he made for the Priests to wash themselves in 1 King 7.23 This separation of the VVaters from the Earth and the discovery of the dry land by gathering them together into one place God Looks upon and Approves as good as he had done the Light before and doth the rest of his works in particular afterwards and all of them taken together when he had ended them vers 31. Out of which particular view and approbation of every work apart we may Observe The goodnesse of every Creature of God ought to be considered and observed in Particular Observ THe Earth Seas Ayr Heaven Sun Moon Stars Fowles Fishes Beasts Man his Soul his Body and every Faculty of the one and Part of the other that we may be wholly swallowed up with admiration and may cry out with the Psalmist How manifold are thy Works O Lord in wisdom hast thou made them all Psal 104.24 Thus God having first given Job a view of the world in general takes him as it were by the hand and leads him to the Observation and Consideration of divers Creatures in particular Job 38. ver 39 40 41. Now if the Queen of Sheba were so much astonished when she beheld and took a particular surview of the order of Solomon's hovse the meat at his Table sitting of his servants attendance of his Ministers 1 King 10.5 what impression ought the consideration of the infinite multitude and various kinds of the Creatures all supplyed out of Gods own store and directed and ordered by his VVisdome to make upon our hearts VERSE 11. LEt the earth bring forth He means Presently as he doth in all the rest of his Commands in his Chapter for God will not endure that the earth should be barren for a moment and withal Constantly not only for the present time but for continuance in all times to come Now we know the earth yeelds nothing but the Matter of the herbs and plants The several forms and shapes of them especially their life is from God who makes the grasse to grow upon the Mountains Psal 104.14 Grasse Or Tender grasse a name which some conceive signifies only such herbs as grow of themselves without seed and then we have here mentioned two sorts of herbs some that spring up of themselves and others that grow of seed which is sowen Herb yielding seed By which when it decayes it self yet the Kind of it might be renewed and continued those are herbs that spring not of themselves but grow only out of seed otherwise there is neither herb nor plant but either bears some seed or hath at least a propagative root which is instead of seed by which it is or may be encreased and multiplyed in the kind thereof as experience shewes And fruit Trees And all trees have some fruit or something answerable to it by which they propagate themselves as appears in those that seem least fruitful as Elms Populars and the like Some think that poysonous herbs and briars and thornes were not within the compasse of this Decree but were the effects of Gods curse on the earth for mans sin Gen. 3.18 Although others more probably conceive that even all these were created at the first and became hurtful only by the curse of God upon man for sin as it happened in beasts which were all made in the beginning but for mans sin of useful and profitable servants divers of them were made untractable and dangerous enemies After his kind That is according to the nature of the plant on which it growes A matter worth our admiration that Trees and Herbs should produce as we see they do every one of them their proper seed nothing like unto the plant it self on which it growes and yet infallibly out of it self produceth such another body of an herb or plant as it self grew upon Whose seed is in it self Not received from another as it is usual in Animals which are propagated by the mixture of sexes whereof one receives seed from the other as we see by experience And it was so Not only at present for the earth was presently cloathed with all variety of herbs and plants but continues so untill this day according to the same Ordinance and Decree of God and shall do to the worlds end VERSE 12. ANd the Earth brought forth Every particular in the Event answers the Decree in every point wherein the admirable and unchangeable order that God hath set in nature offers it self to our consideration First that all herbs and plants having the matter of their nourishment and being produced by the same Earth and cherished by the influence of the same Heavens yet grow up into several forms having their natures and kinds still distinct one from another every several kind answerable to it self in every one of the individuals Secondly all of them grow to perfection and continue the way of their propagation in the same uniform course first the blade then the ear and at last the full and ripe corn in the ear Mark 4.28 The seed falls into the ground and shoots up into a tender grasse that growes into a stronger stemme and sends forth in some a flower
19. ANd God set them The Sun and Moon he means whereof he had spoken before as the words ensuing do evidently declare although it be more then probable that the Stars withall be included as giving some light unto the earth and as it were assisting the Moon in the Government of the Night In the Firmament VVhether he fixed them in several Orbs to be turned about with them as a nail in the wheel or placed them to abide and move therein of themselves as birds do in the Ayr and yet regularly by a proper motion of their own which he might as well give to every Planet as to the Orbe wherein it is supposed to be fixed it s not needful to be disputed at present This only is certain That where God set them there they continue to this day according to his Ordinance Psal 119.91 To give light upon the Earth All that God had decreed was accordingly performed in every particular Only in relating what was done Moses omits one of the uses to which these Lights were designed that they should be for signs as being a use of lesse moment then the rest but howsoever that use also must be conceived to be imployed as being decreed by God as we have seen though it be not here repeated The Observations which might be raised from hence have been handled already VERSE 20. L Let the waters bring forth The word here used in the Criginal can hardly be expressed in any other Language aâ—to the full force of it It implyes as much as to bring forth abundantly but how can the waters which have no life in themselves bring forth living Creatures These words then may be conceived to note not so much either the efficient cause by which the Fishes and Birds were brought forth which is Gods own Decree and VVord or the material cause of which their bodies were framed for neither is water the matter of fishes bodies nor the Aire of the birds though the temper of either of them do most resemble those Elements Onely by those words Let the waters bring forth is noted 1. the places where the fishes are produced 2. There may be implyed their waterish composition in which they much resemble that Element which is Predominant in them 3. There seems to be given to the waters a cherishing Power to nourish maintain them which seems to be far greater then that which the Earth hath to preserve beasts seeing the waters not only nourish the fishes as the Earth doth the Beasts but besides preserves their spawn and so becomes as it were the womb in which it is cherished till it be brought to perfection Nay some conceive that some fishes are bred of muddy waters themselves as Eels and some others although the most kinds of them come of spawn Moving Creatures Or Creeping as some render it Indeedhe word Sheretz signifies any thing that slides away swiftly either without distinction of their motion by steps as Birds fly in the Ayre Fishes swim in the Sea and VVorms and Serpents creep on the Earth or with so insensible a distinction of steps that it is not easily observed as VVeesels and Mise are reckoned amongst creeping Creatures Levit. 11.29 Because by reason of the shortnesse of their feet going so near the ground the motion of their feet is not so much observed as in other Creatures That hath life Or soul The word Nephesh in the Original comes from a word that signifies to Breath which is the first and last act of life Now that fishes too have a breathing life although not altogether after the manner of other living Creatures is not questioned The same word is taken meerly for breath Job 33.4 In this description of the Creation of Fishes and Birds Moses sets before us 1. The Decree and Command of God for their Creation and therein 1. The order in which they were created 2. The manner of their Creation in these words Let the waters bring forth 3. The kindes of the Creatures to be produced Fishes and Birds 4. The Places in which they were either bred or to abide the Waters and the Ayre 2. The Execution or performance of that which was decreed 3. The blessing of God upon the Creatures that were produced In the whole course of this history of the Creation we may take notice how Gods works still go on forwards towards a farther degree of perfection First there is Created the rude masse out of which all the Creatures were made Then the Heavens vast and Glorious Creatures but without Life Thirdly the Herbs and Plants that have life indeed but without motion Fourthly Creatures with Sense and motion but without Reason Lastly Man with a reasonable Soule Created after Gods own Image Out of this Order which the Lord observed in the Creation of all things we may 1. Observe Gods Works alwaies are carried on towards Perfection Observ 1 AS God carried on his Works in the Creation of all things so doth he in the Renovation of them by succesive Generation and propogation of the Creatures in their kinds In the Corn there is first the blade then the stemme after that the eare and then the ripe Corn. In men first a rude masse then a body perfected in all the parts of it after that a living soul exercising it self First in the life of a plant in the womb then of a beast in the infancy and at last of a reasonable Creature in the riper years Thus God dealt in ordering the State of his Church first he trained it up under the Pedagogie of the Law teaching it by figures and shaddowes of things to come and exercising it much in Outward Ceremonious observances Now the vail being removed it is taught by lively Oracles opening unto us at full the body of those things which were shaddowed out unto them under types and figures and exercised in more Spirituall duties Reason 1. Because the state of all things is imperfect at present and is therefore both capable of farther degrees of perfection and firt to be brought thereunto that God might have this honour ascribed unto him that his work is Perfect Deut. 32.4 2. That men by the several steps of the perfections of the Creatures which are found in one above another might at the length ascend up unto God in whom all perfections are to be found Let it both Quiet and Raise up the Spirits of Gods Servants when they look upon their present imperfections both in knowledge and every grace 1 Cor. 13.10 Seeing 1. God Himself hath undertaken the work of our Renovation who having all Perfections in himself can easily perfect what he hath begun in us 2. And will do it partly to make good his promise Phil. 1.6 partly to the end for which he hath ordained us that we might be without blemish Eph. 5.17 As well that the Excellency of his work in us might appear as also that we might by that means be fitted to enjoy an Holy and Everlasting Communion
And this he doth 1. Because we could not otherwise observe Gods works if they were done in an instant we can take notice of nothâ—â—g but that which is done in time so great is our weaknesse 2. That our hearts might be the longer stayed upon the meditation of Gods works while we wait for the perfecting and full accomplishing of that which we see to be already begun Let it move us to wait upon God in the way of his providence with the greater care and watchfulnesse when we see how far God condescends unto our weaknesse and applies himself to our weak and slow understandings heedfully observing the beginings taking notice of the Progresse and waiting for the full accomplishment and perfecting of any work that he hath in hand Thus should Gods works be sought out of all that have pleasure therein Psal 111.2 VERSE 6. LEt there be a Firmament Or Body spread out like mettals that flow abroad when they are melted and as then they waxing cool grow firm and stiffe withall Some conceive this name Rakiah importeth the Firmnesse of the Heavens which opinion the Greeks seem to favour who translate it Stereoma which we in our Language render Firmament signifying not so much the Grossenesse or Thicknesse as the Strength and Compacted firmnesse of the Heavens unto which Elihu seems to allude Job 37.18 when he stiles it strong and as a melted Looking-glasse But it seems more probable that Rakiah implyes only the Extention or spreading out as Psal 104.2 not the compacted firmnesse of the Heavens seeing that under this name Firmament we must necessarily comprise as well the aire which is spread out over and round about the earth as that firmer body of the Heaven above of which more anon That the heaven above is understood by the name of Firmament it is evident because God set the Moon and the Sun and Starres in the Firmament vers 14. And that it includes the Aire also is as Evident seeing God appoints the birds to flye in the open Firmament ver 20. Now if we conceive the Planets and Stars to move in the Ayr which many with very great shew of reason maintain the opinion may seem to be favoured by the Holy Ghost in this Chapter who calling both the Ayr where the birds flye and the Heaven in which the Starres are carried by one name may seem to imply that they are both carried in the same body of the Ayr though at a great distance one from the other Howsoever it is most probable that the word Firmament in this place includes at the uttermost no more then the sphear in which the Stars are carried which is the uttermost bound of the visible world the making whereof was that which Moses only intended to describe in this place where we find nothing at all mentioned concerning the Third Heavens or the Angels who have their residence therein In the middest of the Waters That is as it is expressed in the next verse to be between the waters and to separate the waters above and below the Firmament Now what these Waters be that are below the Firmament we see but what is meant by the Waters that are above the Firmament is much questioned Some place them above the Starres and imagine them to be either a kind of Christal sphaere which is termed Waters for the resemblance which it hath unto waters congealed or else that there are true real waters there indeed Others by the Waters above understand the waters which are carried in the Ayr above the Earth in the Clouds and bound up in them Job 26.8 Which opinion if we embrace we must understand the word Firmament by a Synecdoche for the lower part of the Firmament in and above the lower part whereof the clouds are carried And let it divide That is by receiving and taking up part of the waters which are to be carried in clowds in the ayr and employed in watering the earth by consequent separate and divide them from the waters which remain here below Thus we see the first of those creatures which were formed out of that rude masse this huge vaste Firmament which our eyes can hardly measure of an extent almost incredible This is notwithstanding a part of Gods work created only by the Word of his mouth Whence 1. Observe The vaste and almost boundlesse Body of the heavens is the Work of God Observ 1 THe largenesse of this work although we extend it no farther then may be discerned by us that is to the starry sky is so great and almost exceeding belief that it cannot but astonish any man that thinks of it especially if we believe Astronomers dimensions according to which the least of the fixed stars exceeds the earth in bignesse nine times and according to that account the whole earth in comparison of the Heavens is not so much as the smallest hillock in comparison of the whole Earth and this is Gods Work called therefore Gods Heavens Psal 8.3 and the Heavens of the Lord Lam. 3.66 Let it set before us the infinite power of him that made it nay stretched it out like a Curtain Psal 14.2 and compare with this work Nebuchadnezars Babylon Dan. 4.30 or Ahasuerus hangings in the Pallace at Shushan Hest 1.6 or Solomons Temple or that which was after enlarged and beautified by Herod so much admired Matth. 13.1 and the rest of the famous works wrought by men which they accompted the wonders of the world and so whether they be if compared with this work so much as a drop to the whole Ocean and let it swallow up our Spirits with the admiration of the greatnesse of him whose work it is and whose immensitie notwithstanding the large extent of the heavens cannot be contained in them 1 King 4.27 We have already shewed that the Ayre is included under this name firmament or body spread out as well as the higher heavens So that the Ayre also is a part of Gods Work which we may not passe by without taking speciall notice thereof Wherefore 2. Observre The Ayre in which we move and breath is Gods Creature Observ 2 IT is true that the Ayre is no where expresly by name reckoned amongst Gods works as the Earth and Seas and other Creatures are but is still included under this generall name of the heavens and so accounted as a part thereof and thereby testified to be a part of Gods work Let us acknowledge the Ayre also among none of the meanest of Gods blessings taking notice of the manifold uses thereof unto the lives and comfortable being and subsisting of our selves and other Creatures as 1. serving for Respiration or breathing the immediate meanes of preserving our lives as we know for to take away breath is to take away life Psal 104.29 And when God is said to have power over our lives he is said to have our breath in his hand Job 12.10 Dan. 5.23 1. It transmits the Light and Influence of the Celestiall Bodies and so
furthers their use and service to the earth and to the Creatures here below which are cherished and quickned thereby and so becomes in a sort a common band and meanes of union between heaven and earth 3. It makes way both to the motion of our selves and every other moving Creature by the yielding nature thereof without which the places in which we and other creatures are would become our prisons and consequently would make both them and us utterly unfit for any service at all 4. It sustaines the clouds in which the rain is bound up and maks way to their moving about the Earth and le ts down from them the soft rain without which all hearbs and plants must wither of necessity and by consequent the Earth must become wholly barren and unfruitfull The truth is those common blessings which all Creatures enjoy the Light Ayre VVater and the Earth whereon we walk and by the fruites whereof we are sustained are of an infinite and inestimable value infinitely beyond gold and silver which we set at so high a rate and yet are despised because they are enjoyed in common and therefore ought to be the more throughly enquired into and observed by Gods Children whose hearts ought to be enlarged unto thankfulnesse by the Consideration and taste of Gods goodnesse communicated to us in every one of his Creatures The dividing of the waters from the waters which is conceived to be one use of the Ayre is a work worth the scanning especially if by the waters above we understand the clouds vvhich contain the rain which is raised in thin vapours and consequently severed thereby from the waters below and carried about over our heads and let down upon the Earth without which a great part of it would be utterly unfruitfull for God having gathered the water here below into one Chanel that the Earth might be dry and by that means habitable howsoever in his Wisdom and Providence he hath so ordered it that waters issuing out from the Seas by secret passages and breaking out into Fountaines and Rivers may thereby make fruitfull the vallies and lower parts of the Earth yet we know they reach not to the higher grounds much lesse to the tops of the hills It was therefore needful that some water should be carried on high above the hills and higher grounds that from thence they might distil and fall down in just showers upon the mountaines and higher places of the Earth to moisten them too that no part thereof might remain barrain and unprofitable and might thereby further manifest the care and Providence of God in cherishing those parts from Heaven which seem to be most unprovided and in a sort neglected in the constitution of the World and the several parts thereof Thus Moses affirmes that Gods Eyes and Care were more for Canaan then for Egypt because that was overflowed by waters below which might be carried hither and thither by the industry of men to make their grounds fruitful but Canaan was watered from Heaven with seasonable rains Deut. 11.10 11 12. Whereupon the Prophet taxeth the Jewes of great unthankfulnesse for not fearing God that gave them rain from Heaven the former and the later and thereby brought about the appointed weeks of harvest Jer. 5.24 So this division of the waters must needs be acknowledged to be a speciall work of Gods Wisdome disposing them so as they might be most useful to the Earth Whence 3. Observe God so orders all things as they may best serve for use Observ 3 THus in the Creation he drevv the waters into their Channels that the earth being by that means left dry might be fit for habitation compassed the earth with the Heavens that they might cherish every part thereof with their influence hath so ordered the course of the Suune that it might successively give light and heat unto the World Set herbs and plants on the upper face of the earth that they might be at hand for the food of men and beasts In our bodies he hath set our eyes on high as it were in a Watch-tower our feet below to support and carry the whole body our hands in the middest that they might be usefull and serviceable to every part and the like And the same order we may easily see he observes in the whole course of his Providence Reason 1. His Wisdom and goodnesse which together both moved and enabled him to dispose of all things for use and profit which is not the least part of his honour 2. Gods end in all his works was to make all for use and service for the mutual support of Creatures one by another that they might be all knit together in a straight band of Love grounded upon or strengthened by the mutuall help and supply which they have one from another without which they could not subsist Let it quiet all mens hearts which are so apt to quarrel at the distribution of the Commodities of the Earth the division of mens habitations and disposition of their estates which howsoever we conceive out of a partiall respect to our selves to be full of ertour and inequality yet we shall find upon due examination to be equall and just directed by the Wisdom of God to the send for which all things were made the honour of himselfe and the general good of his Creatures It should indeed silence all our murmurings that God may do with his own what he will and if we understand not in every particular how he hath done things well let us in modesty blame our own ignorance who cannot search into the depth of his counsels whose waies are past finding out Rom. 11.33 2. Let it move us to dispose of our selves as we may be most serviceable to others and employ our abilities and means to the good of others as having received whatsoever we have for that end The Creation and Use of the Firmament we have seen the matter whereof could be none other then that which was taken out of that rude and confused masse which before was described to be without shape or form out of that deformed and mishapen heap were taken those glorious bodies of the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars the beauty whereof we now behold with so much admiration Whence 4. Observe God can put beauty and excellency on the basest things that are and raise Earth to Heaven if He please Observ 4 THis is clearly manifested by the shapes of all Creatures which are all of them comely in their kinds and yet all of them deformed and base in their Originals as all experience shewes not man himself excepted although created after Gods own Image Thus God puts beauty upon his Church which he found weltring in her blood cast out to the contempt of her person Ezek. 16.14 Reason 1. God hath all beauty and excellency in himself and therefore can easily bestow it where he pleaseth even where it is not 2. He delights to do it that no flesh might glory but the
with Him And let it not discourage us that the work goes so slowly on and receives many interruptions God is pleased to make us sensible of the difficulty of the work that when it is perfected as it shall be hereafter we might not onely honour him Alone but withal Honour him as a God able to do all things even those which surmount our hope and expectation 2. Let all that are Godly imitate God striving earnestly to go on to perfection both in knowledge Heb. 6.17 and in every Grace 2 Pet. 1.5.6 For which end God hath furnished us with sufficient means 2 Tim. 3.17 Even that we might be perfect in our measure As our heavenly Father is perfect Matth. 5.48 How God by gathering the waters into their Channels had drained the Earth and made it habitable and presently furnished it with herbs and plants as soon as it was capable of them we have seen already In like manner he deales with the waters as soon as he hath gathered them together he takes order that they also shall be furnished with their Inhabitants Whence 2. Observe God leaves nothing Empty that he hath made but furnisheth all with his Store and riches Observ 2 THus when he had created the Heavens he furnished them with stars the Ayre with Birds the waters with Fishes and the Earth first with herbs and Plants and afterwards with beasts and men so that the Earth is full of his riches and so is the wide Sea Psal 104.24 25. The reason whereof is thereby to manifest both his All-sufficiency and withal the riches of his bounty 1. And will God then leave his Children empty the vessells which he hath formed for himself will God stock the whole world and not stock his own Garden hath God given his children hearts capable of Grace and will he leave them barrain and empty of Grace Surely the time will come shortly that every vessell shall be filled and in the mean time we shall not be utterly left empty and naked 2. Let men be ashamed that delight in empty houses or lands unpeopled that they may dwell alone Isa 5.8.1 Houses were made for habitation and Lands for Culture and it is a fearfull plague threatned by God Himself to leave both without inhabitants 2. It is our shame to cause desolations and discovers not onely our weaknesse as it doth Gods sufficiency that he leaves all things full but besides a disposition crosse to God in the course of his Providence to labour to make that empty which he hath ordained to be replenished In casting our eyes upon that infinite variety of all the works of Gods Hands we cannot but admire his infinite Power to work all things in All and out of All. If there be Nothing at all he makes something if there be something be it never so deformed and confused be the nature of it what it will God makes out of it what he pleaseth The glorious Heavens and the Stars therein all out of that rude lump living plants and herbs and fishes with life and motion out of the dead Sea and Earth so that nothing is hard to him which he purposeth to do VVhence 3. Observe God works all things out of all things and in all things according to his good pleasure Observ 3 EVen whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven in Earth and in all deeps Psal 135.6 All in all 1 Cor. 12.6 Is any thing too hard for the Lord Gen. 18.14 It must needs be granted that if he be Almighty it is easy for him who hath made all things and that out of nothing and hath still the same power in his hand to make what and when and where he will seeing He hath nothing to limit his power but his own will 1. Let men depend upon him at all times and in all places for all things He is the God of the Mountaines as well as of the Vallies 1 King 20.28 He can provide bread for his People in the Wildernesse as well as by the flesh pots of Egypt water in Horeb as well as in Elim Nay flesh in the Wildernesse without herds or flocks Numb 11. Only trust in him at all times Psal 62.8 and do good Psal 37.3 and then thou shalt be fed assuredly 2. Let us take notice of the weaknesse of mens power in comparison of Gods Their skill reacheth every mans to the work of his own hand One plants Vinyards another sowes Corn another feeds Cattail as Cain and Abel did and others are able to work the works of their own trade But God alone doth all things Himself and by his own Power Iob. 42.2 Now if a man were able to do all things he cannot do all things every where he cannot make all things out of Nothing as God hath done It is worth our consideration that God hath not onely Created such Variety of works of sundry sorts but he hath fitted them to places answerable to their natures the Fishes to the Sea and the Birds to the Ayre as he doth afterwards dispose of the beasts uppon the Earth Whence 4. Observe God disposeth all Creatures in such places as are most convenient and agreeable unto them Observ 4 THus he fixeth the Stars in the Heavens carries the Clouds in the Ayre appoints the waters for the Fishes and the Earth for Beasts and men And amongst men fits the Ayre and soil where they are bred diversly according to the temper of their bodies and that as to make their dwellings delightfull and pleasant to them so to make them thereby the more usefull by the preservation of their health therein Let the Consideration of our disposition and temper of our hearts direct us in the choice of the places of our abode What should fishes do on dry land Or beasts of the Earth in the midst of the Sea David in Mesech Psal 120.5 The plants of the House of God can flourish no where but in the Courts of God Psal 92.13 God indeed can support and preserve Iacob in Idolatrous Labans House Ioseph in Egypt Elijah in Zarephath Saint John in Patmos if he call or send them thither only we are to feel some unquietnesse in such places as David did Psal 120.5 And to long for our own dwellings with Jacob Gen. 28.21 Above all for heaven prepared for us Joh. 14.2 2. Let it Comfort our hearts in the expectation of those heavenly Habitations unto which God hath designed us and for which he will fit us with bodies and minds answerable thereunto Heavenly and Holy according to his promise Eph. 5.27 1 Cor. 15.49 Onely for the present he cloaths us with earthly Tabernacles fitted to the Earth in which we dwell and Spirits both Earthly and sensuall in a great part according to the Condition both of our estate and place in which he hath thought fit to continue us for a while The first Creatures that received breath and life of all that God had made were the Fishes and the Birds and they received it as we