pleased. Notice the beginning of the kingdom of grace, in the sanctification, or keeping holy, of
the sabbath day. The solemn observing of one day in seven as a day of holy rest and holy work, to
God's honour, is the duty of all to whom God has made known his holy sabbaths. At this time none
of the human race were in being but our first parents. For them the sabbath was appointed; and
clearly for all succeeding generations also. The Christian sabbath, which we observe, is a seventh
day, and in it we celebrate the rest of God the Son, and the finishing the work of our redemption.
Verses 4–7
Here is a name given to the Creator, “Jehovah.” Where the word “LORD” is printed in capital
letters in our English Bibles, in the original it is “Jehovah.” Jehovah is that name of God, which
denotes that he alone has his being of himself, and that he gives being to all creatures and things.
Further notice is taken of plants and herbs, because they were made and appointed to be food for
man. The earth did not bring forth its fruits of itself: this was done by Almighty power. Thus grace
in the soul grows not of itself in nature's soil, but is the work of God. Rain also is the gift of God;
it came not till the Lord God caused it. Though God works by means, yet when he pleases he can
do his own work without them; and though we must not tempt God in the neglect of means, we
must trust God, both in the use and in the want of means. Some way or other, God will water the
plants of his own planting. Divine grace comes down like the dew, and waters the church without
noise. Man was made of the small dust, such as is on the surface of the earth. The soul was not
made of the earth, as the body: pity then that it should cleave to the earth, and mind earthly things.
To God we must shortly give an account, how we have employed these souls; and if it be found
that we have lost them, though it were to gain the world, we are undone for ever! Fools despise
their own souls, by caring for their bodies before their souls.
Verses 8–14
The place fixed upon for Adam to dwell in, was not a palace, but a garden. The better we take
up with plain things, and the less we seek things to gratify pride and luxury, the nearer we approach
to innocency. Nature is content with a little, and that which is most natural; grace with less; but
lust craves every thing, and is content with nothing. No delights can be satisfying to the soul, but
those which God himself has provided and appointed for it. Eden signifies delight and pleasure.
Wherever it was, it had all desirable conveniences, without any inconvenience, though no other
house or garden on earth ever was so. It was adorned with every tree pleasant to the sight, and
enriched with every tree that yielded fruit grateful to the taste and good for food. God, as a tender
Father, desired not only Adam's profit, but his pleasure; for there is pleasure with innocency, nay
there is true pleasure only in innocency. When Providence puts us in a place of plenty and pleasure,
we ought to serve God with gladness of heart in the good things he gives us. Eden had two trees
peculiar to itself. 1. There was the tree of life in the midst of the garden. Of this man might eat and
live. Christ is now to us the Tree of life, Re 2:7; 22:2; and the Bread of life, Joh 6:48, 51. 2. There
was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so called because there was a positive revelation
of the will of God about this tree, so that by it man might know moral good and evil. What is good?
It is good not to eat of this tree. What is evil? It is evil to eat of this tree. In these two trees God set
before Adam good and evil, the blessing and the curse.