Gods commandment concerning the trees, was ordained to make examination, and trial of mans obedience. It consisteth of two parts: the first, is the giving of the tree of life, that as a sign, it might confirm to man his perpetual abode in the garden of Eden, if still he persisted in his obedience. R•uel. 2. 7. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of Paradise of God. Prov. 3.18. She is a tree of life to them which lay hold on her: and blessed is he that retaineth her. The second, is the prohibition to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, together with a commination of temporal and eternal death, after the transgression of this commandment. Gen. 2.17. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death. This was a sign of death, and had his name of the event, because the observation thereof would have brought perpetual happiness, as the violation gave experience of evil, that is, of all misery, namely of punishment, and of guiltiness of sin.
Gods commandment concerning the observation of the Sabbath, is that, by which God ordained the sanctification of the Sabbath. Gen. 2.3. God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.
V. His calling, which is his service of God, in the observation of his commandments, & the dressing of the garden of Eden. Prov. 16.4. God made all things for himself. Gen. 2.15. He placed him in the garden of Eden, to dress and keep it.
VI. His diet was the herbs of the earth, and fruit of every tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 1.29. And God said, Behold, I have given unto you every herb bearing seed, which is upon all the earth, and every tree, wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed, that shall be to you for meat. and chap. 3.17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat.
VII. His free choice, both to will, and perform the commandment concerning the two trees, and also to neglect and violate the same. Whereby we see that our first parents were indeed created perfect, but mutable: for so it pleased God to prepare a way to the execution of his decree.
Gods commandement concerning the trees, was ordained to make examination, and triall of mans obedience. It consisteth of two parts: the first, is the giuing of the tree of life, that as a signe, it might confirme to man his perpetuall abode in the garden of Heden, if stil he persisted in his obedience. R•uel. 2. 7. To him that ouercōmeth, will I giue to eate of the tree of life, which is in the midst of Paradise of God. Prov. 3.18. Shee is a tree of life to them which lay hold on her: and blessed is he that retaineth her. The second, is the prohibition to eate of the tree of the knowledge of good and euil, togither with a commination of temporall and eternall death, after the transgression of this commandement. Gen. 2.17. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt not eate of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death. This was a signe of death, and had his name of the euent, because the obseruation thereof would haue brought perpetuall happines, as the violation gaue experience of euill, that is, of all miserie, namely of punishment, and of guiltinesse of sinne.
Gods commandement concerning the obseruation of the Sabboth, is that, by which God ordained the sanctification of the Sabboth. Gen. 2.3. God blessed the seauenth day, and sanctified it.
V. His calling, which is his seruice of God, in the obseruation of his commandements, & the dressing of the garden of Heden. Prov. 16.4. God made all things for himselfe. Gen. 2.15. He placed him in the garden of Heden, to dresse and keepe it.
VI. His diet was the hearbs of the earth, and fruit of euery tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and euill. Gen. 1.29. And God said, Behold, I haue giuen vnto you euery hearb bearing seede, which is vpon all the earth, and euery tree, wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seede, that shall be to you for meate. and chap. 3.17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt not eate.
VII. His free choice, both to will, and performe the commandement concerning the two trees, and also to neglect and violate the same. Whereby we see that our first parents were indeede created perfect, but mutable: for so it pleased God to prepare a way to the execution of his decree.
