An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

Unless man, as to his body, were of the dust when he began to live, he could not be said to return unto dust when he dyeth, or departs this life. Many men pore upon their pedigree, and heir minds swell with pride, because they are of such or such a noble descent; but let them remember, man is of the dust. The soul or spirit of man is indeed from above, as was showed before; and the body of man is (I grant) a compound of all the four Elements. Our bodily spirits (say Naturalists) are of the fire, our breath of the air, our blood of the water, and our flesh and bones are most properly of the dust of the earth; yet the whole body of man is denominated dust or earth, or as the Apostle stileth it (2 Cor: 5.1.) 'Tis an earthly house; If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved. For though we may truly say, there is water, and air, and fire in this house, yet because earth is the predominant Element, the whole body bears the denomination of that. God is not said to form man of the water, or air, or fire, but of the dust of the ground (Gen: 2.7.) though all those as well as earth were ingredients in the composition and formation of mans body. As man with respect to his spirituals and morals, is denominated from that which is chief in him, so with respect to his naturals. Every man hath the seeds and principles of all sin in him, yet many men are known and expressed by some special sin. Thus one is called a covetous man, another a malicious man, &c. because covetousness and malice are their predominant sins in practice, though the principles of all other sins are in them. ⟨p. 599⟩So for grace, one is said to be a patient man, and another an humble man, and a third, a self-denying man. Though where any grace is all graces are, yet a godly man is known by that grace which acts most eminently and vigorously in him. In this notion man is said to be of the dust, and to return to dust, as if he were nothing but dust, because dust is the predominant Element in the natural constitution of man.

Unlesse man, as to his body, were of the dust when he began to live, he could not be sayd to returne unto dust when he dyeth, or departs this life. Many men pore upon their pedegree, and heir minds swel with pride, because they are of such or such a noble descent; but let them remember, man is of the dust. The soule or spirit of man is indeed from above, as was shewed before; and the body of man is (I grant) a compound of all the foure Elements. Our bodyly spirits (say Naturalists) are of the fire, our breath of the ayre, our blood of the water, and our flesh and bones are most properly of the dust of the earth; yet the whole body of man is denominated dust or earth, or as the Apostle stileth it (2 Cor: 5.1.) 'Tis an earthly house; If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved. For though we may truely say, there is water, and ayre, and fire in this house, yet because earth is the predominant Element, the whole body beares the denomination of that. God is not sayd to forme man of the water, or ayre, or fire, but of the dust of the ground (Gen: 2.7.) though all those as well as earth were ingredients in the composition and formation of mans body. As man with respect to his spiritualls and moralls, is denominated from that which is chief in him, so with respect to his naturalls. Every man hath the seeds and principles of all sin in him, yet many men are knowne and expressed by some speciall sin. Thus one is called a covetous man, another a malicious man, &c. because covetousnesse and malice are their predominant sins in practice, though the principles of all other sins are in them.