The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venning(2) The creation witnesses against sin with respect to God and manIt teaches man many duties and it convinces him of many a sin.a. The creatures teach man his duty. They do so in general as well as showing himmany special duties. In their courses and places they all praise God and fulfil hisword, as you may read in Scripture (Psalm 148.8; Revelation 5.13). And nocreatures, except the fallen angels and man, ever transgressed the law ordisobeyed the word of their Creator. They are such good servants that when Godbids them go they go, when he bids them come they come, when he bids them dothis they do it. By this they teach man to do what God bids him, and what a sinfulthing it is to break his law and to disobey his word. The creatures cry shame on uswhen we sin; they do this in several particular ways:(i) They teach man dependence upon God. They depend on God and teach man todo so too. It is as our Saviour says, Take no anxious and soul-disturbing thoughtfor your livelihood, but learn of the fowls of the air and lilies of the field, to trustGod (Matthew 6.25-34).(ii) They teach man to pray. They call upon man to call upon God. For they cry toGod and observe their morning prayer before they break their fast. The ravens donot forget it: 'He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry'(Psalm 147.9). This cry is made to God, 'who provideth for the raven his food;when his young ones cry unto God they wander for lack of meat' (Job 38.41). Theyare no sooner hatched but they cry unto God. All the creatures do the same. 'Thesewait all upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in due season' (Psalm104.27). Indeed, beside their waiting they petition as well: 'Thou openest thinehand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing' (Psalm I45.16). Now if you area prayerless or distrustful person these creatures witness against your sin, for theyteach you to pray and trust.(iii) They teach us to be weary of the bondage of corruption. They are weary of it;they groan under it. And will ye not cry out, O wretch that I am, who shall deliverme from this bondage of corruption and this body of death! If not, the creaturewitnesses against you and teaches you to wait and long for a better state, and tolong for the glorious liberty of the Sons of God.(iv) The creatures teach us to be fruitful. They teach us to repay the trust andcharges that God bestows on us. The earth which drinketh in the rain which comethoft upon it, bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed (Hebrews6.7 with Isaiah 55.10). The ox knows his owner and the ass his master's crib(Isaiah I.3). The flock feeds the shepherd (1 Corinthians 9.7). If you then arebarren and unfruitful, your gardens and your fields will rebuke you. If you aredisobedient, your ox and your ass will upbraid you. God himself appeals to heavenand earth against you (Deuteronomy 32.I; Isaiah 1.2).b. The creatures convince men of many sins, as well as teaching them many duties.In both respects they are schoolmasters to man. The way in which we now use thecreatures bear witness against sin. When we eat flesh we do so, for there was no75