Copeland, Mr. senior, Ditto Coles, Mr. John, Banbury Douglas, Rev. A. Reading Dryland, Rev. Wm., Speen-(2 copies) Dyer, Miss, Speen Deane, Mr. Ditto Deane, Mr. T. Newbury Elliott, Rev. R, Devizes Evans, Mr. B, Abingdon Frost, Rev. R. Hungerford French, P. W. Esq. Reading Frankum, Mr. Ditto Fairbrother, Mr. Abingdon Ferguson, Mr. T. Newcastle-on Green, Mrs. Newbury Greathead, Mr., Reading Harris, Rev. W., Wallingford Howes, Rev. J., Goring Hoggard, Mr., Reading Hanson, Miss, Ditto Heathcock, Mr. Ditto, Surgeon Johnson, Rev. Mr., Speen Jacques, Mr., Ditto Julian, Miss, Newbury Tyne Jackson, Mr. G., Abingdon Graham, Fuller, Esq. Newbury-(2 Keyworth, Rev. T., Wantage copies) Grainger, Mr. Ditto Kershaw, Rev. J., Abingdon Keates, Miss, Ditto Terry, Rev. Mr. Princes Risboro' Thompson, Mr. M., Newcastle-onTyne Vaizey, John, Esq., Thatcham Vaizey, G. D. H. Esq. Halsted, Essex Vaizey, Miss, ditto Vines, Mr. J., Brimpton Wilkins, Rev. W., Abingdon Wood, G. J. Esq., Upway, Dorset LECTURE I. The Creation of Man. therefore a very GEN. v. 1, 2, informs us that In the day that God created man,' (in which term are included both Adam and Eve)' male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, the day when they were created.' My text is Adam: the name given by their Almighty Creator, to our first parents, more usually appropriated in the Scriptures to the first man. This term Adam likewise signifies earth; it was suitable name for man, who was formed of the dust of the ground.' There are, it is true, learned men who derive this name from a Hebrew word of a different signification, and who tell us that the first man was therefore called Adam, because he was created in the image of God; the phraseology however of Gen. ii. 7, seems decisive in favour of the interpretation we have adopted. But it is not particularly with the derivation of the word we have to do on the present occasion, the text being chosen with a view, in a few plain discourses, to consider certain peculiarly important and interesting dispensations of the Almighty with the first man, and B with ourselves considered in him. design. How far success may smile Such is my upon the en deavour rightly to discuss the subjects which lie before us, I know not, but certain I am, that the design itself will be approved by all who are competent judges of such matters, and who know how desirable it is that christian instruction should be afforded on a scale sufficiently extensive to embrace whatever it has pleased the most wise and blessed God to reveal. Moreover, it is to be hoped, that none of us need to be informed, although, possibly, some may require to be reminded, that wilful ignorance of God's ways to man (as implying a want of due regard for himself) is a sin. Hence we read Psalm xxviii. 5.- Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.'* On the other hand, to acquaint ourselves with God and his dispensations, is represented in the Holy Scriptures as commendable, thus Psa. cxi. 2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.' Those persons, theremet with, are clearly fore, and they are oft to be in the wrong, who would have ministers pass over no inconsiderable portion of revealed truth, and dwell almost entirely on subjects which, however important, were never intended to supplant others, still less to be made to encourage mental indolence, or feelings, possibly, of a still more objectionable character. In a word, our duty it is, and the rather Job xxxiv. 27. Isa. v. 12. |
