1. In his preparation. Other creatures received the character of their beings by a simple fiat; but there was a consultation at his forming; not for the difficulty, but for the dignity of the work. The painter is most studious about that which he intends to make his master-piece. The four elements were taken out of their elements to make up the perfection of man’s complexion: the fire was purified, the earth was refined. When man was moulded, heaven and earth was married; a body from the one was espoused to a soul from the other. 2. In his assimilation. Other creatures were made like themselves, but man was made like God, as the wax hath the impression of the seal upon it. It is admirable to behold so fair a picture in such coarse canvas, and so bright a character in so brown paper. 3. In his coronation. He that made man, and all the rest, made man over all the rest; he was a little lord of a great lordship: this king was crowned in his craddle. 4. In his association. Society is the solace of humanity; the world would be a desert, without a comfort. Most of man’s parts are made in pairs; now he that was double in his perfection, must not be single in his condition. _And the Lord said, &c._ These words are like the iron gate that opened to Peter of its own accord, dividing themselves into three parts:-- 1. An Introduction: _And the Lord God said_. 2. An Assertion: _It is not good that man should be alone_. 3. A Determination: _I will make an help-meet for him_. In the first there is a majesty proposed. In the second there is a malady presented. In the third there is a remedy provided. Once more let me put these grapes into the press. 1. The sovereignness of the expression: _And the Lord God said_. 2. The solitaryness of the condition: _It is not good, &c._ 3. The suitableness of the provision; _I will make, &c._ In the first there is the worth of veracity. In the second, there is the want of society. In the third, there is the work of divinity. Of these in their order. And first of the first. 1. The sovereignness of the expression: _And the Lord God said, &c._ Luke i. 70. “As he spoke by the mouths of his prophets.” In other scriptures he used their mouths, but in this instance he makes use of his own; they were the organs, and he the breath; they the streams, and he the fountain. How he spake, it is hard to determine: whether eternally, internally, or externally. We are not to inquire into the manner of speaking, but into the matter that is spoken; which leads me, like a directing star, from the suburbs to the city, from the porch to the palace, from the founder of the mine, to the treasure that is in it: _It is not good, &c._ In which we have two things:-- 1. The Subject. 2. The Predicate. The subject, _Man alone_. The predicate, _It is not good, &c._ 1. The subject, _Man alone_. Take this in two branches. 1. As it is limited to one man. 2. As it is lengthened to all men.