The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 5 (of 6) — Key Ideas to Explore

OD, notwithstanding, punished _Adam_ for hearkning to the voice of his wife, so he will punish those who hearken to the dictates of their corrupt inclinations: For GOD compels no man to sin. _Adam_ might have withstood the solicitations of his wife, if he would. And so, if we look up to GOD, we should find grace to help in the time of need. The devil and our own hearts tempt, but they cannot force us to consent, without the concurrence of our own wills. So that our damnation is of ourselves, as it will evidently appear at the great day, notwithstanding all mens present impudent replies against GOD. As _Adam_ speaks insolently in respect to GOD, so he speaks with enmity against his wife; the woman, or this woman, she gave me. He lays all the fault upon her, and speaks of her with much contempt. He does not say, my wife, my dear wife; but, _this woman_. Sin disunites the most united hearts: it is the bane of holy fellowship. Those who have been companions in sin here, if they die without repentance, will both hate and condemn one another hereafter. All damned souls are accusers of their brethren. Thus it is, in some degree, on this side the grave. “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” What a disingenuous speech was here! He makes use of no less than fifteen words to excuse himself, and but one or two (in the original) to confess his fault, if it may be called a confession at all. “The woman which thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree;” here are fifteen words; “And I did eat.” With what reluctance do these last words come out? How soon are they uttered? “And I did eat.” But thus it is with an unhumbled, unregenerate heart: It will be laying the fault upon the dearest friend in the world, nay, upon GOD himself, rather than take shame to itself. This pride we are all subject to by the fall; and, till our hearts are broken, and made contrite by the spirit of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, we shall be always charging GOD foolishly. “Against thee, and thee only, have I sinned, that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged,” is the language of none but those, who, like _David_, are willing to confess their faults, and are truly sorry for their sins. This was not the case of _Adam_: his heart was not broken; and therefore he lays the fault of his disobedience upon his wife and GOD, and not upon himself; “The woman which thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

Verse 13. “And the LORD GOD said, What is this that thou hast done?” What a wonderful concern does GOD express in this expostulation! “What a deluge of misery hast thou brought upon thyself, thy husband, and thy posterity? What is this that thou hast done? Disobeyed thy GOD, obeyed the devil, and ruined thy husband, for whom I made thee to be an help-meet! What is this that thou hast done?” GOD would here awaken her to a sense of her crime and danger, and therefore, as it were, thunders in her ears: for the law must be preached to self-righteous sinners. We must take care of healing before we see sinners wounded, lest we should say, Peace, peace, where there is no peace. Secure sinners must hear the thunderings of mount _Sinai_, before we bring them to mount _Sion_. They who never preach up the law, it is to be feared, are unskilful in delivering the glad tidings of the gospel. Every minister should be a _Boanerges_, a son of thunder, as well as a _Barnabas_, a son of consolation. There was an earthquake and a whirlwind, before the small still voice came to _Elijah_: We must first shew people they are condemned, and then shew them how they must be saved. But how and when to preach the law, and when to apply the promises of the gospel, wisdom is profitable to direct. “And the LORD GOD said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?”