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I. WHEN THIS DELIVERY OF THE CREATURES IS COME TO PASS. God, that has appointed a set time for everything, has also appointed the time for this, viz., at the end of the world (vers. 19, 21; Revelation 20:11; 2 Peter 3:10, 13).

II. WHAT DELIVERY THE WORLD SHALL THEN GET. The creature conceived vanity and misery from. the time of Adam's sin, then they shall be delivered of that burden (vers. 20, 21).

1. They shall fully answer their end, viz, God's glory. and if He design any benefit to man by them they shall not be plagued by vanity therein. (ver. 20; 2 Peter 3:13).

2. They shall be freed from all that evil that cleaves to their nature now by reason of man's sin. For now they have undergone a sad alteration, but then they shall undergo another (Psalm 102:26; Revelation 21:1).

3. They shall no more be abused by sinners (vers. 21).

4. They shall serve God's enemies no longer. Their long captivity shall then be at an end (ver. 21). Then they shall bid an eternal farewell to the masters they served so long against their will.

5. All their misery, brought on them by man's sin, shall then be at an end. They have shared long with man in his plagues, but then they will get the burden off their back (ver. 21). As to the way this shall be brought to pass the Scriptures are clear —

(1) That the world shall go all up in flames at the last day (2 Peter 3:7).

(2) That upon the back of this conflagration there shall be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). The fire shall not annihilate, but only purge the metal from dross.

III. CONFIRM THE DOCTRINE OF THE CREATURES' DELIVERY. As to this, consider:

1. That the great day is the day of the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21).

2. That our Lord Jesus is the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2). God gave Adam the great estate of the world. But, rebelling against God, his estate was forfeited, because it depended on his good behaviour. The Second Adam coming in his room, the forfeited estate is made over to him (Psalm 8:5-7; Hebrews 2:6-9). As Jesus Christ has a right to all the elect, though some of them are yet under the power of sin, but Christ at that day will recover them; so the creatures yet in the hand of His enemies, He will then restore, seeing they are all His by His Father's gift (Acts 3:21).

3. That all the effects of the curse are to be gathered together, and confined for ever with the wicked in the lake (Revelation 20:14, 15). The creatures' share of them, which makes them groan now, shall then be taken off, and they for ever made free.

IV. IMPROVEMENT.

1. In a use of information. This teaches us —

(1) That every wicked man shall at length get all his own burden to bear himself alone. Many a one takes a light lift because there are so many to bear a share of it. But remember, O impenitent sinner, the day is coming when the creature shall escape, and leave thee in the lurch for all.

(2) That people had need to take heed how they use the creatures while they have them. The day of their freedom is approaching. Let us not abuse them to the service of our lusts, lest they witness against us at last.

(3) That this world, and what is therein, passeth away (1 John 2:17). What marvel is it that man dies, seeing he lives by deaths; but this bondage of the creatures will not continue, and God will support the life of man another way in eternity.

(4) What glorious things will be the new heaven and the new earth! If they be so glorious, even while so far unmade by sin, how great must their glory be when they are again new made!

(5) However large a share the wicked may have here, they will have neither part nor lot in them (2 Peter 3:13).

2. On use of terror to the wicked.

(1) The misery that lies on any creature for thy sake, shall be taken off it, and laid on thee thyself.

(2) As thou wilt be deserted of God, so thou wilt be deserted of the creatures in thy misery (Isaiah 8:21, 22).

3. On use of comfort to the serious and godly, who notice the groans of the creatures under sin, and join their own groanings with theirs.

(1) The mournful spectacle of the creatures which you see to-day, if that day were come, ye shall see no more for ever. The day is coming when they will groan no more; nor shall you need to groan for them.

(2) If that day were come ye shall also be delivered. You shall groan no more under your own burdens (John 16:20; 1 John 3:2).

(T. Boston, D.D.)

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KJV: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

WEB: For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.