NATURE. In Scripture Stile the Word Nature is used for the natural Course of Things established in the World. For Example, Judg. xix. 24. Rom. i. 26.a Crime is said to be against Nature, because it is contrary to the Method establish’d by the Creator, for the Propagation of Mankind. Obsecro ne scelus hoc contra Naturam operemini in virum. And St. Paul Rom. xi. 24.says, to ingraft a good Olive-Tree into a wild Olive, is contrary to Nature, or the settled Order of Nature is thereby in some Gal. ii. 15. Eph. ii. 3.measure violated and inverted.
Nature is also put for birth. We who are Jews by Nature; that is, Jews by birth, and not Gentiles. And to the Ephesians; We were by Nature the Children of Wrath.
Nature also denotes common Sense, natural Instinct, the Light which God imparts to all at their Creation. Doth not even Nature 1 Cor. xi. 14.it self teach you, that if a Man have long Hair, it is a Shame to him?
The Nature of Animals is whereby they are distinguished from other Creatures, and from one another. Every Nature of Beasts, Birds, Serpents and other Animals, has been James iii. 7.tamed and subdued by human Nature.
St. Peter informs us, that Jesus Christ 2 Pet. i. 4.has made us Partakers of the divine Nature; he has merited for us the Character of Children of God, by the Assistance of his Grace, he has made us capable of eternal Happiness.