earth from God himself, we know not how; and that when the sun, moon, and stars were made, this light was annihilated again, as being no longer useful.

In the new creation, the first thing that God works in the soul in conversion is-light. The soul, by nature, is a dark soul; but when grace comes, light comes; for wherever the Spirit is, he is an enlightening Spirit. This work is easy to almighty power; 'tis but God's saying, Let there be light in such a soul, and there will be light; and though this light be small at first, yet it is growing. Prov. iv. 18.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

The light certainly is good;-good in itself, and good for the end that it was made for. 'Tis necessary not only to the comfort of life, but even to life itself. What a dismal dungeon would the world be without it!

God divided the light from the darkness. Hitherto there had been nothing but darkness, and now God doth not take it out of the world, because it is in some respects useful; but divided betwixt it and its contrary, allotting part for light, and part for darkness; wherein doth marvellously appear the wisdom of God, particularly in this, that their allotments were

equal; all parts of the world enjoying in the year as much day as night, and as much night as day, counting day and night by the rising and setting of the sun; so that where they have for one half of the year all night and no day, they have for the other half all day and no night. This division which God made between light and darkness, was and continues to be an irreconcileable division. What fellowship hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. vi. 14. None at all: they are directly opposite; for what God hath put asunder, no man can join together. Ps. civ. 20, 22. Gen. viii. 22. And certainly the mutual succession of day and night does plainly manifest the power, wisdom, and goodness of that God that ordered it so. Ps. xix. 2. To that covenant which God hath made of the day and of the night, that neither should lose its share and proportion in time, is the covenant of grace compared, for its firmness and stability. Jer. xxxiii. 20.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

God, having distinguished the light and the darkness in their natures, next distinguishes them in their

names. One way to keep up division, (a thing which Christians should abhor the thought of,) is to impose and keep up names of division.

And the evening and the morning were the first day. Here we have both the parts of a natural day; the evening, that is, all the night from the setting to the rising of the sun; (though that was not then the meaning) and the morning, that is, all the day from the sun-rising to the sun-setting. The evening is put first, because darkness was before light; and this darkness is supposed to last twelve hours, which is the length of the night at the Equinox. For this reason the Jews begin their day at sun-setting, and for the same reason some think we should then begin the sabbath-day; because, say they, the evening and the morning being the first day then, why should not the evening and the morning be the first day, (the Christian sabbath) now? But the resurrection of Christ being early in the morning, and the custom of our country beginning other days at midnight, are satisfactory enough on the other hand.

The first day-Heb. one day. Well, here was one day's work, the making of the light, which was more than all the men on earth, or all the angels in heaven, could do in millions of years. Let us bless God for the light, and make sure a place in the inheritance of the saints in light.

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it

was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

On the second day the firmament was made, concerning which observe, (1.) The decree or command of God concerning it; let there be a firmament. By the firmament is meant all that which is between the earth and the third heavens; also the several orbs of heaven, the spheres of the seven planets, and the sphere of the fixed stars. The sphere of the stars is expressly called the firmament of heaven, ver. 14, 15. The firmament was made, like the light, by a word's speaking, power going along with that word. Though the English word firmament signifies the stability and firmness of it, for He hath established them for ever, Ps. cxlviii. 6. Prov. viii.

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28; yet the Hebrew word signifies the stretching of it out, (Job xxxviii. 18. Isa. xlii. 5. Jer. x. 12,) as gold or silver is expanded by beating, or as a curtain is stretched when it is drawn out. Ps. civ. 2. Isa. xl. 22. (2.) The place of it, in the midst of the waters; that is, to be (part of it at least) the receptacle of those waters that are over our heads. Job xxvi. 8. Ps. cxxxv. 7. (3.) The end of it; to divide the waters which are under the firmament from the waters which are above the firmament. What waters are under the firmament we know very well; but as to those waters which are above the firmament we are at a loss. Ps. cxlviii. 4. Some understand by them the watery clouds from which comes the rain, and which the lower region of the air doth divide from us, and is as it were a wall, (though one would think it were but a slender one,) to keep them from overwhelming and burying us. (4.) The making of it. Lest it might seem as if God had only commanded it to be done, and some one else had done it, it is added, and God made the firmament; and it is curiously and wonderfully formed, and therefore said to be the work of God's fingers. Psal. viii. 3. Note: What God commands us to do, he himself helps us to do; nay, he works in us both to will and to do, that himself may have all the glory. Isa. xxvi. 12. Philip. ii. 13.