Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 14
VERSE. 14.
LEt there be Lights in the Firmament] They that conceive, that the Sun, Moon, and Stars were made the Firſt day, becauſe otherwiſe there could have been no diſtinction of Day and Night, as we ſee there was; and thereupon conceive, that in theſe verſes, there is related only the fixing of them to their places, it ſeems never well conſidered the letter of the Text. For Moſes doth not ſay here, Let the Lights be in the Firmament, as pointing at the diſpoſing of that which was before; but, Let Lights be, as Creating now that which was not at all. Again, there is ſomething more conſiderable in this expreſſion, which differs from the decree of Creating herbs and plants. There God ſaith, Let the Earth bring forth, which words import a fructifying power given to the Earth, to bring them forth both at preſent, and for continuance. Here he ſaith only, Let there be Lights; not, Let the heaven bring forth Lights, ſeeing there needed no new generation of Lights, which are not ſubject to Corruption.
Lights] The word muſt be taken in an Active ſignifi…ation, implying, that they were not only to have, but to g… Light. It muſt be chiefly underſtood of the Sun, which hath Light in it ſelf, and diffuſeth unto the Moon and Stars the moſt part of that Light which they have and conveigh unto the earth.
In the Firmament] The place where theſe Lights were fixed; whether it be the Ayr, or in ſome higher and purer Coeleſtial bodies, that carry them about the world, let Philoſophers determine; only we ſee that God hath placed them far above us, as Ornaments of his Throne, as well to ſhew forth his Majeſtie, as withall that they might the more conveniently caſt their Light, and Influence, over all parts of the world. It may be beſides, to manifeſt that light comes only from heaven, & from the Father of Lights, without whom the world muſt needs abide in darkneſſe. Beſides all this, the heavens are moſt agreeable to the nature of theſe Lights. And laſtly, by their moving about the world at ſo great a diſtance, they help to diſcover the vaſte Circuit of the Heavens, which could by no other means be found out.
To divide the day] To limit or ſet out the bounds of the Civil day, which is the ſpace of the motion of the Sun above our Horiſon, during which time the Light which the Sun caſts upon the Earth contin…es with us, as by the abſence thereof the Light ceaſing, when the Sun being under our Horiſon, the darkneſſe of the night ſucceedeth, and ſo Day and Night are divided or diſtiuguiſhed one from the other, by the motion of the Sun, although it be here attributed to the light Indefinitely. Now God had before, divided the Day and the Night, but that was done by an extraordinary means; which hence forward is ordained to be done by the conſtant and regular motion of the Sun. So that we have here no new diviſion of the Night, and Day, but only the giving and ordaining of a new rule, and means of ſettling what God had ordained before.
For ſigns] Of natural effects which they produce, as of Rain, Cold, Heat, Winds, and the like. Nay, perhaps of ſome remarkable mutations in humane affaires, which God foreſeeing, and foreordaining in the Courſe of his Providence, may give intimation thereof by Eclipſes, and unuſual conjunctions of Celeſtial bodies, appointed by the ſame providence, to fall out in an Ordinary courſe of their Natural motions, but yet at ſuch time as they may concur with ſuch events, though they be not cauſed by them. As we uſe to ſet our Alarmes to go at ſuch a ſet hour, (although the wheeles that move them, be regulated by the poiſes, that keep them going) that thereby we may be put in mind of ſome ſet time when we would have buſineſſe undertaken or diſpatched.
Seaſons] The word is uſually taken for opportunities of doing things, and ſignifies here the different eſtate, and diſpoſition of the times of the year, which offer men opportunities of Planting, Ploughing, Sowing, Reaping, and the like, which we know long before, by obſerving the motion of theſe Lights.
And for dayes] That is, for computing and accounting times by dayes, moneths, and years, which all Nations from the beginning of the World, have, and do calculate, according to the Revolutions of the motions of the Sun, and Moon, and Stars.
In this deſcription of the Creation of theſe heavenly Lights, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, Moſes ſets before us,
1. The Decree;
1. What ſhould be made.
2. Where they ſhould be placed, In the Firmament of Heaven,
3. To what Uſes they were to ſerve.
1. To ſtint mens labours by diſtinguiſhing the day ſerving for labour, from the night, wherein thye are to reſt.
2. For the directing of mens employments, by pointing out fit ſeaſons for them.
3. To rectifie mens accounts, of the times of things paſt, and to come.
4. To further mens labours, by giving Light to direct them in all their works, and Influence to proſper many of them.
2. The Execution of the the Decree is, 1. pointed at in general, ver. 15.2. deſcribed more particularly, ver. 16, 17, 18.
Thus we ſee whence thoſe glorious Creatures, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, which men (and that worthily) behold with ſo much Delight, and Admiration, had their firſt beginning, they were neither Eternal, nor, of themſelves; we ſee here, When, and by Whoſe Power they were Created. VVhence we may,
1. Obſerve, The Sun, Moon, and Stars, and no gods, but Gods Creatures.
Obſerv. 1 HE made all the hoſt of heaven by his Word, Pſal. 33.6. Thoſe great lights, Pſal. 136.8, 9. & Jer. 31.35. ſo that they are truly the work of his fingers, Pſal. 8.3. and are ſtill his ſervants, Pſal. 119.91. obſerving the order that he hath ſet them, Pſal. 104.19.
1. Honour them not as gods, as ſome have done, and that not only the Heathen, but even amongſt Gods own people, both Princes, as wicked Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33.3. and the whole body of the State, Jer. 44. that it is no marvail though God ſo preciſely forbid it, to his own people, Deut. 4.19. An evil, that men are ſo prone unto by nature, that though they fall not into that groſſe evil of adoring them, yet by depending more upon their Influence, then upon Gods providence, they aſcribe that unto them, that is peculiar to God alone.
2. Honour God in and by them, with David, Pſal. 8.1. ſtanding amazed at his glory, who inhabiteth the light which no man can approach unto, 1 Tim. 6.16. ſeeing we are not able to behold the brightneſſe of the Sun, which is but a ſhadow of it, without the dazzeling of our eyes; no marvel then, if the Angels themſelves, that ſtand in his preſence, cover their faces, as being not able to behold his glory, Iſa. 6.2. To this if we adde Gods wonderful Power, by which he guides them in their courſes, ſtayes them, or brings them back at his pleaſure, Joſh. 10.13. 2 King. 20.11. and by their Influence makes them ſerviceable, to cheriſh and bring forwards the fruits of the Earth, it cannot but fill our hearts with the admiration of his greatneſſe, and glory, and fill our mouthes with his praiſes, that hath prepared ſuch glorious Creatures to do us ſervice.
Before the Creation of the Sun, the Light was in the World, and appeared in the day time, although we know not in what body it was carried; but, now the Sunne was made for that ſervice, God hath planted it in the body thereof, and by it conveighs it unto, and carries it round about the world. Whence,
2. Obſerve, When God hath prepared and affords meanes, he doth ordinarily perform and conveigh all things by Meanes.
THus he brings forth Herbs and Plants, by the ſeed of them makes the ground fruitfull, but by mans labour, Prov. 12.11. though he can do it, as well without it, as he did in the Land of Iſrael, in the ſeventh year: And ſtrengthens mans heart, by his food, though man lives not by bread, but by every word that proceedeth out of Gods Mouth, Deut. 8.3. As appeared in the examples of Moſes, Elijah, and Chriſt. And this he doth 1. To humble us, by making us to ſtoop to the means, whereas in the ſtate of Glory, he ſhall convey all unto us, without meanes. 2. To manifeſt his Wiſdom in making the means, though weak in themſelves, uſeful, and effectual. 3. To unite rhe Creatures in love one to another, and to move us to take care of them, when we find them ſo uſefull by daily experience.
Let all men then make uſe of ſuch meanes, as God offers unto them, but yet in a right way; 1. In obedience to the Will of God, and in ſubmiſſion to his Ordinance. 2. As depending ſtill upon God, for the iſſue and ſucceſſe, making uſe of them onelyonly as inſtruments in his hand, who works In, and By them, according to his good pleaſure, ſtill praying for and expecting ſucceſſe, in the uſe of them, by his bleſſing onelyonly, 3. Aſcribing the ſucceſſe, and effects by meanes, unto him alone with thankfulneſſe; who hath given, both the means themſelves, and that efficacy unto, hem by which they work for our good.
The place, which is aſſigned to theſe Lights, is the Firmament of Heaven. So that God, not onelyonly gives them their Nature, but withall aſſigns unto them their place, where they ſhall be: and beſides, limits them their uſe, they muſt be What, Where, and for What ſervice he appoints them. VVhence,
3. Obſerve, The Places, and Uſes of all Creatures, as well as their Being, are aſſigned unto them by God himſelf.
Obſerv. 1 OF the Elements, we ſee the Earth is ſet lowermoſt, as the foundation of all the reſt, Job. 38.4.6: The Sea kept, and penned up within the Channels, which God prepared for it, Jer. 5.22. Pſal. 104. The Ayre above them both, and the Heavens higher then all, The Stars and Planets placed in the Firmament, the Birds and Beaſts upon the Earth, The Fiſhes in the Sea, and all by Gods appointment. VVho as he hath diſpoſed them in their places: ſo he hath appointed, and limitted them their uſes: Giving the Stars for Light and influence, the Ayr for Breath, the Earth for habitation, the Seas for Navigation, the herbs and plants for food and medicine, Beaſts and fowls for Labour, Nouriſhment, and cloathing: and amongſt them the Horſe for the ſaddle, the Oxe for the plough, the Aſſe for burthens, and the like in many others. And amongſt men ſome for one kind of imployment, and others for another.
Reaſon 1. That he might manifeſt, both his Soveraignty, and VViſdom in ordering and diſpoſing, as he did his Power in creating all things.
2. That he might eſtabliſh a ſetled order amongſt the Creatures, which without it, muſt neceſſarily be in confuſion; and which without aſſignment of them to their ſtations and employments, by God himſelf, were impoſſible to be preſerved.
Let the diſpoſition of all Creatures, by the Will and Decree of God, direct us both in the diſpoſing of our dwellings, and making uſe of any Creature for our ſervice. Let it be our care to abide in the places, and exerciſe our ſelves in the employments unto which God in his Providence hath aſſigned us. He ſet the bounds of the people, Deut. 32.8. And called them to their imployments as Moſes, and Aaron, Bezaleel, Aholiab, David, and others, either by his own immediate call, as Moſes, Amos, Chap. 7.14. Or by the Miniſtry of men, furniſhing them diverſly, with proportionable abilities, to their implyoments, 1 Cor. 12.8. Let man abide then in the ſame calling, wherein he was called, 1 Cor. 7.20. 1. To teſtifie his obedience to the Will of God. 2. At that which God in his Wiſdom knowes to be every way beſt, both for himſelf and others. 3. As being aſſured, that in the way that God hath ſet him, his proſpering hand will not fail to be with him, both to aſſiſt, and give effect to his endeavours, and to protect him in his way, and to reward his Obedience. Beſides it may direct us in the uſe of the Creature, to apply them to thoſe ends, for which they were ordained; abhorring the vanity, and folly of thoſe, that turn the Natural uſe of them, unto that which is againſt Nature, Rom. 1.26.
Now when we conſider the uſes and ſervices unto which theſe Creatures are deſigned by God and reflect upon their places, and great glory wherewith God hath cloathed them. We may.
4. Obſerve, All ſorts of Creatures, though never ſo high, and glorious, are ordained by God for Uſe, and Service.
Obſerv. 4 NOt onelyonly thoſe glorious Creatures, which God hath made uſeful and ſerviceable to the whole Earth, and divided to all Nations, Deut. 4, 19. But even the glorious Angels themſelves, who though they excell in ſtrength; yet do his Commandements, Pſal. 103.20. in the ſervice of the Elect, as he hath appointed, Heb. 11.14. This order the Lord hath eſtabliſhed to continue amongſt all his Creatures, to the worlds end: when God ſhall be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.28. and then, and not before, the ſervice of the Creature ſhall ceaſe, Rev. 22.23.
Let all men of what rank, or condition ſoever they be, apply themſelves to be ſerviceable in one employment or other, for the good of others, Gal. 5.13. Stooping even to thoſe of the lower ſort, Rom. 12.16. As being by God ordained thereunto. Mark. 10.44.2. And moſt honoured thereby; ſeeing the perfection of every creature in this preſent world, is, the Uſe of it for ſervice. 3. And bound thereunto by that love, which we are bound to owe unto all men. 4, And knowing that, for ſuch ſervices, we have an aſſured reward laid up for us in heaven, Eph. 6.8. And laſtly having Chriſt himſelf for our Precedent, who came not to be ſerved, but to ſerve, Matth. 20.28. though he were Lord of all, Phil. 2.6.7.
The firſt uſe of thoſe lights, was to diſtinguiſh the day, from the night: and to ſet the limits unto them both, which is indeed performed by the Sunne, as we know. Whence,
5. Obſerve. Diſtinction between the day, and night, though it proceed from a cauſe in Nature; yet is an Ordinance eſtabliſhed by God.
Obſerv. 5 HE makes the darkneſſe and it is night, Pſalm. 104.20. So that both day and night are his, Pſal. 74.16. who hath appointed unto them their periods, and natural ſucceſſion. And that to ſet bounds unto mens labour, which would if they were continued without intermiſſion, ſoon waſte mens bodies and ſpirits. 2. In divers parts of the Earth to temperate the Ayre, which is inflamed there, by the extream heat of the Sunne. 3. To make way for the falling of thoſe ſweet and comfortable dewes, by which the Earth; eſpecially in thoſe hot countreys, is much refreſhed. 4. And to manifeſt by experience, the comfortableneſſe of the Light, by interrupting and cutting it off daily by the darkneſſe of the night; and ſo diſcovering the comfortableneſſe of the preſence of that glorious Creature, by the terrours occaſioned by the abſence thereof.
Let no man in Uſe confound thoſe things, which God hath ſevered in nature, by turning day into night, and night into day, ſhutting, and cloſing their eyes againſt the Light of the day, by unſeaſonable ſleeping, and opening them to the darkneſſe of the night: uſing the day for their reſt, and the night for their ſports and paſtimes, ſurfeiting and drunkenneſſe, chambering and wantoneſſe: a Cuſtom, though ſometimes countenanced by great examples; yet in true eſtimation prepoſterous, and every way unprofitable; and commonly by experience found to be as much prejudiciall to health, as it is undoubtedly croſſe to Nature.
The next uſe of theſe Lights is to be for ſigns, or Indications of events, which are to follow, as natural cauſes, are Prognoſtickes oftentimes, of their effects to enſue; now ſeeing God hath among thereſt, appointed them for this end, we by warrant may,
6. Obſerv. It is not unlawfull by the Stars, and Planets, to gueſſe at ſome events that are to follow.
Obſerv. 6 WHether certain, and infallible, as Summer and Winter, which God himſelf hath promiſed ſhall never ceaſe, Gen. 8.22. And which we conſtantly, and upon good ground expect, according to the Revolutions of thoſe heavenly bodies: or probably onelyonly, as Heat, Cold, Rain, Drout, whereof there may be ſome ſleight gueſſes by the conjunction of thoſe Celeſtial bodies, but more probable conjectures, when the effects themſelves begin to appear, as rain in the skie, which is lowring red; which our Saviour himſelf allowes to be a ſign of Rain, preſently to follow, Math, 16.3. OnelyOnly we muſt take heed, that we ground no more but conjecture, upon ſuch ſigns as theſe. Nay beyond all this (as we have already intimated) although theſe general Cauſes, work very uncertainly upon things here below; yet the conjunctions of the Planets, eſpecially in Eclipſes, though they point not out the particular events to follow, in the Perſons, Places, Times, Meaſure and Manner thereof, yet they may not unprofitably ſtir us up to the expectation of ſome obſervable events to enſue, which experience ſhewes us to fall out accordingly ſometimes.
Let no man, upon this ground, undertake by the obſervation of thoſe Celeſtiall bodies, to gueſſe at the knowledge of ſuch future events, as they were never appointed for, neither in their own Nature can foreſhew; as, the diſpoſition of mens minds, ſucceſſe of their affaires; Length of their lives, kinds of their death, Mutations and Periods of Kingdomes and Cities, and the like Curioſities, which are condemned by God, Iſa. 47.13. and unprofitable to men to buſie their heads about; ſeeing Conſtellations have their operations in ſuch events only as general cauſes, which effect nothing farther then they are ſeconded by the more immediate working of particular cauſes. 2. The nature of many of them, is rather gueſſed at, than diſtinctly known; and conſequently, our gueſſe at their operations muſt needs be very uncertain. 3. If their Nature could be fully known, yet the Impediments of their Operations: partly, by the frequent failing of Particular and Immediate cauſes; and partly, by the different diſpoſition of the Subjects on which they work, are ſo many, that the effect hath an exceeding uncertain dependance on them, which the frequent failings of the predictions grounded thereupon, doth evidently diſcover
A Third Uſe of theſe Lights, and Celeſtial bodies, is for the determining of Seaſons, by which the labours of men, and their affaires are directed. Thus we ſee what a ſtroke God hath, by the Influence of theſe heavenly bodies, on things below, in all the affaires of men. VVhence,
7. Obſerve, All, eſpecially the chief of the affaires of men, are ordered and directed by God himſelf from heaven.
FAring and Harveſt have their dependance on the Spring, Summer, and Autumn included under the names of Summer and Wanter, Gen. 8.22. all of them appointed by God, in their ſeaſons, by the Motions of the Celeſtial bodies. The light of the day ſets men on work, Pſal. 104.23. then comes the Night, when no man can work, Joh. 9.4. Fair weather invites men to labour abroad; the Snow and Rain ſeal up their hands, Job 37.7. and confine them to their houſes. Nay, much more is the ſucceſſe, and proſpering of all mens labours from heaven. From thence they are proſpered, Deut. 28.12. Mal. 3.10. or blaſted, Deut. 28.23, 24. Hag. 1.10. So that Good, and Evil are diſpenſed, as it were out of his ſtorehouſe, that men may know his work, Job 37.7.
Let all men then have their dependance upon God, who onelyonly Ruleth and diſpoſeth of the Heavens, Stars, yea, of the Clouds, that let down the rain on the Earth, which are turned about by his counſel, to do whatſoever he commands, whether in Mercy, or Judgment, Job 37.12, 13. He muſt hear the Heavens, and the Heavens the Earth, and the Earth the Corn and Wine, Hoſ. 2.22. Let us then pray to him, 1 King. 8.35. as Elijah did, 1 King. 18.42. Fear him. Jer. 5.22. and behold his Metcy, or Judgment, in all theſe diſpenſations, Job 37.13. that our hearts may be ſometimes quickned to thankfulneſſe, and at other times be humbled before him.
The laſt Uſe of the Lights, is for dayes, and years, that is, for Computation of Times; without which, neither could we well, either give directions for things to come, nor take account of things paſt, without ſuch a means of computing Times, which muſt needs cauſe great Confuſion in all mens affaires. So that amongſt divers bleſſings which we enjoy from God; this rule for the computation of Times, is not to be accounted the leaſt.