Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 15
VERSE 15.
TO give light] And not only to have it in themſelves. Now under this name of Light is included that ſecret and effectual Influence, which thoſe Celeſtial bodies caſt out with their Light, upon things here below, to make all things fruitful, and to cheriſh the Creatures.
Upon the Earth] Which hath neither light, nor life in it ſelf, but that which it borrowes from above. It is not amongſt the leaſt of Gods Wonders, that theſe Celeſtial bodies ſhould caſt out their light and influence at ſuch an incredible diſtance, as we ſhall ſee anon. Now this Light and Influence, which they convey unto the Earth; although it be eſpecially ſerviceable to men, yet we find by experience to be a ſingular benefit to the reſt of the Creatures, or at leaſt to the moſt of them. We cannot but take notice, that this Light which God hath now planted in the Sun, was notwithſtanding Created before it, that it might be the more evident, that it is not ſo much a quality, flowing from the Nature of the Creature, as planted in it by the Creator, who could as well have continued it without the Sun, as he Created it before the Sun. Whence,
1. Obſerve, The Excellencies of the Creatures, are not of themſelves; but are beſtowed on them by Him that made them.
Obſerv. 5 THe beauty of the flowers, Matth. 6.30. the feathers of the Oſtritch, and Peacock, Job 39.13. Strength and Courage of the Horſe, verſe 21, 22. and divers others: Much more the wiſdom of men, which God hath put into the inward parts, Job 38.36. Moſt of all their ſpiritual gifts, Rom. 12.8. 1 Cor. 12.8, 11. So that all Creatures are comely, or graceful, by his beauty, as himſelf ſpeaks of the Church, Ezek. 16.14.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe, Excellencies and Perfections are Originally in God; and therefore, whereſoever elſe they be found, they muſt come by diſpenſation from him, according to his VVill.
2. That the honour of all might return to him alone, who beſtowes all, by which any Creature excels, according to his own good pleaſure.
Let all men then acknowledge all their abilities to that God that gives them: 1. Seeking all at his hand, who beſtowes freely, Jam. 1.5. 2. Enjoying them without Pride, or lifting up our ſelves above others, alwayes remembring, that we have nothing, but what we have received, 1 Cor. 4.7. 3. Giving thanks alwaies unto Him for his free mercy, in beſtowing that on us, according to his good pleaſure, which he hath withheld from others, Eph. 1.3, 4. Job 35.10, 11. 4. And uſing whatſoever we have received, to his glory, as being his own, 1 Cor. 6.20. and beſtowed on us, that he might be honoured by them, leſt he take away that which we abuſe, Matth. 13.12. As he did Nebuchadnezzar's underſtanding, when he was lifted up in the pride of his heart, Dan. 4.31, 33.
What it was that carried the Light about the World before the Sun was made, is uncertain; only this is evident, that when God had created the body of the Sun, and made it fit for that uſe, he planted the Light therein; and then that other means ceaſed, whatſoever it was: So that we may,
2. Obſerve, Whereſoever God provides Ordinary Means, there he uſually takes awry thoſe which are Extraordinary.
Obſerv. 2 WHen his people had Corn in Canaan, then the Mannah from heaven ceaſed, Joſh. 5.12. And when once they had a King, then God forbare to raiſe them up extraordinary Judges, as he had done before, Judg. 2.16. The widow of Zarephath's meal and oyl, ſhall multiply and laſt no longer, than till God ſend rain on the earth, 1 King. 17.14. And Apoſtles, Miracles, and the gift of Tongues, and Prophecying, are now taken away ſince the Government and Miniſtery of the Church is ſettled in an ordinary courſe.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe God makes nothing in vain, and conſequently muſt needs take away that whereof there is no farther uſe.
2. Leſt otherwiſe Ordinary means ſhould be deſpiſed, if thoſe which were extraordinary ſhould ſtill continue.
Let no man expect, or depend upon Extraordinary Means, when God ſupplies us with thoſe that are Ordinary. If we have Moſes and the Prophets, let us not look for a Meſſenger from the dead, Luke 16.29. Look not for Grace by a Miraculous Influence of the Spirit from heaven, when God offers us a ſupply of it by the Miniſtery of the Word, in an Ordinary way. No man expects to be ſupported fourty dayes without food, when he hath in his houſe ſufficient proviſion of food to ſuſtain him, Seeing it is neither Means Ordinary, nor Extraordinary, that produce the effect, but God alone that worketh by and in them, or without them at his pleaſure, doing All in All, 1 Cor. 3.7. Who by providing us Ordinary Means, not only directs us to the uſe of them; but beſides, to expect his bleſſing on them, as being his own Ordinances, which he never gives us in vain.
Now though the Sun be wonderfully adorned, and made glorious, by the Light that is planted in it, above all other Creatures, that are viſible; yet we ſee here, that it hath this light given it by God, not for it ſelf, but for the uſe, and ſervice of the world below, and of the Creatures therein. Whence,
3. Obſerve, The Light, which God beſtowes upon the Creature, he gives for the uſe of Others, as well as for thoſe that Receive it.
Obſerv. 3 AS, he gave Wiſdom to Aholiah, and Bezaleel, but it was to enable them to perform the work about building the Tabernacle; a Spirit of Government to the Seventy Elders, to rule the people, Numb. 11.17. and to Solomon, to judge the people at all times, as he deſired it for that end, 1 King. 3.9. And for the ſame end he beſtowes all graces upon men, 1 Cor. 12.9. and abilities upon other Creatures; Fruitfulneſſe on the ground, to furniſh men, and beaſts with food; healing properties on herbs and plants, and the like.
Reaſon 1. That no man might eſteem that to be his own, wherein other men have an intereſt as well as himſelf.
2. That the benefit of any good, might be doubled to the owner, who by employing it to the good of others, ſhall find the benefit received by them put to his account hereafter, and conſidered in his reward.
Let every man improve that Talent, which he hath received, for the good of thoſe for whom he hath received it: Abilities of body, to labour for the good of others, as well as for his own, Epheſ. 4.28. Wealth to relieve other mens neceſſities, 2 Cor. 8.13, 14. Knowledge, to inſtruct and build them up, Col. 3.16. Duties of holineſſe, to provoke others to imitation, by our example, 1 Pet. 3.1, 2. And all Graces, to Admoniſh, Exhort, Reprove, and Comfort, Luke 22.32. 2 Cor. 1.4. Heb. 1.13. As, 1. Being members one of another, by conſequence every member of the body, may juſtly challenge an intereſt in whatſoever any part enjoyes. 2. Whatſoever we receive, is given to that end, that thereby we might be uſeful and ſerviceable one to another: of our faithfulneſſe or failing wherein, we muſt at the laſt come to account before him, that beſtowed what we have 3. Our faithful employing what we have received, for that end, invites God to truſt us with more. See Matth. 13.12. & 25.29.
It hath been noted, that it was not the leaſt of Gods Wonders, that theſe Planets caſt their influence upon the Earth, at the diſtance of ſo many millions of miles, ſo that the wide ſpace between heaven and earth, hinders neither their light nor influence, upon the Creatures of this lower world. Whence,
4. Obſerve, No diſtance can hinder us of the fruits, and effects of Gods Care, and Providence over us for our good.
Obſerv. 4 THough Gods Throne be in heaven, yet his ey-lids behold the Children of men, Pſal. 11.4. and he looks on things below, Pſal. 113.5, 6. And that not with a regardleſſe eye, but he takes care for them, 1 Pet, 5: 7. Even for bruit beaſts; 1 Cor. 9.9. and ſupplies the wants, and ſatisfies the deſire of every living thing, Pſal. 145.16. which he can the more eaſily do, becauſe there is no diſtance between God, and the Creature, Act. 17.27, who fills heaven and earth, Ier. 23: 24. Pſal. 139:8.10. though we diſcern him not, Ioh. 23.8.9. The diſtance is between us and the Creature, whoſe power and Vertue God can yet eaſily conveigh unto us, ſeeing they work in his might, who is preſent with us every where, and at all times.
Let no mans heart fail him, becauſe God ſeems to us ſometimes to be far off, ſo that ſome are ready to complain, that he hath forſaken the Earth, Ezech. 8.12. Yea even the godly ſometimes complain, that he is far off, Pſal. 22. But that is their folly; Abraham indeed may be ignorant of his poſterity, Iſa. 63, 16. and diſtance of place may deprive us of the helpe even of our own parents; but the Lord is a preſent help in time of need, Pſal. 46.1. Whoſe eyes are upon the righteous, and his eares open to their Cry, Pſal. 34.15. They are graven upon the Palnis of his hands, Iſa. 49.16. And he is near that juſtifies them, Iſa. 15.8. Yea the everlaſting armes are underneath them, Deut. 33.27. that they ſhall not utterly be caſt down though they fall, Pſal. 37.24. This meditation may be ſufficient to quiet all our hearts.
2. Let not diſtance, either in place or Condition, hinder our dedeſires or endeavours of furthering other mens good. Let none take up Nabals exception, They be ſtrangers, I know not whence they are, 1 Sam. 25.11. Sure if we underſtood our ſelves aright, our diſtance one from another is not ſo great, as we conceive it is: we are all of one blood, Act. 17.26. all one fleſh, Iſa. 58.7, And for diſtance of degree, the Apoſtle requires us to condeſcend unto thoſe of the lower ſort, Rom. 12.18. As the head diſdaines not to ſtoop to the foot; Eſpecially they that are graced with Gods Titles, and repreſent his perſon amongſt men, are to be admoniſhed to follow his example, to abaſe themſelves to looke upon things below, Pſal. 113.5.
VVe have already ſhewed, that when God had planted the Light in the Sunne, the other means, whatſoever it was, by which that Light was conveighed about the world, ceaſed: So the world had Light before the Sunne was, and now it hath Light by the Sunne. VVhence,
5. Obſerve, Although God be pleaſed to make uſe of meanes, yet he binds not himſelf to work all by means.
Obſerv, 5 HE fed his People with the fleſh-pots of Egypt, while they ſojourned there, and with Mannah while they travelled in the VVilderneſſe: where there were twelve VVells at Elohim he gave water out of the VVells, Exod. 15.27. VVhere there was no water, he ſupplied them out of the Rock at Horeb, Exod. 17.6, And thus firſt he may do, who giveth all the efficacy to meanes and therefore can work the effect without them. 2. And doth ſo, that men may depend upon, and aſcribe all unto him alone, and not unto the means by which he works: ſee Deut. 8.3.
Truſt not then upon Means which God can eaſily make ineffectuall, when he pleaſeth, Hag. 1.6. Nor ſtagger when meanes are wanting with that incredulous Prince, 2 King. 7.2. Nay with Moſes himſelf, for which God juſtly taxeth him, Numb. 11.21, 22. The Lord is no more bound to any certain means now, nay to any means at all, then he ſhall be hereafter, when he ſhall be unto us All in All without meanes, Rev. 21.23,