Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 4
VERSE 4.
ANd God ſaw] Looking back, as it were, upon his own work, not as if he then firſt knew it to be good, by experience, when it was made, and not before. For we are ſure that God knew the goodneſſe of it before he made it, as well as he did afterwards. But this is ſpoken after the manner of men, who being weak in their judgments, find many times errours in their own works, by Experience, when they have made them, which they foreſaw not before, ſo that they find them unanſwerable to their own intentions, and expectations. In Gods works it was otherwiſe: they all of them proved as good as they were intended, and that in the moſt exact Judgment of God himſelf, who having in himſelf all Perfection, muſt needs be the beſt Judge of it. So then (ſeeing) in this place ſignifies no more then Knowing, or Approving.
That it was good] In the Nature of it, Perfect in the higheſt degree, according to the proportion of that Creature; and in the uſe of it fit and ſerviceable to that end for which it was made, wherein the greateſt goodneſſe of a Creature conſiſts. Thus, when God hath made his works, he overlooks them, and paſſeth his cenſure upon them, which is nothing elſe but a continued approbation of, and rejoycing in, his works, as the Pſalmiſt terms it Pſal. 104.31. So that we may from thence,
1. Obſerve, God takes a view, and notice, of all his Works that he makes.
Obſerv. 1 PArtly to rejoyce in them, as he doth in himſelf, which is a chief part of his happineſſe; and partly to ſupport them and cheriſh them, that his tender mercies may be over all his works, Pſal. 145.9. and laſtly, that he may order and direct them by his wiſdome, to the ends that beſt pleaſe him, Pſal. 33.14, 15.
Let us, in imitation of God, obſerve all that he hath done, or doth, in heaven, or earth, either in the works of Creation, or of Providence: 1. It is the end wherefore God hath given us underſtanding, more then the beaſts of the field. 2. It oftentimes furniſheth us with rules, for the directing of our wayes. 3. Sometimes it yields us ground of comfort and encouragement, for ſtaying up of our hearts, in times of doubts and fears, Pſal. 77.10, 11, 12. 4. It is a great means of encreaſing Love, Fear, and Reliance upon God, by the diſcovery of his wiſdome, and faithfulneſſe, in all his wayes, Pſal. 104.24. And laſtly, fills our hearts and mouthes with his praiſe, Pſal. 145.5, 6.
2. Let us learn to look back upon, and try our own wayes, and works, that it may miniſter unto us matter either of rejoycing in well doing, Gal. 6.4. (and yet not in our ſelves, but in God who furniſheth us with power, and guides us by his counſel, in that we chooſe as David doth, Pſal. 16.7.) or of humiliation, in our failings, with the ſame Prophet, 2 Sam. 24.10. The neglect of this duty is juſtly taxed in Gods people, Jer. 8.6. We have indeed cauſe to be the more carefull in the performance of this duty, 1. Becauſe of our manifold errours, in all that we put our hand unto. 2. Of the account which we muſt give unto God, of our well, or ill doings hereafter, when God ſhall bring every work into Judgment, Eccleſ. 12.14.
It is worth our obſervation, that Gods allowance of his own work, is ſet to it, as a ſufficient ſeal, to paſſe it for currant, without control, or farther examination. For the Holy Ghoſt, commending Gods work unto us, as every way good, and perfect, tells us that he ſaw and approved it to be ſo. Whence,
2. Obſerve, God is a ſufficient Witneſſe to himſelf.
Obſerv. 2 JOhn 8. for which cauſe he ſwears by himſelf, Gen. 22.16. and all men do, or ſhould ſwear by Him alone; as if, when their credit is doubted of, they would appeal to a witneſſe that is without exception, as being an Oracle or Standard of Truth.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe he knowes all things, and is truth it ſelf, whereof if any Creature partake in any proportion, it receives it from God; and therefore if God take in any witneſſe from man, it is in effect his own Teſtimony; yet infinitely weaker then his own, becauſe it paſſeth through the hand of thoſe that are ſubject to Errour.
2. It is an high honour to God, that his Word ſhould carry ſuch Authority with it, as an Oracle of Truth, without any debate, or contradiction, whereby his Soveraignty, Wiſdom, and Truth are acknowledged by men, and Angels, when they receive his Teſtimony without farther tryal (as we do that coyn, that the King hath ſtamped and allowed) when we acknowledge both his Soveraignty and Faithfulneſſe.
1. Let us receive his Teſtimony for his own ſake, becauſe he hath ſpoken it, as our Saviour requires us to do, Math. 5.20. Who can neither deceive, Tit. 1.2. nor be deceived. And that, 1. in obedience to him, who is the Lord of our faith. 2. As the readieſt and ſureſt way, for the ſetling of our own hearts. 3. As the only meanes to give God his due honour, by ſetting to our ſeal, that the is true, Joh. 3.33. Gods Teſtimony we call either his Word, or the Teſtimony of the Spirit agreeable thereunto.
2. Admire Gods goodneſſe to men, who having no need of their Teſtimony, Joh. 5.34. as having greater of his own, ver. 30. is pleaſed notwithſtanding to honour them ſo far, as to accept them for his witneſſes, Iſa. 43.10. and beſides to reward their Teſtimony, as a good ſervice, done unto himſelf, Gen. 15.6. Luke 12.8.
This Teſtimony that God gives unto the works that he made, ſeverally, that they were good; and generally, that they were very good; muſt be underſtood of their goodneſſe every way, and in all reſpects. They were good in their Being, Good in the perfection of their Being, according to their kinds, in their proportion; Good in their fitneſſe to their uſes, for which they were Created, and Good in their mutuall correſpondence: and thus this goodneſſe of the Light is to be underſtood, in this place, by occaſion whereof to avoid needleſſe repetitions, we may once for all,
3. Obſerve, All that God doth, is exceeding Good and Perfect.
Obſerv. 3 IN the work of Creation, all Gods works were made in wiſdom, Pſal. 104.24. In the adminiſtration of the Creatures, his work is perfect, Deut. 32.4, and all his waies, Pſal. 18.30. yea every thing is made Beautifull in its time, Eccl. 3.11.
Reaſon. 1. They muſt needs, in their proportion, be anſwerable to the workman, to God that made them; now God is Good, and perfect every way, and therefore cannot make any thing Evill, or imperfect: becauſe he hath power in his hand, to make what he will, and how he will; which men, who are imperfect themſelves, and have no power, but what they receive by diſpenſation from him, cannot do.
2. His works need to be Good and Perfect, becauſe they cannot be mended. No man can add to, or take from them, Eccl. 3.14. ſupply that which is wanting, or make ſtrait that which is crooked, Eccl. 1.15. Men can only apply Gods works to their uſes, but can neither alter them, nor add unto them.
3. Gods works are made to ſhew forth, and manifeſt God unto us, even the inviſible things of God, Rom. 1.20. They muſt therefore be all good and perfect, that they may repreſent unto us his goodneſſe, and perfection, that is the Author of them.
1. Let us then acknowledge them to be ſo. All the works of nature, even thoſe the end or uſe whereof we underſtand not; the meaneſt, and baſeſt whereof, even a fly, a louſe, a toad, the moſt curious workman in the world, cannot frame, much leſſe give life unto: And all the works of Providence, afflictions of the godly, Pſal. 119.75. The proſperity of the wicked, Pſal. 73.18. as all working together for good. Rom. 8.28. though we diſcern it not, by reaſon of the errour of our Judgments, who know nothing as we ought to know; yea let us acknowledge our approbation of Gods waies and works, both by ſetting out their praiſe, and by quieting, and contenting our hearts, in whatſoever events befall our ſelves, or others.
2. If they prove not ſo to us, let us blame our ſelves, and not the work of God, much leſſe him that wrought it; we are out of order, and not any Act of Gods, wherefore let us leave complaining, and fall to ſearching and trying our waies, Lam. 3, 39.40. Not wiſhing any act of Providence altered, but our ſelves; ſeeing the inequality is not in Gods waies, but in our own, Ezech. 18.25. And we muſt needs acknowledge, as it is teſtified of him, Pſal. 145.17. That he is righteous in all his waies, and Holy in all his works.
3. Let us labour to imitate God, in our works, as far as we are able. Do that which is good in it ſelf, correſpoudent every way, and uſeful to others, which is, and will be our honour, Comfort, and ground of reward from God in time to come, Rom. 2.6, 7.
The goodneſſe of the Light, as it is a work of God, conſidered in Generall, we have obſerved: If we conſider it apart, as we find it here in particular approved by God, and teſtified by him to be good, We may,
4. Obſerve, Light is a good Creature.
Obſerv. 4 GLorious in it ſelf, and therefore ſaid to be the robe wherewith God cloaths himſelf, Pſal. 104.4. exceeding comfortable, and delightſome, Eccl. 11.7. For which cauſe a proſperous and comfortable condition, is every where expreſſed by Light: of ſinggular uſe to the Creatures, as diſcovering and making all things manifeſt unto them, Eph. 5.13. and thereby directing, and guiding them in all their waies, (for which cauſe Gods Law, according to which all mens waies ought to be ordered, is expreſſed by that name, Prov. 6.23. Pſal. 119.20.) And conſequently furthering all imployments; which when the Egyptians wanted; they were fain to ſit ſtill every one in his place, Exod. 10.23.
1. Acknowledge it unto God with all thankfulneſſe: as a ſpeciall, though a Common bleſſing, that we enjoy the Light, comparing the comfortableneſſe of the Light of the day, with the ſhadow and darkneſſe of the night; the manifold benefits of the ſight, with the uncomfortableneſſe of blindneſſe: and the dangers unto which it makes men ſubject. Much more let us rejoyce in that glorious Light of the Word, and Goſpell, and the knowledge and underſtanding of heavenly things, which we gain thereby, by which God himſelf is in ſome meaſure diſcovered unto us, and the things freely given us by him, by which our hearts are revived, our ſteps directed, and our ſelves ſtirred up, and ſtrengthened to walk in a ſafe way, till God bring us in peace to the Light of glory hereafter.
2. Let us then uſe the light well, This Outward light, to exerciſe our ſelves, by the benefit thereof, in profitable imployments, Pſal. 104.23. Not to trifle it out in idleneſſe and vanity, much leſſe abuſing it to the acting of the works of darkneſſe, and ſurfeiting and drunkenneſſe, and the like. But eſpecially the Spirituall Light of the Word, and not trifling with it as the Jewes did, Joh. 5.35. as children that ſet up a candle to play by: but attending and taking heed to it, 2 Pet. 1.19. and walking in it, as Children of Light. See Romans 13.12. Epheſi. 5.8.
Something may yet farther be obſerved in this Teſtimony of God, concerning both the Light, and other Creatures which he formes afterwards; That the Holy Ghoſt thinks this ſufficient to commend Gods Works unto us, that they were approved by God himſelf, and allowed as good. VVhence,
5. Obſerve, That, and that only, is good which God Approves.
Obſerv. 5 ROm. 2.29. 2 Cor. 10.18. Whence it is, that God laies a ſpeciall charge upon his people, to do, Not that which is right in their own eyes, Deut. 12.8: But that which is good in the eyes of the Lord their God Deut. 6.18.
Reaſon 1. He onelyonly hath Authority, to allow and approve, as Princes have to ſtamp Coyn; and that juſtly; ſeeing he hath onelyonly wiſdom, to underſtand and diſcern things aright; and thereby to put a true difference between good and evil; and beſides, his will is that which makes things good.
2. There could otherwiſe be no certainty in the world, unleſſe there be One, and that an unchangeable, and infallible Rule, for men to walk by; and one ballance, in which all men and their actions may be equally weighed, and approved thereby.
Let no man pleaſe himſelf, either with his own, or with the worlds cenſure, concerning himſelf, or his wayes, againſt which St. Paul proteſts, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. Conſidering, 1. That the Creature hath no Authority to juſtifie or condemn, Rom. 14.4. 2. Neither is any Creature furniſhed with ſuch a meaſure of wiſdom, as to ſet a right eſteem on mens Actions, the grounds and ſcope whereof they cannot reach into, much leſſe of their perſons, ſeeing they can look only on the outward appearance; ſo that God reverſeth their Judgments, abhorring many times, that which they highly eſteem, Luke 16.15.
After the Approbation of the Light, followes the diſtinction and ſeparation of it from the darkneſſe; which as they are oppoſitein nature, and ſo cannot ſubſiſt together, ſo God ſeparated them in time, appointing them to ſucceed one another mutually in their turns. Whence,
6. Obſerve, Light and Darkneſſe cannot ſubſiſt together.
Obſerv. 6 NEither by nature, in which, being Oppoſite, they muſt neceſſarily deſtroy one another; nor by the will of God, who hath purpoſely ſevered them, for avoiding Confuſion. See 2 Cor. 6.14.
Let all thoſe that are of the Light, 1 Theſſ. 5.5. nay Light in the Lord, Epheſ. 5.8. abandon darkneſſe, with all the works thereof, Rom. 13.12. Epheſ. 5.11. together with the ſociety of all that walk in them; as being, 1. Uncomely. 2. Unprofitable and unfruitful. 3. Dangerous, as wholly oppoſite to the ſtate unto which we are called, and hindering our communion and fellowſhip with God, who dwelleth in the Light, 1 Tim. 6.16. nay is altogether light, without any darkneſſe at all, 1 Joh. 1.5, 6.
Now though God divided the light from the darkneſſe, yet he took not the darkneſſe clean away, but continued them both ſtill, though not confounded together, yet to take their turns ſucceſſively, and come in one anothers room, in the order that he appointed. Whence,
7. Obſerve, Light and Darkneſſe take their turnes, and ſucceed one another, in the Order that God hath appointed.
Obſerv. 7 WHether we take them Properly, ſo we ſee the night and day ſucceeding one another by turns: Of if we take them figuratiuely for Proſperity and Adverſity, they alſo have their mutual ſucceſſion, Pſal. 30.5. ſo that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; and that alſo by Gods appointment, who hath ſet the one againſt the other, Eccleſ. 7.14. to keep all upright.
Reaſon 1. They are both uſeful in their times, the Light and Day for action and employment, Pſal. 104.23. The Night and Darkneſſe, for reſt and ſleep, 1 Theſſ. 5.7. Proſperity to quicken, and encourage, and afford us opportunity to be doing, Joh. 9.4. Adverſity, like the cold of VVinter, to keep-in our ſhooting up, and putting forward into outward works, that we might take root downwards, and recollect our ſpirits, and exerciſe our thoughts upon our ſelves, in trying our wayes, ſearching our hearts, ſtrengthening our faith, and the like.
2. Even darkneſſe is needful, that it may be a means to remember us of Gods mercy, in cauſing the light to ſhine out of it: as ſin, even in ſanctified perſons, is left in them, to manifeſt unto them from what a fearful bondage they were delivered, when it reigned in them, which they find ſo burthenſome, when it doth but dwell in them.
1. Let every one of us, even when we are in the light, prepare for darkneſſe, expecting ſtill a mixture of Joy and Heavineſſe, as being, 1. Our portion allotted us by God himſelf, Eccleſ. 7.14. which, upon that very ground, we have reaſon to be well pleaſed withal; with holy Job, who bleſſeth God for his afflictions, Job 1.21. 2. As being beſides neceſſary for us, Eccl. 7.2, 3. as a yoak for wanton bullocks, Jer. 31.18. to keep them in a right way, as David acknowledgeth afflictions did him, Pſal. 119.67. 3. Being ſure they will end in the fulneſſe of joy at the laſt, Mic. 7.9. when all tears ſhall be wiped from our eyes, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall fly away, Iſa. 35.10. 4. And are eaſie to be born in the mean time, by the ſecret ſupport of the Spirit, when we are troubled, but not diſtreſſed; perplexed, but not in deſpair; perſecuted, but not forſaken; ſo that we faint not for the light affliction, 2 Cor. 4.8, 17. The beſt means to prepare our ſelves for ſuch changes, is, 1. To keep a good conſcience in all things, that we adde not the weight of ſin to the reſt of our burthens. 2. By improving the light, while we enjoy it, to our beſt advantage, in our times of peace, performing whatſoever our hand finds to do, with all our power. 3. By ſuſtaining and ſupporting our hearts by faith in Gods gracious promiſes, with which David quickned and revived his heart, Pſal. 119.92. 4. By expecting afflictions before-hand, leſt if we be ſurpriſed upon the ſudden, we be diſcouraged, and take offence, with thoſe reſembled to the ſtony ground, Matth. 13.21.
2. Let us long for heaven, where is light without darkneſſe, Rev. 22.5. Joy without heavineſſe; yea the fulneſs of joyes, and pleaſures for evermore, Pſal. 16.11. And in the mean time, let us draw near unto God, holding faſt our Communion with him, in whom is no darkneſs at all, 1 Joh. 1.5. and the light of whoſe countenance ſhall revive and eſtabliſh our hearts in the middeſt of the greateſt darkneſſe, even in the ſhadow of death, Pſal. 23.4.