Commentary Upon Genesis 1-3, Commentary on Genesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 5
VERSE 5.
ANd God called the Light Day] Not that God needed any name to diſtinguiſh things by, as men do. Some therefore conceive, that thoſe words import no more but this, that either he directed, and appointed them to be diſtinguiſhed by thoſe names, as they were in nature, or that man afterwards by that wiſdom that God gave him, called them by thoſe names. As for the names themſelves, Day, and Night, Jom], which in the Hebrew Language ſignifies Day, is conceived to be given it from the hurry and tumultuous noiſe, that fills the ayr, by the buſineſſe and multitude of employments of men, in the day-time; and (Lajelah) which is the name of the Night, to point at the yelling and howling of wild beaſts, which in the night time creep out of their dens, as the Pſalmiſt affirms, Pſal. 104.20, 21. Howſoever, the name Day, is taken in a double ſenſe, in this verſe. Here, where it is diſtinguiſhed from the Night, it is taken for a Civil day, that is, that part of 24 houres which is Light; but in the latter end of the verſe, it ſignifies a Natural day, conſiſting of 24. houres, and includes the night too.
And the Evening] That is, thus the firſt day ended with Creating the Light, and God forbare to create any more, untill that Evening was paſt, and the next morning came. By the Evening, we muſt here underſtand the whole night, or ſpace between the ſhutting in of the light, and the dawning of the next day. Now Moſes names the Evening firſt, becauſe the darkneſſe was before the light. In the ſame manner runs the computation of Times, among the Hebrews to this day. Now, why it pleaſed God to make no more but the Light, the firſt day, it is Curioſity to enquire.
This only we may take notice of, that God, as he makes his Works, ſo he gives them names; or at leaſt appointeth names to be given them: queſtionleſſe, ſome way expreſſing their natures, and for the better diſtinction of one thing from another. Whence,
1. Obſerve, All things muſt be called, and diſtinguiſhed by names proper unto them, and, as much as may be, agreeable to their natures.
Obſerv. 1 FOr avoyding confuſion, which is prevented, when the names, that are given to all things, expreſſe them diverſly, as the things themſelves are divers, which they repreſent. And it cannot be denied, but although names be given by inſtitution, yet, that at leaſt, in the firſt impoſition of them, there was great reſpect had to the natures of the things themſelves, whereof we find more evident footſteps in the Hebrew Language, then in any other Tongue. Howſoever, God ſeems to take ſpeciall care, that all things ſhould be diſtinguiſhed by their names, as they are different in their natures.
Woe then to thoſe, that labour to bring in confuſion, by miſapplying names to things of contrary natures, calling light darkneſs, and darkneſſe light, Iſa. 5.20. putting Wolves into ſheeps cloathing, and gracing evil with ſpecious names, that it may have ſome appearance of good, and ſo may be embraced and entertained by thoſe, that judge of all things, as they are repreſented to them by their names. A practice of dangerous conſequence, by which many ſimple perſons, embracing evil inſtead of good, deſtroy their own ſoules.
God is here repreſented to us, in the Creation of the world, proceeding by leiſure, and taking the time of Six dayes, to perform that, which he might have as eaſily diſpatched in a moment of time, if he had ſo been pleaſed. So that we may thence,
2. Obſerve, God is pleaſed to take Time, and Leiſure, in bringing things to paſſe, though he might end his work in an Inſtant.
Obſerv. 2 IN the works of Nature, he faſhions our bodies by degrees, Pſal. 139.16. The Corn, Herbs, and Plants grow up by degrees, the light comes forth in time, encreaſing more and more till it be perfect day, Prov. 4.18. And in the work of Sanctification, though the life of Grace, as well as of Nature, be given in an inſtant, yet the graces of the Spirit come on by degrees, growing up, and encreaſing in us day by day: whereas God might fill us with his Spirit, and perfect our Sanctification in an inſtant. And this he doth,
1. Becauſe we could not otherwiſe obſerve Gods works, if they were done in an inſtant; we can take notice of noth…g but that which is done in time; ſo great is our weakneſſe.
2. That our hearts might be the longer ſtayed upon the meditation of Gods works, while we wait for the perfecting, and full accompliſhing of that, which we ſee to be already begun.
Let it move us to wait upon God, in the way of his providence, with the greater care, and watchfulneſſe, when we ſee how far God condeſcends unto our weakneſſe, and applies himſelf to our weak and ſlow underſtandings, heedfully obſerving the beginings, taking notice of the Progreſſe, and waiting for the full accompliſhment, and perfecting of any work that he hath in hand. Thus ſhould Gods works be ſought out of all that have pleaſure therein, Pſal. 111.2.