THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED GENESIS. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the of the waters. e face 3T And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the 1 light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light f Day, and the darkness he called Night. 2 And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 ¶ And God said, "Let there be a 3 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. h 9 T And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 4 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing John, 1, 1--3. And, thou Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. Hebrews, 1, 10. when I laid the founda b Where wast thou tions of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job, 38, By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of mouth. Psalm stretcheth his mom the LORD that maketh all things; spreadeth abroad the 41, 24. For by him earth by myself. Isa. were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether dominions, or princi; they be thrones, or palities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, consist. Col. 1, 16, 17. and by him all things Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of Heb. 11, 3. things which do appear. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form and void, and the heavens, and they had no light Jeremiah, 4, CHAP. 1.-B. C. 4004. The day is thine, the night also is thine. Psalm 74, 16. Thou makest darkness, and it is night. Psalm 104, 20. 2 And the evening was, and the morning was. g He hath made the earth by his power, he world by his wisdom, hath established the the heavens by his discretion. Jer. 10, 12 3 expansion. h He hath compassed the waters with bounds. eth the waters of the Job, 26, 10. He gather sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Psalm 33, 7. i For the earth which drinketh in the rain it, and bringeth forth receiveth blessing from that cometh oft upon herbs meet them God. Hebrews, 6, 7. 4 tender grass. yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 T And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide 5 the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 6 16 And Godmade two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God'set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and For of thorns men do God saw that it was good. known by his own fruit. not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. Luke, 6, 44. 19 And the evening and the morning were the The sun, and the fourth day. moon, and the stars, heaven,... which the divided all nations m 7 even all the host of 20 T And God said, " Let the waters bring LORD thy God hath forth abundantly the moving creature that under thewhole heaven. hath life, and 9 fowl that may fly above the prepared the light and earth in the 10 open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every Deut. 4, 19. Thou hast the sun. Psalm 74, 16. To him that made great lights. Psalm 136, 7. between the night. 5 between the day and living creature that moveth, which the waters 6 for the rule of the brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and 10 LORD our Lord, every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw name in all the earth! that it was good. day. how excellent is thy who hast set thy glory 8, 1. above the heavens. Ps. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, m O LORD, how mani- and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and wisdom hast thou made let fowl multiply in the earth. fold are thy works! in them all: the earth is full of thy riches; So is this great and wide sea, wherein 23 And the evening and the morning were the are things fifth day. creeping innumerable, 25. beasts. Psalm 104, 24, 24 ¶ And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 7 Or, creeping. 8 soul. both small and great grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree 1 between the light 9 let fowl fly. between 10 face of the firmaand between the dark- ment of heaven. ness. CHAP. I. THE CREATOR.-The Author and Cause of this great work; GOD, the Hebrew word is Elohim, which bespeaks, (1.) The power of God the Creator. El signifies the strong God; and what less than an almighty strength could bring all things out of nothing? (2.) The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This plural name of God, in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many, though he is one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a savour of death unto death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it is to us a savour of life unto life, confirming our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity, which, though but darkly intimated in the Old Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. The Son of God, the Eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father, was with him when he made the world, Prov. 8, 20; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing made without him, John 1, 3, 10; Eph. 3, 9; Col. 1, 16; Heb. 1, 2 Oh what high thoughts should this form, in our minds, of that great God whom we draw nigh to in religious worship, and that great Mediator in whose name we draw nigh!-H. THE CLOCK OF TIME.-In the beginning, that is, in the beginning of time, when that clock was first set a going: time began with the production of those beings that are measured by time. Before the beginning of time there was none but that Infinite Being that inhabits eternity. Should we ask why God made the world no sooner, we should but darken counsel by words without knowledge: for how could there be sooner or later in eternity? And he did make it in the beginning of time, according to his eternal counsels before all time. The Jewish Rabbins have a saying, that there were seven things which God created before the world, by which they only mean to express the excellency of these things-The Law; Repentance; Paradise; Hell; the throne of Glory; the House of the Sanctuary; and the Name of the Messiah. But to us it is enough to say, In the beginning was the Word, John 1, 1.-H. THE FIRST MOVER.-The Spirit of God was the first Mover; he moved upon the face of the waters. When we consider the earth without form, and void, methinks n See Psalm 104, 18-23. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after it is like the valley full of dead and dry bones. Can these live? Can this confused mass of matter be formed into a beautiful world? Yes, if a spirit of life from God enter into it, Ezek. 37, 9. Now there is hope concerning this thing; for the Spirit of God begins to work, and if he work, who or what shall hinder? God is said to make the world by his Spirit, Ps. 33, 6; Job 26, 13; and by the same mighty Worker the new creation is effected. He moved upon the face of the deep, as Elijah stretched himself upon the dead child; as the hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and hovers over them, to warm and cherish them, Matth. 23, 37, as the eagle stirs up her nest, and flutters over her young, (it is the same word that is here used,) Deut. 32, 11. Learn hence, That God is not only the Author of all being, but the Fountain of life, and Spring of motion. Dead matter would be for ever dead, if he did not quicken it. And this makes it credible to us, that God should raise the dead. That power which brought such a world as this, out of confusion, emptiness, and darkness, at the beginning of time, can, at the end of time, bring our vile bodies out of the grave, though it be a land of darkness as darkness itself, and without any order, Job 10, 22, and can make them glorious bodies.-H. WATERS.-The waters, being separated from the dry ground, which they had hitherto overspread, or been mixed with, were divided into those "under the firmament," which are deposited in the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, brooks, fountains, and subterraneous receptacles; and those "above the firmament," which are suspended in the air, form the clouds, and descend in rains and dews-instead of attempting a further explanation of the terms here used, I would rather call the reader's attention to the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, displayed in this part of creation. In the vast reservoir of the oceans and seas, the waters are treasured up, being, by their saltness and incessant motion, preserved from putridity. These facilitate commerce and friendly intercourse betwixt distant nations, supply immense quantities of wholesome provisions, and are in many ways serviceable to mankind. From them originally, by various modes of con 26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. all 27 So God created man in his own image, in the "image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that 11 moveth upon the earth. 29 ¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb 12 bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it be for meat. shall to 30 And to every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is 13 I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. life, 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. CHAPTER II. That he might seek godly seed. Therefore them male and female? CHAP. 2-B. C. 4004. to e He causeth the grass and herb for the service bring forth food out of Man placed in Eden. 5 And every plant of the field before it was in grow for the cattle, the earth, and every herb of the field before of man: that he may it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it the earth. Ps. 101, 14. to rain upon the earth, and there was not a earth, and waterest it: man to till the ground. d Thou visitest the thou greatly enrichest thou preparest them corn, when thou hast 2 Or, a mist which went up. 3 the dust of, etc. e And Lot lifted up his Gomorrah, even as the as thou comest unto Thou hast been in Ezek. 28, 13. 6 But 2 there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the LORD God formed man 3 of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. e 8 T And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Zoar. Genesis, 13, 10. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God Eden the garden of God. to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight The cedars in the and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. garden of God could him: the trees were not like his boughs, and the ches nut trees were not like tree in the garden of 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and 9 And the LORD God became into four heads. said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, forth his hand, and 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it and now, lest he put which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, take also of the tree of where there is gold; life, and eat, and live LORD: Gen. 22. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side 12 And the gold of that land is good: there of the river, was there 18 bdellium and the onyx stone. the tree of life, which fruits, and yielded her bare twelve manner of 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: fruit every month: and the same is it that compasseth the whole land were for the healing of Of 4 Ethiopia. the leaves of the tree the nations. Blessed commandments, that the tree of life, and are they that do his 14 And the name of the third river is Hidthey may have right to dekel: that is it which goeth 5 toward the east the gates into the city. of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15 And the LORD God took 6 the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Rev. 22, 2, 14. h There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of Most High. Ps. 46, 4. Havilah tour, that is before Egypt, Assyria: and he died in which remaineth over first month, as I was 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and t wise, And God did rest the seventh day from veyance, the whole earth is supplied with water, rendered fresh and fit for use, and communicated in the gentlest method.-S. 5 Or, eastward to As- 7 eating thou shalt eat. 8 dying thou shalt die. 9 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden 7 thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof 8 thou shalt surely die. 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 9 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the As he has the government of the inferior creatures, he is, as it were, God's representative, or viceroy, upon earth; they are not capable of fearing and serving God, therefore God has appointed them to fear and serve man. 3. In his purity and rectitude. God's image upon man consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Eph. 4, 24; Col. 3, 10. He was upright, Eccl. 7, 29. He had an habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of God upon them.-H. CHAP. II. THE FIRST SABBATH.-We have here the commencement of the kingdom of grace, in the sanctification of the sabbath-day, ver. 3. He rested on that day, and took a complacency in his creatures, and then sanctified it, and appointed us, on that day, to rest and take a complacency in the Creator; and his rest is, in the fourth commandment, made a reason for our's, after six days' labour. Observe, 1. That the solemn observation of one day in seven, as a day of holy rest, and holy work, to God's honour, is the indispensable duty of all those to whom God has revealed his holy sabbaths. 2. That the way of sabbathsanctification is the good old way, Jer. 6, 16. Sabbaths are as ancient as the world; and I see no reason to doubt that the sabbath, being now instituted in innocency, was religiously observed by the people of God throughout the patriarchal age. 3. That the sabbath of the Lord is truly honourable, and we have reason to honour it; honour it for the sake of its antiquity, its great Author, the sanctification of the first sabbath by the holy God himself, and, in obedience to him, by our first parents in innocency. 4. That the sabbath-day is a blessed day, for God blessed it; and that which he blesses is blessed indeed. God has put an honour upon it, has appointed us, on that day, to bless him, and has promised, on that day, to meet us and bless us. 5. That the sabbath-day is a holy day, for God has sanctified it. He has separated and distinguished it from the rest of the days of the week, and he has consecrated it, and set it apart to himself and his own service and honour. Though it is commonly taken for granted, that the Christian sabbath we observe, reckoning from the creation, is not the seventh but the first day of the week, yet being a seventh day, and we, in it, celebrating the rest of God the Son, and the finishing the work of our redemption, we may and ought to act faith upon this original institution of the sabbath-day, and to commemorate the work of creation, to the honour of the great Creator, who is therefore worthy to receive, on that day, blessing, and honour, and praise, from all religious assemblies.-H. FIRMAMENTAL LIGHTS.-Ver. 16, 18. The lights of heaven are, the sun, moon, and stars; and these are all the work of God's hands. 1. The sun is the greatest light of all, one hundred and sixty-six times greater than the earth, and the most glorious and useful of all the lamps of heaven; a noble instance of the Creator's wisdom, power, and goodness, and an invaluable blessing to the creatures of this lower world. Let us learn, from Ps. 19, 1-6, how to give unto God the glory due to his name, as the Maker of the sun. 2. The moon is a lesser light, and yet is here reckoned one of the greater lights, because, though, in regard of its magnitude and borrowed light, it is inferior to many of the stars, yet, by virtue of its office, as ruler of the night, and in respect of its usefulness to the earth, it is more excellent than they. Those are most valuable that are most serviceable; and those are the greater lights, not that have the best gifts, but that humbly and faithfully do the most good with them. Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, Matth. 20, 26. 3. He made the stars also; which are here spoken of, as they appear to vulgar eyes, without distinguishing between the planets and the fixed stars, or accounting for their number, nature, place, magnitude, motions, or influences; for the scriptures were written, not to gratify our curiosity, and make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. Now these lights are said to rule, ver. 16, 18, not that they have a supreme dominion as God has, but they are deputy governors, rulers under him. Here the lesser light, the moon, is said to rule the night; but, Ps. 136, 9, the stars are mentioned as sharers in that government, the moon and stars to rule by night. No more is meant, than that they give light, Jer. 31, 35. The best and most honourable way of ruling, is, by giving light, and doing good: those command respect, that live an useful life, and so shine as lights.-H. MAN.-GOD'S IMAGE.-Man was not made in the likeness of any creature that went before him, but in the likeness of his Creator; yet still, between God and man there is an infinite distance. Christ only is the express image of God's person, as the Son of his Father, having the same nature. It is only some of God's honour, that is put upon man, who is God's image, only as the shadow in the glass, or the king's impress upon the coin. God's image upon man consists in these three things, 1. In his nature and constitution, not those of his body, (for God has not a body,) but those of his soul. This honour, indeed, God has put upon the body of man, that the Word was made flesh, the Son of God was clothed with a body like ADAM'S HOUSE.-The place appointed for Adam's residence was a garden; not unto our's, and will shortly clothe our's with a glory like unto his. 2. In his an ivory house, or a palace overlaid with gold, but a garden, furnished and place and authority. Let us make man in our image, and let them have dominion. || adorned by nature, not by art. What little reason have men to be proud of |