The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

CHAP. XLVI. The time and manner of the Creation. (Book 46)

MOSES in the first verse of the Bible refutes three Heathen opinions: namely, theirs that thought the World was Eternal, for he saith, in the beginning, &c. Secondly, theirs that thought there was no God, for he saith, Elohim created. Thirdly, theirs that thought there were many gods, for he saith, * 1.1 Elohim he created Heaven and Earth. The fird word in the beginning may draw our minds and thoughts to the last thing, the latter end, and this thought must draw our affections from too much love of the World, for it must have an end as it had a beginning. I will not stand to comment upon the word Berishith in the beginning, for then I know not when to come to an end. To treat how the divers expositors labour about the beginning of the world, is a world of labour. How the Jerus. Targ. translates it, In wisdom, and is followed by Rabbi Tan∣chum, and many Jews: How Targ. Jonath. useth an Arabian word, Min Awwala, a primo; Onkelos, in primis or in principio: Jarchi in principio creationis creavit. How Basil the great, Saint Ambrose, and hundreds others do interpret this, is a work endless to ex∣amine. Satisfied am I with this, that the world and all things had their beginning from God, that in the beginning created Heaven and Earth. Some of the Jews do invert the word Bereshith, and make it Betisri that is in the month Tisri was the world created. This month is about our September, and that the world was created in this month (to let

other reasons alone) this satisfies me, that the Feast of Tabernacles which was in this month, is called the end of the year, Exod. 23. 16. And this I take to be the reason, why the Jews began to read the Bible in their Synagogues, at the Feast of Tabernacles, viz. that they might begin the lecture of the Creation, in Gen. 1. at that time of the year that the world was created.

The manner of the Creation shews the workman powerful and wise. The making of the Angels concealed by Moses, lest men should (like those hereticks in Epiph.) think they helped God in the Creation. For if their day of their Creation (* 1.2 which was in most likelihood the first) had been named, wicked men would have been ready to have taken them for actors in this work, which were only spectators. Therefore as God hides* 1.3 Moses after his death, so Moses hides the Creation of them, lest they should be deisied, and the honour due to the Creator given to the creature. God in framing the world, be∣gins above and works downward; and in three days he lays the parts of the world, and in the three other days, he adorns those parts.

The first day he makes all the Heavens, the matter of the Earth, and comes down so low as the Light.

The second lower, and makes the Firmament or Air.

The third lowest of all, and makes distinction of Earth and Water.

Thus in three days the parts, or body of the World is laid, in three days more, and in the same order they are furnished. For on

The fourth day the Heavens, which were made the first day, are deckt with Stars.

The fifth day the Firmament, which was made the second day, is filled with Birds.

The sixth day the Earth, which was laid fit the third day, is replenished with Beasts, and lastly * 1.4 Man.

Thus God in the six days finished all his work of Creation. ‖ 1.5 For the ten things that the Chaldee Paraphrast saith, God created on the evening of the Sabbath, after the World was finished: I refer them to their Authors to believe them.

R. Jarchi on Gen. 2. observes, that God created one day superior things, and another day inferior: his words are to this purpose.

On the first day he created Heaven above and Earth beneath. On the second day, the Fir∣mament above. On the third, let the dry Land appear beneath. On the fourth day, Lights above. On the fifth day, let the Waters bring forth beneath. On the sixth, he must create both Superiour and Inferiour, as he had done on the first, lest there should be con∣fusion in his Work, therefore he made Man of both, his Soul from above, and his Body from beneath.

R. Tanchumah shews how the making of the Tabernacle harmonizeth with the making of the World: The Light of the first day answered, by the Candlestick, for Light the first work; and the spreading of the Firmament, like a curtain, answered by the Curtains the second work, and so of the rest.

Every one knows the old conceit of the worlds lasting six thousand years, because it was made in six days: and of Elias Prophesie among the Jews, of the world end∣ing, at the end of six thousand: which Prophesie of his is flat against the words of Christ: Many believe these opinions, yet few prepare for the end which they think is so near.

God hath taught us by the course of the Creation of the old world, what our proceedings must be, that we may become a new Creation, or new Heavens, and a new Earth, renewed both in Soul and Body.

• 1. On the first day he made the Light, so the first thing in the new Man must be Light of Knowledge, so saith Saint Paul, Heb. 11. He that cometh to God must know that he is.
• 2. On the second day he made the Firmament, so called, because of its * 1.6 surness, so the second step in Mans new Creation must be Firmamentum Fidei, the sure foundation of Faith.
• 3. On the third day, the Seas and Trees bearing fruit: So the third step in the new* 1.7 Man is that he become Waters of repentant Tears, and that he bring forth Fruit worthy of these Tears. Bring forth Fruit worthy of Repentance, saith the Baptist, Matth. 3.
• 4. On the fourth day, God created the Sun: that whereas on the first day there was light but without heat; now on the fourth day, there is light and heat joyned to∣gether. So the fourth step in the new Creation of a new Man is, that he joyn the heat of Zeal with the light of his Knowledge: as in the Sacrifices fire and salt were ever joyned.
• ...

• 5. The fifth days work, was of fishes to play in the Seas, and the souls to flie to∣ward Heaven: So the fifth step in a new creature is, to live and rejoyce in a Sea of trou∣bles, and to flie by prayer and contemplation to Heaven.
• 6. On the sixth day, God makes man: and all these things performed, man is a new creature. To reckon them altogether then, as S. Peter does his golden chain of vertues, 2 Pet. 1. Add to your light of Knowledge, the firmament of Faith, to your Faith, Seas of repentant Tears, to your Tears, the fruitful Trees of good Works, to your good Works, the hot Sunshine of Zeal, to your Zeal, the winged souls of Prayer and Contemplation; Et ecce omnia facta sunt nova. Behold you are become a new Creature.

As the Bible begins, so it ends with a new Creation, of a new Heaven and a new Earth, and a new Paradise, and a new Tree of Life, Apoc. 21. unto all which, O thou whom my soul loveth, say come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Even those that have not Hebrew, can tell there is a mystery of the Trinity in Elo∣him, bara, but few mark how sweetly this is answered with the same Phrase in manner, in the Haphtara which is read by the Jews to this portion of Moses, vi••. Esa. 42. 5. Jehovah bore ••a shama••lm, venotehem: Jehovah being singular, and ••otehem plurall. which might be rendred, Deus creans coelos, & Deus extendentes eos.
• * 1.2

  Bab. Solom. holds they were made the second day.
• * 1.3

  Many Divines hold for the fourth.
• * 1.4

  The Seventy Interpreters on Gen. 2. 2. in∣stead of God had finished on the seventh day, read he finished on the sixth day.
• ‖ 1.5

  Chaldee Pa∣raph. on Numb. 22. and Iarch. on Deut. 34. and Pirke Abhoth.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In Hes••od. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  Hom. Odys. 3