he shrouded in thick gloom, while with th<'m nn ai of cheerfulness is imparted to the ,larkened enrth. And, of course, least of nil could the S'ltn be wanted (for 'The Value of Light' vu/,. p. 13). 2. To distin{jltish day and night. 'l'he beneficence of this arrangement appears by reflecting on the inconvenience of either of the other two alternatives, perpetual day and perpetual night. The disadvantnges of the latter have been indicated; those of the former are scnrcely less numerous. The alternn- t!on of dnrkness-(i) Introduces variety in nature, which is always pleasing. Con- tmuous day would be in danger of becoming monotonous, at least in "this mundane world, if not in the celestial (Isa. Ix. 20; Rev. xxii. 5). (2) Meets the necessities of creature life, by supplying constantly-recurring periods of repose, which are eminently beneficial for the growth of plants, animals, and man. "Vegetable sleep is tlint relaxation of the vital processes which is indicated by the folding together and drooping of the leaves as night approaches" (Leo Grindon, 'Life: its Nature,' &c., p. 306). The animal tribes generally, with the exception of the wild beasts (Ps. eiv. 20), seek repose with the shades of evening. And man, without the recuperative slumber which darkness brings, would speedily e:xl1aust his energies. (3) Solemn- ises the mind of man, by suggesting tl,oughts of his frailty, of his end in the sleep of death, but also of his resurrection to the light of a better morning. 3. To mark tirnes and seasons. That the different seasons of the year are somehow connected with the cekstial bodies is perhaps nil that the Mosaic narrative can be made to teach. But we know them to be dependent on the earth's revolution round the sun. And the fact that God has so arranged the earth's relation to the sun as to produce tlicse seasons is n signal proof of the Divine goodness. Another is that God has so fixed and determined their movements as to enable man to measure time by their means. V17ithout the help of sun, moon, and stars chronology would be impossible. III. Proclaim the DIVINE POWER. More than any other science, astronomy ennbles us to realise the physical omnipotence of the Deity. Imagination becomes bewildered by the effort to represent the quantity of force required to propel a globe like our earth through the depths of space at the immense velocity of 65,000 miles nn hour. What, then, must be the strength of that arm which, in addition, hurls Jupiter, equal in weight to 1400 earths, along his orbit with a velocity of 29,000 miles an hour? And not Jupiter alone, but suns immensely greater, at rates of motion that transcend conception. Well said Job (eh. mi. 14). Yet, perhaps, the Divine power is as much e,inced by the perpetuation of these celestial masses nnd movements as by their first production. Not only has God made the sidereal firmament, with :its stupendous o-lobes and amazing velocities, but he ha~ so established them that since the begin- ~ing they ha,e kept on their mystic paths without rebellion and without confusion (Ps. c:x.hi:i. 5). IV. Reflect the DIVINE BEAUTY. Perhaps glory is the better word. The counter- part of glory in the Creator is beauty in the creature. The celestial luminaries were approved as good, doubtless, for their uses, but likewis~ for the~selve_s, as_ bei~g o~ incomparable splendour. " God bath made everythmg ~eautJful m h_1s time (Eccles. iii. 11). Nothing that God does make can be otherwise than beautiful; and by their splendour, their order, their unity, they seem to mirror forth the majesty, 1u,d purity, and oneness of him to whom they owe their being.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS A UTHOns. Vers. 14-19.-Thefourth day. Notice- . I. Goo PREPARES HEAVEN AND EARTH FOR MAN. Light needed for tho vegetable ~,orJd. But when the higher life is introduced, then there is an order which implies intelligence and active rational existence. The sign~ are for those _that cni:i ?bsen:o the signs. The seasons, days, and years for the bemg who consc1ously d1v1des Ins life. 11. THE LUMINARIES ARE BAID TO RULE THE DAY AND NIGHT. The concentration of light is the appointed method of its diffusion, and adaptation to the purposes of man's existence. So in the moral world and in the spiritual world. Thero must he rule system diversities of gifts diversities of operations. Distinctions of glory-of tLe ~un, mo~n, stars. As the li:Jlu, so is the r:ile. '!'hose possessed of much !JOWi", CII, I. 20--23.] THE BOOK OF GENESlS. 2/;
to c11lig-liten oll1ers ought to bo rulers by their Divinely-appoiutc<l place am! wur:,. Dul nil the light which flows from heavenly bodies has first been communicated to them. We give out to others what we receive. lll. This setting out of time remindR us that TH& EARTHLY EXISTENCE JS NO'r SUl'nEm:, but ruled over until it is itself lifted up into the higher state where cfay and night and diurnal changes are no more. 'fhe life of man is governed hero largely by the order of the material universe. But as he grows into the true child of God he rises to a dominion over sun, moon, and stars. 1. Intellectual. By becoming master of many of the secrets of nature. 2 . .llforal. The consciousness of fellow- ship with God is a sense of moral superiority to material things. The sanctified will and affections have n sphere of rule wider than the physical universe, outlasting the perishable earth and sky. 3. Spiritual. l\fan is earthly first, ond then heavenly. Human nature i~ developed under the rule of sun, moon-,- and stars. In the world where there shall be no more night the consciousness of man will be that of a spirit, not unwitting of the material, but ruling it with angelic freedom and power.-R.