Vol 01 - Chapter 04 - Of the Sun, moon, and Stars; the work of the fourth day.

Chapter 04 - Of the Sun, moon, and Stars; the work of the fourth day
1. THE, stars are bright, heavenly bodies, fixed in the firmament of heaven, by the word of the Most High, to enlighten the earth, to distinguish the night from the day, to adorn the heavens; to be signs and tokens of nature, of judgment, of mercy, of seasons, days, and years. 1 Corinthians 15:41, Genesis 1:14, Eccles 43: 2.
2. " Lift up your eyes on high, (says GOD, Isaiah 40:26,) and behold who has created these things; that bringeth out their host by number. He calls them all by their names." We ought, therefore, according to his command, to contemplate these illustrious works of his hands, and learn from thence to admire and adore the power and wisdom of him that made them. " For the heavens declare the glory of GOD, and the firmament shows his handy work," Psal_. 19: 1.
3. In the stars there arc three things chiefly worthy of,our admiration; their magnitude, their courses, and their joperations.
4. 1 doubt not but if a man were to see a globe of fire as big as a vast mountain, or a large city all in flame, moving to and fro in the air, he would look upon it with astonishment and horror. Now it is demonstrable, that the globe of the sun is many hundred times greater than the earth; from whence we may conjecture, how great and inconceivable a space in the heavens the sun must take up. Yea the least of the fixed stars in the firmament of heaven, is far greater than the earth. And yet in the firmament are many millions of these stars, which, by reason of their vast distance, cannot be discerned by us.
5. Here reason is at a stand. No created mind can reach the height and dimensions of heaven. Hence it is, that the Holy Scripture, speaking of God's infinite compassion, compares it to the greatness of heaven. " Look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is his mercy also towards them that fear him. Look how wide the east also is from the west, so far has he set our sins from us." For though " the earth be full of the goodness of the Lord," (Psal. 33: 5,) yet is the compass of it too small to be compared therewith. Forr this cause, the Holy Spirit bids us look up to the height of heaven, furnished with innumerable glorious bodies, all full of the goodness of GOD, and vastly larger than this lower world.
6. Moreover, the incomprehensible greatness of the Divine Power is manifested, not only in the hulk of the heavenly bodies; but also in their constant and immutable courses." For who can observe without admiration, such prodigious bodies, not only hanging in the sky, but moving up and down in it with constant regularity This, and what follows, is to be understood of the motions, not of the tiiacd stars, but of the planets and comets, and how great and incomprehensible a space must each of them have to perform their courses in; -and these so determined and settled, that they never exceed their appointed limits, nor interfere with each other in their revolutions So that David truly pronounces, "God by his excellent wisdom, made the heavens," Psal. exxxvi. 5. How transcendently excellent must that wisdom be, that can guide and govern the infinite host of heaven in such admirable order, and call them all by their names!
7. Wonderful it is also that these vast lucid bodies should have a motion in themselves, that they cannot. naturally, for one moment, stand still, or rest from their courses. For if shey should, the whole heavenly order would be disturbed. So then the least star never stands still, but is perpetually in quick and inconceivable motion. If a man could, but for a quarter of an hour, take a view of all their distinct motions, he would be able to tell us very surprising thin -s, and witness to us, that the whole heaven is actuated by a vital spirit or principle.
8. And the consideration of the motions and multitude of these stars may put us in mind of those bright and invisible stars, the angels of God. To this Job alludes, ch. 38: 7, " When the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy." By which words the holy writer leads us from the natural stars to the supernatural, even the holy angels. For if God has created so great a multitude of stars, who can doubt but that he has a much greater multitude of celestial spirits, who praise him without ceasing P
9. I proceed to the benefits which God bestows upon us by the light of the sun and moon. And these we must consider in the fear of GOD, and chew how we may use them, both in a natural and spiritual sense. "Tell inc," says God to Job, " where is the way where light dwells and as for darkness, where is the place thereof', Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion Can you bring forth Mazzsroth in his selison, or cant you guide Arcturus with his sons Knows you the ordinances of heaven Can you set the dominions thereof in the earth Can you lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of water may cover thee Job 38:19; Job 38:31, &c. In which words God represents to us his infinite power and wisdom, such as no mortal can search out. For so unable is the wisest man to form light or darkness, that he cannot so much as produce a blade of grass. " Not unto us then, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise;" for you have made all these things, and thy hand has formed them.
10. And first, as for the moon, how wonderful is its increase and decrease! Sometimes it seems to be shut up in darkness; and again in its season to emerge, by degrees, into a fullness of light. And these varieties has God appointed for a regular distinction of times and seasons, and of the affairs and business of mankind.
11. And how abundantly is the wisdom of God displayed, even in this certain course of the moon, and distinction of seasons! In all states and conditions, the chief part of prudence is, to keep a good order; and to observe the proper opportunities of acting. So " God himself has ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight," Wisd. 11: 20. And every season has its proper opportunities and blessings attending it. " To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1. And as the hitting the proper season is truly all happiness, so it is also a blessing of God; of whom we ought to ask it by prayer.
12. And who can choose but admire the certain course of the sun; from which the heathens themselves gathered the being of a GOD, a perfect, intelligent mind, which could govern it with such exact regularity, as that it should never break out of its proper sphere, (which they call the way of the sun, the ecliptic line) or ever deviate from the path prescribed to it Thus it never passes southward over the first point of capricorn; but having brought us to the very point of winter, it turns back again. So when it comes northward, as far as the first point of cancer, it immediately retires back. And thine course it so regularly and nicely fulfils, that it never makes a single mistake, even of a moment.
13. And now, who can consider these amazing acts of Divine power and wisdom, without admiration and praise to the Author of nature This astonishing mystery of nature appeared so stupendous to the ancient heathens; that they worshipped even the sun for their god; as being the greatest and most beautiful of all creatures, enlightening all the world, and directing by its course and influences the inferior creation. Arid this was but a pardonable conclusion for blind corrupt reason to draw, though every part of the creation, to pure and right reason, does fully manifest the being and excellencies of the Creator.
14. As to the magnitude of the sun, moon, and stars, it is ridiculous to imagine, that they are really no bigger than they appear to us. For though the moon and some of the planets are less than the earth; yet the sun may be plainly and infallibly demonstrated, to be at least 166 times bigger; and that it appears so small to us, is owing to the immensity of its distance. Ocular demonstration_ convinces every man of this, that the more remote any object is, the lesser it appears. But a nice disquisition of these matters we must leave to astronomers; and be content religiously to admire what we do not tinder-stand.
15. And here ought we, to adore the omnipotence of GOD, who appointed the sun to be the light of the day, and the moon of the night. If we highly admire a light, well-built house, with a fair prospect, well furnished with good statues and pictures, and painted with a great variety of colors; how much more ought we to look up with gratitude and astonishment, upon that noble palace of heaven, adorned with so many, and so stupendous lights For light is the highest ornament of all creatures,
16. 2, How profound is the wisdom of GOD, " Who tells the number of the stars, and calls them all by their names," Psal. 147: 4, 5. To which is immediately subjoined, " Great is our Lord, and great is his power, yea, and his wisdom is infinite." How ought we then to depend upon this wisdom, and be satisfied in all its determinations concerning us, and not charge him with folly, by pretending to be wiser than he; " For the foolishness of God is wiser than men," 1 Corinthians 1:25.
17. The certain and regular course of the sun and moon, puts us in mind of the truth of GOD, and the undoubted certainty of his promises. Such as that of sending the Messiah; of the changes and revolutions of certain states and kingdoms; and other deliverances of mankind; all which appeared in their time. Thus says the Lord, by the prophet Jeremiah, " If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, that there should not be (lay nor night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant," ch. 33: 20, 25.
18. The sun, moon, and stars, are also witnesses of the Divine goodness; and of that eternal: light, that enlightens, comforts, and refreshes every man that cometh into the world. We should, by the distinction of the natural light, aspire to the knowledge of him that made it; and by the beauty of the created, be drawn to the love of the untreated light. And as we naturally take pleasure in the outward light, as the most beautiful of all the creatures; so ought we, with our whole hearts, to love him, who is light eternal; and to walk and rejoice in his light, by withdrawing ourselves from the darkness of sin.
19. Lastly, the visible sun should put us in mind of Jesus CHRIST, the spiritual and eternal Sun of Righteousness. For as that shines equally upon all men; so CHRIST freely bestows himself, and the light of his grace, upon all that will receive him.