Seventhly, some may ask in what space of time did God make the world? I answer, God could have made the world, and all things in it in one moment: but he began and finished the whole work in six distinct days.1 In the first day he made the matter of all things and the light: in the second the heavens; in the third day he brought the sea into his compass, and made the dry land appear, and caused it to bring forth herbs, plants, and trees: in the fourth he made the Sun, the Moon, and the stars in heaven: in the fifth day he made the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the heaven, and every creeping thing: in the sixth day he made the beasts of the field, and all cattle, and in the end of the sixth day he made man. Thus in six distinct spaces of time, the Lord did make all things: and that especially for three causes. I. To teach men that they ought to have a distinct and serious consideration of every creature: for if God made the world in a moment, some might have said, this work is so mystical, that no man can speak of it. But for the preventing of this cavil, it was his pleasure to make the world and all things therein in six days: and the seventh day he commanded it to be sanctified by men, that they might distinctly and seriously mediate upon every days work of the creation. II. God ⟨p. 224⟩made the world, and every thing therein in six distinct days, to teach us, what wonderful power and liberty he had over all his creatures: for he made the light when there was neither Sun nor Moon, nor stars: to show, that in giving light to the world, he is not bound to the Sun, to any creature, or to any means: for the light was made the first day: but the sun, the moon, and the stars were not created before the fourth day. Again, trees and plants were created the third day: but yet the sun, moon, and the stars, and rain which nourish and make herbs, trees, and plants to grow were not created till after the third day: which shows plainly, that God can make trees, plants, and herbs to grow without the means of rain, and without the virtue and operation of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars. III. He made the world in six distinct days, and framed all things in this order, to teach us his wonderful providence over all his creatures:
Seuenthly, some may aske in what space of time did God make the world? I answer, God could haue made the world, and all things in it in one moment: but he began and finished the whole worke in sixe distinct daies.1 In the first day he made the matter of all things and the light: in the second the heauens; in the third day he brought the sea into his compasse, and made the drie land appeare, and caused it to bring forth hearbs, plants, and trees: in the fourth he made the Sunne, the Moone, and the starres in heauen: in the fifth day he made the fishes of the sea, the foules of the heauen, and euery cree•ing thing: in the sixth day he made the beasts of the field, and all cattell, and in the end of the sixth day he made man. Thus in sixe distinct spaces of time, the Lord did make all things: and that especially for three causes. I. To teach men that they ought to haue a distinct and serious consideration of euery creature: for if God made the world in a moment, some might haue saide, this worke is so mysticall, that no man can speake of it. But for the preuenting of this cauill, it was his pleasure to make the world and all things therein in sixe daies: and the seuenth day he commanded it to be sanctified by men, that they might distinctly and seriously mediate vpon euery daies worke of the creation. II. God ⟨p. 224⟩made the world, and euery thing therein in sixe distinct daies, to teach vs, what wonderfull power and libertie he had ouer all his creatures: for he made the light when there was neither Sunne nor Moone, nor starres: to shew, that in giuing light to the world, he is not bound to the Sunne, to any creature, or to any meanes: for the light was made the first day: but the sunne, the moone, and the starres were not created before the fourth day. Againe, trees and plants were created the third day: but yet the sunne, moone, and the starres, and raine which nourish and make hearbs, trees, and plants to grow were not created till after the third day: which shewes plainely, that God can make trees, plants, and hearbs to grow without the means of raine, and without the vertue and operation of the Sunne, the Moone, and the starres. III. He made the world in sixe distinct daies, and framed all things in this order, to teach vs his wonderfull prouidence ouer all his creatures:
- 1Gen. 1.
