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<p>We have here a further account of the first day’s work, in which observe, 1. That the first of all visible beings which God created was light; not that by it he himself might see to work (for the darkness and light are both alike to him), but that by it we might see his works and his glory in them, and might work our works while it is day. The works of Satan and his servants are works of darkness; but he that doeth truth, and doeth good, cometh to the light, and coveteth it, <i>that his deeds may be made manifest</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="John.3.21" href="/passage/?search=John.3.21">John 3:21</a>. Light is the great beauty and blessing of the universe. Like the first-born, it does, of all visible beings, most resemble its great Parent in purity and power, brightness and beneficence; it is of great affinity with a spirit, and is next to it; though by it we see other things, and are sure that it is, yet we know not its nature, nor can describe what it is, or <i>by what way the light is parted</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Job.38.19,Job.38.24" href="/passage/?search=Job.38.19,Job.38.24"><span class="bibleref" title="Job.38.19">Job 38:19</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Job.38.24">24</span></a>. By the sight of it let us be led to, and assisted in, the believing contemplation of him who is light, infinite and eternal light (<a class="bibleref" title="1John.1.5" href="/passage/?search=1John.1.5">1 John 1:5</a>), and the <i>Father of lights</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Jas.1.17" href="/passage/?search=Jas.1.17">Jas. 1:17</a>), and who dwells in inaccessible light, <a class="bibleref" title="1Tim.6.16" href="/passage/?search=1Tim.6.16">1 Tim. 6:16</a>. In the new creation, the first thing wrought in the soul is <i>light</i>: the blessed Spirit captives the will and affections by enlightening the understanding, so coming into the heart by the door, like the good shepherd whose own the sheep are, while sin and Satan, like thieves and robbers, climb up some other way. Those that by sin were darkness by grace become light in the world. 2. That the light was made by the word of God’s power. He said, <i>Let there be light</i>; he willed and appointed it, and it was done immediately: <i>there was light</i>, such a copy as exactly answered the original idea in the Eternal Mind. O the power of the word of God! <i>He spoke, and it was done</i>, done really, effectually, and for perpetuity, not in show only, and to serve a present turn, for <i>he commanded, and it stood fast</i>: with him it was <i>dictum, factum—a word, and a world</i>. The world of God (that is, his will and the good pleasure of it) is quick and powerful. Christ is the Word, the essential eternal Word, and by him the light was produced, for <i>in him was light, and he is the true light, the light of the world</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="John.1.9,John.9.5" href="/passage/?search=John.1.9,John.9.5"><span class="bibleref" title="John.1.9">John 1:9</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="John.9.5">9:5</span></a>. The divine light which shines in sanctified souls is wrought by the power of God, the power of his word and of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, opening the understanding, scattering the mists of ignorance and mistake, and giving the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, as at first, <i>God commanded the light to shine out of darkness</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="2Cor.4.6" href="/passage/?search=2Cor.4.6">2 Cor. 4:6</a>. Darkness would have been perpetually upon the face of fallen man if the Son of God had not <i>come, and given us an understanding</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.20" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.20">1 John 5:20</a>. 3. That the light which God willed, when it was produced, he approved of: <i>God saw the light that it was good</i>. It was exactly as he designed it, and it was fit to answer the end for which he designed it. It was useful and profitable; the world, which now is a palace, would have been a dungeon without it. It was amiable and pleasant. <i>Truly the light is sweet</i> (<a clas
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