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light, and to separate it from the dark

ness.

SECOND DAY'S WORK. THE CREATION OF THE FIRMAMENT.

After the creation of light, God created the firmament. The firmament is the air or atmosphere, which is between the earth and the blue sky. We can see through the firmament, because it is transparent; we can see the sun, the clouds, the birds, and all things which appear in the firmament. The firma. ment is very wide, for it is spread over the whole earth. When God wished to create the firmament, he said-"let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters. God made the firmament to divide the waters which were under the firmament, from the waters which were above the firmament."* The waters under the firma

Genesis, c. i. verses 6, 7.

ment are the seas, lakes, and rivers.

The

waters over the firmament are the clouds and vapours which produce rain, snow, and hail. in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them."* The seas, lakes, and rivers, are under the firmament.

"God bindeth up the waters

The

clouds are over the firmament. The firmament or atmosphere was made to divide or keep separate, the clouds above from the waters which are on the earth beneath. "God caused the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth."+ God called the firmament-heaven. The firmament of heaven is very beautiful, but the heaven where God is, is much more beautiful; holy angels are there, and all the children of God. If we had not air to breathe, we could not be alive; animals and plants could not live if there

Job. c. xxyi. verse 8. Psalm cxxxv. verse 7.

was not an atmosphere over the earth. The creation of the firmament was the work of the second day, and truly we may say, "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work."*

THIRD DAY'S WORK.-THE SEPARATION OF LAND AND WATER.

On the third day, with his powerful word, God gathered together the waters of the earth which were under the firmament, and the dry land appeared. On this day the great ocean, the seas, the rivers, the lakes, and the springs of water were formed. "All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full." The sea does not overflow, because mists and vapours continually ascend from it to the sky; "they pour down rain according to

Psalm xix. verse 1.

Ecclesiastes, c. i. verse 7.

the vapour thereof;"* the mists and vapours form the clouds which descend as rain, or snow, upon the earth. "Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."+ Rain comes from the clouds, it trickles through the earth, and fills the springs, the springs overflow and form rivers, the rivers water the earth, and fall into the sea; all the water which falls as rain returns to the clouds, as vapour, which is drawn upwards by the heat of the sun. "Fire and hail, and snow and vapour, stormy wind fulfil God's word."‡ "He calleth for the waters of the sea; and poureth them out upon the face of the earth."§ On this day God also formed the hills, the vallies, the plains, and the mountains. These are the high and low parts of the earth. The materials of the earth are very use

Job, c. xxxvi. verse 27.
Psalm cxlviii. verse 8.

† Ecclesiastes, c. i. verse 7.

§ Amos, c. v. verse 8..

to man.

ful to man. stone, and clay, and lime, for building; coal for fires; iron, copper, tin, and all metals; diamonds and all precious stones. The ocean produces salt, pearls, coral, and many other materials that are useful "The earth is full of thy riches; so is this great and wide sea."* The land and the waters were formed to be the abode of multitudes of creatures, all of which are good. Some are used for food, some for clothing, some as other materials, for man's use and comfort. When God had separated the land from the waters, he called the dry land, earth; and he called the gathering together of the waters, seas.

Out of the earth we get

Psalm civ. verses 24, 25,

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