ON THE CREATION. 77 Night. On what day did God create light? What was the work of the first day? To create light, and to separate it from the darkness. SECOND DAY'S WORK. THE CREATION OF What did God create after light? The firmament. What is the firmament? The air, or atmosphere. Where is the firmament? Between the earth and the sky. Can we see through it? Yes. Why? Because it is transparent. What can we see in the firmament? The sun, the clouds, the birds. Is it wide? Yes. How far is it spread? Over the whole earth. What did God say when he wished to create the firmament? Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters. For what did God make the firmament? To divide the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were over the firmament. What are the waters under the firmament? G 3 What are the waters over the firmament? The clouds and vapours. What do the clouds produce? Rain, snow, and hail. Where does God bind up the waters of the firmament? In the thick clouds. Where are the seas, lakes, and rivers? Under the firmament. Where are the clouds? Over the firmament. For what was the firmament or atmosphere made? To divide the clouds above from the waters on the earth. From whence did God cause the vapours to ascend? From the ends of the earth. What did God call the firmament? Heaven. Is the firmament beautiful? Yes. What is more beautiful? The heaven where God is. Who is also in heaven with God? Holy angels, and all the children of God. What would happen if we had not air to breathe ? We should die. What would become of plants and animals, if there was no atmosphere? They would die also. On what day did God create the firmament? What may be truly said of the heavens, and the firmament? The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy-work. THIRD DAY'S WORK. THE SEPARATION OF What were gathered together on the third day? The dry land. Into what were the waters formed on this day?. Into oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and springs. Where do all the rivers run? Into the sea. Why does not the sea overflow with all the rivers pouring their waters into it? Because mists and vapours ascend from the sea to the sky continually. What do the mists and vapours form in the sky? The clouds. Do they fall again on the earth? Yes. As what do they fall? As rain or snow. From whence does rain come? From the clouds. What becomes of it? It trickles through the earth and forms springs? How are the rivers formed? By the overflowing of the springs. What do the rivers do? They water the earth, and fall into the sea. What becomes of the water which falls as rain? It returns to the clouds as vapour. By what are the vapours drawn upwards? By the heat of the sun. What did God also form on this day? The hills, the vallies, the plains, and the mountains. 80 A TEACHER'S LESSONS Are the materials which are on and in the earth useful to man? Yes. What materials do we get out of the earth? 'To build with. For what is coal useful? To make fires with. What articles are made of iron? Grates, ploughshares, nails, knives, &c. Name some precious stones? Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, &c. What does the ocean produce? Pearls, salt, corals, &c. Of what are the earth and the sea full? Of God's riches. For whose abode were the land and waters created? For multitudes of living creatures. Are these creatures useful? Yes. Tell me some beasts whose flesh is good for food? Tell me some animals which give us clothing? Tell me some animals which produce materials for man to work with? The sheep gives us wool, which employs many men, women, and children, to make into cloth. The ox gives us his skin for man to make into leather, and his bones and horns for man to make into combs and other useful things. The elephant gives us ivory, of which rulers and many other articles are made. The horse gives us hair, with which chairs and sofas are stuffed. What did God call the dry land? Earth. What did God call the collection of the waters? Seas. THE CREATION OF PLANTS, With what was the earth covered at God's command? With plants of all kinds. What did God say? Let the earth bring forth grass, and herbs, and fruits. Did the earth obey its Creator? Yes. What did the earth bring forth? Grass and herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees yielding fruit, whese seed was in itself. What were the seeds for? To produce new plants. What did God cause to grow for cattle? What did God cause to grow for the service of man? Herbs. Why did God do this? That man might bring forth fruit out of the earth, |