¹起初 ，神 创造 天 地 。

¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

¹1,2 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and

useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The

faith of humble Christians understands this better than the

fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and

earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make

and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to

keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of

God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world;

nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and

nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should

there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of

that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the

beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit,

whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other

parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing

desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void;

it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of

grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul,

one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and

every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God;

it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by

nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.

²地 是 空虚 混沌 ，渊 面 黑暗 ；神 的灵 运行 在水 面 上 。

²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

²1,2 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and

useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The

faith of humble Christians understands this better than the

fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and

earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make

and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to

keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of

God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world;

nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and

nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should

there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of

that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the

beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit,

whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other

parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing

desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void;

it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of

grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul,

one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and

every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God;

it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by

nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.

³神 说 ：要有 光 ，就有了 光 。

³And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

³3-5 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once

there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the

new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is

light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by

enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness,

by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been

always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given

us understanding, #1Jo 5:20|. The light which God willed, he

approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what

fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect

light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no

gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use

both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in

him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.

⁴神 看 光 是好的 ，就把光 暗 分开了 。

⁴And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.^a

⁴3-5 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once

there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the

new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is

light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by

enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness,

by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been

always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given

us understanding, #1Jo 5:20|. The light which God willed, he

approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what

fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect

light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no

gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use

both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in

him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.

⁵神 称 光 为昼 ，称 暗 为夜 。有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，这是头一 日 。

⁵And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.^b

⁵3-5 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once

there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the

new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is

light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by

enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness,

by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been

always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given

us understanding, #1Jo 5:20|. The light which God willed, he

approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what

fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect

light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no

gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use

both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in

him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.

⁶神 说 ：诸水 之间 要有 空气 ，将水 分 为上下。

⁶ ¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.^c

⁶6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

⁷神 就造出 空气 ，将空气 以下 的水 、空气 以上 的水 分开了 。事就这样成了 。

⁷And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

⁷6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

⁸神 称 空气 为天 。有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，是第二 日 。

⁸And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.^d

⁸6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

⁹神 说 ：天 下的水 要聚在 一 处 ，使旱 地露出来 。事就这样成了。

⁹ ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

⁹6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

¹⁰神 称 旱地 为地 ，称 水 的聚 处为海 。神 看着 是好的 。

¹⁰And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

¹⁰6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

¹¹神 说 ：地 要发生 青草 和结 种子 的菜蔬 ，并结 果子 的树木 ，各从其类 ， 果子都包着核 。事就这样成了。

¹¹And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.^e

¹¹6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

¹²于是地 发生了 青草 和结 种子 的菜蔬 ，各从其类 ；并结 果子 的树木 ，各从其类 ；果子都包着核 。神 看着 是好的 。

¹²And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

¹²6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

¹³有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，是第三 日 。

¹³And the evening and the morning were the third day.^f

¹³6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became

full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of

them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service

and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings

forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all

the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we

have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we

may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are

dried up.

¹⁴神 说 ：天上 要有 光体 ，可以分 昼 夜 ，作记号 ，定节令 、日子 、年岁 ，

¹⁴ ¶ And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:^g

¹⁴14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

¹⁵并要 发光 在天空 ，普照 在地 上。事就这样成了。

¹⁵And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

¹⁵14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

¹⁶于是神 造了 两个 大 光 ，大的 管 昼 ，小的 管 夜 ，又造众星 ，

¹⁶And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.^h

¹⁶14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

¹⁷就把这些光摆列 在天空 ，普照 在地 上，

¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

¹⁷14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

¹⁸管理 昼 夜 ，分别 明 暗 。神 看着 是好的 。

¹⁸And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

¹⁸14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

¹⁹有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，是第四 日 。

¹⁹And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.ⁱ

¹⁹14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon,

and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The

stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling

their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the

Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us

astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The

lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,

and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in

this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end

of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God,

as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but

do not mind our Master's work.

²⁰神 说 ：水 要多多滋生 有生命 的物 ；要有雀鸟 飞 在地面 以上 ，天空 之中 (原文作天空的表面)。

²⁰And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.^{j, k, l, m}

²⁰20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²¹神 就造出 大 鱼 和水 中所滋生 各样有生命 的动 物 ，各从其类 ；又造出各样飞 鸟 ，各从其类 。神 看着 是好的 。

²¹And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

²¹20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²²神 就赐福 给这一切，说 ：滋生 繁多 ，充满 海 中的水 ；雀鸟 也要多生 在地 上。

²²And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

²²20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²³有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，是第五 日 。

²³And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.ⁿ

²³20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²⁴神 说 ：地 要生出 活 物 来，各从其类 ；牲畜 、昆虫 、地上 的野兽 ，各从其类 。事就这样成了。

²⁴ ¶ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

²⁴20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²⁵于是神 造出 野兽 ，各从其类 ；牲畜 ，各从其类 ；地 上一切昆虫 ，各从其类 。神 看着 是好的 。

²⁵And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

²⁵20-25 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This

command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous

than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been

part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to

be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of

God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the

effect of his blessing.

²⁶神 说 ：我们要照着我们的形象 、按着我们的样式 造 人 ，使他们管理 海 里的鱼 、空 中的鸟 、地上的牲畜 ，和全地 ，并地 上所爬 的一切昆虫 。

²⁶ ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

²⁶26-28 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an

honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that

the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with

theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth

with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the

desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that

perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had

been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be

put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he

was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into

that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe

our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's

image. Man was made upright, #Ec 7:29|. His understanding saw

Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or

mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in

all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular,

and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were

easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus

happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon

them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the

Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!

²⁷神 就照着自己的形象 造 人 ，乃是照着他 的形象 造 男 造女 。

²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

²⁷26-28 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an

honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that

the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with

theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth

with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the

desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that

perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had

been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be

put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he

was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into

that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe

our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's

image. Man was made upright, #Ec 7:29|. His understanding saw

Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or

mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in

all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular,

and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were

easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus

happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon

them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the

Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!

²⁸神 就赐福 给他们，又对他们说 ：要生养 众多 ，遍满 地 面，治理 这地，也要管理 海 里的鱼 、空 中的鸟 ，和地 上各样行动 的活物 。

²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.^o

²⁸26-28 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an

honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that

the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with

theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth

with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the

desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that

perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had

been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be

put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he

was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into

that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe

our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's

image. Man was made upright, #Ec 7:29|. His understanding saw

Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or

mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in

all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular,

and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were

easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus

happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon

them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the

Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!

²⁹神 说 ：看哪 ，我将遍地 上 一切结 种子 的菜蔬 和一切树 上所结 有核 的果子 全赐给 你们作 食物 。

²⁹ ¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.^{p, q}

²⁹29,30 Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and

all the products of the earth. Let God's people cast their care

upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and

what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve

his babes.

³⁰至于地 上的走兽 和空中的飞鸟 ，并各样爬 在地 上有生命 的物，我将青草 赐给他们作食物 。事就这样成了。

³⁰And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.^r

³⁰29,30 Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and

all the products of the earth. Let God's people cast their care

upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and

what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve

his babes.

³¹神 看着 一切所造 的都甚 好 。有 晚上 ，有 早晨 ，是第六 日 。

³¹And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.^s

³¹31 When we come to think about our works, we find, to our

shame, that much has been very bad; but when God saw his work,

all was very good. Good, for it was all just as the Creator

would have it to be. All his works, in all places of his

dominion, bless him; and therefore, bless thou the Lord, O my

soul. Let us bless God for the gospel of Christ, and when we

consider his almighty power, let us sinners flee from the wrath

to come. If new-created unto the image of God in holiness, we

shall at length enter the "new heavens and new earth, wherein

dwelleth righteousness."