CHAPTER II.

FIRST DAY.

_Section_ I.--CHAOS.

Inquiry into the origin of things natural to man -- Character of Moses as a sacred historian important -- Explanation of the term Created -- Chaotic state of the elementary principles of matter -- Influence of the Spirit of God upon the chaotic mass -- Opinions of the ancients -- Similitude between the first and second creation -- Agency of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration asserted and proved. p. 41-51.

_Section_ II.--FIRE.

Omnific word -- Moving principles in Nature -- Criticism on the original word איר _aur_ -- Creation of Fire -- Its nature -- Friction exciting the action of fire -- Fire attracted by bodies -- Fire conducted -- Fire in a state of combination -- Fire elastic -- Expansive force of fire -- Subterraneous fires -- Earthquakes and volcanic Eruptions -- Air a storehouse of fire -- General and final dissolution of nature by fire -- Fire a symbol of the Deity, in his gracious presence, vital influence, transforming energy, and destructive operation. p. 51-74.

_Section_ III.--LIGHT.

Motion of luminous and fiery particles the first cause of light -- Light the most simple body -- Velocity of light -- Light diffusive -- Light the medium through which objects become visible -- Light beautiful, or its rays of different colors -- Light a visible resemblance of its Divine Author, in his spirituality, simplicity, purity, energy, goodness, manifestation, glory. p. 75-89.

_Section_ IV.--DAY AND NIGHT.

Original terms of Day and Night -- Motion the effect of a Divine power -- Commencement of Time -- Utility of Day and Night -- Religious Improvement of Time -- Sin moral Darkness -- The Gospel a Light to dispel it -- A Christian the subject of a transition from the one state to the other. p. 89-95.