Page:A commentary upon the first book of Moses called Genesis (IA cuponfi00patr).pdf/16

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thing. It is oberved by Euebius (in the beginning of his Book De Præpar. Evang. p. 21 & 25. Edit. Pari.) That neither the ancient Hitorians, nor the Philoophers, do o much as mention, no, not o far as to name, when they write of the beginning of the world. But this Divine Law-giver, deigning to hang the whole Frame of his Polity, upon Piety towards, and to make the Creator of all, the Founder of his Laws, begins with him. Not after the manner of the Egyptians and Phoenicians, who betowed this adorable Name; upon a great Mulditude: But puts in the Front of his Work, the Name of the ole Caue of all things: the Maker of whatoever is een or uneen. As if he had told the Hebrew Nation, That he who gave them the Law contained in thee Books, was the King and Law-giver of the whole World: Which was, like a great City, governed by him. Whom therefore he would have them look upon, not only as the Enacter of their Laws; but of thofe alo which all Nature obeys. See L. VII. ''De Prpar. Evang.'' c. 9, 10. & L. XII. c. 16.

The Heaven and the Earth.] The Hebrew Particle Eth, put before both Heaven and Earth, ignifies as much as with, if Maimonides undertood it aright; and makes the Sence to be this: He created the Heavens, with all things in the Heavens, and the Earth with all things in the Earth; as his Words are in More Nevochim, P. II. cap. 30. Certain it is thee two words, Heaven and Earth, comprehend the whole viible World. Some would have the Angels comprehended in the word Heaven; particularly Epiphanius, Hre. LXV. n. 45. . But others of the Fathers are of a different Rh