Page:Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand.pdf/12

 The liquid Deep, the which did then run over.

The Earth's Surface, and it entirely cover;

Theſe Fountains great of Water did proceed

On the firſt Day from God their Fountain-head:

He Earth and Waters on this Day did make,

Both from his Hand their Origin did take.

But at this Time the Earth, the Air and Water,

Were all but one confuſed Heap of Matter;

The cold, the hot, the temp'rate, moiſt and dry,

In one profound confuſed Heap did ly;

A monſtrous Face the new Creation wears,

And void of Order, Form, and Light appears,

Till God who call'd the Chaos out of nought.

From thence all things to Form and Order brought;

In Order firſt a glorious God of Might

From this Confuſion he extracted Light,

When by a Word moſt powerful and divine.

He out of Darkneſs made the Light to ſhine;

Let there be Light, he ſaid, and preſently

The Light ſprang up, and made the Darkneſs fly,

Whoſe glorious Rays did chaſe the ſame away,

For all the Time and Seaſon of the Day.

Then Divine Order did allow the Light

To give the Darkneſs Place again at Night,

Which by alternate Turns of Night and Day,

While Time ſhall laſt to other ſhall give way;

As things of contrar Nature oft ſet forth,

And recommend their Excellence and Worth.

The Excellence of Light from thence we learn,

When we the Darkneſs of the Night diſcern;

But by what Mean the Lord on this firſt Day

Did then this Light unto the World diſplay,