is of the same nature with that on the first day. This separation
was now produced in its full extent by the perfect condensation of the
luminiferous matters around the sun.

3. The heavenly bodies are said to be intended for _signs_--that is,
for marks or indications--either of the seasons, days, and years
afterwards mentioned, or of the majesty and power of the true God, as
the Creator of objects so grand and elevated as to become to the
ignorant heathen objects of idolatrous worship; or perhaps of the
earthly events they are supposed to influence. The arrangements now
perfected for the first time enabled natural days, seasons, and years
to have their limits accurately marked. Previously to this period
there had been no distinctly marked seasons, and consequently no
natural separation of years, nor were the limits of days at all
accurately defined.

4. The terms _expanse_ and _heaven_, previously applied to the
atmosphere, are here combined to denote the more distant starry and
planetary heavens. There is no ambiguity involved in this, since the
writer must have well known that no one could so far mistake as to
suppose that the heavenly bodies are placed in that atmospheric
expanse which supports the clouds.

5. The luminaries were _made_ or appointed to their office on the
fourth day. They are not said to have been created, being included in
the creation of the beginning. They were now completed, and fully
fitted for their work. An important part of this fitting seems to have
been the setting or placing them in the heavens, conveying to us the
impression that the mutual relations and regular motions of the
heavenly bodies were now for the first time perfected.

6. The stars are introduced in a parenthetical manner, which leaves it
doubtful whether we are merely informed in general terms that they are
works of God, as well as those heavenly bodies which are of more
importance to us, or that they were arranged as heavenly luminaries
useful to our earth on the fourth day. The term includes the fixed
stars, and it is by no means probable that these were in any way
affected by the work referred to the fourth day, any farther than
their appearance from our earth is concerned. This view is confirmed
by the language of the 104th Psalm, which in this part of the work
mentions the sun and moon alone, without the fixed stars or planets.

It is evident that the changes referred to this period related to the
whole solar sy