(Job 9: 9). Job 38: 32 says, "Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?" The

margin gives it "the twelve signs".  In the sign Virgo (the Virgin) is preserved the

ancient name Tsemach ("The Branch"), a prophetic title of Christ as the virgin's seed,

and many interesting prophecies still remain enshrined in the ancient star names that have

come down to us.

A prophecy was handed down in the East that in the constellation of Coma (the

desired one), a new star would appear at the birth of Him whom it foretold. Balaam

prophesied concerning the appearance of a star in connection with a Sceptre.

The wise men from the East were led by a star, the meaning of which they were

perfectly certain.

The heavenly bodies are God's great pledge and timepiece. For signs of the One to

come, and the things to come; for seasons or cycles of time, as indicated and measured by

the movements of the heavenly bodies. To attempt to go further into this complex subject

would carry this paper far beyond its intended limits. To those who feel desirous of

investigating the subject more fully, we heartily recommend The Witness of the Stars by

Dr. Bullinger.

The sign of the Lord's coming, referred to in Matt. 24:, together with the darkening

of the sun and moon, will doubtless come to mind. Also the quotation from Joel in

Acts 2: 19, 20, together with parallels in the book of the Revelation will suggest further

lines of study. For our immediate purpose it is sufficient that we have shown that the

firmament, with its sun, moon and stars, are all a part of a great design not created for

their own sakes, not created merely for their physical effects, but created and arranged in

view of their testimony to the faithfulness of the great Purposer, and the fixedness of His

great Purpose.

The work of the sixth day of creation commences in much the same way as do the

other days, "Let the earth bring forth," but the record suddenly takes an individual and

more personal character when the creation of man is described. For the first time a

conference is indicated in the counsels of the Most High. "And God said, Let Us make

man in Our image, after Our likeness." The Companion Bible refers this statement to the

figure of Hendiadys, and suggests the reading, "In the likeness of Our image." Ten times

in this chapter do we read of various parts of creation being made "after his kind", and

now we have the marvellous statement quoted above. To the simple mind, this early

introduction of plurality in the reference to the Persons of the Godhead is

self-explanatory, and we do not feel that we are justified in embarking upon a series of