We hold well for the remainder, that all we have from light in the sensible world, comes from the Sun, for that of the Moon, and of the Stars although inumerable, is a very small thing; yet it proceeds from the Sun; and that of fire, is but artificiall to give us light for default of the Sunne. But how shall it square with that to be willing to attribute the primitive source of light, and chiefly that of the producing and vivifying to the sunne, for that we see in the beginning of Genesis, that the first thing that was made, was the light on the first day, and the Sunne not till the fourth, vegetables being produc’t from the former? This was (say the Rabbins thereto) most wisely advised by Moses, as all his other writings proceeding from divine inspiration, to take away from men all occasion to Idolize this luminary, when we see that light was procreated before it. But in this respect there presents a very rare mystery, and worthy of observation, that the complete perfection of things fals out alwaies on the fourth day, as of the light. The Sunne and Moone were made the fourth day, waters on the second day, produced nought but fishes; the fifth, which is the fourth after, and al animals; the sixth with man, for whom the fruits of the earth were made the third. Which sheweth us that the 4 number so much celebrated by Pythagoras, denoteth the perfection that resides in ten, resulting from the four first numbers, 1, 2, 3, 4, make ten.
So Plato was willing to informe his Timeus, where he treats of the procreation of things by these words, one, two, three, but where is the fourth? Zohar upon this particle of the 14. of Leviticus, you shall keepe my Sabbaths. See saith Rabbi Eliezer, what is the mystery here contained. In six dayes was the world created, in each of those is manifested the worke that was made therein, and God gave it his particular vertue after he had finished it; but on the fourth be attributed one more expresse, for those of the third preceding, being secret and hidden, came not in evidence, except that the fourth day happened their faculties would reveal themselves; for water, air, and fire, the three superiour elements remained as suspended, and the workmanship of them did not appeare till the fourth day manifested them, and then appeared all that was made on each. But if you will alledge that this was the third day, that then God said, Let the earth sprout and produce the green herb, producing seed; and the fruit trees bearing fruit after his kinde, which hath his seed in it selfe upon the earth, and it was so; yet this, notwithstanding that this happened on the third day, he suffered not to be annexed with the fourth, without any separation; the which fourth comes to meet with the Sabbath, which is the fourth day, the fourth, and is by it selfe the perfect fourth, where there appeared all the works of the six preceding dayes: and it is the fourth foot of the Merchavah, of the divine throne, whereon God sate for his repose all the six dayes, Thus discourseth Zohar.
We must not here passe over another mystery, which these two luminaries have, each three names, the Sunne is called Chomah wisdome, Scemesch heat, and Cheres drynesse. Plato in Timæus, All moisture that the celerity of fire raised, and that which remained arid and dry, wee call κεραμὸν potters earth. That of Maor Luminary, is common to the one, and to the other. The Moone is called Malchut, reigne, or kingdome, Jareha, which the Greek call μήνη for that she perfects her course in a month, and lebenab white, for as the Sun representeth Jesus Christ, the Moon denotes the Church which is all fair without any blemish, following that which is written in the 6. of Canticles 10. Who is she that looketh forth, as the morning, fair as the Moone, clear as the Sun? Of this light of the Sunne of Righteousnesse, whereof it is said in the fourth of Malachy, But unto you that do feare my name, the Sunne of Justice shall arise, 4. 2. Where the Moone the Church is illustrated on a perpetuall day without darknesse, according to Esay 60. v. 20. The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, who hath planted his Tabernacle, or Church, within the fair clear shining Sunne, that illuminates every man that comes into the world; no more nor lesse then the starres, which are innumerable, and the least as big as the whole earth, receive all their light from the visible sunne. Of whom shall it not here bee lawfull to relate something of his praises of the Song that Orpheus made unto it.
Hear mee most blessed
Sunne, Worlds heart and eie,
Heavenly brightnesse shining,
Living mens pleasing aspect,
Begetting Aurera in thy right hand,
And the night on thy left.
Thou governest the four seasons,