saith David They shall hear that voice Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee To speak the least all the godly shall before they taste of death see this Promise fulfilled and see the Kingdom of God come into them with power or when they have tasted of death they shall enter with power into the Kingdom of God Mark 9. 1. where our Saviour implies 1 That the godly do but taste or sip of deaths cup. It is a bitter potion to the wicked who drink the dregs Christ tasted of death himself Heb. 2. 9. Wicked ones are said to dy the death the godly to taste onely and Christ is their Taster therefore they need not fear it 2. Nor shall they so much as taste neither till they have had a taste of Heaven the Kingdome of God coming with power Saint John had honey in his mouth before the gall in his belly God will Antidote his servants against the bitterness of death by his cordial Promise and then death tastes sweet when heaven is tasted before This Promise doth imply 1. That such as belong to God and have true grace fear his name may have small store of Peace and Comfort no present sense and taste of the love of God but walk long in darkness seeing no light at all 2 That as their condition is sad their apprehension may be sadder having nothing but fears dreadfull fears of the Name of God 3 Or that they may after a short winter day have a long night without Sun and Stars a long time as Pauls company in their tedious Sea Voyage They may cry out with many a longing wish for day and say with Job Oh that it were with me as in times past when the candle of God shined upon my head when by his light I walked through darknesse The Lord is to some of his people as a wayfaring man that turnes aside to tarry but one night The Lord comes guest-wise as the Angel to Manoahs wife who after the first apparition waited long for a second visite and having that never had a third her busband never had but one 4. They may be long under sad desertions even to forget prosperity and complaine pro tempore as if God dealt with them as with Saul I am sore distressed and the Lord hath forsaken me and answereth me no more 5. They may be also sick withall which makes long nights seeme much longer soule-sick their hearts fainting for the salvation of God as David complained saying when wilt thou comfort me What need of this sun-rising with healing else 6. They may be also ready to sink under the weight of their own guilt and Gods displeasure What need of a Sunne of Righteousnesse else 7. Yet suppose all this and what more you can Christ shall arise to purpose on these poore soules as the Sun in his strength dispelling darknesse as a cloud dispersing righteousnesse as beames of light curing all the soule distempers with his healing vertue 1. The reason hereof is partly from somewhat in God 2. Partly from somewhat in themselves 1. On Gods part 1. His Power gives the first hope of it He can say Let he re be light and there shall be light Hee who at first commanded light to shine out of darknesse can cause his marvellous light to shine on those who sit in darknesse 2. His power gives hope but his promise this promise here and many others makes it certain When God created the first light there was onely power and will set a work there had been no Promise here is a promise Gods power makes things possible his promise things certain It was onely possible there should bee these heavens and this earth before Creation there was no promise But it is certain there shall be a new heaven and new earth because wee according to his promise expect it It was possible that Christ might come to dissolve the works of Satan when Adam fell But is certain Christ shall come to them that fear him Here is his promise 3. His Love backs his promise as that his power He that is for Power a Gyant and for his promise and engagement Sponsor is for his love as a Bridegroome and Spouse to his Church whom he hath betrothed to himselfe in loving kindnesse righteousnesse mercies and faithfulnesse 4. His glory engageth all the former There is never more glory given to God then when he maketh good this promise Great rejoycing there is when shee who hath been long barren hath conceived as Sarah Hannah When he who hath been long in captivity is inlarged as Joseph when the exile is returned when the blind come to see The privation or want of the mercy sets the higher price upon it when it comes The desire attained is a tree of life Here the greatest joy Sing Oh barren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travel with child Sharon breaketh forth into singing and Lebanon claps his hands and all the birds of the wood and beasts of the field sing and leap for joy The earth puts on her new clothes to entertain the welcome sun 2. Partly from somewhat in them 1. Their prayers raise this sun as the Prince of darknesse is raised by magick spels and cursed imprecations Christ is raised by invocation Thus the Disciples made the Sunrise before day to still the tempest What the Poets fained of the Moons coming downe to Endymion may bee spiritually verified of Christ. This Sun of righteousnesse often comes downe to imbrace such as fear him and call him downe by prayer 2. Because of their miseries In all their spiritual affliction he is afflicted and because of the sighing of the afflicted he saith I will up I will rise and shine upon him I have looked upon him and see him in his bloud I will heale him and say unto him live 3. Their prayers move him much their miseries more But their grace make his bowels to role and his repentings kindled within him I have heard him bemoaning himselfe I will surely have mercy on him I have spoken against but I will now remember him Repentance is such a grace as overcomes Gods displeasure holy fear gaines his favour faith gets his heart humility gets what grace it would have he that resists the proud and departs from the ungodly He looketh upon man and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not He will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light So that we may say Light is sowen for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart sowen in these two fields 1. Of Gods eternall decree in his power promise grace and love These are the upper springs 2. In the field of their graces and holy duties these are the
binding stone to hold all the Building together CHAP. IV. Omniscience the second Incommunicable Attribute THE next Incommunicable Attribute of Christ is his Omniscience whereof the Suns All-seeing Eye is a lively Resemblance Sol solus Oculus mundi Ocellus Dei lumen visibile numen The Sun is all eye hath thousands of beams in every place looks upon every object with so direct a face as a well drawn Picture as if it beheld none else filling the largest windowes peeping in at the least crevise or key hole the heaven above earth beneath aire between enlightned all at once with his splendor vieweth all Regions The worlds great overseer glanceth into the Dungeon and shineth with the same beauty on the poorest cottage as on Princes Palaces the noisome dunghil and the delightful Garden both are alike viewed and observed there is nothing hid from the heat thereof in it hath God placed his â—abernacle it is his Chariot wherein he rides his daily circuit What can be such an Emblem of Gods Omniscience and of that Visibile Numen Jesus Christ who is all eye whose eyes are as flames of fire whose face shineth as the Sun in his might hath his beams his eyes running to and fro and his spies out watching in every place beholding the evil and the good nothing hid from the Suns heat nor this Suns sight All things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do Whither canst thou go O sinner from his presence and where wilt thou hide thee from his eye darknesse and light are both alike to him secret thoughts and open acts both alike the thought afar offâ—â—e can discern as clear as we can the word spoken in our ears There is no darknesse or shadow of death where the workers of iniguity may hide themselves from him 1. What a delightfull meditation is this to him who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose left hand neighbour knows not what his right hand doth who shuts his doors praies in secret shuts up his Trumpet and gives Alms in secret anoints his face and fasts in secret shuts up his lips and mourns in secret as being nunquam minus solus quam cum solus and thinking nullibi tot Testes ubi sine Teste Thou art never lesse alone then when alone nor hast so many observers as when there is none to observe Gods sincere ones are his secret ones The Ark which was close made up on every side had a window in the Top open only to heaven Matth. 10. 26. Fear not nothing is covered that shall not be manifest what thou speakest in the ears shall be proclaimed on the house top and what in secret shal be rewarded openly Christ spyed out Nathaniel lying under the fig-tree as well as Zacheus on the Top of his fig tree heard Paul below in the dungeon as wel as Peter on the house top and took more notice of the Publican standing a far off out of sight then the Pharisee in the midst of the Throng The Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and make manifest the counsels of the heart then shal every mam have praisâ— of God The Sun looks as well into thy closet casement as into the large Church windows And into that closet especially Christ delights to look and dwell where as in Solomons temple the windows are of narrow lights or as some read it of windows narrow without broad within 2. Is Christ his eye as the Suns in every place what conviction warning and terror may this speak to such Atheisticall wretches as say How shall God see How doth God know Thick clouds are a covering to him that hee seeth not and he walketh in the circuit of heaven Especially such miscreants as in the Chambers of their imaginary conclude when they have shut out man they can shut out God too and having already shut God out of their hearts conclude they have shut him out of the world too Ezek. 8. 12. and 9. 9. The Lord seeth us not the Lord hath forsaken the earth Shut oh Atheist the Sun out of the world if thou canst shut it out of thy house It is impossible Hath the Sun his eye in every place and hath not God Understand then ye unwise among the people Shall not he that made the Sun all eye be all eye himselfe He that made the ear doth not he hear Dâ—th not the Watch-maker know all the wheels and every Pin in the Watch he made Doth not the Statuary know all the frame of his image and is any thing hid from him that made the heart Turpe quid ausurus Te sine Teste time There are three witnesses when thou art alone who have alwaies their eye on thee the Sun thy Conscience and the Lord Jesus fear the Sun but thy conscience more which is a thousand Suns fear thy conscience much but Christ more who is a thousand consciences The Lord threatens to search out such as are setled on their Lees with Candles that say in their hearts The Lord wil not doe good neither wil he do evil There are two sorts of candles God useth 1. Some shining 2. Some burning There are four shining Candles wicked men take no notice of 1. The candle of Gods mercies bounty patience 2. The candle of the Sun 3. Of his Word 4. Of their own conscience These are Gods first candles pleasant and shining lights if these be put out or not regarded God will set up four burning Candles that shall not be so easily blown out He will search thee out 1. With the burning candle of affliction as he did Saul wheh the Philistines were upon him this is lighted at the fire of mercy abused 2. With the burning candle of a terrifying conscience lighted at the fire of an enlightned awakened galled conscience which is sadder then the former this is a searching candle indeed with which Judas was searchched and lighted down to heâ— 3. There is a worse candle then both these the candle of death kindled at the wrath of God wherewith he searches those further then ever he did yet either by affliction or conscience the day of death is a day of wrath then doth God set up a candle that burnes till the day of Judgment The fourth candle is the saddest of all the candle of Judgment lighted from hell whereby he will search out all the sins of wicked men and this candle shall never leave burning 3. Then let thine eye be ever on him whose eye is ever on thee be an heavenly Heliotropium turn to the Sun of Righteousnesse call thy place Beer-la-hai-roâ— I have seen him that ever seeth me make thy house a Bethel the house of God and make thy heart a Beth-shemesh an house for the Sun Let thy heart be as the Sun-Dyal which receiveth the Sun in the morning and goes along with it all day
flash as the fire of Thorns but joyes maintained with joyes joy leading to joy a standing boundless joy an ending endless Joy whereas the wicked mans joy is brewed with sorrow compassed with it tends to it and ends in it but hath it self no end 8. Unmixt others muddy impure mixt with sin guilt gripes of conscience and when ready to run over cooled with the hand-writing upon the wall the remembrance of his sin the apprehension of Gods wrath But Spiritual joy is the purest thing in the world as the light of the Sun light without darkness as his warmth pure without smell or smoak 9. Permanent never eclipsed not by any disease or danger threatning death 2 Cor. 1. 12. not any distress 2 Cor. 16. 10. as sorrowing but alway rejoicing John 16. 22. Your joy shall no man take from you They must needs swim in Joy whom Christ holds up by the chin And as Josephs bow so the Christians joy must needs abide in strength when hee hath such a wall at his back and such a well at his foot At this Beer-la-hai-roi Hagar may fill her empty bottle as oft as she will and thirst no more 3. This directs what to do when wee complaine wee cannot profit and do not thrive The heart yeilds not the sin decayes not Go to Christ desire to be under the direct beames of the Sunne Trees thrive not in the shady side Cry Blow O North wind and breath O South wind distil O raine and look out thou Sun upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my Beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Hast thou a heart that will not yeild under Judgments his Love can melt it The Manna dissolved by the Suns gentle heat that was hardned and dryed in the Oven or boiling pot Whom the furnace of Judgments burn and the Oven heated with wrath doth bake and harden the melting love of Christ doth mollifie The last and â—orest Vyal upon sin which ends the mystery of iniquity and finisheth Satans Kingdom is poured from the Sunne The brightnesse of Christs appearing is the destruction of Antichrist and is that which alone distroyes the works of the Divel in the heart Cry out therefore with the Church Oh that thou wouldst rent the Heavens and come and make this Mountaine melt and this rock flow at thy presence as when the melting fire burneth the fire causeth the waters to boyle As thou didst of old at Mount Sinai when thou didst terrible things that wee looked not for Is my heart harder then the rock higher then Mount Sinai break this Rock cast down this Mountain Though I have had my part of Terroâ—s and been brayed with the pestle of afflictions though I have not wanted for light yet my heart yeilds not my heart freezeth in the shade in midst of noon day light as in the depth of Winter There is one thing only remains and the work is done Shine out thou Sun of Righteousnesse and with the warme beams of thy favour melt those Rocks of Ice and bring downe these Mountaines of snow Thou causest thy Spirit and warmer breath to blow and the waters flow Psal. 147. 18. 4. Comfort to them that have Christ near to them They are like those Countries near the Line they shall have a perpetual Spring no Autumn A constant Summer no Winter in their year but a renewed and successive harvest These shall never want Grace sufficient and peace necessary Their tree casteth not leaf nor loseth fruit Christ will be both Sun and Shield he will go with you in trouble In the fire go with you and be a Sheild to keep you from burning in the water be a Sun to warm you and keep you from shaking So he was to Jacob Sun by day burnt him not and frost by night starved him not The Lord will create upon every dwelling place in Mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle in the day time for a shadow from the heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain When the worldlings heart is cold in his belly as Nabal who became as cold as a stone and when like old David thy native heat is decaied so far that no cloathes nor fire can keep thee warm Christ the Shunamite shall lye in thy bosom and cheer thy heart that thou shalt say for joy Aha I am warm the world is well amended with me The Winter is past the rain is over and gone the Flowers appear on the earth the singing of Birds is heard in the air and the voice of the Turtle soundeth and the Spring is come CHAP. XIIII The Suns Regency ANother Property of the Sun is his Regeâ—cy herein a shadow of Christ and his Regal Office The Lord gave the Sun to rule by day 1 His Rule is Monarchical The Sun hath no Peer but is an absolute Monarch So is Christ the sole King and Lawgiver in his Church who will admit of no Compartners in his Government 2. His Dominion is the largest Christ and the Sun no third both the universal Monarchs of the World whose Dominion is without bounds from Sea to Sea and from East to West 3. The Suns Dominion is the most ancient we read of began before mans The Suns the fourth day mans not till the sixth Christ is the everlasting Father who had a Kingdom in Heaven before there was man on Earth Our ancient Families are but of yester day to him The Princes of Zoan are Fools the Counsellors of Pharaoh are brutish How say ye to Pharaoh I am the son of the Wise the son of ancient Kings Egypt above other Nations had ever gloried in her Antiquity 4. For Duration both shall continue to the worlds end These two Monarchs have out lasted all others have seen the fatal dissolutions of royal Families and the Translation of all other Monarchies And both shall determine together when the Sun resigneth his then shall Christ also resigne his Kingdome into the Fathers hands 5. For Power the greatest Potentates Other Kings and Commanders are only titular many times these have uncontroulable commands The Sun hath power over all Creatures the earth aire seas it raiseth stormes and doth allay them gives Law to day and night the worlds first subdividers to winter and summer le ts in both frost and snow by his withdrawing and by his looking out dissolves them The Sun of Righteousnesse hath like but greater power hath all nations times seasons in his dispose He hath for the nations an Iron rod for Antichrist his Vyals and for his Church sharp storms sometimes he permits hereticks le ts lose persecutors and at his pleasure bindeth them up The Dragon he let loose three hundred years the Beast one thousand two
then was Satans Kingdome darkned divided destroyed then was the Prince of this world judged and cast out and then was there nothing but gnawing of tongues all the Kingdom of the Dragon over 2. There are many lesse Accidents 1. The Sun is sometimes present sometimes absent respectu nostri but alwayes present in heaven Christ sometimes leading his Beloved sometimes leaving his Beloved alwayes interceding and giving light in heaven when his light shineth not on us 2. Sometimes it hides it selfe sometimes showes it self but his light is intrinsecally the same without change So there may bee changes in us mists about us stormes above us none in Heaven Amas nec estuas zâ—las securus es Poenitet te non doles irasceris tranquillus es opera mutas â—â—c mutas consilium God is not changed when we are changed we are angry and sin repent and change our mind He is angry without Passion jealous without affection repents without grieving changeth his dispensation not his disposition 3. Sometimes Sun riseth early shines out at first rising gloriously yet a stormy day followes and again clears up at even and all ends well Some in first Conversion have much peace and comfort as Job Solomon the Wise men had the Star at first setting out afterwards sad stormes desertions and tryals but all ended well 4. Sometimes at Sun rise the morning is gray dark duskish and the day the fairer What stormes were at the Conversion of the Jaylor and of Paul yet all faire after 5. Sometimes the Sun not seen all day but showres from morning till almost Sun-set then Sun breaks out and sets sereuely and promiseth a fair day following Some true Christians have not a good day after their Conversion till death as some mothers between Conception and Delivery ever ill yet then do well Christ fulfils that to many which he spake to his Disciples They shall see the Kingdome of God in Power before they taste of death and when seen dy that setene evening the forerunner of the fair day of Eternity 6. The un begins with light then followes heat Christ his first work on the new Creature is light therewith Conviction Consolation after Grace and Peace are twins but Grace the elder sister The Evening went before the Morning in the first Creation sorrow goeth before joy in the true Conversion He that believes before hee repents must as Magus was directed re pent after such believing and repent of it Saul the King had many merry signes and much joy before any sorrow as the stony ground had all his joy at first Saul the chosen Vessel had a sad beginning with many sorrowes but his joy followed and remained The Butler had nothing but feares at first and joyes at last The Baker all hopes and joyes but they ended in sorrowes 7. The Sun sometimes discovers it selfe by light and heat both as in Summer sometimes as much light but no heat as in Winter when it freezeth in the shade Sometimes the Godly soul hath Grace and Peace together Gods love shining in his heart hiâ— heart again warm with love to God sometimes his heart frozen as to any perception of the love of God to his owne apprehension when the by-stander sees it cleare day 〈…〉 to the manifest actings of Grace and Holinesse 8. The Sun when it is hid it is the mistâ— from below that do hinder the light of it Nothing but our sin doth separate between God and us causing his face to be hid Cold taken iâ— the feet offendeth the head and fumes from within the stomack offend the braine Oâ—â— faith is damped joy eclipsed soul distempered yea Christ the head offended only by the miscarriages and distempers from those Lusts that war in our Members 9. We observe that before Sun doth rise there is nothing but grosse darknesse the Sun risen chaseth away that darkness but theâ— are seen long shadowes which appeared noâ— before but as Sun goeth higher these grow less till Sun withdraw and decline theâ— these shadowes increase againe but the Sun never shineth so clearely but that there is a shadow inseparable from the Body So till Christ arise nothing but darknesse in the soul at his first arising this darknesse scattered but then long shadowes of much corruption appear till then not suspected but Christ shining longer these grow lessâ— and lesse But he withdrawing these get head again and we as bad to our thinking as ever but never any so perfect here as to be free from sin It doth easily beset us and we are all Periscii in this sense sin is as inseparable from our imperfect nature here as the shadow from the body Those under the Line are called Ascii Shadowless where the Sun is Vertical and directly over their heads In Heaven we shall be so when under the direct Rayes of Christ his face and presence Here he beholds us but obliqueâ—â— so that if we be not all corruption on both sides as the Amphiscii yet we have at least a dark side and so are Heteroscii 10 Once more The Sun how doth it with his beames alter the native and usual colour of things rising it gilds the clouds enamels the drops of dew makes them look like so many drops of Pearle but especially how doth it adorne that watry melting cloud whereon the Rainbow is set the reflection of his own face with all the delightful colours which the eye can behold So Christ arising and shining upon the black uncomely soul puts it into another complexion When thou wast deformed I made thee comely through my comelinesse and thou wast perfect through my comelinesse which I put upon thee Ezek. 16. 14. Oh how sweetly do young Converts look who are as the dew of the youth coming out of the womb of this morning-Sun Psal. 1 10. 3. But especially what beauty is that put upon the melting and heart broken Christian upon him is set the Rainbow of the Covenant and upon him are put all the Ornaments Christ can bestow upon him as Religious Mordecai formerly in sackâ—loth advanced by the favour of the King and going out froâ— the presence of the King in Royal Apparel of blue and white with a Royal Crown of gold upon his head with garments of fine linnen and purple Esth. 8. 15. Yet sometimes the Sun arising and appearing hath represented some things in a more dreadful appearance then before 2 Kings 3. 22. When the Moabites rose up early in the Morning and the Sun shone upon the water in the trenches the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as bloud and said This is bloud c. Nothing represents sin in so horrid and amazing a dresse to the â—ouls apprehension as the breaking out of this Sun Then break out thou Sun of Righteousness upon our watry mourning hearts and set on thy Rainbow the token of thy Covenant but let thy shining turne all that standing water in the deep ditches
the same that in Malachi I will heal their back-slidings first ver 4. then growth 4 The means of all this I will be as the Dew ver 5 or as the Sun here There is a threefold growth or three remarkable growing times to the Christian two of which are manifest and sensible to all the third is to some lesse perceptible 1 The first growth is at his conversion which is a strange and supernatural growth a growth per saltum a translation from darknesse to light from death to life from a stone to flesh from a thorn to a fir-tree a bryar to a vine or a branch of a wild Olive to a grafted bough in a right Olive This is the greatest change in the world far greater then that from Grace to Glory at death Grace and Glory differ but gradually as the morning light and noon day But Nature and Grace do toto Coelo differre as much as light and darkness 2 The other sensible growth is at death when from an imperfect he grows to a perfect Saint from a militant to a triumphant This is a mighty shoot and growth per saltum then the feeble shall be as David yeâ— as an Angel who in one moment was creatâ— and made perfect in Grace and Glory There was not one feeble person among all the Tribes of Israel when they came out of Egypt there was while dwelling there So there shall be no feeble Saint go to Heaven but they shall be perfect when carryed hence by the Angels of God though they complain of feebleness here There shall not be thence an infant of dayes nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes for the child shall dy an hundred years old As there is in all dying or departed persons a great shooting in their stature observed so is there in the soul much more The least Infant shoots in the instant of Dissolution to that perfect knowledg of God and such a measure of grace as is not attainable here that he is as David and the tallest Christian comes to such a heighth that he is as an Angel of God 3. Between these two great and so remarkable growths there is a third which is to some more and to some especially at some times lesse perceptible and discernable and is fourfold in grace comfort experience acceptablenesse 1. In Grace and that 1. For the number and kind He that at first conversion had but a little godly sorrow now that seed hath brought forth seven fold What carefulnesse hath it wrought what clearing what indignation what fear what vehement desire what zeal what revenge How doth this little grain of Mustard seed multiply So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the appearing of Christ. Here is a kindly shoot 2. In the measure of Graces His knowledge was dim and confused now is more clear distinct and certain before notional now practical and affectionate he before had dosires now endeavours good thoughts now good words and deeds longings before now labourings In his Repentance more fear of hell now more hatred of sin before more fears now more hopes before lesse love of God because of more fear now lesse servile fear because of more love before faith was historical now experimental of adherence now of assurance 3 In the strength of grace As the Calfe in the stall to an Oxe to beare the yoak from milk to strong meat from a babe to a strong young man who hath overcome the wicked one and from a strong young man to a solid experienced old father who hath known the Father He holds on his way and becomes stronger and stronger He was wont as a weak child to stumble fall now he hath more care and strength and falls not He stumbles at no command being strong in obedience staggers at no promise being strong in faith 4 In the actings and exercise of Grace which is a great growth towards perfection when acts grow to habits and habits are daily exercised The life of grace is exercise To live by faith to act it upon all emergencies to exercise conscience in all undertakings to devise liberal things The valiant man increaseth in strength when he is still about some notable acts to exercise his valour first to encounter a Bear then a Lion thâ—n a Philistin then not to fear an Hoste He growes not the great Scholer who hoards up much Learning but hee who brings out of his Treasure things new and old He not the rich man who hath much laid up in bags and chests but hath much laid out in good works Habits of Grace imply Truth exercise growth that denominates a Saint this one perfect Jesus Christ in his Infancy grew in grace waxed strong in spirit and filled with wisdom there you have the habits of Grace but when he came to growne age and to the work of his Ministry and Suffering he was then put much more upon the exercise of all Grace therefore he is said to be made perfect through sufferings And the Apostle calls them perfect or of full age who by reason of use or through an habit have their senses exercised to discern good and evil 5 In more fruitfulness and usefulnesse Psalm 92. To bear more fruit in age and to have their last exceed the first as Thyatira had You are full of goodnesse said the Apostle able to admonish one another Your faith groweth exceedingly and your love aboundeth Exhort and ediâ—ie one another as ye also do These are great commendations and a great progress in Grace when one becomes of a publick spirit and more useful Salute Tryphoena and Tryphosa who labour in the Lord and Persis who laboured much in the Lord. When the growth of a Minister and his profiting doth appear when a private Christian growes so eminent and useful that he may of an old growne Disciple be fit to be set apart for the publick Ministry as in the Primitive times they did this is a good growth But when they who have had the Time for Teachers have not the parts and proficiencie of good Learners it deserves reproof shews a poor growth 2 There is a growth in comforts when the Mourners in Sion have outgrown their old garments of mourning and have new white rayment of praise as Mordecai for sackcloth a Princes Robes for ashes beauty for drops of tears oyl of joy for spirit of heavinesse garments of praise Then shall they be called Trees of Righteousnesse the planting of the Lord. Hannahs growth from affliction to mourning from mourning to praying from praying to quiet waiting from waiting to believing from believing to obtaining from obtaining to rejoicing This an excellent growth when one hath taken all those degrees and gone through those five formes in the School of Christ beginning at Tribulation the first and lowest form and then coming into the next forme of Patience then into the higher of
4. 2. In a more comfortable manner To be a Sun of Righteousnesse where we have a description 1. of Christ. 2. Of his people 1. Of Christ what he is at least and to all his Church best and to his chosen ones 1. At least and to all his Church he is a Sun 2. At best to his chosen where three things Promised 1. He wil be to them as a Rising Sun after their long sitting in obscurity waiting for a joyful morning and never be to them a departing declining or setting Sun when once risen but as the morning light shining more and more to perfect day Prov 4. 18. 2. Above the ordinary Sun he will be a Sun of Righteousnesse imparting not light but life John 1. 4. In him was life and the life was the light of men The Sun in heaven gives only light the Sun of Righteousnesse gives life 3. He wil be a healing Sun to such as are sick infirme and sad amplifyed by the place and part where this healing virtue resides not in his Vesture Touch Lips Spitle all which were healing but in his wings For a double Reason 1. To denote his swiftness he hath wings â—e that came to be a swift witnesse against the wicked cap. 3. 5. is as swift a Savior he comes suddenly and unexpectedly into his Temple cap. 3. 1. 2. Under his wings to denote the warmer closer embraces which his servants shal be cheared and healed withall as tender chickins under the Hen. And this answereth to that cap. 3. 5. As he there came neere in Judgment to wicked ones so he comes neer in mercy with healing mercy to his chosen ones 2. His people described and that 1. What they are at least and worst before this Sun rising and healing them h. e. before any extraordinary and sensible manifestation of Christ to them They are such as fear his Name that is all they can say for themselves 2. What they are at best when the Sun hath risen and healed them they shall goe forth with life strength and cheerfulnesse as the fatted calves of the stall Calves are noted to be lively lightsome skipping creatures Psal. 29. 6. Christ is compared to a fatted Calfe Luke 15. The Calves sacrificed were 1. Types of Christ and his blood 2. Of our selves and our sacrifice of praises The words thus far opened we come now to the Doctrines therein contained whereof the first is this viz. CHAP. I. 1. Christ is to his Church what the Sun is to the world Christ is set forth under many resemblances of a Rock a Spring the Brasen Serpent a Lamb Morning Star Bread Water Light Garments Gold Pearl of a King Prophet Priest Husband Head Root c. because no one good thing can set out Christ fully for all can set him out but partially and because what ever good is in any or all of these that is Christ and more and better and that when we behold and use any of these we might be put in mind of Christ. This is as High and fit and full a resemblance of him as any one thing can be if I could as fitly and fully pursue it Psal. 84. 10. The Lord God is a Sun and shield to his people But especially Christ is so often called John 1. 12. Ego sum Lux mundi what is that But I am the Sun I am the light of the world John 1. 4. In him was life which life was the light of men and ver 9. This is the true light c. John Baptist was a light Iohn 5. 35. burning and shining but not The Light A Star of the first magnitude but not the true light but Christ only the true Light as the true Vine Iohn 15. 1. That is 1. The great Luminare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Universall light giving light to all that come into the world 3. The Original uncreated light that had his light from himselfe all others from him In him was light Rev. 1. 16. and 10. 1. Christ is described having his countenance shining as the Sun in his strength And Rev. 12. 1. The Church in relation to him and conjunction with him cloathed with the Sun that is his Righteousnesse Cant. 6. 10. faire as the Moon cleare as the Sun that is full of Christ. The Moon is faire not clear from spots when at ful the Sun is alwaies ful alwaies clear The Church hath not only her own imperfect spotted Righteousnesse inherent to make her fair but Christs perfect Sunlike imputed to make her clear without spot or wrinkle or any such thing In which regard the Church is called upon and encouraged to clear up Isa. 60. 1. Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee The Church is the only Halo or Corona on which this Sun makes his Impression And the Church Militant and the Triumphant are the two right Parelii on either side of this Sun near to him and full of his Lustre and Glory This is a deep and rich Mine I am digging into I dare not promise to bring up all the treasures hid in it I shall shew you what I can get up and your selves may go and get much more No Artist can draw all the Suns light into one roome were his house all Chrystall no labour can get all the water of the Sea into one vessel Some abler Pen or larger heart may as a larger window let in more of this light I shall but draw the Curtain and set open my narrow Casement to let in what I have received There is in many things a likeness unlikeness between Christ and the Sun CHAP. 2. The Likenesse between Christ and the Sun THeir Likeness is seen in many Particulars and because so many I shall not defer the Application of all til I have spoke of each as usually we doe but as we go along apply each particular to free your memories from the greater burden and my self from needlesse repetitions Alike they are 1. In their Essence 2. Attributes 3. Properties 4. Effects 5. Accidents 1. In their Essence much alike who knows the essence and nature of the Sun what is that light unaccessible which it inhabits what is the matter of it and what and whence that heat The weary Philosopher astonished with long admiration and tyred with deep contemplation of this lower and lesser Suns light and glory gave over seriously wishing himself out of this body that he might behold the Body of the Sun and know his Essence Enquire not after the name essence and generation of Christ His Name is Wonderful Secret He dwels in light unaccessible wel may we at death come to a clear view of these two Suns and they are worth a death to come to a ful view of them especially the Sun of righteousnesse which we shal then see as he is 1 Joh 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open face the sight of perfect vision here we are
do warble and eccho out their cheerful notes to the praise of the Sun they build they breed they rejoyce many of them come stay returne with this their great Leader and Commander The waters wax warme and temperate there the fishes leap play breed and multiply But the Earth especially decked as a Bride to meet this Bridegroom cloatheth her selfe and all her family in new and divers coloured apparel and with their several New years Gifts present the worlds Benefactor with their Best that he may not come in vain to any of their dwellings Oh that wee were the Creatures Scholers or School-fellowes in this respect to acknowledge the benefits admire the perfections sing out the praises of this Sun of Righteousnesse and with our best Presents of Thankfulnesse and Fruitfulnesse shew we are loath to receive so much grace in vaine CHAP. XVII The likenesse of both in sundry Accidents WE are now come to the last thing wherein the agreement holds betweene these two Suns viz. certaine Accidents whereof 1. one greater 2. many lesse The greatest is that of the Eclipses which these two great Luminaryes are subject to The lessâ—r Luminary the Sun sometimes loseth his light and Lustre and this greater Luminary hath sometimes lost the glory and brightness of his Godhead in his Exinanition and in that self emptying abasement of his Passion The Suns Eclipse is often and ordinary but this was extraordinary preternatural and but once 2. The Sun is never totally Eclipsed in part often His body being so many times bigger then the Moon 's interposed seven thousand times bigger cannot lose all his light So Christ might be in his Person eclipsed to the unbelieving Jewes by his poverty Cross and afflictions whereby he was made lower then the Angels when some others even then saw his glory as the glory of the Only Begotten of God full of Grace and Truth 2. In his Truth by Hereticks and prevailing Errors 3. In his Regal Power when persecuting enemies and Tyrants encroach on his Churches Liberty and his Prerogative breaking his bonds and the Churches hedg But he is never totally eclipsed because his power and grace doth more then seven thousand or ten thousand times exceed all Tyrants power Hereticks Policy persecuters rage and Satans malice 3. Yet was there once never but once a total Eclipse of the Sun extraordinary it was viz. at the time of Christ his Passion Christ never had the light of his Fathers countenance wholly suspended but then in Articulo Passionis when he cryed out Eli-Eli-Lama-sabactani Such an Eclipse never did nor can happen again then did it appear Christ set his Tabernacle in the Sun that was his Chariot or Apostle The Sunnes darknesse then enlightned the world and made the Philosopher cry out Deus naturae patitur aut mundi Machina dissolvitur Either the God of Nature is now suffering or the frame of the world is dissolving then both Suns suffered and were eclipsed together and went down at noon day the Sun of the Lord and that Lord of the Sun 4. The Suns Eclipse is only caused by the interposition of the Moons dark body which hath all her light from the Sun The Sun is then obscured and the new changed Moon never else seen by day then dare shew her self It is the only interposing the Churches dark body of sin and guilt made this Sun obscured She hath no light of her owne but borroweth of him and hee was content to lose all his glory protempore that his Church and every new changed converted soul may appear before God with boldness not otherwise able to abide the tryal of his presence 5. It is a sight sad to behold when the Sun is Eclipsed and it was the saddest day and hour of darknesse that ever was in the world when Christ was put to death 6. The Sun as to us seemeth to lose his light but as to Heaven gives more And Christ never shined more bright in Heaven never gave like satisfaction to God more Joy to Angels Glory to Saints then in his Passion Then did the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand He that was before pleased in his Person was now more pleased in his Passion In this only expiatory sacrifice did God smel a savor of rest This was to our Saviour a day of Triumph his Cross was the Trophy of his Victory and success whereon he was lifted up and exalted then was sin death hell swallowed up in Victory The dread of this Crosse triumphed over Hell spoyling all those principalities and thereby leading captivity captive The bloud of this Crosse tryumphed in Heaven Having made peace â—â— the bloud of his Crosse Col. 1. 20. And thâ— Merit of his Crosse triumphed in the Church which ever since hath taken up those Angelical Hymnes Glory to God on high on eartâ— peace good will towards men Salvation 〈◊〉 ascribed to the Lamb that was slaine and glory to the Sun that was obscured This wâ—â— the day wherein ouâ— great High Priest weâ— in his richest Robes into the Holy of Holies with his own bloud but bearing all oâ—â— Names in his brest and all our iniquities oâ— his shoulder and hath made an everlastinâ— attonement or expiation and the greatest Holy day the world ever saw 7. The Sun eclipsed hath the same lighâ— in it self is only hid from us for a while bâ—â— recovers it self presently and shines again 〈◊〉 gloriously as before There may be misâ— and darkness interposing between us and God between Christ and the Father none between the Sun and the earth the Moon between the Sun and heaven no Moon to interpose And changes there may seeme to bâ— between us and God between Christ and the Father all is well Satan might bruise his heel Herod Iews Pilate might reproach condemne crucifie bury set a guard about the Sepulcher But if it be said Who shall bind the influences of the Pleiades with what bonds of death 〈◊〉 〈…〉 t then possible to hold the Prince of life prisoner 8. Some great Scholers have said The Suns Eclipse bodes much ill to this lower world and that the sad effects thereof are such that the world is the worse for it seven years after ere it recover it self The truth whereof I 'l not dispute but certaine I am the sad effects of this Eclipse upon the Land of Iudea where it was most visible are not yet â—â—ased but for this One thousand six hundred yeares it hath felt the miseries which followed on their Crucifying the Lord of Glory 9. Lastly The Suns Eclipse is said to Prognostick great changes downfal of Kingdomes and deaths of Tyrants c. Sure I am that this Eclipse did not foretel as a Prognostick but produce as the immediate cause the greatest changes in heaven and earth Then was Satan ruined this Eclipse was his bane When the Vyal of Gods wrath was poured on this Sun and hee had cryed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is finished
sic Blessed the poor the meek they that mourn and they who hunger and thirst Never did Hannah pray better then when she could get out never a word but cryed Hard hard heart Nor did the Publican then when he smote his brest and cryed Lord be merciful to me a sinner Nor Mary Magdalen then when she came behind Christ sate down wept but kept silence How sweet is Musick upon the waters How fruitful are the lowest Vallies Mourning hearts are most musical lowest most fruitful The good Shepherd ever takes most care of his weak Lambs and feeble Sheep The father makes most of the least and the mother looks most after the sick child How comfortable is that of our Saviour It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones should perish And that heaven is not to be entered but by such as are like the little child Therefore this discovers the sad mistake of such as cry out I have no Grace because no Perfection no Faith because not Assurance no Prayers because such weak expressions many failings wandrings doubtings It is as if the foot should say I am not the head therefore not of the body The Sanctuary had his little pins as well as longer boards The Temple smal Snuffers of the same gold with the golden Altar many smal Lavers for one vast Sea The great house hath vessels of wood and stone fitter for their use then the finest Chrystall and richest gold But because this is so frequent an Objection I shall crave leave if it be a Digression to speak a little more particularly to it and first see what may be said by such 2. What to such Obj. 1. I have no Grace sure or as good as none nothing nothing unlesse I had more why should I be thankful for this Answ. 1. The best have always had lowest thoughts of themselves The chosen vessel calls himself Peccatorum maximum Apostolorum minimum the last and the least of the Apostles the first and greatest of sinners yea less then the least of Saints He wants a terme diminutive enough therefore by a kind of Grammatical impropriety or catachresis he formeth a Comparative of a Superlative In another place he makes himselfe less then the least of men yea of children if an Apostle yet the least if a Saint yet less then the least if a child of God yet the least and unlikeliest to live an abortive child one born out of due time yet not before the time But the fear here is of being born and regenerate after their time repenting when it is too late yea he makes himself less then the least of things I am nothing How low and small a flower the Violet is yet how sweet The groaning horse we say seldom deceives his Master but will hold out till he come home The groaning and complaining Christian seldome deceives his Master or his Profession but holds out to the end 2. The godly man is not alway the most equal judge in his own case The eye seâ—â— every thing but it self And Conscience spies every more in the eye of any Duty any defect in Grace taketh notice of least sins but seeth not the Pearle that is in his owne eye I mean that precious tenderness tremulousness and sincerity It hath sight enough to see all sins Duties Truths wants but his eyes are holden as Moses from seeing his own beauty If the wicked might be their own Judges they would ever justifie themselves being so full of self love If the Godly they would often condemn themselves being as full of felf-suspicion So neither are fit for this work 3 Possible it is for a godly man to have true Grace and he not know of it as I said of Moses his face shone but he wist it not though others saw it Sometimes others can see more into thee then thou canst into thy self The Physician sees good Symptoms in his Patient who concludes his own case desperate As the wicked man may have more sins then he is aware of and like Urias carry sealed Letters of his owne condemnation when he is not aware what is in them Go dancing with Agag to the block and go to their last home as Jepthab did to his own house full of joy and triumph But their joy is turned into bitter mourning when they come to the very threshold their sin which as his daughter he least suspected comes out to meet him The wicked sometimes loyter when their damnation lingers not Sisera loytered and stayed when Barak pursued and their soul and judgment sleepeth when their judgment and damnation sleepeth not Sisera slept secure when Jael was preparing the hammer and the naile The hungry dreameth and behold he eateth he awaketh and behold he fainteth So on the other side the godly dreameth with the Butler of destruction and the interpretation is deliverance Iosephs brethren misconstrue all his intentions and conclude themselvs betrayed and undone when his purpose and thoughts were of peace and greatest love Mordecai is stript of his sack-cloth and adorned in royal robes when Haman is carryed from the Banquet to his Gibbet 4 It is enough if God spye any grace in thee whose judgement is according to Truth thine according to thy misapprehension his eie is good when thine evil Thou notest only thy sins and as if thou wast a hired Steward to Satan settest down too much for fifty an hundred and for infirmities settest down in thy black bill Presumptions for unavoidable slips unpardonable sins God on the other side overlooketh the worst and beholdeth only the fair side He saith not Take thy bill and for an hundred sit downe and blot out twenty and leave eighty or for an hundred write fifty but blot out all write discharged Ten thousand Talents remitted I see he hath nothing to pay I frankly forgive him I see him on his knees I cannot but pity him Why should I pursue the stubble and take him by the throat who lies humbled at my feet I have his submission shall I seek his destruction What do I desire more then the repentance of a sinner whose death I could never delight in There are Three Charites graces which where ever God sees he cancells all hand-writings against such persons viz. Repentance Faith Sincerity 1. When God sees in one page a thousand bloudy crimes written and on the other side Repentance only He saith Deleantur bloudy crimes Let Repentance stand 2. When he sees in the same page againe written Horrible guilt dreadful fears doleful transgressions on the other side Faith he saith blot out guilt fears transgressions let faith stand 3. So where he seeth after faith and Repentance a thousand infirmities on the one hand and onely sincerity on the other he saith Tegantur infirmities overlook them behold sincerity Charity with men and sincerity with God covers a multitude of sinnes Sincerity is as
which is a continual dropping and causeth continual disquiet and wrangling To the other sin is in the Throne or in quiet possession as Master in the house The Amalakites and Israelites are together in the Valley fighting sometime the one somtimes the other prevailing God left the Canaanites to try his people and to learne them War He would not destroy them totally that the wild Beasts should not rise up against his people Better a thorn in the flesh and a Messenger of Satan buffetting thee to keep thee humble then a revelation and a rapture into heaven to puff thee up 6 Sin mourned under never damnes but gloried in ever damnes Oh wretched man that I am saith the godly soul. Pain could never make Paul cry Oh nor miserable that I am who shall deliver this body from death But Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver this soul from this body of death He that could glory in all infirmities and distresses could not glory but mourne under sin 7. Sin resisted though it over-power the soul and prevail at present leading into captivity damns not I find a Law in my members warring against the law of my mind and leading me into captivity into the law of sin Samson was a Captive to the Philistims but his heart was the same he hated them as much waited and prayed for new strength to be revenged and dyed in the quarrel The Christian Combat is like that of Joab a hard charge the battle before and behind and we herein in the same distress that the old Britaines when the Romans had drawen oway their Forces to protect them against the Picts they sent to Aetius the Prefect crying out The barbarous enemy beats us to the Sea and the Sea beats us back to the enemy between these two kinds of deaths we are either murthered or drowned The Christian is often in like extremities the fear pit and snare are before him the Lion Bear and Serpent He no sooner escapes the fear of the worlds pollution but he falls into the snare of Satans Temptation and if he escape that he fals into the pit of bosome corruption Between these two he is like to be either murdered or drowned Or as Amos hath it He that flyeth from the devouring Lion the worlds raging persecution meets with a more savage Bear Satans devouring Temptation and flying both is in his own house bitten by the Serpent in the wall Between Corruption and Temptation he is hard put to it oft foiled and captived yet fetcht off safe at last Here is nothing but death before him yet death without damnation One while he saith sin betrayed and deceived me and thereby slew me another time saith sin revived temptation revived and I dyed Yet all this dying is but the dying to sin and the death of sin not that death in sin 8 Where sin is as death it brings not death It is mortuum not mortiferum Where sin lives the soul must dye If Agag be spared Saul shall not be spared Who shall deliver mee from the body of this death I may add a few other Notes from other Scriptures 1 Sin whereby the heart is broken hinders not Salvation but sin whereby the heart is hardned Pharaoh and Magus had hearts hardned by sin Peters was broken with his 2 Sin fallen into when one is overtaken damns not sin continued in is that which damns David fel Saul and Jeroboam lay in their sin 3 Sins of infirmity and inadvertency damne not such was Noahs Sins of deliberation destroy Salvation There was a City of Refuge for him that slew a man unwittingly and a pardon of course but wilful Murder had no benefit of Sanctuary Christ will be no City of Refuge to him whose presumption of pardon is his provocation to sin 4 Sin against resolution destroyes not Salvation Such was Peters denyal of his Master into which he fell through too much fear sin resolved upon damnes Such was Judas his betraying his Master which he had long plotted and had watched for an opportunity to effect 5 Sin confessed and discovered is ever covered and remitted sin covered and concealed shall be proclaimed on the house top He that hideth his sin shall not prosper Hee that confesseth and forsaketh findeth mercy 6 Sin repented of never damns sin not repented of ever damns Take the two thieves for an example the one dyed in the presence of a Saviour his impenitency made him uncapable of Salvation the other though in the same condemnation saved by meanes of his true though late repentance But upon this occasion of this rare indeed sole example of the Thief on the Crosse we may use that Proverb Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot in his bow so many speak of the Thief on the Crosse who do nothing like him He confessed Christ among enemies these deny revile him among his friends He believed in him prayed to him relyed on him these do none of these How much grace did appear in that man in so little a time 1. Zeal for God he rebuked the profane Thief 2. Charity to man whom he would reclaime Dost not thou yet fear God being in this condemnation as if he should say Cast not away thy soul there is yet hope or possibility of Salvation 3. His repentanee manifested in that self-condemning and God justifying expression We suffer justly 4. His Faith in Christ whom he justified when the world condemned him He hath done nothing amiss 5. His Prayer of faith Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kigdom Verily there was not found so much faith in all Israel no not among all the Apostles who forsook him and fled I may call his faith a faith of Miracles as well as his Conversion a miraculous Conversion 7 Sin forsaken never sin not forsaken ever damns When Manasseh and the Prodigal returned they found the gate of Mercy open to entertain them Cast away your Transgressions and you shall not be cast away Electio aut dilectio peccati reprobatio peccatoris It is that Reprobate sin that reprobates soules But sin reprobated and rejected the soul is elected and beloved But to return from this Digression we shal proceed to a fourth Point CHAP. XXI That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name TO you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise Having spoken of Christ apart that he is the Sun of Righteousness and of the godly apart that they are such as fear his Name We will now bring them together and they are best when together Christ and they that fear his Name Doct. What ever the present condition and apprehension of such as fear Gods Name may be there shall be a day when Christ shall rise upon them They shall come out of the cold shade into the warm Sun and out of all their darkness into his marvellous light To the upright ariseth light in darkness
his hard bondage Christ Iesus had that first Testimony before that first and great tentation of forty dayes Moses and Gideon were prepared and forearmed with several signes that they might not dread those difficult undertakings they were set upon if we have well provinder'd the horse over night his Master reckons he may travel him the farther next day Expect some change of weather when thou seest the Sun rising early and shining gloriously 4. Often againe after some great and sad tryal Iacob never so much afraid of Esaus face a little before he saw Gods face and when he heard of Esau coming with his Troops to cut him off hee saw Gods host encamping at Mahanaim to secure him after the Trumpet had sounded louder and louder in Sinai terrours Moses spake and the Lord answered after the last and sorest throw the child is borne And after the great thunderclap heaven is opened and the refreshing showers fall plentifully on the thirsty earth 5. Often even when under the heat and brunt of sorest tryalls and conflicts Holy Steven standing before the Judge who condemned him and the people who shut their ears against his Apology sees heaven open and his Saviour standing up to absolve him in heaven who was condemned on earth in the midst of the fiery furnace the Son of God walked among those precious sons of men Into the dungeon where Paul and Silas were cast the Sun arose and shone out at midnight The spirit of Glory and of God never sits neerer nor rests longer upon any then upon Gods servants under their greatest sufferings 6. Sometimes again after some singular act of a well tryed obedience After that high acting of Abrahams faith and obedience in a ready offering of his son God could not hold but speaks expressely By my selfe I have sworn that in blessing I will blesse thee The like to Jacob after hee had sanctified his whole family and had taken his journey to Bethel the Lord appeared more fully and renewed the former promise and covenant with him 7. But if at none of these forenamed times then usually a while before they taste â—f death The Sun breaks out when near â—â—tting and gives the signe of the faire day â—f eternity following Moses saw not Canaan but at Nebo there saw and dyed Steâ—â—en saw heaven open at his death never before before he had been full of faith now of Assurance before of Courage now of Comfort hee had believed in Christ before â—ow hee beholds him hee was a precious Saint before now like an Angel full of glory from a lower heaven here on earth he ascendes to a higher from vision he goes â—o fruition Iesus Christ gave up the Ghost â—n peace after that bloody agony in the garden his bloudy death on the Crosse and after that double horrour of darknesse The Sun withdrawing his natural and the Father his divine â—ight from his spirit yet all ended well 8. But if not then nor before then certainely immediately upon the dissolution then is this and all the other promises not fulfilled in life perfectly accomplished therefore wee are said here on earth to embrace the promises there to inherite them Here the childe of God is heire of the promises yet as the great heire during minority hath but a smal part not the whole of his inheritance till he come to full age Death is the time to us when we come to that state There are many promises never actually and wholly fullfilled til death then are they all to the full Manyare called Blessedâ— here that are onely so by vertue of a promisâ— to be fulfilled then Blessed are the poor iâ— spirit Blessed such as mourne as hunger anâ— thirst after righteousnesse They have thâ— promise now they have the blessedness anâ— the fruition of the promise then Now juâ— ad rem then jus in re 9. Lastly after all and above all at thâ— day of judgement There shal be a rising oâ— the Sun and a rising of the Saints when thiâ— Bridegroome shal put on his glorious robe attended with ten thousands of his Saints the children of the Bride-chamber and shall be admired in all those that believe hee with his Crowne on his head they with theiâ— Palmes in their hands Then shall bee saiâ— to all that feare his name arise and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light arise and shine for thy light is come Theâ— shall all feare cease teares be wiped away death and finne be svvallovved up in victory darknesse and shadows flye away And thâ— Lamb shall be the Sun this Sun shining iâ— his strength never more to set to all eternity Then shall the Sunne be ashamed and the Moone confounded when the Lord of Hostâ— shall reigne in Mount Zion and in the New Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously 1. This shewes that the people of God may expect and meet with sad times here both for themselves and for the Church They who can say are there any comforts like my comforts Shal there be any joys like my joyes May at present say Behold and see if there be any sorrows like my sorrows I am he who hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath Hee hath led me and brought mee into darknesse and not into light In the world tribulation is the Churches legacy and first payment In Christ peace their last portion and ful payment 2. Yet may the godly expect glorious times also many are apt to dream of such on earth but that will not be til Christs kingdom is of this world which never was yet There are two glorious times the godly may expect 1. On earth for their souls when this glorious promise is fulfilled when this Sunne of righteousnesse hath risen on them with healing in his wings This is the most glorious day to be expected on earth All Solomons glory nothing to this The approach of God in those signal manifestations of his presence to Isaael is oft called the glory of the Lord and the greatest glory of his people 2. The other is in heaven There are glorious times to bee expected indeed when the Sun shall no more give light by day nor the Moone by night but the Lord shall be thy everlasting light and thy God thy glory These are the onely glorious times the Scripture speaks of Therefore let the over-busie and earthy Disciple take off his thoughts from Kingdomes and the right-hand and left-hand in seats of glory And think againe of the old Cup and Baptisme of Christ wherin the true professour may sooner become an Anabaptist then he is aware Baptized not baptismo flaminis but sanguinis not flaminis but flammae not with the holy Ghost but with fire 3. This informes us that the foundation of all true peace and comfort is layd in Grace The Sun of righteousnesse onely riseth on them that feare his Name Grace and
dismounted and throwne beside his confidence and fighting on his knees overcomes his enemy Pride is such a wild Beast and such an enemy to Grace that God leaves the Canaanite within us to learn us war that it should not rise up against us to destroy us As the wise Physician leaves his Patient to conflict with a lesse distemper to break the force of a mortal Disease Object But I have had stronger and more stirring desires formerly I am cold and flat to what I was is not this a decay Answ 1 There are at first legal stirrings raised from the Lawes terrors and heightned by the quicknesse and sharpnesse of strong convictions which gall and wound the conscience such a one is as on a Rack he roars cryes out takes on he hath drops of Gods wrath falling on him which puts him into a flame as one in a feaver who cryes out Drink drink This is a diseased not right thirst And there are Evangelical stirrings and desires begotten by the Spirit raised by the Gospel cherished by the Promise These are not so loud turbulent make not like noise but argue more grace The former said Give me ease I am sick I am damned give me a pardon or I dye This saith Give me grace let me have Christ let me be renewed or I dy There was more of selfe-love in those first desires more of love to God in these 2 Hast thou not 1. Bemoyled and bemired thy selfe with the world We cannnot both prize Christ and Mammon grow in Grace and Wealth The stomack that feeds on coals and ashes and such trash must needs forsake his meat 2 Or hath not spiritual pride given thee a fall Thou seest not that need of dependance on God use of Ordinances frequency of Duties but art in conceit above all Take away the wood the fire goes out 3 Happly thou hast obtained thy desire Why should the Sponse seek fear be so solicitous when she hath found her Beloved as when she mist him Shall the children of the Bride-chamber mourn when the Bridegroom is with them Say to thy soul Now return to thy rest The Flouds stop their course when come to the Sea The stone rests when at the center Hope deferred makes heart sicl desire obtained is a tree of life A poor man condemned to dy falls down intreats weeps cryes out for his life it is granted he kisseth the pardon blesseth the Prince thanketh his friends he leaps joyes praiseth God A Month after this man is not so full of joy or grief or care yet his life is as dear to him as ever it was 4 Thou hast more work to do then thou couldest apprehend Thy desires are divided into many streames which then were confined to one object Then thou more earnestly thirstedst after knowledge prayedst more for pardon now more for a broken heart Increase of Faith power against this Lust skil to manage this calling that business and to look to the whole charge of God and the whole Armour of a Christian. One work in hand goes on faster but when wee must use the Sword and Trowel fight and build this Church work goes slowly an end Object 3. But my desires are not uniform equal sometimes up sometimes down I know not what to think on it Resp. This may bee and yet all well 1 This may come from the different actings and assistance of the Spirit which is a free Agent as the wind blowes sometimes higher then the Ship moves faster The Spirit is not as fire or other natural Agents which alway act to the utmost of their activity fire burns as much as it can at all times The Spirit not so but as it pleaseth When the Spirit moved the wheels they moved when it stood they stood When the Spirit of God came upon Samson he was more then a man when the Spirit departed he became like another man 2 Faith acts differently and the Affections are raised or abated according to the actings of Faith The more faith is acted in the perswasion of the love of God the more thou lovest prayest obeyest c. 3 Thy mind is better prepared by spiritual Meditation therefore thou art more affected at another time thou hast slackned thy thoughts and thou art more dull 4 Is not thy body or mind distempered with melancholy This makes thee as blind Samson to the Philistins sport for Satan Luther was wont to call the melancholy head the Divels bath where he could cool and refresh himselfe There are two sights which above all other please Satan 1. To see a wicked man merry 2. A godly man sad He reckons himselfe sure of both when he seeth them thus Object But I find those corruptions in my heart which I never suspected what a sad growth is this Answ. As the day lengthens the cold strengthens When thou wast alive without the Law and thy sins thou wast dead really when sin revives thou art alive As sin reigned unto death so grace by righteousness reigneth to eternal life There may be these two opposite Kings in one Kingdome reigning sin or raging rather and Grace reigning death and life reigning sin and death reigne in thy apprehension Grace and life in Gods intention Where sin aboundeth most Grace aboundeth the more in one sense that is Grace is seen and set out the more to pardon so much sin So in another sense it is as true where Grace abounds most sin abounds the more in making opposition so new so great so strange against Grace Doubtlesse the greatest Scholers have the greatest Doubts and Objections which they cannot answer and the highest Saints have the sorest temptations The more the Spirit lusteth against the flesh the more the flesh lusteth against the Spirit But what doth thy resisting of sin lamenting for it watching and praying against it signifie but that thou art fighting the Lords battles and thou must never think of putting off thy harnesse till death There is no triumphant Church on earth all the Saints are militant We must not look to see the Egyptians drowned till we are on the other side the red sea It is enough if the Lord keep a distance between them and us here that they may not come so neer as to overcome us though in continual sight to terrifie us Sin hath received his deaths wound by Christ his death and the Law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ but in the grave it is not on the Crosse it is but it is long a dying as if it had nine lives as we say the legs and armes of it are broken it can never come downe it is fast nayled to rule over thee dying it is not dead but shortly what is now dying thou shall see dead and what now thou seest on the Cross thou shalt see in his grave when sin and death and hell shal be cast into the lake of fire All swallowed up in victory Lastly This and all the other