aloft as a train of Gun powder dicto citius one faculty inflames another till the whole man be in a combustion and that so fiercely so furiousty so outragiously that neither Reason nor Scripture Counsels nor Reproofs Fear nor shame can reclaime them Thus you see the universality and extremity of it 4. That their lusts and labours are endless in pursuing these vanities as their onely end we need not toyle to prove as before in the voluptuous We will instance now in the Covetous Man whereof the one thinks the other the greatest fool in the world the one for sparing the other for spending and yet the Seripture calls them both fooles O consider how the caresof the world rush upon them in the morning as soon as they awake accompany and rack them in the day scare them in the night follow them to bed hinder them from sleep affright them in their dreames and for what to build stately Houses purchase Lands heap up Riches procure Dgnities make Marriages joyn Kindreds as though there were no Death no Grave no Resurrection no Judgement no God no Devill no Heaven no Hell hereafter Thus it is proved in patricular a word or two in generall and we will passe on First by the testimony of Heathen men that had but the lgith Nature of the Apostles that had the light of Inspiration of Christ that was the light it selfe and so we have found the Spring First That Heathen men that were of the world should discry this enormity of the world and they that were blind-fold should espy others go astray had been a wonder if it were not so palpable so universall so extream that the very blind might grope it that well might Juvenall say Prima fere vota tantis notissima templis divitiae ut Crescant Every mans first wish's first prayers are when he enters into Church that riches may increale Were it a satyre or too harsh a reproof to say so in therese dayes The truth is our Doctrine now is farre purer than the Heathens were but in point of practice we differ little I doe not speak of all but as my Text leads me of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many Secondly Of the Apostles take one for all 1 John 2.16 All that is in the World is the lust of the Flesh the lust of the Eyes and pride of Life Lust of the Flesh as carnall Recreations Banqueting Laughing Playing lust of the Eyes Riches Wealth Profits pride of Life as vain Glory Promotion Nobility carnall Wisdome Beanty excess in Apparrell these almost share the world amongst them if there be some Saints of purer metall it is but like a veine of Gold mixt with much Dross none pure and altogether refined but those triumphant in Haven Thirdly let him witnesse this that mnst judge us all our Saviour amongst that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or throng of sutors that press'd upon him while he sojourn'd here how many surd forthis world how few for the world to come Indeed some troubled with Issues of Blood Lepers Blind Lame Dumb Lunatick possess'd with Devils came to him but for clensing originall Sin leprosie of the Soul blindness of the Heart lameness of the Affections spirituall Phrensies casting out legions of Iniquities he had almost as few Suitors in his Life as Rescuers at his Death There came indeed two or three to him to ask what they should do to attaine Heaven being told that they must sell their Goods forsake the World as that Cardinall that would not forego his part in Paris for that in Paradise they forsook Christ and clove to the World The Jewes hoped the Romans feared Herod was troubled Caesar was disquieted his Enemies were jealous his Friends and Apostles stood expecting and all but for a temporall Monarchy when that failed they failed onely a Thief that was nayled with im sticked to him and what thanks was that to him now to contemn and crucify the world that had already condemned and crucified him Thus the proof in generall arguments and reasions farther to confirm it may be four 1. The first is drawn from the Worldings ignorance many make choice of these vanities highly prize them earnestly pursue them rest in them being got because they know no better our Eyes are blind our Eares deaf our Understandings darkned our Hearts dull our Affections dead our Consciences seared that they cannot discern spirituall things God Glory and Life everlasting This Christ witnesses with his Word to the worman of Samaria Si nosses petiisses if thou hadst known thou wouldst have asked With his teares over Jeresalem Luke 19.42 O si nosses Oth at thou hadst known the things that belong to thy peacel By his pangs in his Agony Si nossent if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory Butlwhat then because we are blind in spirituall are we therefore quick sighted in temporall things because we know no God shall we know and proze the World the more Yes Owles and Bats that cannot see in the day are so much quicker in the night Noals that have not eyes to look up to heaven are the best armed for digging in the earth Mans soul is a discouersing creature that must needes bring conclusions from some premisses if it know to better than the world it will conclude the world is best God and his Word should be the food of our soule but for lack of that like a greedy distempred stomach it will feed upon any thing even as the disease the wolfe upon the corruptions of our own filthy flesh The Philosophers reason concludes here the Sphinx and Eagle are quicker in sight the Vultur in smelling the Spider in touching and so in the rest than man though he be of a nobler complexion because nature hath bounded them there induing him farther with reason which darkens the inferiour faculties as the Sun the rest of the Starres so if Gods grace shine in our hearts all worldly glory is darkned Beauty seemes a painted snaile Riches but vanity Honour but a blast of idle winde But if we make this brittle glassy world which should be our Perspective and spectacles to look up towards Heaven our looking-glass our own vanities will reflect upon our eyes as Pigmalion with his picture or Narcissus with his own shadow we shall dout upon our selves the world and the flesh 2. The second reason is drawn from our indistinct knowledge for though we know heavenly things in part yet so fully so plenarily so distinctly as these below what man amongst us so ignorant so bruitish that hath not heard of Heaven cannot discourse of Heavn sometimes thinks not of Heaven meditates not that there will come a day of death of judgement that our life will vanish away as a smoak as a vapour as a dreame and as death leaves us so judgement will finde us But alas this Knowledge is but Ignorance cannot distinguish us from Reprobates nay from Devils they know more of this by
cup does overflow All this may bee confirmed by the Effects and Fruits of it by Examples by the Effects it 's Light that wee may see all things expells Darknesse that the mist of Ignorance vanishes enlightens us that we are lights in our selves that Reason Will Affections are improved inflames our soules with the heat of Zeale causes Faith Hope Charity Patience Long-suffering bud out as herbes in the spirituall garden of the heart if God lift up this Light over the Zenith of our soules it causes these earthly shadowes of Honour Beauty Ambition to be the shortest our dayes of Comfort the longest it is All things a Castle to the Besieged Liberty to the Prisoner a Father to the Fatherlesse a Husband to the Widow Cloathes to the Naked Bread to the Hungry Health to the Sick Oyntment to the Head Oyle to the Face Wine to the Heart Marrow to the Bones Strength to the Body Comfort to the Sole eternall Salvation to both Body and Sole By examples this Light held up confirmed the blessed Angles when the rest fell into utter darknesse guided Enoch that he walked with God preserved Noah in the Arke from the Flood Jasswaged the heat of fire to the three Children in the Fornace stopped the mouth of the Lions against Daniel in the Denne made the Apostles sing Psalmes at midnight in the Gaoles comforted the Martyrs in the Racks Torments Executions made Stephen in the midst of hellish paines to see Heaven open as the Starre the wise men guides all Saints to Christ in glory All the reasons wee will give of this point is that it is a Blessing beyond all Reason a Starre above our Firmament that our understanding cannot calculate our Jacobs Staffe cannot reach to if we attaine to it by any meanes it must be with the Angels by Jacobs Ladder Christ Jesus in that we cannot conceive it it arises from the disproportion betwixt our knowledge and it in that it is our cheifest blisse it 's from the proportion betwivt our soules and it We have done with the former a word of the latter Mans soule was created by God nothing can satisfie it but God hath some part of Gods image in it like the pin of a Dâ—all still restlesse till it be fixed upon him the Pole or Noahs Dove still flichring for the windowes of Heaven Now Gods Grace is the earnes the seale in the forehead the wedding garment which if we keep here will assure us of all hereafter the soule being in continuance eternall in desire infinite cannot be contented with a finite Man being of creatures the noblest cannot rest in an inferiour creature but when the Creator supports the Creature the clearest light shines in deepest darknesse strength uponlds weaknesse heaven is promised to him that is rescued out of hell and is not this able to sway with all men in the world with the wise men to forsake Heards Cattell Friends Lands Revenews and follow this Starre that guides us unto Christ at his Fathers right hand in glory Thus the reason the uses follow Obj. Are all worldly things as Gloe wormes and rotten stocks in the dark obscured when God puts brightnesse of his face Some men seem to have as sincere joy in their Corne Wine Children and in their eyes seem as bright Starres as Gods favour Answ I answer it is either in the night of their ignorance before this morning Starre appeare in their hearts or if after they are but Pareliosses which may shine but it is when the true Sun is under a cloud againe what light they have it is borrowed from the other by reflection 2. Obj. The Saints in whom this Light dwells suffer afflictions persecutions sorrowes without sometimes pangs of Conscience within as though their light was put out in utter darknesse whiles the Worldings rejoice Answ I answer though God sometimes cover his face with clouds yet in these stormes there are signes of his favour which as the Rainbow shews some small shower will follow yet they are a sure pledge he will not utterly destroy them 3. Obj. If the light of Gods countenance so farre exceed all things why doe so few men sue for it so many for earthly things Ans I answer they are like blazing Stars and Meteors in the lower regions that set all eyes at gaze man by nature is blinded with this ignis fatuus or foolish fire that leads him into every ditch in that the Saints are freed they are like the celestial Orbs having a peculiar motion to themselves besides the common motion The second use may let us see wherein this grace of God consists it 's not his favour in bestowing naturall endowments as good temperature in body bloud spirits which hath the usuall name of cheerfulnesse it 's not a morall comfort at sing from the exercise of high and heroicall morall vertues which breeds a kind of solace and contentment in the exercise and work delight Thirdly it 's not a civil blessing consisting in honor riches wealth and other things temporall for thus far the worlding may goe but it 's a spirituall favor arising from the presence of Gods holy spirit curing us healing us sealing us to the everlasting love of God in Christ Jesus See the links of this golden Chain by this grace we are become new creatures conceived of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 reconciled unto God in Christ freed from Satans bondage made spirituall Kings and Priests sanctified by degrees assured of ou a loption encouraged to come to the throne of Grace have peace of conscience joy in the holy Ghost enjoys light that guides us in the narrow straights of death makes Saints shine at the Resurrection as starres carries us into heaven where neither Sun nor Moon but the Lambe shall enlighten us for ever The third use may serve for humbling from whence comes our foylings and faylings our courage and valour onely from Gods grace 1. It makes us able to doe any thing 2. fuffer any thing 3. saves us from all things 1. Do any thing subdue the flesh encounter Satan conquer the world when all friends forsake us at death and follow us but to the grave it makes our beds in sicknesse causes us to dye softer stands by us when we groan and comforts uâ— heartens us upon death when it is coming and sayes our Redeemer lives whispers us when we are departing and sayes our warfare is accomplished lodges our body in the grave as in a bed mans our soule to heaven makes it able to look God in the face without terror nay sustains us when Riches Parents Husband Friends Breath Life even Patience Hope Faith have left us in some measure it will not leave us Secondly suffer any thing Rage Dragons Bears Lions if God be pacified frowne Tyrants and Executioners so he smile mangling of Bodyes ripping of Bowels racking of Joynts burning of Flesh boyling in Oyle become tolerable when a murdering Theodorick sees the face of a Man in the mouth of a Fish it lets us see the power of God in weak flesh when Bessus hears the cry of murder in the chattering of Birds it shews the sweet whispers of comfort in the soule when Sanders runs over Irish mountaines out of his wits it makes us run to God when Reprobates call for hills and mountaines to cover them it makes us look at the brightnesse of Gods face as the Gymnosophists at the Sun with undazled eyes Thirdly it saves us from all encounters suppose Hell be let loose upon us the Dâ—vils let sl p all their Doggs at once some barke some bite all pursue Gods grace stops all their mouâ—hs that they cannot hurt This Light of Gods countenance is to us as a pillar of a cloud by day a pillar of fire by night stands still like the Sun to Joshua till we have vanquished our bodily and ghostly enemies when our joyes seeme to set it turnes back as the Sun to Hezekiah that neither Plague nor Sword nor Famine of the Word nor Death nor Hell nor Damnation shall prevaile over us Lastly a word of Exhortation and we have done Now then Brethren Is not this Light worth the beholding you cannot have alwayes comfort in Wealth comfort in Health comfort in Friends Neighbours Wives Children these be not alwayes and while they be they sometimes minister matter of discomfort yea sometime their life and presence doe discourage but in the presence of God is constant Peace constant Comfort and Joy to be found he is constantly Good True O get this favou however you do get it and you shall have all come what will come this changes not these Comforts in Christ are sure never cease seeking begging hearing conferring till his face shine upon you you be sure of his love you have seen the comforts of the world you see how all cisterns faile you goe to the fountain in the word of God in the House of God in the Favour of God you shall have comfort in his Light you shall see light when others nothing but Darknesse round about O then thou that sittest in darknesse of Affliction darknesse of Poverty Dâ—bt in the darknesse of Temptation of Sin thou that seest no light none within thee none without thee none in thy Soul none in thy Mind none in thine Estate Friends arise put on Beauty come into the Light stand up from the Dead dead Comforts dead Companions dead Works and the Lord shall lift up the light of his countenance upon thee for ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
THE LIGHT OF Gods Countenance OR THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF GHRIST JESUS Infinitely out-shining all earthly VANITIES Set out in a Sermon preached at Lantilio Pertholy in Monmouth-shire June 5. 1653. By JOHN CRAGGE Master of Arts and Dispenser of the GOSPELL there JOHN 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MAT. 13.45 46. The Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant man seeking goodly Pearles who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it LONDON Printed by J.G. for NATH WEB and WILL GRANTHAM at the sign of the Bear in S. Paul's Church-yard near the little North door 1654. To my much honoured Friend Mr. William Williams and Mrs. Margaret Williams his Wife Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied WORTHIES I Present you here with a small Token of my Love and Thankfulnesse which may be worth your acceptation not as mine for so it 's rude and homely but as it 's God's a truth most deare and precious Diamonds are esteemed not for the curiosity of cutting but for their weight and worth when you heard it it affected the eare and I hope the heart which made you desire a copy of it I dare not quench the Spirit but according to promise tender it to the eye though not so soone as expected yet perhaps in a dress unexpected Segnius irritant animum demissa per aurea Quam quae sunt oculis commissa fidelibus c. Hor. It containes a heavenly Jewell in an earthly Cabinet worth all the Arabian Gold Indian Pearle Riches of China the wealth of the West Indians company or that which Solomons Navy brought from Tarshish for it 's that one precious Rearle Christ for which the Merchant sold all that he had and bought it Chymists boast much of the Philosophers Stone that turnes all mettalls into Gold Empericks of Aesculsapius his Herbe Panase that cures all diseases Warriers of Vulcans Panoplie or Armour of proof against all weapons Jewellers of the precious Stone Opalum that hath the vertue of all Stones But here is an Elixir or Quintescence that turnes all things into Gold of the Sanctuary an Herb of Grace that cures all Soule-sicknesses Christs whole Armorie both offensive and defensive to shield against all spirituall enemies a precious Corner Stone that comprises the vertue of all stones in the building of the New Jerusalem nay it is the New Jerusalem it selfe from above whose light is the Lambe a light which if truely received would quell Schisme in Discipline Heresie in Doctrine Sects in the Church Factions in the State Quench that Granado of Selfishness and Pride that rends the mysticall body of Christ in pieces I can assure you in the Word of Life and Truth the richest and rarest confluence of all humane happinesses the most exquisite excellency and variety of the greatest worldly pompe and splendour that ever the Sun saw since the first moment of its creation or shall look upon while it shines in heaven is but dust in the ballance to one graine of grace it is but dung to an humble mind savingly enlightned but with the fore-tast but of the least glimpse of that incomprehensible endless glorie which shall shortly be revealed it is all in the true valuation but as vaine smoake which does not onely vanish as it riseth it utterly loseth it selfe at the highest but also drawes teares from a mans eyes nay at last wrings the very heart-strings of every impenitent soule with that extreamest everlasting honour which would burst ten thousand hearts seriously and sensibly to think on it before hand it is not onely vanity but vexation of spirit let worldly wisdome say what it will and disparage them who sincerely by the help of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter motion to the course of the world and corrections of the time that they may keep a good Conscience the richest Treasure the dearest Jewell that ever the heart of man was acquainted with who infinitely desire rather to be Religious than Rich to be Good than Great to enjoy the favour of God than the Soveraignty and pleasures of all the Kingdomes of the Earth yet assuredly when all is said and summed up it is onely the true feare of Gods blessed Name a zealous forwardnesse for his Glory Goodnesse and good Causes that at the last day shall truly beautifie and adorne both all other personall sufficiencies and indeed sanctifie and blesse all publique Employment and services of State Goe then in this golden meane betwixt Prophanenesse on the one hand Singularity and Hypocrisie on the other and yours shall be the crowne and comfort when wickednesse shall lye buried in the dust and dungeon of hell To this end the thirsty longing of my heart and heartiest prayers shall ever be that you may shine every day more and more gloriously in all personall sanctity in all holy zeale in setting forward the affaires of God that when the last period of your mortall abode in this vale of tears which drawes on apase shall present it selfe you may looke death in the face without doubt the grave without feare the Lord Jesus with comfort and Jehovah blessed for ever with everlasting joy That as God hath blessed you and your parents with the things of this life he may blesse you and your posterity with the treasures of grace and the life to come which are the serious votes of him who will be for ever Yours to serve you in the LORD JESUS JOHN CRAGGE PSAL. 4 6. There be many that say Who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us THe heavenly language of this Psalm informes us That it was inspired by the holy Ghost the Inscription that it was penned by David the matter and manner in generall that it was a comfortable sob of a distressed soule in time of affliction The stream of Interpreters the whole course and current of the Text his mixt passion of joy and sorrow distraction and consolation as the pings of a woman in travell compared with the History in Samuel as shreds of a broken vessell laid one to another tells us that it was occasioned by Sauls persecuting of him after he was elected and chosen King by Samuel This will appeare more plainly by the parts which are three The first concernes God and David and that 's a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or deprecation wherein he petitions God that he would shield him from Saul and his complices The second concernes David and his enemies for having made God his shield he falls into an expostulation with them in the second verse the third verse is a defence and apologie for himselfe being deeply slandered the fourth and fift shew of what spirit he is like Christ that came out of his loynes he spends his breath for their Instruction that sought his Destruction The third part is an earnest prayer unto God againe for us he was his Alpha so he must