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B04185 Sermons on several subjects; shewing Gods love to mankind. Salvation is by grace. Wilderness-provision. God a strong hold in trouble. Light is to be improved. / By J. Lougher minister of the gospel. Lougher, John, d. 1686 1685 (1685) Wing L3093C; ESTC R180071 105,071 248

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neglect of Christ and his righteousness Some will have both these taken in yet all this is but ignis culinaris kitchin fire the Sons of the coal a light and fire of our own setting up and kindling not the true light And what will be the fruit and ●ssue of all but that instead of the comfort and security we expect by them instead of lying down upon our Beds of rest ●nd ease we meet with nothing but trouble sorrow and vexation Many pre●end to be new lights but true lights they are not In the Apostles days some seem'd Angels of light would bring in a new way of life and salvation 2 Cor. 11.13 The Mosaical Rites and Justification in part at least by the works of the Law but these hindred the progress of the Gospel then and we have but too sad effects of such pretending to new light and new truths but are contrary to Christ in his Doctrine which is the only truth that is according to godliness 4. He is the light ratione intensionis In regard of eminency and perfection Hence he is said to be light and in him is no darkness at all 1 John 1.5 In the Angels that fell there is darkness and no good at all And in them that yet stand its evident that the light that is in them is not absolutely perfect His Angels he chargeth with folly Job 4.18 With possible folly but those that sinned are held in Chains of darkness In the best men that are there is imperfection There is smoke in our best elementary fire but none in the Sun The light of the saints hath much darkness in it and therefore the Church is resembled to the Moon Cant. 6.10 Fair as the Moon Now the Moon at the full hath dark Spots But as Christ is a Lamb so is he a light without the least spo●● or deficiency 5. He is the light ratione durationis In regard of continuance Even wh●● creature light shall be swallowed up as the light of the Stars is by the Sun then shall he be light Hence that promise Isa 60.19 The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light to thee But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory Rev. 21.23 It s said The City had no need of the Sun nor of the Moon to Shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof We cannot think the meaning to be as if the people of God should at any time here have no need of these celestial Bodies to give them light but that they shall have such a clear shining of the light of his truth favour and gracious fellowship that shall render these common and ordinary lights of little account Yet some refer that in Isaiah wholly to the heavenly state when these outward lights ceasing God shall be all in all And that in the Revelation many understand to be meant of the Church on Earth That they shall have so much comfortable converse with Christ here that they shall make light account of all worldly enjoyments But will more fully be compleated in heaven when these ordinary lights shall be useless and God in Christ shall be an everlasting light a light that hath no shadow of change as these bodily lights often have a light that Shines by night as well as by day a constant perpetual light that never sets or is eclipsed but shines to all eternity Hence he is said Heb. 13.8 To be the same yesterday to day and for ever Yesterday viz. To them under the Law To day viz. To us under the Gospel and for ever viz. To them in heaven and there without variation or shadow of change To open this yet further Qu. Ye will say in what sense or respect is Christ the light Ans As he is opposed to a threefold darkness so he is a light in three respects 1. There is a darkness of misery Isa 8.22 They shall look to the Earth and behold trouble and darkness dimness of anguish and they shall be driven to darkness It is spoken of the Idolatrous Israelites who finding no help from heaven turn their eyes downward looking hither and thither for comfort but in stead thereof meet with nothing but darkness are driven to darkness that is to variety extremity and continuance of misery Hell is called outer darkness because of the sorrow misery and discomfort to them there In opposition to this is the light of joy and gladness The Jews had light and gladness joy and honour Esth 8.16 Light is sowen for the Righteous and Gladness for the upright in heart Psal 97.11 Light and gladness here are the same the reason why light is put for gladness is because light is pleasant and disposeth a man to joy whereas darkness inclines a man to sadness Light is sweet saith Solomon Eccle. 11.7 And a pleasant thing it is to the eyes to behold the Sun Thus Christ is light for he gives the truest ground of Joy Isa 9.2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light they that dwell in the Land of the Shadow of death upon them hath the light shined This prophecy is applyed to the coming of Christ Mat. 4.16 and then said to be in part fulfilled The meaning is plain The people of God Israel and Judah walking in the darkness of misery and calamity shall see that light at the coming of the Messiah which will glad and rejoice their hearts Therefore we read that the news of his Incarnation is said to be tidings of great Joy Luke 2.10 And when Christ was preached by Philip in Samaria there was great Joy in that City Acts 8.5 8. Hence it is called the preaching of the acceptable year of the Lord Luke 4.19 Not as if Christ preached but one year as some think for he preached more than one or two years but it is an allusion to the year of Jubile which was a general release proclaimed by sound of Trumpet to them that would go free which could not but be matter of Joy to many So this is the happy time of Gods grace wherein the welcom news of the Gospel is proclaimed wherein men may be acceptable to Christ if they come in unto him They shall be set free by the Son and then they are free indeed free from the guilt of sin the curse of the Law and so from the fear of condemnation This is the good will of God in Christ to sinners and tidings of great Joy to all that truly receive Christ as he is offered in the Gospel Thus Christ is light in opposition to the darkness of trouble and misery 2. There is the darkness of sin and wickedness What communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 Gracious persons with wicked Idolaters in Marriage or other intimate fellowship If we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness that is in sin and
ungodliness we lie and the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1.6 And we are exhorted to put off the deeds of darkness Rom. 13.12 And to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness Eph. 5.11 Which works are set down in the third and fourth verses of the Chapter But fornication and uncleaness and covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints In opposition to this is the light of holiness and true conversion Hence when men are said to be turned from Satan to God it is set out by their being turned from darkness to light Acts 16.18 And by their being translated from the power of darkness Col. 1.13 14. And the Church is said to be clothed with the Sun Rev. 12.1 Thus is Christ the light 1. For his whiteness and this relates to the Righteousness of Justification Light is white Mat. 17.2 When Christ was transfigured his raiment was white as the light Christ is light he is clothed and clothes his Saints with white Garments Rev. 3. v. 4. They are said to walk with Christ in White and to have washed their Robs and made them white in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 In this sense are believers all fair and no spot in them Cant. 4.7 Light is of so undefileable a nature that nothing can pollute it It shines into the most nasty and filthy places and contracts no defilement And such are these garments of Justifying righteousness with which he investeth his Church and people 2. For direction Light directs us how to walk and keep our way and keeps from stumbling and falling into danger If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this World John 11.9 But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him This relates to the righteousness of sanctification Psal 43. v. 3. O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me Light guides the traveller in his way Men in the dark lose their way and go they know not whither as the Text we are upon speaks Think they are going to heaven when indeed it is to Hell that they are going The way of the wicked is as darkness saith Solomon Prov. 4.19 They know not at what they stumble Those men stricken with blindness 2 Kings 6. thought they had been going to Dotham but when their eyes were opened behold they were in the midst of Samaria their enemies Country Thus men think of going to paradise because they are in the dark and if the Lord be not gracious to open their eyes in time they go into outer darkness Now Christ is the light to lead the blind in the way they know not and hath promised to do it Isa 42.16 I will bring the blind by away they know not and lead them in paths that they have not known I will make darkness light before them c. This is he that leads Souls in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment Prov. 8.20 And the Psalmist speaks the same Psal 23.3 He leadeth in the paths of Righteousness for his names sake When Israel followed the Pillar in the Wilderness they took no harm When Peter kept neer the light followed Christ close he stumbled not but leaving Christ he dashed himself against a stone and sadly bruised himself Good Josiah walked in the night in that rash expedition against Pharaoh-Necho He went up to the Battel not so much as asking counsel of God and lost his life Christ is the only light to guide our feet into the way of peace as he leads in the way of holiness in which way-faring men though fools err not 3. There is the darkness of Ignorance The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not John 1.5 It is spoken of man in the State of nature A● first man was made full of light and knowledge but by the fall is full of darkness a●● ignorance Eph. 4.18 Alienated fr●● the life of God through their understanding being darkned and the ignorance that is in them Natural men may have a deep reach into the matters of this world but there is dreadful darkness upon the face of their Souls in the things of God and of his Spirit Though the light of the works and word of God shines upon them yet the darkness comprehendeth it not The natural man perceiveth not the things of God they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural light scattereth the darkness where it comes if the light comes darkness gives place to it and flees away but this spiritual darkness will resist and rebel against the light as some are charged Job 24.13 And men are said to love darkness more tha● light Joh. 3.19 And that Apostle saith 1 Joh. 2.8 11. The darkness is past and the true light now shineth but he that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because darkness hath blinded his eyes What profession of light so eve● such a one may make and whatever shines upon him outwardly yet he is in darkness and knoweth not his estate God-ward be knoweth not whither he goeth to heaven or to Hell nor what his end will be whither Joy or misery This was the vail drawn over the face of the Gentiles before the coming of Christ Hence the Prophet Isa 60.1 Upon a Prospect of Christs appearance cries out Arise ●●ine for thy light is come the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Christ the true light the glory of the Father will ere long come and shew himself glorious in his Doctrine miracles and the work of Redemption for the salvation of his Church and people Hence when he comes he is said to give the knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins Luke 1.77 And the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is seen only in the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 More particularly He sheweth two properties of light 1. As he makes things manifest The Apostle saith Eph. 5.13 All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light Thus doth Christ discover the glorious things of God His blessed attributes the freeness of his grace the riches of his mercy his infinite truth power wisdom Justice and goodness He discovers the depth of Satan the mysteries of iniquity by which he works the windings and turnings of this old crooked Serpent the wiles devices and methods of this subtil deceitful adversary We are not ignorant of his devices saith Paul 2 Cor. 2. v. 11. Thanks be to Christ the true light for the knowledge of them He also makes manifest the hidden Counsels of mens hearts He shews what our natures are and what our conditions are whether good or bad pleasing to God or no. 2. He enlightens the Soul to apprehend