THE RISING SUN OR THE SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESSE Shining upon the SONS of UNRIGHTEOUSNESSE A Theological Sun-Dyal Wherein Is to be seen the Rising Motion Influence and manifold Operations of Christ upon the Soul under that clear glorious resemblance of the Sun As also The Description of the true Believer in whom are to be found but the least measures and sparks of Grace which are here discovered and cherished As also the highest degrees and full growth in Grace are here delineated and furthered By JOHN SHEFFEILD Preacher of the Gospel at Swithins London Jerem 33. 15 16. In those days wil I cause the branch of Righteousness to grow unto David and he shall execute Judgment and Righteousness in the Land in his dayes Judah shall bee saved and Jerusalem shal dwel safely and this is the name wherewith she shal be called The Lord our Righteousness Isai. 60. 19. The Sun shal be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shal the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shal be to thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory London Printed by Th. Maxey for SA GELLIBRAND at the Golden Ball in Pauls Church-yard 1654. Superiori sed Propiori Soli Soli Justitiae Soli Mundi conditori Eccleclesiae Redemptori 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophilo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philemoni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 COeli enarrant Domine Iesu Coeli Coelorum enarrant Gloriam tuam omnisque eorum exercitus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illa celeberrima Corona et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tot veluti Aquilae Solem spectanâ—es tot Parelii Solem circumstantes tot denique 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vultu solem versus â—ixo â—empluÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à tergo relinâ—uentes LunaÌ„ Solemque ipsuÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sub peâ—ibus conculcantes te Solem Iustitiae indesiâ—enter â—anunt spectant circumstant adorant Inter hâ—s â—im quasi in Sancto Sanctorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non antea inspiciendam jam reseraâ—am spectandam posuisti Visibiles insuper Inferiores hi Coeli â—lendidumque illud expansum opera manuum â—arum indicant Praecipue verò inter ignes ille minores Sol Coelorum decus terrarum gloria Pecorumque hominumque Lux Vita Deliciae imo Luminis Numinisque tui speciosissima Umbella Hunc enim tibi pro vehiculo deligisti quoniam in ipso posuisti Tabernaculum tuum Sanctissima vero tam Prophetarum quam Apostolorum cohors eorumque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scripta te solum spirant te Solem praedicant sicut stella olim illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Visa Orientis Filios Gentium Primitias animi dubios via nescios ad tua rect â anteambulans deduxit Limina ibique quasi ad Solis Domicilium verum Bethshemesh Viatoribus perductis ut Arcae foederis à Philistaeis Plaustro Impositâ— divinitus antea evenerat constitit ita hâ— turbam credentium te quaerentem quasâ— manu prehensa perducunt In hisce enim posuisti lucernam tuam pedes viatorum in via pacis dirigentem Quinetiam celeberrimus ille omnium Theologorum chorus Pastorum Grex tot in mundo Lumina in dextra tua stellae lumen suum à tuo solius Lumine acceptum referentes tâ— solum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspiciunt Hisce etiam Arcam foederis Gestandam manibus aliis non contrectandam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concredidisti Innumera denique per orbis totius fines credentium sparsa multitudo tam Naturae quaâ— Scripturae lumine adducti Prophetarum Apostolorumque defunctorum nec non pastorum praesentium testimonio inducti tantâque insuper Testium nube conducti te solum insequuntur quemadmodum sequacior ille populus praecedentem olim ignis columnam incessus accessus discessus recessus gressusque tuos omnes observant tecum aut moventes aut manentes Te solum exoptant te anhelant in te etiamsi nondum conspectum fama notum fide certâ nituntur credentes diligunt dilectum cordibus excipiunt excipientes vero gaudent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suos quisque Thesauros aperientes pro sua cujusque facultate munera ferentes adorant tuam tantummodo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad ipsorum beatitudinem omnibus numeris consummandam praestolantur Inter hos etiam ignis nubisque columnam praesentiae tuae symbolum constituisti In horum ego consortio unus minimus inter peccatores eheu primus inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter Verè Sanctos nisi Gratia illa gratis data gratumque faciens satis superque abundasset prorsus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratiâ tamen tuâ sum id quod sum meque tibi tuaeque gratiae quae prius electum dein dilectum facit totum debere agnosco Inter amicos tamen sponsi siquos habet habet enim fidissimos atat paucissimos unum me asserere ausim etiamsi inter pronubos filiosve Thalami haud sim dignus numerari De te Pulcherrime hominum de te quem unicè diligit anima mea narratura est meditatio scriptio nostra Te solum scire qui te misit Patrem haec est vita illa aeterna Te autem notum facere te inquam crucifixum hic vitae praesentis scopus hoc Ministerii opus Scire meum nihil est nisi te cognoscere Christe Te mihi scire paruÌ„ nisi quem scio te sciat alter Oh Utinam alias mihi concederetur lingua eruditorum lingua instar Calami scribae peritioris ubi gregem tuum instruxero at jam calamus in linguam converteretur linguam scribae cujusdam paratioris ad Regnum Coelorum qui ex suo omne genus Doctrinae Coelestis refertissimo promptuario â—am recentiora quam vetustiora profert Quod potui feci non quod debui non quod par est unguentum quod habui pretiosissimum in caput multo preciosius impendi Sit nomen tuum sicut unguentum diffusum ubicunque terrarum sese Sâ—l longe lateque visendum exhibuerit Nomen ibi regnumque tuum tollantur in astra Ad me quod attinet cum Propheta cogor exclamare Hei mihi homuncioni labiis polluto qui nec sapientiam didici nec scientiam Sanctorum degustavi Valde mihi vereor ne ex turbine mihi respondeas Quis est iste qui obtenebrat consilium sermonibus inscit is in me just â excandescas iracundiâ quòd non de te rectè uti aequum est locutus sum Ex fulgore dedi fumum ex fumo dato lucem Quis adeo coecus gemens tremensque loquor ut servus tuus surdus ut nuntius iste tuus Te tamen memini Thesaurum tuum testaceis istiusmodi Vasculis imposuisse quâ— supereminentia omnis potentiae omnisque efficaciâ— ex Deo prorsus ex nobis nequaquam provenisse dignoscatur Adest itaque mihi gloriatio si
neather springs both which fal into one river and make glad the City of God both these fields yield a plentiful harvest of comfort to the godly Quest. But here the godly soul is oft troubled and saith when shall this promise bee fulfilled this vision is for many dayes to come When will this Sun arise Answ. Though the Sun keep a certaine houre of his arising knowne to all yet of this day and hour knoweth no man when this Sun of righteousnesse will arise The operation and course of nature is much alike The dispensations of grace and peace are various more different then any other actings of God therefore nothing can be set downe certainly as a constant rule There are four notable dayes of the coming of Christ two in this life two after all alike unknowne 1. When Christ will come with his fanne in his hand refiners fire and fullers soap at conversion to purifie an elect unconverted 2. When with healing under his wings to cheer and satisfie the Elect converted yet unsatisfied soule 3. The third great and notable day of the Lord is at death when he comes as a Bridegroome his reward with him to make perfect the elect converted comforted soule yet never perfected And the fourth is the greatest of all when he cometh in the clouds to render to all according to their deeds None of these four dayes of the Lord are like the Lords day which is knowne and kept by all alike and we know that after every six dayes another will certainly follow but as the thiefe by night or the lightning not the sun by day come suddenly unexpected or as the dayes of Noah and of Lot were so shall all these comings of the Son of man be 1. Those dayes came but once 2. Came of a sudden 3. Came to put a mighty difference between them and others yet had we not need bee as the world was then Eating drinking sinning singing c. but as Noah and Lot fearing waiting praying preparing Samuel had the Sunne breaking out in the morning he was called young and it shined all day to his old gray â—ayres Abraham had no sun nor â—ight of heaven â—â—il he was seventy five years old and had a sad houre of darknesse before the covenant made The Lord had said hee would be a shield to him before he shewed himselfe to be his Sun Job had a glorious morning Sun in his younger age It was sadly overclouded at Noon but brake out again ere night Solomon the like or more glorious morning and noone waded toward evening and set in a cloud Moses had frequent familiarity with God as a friend forty dayes entertained by him as his Ghest and one day above all the rest had into the banquetting house as his onely favourite hee saw the similitude of the Lord heard his Name proclaimed beheld his glory and had this superadded I know thee by thy name and thou hast found favour in my sight Jacob was twenty whole years kept in suspence about his sonne Joseph ere he knew what was become of him and full twenty years it was betweene his first vision at Bethel and that at Penuel where he saw God face to face Thomas was but eight dayes under that uncomfortable fit of incredulity then full satisfaction Manoahs wife had two heavenly apparitions not long between the one and the other no more all her life Solomon had his two also The Son of God bad only one transfiguration and twice that testimony Thou art my Beloved Son the rest of his life was all Humiliation Heman and Ethan haply never saw the sun of righteousnesse shine out all their dayes never got higher then faith of Adherence yet dyed in faith not having received the promises But first usually the Promise is made good when the Christian is conscientiously attending on Gospel ordinances to meet God in his way when we wait to receive God wayteth to bestow grace 1. The Lords day is usually the day of the Lord the desired day of the Son of man on that day John being in the spirit had that communion with Christ and the Revelation of so great mysteries The Sabbath sanctified is also blissed The house of prayer is the place where God will make his people joyfull and where God records his name in any place hee will there meet and blesse his people Upon every dwelling place of mount Syon and upon her assemblies the Lord hath promised to creaete a cloud and smoak by day and a pillar of fire by night for upon all the glory shall bee a defence Where was Christ to bee found but in the Temple And when did he appear to his Disciples but on the Lords day one day after another It is observed if there be any wind at all stirring it is about the Church and if any breath of the spirit it is within the Church Sometimes Christ sets this fruit on the Preachers lips and there you must gather it Sometimes and as usually in and after prayer Cornelius had his and Peter his vision when both at prayer Christ had both those famous testimonies by audible voyce on the day of the holy Ghosts Transfiguration into a dove and his owne Transfiguration after when at prayer When did Jacob see the face of God but when he wept and made supplication Often at the Sacrament when wee set to our seals and avouch God for our God he sets to his seal and doth avouch us for his people Christ at Baptism received that first testimony from the Fathers mouth and the spirits descending upon him And how many doe we read of that have together with the water Baptisme received that also of the holy Ghost So for that other Sacrament how many can say in experience the Lord hath been known to them in breaking of bread when not till then discovered Abraham had the covenant first made and sealed at that first and notable Sacrament or Sacramental sacrifice so solemnely celebrated When Hezekiah and his people prepared themselves to a religious celebrating the Passeover their prayer came up to heaven God heard and healed his people Wait then upon God in the way of his owne ordinances And if thou know not yet where Christ is to be found goe thy way forth by the foot steps of the flock and feed thy kids besides the shepherds tents 2. Sometimes God revealeth himselfe in an extraordinary manner when we have been seeking him in a more extraordinary manner when Jacob was more importunate then ever had wrestled and wept all night he saw Gods face in the morning 3. Often before some singular tryall to be undergone and some hard service to bee performed Jacob had that laetificall vision at Bethel when he was to enter on Labans hard service Joseph had his divine dreame before hee was sold that he might have somewhat to live upon in
Peace alway joyned but Grace leads the way unsound Peace may goe before or without Grace true Peace never without never before Grace The same seed brings forth the straw and corne too the husk chaffe and kernel grow together but are oft parted not to their losse The corne is beaten out of the straw by threshing the kernel from the chaff by winnowing yet are both the purer and more fit for use Grace and Peace grow both upon one stalk yet may Grace be beaten out of Peace and remaine pure 4. What a mighty difference is there betweene the godly and the wicked both in their Sorrowes and Comforts Their Rock is not alike 1. In sorrow there ariseth to the godly light in darkness non dantur purae tenebrae to him in the wildernesse he hath in darkest night a Pillar of fire when his wine is gone Christ can turne his water into better wine when he is distressed he is not deserted when perplexed not in despaire as sorrowing but then most rejoycing when having nothing then possessing all things but the wicked in their distresse are forsaken of God as Saul was They runne up and down fretting fuming cursing God and King and all that come in their way and when they look down on the earth behold nothing but trouble and darkness and dimness of anguish and after all they are driven into darkness He oft runs mad for the sight of his eye which he must but cannot see and for the sorrow of heart which he cannot yet must endure Job fals down and blesseth Saul fals down and despaireth Job fals and lights on his knees and takes no hurt Saul fals and the first that comes to ground was his head and he is tataken up dead 2. In their comforts there is a great difference How oft is the candle of the wicked put out and how oft cometh their destruction upon them God distributeth sorrows in his anger saith Job And againe A dreadfull sound is in his eares In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him The wickeds joy is as a fire of thornes or the childrens squibs which crack smoak burst and dye or as the flash of lightning vanisheth as it shines but after it a terrible thunderclap or at best as the candle which if it bee not suddenly blown out is shortly burnt out The godly mans comfort is as the Sun whose light no winds can blow no time can burne out they look not upon your sun when it shineth They have a light as Paul had shining about them passing the brightness of the Sun hee cares not to eat of your dainties having meat to eat the world knows not of 1. His Sun is a rising morning lightincreasing Sunne yours an Evening setting Sunne 2. His Sunne once risen sets no more but shineth more and more to that prefect day of eternity yours once set shall never rise more but as Sodoms Sun entred into a thick cloud as soon as risen and set in fire and brimstone 3. The godly's Sunne brings with it righteousness The Joy of the Lord is the strength of their graces they rejoyce and work righteousness their comforts are chaste pure and heart-purifying The joy of the hypocrite is a polluting and infective joy they are bad at all times worse in their merry fit Then they say to God depart from us They eat and drink and curse God in their hearts They feast and revel and praise no other God but the Gods of gold and silver and wine and wantonness till the hand-writing on the wall make them leave off with horrour 4. The godly's comforts bring healing with them make the soule more sound expell vanity increase humility advance piety stiâ— up to pray beget praises exalt God But the delights of the wicked taints the soul ingender Diseases as the sultry heat and moisture in Summer is the mother of putrefaction 5 The godlies comforts are healing again bringing the soul into perfect good constitution removing the Disease The wickeds increase and strengthen the Diseases his is as water in a Fever which only cooles as it goes but feeds the Fever The godly mans as wine to one in a languishing condition which cheeres the heart and begets good spirits 6 The comforts of the godly make them grow they never shoot higher and thrive better then when under or after those comforts They then are fat and flourishing grow up as fatted Calves in the Stall that come on apace when well kept are lively lightsome and will be the sooner fit for the plough or pale But the comforts of the wicked make them grow as wild Bulls of Basan more brutish hurtful unruly They grow fat as the heifer at grasse and bellow as buls that are shortly to be brought to the slaughter 5 The last Use is to encourage the people of God in their present sadnesse Let them expect pray wait hope and importune God to fulfil this Promise Shall they fall and not arise Shal he turn away and not returne Hath God cast away his people No God forbid saith the Apostle Is the Sun so set as to rise no more hath not the longest night his morning following Sit not still then in despondency as the Egyptians under their judgement of darknesse as men without hope but up and pray as Jacob till break of day Urge this Promise come in when thou art full of fears as Bathsheba to David Did not my Lord promise me so and so and is it thy mind I should be disappointed Produce this Scripture Are not these thy own words thy hand writing whose Staffe and Bracelet is this Or as David when he had that Promise 2 Sam. 7. he came before God and fell to Prayer his heart was full his faith was strengthenned his Joy encreased he was full of great expectations Therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee because thou hast revealed so much in the ear of thy servant So say thou to God Lord remember thy Word unto thy servant wherein thou hast caused me to trust Say Lord I should never open my mouth to ask if thou hadst not promised nor could I once hope if thou hadst not power not should I desire if it were not for thy glory nor could I mourn for it if I did not fear thy Name Lord look on thy Promise my need thy glory and my fear Chase away shadows Come my Beloved and be like the Roe oâ— like the Hart on the Mountains of Spices The Roe can leap over the mountains though I cannot get over Molehils either make my feet like Hinds feet and set me upon my high places or be thou as the Roe Lord Jesus thou couldst come to Peter and canst to me walking upon the waters I would to thee but cannot stretch out thy hand of Love when I cannot stretch out the hand Faith Lord save me I perish I
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
said only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 1. 14. attentè consideratè spectare contemplari It is but a speculative Theory we have here The Suns essence is a Quintessence or rather a Sextessence a glorious essence indeed or none such being not of a grosse mixt but pure simple heavenly essence The heaven is a Quintessence purer farre then earth or the other elements but the Starrs are purer then those heavens and the Sun as much purer then all the starrs put together There is a Confluence and Treasure of light put together in the Sun So is it with Christ. 1. His Divine Nature is the purest essence heaven not Pure in his sight The Angels far below him they hide their faces in his presence Isa 6. 2. as the lesser stars their heads before the Sunne 2. In his humane nature There dwells the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 3. 9. All treasures of wisdome and knowledg of grace and glory more in Christ by far then in all the Angels as Saul above all Israel for Stature higher from the shoulders and upwards and Absalom above all Israel to be praised for his beauty from his feet and upwards no blemish in him so is Christ fairer then the children of men from the feet and upwards and higher then the highest Angel from the shoulders and upwards 1. This may check the pride and blasphemy of those proud spirits and selfe anointing Cherubs or new Christs who call themselves not so low as Apostles but are not but Christs and are not Apostles who say God is as much in them as ever he was in Christ because misunderstanding the sense of that 2 Pet. 1. 3. made partakers of the Divine nature There is but one Sun a many Stars which partake of the nature and light of the Sun cannot these Stars partake of the Suns light but they must be so many Suns ceasing to be Stars The divine nature we are said to be Partakers of is the communication of Divine or holy God like qualifications such whereof we are capable excluding the perfections of Christ which are not communicable to the creature Like as Christ is said to partake of our humane nature being in all things like to us excluding only these imperfections of sin whereof his Divine nature was not capable nor were sutable to him The water cold by nature when boyling on the fire is made partaker of the nature of the fire yet is water still the waters coldnesse is not incapable of the fires heat the fires heat expels not the waters moisture there is fire and water both water in nature as fire in quality The cold and rusty Iron in the fire loseth both his coldnesse and colour of cold becoms fire hot of rusty fire-red It partakes of the nature of the fire yet is but Iron still Or as Judas may be said when Satan entred into him to partake of the nature of the divel He was a divel he lived not but Satan lived in him that is he was full of all sin hypocrisie treason impudence malice Impenitence despaire as if he had been a very divel rather then a man yet was Judas Iudas still a man not transformed at least not trasubstantiated into a Divel So when Christ enters into us we are so acted by him that we seem not to live but Christ in us Gal. 2. 20. And so that other place as much mis-understood 1 Joh. 5. 17. As he is so are we in this world is to be taken not as if there were no difference at all between Christ and us but there is 1. a sicut similitudinis as is the father begetting so is the young infant begotten Ora. oculique manusque eadem an As of likenesse And there is a 2d Sicut Aequalitatis As of Equality As is God the Father sucâ— is the Son Coessentiall coeternal not aâ— as of equality but of similitude betweene Christ and us we receiving of his fulnesse grace for grace the same grace not the same fulnesse 2. Then give unto Christ the Glory due unto his name sutable to his nature Divine glory Worship this rising Sun it is not idolatry but Purest Religion not base Policie but truest Pâ—ety The Sun was idolatrously worshipped with a forbidden worship among the Persians of old and by some of the Atheistical Jews Ezek 8. 16. But it is commanded that this Sun should be worshipped both by men and Angels Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in his first be gotten into the world he saith lâ—t all the Angels of God worship him Joh. 5. 23. that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father Fear not then to give the same divine honour religious worship to the Son as to the Father to believe in place hope on and make thy prayer to the Son of God The creature Sun is to be admired for his Brightnesse it is a shadow of the Deity not to be adored The Sun the Creator is to be adored he being the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his Person who upholdeth all things by the word of his Power CHAP. III. Christ and the Sun alike in their Attributes Unity the first THe Attributes of the Sun and of Christ wherein they are alike are either 1 Incommunicable 2. Communicable The first incommunicable Attribute of both is their Unity Sol quasi solus Next to the glorious Essence Unity is the highest perfection of God and his first Incommunicable Attribute The Sun among the Creatures is matchlesse in his glory because of his Unity In heaven God hath planted thousands of lesser Lights whom he cals all by their names in earth thousands of other creatures but one Sun for both In heaven thousands of fixed Stars which never fell in earth thousands of lesse lights whom the Father of lights knows and cals every one by his name But as the same Sun gives light to the Stars above and to the creatures below so one Christ is head to Angels and Surety for sinners from him they receive confirming grace we reconciling There is one God one Sun one God and one Mediator one Blood for Reconciliation one name for Salvation one Sacrifice for Universal Redemption one Righteousnesse for Justification There was one Temple High Priest Altar of old one Brazen Serpent one Rock one Bread one Garment of the High Priest for all his successours now one spotlesse seamlesse garment for us all One must die for all and he once for all Travellers beyond the line losing their old find new Stars no new Sun They under the Law had other stars the Prophets we on this side the line other Apostles Ministers and ordinances the same Sun The Saints departed having crossed the line leave all our Stars Ministers private Christians and Ordinances but enjoy the same Sun Unity is the glory of the visible heavens one peerlesse Sun and of the invisible heavens 1. The Unity
held to be eighteen times bigger then the Earth and those of the first Magnitude an hundred and seven times greater The Moon however it seem to us is the very least of all but Mercury and is Quadragesima pars terrae the Earth being thirty nine times bigger and the Sun seven thousand times or thereabout as is conceived Should all the earth and seas be supposed to be where the Sun is it would be as a Mathematical Point no bigger then a Diamond or a spark But who can compute the Greatness of the higher Sun Christ Iesus Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection It is higher then Heaven what canst thou do dâ—eper then Hell what canst thou know The Suns Body can be measured his Diameter is taken to be so many thousand miles his motion observed to be so many hundred miles each hour But Christ his greatness unsearchable the Sun to him an Atom or spark the Heavens a span the earth as the dust of the Ballance the sea a drop of a bucket and all the Iles a little nothing and man less then nothing With the sole of his foot he covereth the earth and sea in the hollow of his hand holds all the deep 1. What high thoughts should this beget in us of Christ To whom will you liken him or can you equal him Regum timendorum in proprios greges Reges in ipsos Imperium Christi He bringeth Princes to nothing He can crush them as a moth and with his looks or frowns can undo them and their projects yea command them into Hell God looked on Pharaoh and he never looked up after it His wheels moved no more Ahasuerus looked displeasedly Hamans face was covered and he was presently led to Execution Fear him fear him 2. But let the poor Believers rejoice We have a great Savionr whose Grace Mercy Wisdom Merits are infinite He is many times bigger then the earth All sins of the world before his Merits no more then a cloud before the Sun I shall speak two great words 1. The one this That if all sins of all Believers were all laid on one person they were nothing to countervail his Meritorious satisfaction 2. The other a greater yet as true That if all sins of unbelievers since the world was were upon the account of one man that if you could suppose one man to be guilty of Cains Murder Pharaâ—â—s Obstinacy Ahabs Impiety Sauls Rage Ahitophels Treason Absoloms Parricide and Incest and Judas his Christicide and despair too and Sauls blasphemy withal yet this man flying to Christ Jesus should have all these sinnes done away as a cloud and should be as safe as Abel the Righteous The latter Act of turning Tamar out of doores was more shameful then the former in deflouring her To turne Christ out of doors after all other Contumelies and abuses is the foulest sin Any were admitted to the Feast but they who slighted the Invitation and had abused Mercy He who despised Moses Law dyed without Mercy yet there is a sorer punishment for such as trample under foot the bloud of Christ and despight the Spirit of Grace Can any thing be sorer then to dye without Mercy you 'l say Yes this 1. They dyed without Mercy at mans hands might find Mercy at Gods These without Gods Mercy 2. They dyed Temporally these Eternally 3. They if they went to Hell also have a more tolerable Hell there are several Dungeons there as Mansions in Heaven then those who have so much abused Grace What weight may a weak man swim with upon his back who hath bladders under his armes What sin can sink him that hath Christ in his armes Thou maist sink with all Duties without Christ and be safe after all thy sins with Christ. Thy sins are many great only less then infinite Christ is great and infinite and more then one way infinite his Person Blood Obedience Intercession Grace Power so many Infinites Should I tell an ignorant person That the Sun is One hundred sixty and six times bigger then the Earth he would laugh at it and not believe me yet so it is though he believe it not So should I say Christ his Grace Mercy and Merits are One hundred sixty and six times more then all our sins put together to an Unbeliever he would not assent yet so it is The Apostle calls them the unsearchable Riches of Christ. A little of sins Poison one drop of Pride may corrupt all our Righteousness A spoonful of Poison may infect a whole Vessel of Wine All Poisons cannot infect the Air the sea the Sun much less which will dissipate and correct all Malignity A little sin may mar all our Box of Duty and mar a mans yea Angels Righteousness and make us past recovery by Duties of the Law oâ— help of Angels but not past Christs help The Stars of the first Magnitude are One hundred and seven times bigger then the Earth yet shew nothing to the Sun The Angels are one hundred times more pure then we yet they need Christ and are nothing to him Oh Unbeliever cast not thy selfe and hope and safety wilfully away The Sun with one look dispels all darkness from the one Hemisphere and at another the darkness of the other Two looks enlighten the whole world What can two drops of the bloud of Christ do and two of his looks He looked and prayed for the sins of all those before his coming they were done away he looked again up to his Father for all these since his coming and they are gone Thus this one Lamb taketh away the sins of the world But as it sometime falls out with an over carfulf woman riding over water a good horse under her her Husband before her to hold by yet betrayed by her causeless fears she lets all go and casts her self down and is either drowned or well washed So do often we when we have Christ to hold by and are as safe as he himselfe we cast away our confidence and disquiet our selves with unnecessary fears Lord carest thoâ— not that we perish Let the Great ones of the world who are as the Sun in these lower heavens many times greater then other men Resemble this great Pattern who is not so much greater then the other Stars as it exceeds them all in Glory Beauty Light Influence cherishing the inferior Orbs with his beames and presence It affecteth not the highest Sphere but the most convenient is well content others should be above it in place so it may be more for common benefit He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God And he shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth even a morning without clouds as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain It is observed how all Creatures thrive and mend when removed into a better Soyl. Plants or Beasts taken
out of a hard soil ever do man only made worse by such removes Man cannot abide in Honour Man when exalted is corrupted The lowest and darkest Cellars keep our Beer fresh Wine quick meat sweet which would corrupt in upper roomes or in the Sun Jeroboam in the dust more industrious then any other in the Throne more impious then any that ever came after they all might go to him to learn And he that before had been in the Garden of Eden and was looked on as a holy Angel the Annointed Cherub to whom Daniel and all the Men of God were as no body had the most iniquity found in him after he was perfect in his wayes and had by his Policy made all fit to his hand as he would have it Good men when Great resemble God with whom Mercy is sweetly matched with Majesty and Grace with Glory But the wicked are like Satan who when ever he gaineth more power employs it to do more mischief He riseth up saith Job and no man is sure of his life No man can say what he hath and what is his own speaking of the wicked man armed with Power 4. How great is the folly of the sons of men who toil sweat fret sue go to Law go to War yea venture to go to Hell to get these earthly things and when they have done what have they got but their labour for their pains in this life and after this worse pains for their labour Why dost thou set thine eye on that which is not What are these to Heaven The Sun is nothing in comparison of the Heaven of Heavens the Earth nothing to the Sun thy Farme or Lordship nothing to the Earth thy Cottage or Manner is nothing to England and England it self an inconsiderable nothing to the Earth Thy Lordship is not mentioned nor to bee found in the Map of the Earth and if by seeking it thou losest heaven too how miserable art thou They are beg'd for fooles who have a fair estate befallen them and sport themselves with Rattles How many wise Worldlings may bee beg'd for Fooles We count it childishnesse to see our boyes to run after painted Butter-flyes wrangle for a Top and fight for a Ball We are the more children who pant as if out of breath for the dust of the Earth The Philosopher on this Meditation of the Heavens Magnitude and Earths meanness breaks out into a Passion That men like children strive for an atom And hereupon Du Bartas excellently For though a King by wile or war had won All the round earth to his subjection Lo here the guerdon of his glorious pains A needle point a mote a mite he gaines A nit a nothing did he all possess Or if then nothing any thing be less O Lord said Austin Thou art and besides thee nothing of which nothing thou hast made Heaven and Earth those two the one of which is next to thee the other next to very nothing The highest heaven yet thou art higher the Earth so low as nothing lower Heaven is great but Earth little CHAP. XI The Glory of the Sun the second Property THe Sun is the most glorious Body in the World from whose Glory light is borrowed to set out the greatest Glory whatsoever 1. The Church Militant in her greatest Glory and richest Robes is described to be cloathed with the Sun 2. And which is far higher the Saints Triumphant in that great day of Gods greatest glory and mans when Christ shall be glorified in the Saints and the Saints in him shall have their glorified Bodies shining as the Sun 3. Yea which is more then either when Christ himself had that great promise fulfilled That the Kingdome of Heaven should come with power and was transfigured His face then shined as the Sun That was a glorious day when two Suns shone together But what will that be said famous Mr Bolton when there shall be so many Saints so many Suns There is one glory of the Stars another of the Moon but a far other of the Sun said the Apostle There is one Glory of Saints another of Angels but another far greater of this Sun Moses had much glory in his countenance such as Israel could not behold til his Vaile was on but he needeth a Vaile when he comes into the presence of this Sun to hide his defects Solomons glory was such that the fame astonished a Queen but the â—ight dazeled and struck her dead There was no more spirit in her it is said Angels have a far greater measure of glory Daniel the greatly beloved Prophet and Mary the greatly beloved Virgin could not stand before it He fainted she feared But Christ is above all Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One to him whom man despâ—seth to him whom the Nation abhorreth to a servant of Rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shal worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the Holy Ore of of Israel and he shall chuse thee Yea the Angels themselves cover not their feet only but their faces when they come before Christ. The Sun is exceeding glorious though it dwelleth in that Light accessible so that his glory doth superare visum our eye is so weak we cannot see and see but Christ who dwelleth in that Light Inaccessible his glory doth superare Intellectum we cannot see and live 1. Therefore admire and adore this glorious Sun of righteousnesse This is no creature worship to worship Christ it is the Fathers wil the same Divine Honour should be given to the Son as to himself Worshâ—p this Rising this Warming this Healing Sun Angels Principalities and Powers stoop and submit themselves to him Do to Christ as the Philosopher who viewed and gazed on the Sun as long as he was able then not able to comprehend his glory could have wish'd himself with the Sun that he might know it perfectly If Erastus was so in love with Learning that he could gladly have dyed to have his questions resolved which he could not satisfie himself in Why should not the Christian desire to be with Christ in whom though he doth believe and joy with joy unspeakable and glorious yet hath he never seen him nor can he know him as he is 1 Pet. 1. 8. 2. Pry not then into the Ark nor presse beyond those bounds set us below at the foot of the Mount to comprehend those unconceivable mysteries of Christ his Deity Personality Hypostatical Union which the busie wits of the world studying to reach by their humane reason have fallen into the most monstrous heresies of the world Faith must begin where Reason ends What vessel can contain the Sea or what visible eye can see â—n â—nvisible Deity The Suns beams in reflection are delightfull but the Sun directly looked upon doth blind thee it must be an Eagle-eye can endure it It is no wonder
if Paul lost his sight when Christ appeared and shone round about him with a light far greater then the Sun CHAP. XII The third Property Light THe next great Property of the Sun is his Light which must not be forgotten Jer. 31. 35. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a light by day c. He speaks as if it was chiefly created for this purpose Light is the glory of his glory and greatness Herein an eminent resemblance of Jesus Christ who is so often called a Light the True Light the Light of the world As in nature are to be seen several lights so the Scripture mentions many sorts of Lights 1 Some good 2 Some bâ—d 1. Some good 1. Divine and Uncreated 2. Created 1. Divine and Uncreated Light is so excellent a thing that God hath not disdained to be described by it entitled to it clothed with it 1. Take God Essentially he is a Light 1 Joh. 1. 4. clothed with Light Psâ—l 104. 2. 2. Consider God Personally 1. The father is called the Father of Lights as he is the father of Christ h. e. the Original of increated Light He hath communicated the Light of Divine nature to Christ who is God of God Light of Light into whom the Father hath put all fulnesse 2. Christ as God inhabiteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light Inaccessible 3. The Holy Spirit is a like co-equal and co-eternal Light whose proper work is illumination and his first worke in the new creature is answerable to that first word in the old Creation let there be Light and there was light So here the spirit of God moves upon the heart and brings it out of darkness into a marvellous Light 4. Christ Iesus as Mediator is the Sunne into whom the God head hath plentifully imparted all fulnesse of Divine Light as the light of heaven is cumulatively aggregated and embodied in the Sun to be the standing treasury of the Church as the Sun is of the world Thus those phrases are to be understood that he is the true Light and Light of the world viz as he is God-Man and Mediatour 2. There are many Created Lights 1. The Ancientest the Angels who were at first all of them Angels of Light by creation though since many of them are fallen Stars these the Lord cals the Morning stars who sang together when all the Sons of God sung for joy glorifying God for the excellency of his work as they were created These are Heavenly Lights 2. There be other Lights in earth whereof the first and chiefe are the holy Scriptures given to be a light to our feet and a Lantern to our paths to which we must attend and follow as a light shining in a dark place Our Cynosura and Pole Star they are as we are Mariners our Pillar of fire as we are Travellers our Sun as Mr. Brightman interprets all along in the Apocalyps 2. Next to these are Religious and godly Magistrates Stars of the first magnitude in the inferior orbs these come in place and dignity next to the Angels in Principalitie power and Influence and when they come neerest to Scripture Rules and Presidents they are of most sweet aspect as Gods on earth Gods set over us in the likenesse of men and these are not as the lesser stars but as the greatest Sun when they rule in the fear of God as David saith they shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth as a morning without clouds 3. After these follow the godly and exemplary Ministers who are the Stars in the hand of Christ Rev. 2. 1. are to be burning and shining lights in grace and doctrine then are worthy to be looked upon and followed as the light of the world You are the light of the world said our Saviour to his Disciples lesser lights in the lesser world these are to be as so many earthly Angels To the Angels of the seven Churches Paul was called by Chrysostome Angelus Terrestris and these are to receive their light of grace from the Sun of Righteousnesse in heaven and their light of doctrine from the Sun of scripture in earth that they may be as men of God throughly furnished to every good work 4. Each private Christian is so to hold forth the word of life that they may be as so many lights shining in the world Yet Christ and all these lights differ much 1. He is the great and true light John Baptist was a burning and shining light Joh 5. 35. but he was not that light that true Light Christ is the true Light as he is the true Vine the true Bread that is the great and excellent Light 2. Christ is perfect Light in him no darknesse at all In the Angels there hath been a defection of Light there are now many of them in chains of darknesse In Scripture is some obscurity in Ministers Magistrates Best Christians are many defects as spots in the Moon there is smoak in our best elementary fire and a black steam in our purest wax candles no smoak or steam in the Sun 3. He the fountain of Light as the Sun to stars and creatures having before been furnished and called to that office he having received all fulnesse from the Father freely imparts his light to Angels Scriptures Magistrates Ministers other Christians yea to Eveâ—y man that cometh inâ—â— â—he world as the Evangelist speaketh which is to be understood 1. of the light of coÌ„mon understanding and natural Reason not that higher light of supernatural Grace this is not given to all but hid to many for this as other common mercies and universal preservation floweth from Gods rich benignity as a fruit of Christs interposing Or 2. If you will understand it of saving knowledg He enlightens every one that cometh into the world then it must be understood of all and onely those that are of that number none have such light but from him So in many places of Scripture the word Every is to be taken which if wel considered would discover the unsoundness of Pelagian Doctrines and Arminian Conclusions The Apostle saith as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith The manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withal not that every man hath faith the same Apostle saith all have not faith or that every man hath the spirit but he speaks only of such as are of that number the Elect called and godly 4. He the most eminent light out shining all them he present they silent and draw in their light as the Stars before the Sun So Angels Ministers Scriptures Ordinances yea the Sun it selfe are silent and of no more use to the Church in that heavenly Jerusalem where the Lamb is the Sun and Temple and Bible and all 5. In him all fulnesse as in the Sun of Light in Sea of water all receive all from him yet all cannot receive all
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
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
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
Experience then â—â—to the next of Hope then into the highest Certainty Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us This is to have the white stone and to eat of the hidden Manna 3 In Experiences The Favourite grows great by the many favours gifts jewels Offices the Prince bestowes on him The Christian grows rich in experiences which he wears as Bracelets and keeps as his richest Jewels He calls one Eben-ezer hitherto God hath helped another Nepthali I have wrestled with God and prevailed another Gershom I was a stranger another Joseph God will yet add more and another Penuel I have seen the face of God I have been delivered from the Lion therefore shall be from the Bear from Lion and Bear therefore from the Philistin from the Philistin therefore from Saul from Saul therefore God will deliver me from evâ—y evilwork and preserve me blamelesâ— to his heavenly Kingdom This is scalâ—â—â—â—i or the growth of God as it is called a most excellent growth from a spirit of Bâ—ndagâ— to a spirit of Adoption from a spirit of stâ—â— to a spirit of love and of a sound â—ind that the soul can â—â—â— downe and say Now returne to thy rest the Lord hath dealt grâ—ciousâ—y with thee Now I know why I have believed and wherefore I have believed and whom I have believed and I know â—â— it able to keep whâ—â— I have committed to him to that day When he can say with the Samaritans Now wee believe not because of thy Report and because we have so read and heard but because we have seen and heard him himself This is the glorious growth when Thomas who was shut up in unbelief and made such sad conclusions I do not believe though you all affirm it nay worse I will not believe wilful Thomas Mr. Bradford calls him or worse I shall never believe it is impossible I should as impossible as for a Venice Glasse to fall to the ground unbroken as a distressed Gentlewoman said but was confuted shall have Christ come in to him revealing himself more familiarly singling out Thomas from all the rest and bid him believe his own eyes and hands and make proof of the love of Christ. He breaks into the highest admirations and in fulnesse of Assurance cries out My Lord and my God! Before all unbelief here all faith 4 In acceptablenesse Jesus increased in stature and wisdom and in favour with God and man This is a growth indeed So when from a state of loathing we grow into a state of loving removed out of our blood into a state of beauty of nakedness to Ornaments of deformity to comeliness as is expressed in the Prophet Abraham first a servant then a friend first Electus then Dilâ—ctus before from faith to faith here from love to love from love of commiseration to love of benevolence from benevolence to complacency What a preferment in Esther of a Captive taken into Heges custody thence into the Kings bed thence into his highest favour thence to the Crown thence to ask whatsoever she would This the honour of Angels and the rising of all the Saints from an enemy to reconciliation then a servant then a son then an heir then a co-heir with Christ then to inherit all things I will bee his God and let him ask what he will that my love and his joy may be full Thou shalt be no more termed forsaken but thou shalt bee called Hephzibah for the Lord delighteth in thee Moses at first was charged not to draw neer after Moses was singled out to draw neer when Israel must keep their distance afterward he talketh face to face with God as a friend at last he desireth and is admitted to behold the glory of God and see all his goodness pass before him as if he had been an Angel 1. This is to bee ascribed to a threefold cause 1. To the nature of Grace which as Art and Nature do with their works bringeth all her works to perfection The Workman leaves not his work unperfected Grace is as the leaven mustard seed as the corne which by natures force dies revives roots sprouts brings forth a blade then a stalk then an ear then full corn Grace as great Rivers hath slender beginnings Sin is killed by degrees God begins with a reproof reproof begets a conviction conviction grief grief growes unto hatred hatred unto loathing loathing causeth a divorce of sin that divorce death Reproof discovers sin conviction fears it sorrow lamâ—nts it hatred resists it loathing shuns it divorce puts it away So the greatest measure of Grace proceeds from a spark first a motion in the Ministry or by the Spirit begets a desire that desire cannot go but creeps in longing and wishing longing shewes it self in a tear the tear begets a Prayer that Prayer begins acquaintance acquaintance brings on experience experience more hope hope diligence diligence confidence confidence assurance assurance satisfaction Thus where ever is life is growth The least twig grows but the biggest dead branch growes not the young child growes the old picture grows not unlesse fouler and more uncomely True grace hath a seed of God in it and grows counterfeit Grace growes not unlesse as a Carcasse more unsavoury every day then other 2 This growth is helped forward by the benefit of quickning Ordinances whereby the soul is made fruitful as the watred garden Those that are trees of Gods planting by the waters side shall grow more and more fruitful They that be planted in the house of the Lord the Churches Nursery shall flourish in the courts of our God 3 But most of all is this to be ascribed to the singular undertaking promise and blessing of God Grace for all its nature might decay and when it is as Jordan in harvest overflows all his banks yet without a fresh supply it might stand still bee driven back or quite dryed up And Ordinances cannot help if God put not influence into Ordinances and put this golden oyle into those golden pipes therefore Paul looks for salvation through the supply and auxiliary Grace as additional force to help out Habitual for lack of which supply the stony ground miscarryed it lacked root below and moisture from above the root of spiritual union to Christ and the moisture of spiritual unction from Christ. Now God hath undertaken for his people where he hath begun a good work to finish it Faithful is he who hath called you he wil do it you may rely upon it 1 To apply this What thankfulnesse doth this call for from those in whom Grace is wrought It is a mercy to be prized when the poor growes rich the despised favoured the diseased strong but none to this the sinner to grow gracious to grow out of Gods displeasure into his favour when the