hundred and sixty and at his pleasure can put his hooke into their nostrils and his bridle into their jawes 6 The most sweet and pleasent Government to their Subjects 1. Both ever present commit not as did the Persian Kings the managing of state affairs to others while they sate still pursuing their pleasures and taking their ease But both are daily overlooking their charge Lo I am with you alway 2. The government of both is the government of the day not of the night Satan is the ruler of the darknesse of this world as much difference between Christs and other governments as between day aud night day and night divide the world between them so Christ and Satan he who is not of Christs Kingdome is under the Prince of darknesse Christs government is ful of 1. Light we know whom we worship our service is a reasonable service No Altar to an unknown God or Saint in Christ his Temple 2. Full of delight He the Prince of peace under whose protection his people sit as of old under Solomon eating drinking making merry not secured by Armies but by Solomons wisdome 7. Other Governors and Prince may usurp a power over the lives and states of their subjects none ever attempted upon their minds and bodies to form the constitution of them or to alter an haire of their head from black to white But these two have a Dominion over both the Bodies and Spirits of men The difference of saces colour complexion skin hair eyes voice beauty is from the force of the Sun the difference of stature talnesse strength and constitution of their bodies to hardâ—nesse or effeminatenesse and delicacie is from the Sun yea the difference of disposition of mind for courage prowesse chastity sobriety Temperance whereas other nations are vicious false treacherous luxurious is attributed to the Sun making that difference between clime and clime the difference that is between nation and nation Christ hath made it that some have better lawes more love to God abhorrence of evill and that difference between person and person Christ only hath put Here is 1. an encouragement to pray and hope for the bringing in of the Gentiles yet uncalled God having promised That from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof his name should be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense and a pure Offering should be offered unto his Name And that Christ shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth 2. This may support the Churches faith in all changes Let enemies rage Heresies arise spread prevaile let persecutions and errors unite and gather as a snow-bal This Sun can scatter them as darknesse melt them as snow can cast the burning Mountain into the sea When the whole world became Arian it was but for him to say againe Let there be light and it was so When that Arch Apostate Iulian endeavoured to bury Christianity in oblivion and had opened the widest door of toleration to all Religions but the True that ever was great Athanasius cryed out Nubecula nubecula cito transitura The bubble brake the Malignant vapor was dissolved and his mischievous plots fell upon his owne pate and dyed with him We are afraid of stormes and clouds and very shadowes look up to the Sun it doth rule it will arise break out and scatter all If the Ordinances and Dominion of the Sun should cease or if it could be pulled out of Heaven or stayed in his course if all mists darkness could put out the light of it then might we fear But the Churches comfort is The Lord reigneth therefore let the Earth rejoice let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof Psal. 97. 1. 3. If the Sun rule the day not the night then must we be children of the light and of the day not of darknesse and night as others Christ will owne no such subjects but send them packing to the Prince of darknesse to whom they belong 4. Take notice of the cause of that difference betweene men and men The Stars make not men wise simple rich poor vertuous vicious Christ makes it Some are chast sober zealous valiant for the Truth others not To them it is given to others not given God did often sever between Israel and the Egyptians Israel had the pillar of fire Egyptians cloud of darknesse Israel had the Sun in Goshen Egypt no Sun for three dayes Jacob is loved not Esau Isaak had the Promise not Ishmael Peter is prayed for and kept Judas only admonished not kept nor prayed for The reason is hiâ— Soveraigne Dominion He doth according to his will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him What dost thou Dan. 4. 35. Grace goes not by Planets â— we say showres sometimes do but by the wise and free dispose of this greâ— Sun Object If the Sun be given to rule and tâ—â— Sun and Moon be set for signes at the Scripture saith doth not this warrant the Astrologers Art of Iudiciary Calculation and peoples consulting them Answ. What consequence is here God set them for signes therefore we may erect a figure and foretel events whom we shall marry when we shall what death what successe of this or that undertaking God hath called them signes he must men may not make the signification He calls the Rainbow a sign is it to calculate by he gives the signification to confirm the general Creature Covenant that there shall bee no universal destruction by another Floud He calls the Passover Circumcission Sabbath yea his Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel signes he tells the signification where have these Astrologers these signes interpreted to foretel such events 1. They are signes for Natural things shewing seasons of the year for Summer winter heat cold 2. Civil and Oeconomical signs as Sphanhemius calls them to direct when to plant low sail c. 3. They are Prodigious and terrifying sometimes when the Sun is eclipsed or turned into darkness Moon into bloud when the stars fall warning the secure world of the judgment of God drawing near But never signes of fortuitous and causal events or of voluntary actions The madnesse of the deceiving Prophet is not here more to be condemned then the blindnesse of the deceived people who run after them and with open hands carry to them the rewards of their lying Divination is to be pityed Wicked Ahab gives more credit to Zedekiahs signes the Iron hornes then to Micajahs Sermons The Socerer he loves the Prophet he hates and so hee prospers God saith of such Take them Satan Go entice perswade prevail and take them when thou hast done Who ever prospered less then they who forsaking their owne Mercy went to them Who dyed more miserably then such as made use of them Balak Ahab Iezabel Ahaziah Haman Belshazzar and that great Nebuchadnezzar
Glory thou being made more 〈◊〉 by Christ that hee may bee 〈◊〉 with thine rather his owne imaâ—◠〈◊〉 and he being more glorious in thâ— sight thou maist in due time be satisfied with his Image Reader This is thy great work to know and study Christ and thy self All is losse and dung to him and all knowledge is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forâ— of knowledge or false knowledg to this To deal plainly with thee here is no new light which this curious Age gazeth after no new earth discovered in the Moon but a new heaven if thou wilt in the Sun or another Sun rather besides that ordinary one yet not a Parelius but an Hyperelius a Light exceeding that of the Sun and yet a Light as old as the Scripture or the Sun either his ancienter Light yea a Light elder then both as old as the Father of Lights the ancient of dayes His going forth is from the dayes of Eternity saith the Prophet and he is the same yesterday to day and for ever saith the Apostle Who as he is the true Light God of God Light of Light so hath he derived of his own Light into these great Luminaries the Sun Scripture the one being his Chariot the other his Lanthorn from both which our Discourse is lighted and though there can be nothing added to the light of these two yet if I have brought any Oyl to keep the light of the Sanctuary stil burning as Israel was of old commanded as I account it the only work of a Minister so I desire thou maist not shut thy eyes upon it But if thou art of that Athenian spirit that thou hast no leasure to hear of Iesus and Resurrection or other matters of Religion but only to enquire and discourse of What is the News or worse if thou shouldest be of that profane spirit as Duke d'Alva who being told of a great Eclipse of the Sun and called to see it Atheistically answered He had so much to look after on earth that hee had no leasure to look up to heaven Then I shall dismisse thee with the words of the Preacher Walk on in the wayes of thy heart and in the â—ight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment Thine if he cannot further yet to desire thy Salvation JOHN SHEFFEILD Reader I thought good to let thee know this reverend Author hath published another excellent Treatise of Conscience worthy thy perusal and most useful in these times wherein so many make shipwrack both of Faith and a good Conscience Thine SA GELLIBRAND MAL. 4. 2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the Stall THis last Angelical Prophet is purely Evangelicall in his short Prophetick Gospel describing 1. The Gospel Church in her worship 2. The head thereof the Messias and 3. His eminent forerunner John the Baptist. 1. The Gospel Church and her spirituall and holy worship is described cap. 1. 11. From the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure offering and my Name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of hosts 2. John Baptist Christ his forerunner is described 1. Under his two Names and Titles 2. Under his twofold office in relation to those Titles 1. He is called a Messenger Ecce mittam Angelum meum and his office or errand in that respect was to make way for Christ as his Herald or Harbinger 2. He is in a figure called Elias and so in the Gospel he is call'd and his office was in that respect to make ready a People for the Lord by Turning father and child as Elias had brought back a halting people from Baal to God 3. Here is a description of Christ 1. In his Person 2. His coming 1. His Person under sundry denominations 1. The Lord whom ye seek shall come suddenly to his Temple Adon one of the Titles of God shewing his equality with the father cap. 3. 1. 2. The Angel or messenger of the covenant he the Mediator herein distinct from and inferior to the Father The Father sending The Son sent 3. The Angel in whom ye delight Christ is 1. The delight of the father Isa. 42. 1. 2. The delight and desire of the godly Hag. 2. 7. 4. A Refiner and Purifier of his Church with his fire soap and fanne in his hand ver 3. Matth. 3. 11. 5. Here stiled the Sun of Righteousnesse cap. 4. 2. 2. His coming described and that 1. In a more Terrible manner 2. In a more comfortable manner 1. More Terribly and that 1. To wicked men set out in 4. Expressions 1. His Coming wil to them be a scorching coming and a scouring coming as fire to scorch as soap to scour as refiners fire and fullers soap cap. 3. 2. 2. As a Judge ver 5. I wil come neere to you in Iudgment He will bring their judgment home to them lay it close he will not be slack to repay them to their face Deut. 7. 10. He wil not go behind the door as we say to tell them their own for Conviction and Condemnation 3. To convince them he wil be both Judg and Evidence an eye witnesse a swift witnesse h. e. 1. Ready to depose and make proof of what he chargeth them withall or 2. Importunately instant and pressing for Judgment How sad wil it be with wicked men when Christ shall turn Informer and accuser against them the Churches Advocate becomes solicitor against them Intercessor turne Plaintiffe as Elias interceeding against Israel I will come neer to you in judgment and wil be a swift witnesse against the sorâ—erers and against the adulterers and against false swearers and against those that oppresse the hireling in his wages the widow and the fatherlesse and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not me saith the Lord of hosts ver 5. 4. To see execution done cap. 4. 1. His day of execution shall be as a flaming â—urnace or a fiery oven which shall burn the wicked as stubble In all which respects it may well be said who may abide the day of his coming and who may stand when he appeareth cap. 3. 1. 2. To his own people his first coming is a hot smart coming he shall be as fire and soap in his Temple even to the Sons of Levi he shall try then refine and scour and purge them as the fullers cloth after much washing and beating or the Gold after much burning 2. The benefit redounding to them 1. They shall officiate and minister better they shall offer an offering to the Lord in Righteousnesse ver 3. 2. They shal be better accepted of God ver
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
only cast no shadow behind thee in the face of the Sun the Dyals do not in the face of Christ how grosse is it Be full of eyes within without before behind as those living Creatures Revel 4. 6. or those living wheels Ezek. 1. 18. Canst thou the secret sympathy behold Betwixt the bright Sun and the Marigold And not consider that we must no less Follow in life the Sun of Righteousness Let the morning Sun find thee praying with Jacob Gen 32 24. The noon Sun see thee working and the evening Sun see thee meditating with Isaak Gen 24. 63. Let not the Sun when risen see thee sleeping unrisen Sun all day moving behold thee all day standing still and Sunne setting leave thy Lust and Passion not set CHAP. V. The Suns Omnipresence a shadow of Christ. NExt to Christ his Omniscience consider his Omnipresence the ground and cause of that Omniscience In both which respects God may be said to have set his Tabernacle in the Sun which shadowes out both Christs Humanity also is called the Tent or Tabernacle of the Divinity The Sun locally in Heaven is virtually in earth his light heat influence every where overspreading the face of the Sea and Land penetrating the depths of both to the bottom of the sea and to those subterraneous minerals in the bosom and secret chambers of the earth Christ when ascending heaven left his promise as Elijah his mantle with his Disciples Lo I am with you alway to the end of the world And where ever two or three are gathered together in my name I am in the midst of them This may be a sensible Rebuke to the blind Atheists who are not to be dealt with by Scripture or reason who having puâ— out both their own eyes of reason and conscience would pull out Gods also of Omniscience and Omnipresence and having shut out the sense of a Deity out of their own thoughts would dispute the Essence of God out of the world If thou art not a man of Conscience art thou of Reason If not of Reason art thou of Sense Then I shall convince thee Wilt thou believe thy own senses Darest thou trust thine own eyes open them thou seest the light of the Sun or shut them if thou wilt thou feelest the heat of the Sun which though in Heaven is not far from thee but ever round about thee Doth its light scatter all clouds and shall any cloud or darkness cover thee Doth its influence reach the subterraneous cavernes and shall any corner hide thee from the presence of God This great Apostle as some have called it hath preached Heathens out of Atheisme and shall it not Christians Every beam of the Suns visible eye writes upon the heart of a rational man The invisible eye and presence of God is here Among all those abominations represented to Ezekiel the last and most hideous was that posture of faces towards the Sun and backs towards the Temple Solem exosculari Deum exoculare At the same time to see the Sun seeth us and to say the Lord seeth us not but hath forsaken the earth is such brutish reasoning as Heathens have no such Logick Hell hath no such bad Divinity The Heathen by their Logick could see in lumine Numen in the Suns light another Invisible Sun of greater light And Hell it self is not so full of darkness but whatsoever other impieties there remaine there is no room for Atheism Nullus in Inferno est Atheos ante fuit How should this consideration of Christs continual presence both awe and cheer the gracious soul provoking it to faith patience fortitude diligence in the work of God Christ is ever present 1. As an Observer He remembred every of the seven Churches of this in those seven Epistles I know thy works c. 2. As an Assister Lo I am with you alwayes to the end of the world 3. As a strong supporter Jer. 1. 18. They shall fight against theâ— but shall not prevail for I am with thee 4. As a bountiful Rewarder Therefore as all these Epistles begin with novi opera I know thy works they end in vincenti dabo To him that overcometh will I give c. to represent to you continually Christ present as an Observer from the first as a rich rewarder at the last Hence let Godly and wicked both learn to reason as godly Jacob and wicked Laban See if no man be present yet God is ever present Call thy dwelling Mizpah for wheresoever thou art God hath his Watch Tower neer thee CHAP. VI. The fourth Incommunicable Attribute Omni-influence AFter the Omniscience and Omnipresence of Christ already touched let us come to consider that Admirable and Incommunicable Attribute of Omni-influence wherewith the upper and neather Sun are adorned and enriched The Sun hath his residence in heaven only but his Influence is diffused into all the heavenly bodies and to all these Sublunary Creatures air earth water and all the hoste of them yea to those subterraneous Mettals and Minerals hid from the Vultures eye We have the influence and benefit of the Sun in every breath of air bit of bread in each dish of flesh fish fowle yea in each herb used for food or Physick The Sun hath an universal influence upon the Creature in his Generation production vegetation maturation c. So Christ upon the new Creature and upon all his actions and motions Sol homo generat hominem The Sunne and man beget a man the Sun and seed bring forth corn the Sun and showrs bring on Harvest But the Sun is one in every thing So Christ his influence is All in all In works of Nature nothing was made without him at first Joh. 1. 3. In works of Grace nothing is or can be done without him John 15. 3. Without me yee can do nothing Christ in the instruction gives saving knowledge Christ in the conviction worketh repentance Christ and the Promise work faith Christ and the Consolation works peace Accedat Christus ad Elementum fiet Sacramentum Christ and the Element make a Sacrament Christ in the Sacrament makes a rare Feast The Sun hath a various and marvellous influence but our Sun far more The Suns influence of light dispels darkness out of the air Christ out of the soul. The Suns influence of heat takes off the cold from the Creature brings in a reviving warmth but what like the cheering of Christ his love it takes off deadness restores the new Creature Thy favour is better then life sweeter then wine The Suns attractive influence draweth up grosse earthy and watry vapours and converteth them into air Christ in conversion is so attractive that hee drawes earth up to Heaven and turnes Corruption into Grace The Suns dissolving influence again sends downe those Vapors when purged and prepared in rich and fruitful showres and Christ those hearts full of grace and Peace he had before attracted turning again air
should upon pretending the spirit either 1. Slight the Scriptures for then why did he write this Epistle to them if they needed none to teach them 2. Or slight the Ministers for why doth he himself preach and write to them 3. Or Rely on the anointing as if it was the only Bible and Light when he tels them notwithstanding the anointing they might be and were some of them seduced These things have I written concerning them that seduce you 5. If thou wantest light then this directs us where to seek it Go to Christ for it And for that end 1. Come out of the earth live not as worms and moles under ground God bereaveth such of sight they would not esteeme the light but despise it The darknesse comprehendeth not the light nor can an earthy heart discern spirituall things Damps arising from the earth put out all lights and those of earthly spirits cannot savour the things of God but only those of the world The Pharisees who were covetous when they heard Christ derided him saith St. Luke 2. Live not in thâ—se climes where the Gospel Sun comes not follow the light of Ordinances as the wise men the Star Our countrymen go not to Groenland til the Sun have been there and stay not when the Sun is withdrawing The Christian as the Swallow must follow the motion of the Sun Christ and of the Gospel his Chariot 3. Close not thine eyes by wilfull frowardnesse lest God seals them up with judiciary excoecation Matth. 13. 13. 15. Do nothing against the truth but for it 2 Cor. 13. 8. The Pharisees because they stood in their own light and said they saw better then our Saviour their sin remained and professing themselves wise were made fools 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and because they saw they were made blind 4 Opâ—n thy doors and windowes stand up from the dead and Christ shal give thee light do what in thee is that thou receivest not grace in vaine We cannot make the Sun rise before Gods appointed time and before that houre it is in vaine to open all doors and windowes these drive not away the night but the Sun But when the Sun is up we may stop it out or let it in We cannot by digging cause springs run where God denyeth them but where he placeth them we may by digging make a well to receive them or we may stop them up that they run not to us We can by no means procure a blast of wind at Sea then all sails cannot put on the ship but the wind blowing faire we hoise up the sayle and have the benefit of it Nature without grace cannot grace without endeavour will not save us 5. Go to thy Minister The Greeks made their way by Philip to a sight of Jesus and the first Disciples that Jesus called were John's Disciples formerly The Magistrate may take civil Marriages out of the Ministers hands if it be his pleasure but spirituall and sacred marriages he cannot they are to espouse believers to their husband and to present them as chast Virgins unto Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2. 6. Pray much to Christ Lord that mine â—yes may be opened those blind men had not power to see but they had power to be sensible Lord I cannot see thy light I can only see my owne darknesse I cannot pray or believe but I can cry Thou givest both light and sight light where sight sight where was no sight and eye-salve to mend the bad sight O Lord who is so blind as thy servant and who so deaf Seeing many things but observing nothing Take off the scales from these eyes the vaile from this heart that I may come out of my darknesse into thy marvellous light CHAP. XIII Warmth the fourth Property THe fourth Property which I may call the highest in the Sun is his most comfortable warmth which is that that crowns all the former His greatnesse is commended by his glory glory by his light and light by this we now speak of warmth It is a shining and a burning light of whose heat we read oft in Scripture Exod. 16. 21. When the Sun waxed hot 1 Sam. 11. 9. By that time the Sun be hot which Property makes this creature â— great resemblance of our Sun of Righteousness in many paâ—â—iculars 1. It is the sole property of the Sun of all the Heavenly Bodies to give heat The Moon and Stars have their Glory give their measure of Light give not the least heat That is the Suns work Christ is the Garden enclosed and the Well sealed of Grace to quicken of comfort to reviâ—e the soul. No Angel minister Ordinances can they are of use and can give light The Law and Knowledge of God came by Moses and the Prophets but Grace and Peace comes only by Jesus Christ. 2. The Suns light is of more large extent then is his warmth that many see who feel not this that reacheth those who are far off and lye in the shade This those only who are nearer whom it taketh into closer embraces it is in his wings not Beames and beholdeth with a direct face and who are a longer space under it Christ may impart common illumination to those who are far off but his Grace and Peace and Love he imparts to them onely who are nearer to him more dearly embraced whom he setteth his eyes and heart upon spreading his skirt and wings over them Thus doth he manifest himself to them otherwise then to the world Many there are enlightned as by a winter Sun who have also tasted of the Word of God but were never warmed at the heart with the Love and Spirit of Christ who therefore fall away and as the stony ground for lack of root and mâ—â—â—â—ure hold not out 3. The Suns warmth is another kind of Heavenly and Divine heat then is in all the Creatures again fire cloathes warm but not as the Sun Warm water in Winter will not make trees to grow let the Husbandman graff plant cut prune digge dung water no fruit comes of it till the Suns warmth brings it out The Prophets staff laid on the childs face or if it had been bâ—oken on his back brings no heat But the Prophet laying face to face and stretching himselfe on the dead child his warmth brought in warmth and life into that child before dead The hens wing hath another heat to form bring forth and hatch the chicken at first and to recover it when drooping then any other heat can have Now as they are alike for these Properties in their Heat so in their Operations 1. The Suns warmth not light dryes up the raine dryes the Fens and High-wayes overfâ—owen with water dissolves Rocks of Ice thawes Mountaines of snow turnes Mare congelatum into Mare Pacificum Mare clausum into Mare Liberum which no fire or Engine on Earth or all the light in heaven could not do It is Christ
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
cannot apprehend thee do thou comprehend me The childs little arms cannot clasp about the Father yet the fathers do embâ—ace his childs nevertheless Oh Lord I am shut up I cannot come forth to thee when doors are shut but thou couldst come in to thy Disciples when all doors were shut Thou hast wings and canst come swiftly make no tarrying O my God The Chariots of the Sun tarry not beyond the appointed hour Lord Why are the wheeles of thy Chariot so slow If it be paved with Love O that it were driven or drawen by Love that it might move more swiftly The Sun with his wings flies not only over Rocks and Mountaines but over Seas and Lands without any labour Why art thou so far off O Lord and standest as a mighty man astonied that cannot save Lord why is light given to him that is in misery if I may not see the light of thy countenance to lessen my misery Why do I behold the Sun if I may not behold the Sun of Righteousness How sad is it to see day abroad and night within all light on earth all dark in Heaven Take away thy Sun rather then thy favor my life rather then thy light which is better then life If I may not see the Kings face any Exile had been better If I may not have thy presence any wilderness is good enough to mourn in Thou hast stricken me down as thou didst Saul and I am stricken blind but wilt thou neither thy self tell me what thou wouldst have me do nor send some Ananias to me Thou hast shut me up in unbelief but wilt not thou open the Prison doors that the ransomed of the Lord may come forth with joy on his head that his sighing and mourning may flee away It was said of the worst of Tyrants it can never be said of the God of Mercies This is he that openeth not the house of his prisoners Use those means forementioned attend on preaching prayer reading meditations godly society holy conference on Sabbaths Sacrament dayes Look on thy fleece after thou hast prayed draw up thy net after thou hast cast it forth stir up Faith resigne thy selfe only limit not the Holy One for time way meanes and manner The patient expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever nor shall the long tarrying of God be prolonged for ever Though God never giveth grace for the use of the meanes he usually giveth it in the use of Means CHAP. XXII Of Christ his healing the soul. Diseases of his People WIth healing under his wings Doct. Christ the Sun of Righteousness will not only rise with light to dispel darkness but with healing to remove all the Spiritual Diseases of such as fear God He is the great Physician of bodies as well as soules Hee healed all manner of sicknesse and every Disease among the people But this is to be understood of Spiritual Diseases Christ is not a Natural but Spiritual Sun hath not Natural but Spiritual wings and gives Spiritual health The people of God are as so many impotent persons lying by the pooles side attending on his Ordinances in expectation of cure from Christ. And as the Diseases of the body are many not easily numbred so those of the soul more One is troubled as Peters mother in Law with a Feaver sometimes very cold sometimes a hot fit no even Temper Another hath a withered hand can by no meanes stretch it out to act Faith a third hath an universal Palsie which takes away the use of all his limbs can do nothing to help himself but must be born on other mens shoulders and saved by the communion of Saints another hath by some great fall broken his bones as David and he lyes by it full of aches and complaints another hath a sore rupture in his heart which much torments him another a bloudy issue of foul corruption continually running another sore wounded by falling among Cutters and Robbers another hath a spirit of infirmity which bows him downe to the ground cannot lift up himself to a heavenly conversation another complaines of barrenesse Ordinances have no fruitful efficacy as to him but like the unsavoury waters another of bitternesse Ordinances seeming to be the savour of death to death he fears and causing to miscarry as those waters 2 Kings 2. 19. Another sadly complaines of an universal Cachexia Atrophy and dislike a sad Disease called Non proficiency which is next door to a Consumption of such the Text speaks they shall be healed and then grow as the fatted Calves Another againe complaines he is not one Disease but all Diseases from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot wounds blaynes putryfied sores Totum pro corpore vulnus Christ will undertake the cure of all Many other Diseases there are incident to several Christians But five especially all the people of God are afflicted with 1 They all alike partake of that morbus naturae described by the Prophet borne children of wrath brought into the world naked crying defiled lying in their bloud unable to help themselves uncapable of help from creatures these doth Christ pity to see them dying and saith Live washeth annointeth feedeth closeth nurseth adorneth at last glorifieth them 2. Besides this all the godly are born blind as he John 9. and are not like many other creatures whose young see not for certaine dayes but after that nature gives them sight but we should never see if Christ did not annoint our eyes with his eye-salve 3. After these two are cured all the Elect complaine yet of another the most dangerous disease in the world whereof Pharaoh died without remedy and Nabal without sense the Stone the Stone of the heart worse then that in the rains or bladder which Nature may expell or Art may cure but nothing will help here but manus Christi He quite taketh away the stone and filleth it up with flesh 4 After he is cured of this every child of God comes to be stricken and sick of the Plague the worst Disease in his heart the worst place a painful killing tormenting Disease and besides infectious The Plague infects the breath sweat urine cup dish so this plague of heart infects all our duties acts desires Sacramental Cup and Bread Every one hath his plague in his heart and when he seeth it and cryeth â—ut to Christ he will cure it This all the Godly have but it ripens breaks runs and none dye of it The wicked have taken the like Infection but it lyes within them never breaks to put them to that paine but they irrecoverably dye of it 5 After this there is another Disease still whereto all the godly are subject the Falling sickness ever since that fowle fall of our Parents As Mephibosheth and his nurse fell together and he lame all his life after We
of the Divine Essence in three Persons I and my Father are one John 10. 30. There are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one 2. So in Christ visible for his humanity invisible for his Divinity Unity is the perfection of his person Only in the former Unity of Essence there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alius not aliud here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aliud not alius in this unity of Person As in the Creature Sun there is a conjunction and union of two different qualities light and heat Light such as is in heaven among the Stars none such on earth Heat such as is in living creatures on earth none such in the Stars So in Christ there is an union of an heavenly and earthly nature 1. Of a Deity which the other persons have without humanity 2. Of Humanity which we have without a Deity In this one High Priest alone the Thummim and the Urim the perfections of God and the light of men conjoyn'd 1. Then give unto Christ the glory of this Singular attribute of Unity in a double Unity 1. The Unity of faith 2. Unity of Love 1. By an Unity of faith eye Christ only eye him with a single eye look up to no other Mediator go not to glean in any other field as was said to Ruth one Sun gives light to all the world there needs no more He were a mad man should say set me up another Sun or light me a Candle at noon day to help out the Sun He more irrational who saith give me somewhat besides Christ another Mediator It is looked upon as prodigious in nature to see two or three Suns or Parelii together There is no such thing they are but imaginary Suns in a cloud having a little light no heat or vigorous Influence There is but one Sun which gives light to these so to set up Saints merits the Virgin Maries Intercession or our own duties were prodigious all have what they have from Christ and contribute nothing to him And these Parelii are never seen but when the Sun is low at morning or evening never at noone This flying to the Saints with Papists or imagined Righteousnesse with some carnal Protestants is only a sign of a dim knowledg and of a weak faith never of a sound judgment and a wel-informed mind How unhandsome is a new piece on an old garment or the garment part wollen part linnen Christ will be Solus or nullus Look to me and be saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Isa. 45. 22. Each man puts out his candle and opens his window to let in heaven light when the Sun is up do so for your souls tread out your sparks they may burn thee they cannot lighten thee Isa. 50. 11. Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compasse your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of my hand ye shall lye down in sorrow 2. Next look after the other great Unity The Unity of love the Unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace Faith and love are the two great uniting graces faith to the head love to the members As there are two great unions in heaven the first of three in one Trinity in Unity the other of two in one two natures in one person So next to these two most glorious Unions there are two mysterial Unions in earth of faith to Christ where two are one of love to the Church where all are one And as this is Gods perfection so the Churches according to Christs last Prayer John 17. 17. That they may be all one as Thou Father art in me and I in thee That they may be made perfect in one It was the glory and beauty of the Wheels that they were so Artificially joyned one within another that though divers they seemed one wheel and they had all one motion for one Spirit animated them All those innumerable fixed Stars keep their proper and certain station are therefore never eclipsed nor do they eclipse others but move together uniformly one motion is common to all The Planets move in several Orbs no two together and they are all eclipsed one by another Christians should as Stars in the Firmament not thwart cloud censure slight eclipse each other disparaging this mans Ministry question that mans sincerity Oh that the Trumpet might not make an uncertain or different sound but bee all as one as when the Temple was dedicated and when Jericho was besieged all the Priests blew together all the people gave one shout thereby should Babylons walls be finally ruined and Jerusalems fully repaired Then would it be said Who is this that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun terrible as an Army with banners This Unity of the Spirit would become the bond and cement of our Peace our bands and beauty the staff of the Church in her now old age and bring in those Primitive times again when after stormes The Churches regained rest and were edified walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied Why should there not bee as one God one Church as one Lord one Baptism as one Spirit one Faith as one Father one Family as one Christ one Hope as one way one Heart as one Bread one Body as one Cup one Lip Cor unum via una Dominus unus Nomen unum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12. 12. All should be one How delightful is it to see ten thousand beams streaming from the same Center of the Sun in heaven meet and re-center in the same punctulum on earth What a resplendent light and piercing heat do they give So when all the Graces coming from the same head do unite and con-center together what beauty light and heat is there The Beams dispersed are weakned united are more burning as in a Burning glass where all the Sun seems contracted in so narrow compass Where is most of Unity there is most of Christ. And now thou glorious Sun of Righteousness and blessed Peace maker who art all Union and the Fountain of it in whose Person the Father and Holy Ghost was from eternity united in whose Incarnation the Humane Nature was united to the Divine in whose Mediation the Divine was again united to the Humane In the strength of these two great Unions produce a third that union of our Nature with it self that there may be no more Schismes in the body Thou that didst slay the enmity between Jew and Gentile slay that between Christian and Christian and as thou art the foundation stone of our faith be also the corner the coupling stone of our Love and the
on earth would not be of that use as now his influence is though his residence only in heaven It might astonish and dazle us not so cheer us it is better for us that Christ is mediating in heaven then if he were working miracles againe on earth 3. Be ready to acknowledg Christ and his influence in every good in illumination conversion consolation c. his attractive productive restorative sin restraining heart changing his gracious dissolving mollifying and his alterative influence So in every ordinance if there be force in the Word any sweet in the Promise any life in the Minister any quickning in the Sermon any warmth in a Christian any relish in the Sacrament any benefit in a Correction give Christ the glory Tast Christ in All as we may the Sunne in each morsell of bread and draught of drink Again In every outward good have we any joy in our enjoyments any comfort in our wants It is he that hath sanctified and sweetned all our toyl labour meat drink marriage poverty riches crosses afflictions He is the tree that hath sweethed the bitter water he the Salt that hath cured the cursed and unsavory waters he like Noah comforts us concerning our toil He hath restored us to a child like right to and a blessing in all mercies In Christ God hath given us all things Rom. 8. 32. And in him it is that God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings Ephes. 1. 3. and hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godlinesse Therefore all things are yours saith the Apostle because Christ is yours 4. This shewes whence it is if the influence of Christ be of that force that some are called thereupon converted changed sanctified after that supported comforted and to the last preserved others are not called at all or not moved when called but remaine blind or deaf as the Adder are hardened contradict oppose and â—erish in their unbelief and gainsayings The Scripture puts it upon this energeticall speciall and distinguishing operation of the influence of Christ. To you it is given to knâ—w thâ— mysteries of the Kingdome to others it is not given it is revealed to babes it is hidden from the wise and prudent the poor simple weak despised are chosen and called when not many wise Rich noble are called The father chuseth some and then giveth them to Christ then draweth them to Christ then chargeth Christ with them Those he keepeth in his hand none pâ—ucketh them out Peter is yet winnowed by Satan Christ prayeth for him he recovers his standing though he fell Paul is buffeted but Christ assisteth with sufficient sin-resisting Grace and Paul is upheld Again whence is it that the same Ministry is effectual in some plâ—ce to some persons not to others Paul preacheth at Jerusalem but in vain They will not receive thy testimony concerring mâ— there was no such influence At Rome he preached and spread the faith the Reason is given The Lord who made Peters Ministry effectual to the Jews wrought effectually in Pauls when he came among the Uncircumcised 5. Lastly This may satisfie sober men curiosicy is never satisfied in clearing Christ notwithstanding such his influence from being Author or partner in any sin or Anomaly In him we live move and have our being yea even the Divels and wicked men live move have their being in and from him he sustains their persons governeth their actions concurreth in their operations this is not evil Judas could not betray Christ nor Pilate condemn nor Souldiers crucifie him if such power had not been given from above Shimei could not have cursed or flung a stone at David if God by his concurring permission had not said Shimei Curse David The lame horse is ridden by his Owner that he moves is from his Master that he goes faster slower this way or that is from his Master that he halts is from his owne lameness not his Master A Scholer useth an ill made blotting pen that it writes is from the Scholer that it writes ill or blots is from it self A Workman layes a strait rule to crooked timber the Workman and the rule make it not crooked Object Why doth not God mend this then Resp. 1. Stay there thou piece of clay 2. Who shall give the Potter Law he is not bound 3. He can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil Gen. 50. 20. Christs Garments are alwayes white as wool when our wayes are unequal his wayes equal Christ is as the Sun The Sun is the efficient cause of Light therefore cannot be of darkness of heat therefore not of cold upon his departure follows darkness and coldness not caused by the Sun if it be so said it is improperly causa deficiens not efficiens God who is the sole Author of good cannot be an abettor of evil Jam. 1. 13. The Sun shineth on a Meadow it brings forth sweet flowers on the dunghill it shineth that stinks the Sun puts not that stink on the dunghil The word of Christ comes to the Jaylor and Lydia and is a sweet savour of life to the High Priests they are cut to the heart and storm and stink The Sun shines on Gardens Herbs Plants they yeild their fruit to recompence the Dressers pains But though the weeds also have a common influence of the Sun they put forth noisom leaves and Flowers and seeds of their own that these weeds grow is from the Sun that they bear such leaves flowers and seed is from their own nature and pristine seed When God in Scripture is said to harden it is not so to be understood that he doth it Infundendo malitiam sed non infundendo mollitiem not by provoking unto sin but by denying or withdrawing his Grace and the influence of his Spirit CHAP. VII Perfection another Incommunicable Attribute PErfection is another Attribute of this lesser Sun much more of Christ the greater and brighter Sun In the one is a Perfection of Light Lustre Beauty no spot darkness or defect in it in the other is all Perfection of Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification Redemption all Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg all fulness of the Godhead bodily Perfection implyeth two things 1. Perfectum est id cui nihil addi detraâ—ive potest That is Perfect to which nothing can be added or diminished both are so The Suns light is of that perfection that all Stars shning add nothing at all to it All hid lessen not the Suns light All Angels and Saints add nothing to Christ. Though the Sun enlighten all the Stars it hath never the less Christ beggars not himselfe at all by relieving us The Sun hath the same light if there were no eye did heed it Christ had the same glory and blessednesse before the world began when none to observe it 2. That is perfect which is not possible to be tainted corrupted or prejudiced by
not offended in him 6. Others are judicially blinded He hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Again God hath given them the Spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear unto this day So that it is as much a mercy to have an eye to see as the Sun to give us light and the same cause to blesse God for giving an eye or eare as for the Gospel and for giving faith as wel as giving Christ. Christ without faith profiteth no more then the Sun without an eye or meat without a mouth This being a communicable Attribute it gives us an imitable example the Uncommunicable Attributes of God are Un-imitable To aspire to be equal to God in glory which he wil not give to another was the Pride of Lucifer in Omniscience was the sacriledge of Adam in Power was the insolence of Babylon in wisdome and Policie the ambition of Tyre they all perished in such attempts but to affect to be like God in holinesse purity mercy forbearance c is a Gospel duty So to affect to be like the Sun in his splendor glory to move in a higher orbe that we might shine alone and all others be eclipsed by our fame and glory were to say with Lucifer I will walk among the stars But to be as like the Sun as may be in Communicativenesse wil be our glory There is to be a communicativenesse 1. In Spiritual 2. Civil matters 1. In Spiritual things and that 1. By the Ministers who must be as the lights of heaven and the Salt of the earth go about as Christ himself doing good He must be eyes to the blind warmth to the cold The Sun when gotten higher gives more heat then when it was lower you must be more useful then when you were private Christians 2. By private Christians who must exhort one another speak one to another As you have received a gift minister the same as good stewards of the manifold grace of God The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall Yet God being the God of order not confusion intended not that all should become publick teachers to extinguish the calling of the Ministry they are to be Stars in private not Suns it were to be wish'd indeed that the light of the Moon were like the light of the Sun and that the hearers were almost and altogether such as the Preacher that all the Lords people were Prophets but not that the Sun should be pul'd down and the Moon and Stars which are to give light only by the night in absence and defect of Ministers should rule by day and openly teach in the sight of the Sun It went of old for a fable I fear as this age hath turned many truths into fables so it wil some fables into truths and it may prove too true that our Phaetons in the Chariot of Phoebus wil set all on fire It is twice noted in sacred history that the lowest of the people were made Priests and both times ominous In Jeroboam's time whose house sunk with it and in Hosheah's Reigne when the ten Tribes were finally cut off But both times it was but to officiate to Calves and the Images in the high Places never to the true God Woodden Priests and Golden Calves may go well together as was said of Caligula who would himself be adored as a God and would have his Horse consecrated for his Priest there was like God like Priest as the Historian observed As for the Church of Christ she is described to be clothed with the Sun the Moon under her feet and a crown of Stars on her head It is a sad change that now she should be stript of the Sun clothed with the Moon and have the Stars trod under her feet 2 In Civil things 1 All rich persons should remember their charge To be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate thereby laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life Again Distributing to the necessitie of the saints given to Hospitality propounding to themselves that example of him who when he was rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich Or this of the lower Sun who is liberal to the poore and shines not only on the fertile pastures but on the barren rocks and sandy wildernesses whence no fruit can be expected 2. But especially the Magistrate who was wont to be emblem'd with a Sword in one hand Ballances in the other eyes closed to be without respect of persons in administring justice and by a fountaine to denote their communicativenesse He should not as Lucifer affect a higher orb and climb unduely to that place to which he is not called Such prove prodigies not stars and are as the blazing stars the astonishment of the world made up of fiery and malignant matter which after they have caused terror in the Land of the Living consume themselves and appeare no more The Sun is not placed in the highest but in the middle Sphere there more safe there more useful Saturn is far higher and Mars also is above him but both of malignant Aspect The Sun is the Earths Patron and Benefactor The Sun is more full of lively heat and influence when gotten higher a warning to those exalted to Higher Places to grow better as they are grown greater Prodesse magiâ— quam praeesse Yet it is commonly observed in the Heavens That the Sun moves slower when it is at the Highest swifter when lower and we ordinarily find men with their Advancement to lose much of their activity and usefulness Yet it was the grave advice of Plutarch That Magistrates should herein also resemble the Sun moving when at highest more slowly as to violence not to activity but more deliberately and with Moderation for the benefit of the Commonwealth and their own particular security CHAP. X Of several Properties of the Sun whereof first his Greatness THE third thing wherein the resemblance holds between these two Suns is their like Properties whereof there be many we shall begin with that of Greatness Who knoweth or will believe the stupendious magnitude of the Sun All the Etherial Bodies far exceed these Earthly in their Greatnesse The Sun especially which though the ignorant Countrey man believes as Epicurus taught that it is but Bipedalis or of the bigness of a Bushel the Learned know that of necessity it must be far bigger then the whole Globe of the Earth and Seas One hundred and sixty times bigger the Learned say although by conjecture rather then certainty to be exactly so and no more The fixed Stars are said to be of six Magnitudes the least whereof are
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
4. His motion as it is certain and steady so it is uniform equal not Tardior et velocior not uneven sometime slower sometime swifter but it ever keeps the same pace So is it with God his way is perfect Psal. 18. 30. His waies are equall Ezek. 18. 29. Let ours be so Evennesse of the way commends the way of the thred the cloth Josiah was an even walker kept his way without deviation or turning to the right hand or to the left all his daies Caleb kept on going slacked not his pace but fulfilled to follow the Lord. Wicked men are like a land-flood or as Jordan in the time of harvest that overflowes all his banks at sometimes afterwards all is dry land Godly men are like a fountain that runs not so impetuously but is alwaies running Pharaoh once sent for Moses in haste another time by night too violent to hold long his usual answer was Tomorrow The heavy weight of judgment made this wheele move so fast when it was taken off he stands stock still You see Saul on a sudden rapture prophesying There is a morning cloud Ahab humbling himselfe there is an early dew But true grace moves not per saltum is not a fit flash a start and stop and Retrograde hot cold feaverish as he who was acted by the evil spirit now in the fire anon in the water Grace is not a morning cloud an evening dew some noon â—eat drops but a set rain a morning-Sun that shines more and more to a perfect day Not he that labours in his calling and sometimes is idle and spending at the Ale-house is the good husband but he who is stil at his business and keeps doing Isaack grew great and went forward the Hebrew is he went going and grew til he became very great and rich He went on getting and gathering every day and became a great man at last So saith Job the righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clan hands shal be stronger and stronger 5. Irresistible The Sun is not to be stayed or diverted in his course this Gyant breaks all the opposition of clouds which vanish in his sight they strive in vaine who would make it stand or goe back 1. Then vain is the force of persecutors who arm themselves against Christ and his members Christum regem occidire nolite timere bonum est Betray kil crucifie bury seal the stone set a watch he wil rise slay the Witnesses they wil rise again This little stone must become a great mountain and shal fill the earth he that falls against this stone shall be broken but on whom it shall fall it wil grind him to powder They who would oppose the Gospel Solem sistunt Deo resistunt they say to the heavens move not to the Sun shine not and kick against the Pricks The Beast indeed hath his seven heads and ten horns much craft more malice The Lamb hath seven eyes and seven horns much wisdome as much power with the breath of his nostrils he wil make the man of sin the son of perdition When Antichrist is in the saddle and Satan or the Jesuite holds the stirrup yet the Churches comfort is Christ holds the Bridle I 'le put my Bridle into thy jawes And saith so farre shalt thou goe no further 2. As vain is the crafty attempt of the Heretick and Impostor The three great enemies of the Christian name shall fare alike the three unclean spirits the Dragon Beast and false Prophet who take their turns one after another The Dragon the first 300 years making waâ—re upon the Saints under the heathen Emperors Then the Beast by name a Christian and hating the Dragon yet indeed that great Antichrist who alone exalteth himself above all that is called God and worshipped or every one who is called a God and worshipful every Authoritie Degree not only Sacerdotal or Ecclesiastical but Regal and Imperial a more dangerous and Saint-bloud-drinking enemy for a greater space of 1260 years In the end and taile of whom comes the false Prophet under the name of a Saint defying both the former detesting Idols more then uncleannesse and hating the Antichristian Garment and name more then the Nicolaitans nakedness or deeds The most dangerous enemy of all the three The uncleanest frog of all the fry who under the name of a separated Saint or another Christ or a better inspired spirit hath his Prophesies Revelations new discoveries new heavens but hateth the old Saint Ministry Baptism Supper Belief Prayer Doctrine Holinesse as Antichristian This also is of the Three and goeth into perdition 6. Unwearied But after almost six thousand years restlesse motion is as fresh and lively as the Bridegroom Mobilitate viget viresque acquirit eundo An emblem of Christ whose arm is not shortned but is able to save to the ut most all that come still unto him Hast thou not heard that the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not The youths may faint and be weary the young men may utterly fail Samson after a great victory may faint for thirst Eliazar the Son of Dodo the second of the Worthies his hand clave to the sword after a great slaughter he could not now open his hand again he needs some rest But Christ is the same his motion care might the same and as the Sun that hath lightned the world now so many ages is as able for that service stil as ever So Christ who hath governed the world and preserved his Church for this six thousand years his skil power and care is not now to be questioned But as old Caleb said he was as strong when he was fourscore and five years old as when but forty Aâ—my strength was then so is it now for warre both to go out and to come in So years and time make no impression on the Captain of our salvation who is the same yesterday to day and for ever 7. This motion is twofold 1 Ordinary and Quotidian every day doth rise run set keep his course scattering the darknesse and removing the cold of the night past and giving light for the present use of that day yesterday's light serveth not for to day but there is the same need every day of the Suâ— continued or renewed light as there was the first day of his creation to dispel the darknesse which was upon the face of the unformed world And do not we daily need the fresh supply and the renewed influence of the spirit of Christ as we did at first conversion Sun is not set one houre but darknesse comes Christ leaves not one houre but then comes on the power of darkness Auxiliary grace is as necessary as Habituall Subsequent as Preventing While the spirit moved the wheels moved no longer Goe then to Christ daily in him are our fresh springs begge to be anointed with new oyle from this Olive
branch which through the two Golden Pipes of his Spirit and his Ordinances empties his oyl of grace into the hearts his people 2. Extraordinary and Anniversary if the Sun see thee not every day as the remoter parts yet wil it ere the yeare go about if it hath ever shined in that clime So if Christ gives thee not a daily visit stay thou at the appointed time the Vision wil speak The Redeemer wil return out of Sion If thou hast ever tasted that the Lord is gracious or canst say thou hast feared the name of the Lord then though thou walkest in darkness and hast no light yet trust in the name of the Lord and stay thy self on thy God Say with the Church in hope of his coming when I fal I shal rise againe though I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me and with the Prophet I wil wait upon the Lord who hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I wil look for him CHAP. XVI The fourth thing wherein there is a likenesse between Christ and the Sun is their effects AMong the many like effects I shall content my self to name a few Having among the Properties touched on divers already and finding this discourse begin to swel beyond my first intention 1. The Suns appearance makes the day puts an end to night not all the staâ—s conjoyned so it is Christ his appearance which makes the Christians day when he appeared to Saul and Silas at midnight in the dungeon they could see to sing praise God and when to Paul before at mid-day his eyes were dazeled not with the Suns but with that light of Christ appearing far above the brightness of the Sun 2. The Suns first appearance bringeth day his neerer approach the spring his hotter beams the Summer his longer continuance brings on the harvest So is it with the Soul to whom after the first day of grace caused by Christ his first appearance the neerer approach of his Vernal rising with his Healing-wings-embrace causeth the growth or spring The walking in the light of his countenance all the day long makes the long summers day and his abiding with us makes ouâ— harvest and our joy to be full 3. The Sun departing night comes on his longer absence brings on winter in the one so much darknesse in the other so much of cold wet and dirt as if it been never had either day or Summer What a night of darknesse came upon Lot and Peter Christs back once turned but what a longer winter for cold and mire and dirty waies on David upon that sad dereliction The actings of Saints in such cases differing little from the most vile actings of gracelesse men if they were to be judged by such single exorbitances But Sunne ariseth and returneth those then awake by repentance and come to themselves again 4. It is the Sun which makes that difference in climes and countries makes one more sweet and delightful another more sad and not inhabitable those neer both Poles makes one more fertile others more barren And what is it but Christs presence which makes the Church differ from the rest of the world he makes it a Goshen whereas they have a perpetual night and winter What was it wherein Israel might glory above all other nations but this they had God so neer to them in all which they called to him for His cloud and pillar was continually among them 5. The Sun is the great Restorer of the world Redintegrates the Universe once in the yeare at the Spring as some conceive at Autumn as others puts the world into the same condition wherein it was created Herein a great Resemblance of Christ who is the worlds great Restorer and Renewer who hath put lost mankind into the same condition of happiness wherein hee was at first created as if he had never fallen or sinned Behold I make all things new saith Christ. 6. I might further also speak of the Productive and as it were the Creating effects of the Sun in bringing forth new Creatures yearly as well as of his reductive reviving and redeeming the plants and herbs before dead and gone as also of his nutritive and augmentative effects on all Vegetables his admirable Alterative vertue and operation on Metals and Minerals his Conservative Maturative and Consummative Vertue and Effects on the Fruits and living Creatures but I have touched on them already Herein is Christ his vigorous operations fully represented who besides his redeeming lost man maketh the new Creature createth grace de novo where none was recovereth what was lost reviveth what was decayed nourisheth what is weak increaseth what is small conserveth what is wrought hath a more admirable alterative force in an earthly or stony heart then the Sun in causing Gold and Silver to grow in the earth making flesh to grow where stone was spirit where flesh was grace where sin Heaven where Hell was turning a Swine-sty into an holy Temple and besides he ripeneth perfecteth consummateth whatever work of grace he hath wrought already 7. Sun rising man goes forth cheerfully to his labour but setting man comes home and gives over work What may not a weak man undertake Christ present and assisting I can do all things through Christ strengthening me said the Apostle but what caâ— the strongest do withour him Without me saith the Lord they shal bow down under the Prisoners and fall under the slaine The Chariot though it have four wheels and they all oyled yet moves not a step till drawne Our Wil though very active naturally and oyled with all the skill Art can use or with all the force Arguments can make stâ—rs not in any gracious manner till assisted by Grace and acted by Christ Draw me wee will run after thee and my soul shall be as the Chariots of Aminadib 8. The Sun present we see our way the Traveller stumbles not but when withdrawn hee loseth his way stumbles or falls into a pit gropeth as if blind is full of perplexed doubts and sadnesse of heart While Christ was with his Disciples he kept them though they were as sheep among wolves not one of them was lost but when he was seized on their light was taken away the same night they were all scandalâ—zed and fell Judas while he kept Christs company stumbled not Christ departed he fell into a pit and broke his neck Peter stumbled and got a foule fall When we follow the light of Christ his holy example or have the light of his Grace following us wee never fall but when wee leave his example or his spirit leaves us wee presently miscarry 9. Let me add one more We see all the Creatures how they are delighted with the presence of the Sun When the Sun approacheth the Elements change their habit and temper the Air growes more mild warm and pleasant and all those numerous tenants those daughters of Musick
together when danger is great but the doubts greater Help is little and their hopes lesse Against this the Godly are often encouraged cautioned charged to beware of it This is to bee resisted at least restrained to bee moderated if it cannot bee mortified 3 Religious fear Noahs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By faith Noah warned of God was moved with fear This is a Religious fear and for its excellency is put for the whole of Religion and Devotion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men fearing God translated Devout men Therefore whereas we are often charged against the two former that we have not too much of them we are as oft charged to get more of this which we can never have too much of 1 Sam. 12. 24. Exod. 20. 24. Matth. 10. 28. Fear not but fear again I say fear him Get a double measure of this holy fear to fortifie the heart against these two former fears This Religious fear hath a twofold object 1. Evil and is a fear of abhorrence 2. Good and is a fear of reverence 1 Evil is to be feared with fear of Horror 1 Evil of punishment 1 Temporary judgments I am afraid of thy Iudgment my flesh trembleth for fear of thee Destruction from God was a terror to me said Job and so a curb from sin The love of God is the only constraint to good and the fear of God to the Godly the onely restraint from evil 2 Spiritual Judgments I was afraid said Moses of the anger and hot displeasure of God 3. Most of all Eternal Judgments Knowing the terror of the Lord. How fearful is it to fall into the hands of the living Lord Our God is a consuming fire 2 Evil of sin yet more then all the former This is the mother of all these three fatal Sisters There were no cause to fear Temporal Spiritual or Eternal evil if not for this evil of sin Sin hath filled earth with bryars and thornes the body with Diseases the mind with grief head with cares soul with Terrors labors with toyl yea sin hath put that brimstone into hell and kindled that fire there yea hath carryed fire into Heaven and put wrath into God This is to be feared with a fear of abhorrence and abomination a wicked man may forbear sin the godly fears flyes hates â—in He feares an oath Iob feared God and eschued evil He feared God much but sin more God with fear of Reverence sin with fear of defiance both with a Religious fear This one fear well feared expels all other fears The heart full of this holy fear of sin hath no room to entertain any base tormenting fears 2 Reverential fear is the fear of God and is twofold 1. Of lower Saints proceeding from more weakness and arguing less perfection which fear hath pain doubt perplexity torment and is that we call the spirit of bondage that shuts out confidence and rejoycing And ariseth from these five causes 1 From the apprehension of Gods infinite holiness purity and therefore jealousie and indignation against sin and sinners 2. From the apprehension of the Lawes strictness rigor and severity 3. The dreadful threats of Gods wrath against sinners 4. Then the consideration of their own deep guilt great frailties manifold imperfections lastly which adds to all the rest the apprehension of God aâ— a distance to them and not yet in 1 Covenant relation 2 Of the higher Saints arguing lesse weaknesse and more Perfection therefore when this entereth the other endeth God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power love and of a sound mind This fear argues perfection and the best constitution Job a perfect man fearing God This spirit of fear was upon our Saviour This ariseth from the apprehension of God in relation and in Covenant with us as our God These fear God 1. As a servant his Master whom he serveth as a son his father whom he honoureth as the Wife her Husband whom she loveth This is a most gracious fear timor amoris the fear of Love 2 They are said to fear his Word and to tremble at it Isai. 66. 2. Where Gods Word comes there comes power and causeth fear one rebuke thence shaketh and sweth the heart more then a thousand stripes doth a profane fool This is timor obedentiae fear of obedience 3. They fear his name They count Gods name the most holy reverend and fearful of all things in the world That thou maist fear that glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God Of this the Godly are very tender Joâ— feared God and therefore feared lest hiâ— sons might pollute Gods name in their hearts Others would not that their owne namâ— should suffer these that Gods This is timor honoris the fear of honor The first Reason of this Point why it iâ— the constant disposition of all the Godly even the least of them to fear the name of God is Because this fear is the initial grace the first grace that appears taketh heavens Alarum The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome Before knowledg of God faith in God acquaintance with God dependance upon God delight in him comes fear The Spirit in his first approach injects fear as the first seed of Grace The Spirits businesse is first to be a spirit of Bâ—ndage afterwards of Adoption First to convince of sin afterwards to discover Righteousnesse and Judgement But fear is the holy porch at which all Grace enters In the first conversion of a stout and secure sinner Gods Spirit falls to undermining his hopes by strong convictions of his sin and misery then is Fear awakened Fear taketh the Alarum and calls up Conscience Conscience awakens Repentance Repentance Faith Faith calls up Prayer Prayer looks after the Promise Promise runs to Christ and awakens him as did the Disciples in their storm Lord save us we perish But Fear begins A little more fully to describe this conceive it thus Conviction calls upon a sinner Look well about thy self What meanest thou Oh sleeper Wilt thou dye in a sleep Up Fear see the danger hide thy self seek to escape for thy life now deliver thy selfe as the Roe Fear saith I exceedingly quake and tremble God is angry I am in great danger alone I cannot secure my self Now help Fear all you other Graces up Conscience Conscience saith I am troubled and would relieve Fear but thou must help me Repentance bestir thee Repentance break off sin without delay Repentance saith I would â—ase Conscience and secure Fear help Faith at a dead lift or I can do no good Faith saith I would help Repentance but thou must help me Prayer as Israel in their fear came to Samuel intreating him not to cease to cry to God for them so Faith saith Prayer cry aloud be not silent take no repulse pray not coldly but plead intreat beg for thy life Prayer saith How should I help if the Lord
saith David They shall hear that voice Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee To speak the least all the godly shall before they taste of death see this Promise fulfilled and see the Kingdom of God come into them with power or when they have tasted of death they shall enter with power into the Kingdom of God Mark 9. 1. where our Saviour implies 1 That the godly do but taste or sip of deaths cup. It is a bitter potion to the wicked who drink the dregs Christ tasted of death himself Heb. 2. 9. Wicked ones are said to dy the death the godly to taste onely and Christ is their Taster therefore they need not fear it 2. Nor shall they so much as taste neither till they have had a taste of Heaven the Kingdome of God coming with power Saint John had honey in his mouth before the gall in his belly God will Antidote his servants against the bitterness of death by his cordial Promise and then death tastes sweet when heaven is tasted before This Promise doth imply 1. That such as belong to God and have true grace fear his name may have small store of Peace and Comfort no present sense and taste of the love of God but walk long in darkness seeing no light at all 2 That as their condition is sad their apprehension may be sadder having nothing but fears dreadfull fears of the Name of God 3 Or that they may after a short winter day have a long night without Sun and Stars a long time as Pauls company in their tedious Sea Voyage They may cry out with many a longing wish for day and say with Job Oh that it were with me as in times past when the candle of God shined upon my head when by his light I walked through darknesse The Lord is to some of his people as a wayfaring man that turnes aside to tarry but one night The Lord comes guest-wise as the Angel to Manoahs wife who after the first apparition waited long for a second visite and having that never had a third her busband never had but one 4. They may be long under sad desertions even to forget prosperity and complaine pro tempore as if God dealt with them as with Saul I am sore distressed and the Lord hath forsaken me and answereth me no more 5. They may be also sick withall which makes long nights seeme much longer soule-sick their hearts fainting for the salvation of God as David complained saying when wilt thou comfort me What need of this sun-rising with healing else 6. They may be also ready to sink under the weight of their own guilt and Gods displeasure What need of a Sunne of Righteousnesse else 7. Yet suppose all this and what more you can Christ shall arise to purpose on these poore soules as the Sun in his strength dispelling darknesse as a cloud dispersing righteousnesse as beames of light curing all the soule distempers with his healing vertue 1. The reason hereof is partly from somewhat in God 2. Partly from somewhat in themselves 1. On Gods part 1. His Power gives the first hope of it He can say Let he re be light and there shall be light Hee who at first commanded light to shine out of darknesse can cause his marvellous light to shine on those who sit in darknesse 2. His power gives hope but his promise this promise here and many others makes it certain When God created the first light there was onely power and will set a work there had been no Promise here is a promise Gods power makes things possible his promise things certain It was onely possible there should bee these heavens and this earth before Creation there was no promise But it is certain there shall be a new heaven and new earth because wee according to his promise expect it It was possible that Christ might come to dissolve the works of Satan when Adam fell But is certain Christ shall come to them that fear him Here is his promise 3. His Love backs his promise as that his power He that is for Power a Gyant and for his promise and engagement Sponsor is for his love as a Bridegroome and Spouse to his Church whom he hath betrothed to himselfe in loving kindnesse righteousnesse mercies and faithfulnesse 4. His glory engageth all the former There is never more glory given to God then when he maketh good this promise Great rejoycing there is when shee who hath been long barren hath conceived as Sarah Hannah When he who hath been long in captivity is inlarged as Joseph when the exile is returned when the blind come to see The privation or want of the mercy sets the higher price upon it when it comes The desire attained is a tree of life Here the greatest joy Sing Oh barren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travel with child Sharon breaketh forth into singing and Lebanon claps his hands and all the birds of the wood and beasts of the field sing and leap for joy The earth puts on her new clothes to entertain the welcome sun 2. Partly from somewhat in them 1. Their prayers raise this sun as the Prince of darknesse is raised by magick spels and cursed imprecations Christ is raised by invocation Thus the Disciples made the Sunrise before day to still the tempest What the Poets fained of the Moons coming downe to Endymion may bee spiritually verified of Christ. This Sun of righteousnesse often comes downe to imbrace such as fear him and call him downe by prayer 2. Because of their miseries In all their spiritual affliction he is afflicted and because of the sighing of the afflicted he saith I will up I will rise and shine upon him I have looked upon him and see him in his bloud I will heale him and say unto him live 3. Their prayers move him much their miseries more But their grace make his bowels to role and his repentings kindled within him I have heard him bemoaning himselfe I will surely have mercy on him I have spoken against but I will now remember him Repentance is such a grace as overcomes Gods displeasure holy fear gaines his favour faith gets his heart humility gets what grace it would have he that resists the proud and departs from the ungodly He looketh upon man and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not He will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light So that we may say Light is sowen for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart sowen in these two fields 1. Of Gods eternall decree in his power promise grace and love These are the upper springs 2. In the field of their graces and holy duties these are the
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
balm and wine Parchment perfume apparel cord and line His wood for fire his harder leaves are fit For thousand uses of invencive wit Sometimes thereon they grave their holy things Laws Lauds of Idols and the gifts of Kings Sometimes conjoyned by a cunning hand Upon their roofs for rowes of tiles they stand Sometimes they twine them into equal threds Smal ends makes needles greater arrow heads His upper sap the sting of serpents cures His new sprung bud a rare Conserve endures And they extract from liquor of his feet Sharp vinegar pure hony sugar sweet 2 No mans sin or misery can make his case desperate where Christ is Physician The Leprosie dead Palsie Stone in the heart Bloudy Issue heart Ruptures Plague in the heart the stinging of Serpents strokes of divine vengeance or whatsoever else is incurable by men or Angels Christ doth perfectly cure without difficulty or danger 3 Oh how then are we bound to God for sending such a Doctor from heaven when mans case was desperate How much to Christ Jesus who voluntarily undertook such a low Imployment to be master of the society of Crâ—pples lame blind impotent persons When Charles the Great had perswaded Aygâ—â—andus an Affrican King â— Mahometan upon his voluntary promise to become a Chri stian to receive Baptism he entertained him at his Court placed there a company of poor and lame people at whom the barbarous King wondring the Emperor told him they were the servants of our Master Jesus Christ at which he grew offended and refused to be a Christian because he saw Christs servants to be in so mean condition But it is the glory of Christ to have the greatest respect to such What a speech is that Heaven is my throne and earth my footstool but to this man will I look who is of a contrite spirit and poor God will leave heaven and earth to look after a poor distressed soul. As a mother that hath other children whom she leaveth her maâ—ds to look after but one is sickly whom she saith I le look to this my self I 'l trust none of you'all I 'l sit up with it stay by it I 'l not stir from it So Christ chargeth the Angels to look after other of his Servants but him that is poor and contrite in heart saith Christ I 'l look to that poor soul all you Angels have not skil nor care nor compassion enough I 'l not from him but look to him and he is wel looked to whom Christ looks to 4. Here is then a singular encouragement for all distressed souls to go to Christ. To whom did he ever say Thy case is past cure Whom did he ever cast out and reject with repulses and denyals And now he is not absent though invisibly present His passion he hath put off but not his compassion Therefore wouldst thou bee made whole observe these five Directions 1 Before all other means used come to Christ Aâ—a was never cured because he only used meanes The Haemorrâ—oesse never mended while she used means and came not to Christ. But it must be 1. A coming with Faith The Centurions and the Lepers coming Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee clean 2 With Prayer importunate Prayer as that father who besought Christ for his son and put Omnipotency upon it If thou canst do any such thing as ever thou didst help poor Creature as ever thou wilt have compassion on us and help us This was the coming of the Canaanitesse who when she had begg'd and waited for an answer and at length was called dog or little better shee retorts the terme Lord I am a dog But as ever kind Master threw crumb to dog or as ever thou scatteredst the least crumb of mercy to poor unworthy creature think upon mee Her faith and importunity prevailed 3 With Repentance This Mary Magdalens coming and thus came the penitent Thief at the last hour and was saved but the impenitent Thief dyed at the foot of Christ. Impenitency damnes while Christ looks on and is trodden downe while it looks on the plenty that it self never tastes of Were Christ to dye a thousand times he would not save one Impenitent person 2. Direction After coming to Christ then use of means not before Then must we go and wash in five waters 1. In the water of Repentance This was Magdalens wash and wash seven times in this Jordan with Naaman David washt seven times making so many Penitentiall Psalmes upon his Penitential washings and was cleansed In this sense we must be all Anabaptists yea Hemerobaptists God commanded divers Baptisms or washings Heb. 9. 10. So oft as any touched a dead body or any thing unclean he was to wash againe so we so oft as we are defiled by any dead works as they are called In which respect we may say with Tertullian I am born to dayly repentance 2. In the water of Baptisme a more sacred laver which we may not despise or neglect it is a Gospel fountaine of Christs own opening This our Poole of Siloam to which all Christs are sent Arise why tarâ—yest thou and be baptized and wash away thy sins This washing is but once there is one Lord and one Baptism 3. In the water of the Word This is the Churches wash wherewith Christ hath after Baptism further cleansed his Church That he may sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water with the word The Word is as the water of the Sanctuary Healing water Wherewith shal the young man cleanse his way By thy Word This is the Churches Holy water 4. In the Bloud of Christ. This the most precious Bath above all the rest the Kings Bath Herein those sealed Saints had washed their long robes and made them so white in the Bloud of the Lamb. 5. After all these the last washing is in the Sanctifying water of the Spirit Christs Bloud fetcheth out the guilt the Spirit the staine This the Apostle calls the Laver of Regeneration and Renovation of the Holy Ghost Christ Jesus comes with water and bloud This was shadowed ouâ— in the Ceremonious cleansing of the Leper where there was the bloud of a slain bird applyed with another living bird and running water and the person was pronounced clean Besides the blood of a dead Saviour there must be the application of running water and a living spirit Therefore beg after all the former washings another dipping of the spirit Lord wash me throughly from mine Iniquities and cleanse me from my sin If we be not thus Anabaptized our first baptisme is null as to salvation Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter the Kingdome of God 3. Direction Then to Duties here is their proper place not before take up thy bed and walk expect not Christ to say thy sins are forgiven goe in peace be whole And that he should carry thy bed after
no heat in them or a worse cold in their spirits as Solomon declining indifferent what and how many Religions there were All that pretend conscience should not want liberty Many grow fowler and fowler as the the linnen garment or courser and courser as the woollen garment when the nap is off and growes rotten and full of holes the longer it is worne Many Professors how handsome and hopeful were they at first but wear very course and full of holes and rents the longer you are acquainted with them We have cause to cry out with Jeremy Wo to us for the day goeth away for the shadowes of the evening are stretched out Jer. 46. Our harvest is past our Summer is ended and our winter is come Winter wayes fouler and fouler winter days colder and colder winter weather dark foul misty boysterous unpleasant to go abroad in and winter barrennesse All dead winter But for Notes of growth take these 1. There is variety of grace where growth not all knowledge no love not all faith and confidence without fear and conscience A hypocrite may have one gift the Saint hath every grace Integrality is a note of integrity The body is not one member but many Christianity is not one Grace but all You come behind in no gift c. The tree of life brings forth twelve several fruits It is an unkind growth in the Rickets where only the head growes extraordinary big but all the body thrives not Many are all head for knowledge voice for discourse praeterea nil and all nose as he said for censoriousness Tongilianus habet nasum scio non nego sed jam Nil praeter nasum Tongilianus habet 2 Higher thoughts of Christ are a faire sign of a higher growth Ille se plurimum profecisse sciat cui Christus valde placuerit Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. Paul had outgrown all Pharisees and his own Righteousnesse and was come to a high pitch when he counted all losse and dung to the excellency of the knowledge of Iesus Christ. The man that stands on earth thinks earth only great but Sun and Stars little were he lifted up to them earth would seem nothing lesse then a punctulum and they only great Our owne Graces and Duties seem only great to him that is ignorant of Christ and his Righteousness 3 Lower thoughts of self is ever a signe not of a lower Christian but of the growing and growne Christian. His expressions are Icount not my self perfect I have not yet attained I am more brutish then any man I have not the understanding of a man I am lesse then the least of all Saints Lesse then the least of thy mercies Much humility argues much Sincerity God gives grace to Humility Humility gives rooting to Grace 4. Strong laborious desires argue much Grace Our perfection here is but in desires Desires are infinite when Duties are defective God measures men by their desires not deeds The desire of a man is his kindnesse The Godly boast more of their desires then any thing else I desire to fear thy Name Vehement desires one of the best signes of saving Grace but they must be laborious desires not lazy wishes Through desire a man separateth himself and intermedleth with all wisdom But there are lazy desires which hell is paved with and full of the desire of the sluggard killeth him 5 The growne person can climb over greatest difficulty In the name and strength of God go out against Goliahs or Anakims With Rams horns and Faith blow down Jericho's walls with the rod of God divide the Sea as Samson when he could not find the key carryes away the gates is not discouraged with difficulties but emboldned swims against stream dares venture if called as Peter to go upon the waters or into the fire or Lions den answers all Objections with Gods Command Promise and Omnipotency Abraham was growne strong when he could believe against Faith Hope above hope neither stagger at Promise through unbelief nor Precept by disobedience but resolved all into Jehovah-jireh He would not dispute Commands nor question Promises he had learned to believe and obey when God spake with an implicite faith and blind Obedience He could not unty the knot and make Promises and Precepts agree he knew he who gave both could Endeavors Faith Obedience belong to us issues to God Oh strange Logick â— Grace hath learned to deduce strong Conclusions out of weak Premises and happy out of sad If the Major be My strength and my heart faileth and the Minor There is no blossome in the fig-tree nor fruit in the Vine c. yet his Conclusion is firm and undenyable The Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever or yet will I rejoyce in the God of my saltion And if there be more in the Conclusion then in the Premises it is the better God comes ever in the Conclusion 6 Where labour is but an exercise there is growth and strength To a weak one exercise is hard labour as to a child to go alone to a sick man to go cross his chamber If we are out of breath when we begin a duty and give over what strength Revelat 2. 2 3. Thou hast laboured and not fainted 7 When men leave their wonted fallings they are grown stronger and better The weak unwary child gets many a fall and knock but as hee growes stronger hee fals seldomer and becomes more cautelous 8 When a man can bear a heavy burden and not stoop or faint 1. Of affliction from Gods hand If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small 2 Of provocation from mans David was a high grown Saint that he could hear Shimei curse yet not be distempered That sword is of good mettle that snaps not in pieces when bent or stands not bent 9 A good stomack is an excellent signe of growth Children growing are ever eating their heat is much Men grown eat heartily more then the child The new born Babe desires the sincere milk of the Word that he may grow thereby And the man-grown-Christian desires with his Saviour the strong meat With desire have I desired to eat the Passeover before I suffer 2 Hinderances of growth 1 Idlenesse never comes to good The diligent handmaketh rich To him that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundantly The Talent was doubled by industry forfeited by slothfulnesse Milo putting out his strength daily to carry his Calfe had strength to carry it when an Oxe Stir up the gift of God which is in thee 2 Over much earthly activity is as bad The thornes choak the Word the Farm and Oxen make Christs plough to stand still Earths best are heavens worst husbands Hell is full of good and bad husbands both Some of the sons of Sodom were very idle fellowes minding nothing but eating drinking and
seed and gives it root the stony for lack of this depth withered Mark it while you will the well seasoned Christian with Mortification seldom warps and shrinks but your flashy high flown spirits over filled with joy at first The meat well powdered with salt keeps long sweet without it corrupts and putrifies 7. A good measure of Humility God giveth more grace to the humble The low valleys are ever more Rich then the lofty hils Trees in time of drought wither not because of deep roots when as the corn and grasse burn quite away 8. Sincerity makes to grow up to him in all things who is the head This the Nutritive grace Mortification prepares the way for Humility humility for Sincerity sincerity for growth growth for perseverance perseverance for the Crowne Faith is the mother or seed grace mortification the planting or ploughing grace humility the rooting grace sincerity the watering grace perseverance the crowning grace Sincerity makes grace to be and makes grace to grow without sincerity no grace is only seems Faith is not faith without sincerity repentance no true repentance prayer no prayer And without sincerity grace thrives not but decayes wanting what should water and nourish The life and growth of all grace is bound up in the life of sincerity 9. Lastly but especially wait and pray for the Rising of the Sun of Righteousnesse for a further and fuller manifestation of Christ to thy soule when Christ came in to Thomas and took him by the hand he raised him from the lowest pit of unbeliefe and doubting to the highest pitch of confidence and Rejoycing My Lord and my God The Sun returning makes the trees shoote again at Spring which grew not all winter Let me adde a few Motives to seek after a Growth The Husbandman loves to go out to see his corn grow in the field the mother how her child comes on at nurse the father his son at School The first Motive This an Argument of Truth how differs the living child from the dead the Picture from a true man but in growth Where you see not growth suspect truth 2 There is a Perfection attainable here As many as are perfect let us be thus minded Phil. 3. 15. That is 1. A perfection comparative with others that fall short not absolute The Stars compared with the other parts of heaven are perfect lights with the Sun are darknesse Saints compared with other men are lights but with Christ they are but darkness 2 In Desires Endeavors in voto The Godly have weak performances strong desires are stinted and bounded in their doings but their desires are boundlesse aspiring infinite 3 They have an inchoated not complete perfection as a child in his parts which daily receive a growth We must labour after such a perfection as we are capable of The child cannot speak when born first he gets one word then another then all his Native Language perfectly so must we be growing All Natures works tend to it The child grows first in stature when no more in stature then in strength when no more in strength then in judgment when no more in judgement then in affection then in Grace Sin stayes not till it come to its unhappy perfection and shall Grace stop in the middle Shall the tares ripen for the fire and not the wheat for the Garner 3 There is no perfection here viz. Actual Absolute Complete This contradicts not but fortifies the former Motive As many of us as are perfect Phil. 3. 15. yet ver 12 he puts not himself into that number I have not yet attained I am not yet perfect therefore follow the harder after it If I were at the Race end I might rest I am but entered therefore must look forward not backward The water runs out of the Springs and stops not till it come together and makes a River The River stayes not till it comes to the Sea there is his fulnesse Our measure and pitch is to do the will of God on earth as it is in heaven and our pattern Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect Be holy as God is holy which because wee can never reach we must be still striving after The body at length comes to his growth the soul never in this life The Christian herein like the Crocodile which ceaseth not to grow till it cease to live Therefore the Godly is described thirsting after Righteousnesse The greedy Worldlings desires after Riches are enlarged as Hell and the desires of the Godly after Grace are enlarged as Heaven Another saith Had I so much Grace I should be satisfied Be thankful for the least be not satisfied with the most Grace The Godly at first saith Oh that I had knowledge after what will knowledg do without Repentance when he hath Repentance yet I want Faith when Faith I would have more when more I would have Assurance when Assurance I thirst still I would have Christ more union more communion When Christ on earth he longs to be with Christ in heaven The young Christian is like the young House-keeper who thinks a few things go to furnish and keep a house but the well experienced Christian like the old House-keeper findes much to do about a house many things wanting many decaying 4 Non progredi est regredi If wee go not forward we go backward and this motus recessus is ever motus trepidationis a sad and dreadful motion God hath made all Creatures to go forward that is a handsom motion to go backward how unhandsome is it The Spirit moved the wheeles ever forward never backward The Sun rising gets heat and strength till noon when it declines night hastens on at Spring it goes higher every day and makes dayes longer till it comes to the Tropick or Solstice then farewel Spring Autumn and Winter hastens The Sun once stood still but it was prodigious and fatal to the enemies of God once went back and was a signe of recovery Our Sun neither stands nor goes back but is alway ominous 5 This the only way to be secured from the incursion of Error and prevailing Impieties That ye be not drawne away from your stedfastnesse into the error of the wicked grow in Grace is Saint Peters Antidote When was Solomon drawn to commit or permit those foul Idolatries and tolerate all those new Religions but when he cooled in his love and was declined The man and beast seldom falls going up hill usually downe hill the Carters Proverb When did Cart overthrow up hill Take heed how you descend Those that were made a prey to house-creeping and house-subverting Seducers were only such as had made no proficiency but learning and learning and never able to come to the grounded knowledge of the truth leave off growth in strictness and the next error carries thee away 6 Those may be able to look Christ in the face at death and Judgement who have been growing You come behind in
his approach dryes up the dirt and mends our wayes At his approach Fens and Flouds of Ungodlinesse are dryed up as when he once went through the red sea and Jordan He breaks the hardest heart which no Toole Art Paines Terrors and Fire of Hell and Light of Heaven could do Zacheus as a Mountaine of snow melted and the Thief on the Crosse as a Rock of ice dissolved when this Sun breaks out upon them Therefore the Church prayeth Oh that thou wouldest rent the Heavens that thou wouldst come down that the Mountaines might flow down at thy presence as when the melting fire burneth the fire causeth the waters to boyle Thou camest down the Mountains flowed at thy presence The Suns heat hath a dissolving and mollifying vertue 2. The Suns heat not light at spring produceth various Creatures which are not engendered by propagation but owe their being wholly and immediately to the Sun neither do they live longer then the Suns a biding in those Climes in his strength and vigour All our Graces in their first Production in the new Creature owe their very essâ— and afterward their conservari to Christ Nature hath no hand in this Work And aâ—â— our comforts depend only on Christ his approach and abode with us Without me ye can do nothing The Sun hath also a Creating and vis formativa in it 3. As the Sun produceth some new so it reduceth recovereth and restoreth by a redeeming kind of Vertue others of the Creatures To the withered grasse to the seeds herbs plants trees it gives a new Resurrection To the Fields another face to the Earth another Garment The Suns warmth makes Fish Fowle Beasts breed and multiply Christ by his returne recovereth decayed Grace Peace and Comfort and causeth a new and rich increase of Spiritual life It hath a redeeming and recovering vertue also 4. The heat not light of the Sun makes the Creatures grow trees shoot at the Spring Rain falls all Winter in vain till the Suns approach which then maketh good use of all the winter rain frosts and snow for the good of the Creatures All paines Instructions Corrections Reproofs Terrors Judgments Mercies Ordinances are in vain till Christ himselfe approach he can make good use of all It hath a fructifying vertue we see 5. The Spring-Sun's warmth gives growth The Summer-Suns greater and longer continuing heat gives ripenesse and perfection to the fruits and seeds sowen Christ his nearer coming and making his abode with us is that which brings Judgment unto Victory Grace unto Perfection Peace unto completeness and brings in the full Harvest of Joy to the waiting Christian. Rain fals in Winter fills the earth fowles the wayes but without fruit for want of this enlivening heat But the Summer Sun converts the falling showrs into fruitfulnesse and his Gleames causeth them to ripen the fruits and hasten Harvest How untoward are we under all Ordinances and Dispensations left to our selves But how doth Christ convert the crossest providences coldest stormes and soaking showrs of affliction into a meanes to ripen and better us Thus it hath a ripening vertue 6. By reason of this warmth the Creatures are refreshed and delighted They sport and lye beaking themselves in the Sun they leap and play The colder Creatures as Swallowes and the like feeling the benefit of the Sun and knowing their want observe the Suns motion come and go with it stay not behind it because cannot live without it So do the godly joy at the presence know not whether to go in the absence of Christ after him they seek with him stay he departing as at the cloud removing they pack up and follow Herein the Christian resembling that admirable Sunâ—loving Flower Lotos whereof our English Du Bartas thus For lo so soon as in the Western Seas Apolloâ—inks â—inks in silver Euphrates The Lotos dives deeper and deeper ay Till midnight then remounteth toward day But not above the water till the Sun Do re-ascend above the Horizon So ever true to Titans radiant flame That rise he fall he it is still the same It hath an Exhilarating and Reviving Vertue 7. It is the Light of the Sun which dispels darkness but iâ— is his warmth that disperseth mists chaseth fogs and drawes up the Vapours It may be common illumination may drive away ignorance and fill the mind with some general knowledg but Christ his love is that which breaketh through the interposing fogs to the heart and draweth up those Earthy affections toward himselfe It hath an Attractive Vertue 8. The Suns light causeth only an outward alteration in the face of the Air and superficies of the Earth but it is the strength of his heat which penetrates the heart of the Earth and the depths of the Sea and in the one ingendreth those Pearls in the other those precious Stones Jewels and Mines of Gold and Silver So may the bare light of the Gospel make an overly change in the face speech and outward carriage of a Hypocrite But the heat and strength of the piercing beams of Christ his Grace and Spirit worketh that inward and mighty change and breedeth those rich Mines of Grace Faith Love Sincerity c. in the hidden man of the heart and turneth clods of Earth into Gold and Rubies as wee said before Behold the Alterative Vertue of Christ and the Sun 9. The Suns warmth and heat hath an excellent clarifying and purifying vertue in it therefore we set out in May and in the Summer Sun many things to bee purged and brought to their perfection And how doth it purge and clarifie the spirit to be under the warm beames of Christ his presence and favour and how admirably is the impurity of the heart extracted and the heart refined by this heat It is full of clarifying and refining Vertue 1. This informes what a vast difference there is between Christs reaching and mans as much as between the Sun and Stars They give light he heat Man perswades Christ drawes As between Winter and Summer showres they drown and foul the Earth and make it freeze these make it fruitful Moses Ethiopissam duxit Ethiopissam non mutavit Moses made an Ethiopian his wife but could not make his wife not to be an Ethiopian when he had done Mans teaching is like mans hewing a stone he may smooth it but he cannot make it soft Christs teaching turnes stone into flâ—sh Man by Education or better Instruction may take a thorn out of the Field where it was noisom and set it in the hedg where it is of use men may make men useful for Societies Christ turnes this Thorne into a Myrtle Hence see the difference to bee found among so many Hearers the difference is not in the ground nor in the seed but in the Sun and Seeds man Many are called few chosen All with Paul saw the light Paul only heard the voice All were stricken down he only converted All Israel saw the fire heard