himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Vers. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Isa. 53. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed 1 Pet. 2. 24. who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead unto sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed Col. 1. 19 20. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell and having made peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven All then that have the light of righteousness and peace with God have it from Jesus Christ who is therefore termed by the Prophet Isai. 9. 6. the Prince of peace and was represented by Melchizedeck King of Salem that is Heb. 7. 2. first being by interpretation King of righteousness and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace Isai. 9. 7. of the increase of his governement and peace there shall be no end 3. There is the light of spirituall joy comfort hope courage boldness and confidence before God which is derived from Jesus Christ and no other We are the circumcision salth the Apostle Phil. 3. 3. who worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Rom. 5. 10 11. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement Col. 1. 27. which is Christ in you the hope of glory Phil. 2. 1. If there be any consolation in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Eph. 2. 11 12. Wherefore remember that ye being in time passed Gentiles in the flesh that at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world When they were without Christ they had no hope 1 Thes. 4. 13. whereby it is evinced that all spirituall joy in God all the comfort against death and wrath to come all the courage and boldness and confidence before God all the hope of the glory of God in which they rejoyce Rom. 5. 2. all the spirituall strength they have to endure and do is from Christ Phil. 4. 13. It is the peace of God which passeth all understanding which keeps mens hearts and minds through Christ Jesus v. 7. The light of life as it is termed John 8. 12. the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. is from Christ and him only 1 John 5. 11. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life John 3. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 5. 17 18 21 For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life that as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 15. 22. For as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Cor 1. 30 31. But of him are ye in Cerist Jesus who of God is made unto us wisedome and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he that glorifieth let him glory in the Lord. Out of all which we may infer that all the light of spirituall knowledg whereby we know the way to God and understand his will and counsell is from Christs irradiation in whom are hid all the treasures of knowledge and wisdome Col. 2. 3. that all our light of peace and amity and favour with God is communicated to us by the appearing of Jesus Christ in mans horizon without which there would have been an eclipse of the light of Gods countenance for ever that all our joy in the holy Ghost our everlasting consolation boldness courage and confidence in God is through Christ who strengthens us without which we had been sick unto death for ever that our eternall life glory salvation is from Christ his resurrection and appearing without which an everlasting night of torment and horrour had scized on us we had been in utter darkness where is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Sect. 2. Christ inlightens Gentils as well as Jewes with spirituall light The other sense of the Text is That the light of Christ is not confined to the Jewes but extended to the Gentiles that he doth with spirituall light inlighten all sorts and Nations of Men according to the prediction of Simeon Luke 2. 32. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel A thing which was much gainsaid by the Jewes who could not brooke it That the Kingdome of God should be taken from them and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruites thereof as Christ speakes Mat. 21. 43. for which the chief Priests and Pharisees sought to lay hands on him v. 46. And when Paul had made a Narration of his converson and how Christ appeared to him and said to him Depart for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles the Jewes gave him audience unto this word and then lift up their voices and said Away with such a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that he should live Acts 22. 21 22. So odious and
from going into the pit and his life shall see the light Ver. 30. To bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightened with the light of the living Psal. 49. 19. The soul shall go to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light Psal. 13. 3. Lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death Hence to sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death are conjoyned Mat. 4. 16. Luk. 1. 79. In respect therefore of life in Christ and communicated by him he is rightly termed the light Now that he hath life in himself at his disposal is affirmed by him Joh. 5. 21. As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth so also the Son quickneth whom he will Ver. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself so hath he also given to the Son to have life in himself Joh. 14 6. Jesus saith to him I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Joh. 11. 25. Jesus saith unto her I am the resurection and the life 1 Joh. 5. 11. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son who is termed the Word of life 1 Joh. 1. 1. That eternal life which was with the Father and was manifest unto us Ver. 2. The Prince or Author of life Act 3. 15. The last Adam was made a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. which being spoken of the resurrection of the body it appears that he is the light in respect of natural life as well as spiritual at the first creation as well as at the future resurrection As it is certain that some sort of living creatures are produced by the Sun so it is certain that the Son of God is the Prince of life who hath life in himself and imparts it to other living beings and in this respect is justly termed the Light Sect. 4. Christ is Light as the Lord of glory 2. By Light is oft meant glory and majesty There is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another of the Stars for one Star differeth from another in glory that is light 1 Cor. 15. 41. The light which made the face of Moses shine Exod. 34. 29. is termed 2 Cor 3. 7. the glory of his countenance and the shining of Christ at his transfiguration Mat. 17. 2. is termed glory 2 Pet 1. 17. and thus Christ is Light that is full of glory and majesty the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. Even on earth John saith Chap. 1. 14. And we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father And doubtless however in Christs outward shape there appeared no more then ordinary or rather less then ordinary splendour yet in his preaching there was such glory as made the people astonished for he taught them as one having authority Mar. 1. 22. In his Miracles there was glory so as that Vers. 27. they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying What thing is this What new doctrine is this For with authority he commandeth the unclean spirits and they do obey him And Joh. 2. 11. This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Gaiilee and manifested forth his glory and his Disciples believed on him And Vers. 15. When he made a scourge of small cords he drove out the sellers of Oxen Sheep and Doves and changers of mony all out of the Temple and overthrew their tables and powred out their money and when Officers were sent to apprehend him they returned answer Joh. 7. 46. Never man spake like this man He commanded Lazarus to come forth out of the grave and he came forth Joh. 11. 43 44. He rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm Mat. 8. 26. These and many more things which appeared in him and were done by him manifested that he was indeed Light that is a person of splendour glory and Majesty notwithstanding his emptying himself in the forme of a servant Phil. 2. 7. Sect. 5. Christ is Light as cause of peace and joy 3. By Light is oft meant peace Isa. 45. 7. I form the light and create darkness is expressed in the next words I make peace and create evil Jer. 13. 16. While ye look for light that is peace In like manner Light is put for joy as Psal. 97. 11. Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart Prov. 15. 30. The light of the eyes rejoyceth the heart Isa. 60. 20. The Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended Darkness takes away mirth but the appearing of the day brings joy The Sun is that which chears all things by its light and so doth Christ dispell storms makes peace and begets joy Whence he is stiled the Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. our peace Eph. 2. 14. Peace I leave with you saith Christ my peace give I unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid Joh. 14. 27. These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation But be of good chear I have overcome the world Joh. 16. 33. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full 1 Joh. 1. 3 4. As from the Sun all the light serenity and sweetness of the air whereby the spirits of men are refreshed the members warmed the whole body cheared is derived so from Christ are all the pleasant apprehensions of peace with God all the joyfull tast of his favour all the quickening hopes of heaven which a Christian soul partakes of Sect. 6. Christ is Light in respect of his purity and wisdome 4. By Light is meant holiness purity or clearness Nothing more free from defilement then light all the jakes and dunghills and filthy lakes in the world cannot pollute the light of the Sun and therefore it is fit to resemble holiness And accordingly God is said to be Light 1 Joh. 1. 5. that is pure as it is said Chap 3. 3. And thus the Lord Christ is Light being annointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows as loving righteousness and hating iniquity Psal. 45. 7. Heb. 1. 9. He did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 22. He could challenge his most prying adversaries Joh. 8. 46. Which of you convinceth me of sin 5. By Light is meant wisdome Light is a discovering quality Eph. 5. 13. All things that are discovered are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light Light pierceth through the most narrow chinks into the lowest holes and so doth wisdome find out the most hidden things
for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 16 17. And to like purpose it is said Heb. 1. 2 3. By whom also he made the worlds and upholding all things by the word of his power Sect. 2. Christ enlightens the world with the knowledge of God as the Prophet of the Church There are other sorts of light which are from Christ as his Fathers Officer sent into the world and anointed for the recovery of man sallen by sinne 1. There is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God which is by the enlightening that is in the face or person of Jesus Christ as Paul expresseth it 2 Cor. 4. 6. Whereby it is that we see as through a glass the glory of the Lord with unveiled face 2 Cor. 3. 18. Not as it was with Israel when they could not look on Moses without a veil over his face as it is ver 7. 13. Till Christ appeared in the flesh the Gentiles were darkness Paul saith of the Galatians Gal. 4. 8. Howbeit then when ye knew not God ye did service unto them which by nature are no Gods Of the Ephesians Ye were once darkness but now are ye light in the Lord Eph. 5. 8. Of the Corinthians Ye know that ye were Gentiles carried away unto these dumb Idols as ye were led 1 Cor. 12. 2. The Jews also had their mindes blinded the vail remained untaken away in the reading of the old Testament which vail is done away in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 14. The being of the true God was so little known to the Gentiles till Christ appeared to be a light to the Gentiles that they were not only without God in the world Eph. 2. 12. Insomuch that the Athenians themselves sensible of their ignorance of him inscribed their Altar thus To the unknown God Act. 17. 23. confessing God was unknown of them But they were also so vain in their imaginations that they imagined those things to be Gods which were no Gods but creatures made to serve them being imparted unto all nations under the whole heaven by God Deut. 4. 19. Yea and under divers resemblances the meaner sort of living creatures Rom. 1. 23. And dead men and Devils 1 Cor. 10. 20. And for the Jews they understood not the counsel of God in giving of the Law and the appointing sacrifices and ceremonies till by the light of Christ the end of these things was revealed But the only begotten Son which is in the besome of the Father he hath declared God Ioh. 1. 18. revealing his true being and thereby undeceiving the Gentiles and his counsels in the giving of the Law and appointing the legal worship and thereby hath enlightened the Jews And this enlightening is proper to him who tells us Mat. 11. 27. All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him This light is derived from Christ as the great Prophet of the Church of God Sect. 3. Christ as high Priest enlightens with the light of peace and joy in God 2. There is a light of peace with God which is by Christ who is our peace reconciling both Jews and Gentiles in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby Ephes. 2. 14. 16 This is that peace which Christ calls his peace which he promiseth to his Apostles Joh. 14. 27. where he saith Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid And again Joh 16. 33. These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world So that this light of peace with God begets the light of peace and joy in the hearts of those that are Christs insomuch that being justified by faith and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ they rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God and not only so but they glory in tribulations also Rom. 5. 1 2 3. This peace of God which passeth all understanding keeping as a guard their hearts and mindes through Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 7. Hence it hath come to pass that even when the wicked are driven away in their wickedness as with a storm yet the righteous hath hope in his death Prov. 14. 32. As Oecolampadius when his light failed him near his death told them about him that he had light enough within him Hereby the holy Martyrs and Confessors when the heavens were black over them the rage frowns threats tortures of tyrants violently rushed upon them yet stood unmoved without being shaken by any terrour or grief from them Who shall separate us saith Paul Rom. 8. 35 36 37 38 from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Nay in all these things we are mare then conquerours through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This light is derived from Christ as the high Priest of the people of God Sect. 4. Christ as King of Saints enlightens with the light of glory 3. There is yet a higher and more illustrious light from Christ to wit the light of glory which is termed by the Apostle Paul Col. 1. 12. the inheritance of the Saints in light and by our Lord Christ Joh. 8. 12. the light of life which is that eternal life which is said to be the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. This is that blessed light of the new Jerusalem which hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof and the nation of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it Rev. 21. 23 24. Of this light the glorified Saints shall be fully partakers at the resurrection when the righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father Mat. 13. 43. Their vile body or body of debasement shall be changed by the Lord Jesus Christ that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. which is now more glorious then it was on the Mount Mat. 17. 2. and yet then he was transfigured and his face did shine as the Sun and his raiment was white as the light And for their spirits doubtless they shall then have farre greater light Now we see through a glass darkly or in a riddle but then face to face Now I know in part but then shall I know
even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 12. They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 15 16 17. And there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain Rev. 21. 4. No night or gloomy day but perpetual light and serenity everlasting joy shall be upon their heads all clouds of fear sorrow ignorance despair disquietnesse shall fly away And this light shall be from Christ as the King of Saints Sect. 5. Christ inlightens by his natural Power as Gods Son and by his special Commission as sent of God 2. The natural light that all creatures have in their several kinds is from that natural power which Christ Jesus hath as the Son of God by whom he made the worlds who being the brightnesse of glory and the characteo or expresse Image of his person or substance bears or upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 2 3. To this purpose tends the speech of Christ Joh. 5. 17. My Father worketh hitherto and I work from whence the Jews gathered that he termed God his own Father making himself equal with God ver 18. to which Christ answers ver 19. Verily verily I say to you the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do for what things soever he doth these also doth the Son likewise Which shew that Christ asserted a coworking with his Father in all his works and power answerable to it The light of knowledge of God and his counsel of peace and joy and comfort of glory and everlasting blessednesse the Lord Christ communicates as by special Commission delegated by his Father sealed sanctified and sent into the world whereby he was made the light of the world according to what he saith Joh. 9. 5. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world And ver 39. For judgment am I come into this world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind The administration of the affairs belonging to the Kingdom of God was committed to him for inlightening governing protecting delivering raising up from the dead and advancing his Church subduing the devils reproving and condemning opposers of his Doctrine and work judging all in his great day All things saith he Mat. 11. 27. are delivered unto me of my Father Joh. 5. 20. For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doeth and he will shew him greater works then these that ye may marvell For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them even so the Son quickneth whom he will For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son Mat. 28. 18. All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth By reason whereof and his being made man to do this work he is said to come down from Heaven not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him Joh. 6. 38. And it is said by Zacharias Luk. 1. 78. The day spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darknesse Sect. 6. Christ inlightens by his Preaching Example Spirit Apostles now in this time by his Power and Glory in the world to come 3. The inlightening with the later sorts of light imparted by Christ as sent into the world is from him in this time now or in the world to come That inlightening which is now in thistime is either by himself or his Deputies immediately or by mediation of others 1. Christ in the daies of his flesh or as it is expressed John 9. 5. As long as he was in the world was the light of the world 1. He was the light of the world by his preaching wherein he was as the Sun still moving and inlightening all sorts and in all places taking occasion to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the poor and all sorts of people who resorted to him After his temptation he went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of sicknesse and all manner of disease among the people Mat. 4. 23. When he preached in the house there was such resort to him that his Mother and Brethren could not come at him by reason of the presse but stood without desiring to speak with him but he preferred the work of reaching the people before private conference with his Mother Mat. 12. 47 48 49 50. No sooner was he got out of the house and come to the sea side but great multitudes were gathered together unto him so that he went into a ship and sate and the whole multitude stood on the shore and he taught them many things by Parables Mat. 13. 1 2 3. After he had been in a desert a while when he came out seeing much people was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a Shepherd and he began to teach them many things Mark 6. 34. He was wont to go to the Mount of Olives to pray Luk. 22. 39. And early in the morning he came again into the temple and all the people came unto him and he sate down and taught them Joh. 8. 2. When he was in the way travelling when he was at meales he was still teaching his Disciples or those that were with him He neglected eating to prosecute the work of winning souls and lightening them by his preaching And this he counted his meat as he told his Disciples Joh. 4 34. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work By this means the people which sate in darknesse saw great light and to them which sate in the region and shadow of death light sprang up Mat. 4. 16. Thus Jesus Christ hath abolished death and brought immortality and life to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. 2. Christ was a light also by his Example Good example doth inlighten men not only directing but also provoking others to follow their steps Men as they are sociable so they love to do as they see others do Hence it is that they live as much by examples as by Precepts Wherefore saith Christ Mat 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Now of all the examples that ever were there was none more illustrious then Christs None so full of love goodnesse meeknesse patience humility contentedesse obedience innocence quietnesse holy zeal courage diligence in his
Scripture and experience For 1. It is plain from Scripture that by one man sin entred into the world and so death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that or in whom all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. By the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation ver 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. In Adam all die Now it is by Christ who enlighteneth mens eyes that this death and condemnation are removed and by no other meanes In Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life Rom. 5. 18. 2. Besides death and condemnation all mankinde are liable to innumerable evils to lighten the burden of which the enlightening of Christ is very necessary for that alone can give support and comfort to the soul in the bearing of them Man is born unto trouble as the sparks flie upward Iob 5. 7. Man that is born of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble Iob 14. 1. Sufficient unto the day saith our Lord Christ is the evil thereof Mat. 6. 34. 1. Man of all creatures is born most obnoxious to harm he is born naked and weak unable to make provision for his own sustenance Naked came I out of my mothers womb saith Job Chap. 1. 21. We brought nothing into this world 1 Tim. 6. 7. The greatest Prince is born as naked as the meanest Peasant and all come crying into it as bewailing their entrance into the world Though the Parents rejoyce that a childe is born into the world yet the childe doth not so Other creatures can quickly help themselves Many years pass over a childes head ere he can beg bread much less earn it He wants a great while both feet to seek it and tongue to ask it and hands to take it and teeth to eat it 2. To obtain it much care and labour is necessary It is the doom awarded to Adam Gen. 3. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground There is much pains and cost and care and hazard in all employments whereby a livelyhood is obtained but in none more then in tillage and husbandry whereby the provision of bread the staff of mans being is procured and after all the industry and skill and charge that is used the ground is cursed for mans sake thornes and thistles it brings forth to man Gen. 3. 17 18. Sometimes the seven lean kine devour the seven fat ones the years of scarcity exceed the years of plenty so as that there is no bread to be had nor seed to so we the ground 3. Besides as the Psalmist speaks Psal. 39. 6. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them That which a man hath laboured for and gotten together oft times he hath no use of it Sometimes it perisheth of it self sometimes it is stolne or plundered from him He that is as rich as Job was one day is as poor as he was the next day Sometimes a man so idolizeth his wealth that he hath not a heart to use it but only to look on it and to talk of it Sometimes sickness or death seizeth on him and then as it was with the vain man Luk. 12. 20. his soul is taken from him his projects fail his goods are as uncertain owners which caused Solomon to say Eccl. 2. 18. Yea I hated all my labour which I had taken under the Sun because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured and shewed my self wise under the Sun This is also vanity Whence he infers Ver. 22. For what hath man of all his labour and of the vexation of his heart wherein he hath laboured under the Sun For all his dayes are sorrowes and his travail grief yea his heart taketh not rest in the night This is also vanity 4. There is much more evil consequent on that darknesse or sinne which is entered into the world by reason of the frequent annoyances persecutions and temptations which are caused by the enmity of the world and the acting of our adversary the Devil who continually goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devoure By which it is that all people are full of troubles civil and forraign wars which waste people and their wealth private quarrels which undo many to was and houses Law-suites and factions and â—â—iulations and discords which ruine many persons and families brawls and jarres and contentions which overthrow many houses and cause perpetual vexation Many secret murders adulteries perjuries idolatries and other evils are caused by the Prince of darknesse which verifie that censure of Solomon Ecol 1. 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit 5. Beyond these from the darknesse of our own hearts there do arise so many perturbations of mind fears jealousies dotages vain hopes ambitious desires foolish imaginations inordinate anger impatience and discontent sometimes by provocations sometimes causlesse upon tales surmises mistakes dreams sancies impostures contingencies and otherwise as make the mind of man like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt as the Prophet speaks Isa. 57. 20. 6. But most of all the conscience of sinne and the sense of Gods wrath and the fear of death and judgment to come over whelm the spirit of man with horrour make Felix tremble Cain turn Vagabond Saul grow desperate and betake himself to one that had a familiar spirit Judas become his own executioner In a word make many through fear of death all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 15. This being of all other the greatest torture of the soul when God hides his face from a person which made Job expresse himself in this lamenting ditty Job 13. 24 25 26. Wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest me for thine enemy Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth For as Solomon saith truly Prov. 18. 14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear8 All these things and innumerable other evils experience shews to infest the life of man against which the only remedy is well advised reason composedness of spirit patience saith hope in God which must be communicated from Christ who enlightens all with natural or supernatural light of which I am next to speak Sect. 6. Application to make us sensible of sins evil and the worlds vanity and to provoke us to seek a tredsure above and light from Christ to comfort us In
the mean time by that which hath been said 1. It is necessary for our good that we should be sensible of these two things 1. That sin is an imbittering thing that takes away the relish and pleasure of all the goods we have under the Sun and of our very lives themselves Agag thought if he had escaped death then bitternesse had been overpassed and therefore he came to Samuel delicately 1 Sam. 15. 32. But experience shewed that there is often more bitternesse in life then in death Nor is it likely to be otherwise as long as sin remains for that 's a root of bitternesse Heb. 12. 15. a root that beareth gall and wormwood Deut. 29. 18. While there is sin in our eating and drinking there will be bitternesse in our meats and drinks While there is sin in our nuptials there will be bitternesse in our marriage society All states and conditions here will have their frets their gnawing worms and eating mothes When God corrects man with rebukes for iniquity he makes his beauty to consume away like a moth Surely every man is vanity Psal. 39. 11. 2. That we have little cause to glory in our birth It is the property of many to boast of their birth it is the manner of all Parents to rejoyce at their childrens birth But the sense of sinne should take away our glorying in our selves the sight of our black feet should abate our high conceits of our white feathers and the sense of trouble should allay the excesse of our joy in posterity and rather provoke us to imitate them that wept at births and sang for joy at burials Were it not that God makes women forget their travell they would breed no more and were it not that God hides from the eyes of men the evils that accompany life they would choose strangling rather then life and were it not for the consolations of Christ the burdens especially of the godly would be unsupportable especially when they complain with Paul Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Earth is but a reall dungeon though to some it is an imaginary Heaven 2. It is necessary 1. That we seek our good in other enjoyments then this world Who would make his bed upon thornes Who would choose his dwelling on the mast of a ship where winds and stormes and perpetual tossings take away all rest Surely our best enjoyments our best habitation here are no better We project many things and promise much to our selves in Wealth Wife Children Friends Houses Preserments and other things but upon a just account we find all but ciphers which make no summe How often doth Solomon tell us when he had cast up his reckonings that vanity of vanities all is vanity Eccl. 12. 8. And why should we set our eyes then on that which is not Prov. 23. 5. Surely the true light holds sorth better counsel Luk. 12. 33. Provide your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not where no chief approacheth nor mâ—th corrupteth a treasure of Gospel grace the new Covenant the heavenly Promises the Communion of Christ the fellowship of the Spirit and the life of Faith and these will never deceive our expectations It were a good wish if righly minded by the users God send us the light of Heaven 2. Let us prize the light of Christ and make use of it to prevent lessen hear deliver us out of all the present evils Paul had learned to do so Phil. 3. 12 13. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungery both to abound and to suffer need I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me It is indeed the inlightening of Christ which clears up all to us in the most stormy and cloudy day it will make us look abroad and travell with strength in our journey and run the race which is set before us and after Pauls sad complaint take up with his conclusion I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7. 25. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. Every man hath Light from Christ sufficient to make him inexcusable SERM. V. Joh. 1. 9. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world Sect. 1. A Natural Light from Christ is yeilded to be in every man and the Opinions of Freewillers of its sufficiency are set down LIghting every man that cometh into the world is meant either of such light which is by Christ as Creatour termed natural and this is conferred upon all men without exception of any person or of such light as is by Christ as Mediatour and this is conferred though not on every single person yet on all sorts and Nations of men and it is termed supernatural Concerning the former sort of light it is yeilded that there is natural light from Christ given to every man who comes into the world by humane birth ' This light is the light of reason and knowledge agreeable to humane nature which if it were not conferred on every man he should not be rational but should be degraded into the rank of beasts It is true which the Psalmist saith Psal. 49. 20. Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish But this only shews that man by extinguishing his light doth brutifie himself not that he was without all natural light in his originnl All experience shews that each person even the most natural fool hath some light of reason by which he can apprehend some things pertaining to humane being and some way expresse his mind though in respect of civil or moral or religious affairs he be unteachable All the difficulty is how farre it extends in all or may be improved by them that use it best In this matter there have been various opinions The Pelagians of old are said to have held that each person had so much ability by his own free-will and by his natural light as that he might love God and keep the Law and resist temptations though after by Councils and the writings of adversaries they were driven to yeild a necessity of teaching and outward proposition of divine truths to men to that end Some of the Schoolmen and later Papists do hold that each man hath so much light and power in him that if he do what he can God is ready or bound to give him grace necessary to salvation And this way go Arminians and other assertors of the power of free-will in them that never heard of the Gospel of Christ preached to them conformably whereto in the Pagans debt and Dowry p. 20. it is said
them to himself but only his eternall power and godhead which are understood by the things that are made v. 20. and the evill of some sins and necessity of some duties Rom. 2. 14. and that the effect of these is not conversion to God but inexcusableness Rom. 1. 20. and 2. 15. 5. If the Scripture term those times wherein the Gospell was not Preached to the Gentiles nor the written Law or Prophets sent to them the times of ignorance which God winked at or overlooked and by the Apostles then commanded every man every where to repent suffering all Nations in times past to walk in their own wayes then he did not by his acts of common providence sufficiently direct men to attain to his grace But the antecedent is true Acts 14. 16. and 17. 30. Therefore also the consequent If it be said that Acts 14. 17. it is said Nevertheless he left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave us rain from Heaven and fruitfull seasons filling our hearts with foode and gladness and Acts 17. 25. that he giveth to all life and breath and all things that he made all Nations of one bloud for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath deterwined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might seek after him though he be not farre from every one of us v. 26. 27. It is granted but it is denied that the thing witnessed thereby was that gracious and good affection which he beares unto the world through Jesus Christ his inclination unto peace with men upon their repentance as the said Pagans debt p. 12. For those acts of providence do not so much as shew that by one meanes or other God is taken off from the rigor of his justice and severity of his wrath against sinners but only that he deferres it nor is it true that what is related Acts 14. 17. is all the Evangelicall Doctrine Preached at Lystra by Paul for it is said before v. 7. that they were at Lystra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preacbing the Gospel Nor is it consequent that because the Apostle faith Heb. 11. 6. He that cometh unto God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently him that therefore this is all the faith or beliefe that the Apostles makes simply and absolutely necessary to bring a man unto God i. e. into grace or favour with him nor is it true For then many of the Gentiles had been brought into Gods favour without faith in Christ contrary to Eph. 2. 12. John 14. 6. Acts 4. 12. 1 John 5. 11 12. 6. If the grace of God given us in Christ before the times of ages were manifested by the appearing of Christ who abolished death and brought life and immortality or incorruption to light by the Gospel then it is supposed this grace was not to be seen before But the former is true 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. therefore also the latter 7. If it were so that the acts of Gods beneficence Acts 14. 17. testified his gracious affection unto the world through Jesus Christ then we might believe by reasoning without Preaching but that is contrary to Rom. 10. 14 15 17. Ergo 8. If there were no more faith absolutely necessary to bring a man to God then the belief of Gods being and reward of diligent seeking then a faith short of belief in Christ would purifie the heart and save yea workes would save for such a faith would be accepted only by reason of the workes it produceth But this takes away the main end of the Gospel Which tels us that we are saved by faith not by workes that all might be of grace and boasting might be excluded and Christ might be all in all Eph. 2. 7 8 9. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 29 30 31. 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. Tit. 3. 4 5. therefore that opinion is to be rejected as making Christianity unnecessary and morall Philosophy sufficient to salvation Sect. 4. Application to move us Gentiles to rejoyce in this light and not to rest on humane reason As for us Christian Gentiles it concerns us 1. To magnifie the rich grace of God in causing the Lord Christ to come as a light to the Gentiles Oh let all that love the salvation of God admire exult glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause will I confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name And again he saith rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people and again praise the Lord all ye Gentiles and laud him all ye people and again Esaias saith There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust Rom. 15. 9 10 11 12. There are a company of bastard Christians or rather Hypocriticall Atheists risen up who talk I know not whether they believe themselves as if every man might be saved in his own religion or in his own opinion though there be no religion in him if he live honestly he of a fair civll debonaier behaviour though these secretly follow their own lusts and when it is for their advantage slight rules of justice and temperance These count the knowledge of Christ preaching of the Gospel zeal for the purity of Gods worship and service and Doctrine of Christ superfluous and therefore are so far from magnifying the love of God in sending Christ to be a light to the Gentiles that they rather profanely deride the esteem of it and hate those Preachers and zealous Christians who earnestly urge men to follow the light of Christ as an eyesore to them disquieting and vexing them who mind only their own pleasure and profit and would not be disturbed by any discourse of God or Christ Heaven or Hell or judgment to come were such persons sensible of the state of the world afore Christs comming in the flesh the barbarous rudeness the abominable idolatry the horrible cruelty the beastly uncleanness the notorious perfidiousness that the best of those Nations were inured to they would prize more the light of Christ and preaching of the Gospell However it be with such as are either naturally or voluntarily blind or judicially blinded so as the light of the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ doth not shine unto them yet you who have been once enlightned and have tasted of the good gift of God and of the powers of the world to come methinks should take heed how you let the relish of Gods goodness and memory of his loving kindness in giving Christ to be your light be lost We may justly and should if we were sensible of our benefit have a new song in our mouths even a song of thanksgiving to our God and joyn in comfort with the Prophet our praecentor Isa. 54. 1. Sing O barren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not
Father he hath declared God and his will without obseurity He was full of grace and truth then which nothing is more lovely and therefore the more the averseness is from the Gospel of Christ the more estrangedness there is from the life of God and the more the light of Christ is entertained the more of the love of God dwels in that person 7. That a man have light from Christ it is needfull he should awake out of sleep Eph. 5. 14. A careless soul that 's heedless of what truth is held forth that snorts securely and dreams sweetly of peace when there is no peace is no more capable of benefit by the light of Christ then a man that 's of a drousie sleepy head that folds his hands and mindes nothing but his bed and pillow Of using bodily light not only sore eyes but also drousie heads are offended with light Watching is necessary to the use of Christian light which being neglected the Prince of darkness easily bindes the hands and shaves the hair as Dalilah did Sampsons which makes his strength depart from him To keep our soules safe it is needfull we keep our eyes waking and to pray with the Psalmist Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not the sleep of death Ps. 13. 3. 8. To this must be joyned standing up from the dead Eph. 5. 14. Graves and Vaults for dead bodies are not fit receptacles of light To be among men who have no spirituall life in their soules to be associated with meer carnall worldlings voluptuous Epicures proud selfish men is as inconsistent with the injoyment of the light of Christ as for a seeing man to lye among the dead which are cut off from Gods hand A child of light will have little but darkness from such unholy soules as are full of darkness yea doubtless such company will by their own reasonings and Satans sophistry blow out the light of Christ that it shine not where they are Hence it is that among such persons all discoveries of sin or duty Gods counsell or Covenant Christ and his Church Heaven and Hell are tedious No talk or action among such is more acceptable then that which proceeds from an earthly spirit Scripture truth holy Sermons spirituall experiences are unsuitable to that mirth they delight in those contents that please them those ends they aim at Whence it is that they put out that light which crosseth their designes and wish that neither God did see them nor Christ judg them nor Preachers teach them nor any Saint converse with them Doubtless then a soul that affects these cannot long endure such quench-coales nor joyn with such extinguishers but as he is made a child of light so chooseth to be with them in whom is light 9. It will concerne those who own Christ as their light to judg themselves and their wayes by his light It is the great benefit of light that it doth not make manifest Eph. 5. 13. And thus by the light of Christ the evill of our wayes is reproved the wayes of God approved we know the righteousness of God and our unrighteousness Now this is no small benefit to have light to discerne our own errors which without light from Christ we should never have unstood It is our advantage that God covers our sins and we discover them He that is ignorant of them cannot correct them but walks on in them without shame or sorrow as a man that walks in the night neither sees how foul his cloathes are nor knowes how to make them clean Hence it comes to pass that for want of light the carriage of most is so unhandsome and unlike the Gospell that they not only shame themselves but also cause others to stumble A wise Christian therefore will be often judging himself by the light of law discovering his transgressions and the light of the Gospel shewing his estate in Christ. 10. It will be needfull not only to use the light of Christ to judg our selves by but also to order our actions by I am the light of the world saith Christ John 8. 12. be that followeth me shall not walk in darkness There cannot be unsafe walking by Christs light there is no danger when Christ our light goes before Walk in the light saith Christ while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you John 12. 35. How many millions are there of soules perplexed and tortured all their life with feares and doubts for want of walking by the light of Christ in Scripture and chosing rather to walk by a light and sparkes of their own kindling which in the end either goes quite out or burnes so dimme as to leave them in darkness of spirit and horrour of conscience And no marvell sith it is Gods just judgment that such as neglect the light Preached should follow the mares of humane reason the examples customes dictates of men and in conclusion lye down in sorrow Isai. 50. 11. such foolish fires will lead to nothing but bogs and praecipices But Christ the true light when his Gospell is followed guides the feet of men into the way of peace Luke 1. 79. Oh that then all that talke of the light within them would follow the light about them even the light of Christs Gospel and example whereby the greatest security is obtained and the surest advancement with God sith he that followes Christ his light shall be where he is Then would men walk honestly or decently in good fashion not in banquetings and drunkennesses not in chamberings and wantonnesses not in strife and envying if they would put on the Lord Jesus Christ and not make provision of the flesh unto lusts Rom. 13. 13 14. 11. The light of Christ is to be used as our weapons or tooles to defend our selves or to work with The night is over the day hath approached let us therefore put off the workes of darkness and put on the armour of light Rom. 13. 12. The truth is light is the chiefest instrument for safety and work If a man be without light he can neither defend himself nor offend an enemy If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him saith christ John 11. 9 10. I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day the night cometh when no man can work John 9. 4. As the bodily light is given us by God to fight and work so spirituall light is given us by Christ to fight the good fight of Christ and to do the workes of God He then that would make use of Christs light must be armed with his Doctrine that he may be able to repel Satans fiery darts and expel him as Christ did by the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6. 17. And he that would improve the light must be doing that business which the word of Christ directs him to and to that end it must dwell richly in him in all wisedome Col. 3. 16. Their own light in men makes them rather wranglers with others sometimes the best as is seen in Quakers then contenders against their own lusts and moves them to disturb others in their work and to be busie bishops in anothers diocese rather then to lookinto their own charge but the light of Christ directs us to steddy to be quiet and do our own business 1 Thess. 4. 11. 12. And Lastly Make use of the light of Christ for thy comfort and rejoycing The light of the eyes rejoyceth the heart Prov. 15. 30. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is to behold the Sun Eecl 11. 7. But the light of Christ his Gospel doth far more rejoyce the heart and is much more delightfull to the soul then bodily light can be to the eyes It is it which removes doubts griefs fears despair in life and at death Oh how sweetly might men live how comfortably might they dye if they did make use of it Light within you whatever Quakers tell you will leave you in perplexity when you shall have most need of comfort But if you believe in the light of Christ as it is held out to you in the Gospel you shall see the light of life Be perswaded to disclaime the pretended new light within you as your sufficient guide to God and choose the light of Christ from Heaven in his Gospel to walk by and it will guide and comfort you surely and sweetly to eternal life FINIS 2 Pet. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 4. 2.