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
quidem in infirmitatibus gloriari concessum Quoniam in infirmitate humana perfecta est gratia divina Quod superest te Patremque tuum Patrem illum luminum flexis genibus exoratum velim lucem veâ—itatemque tuam undiquaque splendentem undique triumphantem caelitus emittas adeo ut hostibus omnibus debellatis haeresibus extinctis schismatibus aut resartis aut rescissis dissidiis sopitis tenebris discussis Pax Lux summa concordia Christianae Reipublicae restituantur Ecclesia tua non amplius ut vidua marito orbata hostium vulneribus saucia natorum jurgiis exacerbata Lachrymis propriis cruore emacerata maesta vultu maesta veste incedat sed tandem ut sponsum decet Altissimi tuo lumine quasi nuptiali veste induta in sponsum dilectissimum familiariter reclinans ex eremo egressura cernatur Pulchra ut Aurora speciosa ut Luna clara ut Sol terribilis ut exercitus cum vexillis Pro Diademate Coronam duodecem stellarum Doctrinam duodecem Apostolorum sem per gerens Ministros tuos dextra tua teneas sinu foveas Ecclesiam sanguine tuo redemptam Spiritu Verbo tuo Regas Veritatem sartam tectam tueare Universis dona distribuas Pusillum tuum Gregem protegas tuum sit dilatatum Regnum â solis ortu ad occasum usque ut projectus ille quondam lapis in montem tandem excresens mundum universumimpleat Tuam tibi Domine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assumas ut tibi Reges Regnaque omnia inserviant fortem illum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Principem omni sua à tot retro saeculis usurpata tyrannide exuas ipsumque catena ligatum in Abyssum detrudas Antichristum illius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illustri tuo adventu perdas tua omnia promissa adimpleas tuamque cum Myriadibus Sanctorum ad finem impietati imponendum reditum acceleres Interea vero sis nobis in Eremo columna ignis noctu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animo lassis in tenebris incedentibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in fine sine fine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sic seipsum libellumque istum reliquosque assiduos in nomine tuo susceptos quales quales conatus tibi tuaeque gratiae benedictione inde Spirituali locupletandos dedicans devovens humillimis ardentissimisque contendit precibus Servus omnium inutilissimus qui sua omnia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 projiciens hoc solo nomine gloriatur Iehovah Tzidkenu To the Right Worshipful and other his beloved Friends Inhabitants of SWITHINS LONDON I Read of a rich silver Globe presented by Ferdinand to Solyman the Magnificent of admirable Workmanship expressing besides the passing of each hour the motions of the Sun changes of the Moon c. and giving a resemblance of the whole frame of the Celestial Orbs made with much Art by the direction of the most famous Astronomers then in the world I have nothing of that Art and Rarity to present you with but a plain Theological not Astrological Sun-Dyal representing not the lower Heavens and their Motion but the Empyrean and its Rest and the Essence Attributes Properties Effects Motion Influence of the Higher Sun the Sun of Righteousnesse The Subject handled I cannot wish greater or better there is none before it the manner of handling I could wish much better especially for the dignity of the person of whom it treats as also of your selves or whoever may peruse it But as with him where there is a willing mind there is acceptance of what little we have so I doubt not but you will hold it your Honor in all things to be like minded to Jesus Christ. To many of you I am bound in many bonds of Gratitude to all in duty therefore I could not judge any among those whom I am bound to love and honour so fit to have this Discourse inscribed and presented to as your selves who are to me above all others whatsoever nearest in spiritual relations and 〈…〉 in Christian and cordial affecti 〈…〉 To others I owe much to you my selfe Having then dedicated my self first to him of whom it treats wâ—oâ—e I am and whom I serve your Saviour my Lord who can be thought sâ— fâ—t to bee joyned with him as your selves whose things next to his I desire most to take care of The Ministers duty is to divide himselfe between the Lord and his Church not the Lord and the world for so did Christ divide his love between his Father and his Church to him he gave himself to expresse the highest love of pure obedience for the Church he gave himself to expresse the strongest love of benevolence You have had the sum of this Discourse preached among you and divers of you have it written in your Note Books and repeated in your Families But I would desire rather you might have the Doctrinal part of all Sermons written in your Consciences and the Use ever repeated in your Conversations Now that you may as you have heard of Jesus Christ be taught by him and as you have received him walk in him attaining to all the riches of the ful Assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the whole Mystery of Christ in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledg and that your conversations may be as becomes the Gospel that you may be ever found among such as fear his Name that you may wait for this Sun of Righteousnesse to rise upon your souls to heal all your infirmities to cloath you with his Righteousness that coming behind in no gift duty diligence comfort experience and growth you may by him bee presented perfect and without spot before God which as it will be your that I may not say mine Joy Glory Crown of rejoycing in the day of the Lord Jesus so it is the prayer of Your daily Remembrancer and Servant in the Lord JOHN SHEFFEILD To the READER Reader HAving much to say to thee within I shall not let thee stand at the door but intreat thee to enter sit down and read a while If thou desirest to know what I have to say Read on a while and I shall tell thee If thou must have it in a few words either turn to the Table in the end or to the Title in the beginning And if thou must have it in two words heark then Thou hast here a Resemblance of Christ and of thy Self Of him a dark and dim one one every way short such a one as I could make not such a one as he is or ought to have been made of him But of thy self it may be not such a one as thou art but what thou oughtest to be and if this fall short too though I shall be the less happy yet art thou the more happy I have set this Image before thee that by beholding it with open face thou maist by viewing him and reflecting on thy selfe be changed into the self same imagâ— from Grace to Grace and so from Gloâ—â— to
4. 2. In a more comfortable manner To be a Sun of Righteousnesse where we have a description 1. of Christ. 2. Of his people 1. Of Christ what he is at least and to all his Church best and to his chosen ones 1. At least and to all his Church he is a Sun 2. At best to his chosen where three things Promised 1. He wil be to them as a Rising Sun after their long sitting in obscurity waiting for a joyful morning and never be to them a departing declining or setting Sun when once risen but as the morning light shining more and more to perfect day Prov 4. 18. 2. Above the ordinary Sun he will be a Sun of Righteousnesse imparting not light but life John 1. 4. In him was life and the life was the light of men The Sun in heaven gives only light the Sun of Righteousnesse gives life 3. He wil be a healing Sun to such as are sick infirme and sad amplifyed by the place and part where this healing virtue resides not in his Vesture Touch Lips Spitle all which were healing but in his wings For a double Reason 1. To denote his swiftness he hath wings â—e that came to be a swift witnesse against the wicked cap. 3. 5. is as swift a Savior he comes suddenly and unexpectedly into his Temple cap. 3. 1. 2. Under his wings to denote the warmer closer embraces which his servants shal be cheared and healed withall as tender chickins under the Hen. And this answereth to that cap. 3. 5. As he there came neere in Judgment to wicked ones so he comes neer in mercy with healing mercy to his chosen ones 2. His people described and that 1. What they are at least and worst before this Sun rising and healing them h. e. before any extraordinary and sensible manifestation of Christ to them They are such as fear his Name that is all they can say for themselves 2. What they are at best when the Sun hath risen and healed them they shall goe forth with life strength and cheerfulnesse as the fatted calves of the stall Calves are noted to be lively lightsome skipping creatures Psal. 29. 6. Christ is compared to a fatted Calfe Luke 15. The Calves sacrificed were 1. Types of Christ and his blood 2. Of our selves and our sacrifice of praises The words thus far opened we come now to the Doctrines therein contained whereof the first is this viz. CHAP. I. 1. Christ is to his Church what the Sun is to the world Christ is set forth under many resemblances of a Rock a Spring the Brasen Serpent a Lamb Morning Star Bread Water Light Garments Gold Pearl of a King Prophet Priest Husband Head Root c. because no one good thing can set out Christ fully for all can set him out but partially and because what ever good is in any or all of these that is Christ and more and better and that when we behold and use any of these we might be put in mind of Christ. This is as High and fit and full a resemblance of him as any one thing can be if I could as fitly and fully pursue it Psal. 84. 10. The Lord God is a Sun and shield to his people But especially Christ is so often called John 1. 12. Ego sum Lux mundi what is that But I am the Sun I am the light of the world John 1. 4. In him was life which life was the light of men and ver 9. This is the true light c. John Baptist was a light Iohn 5. 35. burning and shining but not The Light A Star of the first magnitude but not the true light but Christ only the true Light as the true Vine Iohn 15. 1. That is 1. The great Luminare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Universall light giving light to all that come into the world 3. The Original uncreated light that had his light from himselfe all others from him In him was light Rev. 1. 16. and 10. 1. Christ is described having his countenance shining as the Sun in his strength And Rev. 12. 1. The Church in relation to him and conjunction with him cloathed with the Sun that is his Righteousnesse Cant. 6. 10. faire as the Moon cleare as the Sun that is full of Christ. The Moon is faire not clear from spots when at ful the Sun is alwaies ful alwaies clear The Church hath not only her own imperfect spotted Righteousnesse inherent to make her fair but Christs perfect Sunlike imputed to make her clear without spot or wrinkle or any such thing In which regard the Church is called upon and encouraged to clear up Isa. 60. 1. Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee The Church is the only Halo or Corona on which this Sun makes his Impression And the Church Militant and the Triumphant are the two right Parelii on either side of this Sun near to him and full of his Lustre and Glory This is a deep and rich Mine I am digging into I dare not promise to bring up all the treasures hid in it I shall shew you what I can get up and your selves may go and get much more No Artist can draw all the Suns light into one roome were his house all Chrystall no labour can get all the water of the Sea into one vessel Some abler Pen or larger heart may as a larger window let in more of this light I shall but draw the Curtain and set open my narrow Casement to let in what I have received There is in many things a likeness unlikeness between Christ and the Sun CHAP. 2. The Likenesse between Christ and the Sun THeir Likeness is seen in many Particulars and because so many I shall not defer the Application of all til I have spoke of each as usually we doe but as we go along apply each particular to free your memories from the greater burden and my self from needlesse repetitions Alike they are 1. In their Essence 2. Attributes 3. Properties 4. Effects 5. Accidents 1. In their Essence much alike who knows the essence and nature of the Sun what is that light unaccessible which it inhabits what is the matter of it and what and whence that heat The weary Philosopher astonished with long admiration and tyred with deep contemplation of this lower and lesser Suns light and glory gave over seriously wishing himself out of this body that he might behold the Body of the Sun and know his Essence Enquire not after the name essence and generation of Christ His Name is Wonderful Secret He dwels in light unaccessible wel may we at death come to a clear view of these two Suns and they are worth a death to come to a ful view of them especially the Sun of righteousnesse which we shal then see as he is 1 Joh 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open face the sight of perfect vision here we are
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
is the root bears the branch not the branch the root our faith love holiness is not the roâ—t but branches of the love of God the branch is broken the root remains We are changed and so sometimes we cannot do as at other times we think God is changed he is not Children in a Boat think the houses and trees remove it is the boat not the trees We measure Gods love to us by ours to him and so perplex all But the Scripture puts it out of doubt our unbelief makes not void Gods faithfulnesse if we be unfaithful and deny him he yet abideth faithful and cannot deny himselfe if we forget we are children he cannot forget to be a father He may repent it may be that he gave Saul a Kingdome or Jeroboam ten Tribes never repents of grace given because this flowes from unchanged fatherly love the other from common providence 3. Then are the promises firm which Christ hath made He is the Amen Rev. 3. 14. And all his Promises are yea and Amen As the Suns motion is certain varyeth not a minute hence Eclipses can be so long foretold by Artists and every Countryman can tel you where the Sun wil be and of what length the daies seven years hence If ever therefore there was a promise to a believer to justifie the ungodly to count faith for righteousnesse it wil as wel reach us as Abraham as the Apostle reasons The Sun moves constantly with in his Tropicks and comes sooner or later to all such climates as are within his bounds Christ doth as certainly meet those that wait for him in his way 4. Terror to wicked ones If Christ his love and promises firm then his threats his truth justice jealousie hatred of sin is as much as ever If he ever hated an ungodly person he loves not thee He shews mercy to thousands but by no means clears thâ— guilty Exod. 34 7. His garments are white as wool but his eyes red as flames of fire and he hath a sharp two edged sword in his mouth Woe to them who walk in the way of Cain Balaam or Corah their damnation slumbers not though their conscience slumber The Sun never goes an inch beyond his Tropick but returns nor wil Christ the Son of peace ever come to such as are out of the way of peace but return back again CHAP. IX Communicativenesse a Communicable Attribute HAving spoken of the Incommunicable Attributes I shal descend to some communicable ones and that this discourse may not swel beyond intention I shall the more contract my self I might name many Attributes of this sort as Communicativenesse Greatnesse Glory c. of which other creatures also do participate yet are they most eminent in the Sun I shall speake of communicativenesse under this head and refer the rest to the next Communicativenesse is an excellent Attribute in the Sun The Moon Stars Ayre Seas earth are all communicative of their several benefits to man But the Sun most of all and they enabled by the Sun It buries not his light shuts not up his influence shines not to it self is as free and liberal to the poor as rich to the beggar as to the King The Lord hath divided it and the stars saith Moses to all nations under the whole heaven They under the Poles have their share as wel as they under the Line So hath Christ received of the Father gifts to be communicated unto men of his fulnesse all receive his merits are of largest extent his Gospel to be preached to all nations and to every creature 1 Then is here provision for the poorest Christian who hath nothing to buy with the Sun sels not but gives his light freely it is Gods light it is the poore mans friend his candle fuel raiment Diogenâ—s hath as good a propriety in â—t as Alexander Christ is the poor mans friend Advocate Physician Saviour and Master of that Corporation Theâ—e are his Guests Disciples Bride He entertains none of other qualitie but those in poverty Come he that hath no bread nor mâ—ny He cals all thirsty to come drink freely anâ— without price We love to match into Estates great Families marry with Nobility Beauty Preferments Christ loves to bestow himself on poore undone helplesse persons he matcheth with misery beggery infamy base bâ—irth humility deformity Ahasuerus thought the Crown better sâ—t on Esthers head then Vashtyes or alâ— the Priâ—cely Ladies of the Court. And Christ his grace and favour is confer'd stil on the humble soul the highest Crown was set on the lowest handmaid Poor Mary became Deipara she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All be-graced highly honoured and shee got the name from the first and greatest of women as her Son from the highest and first of men she became Chavah the only mother of the Living and which is stranger her Son the Adam and Parent of the world 2. Then is Christs not a scant but plenteous Redemption not from one but infinite Transgressions not of one or a few but of infinite persons He sheweth mercy to thousands his Sealed Book containes an innumerable company of Angels and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 General Assembly and Church of the first born whose names are written in Heaven contains so many Myriades as no man can number of all Kindreds Nations Tongues and people They are not a few but a world who are redeemed The whole world of the Elect severed from the world of the Ungodly 3. Then there is just ground for our hopes prayers endeavours for the calling of the Gentiles who at present sit in darkness and live without God in the world without Covenant Promise and Gospel And for the Jewes also who shall be grafted in again if they abide not still in unbelief who are also at present without God and King and Teraphim and Prophet and Priest and hope too as much as the uncalled Gentiles but there are promises for both The ends of the earth are the Fathers Advowson and the Son is ordained by him to be the Occumenical Bishop of the habitable world He shall sprinkle many Nations inherit all Lands rule from Sea to Sea to the utmost Indies The Sun moves sometimes North sometimes South is sometimes in the East and sometimes in the West but ere the year goes about and ends hath viewed all Climes so shall the Gospel be preached to all Nations before the end of the World The Church is as the Sea which if it lose in one place gets as much in another The Gospel is as the Sun which when it goes from one place goes to another 4. Is Christ so communicative then what an encouragement is this to poor souls to go to Christ 1. For his freeness He keeps open house to all comers as Tituâ— sent none away sad he none empty that come to him upbraiding none rejecting none giving liberally forgiving universally
if Paul lost his sight when Christ appeared and shone round about him with a light far greater then the Sun CHAP. XII The third Property Light THe next great Property of the Sun is his Light which must not be forgotten Jer. 31. 35. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a light by day c. He speaks as if it was chiefly created for this purpose Light is the glory of his glory and greatness Herein an eminent resemblance of Jesus Christ who is so often called a Light the True Light the Light of the world As in nature are to be seen several lights so the Scripture mentions many sorts of Lights 1 Some good 2 Some bâ—d 1. Some good 1. Divine and Uncreated 2. Created 1. Divine and Uncreated Light is so excellent a thing that God hath not disdained to be described by it entitled to it clothed with it 1. Take God Essentially he is a Light 1 Joh. 1. 4. clothed with Light Psâ—l 104. 2. 2. Consider God Personally 1. The father is called the Father of Lights as he is the father of Christ h. e. the Original of increated Light He hath communicated the Light of Divine nature to Christ who is God of God Light of Light into whom the Father hath put all fulnesse 2. Christ as God inhabiteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light Inaccessible 3. The Holy Spirit is a like co-equal and co-eternal Light whose proper work is illumination and his first worke in the new creature is answerable to that first word in the old Creation let there be Light and there was light So here the spirit of God moves upon the heart and brings it out of darkness into a marvellous Light 4. Christ Iesus as Mediator is the Sunne into whom the God head hath plentifully imparted all fulnesse of Divine Light as the light of heaven is cumulatively aggregated and embodied in the Sun to be the standing treasury of the Church as the Sun is of the world Thus those phrases are to be understood that he is the true Light and Light of the world viz as he is God-Man and Mediatour 2. There are many Created Lights 1. The Ancientest the Angels who were at first all of them Angels of Light by creation though since many of them are fallen Stars these the Lord cals the Morning stars who sang together when all the Sons of God sung for joy glorifying God for the excellency of his work as they were created These are Heavenly Lights 2. There be other Lights in earth whereof the first and chiefe are the holy Scriptures given to be a light to our feet and a Lantern to our paths to which we must attend and follow as a light shining in a dark place Our Cynosura and Pole Star they are as we are Mariners our Pillar of fire as we are Travellers our Sun as Mr. Brightman interprets all along in the Apocalyps 2. Next to these are Religious and godly Magistrates Stars of the first magnitude in the inferior orbs these come in place and dignity next to the Angels in Principalitie power and Influence and when they come neerest to Scripture Rules and Presidents they are of most sweet aspect as Gods on earth Gods set over us in the likenesse of men and these are not as the lesser stars but as the greatest Sun when they rule in the fear of God as David saith they shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth as a morning without clouds 3. After these follow the godly and exemplary Ministers who are the Stars in the hand of Christ Rev. 2. 1. are to be burning and shining lights in grace and doctrine then are worthy to be looked upon and followed as the light of the world You are the light of the world said our Saviour to his Disciples lesser lights in the lesser world these are to be as so many earthly Angels To the Angels of the seven Churches Paul was called by Chrysostome Angelus Terrestris and these are to receive their light of grace from the Sun of Righteousnesse in heaven and their light of doctrine from the Sun of scripture in earth that they may be as men of God throughly furnished to every good work 4. Each private Christian is so to hold forth the word of life that they may be as so many lights shining in the world Yet Christ and all these lights differ much 1. He is the great and true light John Baptist was a burning and shining light Joh 5. 35. but he was not that light that true Light Christ is the true Light as he is the true Vine the true Bread that is the great and excellent Light 2. Christ is perfect Light in him no darknesse at all In the Angels there hath been a defection of Light there are now many of them in chains of darknesse In Scripture is some obscurity in Ministers Magistrates Best Christians are many defects as spots in the Moon there is smoak in our best elementary fire and a black steam in our purest wax candles no smoak or steam in the Sun 3. He the fountain of Light as the Sun to stars and creatures having before been furnished and called to that office he having received all fulnesse from the Father freely imparts his light to Angels Scriptures Magistrates Ministers other Christians yea to Eveâ—y man that cometh inâ—â— â—he world as the Evangelist speaketh which is to be understood 1. of the light of coÌ„mon understanding and natural Reason not that higher light of supernatural Grace this is not given to all but hid to many for this as other common mercies and universal preservation floweth from Gods rich benignity as a fruit of Christs interposing Or 2. If you will understand it of saving knowledg He enlightens every one that cometh into the world then it must be understood of all and onely those that are of that number none have such light but from him So in many places of Scripture the word Every is to be taken which if wel considered would discover the unsoundness of Pelagian Doctrines and Arminian Conclusions The Apostle saith as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith The manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withal not that every man hath faith the same Apostle saith all have not faith or that every man hath the spirit but he speaks only of such as are of that number the Elect called and godly 4. He the most eminent light out shining all them he present they silent and draw in their light as the Stars before the Sun So Angels Ministers Scriptures Ordinances yea the Sun it selfe are silent and of no more use to the Church in that heavenly Jerusalem where the Lamb is the Sun and Temple and Bible and all 5. In him all fulnesse as in the Sun of Light in Sea of water all receive all from him yet all cannot receive all
There are many Lights we see such as they are some better some worse But Christ is the Light the true light the Sun in divers respects 1. The Suns light is the only day light All other Lights of Moon Stars Fire Candle are but night lights when all is done somewhat they relieve in the Suns absence Christ makes the perfect day in his Light eternal Light to be seen without Ministers Scriptures Ordinances which are of use only till we come to heaven 2. Suns light at first appearance drives away the nights darknesse and Christ his first Work is to deliver out of ignorance and from the darknesse of Error and ungodlinesse If we say we have fellowship with Christ and walk in darknesse we lye and do not the Truth And the first effects of Christs influence upon the Ministers labor is to open mens eyes and to turne them from darkness to light c. 3. Light discovers every thing that was hid That which maketh manifest is light and discovers things in their right shape and colours bee they beauties or deformities Christ is this light whose appearance chaseth darknesse and maketh a new discovery of an unknown world of sin in the heart before hid and swept behind the door I was alive before the Law once Concupiscence I had but knew it not before the Law came then sin revived and I dyed Christ appearing the deformity of sin loathsomenesse of Nature defects and spots of Duties and Righteousnesse are discovered never seen before and the beauty of Grace excellency of Holinesse is laid open to enamour the soul. Christ is the only light that discovers to us the deep things of God hid in darknesse till he revealed them and the deep things in men both the hidden mysteries of unknown wickedness and the great mysteries of Grace and Godlinesse 4. The Light directs us how to walk and keep our wayes and keeps from stumbling and falling into danger If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the Light of this world But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him And Solomon The way of the wicked is as darkness they know not at what they stumble When Israel followed the Pillar of fire they took no hurt When Judas and Peter followed the Light kept neer to Christ they stumbled not but Peter leaving Christ dasht his foot against a stone in Petram scandali a stumbling stone and bruised himself but Judas into a Precipice and broke his neck 5 The Sun is sent to call us out of our beds and to invite man to go out to his labour The Sun ariseth and man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the Evening And this Sun is sent not that wee should play out our Damnation with negligence and security but work out our Salvation with fear and trembling Yet a little while the light is with you walk while ye have the light lest darknesse come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth 6. How sweet is light to the sight and how pleasant it is for the eyes to behold the Sun No sight so delightful as the Light and the Sun is the heart-cheering light But no sight of the Sun it selfe so cheering the soul as the light and sight of Jesus Christ. His countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely This is my Beloved saith the Church ravished with his beauty Cant. 5. 15 16. 1. If Christ be the light of the world what cause have we to bless God for Christ. We are excited to praise God again and againe by the Psalmist that God made the great lights and to say His Mercy endures for ever The Sun to rule by day and the Moon and Stars by night But what praise is to be given for Christ who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness The world had been a dungeon if it had not been for the Sun and the Church a Hell without Christ. 2. See what need we stand in of Christ much more then of the Sun Satius solem non lucere quam Chrysostomum non dâ—cere quam Christum non lucere Better not see the Sun then not know Christ. Better without eyes then without faith Can we not walk but stumble without light nor rise to work till Sun riseth that we may go forth to labour We can neither walk nor work nor pray without Christ Without me ye can do nothing but err wander stumble fall perish Doth Sun withdraw and darkness follow Darkness come and Beasts of Prey come forth of their Dens What darknesse followes when Christ withdraws and then are wee assaulted with Satan and his Temptations Do wee open our windowes to let in Sun light open thine eyes and Christ shall give thee light Is this light cheerful to the Traveller Lord what is the light of thy countenance Blessed are they that know thy joyful sound They shall walk in the light of thy countenance all the day long Do we daily need the renewed light of the Sun and do wee not daily need a fresh supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ None but the blinde undervalue the benefit of light none but of weak eyes are offended at it none but Thieves and Murderers hate and fly it None but very ignorant or very wicked take offence at Christ and are weary of him 3. This may sadly warne us who yet a little while have the light amongst us to walk as children of light lest darknesse come upon us God either taking away his Gospel from us or us from it or his blessing from it and us both The longest day hath his night and the brightest day of Gospel grace abused ends in the grossest darknesse The children of the Kingdome are above all others cast into utter darkness They who were lifted up highest to heaven by enjoying most light are thrown lowest into Hell for abuse of Light and this Title of condemnation written over their heads These loved darkness better then light because their deeds were evil Was it not sad the Egyptians should follow the Cloud and Pillar of Fire into the deep and perish How many go loaden with Mercies and lighted with Sermons into the Chambers of Hell How sad the Samaritans should bee led blindfold into their enemies hands More sad if wee will go with open eyes into Perdition and with the Decii leap headlong into the gaping Gulph at noon day But much more sad those Samaritans should be stricken blind by the Prophet sent of God to be a Seer and to make the blind to see How sad was it that the Sodomites should bee stricken with blindnesse by an Angel of Light Sad if Satan the God of the World blind thee but nothing so sad as when Christ shal
take away thy sight and God shall blind thine eyes For this great judgment came I into the world that they who see not may see and that they who wil not see when they see should be made blind The case of none so sad as those who go to hel with Balaam after their eyes are opened and wilfully perish as did that obstinate thiefe in the presence of a Saviour 4. Though Christ be the great light and Sun yet remember that Ministers Scriptures and Ordinances are not to be cast aside God created the Stars and placed them in their orbs as wel as the Sun they have their measure of light and place for use though all of them united equal not the Suns light and he present they of little use Christ holds the Stars in his right hand both to present and preserve them the Church takes them as from Christs hand and sets them on her head to honour them They are Christs charge and the Churches Crowne in vain is the Arrow shot against the Sun or Stars it may recoile and wound the shooter it cannot reach those lights of heaven Wicked men may be used as Gods snuffers to top and overtop his lights the Ministers but shall not extinguish them God hath set them up to give light to his house he wil not suffer them to be buried under a Bushel It is our duty therefore stil to attend to the Scriptures and to the Ministry of the Word 1. To attend to the Scriptures we have also a more sure word of Prophecie said the Apostle whereunto ye do wel that you take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place Here the Apostle cals Scripture-Light our most sure rule to walk by The most extraordinary Revelations are not to be equalled to them The most solemn clear and infallible Revelations are lesse then Scripture We saith the Apostle were with Christ on the Mount and were eye witnesses of the glorious transfiguration and were ear witnesses of that Divine testimony Thou art my beloved Son Yet you that have none of these Revelations have that which is as sure more sure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Scriptures whereto ye do well to attend c. Obj. But the Antiscripturist objects that we must attend to this light of the written word till the day star arise and the day dawn in our hearts but when we have once the spirits teaching we neede no more the Letter of the Scripture Answ. Here this Scripture is mis-applyed upon a double mistake 1. Of what is the meaning of the day dawning and day star arising in your hearts which is to be understood of the state of glory when we shall no more see in a glasse darkly but while we are here we are in the dark and in comparison of clear and perfect vision we may say now it is night and then day This is the first mistake 2. If you understand it of the Revelation of Christ here who is the day-star whose discovery of himself by his spirit to the believers soul is the day dawning then is there another mistake in the word Til it is not a til of termination but of provocation rather and so of continuation stil Til I come give attendance to Reading Did Paul mean Timothy should read no more after his coming to him The leaven is put into the Meale and it sowres the Dough til all is leavened but doth the woman take it out or doth the sowrnesse cease when all is leavened It stil continues Attend to the Scripture searching til the day star arise and then you wil see much more of the use and excellency of the Seripture then you now imagine And very observable it is that our Saviour at his departure after his Resurrection having breathed on his Apostles and given them his spirit bids them not be above Scripture and lay it by But he opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures 2. To attend on the Ministry of the Word for Christ hath given not only Apostles Prophets and Evangelists extraordinary officers but Pastors and Teachers to perfect the Saints to work in the Ministry to build up the body of Christ til we come to a state of perfection and the whole Church be compleatly gathered and made one perfect man or body in Jesus Christ viz. to the end of the world Ob. Is it not said they shal not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother therefore there is an end of the calling of the Ministry Answ. 1. Therefore there is a bar to the teaching of the uncalled Artificer They shal not teach every man his neighbour that have no more cal then any of his neighbors It is no where said that the Minister shall not teach his neighbours 2. This is meant there shall be so much of heavenly knowledge by means of the Scripture Ministers and Ordinances when the spirit of God goes along that they shall not need every man to teach his neighbour not so much need his meaning is Not teach at all he means not for he bids them in this Epistle to Exhort one another Provoke one another and suffer the words of exhortation All which he would not have done if there needed not one man to teach his neighbour at all The Particle not is in many places not to be taken absolutely but comparatively not negatively but diminutively we wrestle not against flesh and bloud saith the Apostle not only not so much he meaneth labour not for the meat that perisheth He means not we should not labour at all but not only or not so much as for that which endureth to eternal lise To conclude This place of Heb. 8. 11. is best opened by considering such a place as that of Christ. At that day ye shall ask in my Name and I say not unto yo◠that I wil pray the Father for you for the Father loveth you He meaneth not that he wil forbear his Intercession but besides it they shal find the Father bearing a particular propensity of good wil to them So here they shal not need to teach one another as if that was all but God wil give in his spirit so that it shal become more effectual they shal all know me from the least to the greatest Obj. 3. Against Scripture and Ministry both 1 John 2. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things c. Ans. The same answer to this that to the former You may with comfort attend on Scriptures and Ministry of the word because you have the spirit to anoint your eyes with eye-salve and lead you into all truth and to teach you all things not all things simply or all things by inspiration without use of means but all written things all necessary things But he meaneth not they
flash as the fire of Thorns but joyes maintained with joyes joy leading to joy a standing boundless joy an ending endless Joy whereas the wicked mans joy is brewed with sorrow compassed with it tends to it and ends in it but hath it self no end 8. Unmixt others muddy impure mixt with sin guilt gripes of conscience and when ready to run over cooled with the hand-writing upon the wall the remembrance of his sin the apprehension of Gods wrath But Spiritual joy is the purest thing in the world as the light of the Sun light without darkness as his warmth pure without smell or smoak 9. Permanent never eclipsed not by any disease or danger threatning death 2 Cor. 1. 12. not any distress 2 Cor. 16. 10. as sorrowing but alway rejoicing John 16. 22. Your joy shall no man take from you They must needs swim in Joy whom Christ holds up by the chin And as Josephs bow so the Christians joy must needs abide in strength when hee hath such a wall at his back and such a well at his foot At this Beer-la-hai-roi Hagar may fill her empty bottle as oft as she will and thirst no more 3. This directs what to do when wee complaine wee cannot profit and do not thrive The heart yeilds not the sin decayes not Go to Christ desire to be under the direct beames of the Sunne Trees thrive not in the shady side Cry Blow O North wind and breath O South wind distil O raine and look out thou Sun upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my Beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Hast thou a heart that will not yeild under Judgments his Love can melt it The Manna dissolved by the Suns gentle heat that was hardned and dryed in the Oven or boiling pot Whom the furnace of Judgments burn and the Oven heated with wrath doth bake and harden the melting love of Christ doth mollifie The last and â—orest Vyal upon sin which ends the mystery of iniquity and finisheth Satans Kingdom is poured from the Sunne The brightnesse of Christs appearing is the destruction of Antichrist and is that which alone distroyes the works of the Divel in the heart Cry out therefore with the Church Oh that thou wouldst rent the Heavens and come and make this Mountaine melt and this rock flow at thy presence as when the melting fire burneth the fire causeth the waters to boyle As thou didst of old at Mount Sinai when thou didst terrible things that wee looked not for Is my heart harder then the rock higher then Mount Sinai break this Rock cast down this Mountain Though I have had my part of Terroâ—s and been brayed with the pestle of afflictions though I have not wanted for light yet my heart yeilds not my heart freezeth in the shade in midst of noon day light as in the depth of Winter There is one thing only remains and the work is done Shine out thou Sun of Righteousnesse and with the warme beams of thy favour melt those Rocks of Ice and bring downe these Mountaines of snow Thou causest thy Spirit and warmer breath to blow and the waters flow Psal. 147. 18. 4. Comfort to them that have Christ near to them They are like those Countries near the Line they shall have a perpetual Spring no Autumn A constant Summer no Winter in their year but a renewed and successive harvest These shall never want Grace sufficient and peace necessary Their tree casteth not leaf nor loseth fruit Christ will be both Sun and Shield he will go with you in trouble In the fire go with you and be a Sheild to keep you from burning in the water be a Sun to warm you and keep you from shaking So he was to Jacob Sun by day burnt him not and frost by night starved him not The Lord will create upon every dwelling place in Mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle in the day time for a shadow from the heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain When the worldlings heart is cold in his belly as Nabal who became as cold as a stone and when like old David thy native heat is decaied so far that no cloathes nor fire can keep thee warm Christ the Shunamite shall lye in thy bosom and cheer thy heart that thou shalt say for joy Aha I am warm the world is well amended with me The Winter is past the rain is over and gone the Flowers appear on the earth the singing of Birds is heard in the air and the voice of the Turtle soundeth and the Spring is come CHAP. XIIII The Suns Regency ANother Property of the Sun is his Regeâ—cy herein a shadow of Christ and his Regal Office The Lord gave the Sun to rule by day 1 His Rule is Monarchical The Sun hath no Peer but is an absolute Monarch So is Christ the sole King and Lawgiver in his Church who will admit of no Compartners in his Government 2. His Dominion is the largest Christ and the Sun no third both the universal Monarchs of the World whose Dominion is without bounds from Sea to Sea and from East to West 3. The Suns Dominion is the most ancient we read of began before mans The Suns the fourth day mans not till the sixth Christ is the everlasting Father who had a Kingdom in Heaven before there was man on Earth Our ancient Families are but of yester day to him The Princes of Zoan are Fools the Counsellors of Pharaoh are brutish How say ye to Pharaoh I am the son of the Wise the son of ancient Kings Egypt above other Nations had ever gloried in her Antiquity 4. For Duration both shall continue to the worlds end These two Monarchs have out lasted all others have seen the fatal dissolutions of royal Families and the Translation of all other Monarchies And both shall determine together when the Sun resigneth his then shall Christ also resigne his Kingdome into the Fathers hands 5. For Power the greatest Potentates Other Kings and Commanders are only titular many times these have uncontroulable commands The Sun hath power over all Creatures the earth aire seas it raiseth stormes and doth allay them gives Law to day and night the worlds first subdividers to winter and summer le ts in both frost and snow by his withdrawing and by his looking out dissolves them The Sun of Righteousnesse hath like but greater power hath all nations times seasons in his dispose He hath for the nations an Iron rod for Antichrist his Vyals and for his Church sharp storms sometimes he permits hereticks le ts lose persecutors and at his pleasure bindeth them up The Dragon he let loose three hundred years the Beast one thousand two
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
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
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
or trenches of corruption in our hearts into so much bloud that we may drink no more of them but with amazement look upon former and with fear and horror fly from future sins 11. Lastly to name no more The Sun shining out in his strength disperseth clouds and mists but though it causeth not one yet it discovers a world of mâ—tes which are never taken away for they hinder not at all the brightness of the Sun So when Christ shineth out most gloriously to the soul it now sees what it could never have seen or imagined before I have heard of thee by the hearing â—f the ear but now mine eye hath seen thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 41. 5 6. He now saw a world of motes But as it is the imperfection of our condition here not to be free from such continual Motes The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men that they are vaine Psal 94. 11. Yea every man in his best estate is altogether vanity So it is our comfort and happinesse that these no ways lessen the brightness of Christ his Love and Grace for then no flesh could be saved But as these sins do abound .i. appear so doth his Grace abound .i. appear much more CHAP. XVIII The unlikenesse and disagreement between the Sun and Christ. TO make an end of this first point There is in many things an vnlikenesse between these two great Lights between whom hitherto we have noted so many agreements 1. This is a creature therefore â—inite in his essence operation motion influence But Christ every way infinite being the creating not created Sun 2. This lower sun shall suffer many changes his light shall be turned into darknesse the Moon into blood and they shall both cease There shall be no more Sun but this Sun remaineth for ever Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever When the Sun ceaseth to be the light of the world the Lamb shall bee the light of the Church 3. This shines on the good and bad alike but Christ riseth shineth warmeth healeth saveth only those that feare his name 4. The Sun really absents it selfe for a time but Christ from the Godly soul never but in our apprehension 5. This gives only light to the body Christ to the soul. 6. This gives only light to us we must find â—ight our selves Christ gives both eyes to see the light and the light to bee seene The Eye Eye salve and Light all are from him in his light we see light In any good we do we are but Instruments or subordinate Agents hee the prime Efficient and chief Agent without whom nothing We are but the hearth the fire is his we the Lamp the Oyle is his we the mouth the tongue is his wâ—e the pen the writing his What can the hearth the Lamp the mouth the pen do without the fire the oyle the tongue or hand 7. The Sun moveth naturally and necessarily keepes a constant course goeth and cometh again only to those Climes where he ever formerly did Christ moveth voluntarily and arbitrarily goes to some at last that never were a people and when the Gospel is slighted departeth for ever never to return againe to such as from thenceforth become Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah 8. The Sun makes those more black that are nearer to his Beames But Christ them of all others most fair and beautiful that are under his Beames 9. The Sun fills the Moon with his light onely in the time of their opposition But Christ the soul with his light only in conjunction 10. The Suns presence is oft-times the Mother of corruption his heat the Efficient cause of Putrefaction as in Summer our meat and drink keep worse But this Suns presence is the only preservative against putrefaction and the only enemy to corruption in the spirit CHAP. XIX Containing the second maine Proposition That Iesus Christ is the Sun of Righteousnesse HAving at large shewed That Jesus Christ is in many respects to his Church what the Sun is to the world We come now to our second Proposition to shew how in a more special manner and by way of Excellency he is the Sun of Righteousnesse The former sets out his Glory this his Grace the former his Person this his Office A singular Elogy this no where in all the Scripture again do we meet with the same expression though divers like it and to the same effect He is called Jesus Christ the Righteous Our Righteousnesse The branch of Righteousness Melchi-zedek the King of Righteousnesse and Jehovah-tzidkennu the Lord our Righteousnesse And to shew that this is Christ his principal Title or proper cognomen or sirname as in our common Mariages the wife doth Exuere Parentis and induere mariti cognomen changes her owne or fathers name into that of her husband the Church is called also Jehovah-tzidkennu Compare Jer. 23. 5 6. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch c. And this is the name whereby He shall be called The Lord our Righteousnesse with Jer. 33. 15 16. In those dayes will I cause the branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David In those dayes shall Iudah be saved and Ierusalem shall dwell fafely and this is the name whereby She shall be called The Lord our Righteousnesse They have both one name and this the highest name to both especially to the Church This is the new name spoken of Rev. 2. 17. And that other name God promiseth to call his people by The Lord shall call his people by another name Three things shall here be spoken to 1. How Christ is called the Righteous or Righteousness 2. What Righteousness it is we have by and from Christ 3. Why he is called the Sun of Righteousnesse 1 Christ Jesus may be said to be the Righteous or Righteousnesse in a double respect 1. Of his Person 1 John 2. 2. Jesus Christ the Righteous Who in respect of his Divine Nature is as Righteous as the Father and the Holy Ghost This is not that which is so much to us as our Righteousness extendeth not to God so this personal Righteousness of God extendeth not to us in this sense And in his Humane Nature he is Righteous also who never had spot in his soul guile in his lips sin in all his life but one who perfectly fulfilled all Righteousness 2. Of his Office his Mediatory Office This is the meaning of that before mentioned Scripture This is the name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness that is to say this is his Office and Businesse 2. For the second There is a twofold Righteousnesse we have by Christ. 1. A common general original as I may call it or imputed Righteousnesse a Righteousness without us to which we contribute nothing we only accept We put on this Righteousness and it clothes us as a garment made ready to our hands 2 A
and upon hard duty of Humiliation 3 Then were Sacrifices offered 4. But the chief which made it a day of Attonement was that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the bloud of the Sacrifices upon the Mercy Seat and this he did seven times The Holy Ghost hereby shadowed out to them what was to be done by us in order to an Attonement 1. The Trumpet soundeth .i. the Gospel is to be proclaimed 2. When the Gospel is proclaimed every Israelite is to afflict his soul for sin that he may partake of the benefit of the Gospel He must be in bitterness as for an only son dead yea killed the only Son of God by our sins killed and slain and as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddo where Josias was slaine bitterly bewailing that our sins have slaine the best King the Only Anointed of the Lord the very breath of our nostrils 3. Then are Sacrifices to be offered divers Sacrifices .i. All thy sins for a whole Burnt Offering thy Praises for a Peace Offering thy Heart for a Heave-Offering thy whole man a Living Sacrifice holy and acceptable which is our reasonable Service 4 But chiefly we must look to our High Priests entrance into the Holy of Holies and that which is done within the Vayl out of our sight the bloud of Sprinkling so often sprinkled on the Mercy Seat that is to say again and again applied to us to this we are especially to look So that if I had repented better mourned more had a thousand more Duties and a thousaud times more Righteousness I would cast away all as dung that I might be found in Christ. We read Zach. 3. 1. When Ioshuah the High Priest stood before the Angel of the Lord Satan stood at his right hand to resist him although he was in his Priestly Vestments The most holy Person even in the most holy Service when in the best dress of Legal and personal Righteousnesse is clothed with filthy Garments he needs a Christ to deliver him from Satan and change of Garments to cover his nakedness As all unrighteousnesse cannot sink a soul that is in Christ so all Righteousness of the world cannot save a soul without Christ. 1. This informs us how true and just that of the Apostle is That Christ was in all things to have the Preheminence He is not a light but the Light the true light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Lights not a Star but the Sun of Suns not the lower but the higher the Sun not of Light but of Righteousness He is Bread not common bread but the true Bread John 6. 32. The Bread of Liâ—e ver 35. Bread from Heaven ver 50. Living Bread ver 51. The Bread of God ver 33. He the Shepherd but the good Shepherd He the Vine but the true Vine the Pearle but the only Pearle of great price He a Lamb but without spot He is the chief of the wayes of God 2 This shewes us where Righteousnesse is to be had and where onely There is but one Sun of Righteousnesse for the Church as one Sun for the world we may seek Righteousness and lose by seeking Rom 9. 31. We may attempt to build a Babel to reach heaven with our own Duties and God pulls it down In te stas non stas said St. Austin But go forth as David said in the strength of the Lord and make mention of his Righteousness and his only The weak Ivy climbing up and clasping about the Oak lives and continues green all Winter stands while the Oak stands though it hath no stem or stalk of his own to bear it But we are like to little children which learn to go who having nothing to hold on hold on their own clothes which throws them down Rely alone on Christ for Righteousnesse A house whose foundation stands partly on a rock and partly on the sands stands no firmer then if all stood on the sand that part puls down the whole Thou must lose thy own Righteousnesse that thou maist gain Christ. 3. This shewes us what a difference there is between Adam and Christ. Adam a Sea of Unrighteousness Christ a Sea of Righteousness Adam a falling Star a blazing Meteor who fell with Lucifer that bright Morning Star and suffered a total Eclipse Christ a Sun a fixed Sun of Righteousness The two great Luminaries the Sun and Moon are only discernably Eclipsed so these two great Creatures Angels and Men. The greater Luminary suffered a final not total eclipse all the Angelical Nature fel not The less a total not a final The greater contrary to what is in the course of Nature suffered the greater Eclipse But Adams was a sad Eclipse He lost all his Righteousness and Light for the time as did the Angels He conveyes to us nothing but sin and wrath We may sadly say that of the first Adam which was said of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too he emptied himself and us and became of no reputation He was as that wormwood Star that imbittered all A very pit or lake of mire to defile us but Christ a fountain of Righteousnesse opened to cleanse us and he takes away all unrighteousnesse 4 How should this consideration that Christ is the Sun of Righteousnesse endear him to us and heighten our esteem of him Who can give unto God the praises due for the benefit of the aire we breath in and of the Sun whose light we walk in But for this Sun of Righteousness by whom wee are both Justified and Sanctified enlightned and enlivened what praises can be given unto God sufficient for such a Mercy It was Righteousnesse we wanted more then light The Sun had not lost his light nor Adam his sight by the fall but all that Righteousnesse wherewith he was adorned we needed not a new Sun in the Heaven to lighten the body but a new Sun of Righteousnesse to enliven the soul. Clothed with this Sun the Church may present her self before God and is without spot or wrinkle or any such defect One Garment made for the High Priests fitted Aâ—ron and all his successors they had no other One garment of Righteousness fitteth Christ our High Priest and all his Members 5. Yet here is a Caution to bee entred Christ is to all a Sun not to all the Sun of Righteousnesse the light of the world but the Righteousness of Saints whose properties we shal here set down 1. That of the Text only such as fear his Name have these promises made to them 1. That he shall be a Sun of Righteousnesse to them 2. Rise and shine upon them 3. Embrace and cover them with his wings 4. And therewith heale them 5. That they shall grow as the thriving fatted wel attended Calves in the stal But all these shall be made good to none but such as truely fear him 2. To such as do
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
Promises shall bee fulfilled at death then shall be the great shooting of the departing soul as of the bodyes at the departure then shall what is imperfect bee done away or rather made perfect Therefore in this case I conclude with the Angels words to Daniel Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Many of the choicest and greatest Promises concerning the Church are sealed up and closed unfulfilled till the end of the world And the best and richest Promises made to the Saints are sealed closed up not perfectly fulfilled till the end of their life among which this is one great and glorious one Etiam veni Domine Iesu. The TABLE THE Introduction to and opening of the Text page 1 Chap. 1 That Christ is to the Church what the Sun is to the world 6 This prosecuted in shewing 1-A Likenesse 2 Unlikeness between Christ and the Sun 8 Chap. 2 The Likeness between Christ and the Sun in five particulars viz. 1 Their Essence 2 Attributes 3 Properties 4 Effects 5 Accidents Of the Agreement in their Essence 8 c Chap. 3 The agreement between Christ and the Sun in their Attributes Whereof 1 some Incommunicable 2 Some Communicable Unity the first Incommunicable Attribute 13 Chap. 4 Omniscience the second incommunicable Attribute 19 Chap. 5. The Suns Omnipresence a shadow of Christs 25 Chap. 6. The Suns Omni-influence a fourth Incommunicable Attribute 28 Chap. 7. Perfection another Incommunicable Attribute 39 Chap. 8 Unchangeableness the last Incommunicable Attribute 42 Chap. 9. Communicativeness a Communicative Attribute 47 Chap. 10 Of several Properties in the Sun as a resemblance of Christ whereof Greatness the first 60 Chap. 11 Glory a second Property 68 Chap. 12. Light the third Property 71 Chap. 13 Warmth the fourth Property 93 Nine Effects in the Suns warmth the like whereof in Christ 96 97 seq The vast difference between Christs teaching and mans 100 The difference between comforts given by Christ and those flowing from the creature shewed in nine particulars 123 Chap. 14. The Suns Regency a shadow of Christs alike in seven particulars 109 How the Sun is said to rule How said to be for a Sign Iudiciary Astrology condemned 115 116 Chap. 15 The Suns activity and motion the last Property Alike in seven particulars 118 Chap. 16 The fourth agreement between Christ and the Sun in their like Effects 132 Alike in nine Effects ibid Chap. 17 Their likenesse in their Accidents 137 Whereof 1 one greater viz. the Suns Eclipse wherein a likenesse in nine particulars ibid 2 Many lesse accidents eleven mentioned 141 Chap. 18 The unlikeness and disagreement between Christ and the Sun in ten particulars 147 Chap. 19 The second main Proposition That Christ is the Sun of Righteousness 150 Three things opened 1 How Christ is said to be Righteous or Righteousnesse 1. In respect of 1. his Person 2. His Office 151 2 What Righteousnesse we have by Christ A twofold Righteousnesse 152 Sundry Theses or Aphorisms of Righteousnesse 154 3 How and why called the Sun of Righteousness Shewed in three particulars 155 Mans best Righteousnesse like the Moon at ful in six parlars 156 Four things done in Israels solemn Expiation day 157 Four Notes of such to whom Christ is made Righteousness 161 Five golden chains laid down in Scripture viz. 1 Of Decrees 2. Graces 3 Duties 4 Beatitudes 5. Priviledges 163 A fourfold unsafe Righteousnesse 1 Seeming not real 2 Semi-righteousness not complete 3 Decaying not persevered in 4 Relyed upon not disclaimed 166 A fourfold good and necessary Righteousnesse 1 Moral or of Nations 2 Legal or of Duties 3 Evangelical or of Graces 4 Divine or of Faith 167 Chap. 20 The third main Doctrine That all the Godly are such as fear Gods Name 171 Godly subject to a threefold fear 1 Natural 2. Inordinate 3. Religious 172 Religious fear hath a double object 1 Evil 2 Good Evil to be feared with fear of abhorrence 173 Good with fear of Reverence 174 Reverential fear twofold 1. Of lowest Saints arguing lesse perfection 2 Of greater perfection and the highest Saints 175 Religious fear 1 The initial grace 176 2 The lasting Grace 178 3 The lowest grace 179 4 The constant frame of the new heart 180 All Christians are not of one stature 181 The safety of such who have only this grace of holy fear 182 Eight Notes of holy fear 185 God takes notice of the least grace and lowest measures in his servants 186 Eight Objections answered 1 I have no Grace Answ. 1 Godly ones ever have low thoughts of themselves 188 2 Not alwaies equal judges in their own case 189 3 It is possible to have true grace and be ignorant of it ibid. 4 God can espy grace where we espy nothing but sin 190 Three Gospel graces cover all sin 1 Repentance 2 Faith 3 Sincerity 191 Object 2. No grace because so little answered 194 Object 3 No grace because no growth 195 Object 4 No grace because no parts ibid. Object 5 No grace because no more comfort 196 Object 6 No grace because so many fears 197 Object 7 No grace because so many temptations 197 Object 8 No grace because such corruptions 198 Three things hard to determine 199 Eight kind of sins destroy not sanctification lessen not Iustification hinder not salvation observed out of Rom. 7. 199 200 Seven other sins neither destroying Grace nor depriving of glory 204 Chap. 21. The fourth main Proposition That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name 207 Seven Positions implyed 208 The Reasons 1 Partly from somewhat in God viz. 1. His Power 2 His Promise to back his Power 3 His love which confirmeth his Promise 4 His Glory which engageth all 210 2 Partly from somewhat in the godly 1 Their prayers 2 Miseries 3 Graces 2â—1 Quest. When shall this Promise be fulfilled or what is the time of this Sun rising 212 Dispensations of Grace and comfort various not like the dispensations or operations of nature ibid The four notable and great dayes of the Lord all unknown 213 Nine special times when this Promise fulfilled 215 The Godly may meet with sad times 220 The godly may expect glorious times 221 Two glorious times to be expected ibid The foundation of all sound hope laid in Grace 222 The great difference 1 Between the sorrow in the godly and in the wicked ibid. â— In their comforts set out in six particulars 224 The godly to expect and pray for the accomplishment of this Promise 225 Chap. 22 Of Christ his healing all the soul Diseases of his people 229 The many and various soul Diseases of the Godly ibid. Five sad but common Diseases of all the Godly 231 Three extraordinary Diseases of some Godly ones 232 Three Reasons of the Point 234 This healing implieth six things 237 Four Means Christ useth to heal the soul 238 Quest. Whence is it that many complain they are