Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	light_a	light_n	shine_v	1,940	5	9.1283	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34900	The light of Gods countenance: or, The glory of God in the face of Ghrist [sic] Jesus infinitely out-shining all earthly vanities. Set out in a sermon preached at Lantilio Pertholy, in Monmouth-shire, June 5. 1653. By John Cragge, Master of Arts, and dispenser of the gospell there.	Cragge, John, M.A.	1654 (1654)	Wing C6787; ESTC R215238	20,478	30

observe the Divine Rhetorick and Suador of the Spirit as by the Matter so by the Manner implying that there is no more comparison betwixt God and Mammon than there is betwixt Light and Darknesse Hence two points of Doctrine implyed might arise if you look back at the Antecedent this though the Worldlings be high in Dignity glorious in Title infinite in Number yet they are not to be followed if forward at the Consequence this that there is a Pearle in Gods keeping for gaining of which all worldly things are to be trodden under foot but we must leave these as lesser Starres hid under a cloud we come to that which is expressed The light of Gods Countenance a Starre able to set all mortall eyes on Earth immortall in Heaven at a gaze at a maze Lift thou up the Light c. There is no darkenesse in the words unlesse too much light dazle our eyes it is a speech borrowed from men that use to cast a lightsome Countenance upon those they favour or affect as though he should say O Lord affect our Soules ravish our Spirits with the sensible feeling of thy Favour Grace and Blessing that flowes from thee Hence issues this point of Doctrine that the Grace of God and the Light of his Countenance is a Blessing beyond all prices unvaluable beyond all contradictions impregnable beyond all conceptions transcendet beyond all comparisons superlatively great Every word in the Text hath a speciall Emphasis to prove this Lord the word in the Originall is Jehovah composed of spirtuall letters to note the spirituall simplicity of his infinite Being a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Hebrewes durst not speak onely used in the singular number to note the Unity of the Daity appropriated to none but him excluding all creatures having Being independent in himselfe giving subsistence to all other things faithfully performing his promises and then shall not be that is All in All made All sustaines All is All-sufficient perform that to his Saints more than a World or thousands of worlds beside But what is the suit that none but such a Majesty can grant It is Light not the Light created the first day though that enlivened the blinde Chaos not those on the fourth day the greater and the lesser Lights hung up in the Canopy of Heaven to enlighten the Theater of the World against mans entrance on the stage not the force of reason implanted in man though John 1.4 that be the Light of Man not the Word of God though that be a Light unto our Feet not the Ministers of the Gospel though they Math. 5.14 be Lights of the World not Christ alone which truly is virtually All though John 1.8 he be the true Light that enlightens every one that comes into the World not that in Heaven Colos 1.12 the Inheritance of Saints in Light but a Light that includes all these that God Christ Jesus his Word his Ministers Light temporall spirituall eternall are all ours and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here by way of eminence The Light of Gods Countenance Christ was comforted in his Agony with the Light of Angels Moses his Face shined at the light of Gods hinder parts O then The Light of Gods Countenance What Comfort brings it here what eternall Blisse hereafter First To prove that The Light of Gods Countenance is beyond all Prices unvaluable Consider 1. But what this Light was before sinne put it out 2. What it cost before it could be lighted againe Before sinne put it out it was Gods gracious favour in giving Man the comfortable use and interest in all Gods creatures the Hosts of Heaven Sun Moone and Starres Foules of the Aire Fishes of the Sea Beasts of the Barth Creeping things Herbs Fruit Corn Wine Oyle were lines drawn from the infinite circumference of Gods goodnesse to the center of Mans felicity These were but blanks besides the Communion of Angels in Heaven that seemes to be a Price the blessed Vision eternall Union with God through Christ a Price able to make Men and Angels sound up their Trumpets of praise for ever Secondly what the lighting of it againe cost The Vestals fire put our might not be kindled but by the beams of the Sun nor the light of Gods Grace but by the obedience of his onely Sonne Men Angels Bloud of Martyrs Incence of Saints a thousand Worlds ten thousand Rivers of Oyl could not but the Death of him that was the Lord of Life Secondly that it is beyond all contradictions impregnable the whole legion of Saints can witnesse it is Armour of Proofe a strong Tower an invincible Fort a rock of Salvation that if Men Devils Behemoths Leviathans Losses Diseases Torments swarme about one like the flyes of Egypt it will make one sing under the whip at the stake in the flames make the patient laugh when the spectator weeps carry fraile flash singing and rejoycing through a world of bonds rodds swords racks wheeles flames strappadoes break thorow torments armies tempests floods towards Heaven shake off bonds fetters manacles and lead captivity captive Thirdly That it is beyond all Conceptions transcendent Reasons Scripture Testimony Experience can all tell for Man or Angel to conceive or expresse the secret VVorking the powerfull Operation the infinite splendor of Gods Grace were to span the Heavens with his Fingers to grasp the waves of the Sea in his Fist gather the waters of the Ocean into a bottle Reason cannot fathome it but is at a stand Scripture expresses nothing so much as that it is unexpressible Eye hath not seene Eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of Man 1 Cor. 2.9 the Saints at the sense of it are wrapt into an extasie Cherubims vaile their Faces sanctifying grace in man comes somewhat neare it which causes Groans of the spirit unutterable Joy in the heart unspeakable and yet there is as great a dis-proportion as for one Starre that is enlightned by the Sun to expresse the whole glory of the Sun the world is but a printed Mappe the reall Vision is in Heaven all creatures are but leaves in this imperfect Abridgement the large Volume is sealed up by him that keepes the keyes of life Fourthly That it is beyond all comparisons superlatively great the very devils can tel and therefore to rob one man of it will offer the whole world in counterpoise we are like Sun Dials unlesse it shine blaze Torches Tapers Candles all Starres at ones are of no use flow Riches Honour Strength Wives Friends Childen to our contentment without that Sun it is still night they may be Copies of Gods Grace but without Seale Ciphers of no value unlesse the Unity of the Spirit be joyned with them we cannot conceive so great a number of earthly things but still more may bee added more may be desired but he that hath The Light of Gods Countenance is ravished in Spirit cannot conceive more hath contentment in heart cannot desire more his