The Light of the World, Part 4
IIII. But ſhall hauehave the light of life.
There be two lights of life, or liuely lights. Firſt the knowledge of God in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, participated by the ſonne of God to Adam in the creation, is called liuely light: I ſay, the naturall knowledge of God in Adam before the fall, was the light of naturall life, which life ſtood in abſolute holineſſe, which was his perfect obedience to the firſt Table, and abſolute righteouſneſſe, which was his obedience to the ſecond. But this liuely light by the fall was extinguiſhed, yet not wholly, but ſo buried in ignorance and impurity, as it is of no force to bring forth in vsus any pure worſhip of God, or holineſſe of life, but ſerueth rather to bridle and reſtraine vsus from outragious ſinne, and to giuegive vsus ſome light to diſcerne our ignorance and malice, to our owne accuſation and condemnation, ſo that it is a deadly and not a liuely light.
The ſecond light is a new knowledge, that is, the knowledge of God in Chriſt. Of God in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelfe: of God in Chriſt our mercifull and louing father: of God in Chriſt redeeming and purchaſing vsus againe, when by ſinne we were vtterly loſt: of God in Chriſt reſtoring vsus to ſight, that were vtterly blinde, and ignorant: of God in Chriſt aboliſhing the body of ſinne, and corruption in vsus: of God in Chriſt renuing vsus into his owne image and likenes, from which by Adams tranſgreſſion we fell: of God in Chriſt, turning the curſe of the earth, with all afflictions and troubles, into bleſſings and meanes to eternall bliſſe: of God in Chriſt, preparing a kingdome and heauenly Citty for vsus, whoſe pauements, walles, and buildings are of Golde, Pearle, Emeraldes, Chryſolites, Carbuncles, and all coſtly ornaments, a thouſand times excelling the Sanctum Sanctorum of Salomons Temple in glory.
He that followeth Chriſt hath this liuely light in him▪ he that followeth him not, hath no light in him, but is ſhut vp in ignorance and darkneſſe. Hee I ſay that denying carnall wiſedome, and fleſhly luſts, doth follow him, is enlightned to ſee and behold the glory of God in ſauing the elect▪ by and through Chriſt, which the Goſpell ſetteth forth: And by vertue of this light and ſauing knowledge is he made partaker of the diuine nature, that is quickned to liue the life of God, which ſtands in new obedience. He therefore that followeth Chriſt hath the light of life.
What it is to hauehave the light of life, or to walke in the light, is plainely expreſſed. Ioh. 12. 35. 36. Yet a little Ioh. 12. 35. 36.while the light is with you; walke while yee hauehave light, leaſt the darkneſſe come vponupon you, &c. Chriſt exhorteth heere to walke in the light, which ſignifieth two things.
Firſt, to beleeue in him, as it is in the verſe following, while yee hauehave light, beleeue in the light, &c. firſt, I ſay, to walke in the light ſignifieth to beleeue in Chriſt, our wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, redemption.
Secondly, it ſignifieth the performance of all duties worthy of a Chriſtian, which is to hauehave our conuerſation according to our faith in him. For as the light of the day is giuen to vsus to walke, and labour in our callings; euen ſo this ſpirituall light or day, ſhining in the Goſpel, is giuen to vsus to walke, to labour, and to liue therein. And he that walketh not in the light of the Goſpell, walketh in darkneſſe, euen after the imagination of his owne corrupt heart, in the craftineſſe and deceiueableneſſe of fleſhly luſts. For the further clearing of this point▪ I will ſhew in what particulars this liuely & ſauing knowledge of God in Chriſt, reuealed in the Goſpell, and applied to the elect by the ſpirit, is called Light.
Firſt, the light is ſo glorious a creature, that no fleſhly eye can behold it, being in a ſubiect of nature, like it ſelfe, as the Sunne is: euen ſo the light of the Goſpell is ſo glorious, that the eye of mans reaſon and vnderſtanding cannot in the leaſt meaſure apprehend it.
Secondly, the light is pleaſant, delightfull, cheerfull, comfortable, ioyfull, and hopefull; but in the abſence of light there is heauineſſe, ſadneſſe, ſleepineſſe, penſiueneſſe, ſorrowfulneſſe, diſpairfulneſſe, fearefulneſſe: euen ſo, this ſauing knowledge placeth the ſoule in much more happineſſe, and felicity, affording true and euerlaſting pleaſures, true delights, true cheerfulneſſe, true comforts, true ioyes, true hope, which the miſeries and afflictions of this life cannot aboliſh or corrupt, ſeeing that they are the rayes and beames of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, ſhining in vsus. How inuincible, and vnquenchable is this ſauing knowledge, the light of life?
Thirdly, the viſible light is the life of the materiall world, maintaining life, motion, ſenſe, in all creatures in the firmament aboue, and elements below, euen ſo this ſauing knowledge is the life of the ſpirituall world, that is, the companie of Gods elect, kindling ſpirituall life in them, giuing ſpirituall wiſedome, vnderſtanding, reaſon, ſenſe, motion, vntounto them, whereby they differ from other men, more then other men differ from beaſts.
Fourthly, as by the ſhining light all things are viſible to vsus, and eueryevery thing is diſcerned and knowne: euen ſo by this ſauing knowledge are all things made manifeſt to the eyes of our minds. For by vertue hereof, we diſcerne betweene good and euill, betweene holineſſe and prophaneneſſe, betweene true wiſedome and worldly craftineſſe, betweene the true worſhip of God, and idolatrie, or falſe-worſhippe, betweene ſincerity and hypocriſie, between the workes of light and darkneſſe, betweene Chriſt, and Antichriſt; between God and the Diuell, who can transforme himſelfe into an Angell of light, to blinde the eyes of Infidels, that they that want this knowledge diſcerne little or nothing at all between the one and the other, yea they altogether take the one for the other, like to the blind man that goeth confidently the contrary way.
Fiftly, as the light doth enlighten the bodily eyes, whereby we ſee to walke in the right way, and that without ſtumbling or falling: euen ſo this ſauing knowledge ſheweth the right way to eternall bliſſe, and guideth vsus without falling into the pitfalls of Satan, and this wicked world.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Granger, The Light of the World (1616)