Two Treatises 3, Part 3

Two Treatises 3 · Part 3

p. 1THE Mystical Sun In the Face of JESUS CHRIST.

And his Countenance was as the Sun shineth in his strength.

HEre have we the last branch of this Description, which our Evangelist and Apostle giveth of this Sun of Man, which appeared unto him in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks,Christs face sheweth him to be no ordinary person. Iesus Christ in the midst of the Churches. Wherein he giveth us an account of the most noble and principal part of his Body, his Face, his Countenance. That ordinarily sheweth what the the man is. p. 2And so it here did what this Son of man was: No ordinarie person; but one far surpassing all other of the Sons of men. His face had a radiant Majestie in it such as never was seene in the Face of any mere man;The Sun in his face, Mystical. It was as the Sun, as the Sun shining, as the Sun shining in his strength.

Quest. And what was hereby represented and signified?What hereby signified, various cōjectures about it.

Ans. Here againe I finde different apprehensions among expositors.

1. Some looking upon this as a representation of the glorie of the mysticall body of Iesus Christ, 1his Church, The glory of his mystical body.which is and shall bee Glorious here. Thence are called the Glorie, Isai. 4. 5. upon all the Glorie shall be a defence, (saith the Prophet speaking of Gods protection and his Church under the Gospell: which is called the Glorie, in as much as it is the habitation of the God of glorie (as the Arke upon the same account, also was called; The glorie is departed, 1 Sam. 4. 22.) where, he manifesteth his presence in the midest of his ordinances. The Church glorious here, much more hereafter. As glorious in the Kingdome of grace, so much more in the Kingdome of glorie. where all the members of the misticall Bodie shall be made conformable to their glorious head. when Christ who is our life shall appeare, then shall ye also appeare with him in glorie, Col. 3. 4. And this glorious condition of theirs some looke upon as represented here by this glory in the face of Iesus Christ.

p. 32. One, and but one,Of the Romane Church. Aleazac ad lec. I meete with who in this 2glass fancies a representation of the splendor and glorie of the Roman Church; which in regard of externall pomp and state must be acknowledged to be paramount, for surpassing all other Churches that ever were, or shall be. But I find him herein deserted by his fellows; who though ready enough to crye up the glory of their mother, and to lay hold upon ought that may seeme to looke that way, yet in this they are not willing to owne such palpable flatteries. And not without cause, for, (as Pareus animadvertes upon it) If that had been our faviours designe and meaning in this his Apparition, to set forth the glorie of that Church, how is it that he should be so forgetfull as not to direct aparticular Epistle to it, as well as to those seven Asian Churches?

3. In the ninth place, our Mr Brightman 3looketh upon it as a representation of the spiritual Glorie of these Churches, Of the Asi-Churches. Brightman.in the midst wherof this son of man now appears, manifesting his presence there in the midst of his Ordinances, and that after a glorious manner; all things being there so constituted and ordered both for worship & Dicipline, as made those Churches (at least some of them) truly glorious. There did the face of Iesus Christ shine (saith he). So the worship of God (saith he) is somtimes called; his face. Instancing in that of the Psalmist, Psal. 105. 4. Seeke his face evermore. To which that other Text answereth, Psal. 27. 8. when thou saidest p. 4seeke yee my face, my heart sayed unto thee, thy face, Lord I will seeke. Where, by the face of God is understood by divers Expositors the Arke; where God manifested his presence in the Temple. And The like he doth still in his ordinances. which where they cease, God may be sayd to with draw his face. And where any are excluded from them, they may be sayd to be banished from the face of God. So that of Cain may be expounded Gen 4. 14. where he complaineth that he was driven from the face of the earth, and hid from the face of God. By the former understanding the place of his habitation; where he had kept his former residence, or the societie of men, the inhabitants of the earth, who would now be afraid of his company; By the latter the presence of God in his Ordinances, from which he was now secluded, beiug under the sentence of excommunication, cast out of the Church, But I shall also let that pass, though having somewhat more colour then the former.

4. Some others (in the fourth place) looke upon this as a representation of the glorie of the Church under the Gospel, Of the Evangelical Church.which is a transcendent, a surpassing glory, for exceeding that under the Lawe. A mysterie not unfitly represented by this shining of the face of this Son of man here after this manner, which is sayed to shine as the Sun. Under the Law we reade of the shining of Moses's face, Exod. 34. 40. Moses his face shone. A passage which the Latine Enterpreters by a p. 5mistake of the word in the Originall (Karan for Keren,) renders, Cornuta erat Facies, his face was horned. From whence some infer that Moses's face at that time was like the Moone, which in the increase and decrease appeares in that forme and fashion. But here the face of Iesus Christ (saith one) was like the Sun. Leting that gloss pass, as grounded upon a false bottom. In the mean time for the maine it is true. Moses's face at that time did shine, and that gloriously, insomuch as the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold him for the glory of his countenance, (as the Apostle clearly expounds it 2 Cor. 3. 7. yet did it not shine like the face of this Son of man the Lord Iesus; whose face shone as the Sun, yea as the Sun in his strength, at noon day. So far doth the glory of the Gospell excell that of the Lawe. There was a glory in that Legall ministration, but not like the Evangelicall. So the Apostle setteth forth the difference most fully by comparing one with the other, in that place last named 2 Cor 3. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. under the Gospell there is a far more glorious light broke forth, then that was under the Lawe. The one as the Moone, the other as the Sun. So the Prophet Isaiah. expresseth that surpassing glorie that should come upon the Church in Gospel times (as it is contained) Isai. 30. 26. The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun. Such is the glorie of the Church under the Gospell, far exceeding that which was under the p. 6Lawe. So not a few expound that of the Prophet Haggai, chap. 29. where he foreteleth that the glory of the Later house (or Temple) should be greater then the former. Major erit Ecclesiae gloria quàm Syn…gogae; the glorie of the Church under the Gospel should be greater then under the Law. And this Interpretation, I confess, may learne to fuit more fitly with the Text then any of the former, but yet I cannot look upon it as so genu…ne and Proper, as to fasten upon it.

5. And therefore (to hold you no longer in suspence) what was hereby signified refer we it unto Christ himselfe,Of Christ himselfe which is insisted on. looking upon this as a Representation of some Perfections and Excellencies in the Person of Christ: whose face is here said to be as the Sun, as the Sun shining, as the Sun shining in his strength. Three particulars, each of which hath is severall Emphasis, Three branches of this description.and will afforde us some what worth our taking notice of. Begin with the first.

1. His face was as tho Sun] A fit Hieroglyphick, Branch 1.or Emblem of Iesus Christ; who is sometimes so called,Christ as the Sun. the Sun; [the Sun of righteousnes Mat. 4. 2. It is spoken of Christ, who is fitly resembled by the Sun; and that in many respects. Of these Analogies and resemblances I meete with noe less then eleven reached forth by one hand writing upon this Text.Cornel. à Lapide ad Text. But of them I finde some so far fetcht, as that I shall leave them where I find them not so much as taking notice of them. Take some of those which I conceive to be most genvine and Proper. p. 7These I shall refer and reduce to two heads.In respect of his Personal properties, Powerful operations. Iesus Christ is as the Sun in respect of his personal properties, and in respect of his operations and effects.

For the former, his Personall Properties; Of these I might name divers.Personal properties.

1. The Sun is but One. Thence it taketh his Latine name (say some.) Sol,His Oneness. quia Solus. In the firmament there are many Stars, Many stars, one Sun.but one Sun. Thus in the firmament of the Church there are many Stars, of severall, magnitudes, many Saints in earth and heaven, some out shining others. as one Star differeth from another in glory; And in the Church upon earth there are some of more eminent place then others. Such were these stars in the right hand of Iesus Christ, the ministers of the Churches; but in the meane time but one Sun, marke the vision. Seven stars, but one Sun. Seven stars in the hand of this Son of man, but one Sun, which was in his face. Thus, though there be never so many eniment lights in the Church, yet is there but one Sun, but one Lord.One Lord in the Church. [One Lord, one faith (sayth the Apostle, Ephes. 4. 5. True it is, there have been others, which have been so called, and owned. This the Apostle elswhere taketh notice of, 1. Cor. 8. 5. There be Gods many, and Lords many, (saith he) viz. so called (as he there explaines himselfe.) Such were the Gods of Baal, (to which the Apostle may be conceived there to allude) all which were called by their masters name. Bagnatim, which signifieth, Lords. As Baal-Zebub p. 8Zebub, Baal-Peor, Baal-Berith, Baal-Berozim, and divers others. These were the Heathens Lords, which they worshipped and served as their Patrons and Protectors; But these were all, as the name of the first of them (Baal-Zebub) imparts, Flye-Lords, Mock-Lords, not unlike some of those, Lords, which were wonte to be set up at this**Preached Decem. 26. season of the yeare (a strange honour to such a Master) Lords of misrule, as (they were vulgarly, but truly called,) Lords in name, nothing less in truth. In truth, in the Church there is but one Lord

In the Church, I say. In the common-wealth indeed there are many Lords; and those not only Titular, but Reall. Thus we read of the Lords of the Philistines; and of the King and his Lords, Dan. 5. 10. Such are all Rulers and Governours who have Authoritie and dominion over the estates, liberties, lives of others. But in the Church but one Lord; which is Iesus Christ. So the Apostle there goeth on in that Text forenamed 1 Cor. 8. 6. VntoUnto us there is but one God, One Lord Iesus Christ. Whatever there be to others, to us Christians there is but one Lord, One Mediatour. [There is one God, and one Mediatour betwixt God and men, the man Christ Iesus, 1 Tim. 2. 5. One Saviour. [Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved, Acts 4. 12. But one Sun. One true Sun, (I mean;)Romish Mediators. foreign. sometimes indeed there are foreign, (as they call them) half Suns appearing in the p. 9heavens, which are nothing but reflections of the Sun shining upon some thick clouds; And so there are false mediatours, such as those which Romish superstition hath set up as foreign, partners with Iesus Christ, as sharing with him in the office of his Mediatourship. But one true Sun; and one true Mediatour, both of Redemption and Intercession, even the Lord Iesus, who upon this account is fitly resembled by the Sun. Sol quia solus.

2. As the Sun is but one,His transcendent excellency. so it far exceedeth and excelleth all the other stars. Exceedeth them in Quantity, excelleth them in Quality. In Quantity, in the magnitude of the Body, which is vast and great, even beyond belief, being (as by the masters of the Astronomical science it is voted) no less then one hundred and sixty times bigger then the whole Globe of the Earth and Sea, and far exceeding any other of the Stars. And so in Quality, in the greatness of the light; which is greater, not onelyonly then the light of any one star, but of the Moon, and all the stars being put together. And such is the transcendency of Iesus Christ above all other creatures, whether men, or Angels. All which he excelleth in dignity and power, in majestie and glory. To him is given that nomen super omne nomen, that name above every name, Phil. 2. 9. supereminent power, transcendent glory, and that above all creatures. Yea, even above those Angelical spirits; which in themselves are glorious creatures, yet compared with p. 10Jesus Christ they are but as stars to the Sun. So the Apostle setteth forth his transcendency and preeminence, Ephes. 20. 21. where speaking of the exaltation of Christ, he sheweth, how God the Father having raised him from the dead, set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not onelyonly in this world, but also that which is to come. In the whole firmament of heaven no star to be compared with the Sun. Among men and Angels, in earth, or heaven, none to be compared with this Son of man; the Lord Iesus.

3. Again,His Omniscience. foreign. Poet. the Sun it is (as it were) Oculus mundi, the Eye of the world, seeing and beholding what is done upon earth; As it were viewing all places and passages. His going forth (saith the Psalmist, speaking of the Sun) is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Psal. 19. 6. And therein is it a fit Embleme of Iesus Christ, who whilest he keepeth his residence in heaven, yet hath a universal inspection and oversight of all things here upon earth; being absolutely omniscient, taking notice of all persons in all places, and of all their several transactions and actions. I know thy works (saith this Son of man to the Churches in the Chapters following.) And not onelyonly their actions, but their thoughts, their counsels. When he was upon earth he was able to look through the Breasts of men. He needed not that any should p. 11testifie of man (saith St Iohn) for he knew what was in man, John 2. last. And elsewhere we read of his seeing and knowing the thoughts of men, Matth. 9. 4. 12. 25. And this he still doth. Like as the Sun looketh through the window, and so (as it were) discovereth what is within doors, which those that stand without take no notice of: Even so doth the Lord Iesus, he being as God foreign, the searcher of hearts, he looks into the most secret corners of them, looking through whatever lattices, whatever specious pretences, their words or actions are glazed with, taking notice of their most secret counsels, and intentions; seeing their thoughts, yea before they arise in their hearts, Thou understandest my thoughts a far of, Psal, 139. 2. This was the mystery of those fiery eyes of the Son of man, in the verse before the Text. His eyes were as a flame of fire] intimating the perspicacity and omniscience of the Lord Jesus.

4. Yet again,His Purity. the Sun is an Emblem of Purity. Being pure in it self, and not capable of contracting any impurity from elsewhere. Though the beams of it pass through the impurest channels, yet they receive no taint, but still retain their native purity. And such was this Son of man, the Lord Iesus in the dayes of his flesh. He then passed through the womb of the Virgin, which was not so pure as those that Idolatrize her would make it; she being no more free from that Original contagion then others of the sons and daughters of Adam; p. 12yet he received no tincture from it. Whilest he partaked of her nature, taking flesh from her, yet he was free from the taint of that corruption which cleaved to her nature. Thence called by the Angel foreign, That holy thing that shall be born of thee, Luke 1. 35. Such he was in his Conception and Birth; And such he was in his Life. During which he continually conversed with sinners, yet he received no infection from them. Being every way such as the Apostle describeth him, foreign, Holy, harmless, …ndefiled, separate from sinners, (viz. in respect of any participation in that sin which is common to all other of the sons of men.) Heb. 7. 26. Thus Jesus Christ was and is as the Sun in respect of his personal properties.

From them come we to his operations and effects. 2And here we shall find the like resemblance.Powerful operations of Jesus Christ. Christ being unto his Church as the Sun is to the world, present with it. Even as the Sun is in the midst of the Planets; and being in his strength (at noon day) it is in the midst of the heavens, His presence with his Churchand yet so as it is vertually and vigorously present in all places of the hemisphere, that part of heaven and earth wherin it appears. Even so is the Lord Iesus in the midst of his Ch…rches. So this Son of man here appeareth unto our Apostle in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks. A representation of the presence of Christ in the midst of those seven Churches, (as the last verse of this Chhapter expounds it.) And so he is in all other his Churches, in the p. 13midst of them. Being present not only with his Ministers, to whom he hath promised his presence after a special manner. Behold I am with you alwayes to the end of the world, Math. 28. 20. But also with all true worshippers. That is his promise to his Disciples, and in them to all believers, Matth. 18. 20. Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Coming together in the name, by Authority, with commission from Iesus Christ, and being occupied about the business of his worship and service, there is he in the midst of them; viz. by his grace and spirit. Even as the Sun, whilest the Body of it is in heaven, yet by the beams of it, it is upon earth. Thus the Lord Jesus, whilest his body is in heaven, yet by his grace and spirit he is present with his Church upon earth, and that efficaciously present; not only eying and observing, but acting. Christ performeth the like offices to his Church, that the Sun doth to the earth.Exercising many operations in, for, and upon his Church resembling those offices which the Sun performeth unto the earth. Of these instance in three or four of the principal.

1. Enlightning it. This doth the Sun; being the fountaine of light, it inlightneth both earth and heaven; as the dark places here below, so the moone and stars above,Inlightning it. all with what light so ever they have, they receive it from this great Luminary, the Sun. This is Iesus Christ the light of the world. So he stileth himselfe once, and againe, I am the light of the world, Ioh. 8. 12 and p. 149. 5. viz: of the Reasonable world, the world of mankinde. In him was life, and the life was the light of men, All light coming from Jesus Christ.Ioh. 1. 4. Of all men. What ever light they have, whether Naturall, or Supernaturall, they receive it from Iesus Christ. For Naturall light, even that common light of reason and understanding,Natural light of reason. that is a beame from this Sun. So that Text is commonly understood, Ioh 1. 9. where it is sayed of Christ. Hee is that true light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the world, [viz: with that common light of Reason, which as their Creatour he bestoweth upon them. Much more supernaturall light. And that both of Grace and Glory. Reason.The light of grace where with the soules of Gods elect are inlightned,Supernatural light; of Grace. it is an effluxe from this Sun. The light shineth in darkness (sayth Saint Iohn in the fift verse of that Chap] Thus doth Iesus Christ inlighten the minds of men with supernaturall knowledg, which of themselves are full of darkness, of ignorance. And so that ninth verse there may be read and construed [That was the true light, which coming into the world inlightneth every man.] So Grotius, following Cyrill and Augustine, there looketh upon it, referring the participle foreign, Coming, not to the word foreign, Every man, but to the word foreign. Light. This Iesus Christ coming into the world inlightneth every man, viz. that is inlightned. Communicating the light of divine and supernaturall knowledg to the world. And that as the Sun doth his light unto the earth, which in a p. 15little time, in the space of twentie-foure howers, inlightneth, the whole world. So the Psalmist setteth forth both the swift motion and vigorous operation of it, Psal. 19. 5. In the heavens God hath set a Tabernacle for the Sun, which is as a Bridgroome coming out of his Chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth▪ is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat therof. Even thus the Lord Iesus coming out of the womb of the virgin (his Bride-chamber) in a little space, by himself and by his Apostles, caused the light of his gospel to shine forth through the world, in so much as the Apostle saith, that in his time it was and had beene preached to every creature under heaven, Col. 1. 23. So as in this he was like unto the Sun. So the Apostle applyeth that of the Psalmist concerning the Sun unto him, Rom. 10. 18. Thus doth the light of grace come from Iesus Christ, in whome (as the Apostle saith) are hid all the Treasures of wisdom and knowledg. Col. 2. 3. And that as of Common, so specially of saving grace. This light cometh from the face of Iesus Christ, being beheld by faith: So much we may learn from that Text of the Apostle. 2. Cor. 4. 6. God hath shined into our hearts, that we should give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ.] The glory of God shineth in the face of Iesus Christ, which being held forth unto Gods elect in the Glass of the Gospel, and there beheld by them by faith, they come thereby p. 16to be changed into the same Image from glorie to glory, (as the same Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 3. last) By thus beholding of the face of Christ they come to be made like unto him in the glory of holiness, which work is still in progress here, untill it come to perfection in heaven. Thus is the light of Grace derived from Iesus Christ.

And so is the Misticall Glory. Of Glory.Which is but, as it were, a reflex from that glory which is in the face of Iesus Christ, which being beheld by the Saints of God in that beatificall vision, they thereby are made partakers of the same glory. Even as so many looking glasses being set before the Sun, by the reflex of the Beames thereof, every one is changed into the same Image, and made like unto it. Even so shall it be with the Saints in heaven. We know (saith Saint Iohn) that when he shall appeare, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 Ioh. 3. 2. Like him in Glory. When Christ who is our life shall appeare, then shall yee also appeare with him in glory. Col. 3. 4. Thus is Iesus Christ fitly resembled by the Sun in regard of his illuminating property, being fons luminis the fountaine of all light; inlightning all that are inlightned in what kind so ever.

2: And inlightning,Inlivening. hee also enliveneth, quickneth. This doth the Sun in a naturall way, it quickneth vegetables, hearbs and plantes and trees, and some other creatures, which seeme dead in the winter; yet by the returne of the Sun they are quickned in the spring. And the like p. 17doth Iesus Christ in a supernaturall way. Hee quickneth men. Thence called their life in that place last mentioned. When Christ who is our life shall appeare, Col. 3. 4. Quickning them, and that both in their soules and Bodies. Their soules: The Son quickneth whome he will Ioh. 5. 21. This doth he here to the soules of men. Finding them dead in trespasses and sins Chap. 2. 1.) hee quickneth them. Which he doth by sending his spirit into their hearts; as the Sun quickneth the hearbs and plants by sending his warme beames into the bosome of the earth. And as the soules, so the Bodies of men. Having quickned the soules of his elect here, he shall quicken their Bodies hereafter. This is the Fathers will who hath sent me, (saith our Saviour) that of all that he hath given me I should loose nothing, but should raise it up againe at the last day. Ioh 6. 39. And this shall he doe by the same spirit. So the Apostle tels his Romanes, C. 8. 11. If the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodyes by his spirit that dwelleth in you. That spirit of Christ, which here quickneth the souls of his elect, in the first resurrection, shall by the like power also quicken their bodies in the second. Upon which double account he is called by the Apostle foreign, a Quickning spirit. 1. Cor. 15. 45. The last Adam was made a quickning spirit.] The last Adam, Iesus Christ, who is the head and roote of all his elect, as the first Adam was of all p. 18mankind, he is ordained by God to be the fountaine and Author both of a spirituall and Eternall life unto them, quickning them by the Communication of his spirit unto them; quickning their Souls here, and Bodyes hereafter. Thus is he as the Sun, vivifiying quickning.

3. Quickning,Comforting. he also cheareth and comforteth. This doth the Sun, which is as it were the Ioy and comfort of the world, without which there is nothing but melancholie darkness and sadness. Such is Iesus Christ, the joy and comfort of his Church. The Consolation of Israel, (as he is stiled Luk. 2. 25.) refreshing, chearing, comforting the hearts of his people. Even as the Sun by the warm beams of it cheereth and refresheth the herbes and plants, making them lift up the head which drooped before. Even thus doth this Sun of righteousnes arise with healing in his wings. Mal. 4. 2. Comforting the hearts of his people, chearing up their drooping and dejected spirits, comforting them. I, even I am he that comforteth you (saith the Lord Christ to his people,) Isai. 51. 1. This is the proper office of Iesus Christ, as the same Prophet sets it forth, Isai. 91. 1. 2. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, and hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meeke. He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to comfort all that mourn: To appoint unto them that mourn in Sion, to give unto them beauty for asshes, and the oyle of joy for mourning, & the garment of gladness for the spirit of heavines.] Even as the Sun arising upon the earth putteth a new garment upon it, p. 19instead of that sable mantle of darkness wherewith it was covered, it put on it a robe of …ight, and so alters the habit of it, making all things chearfull and comfortable. So doth Iesus Christ coming to a dejected soule, he causeth light to shine forth into it, even the light of spirituall joy and comfort, so changing and altering the state of it. Which also he doth by his spirit. Even as the sun whilst the body of it is in heaven, yet by sending downe its beames, it cheareth and comforteth those creatures which are here below. Thus doth the Lord Iesus, though he be in person in heaven, yet by sending his spirit he comforteth the hearts of his people. That is the Promise which he maketh unto his Apostles, when he was to take his leave of them as to his bodily presence, yet he would not leave them comfortles. Ioh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you;] viz. by his spirit. Even as the Sun though at a vast distance from the earth, yet daily cometh to it, & vi…iteth it, by sending down his beams upon it. Thus …he Lord Iesus, though keeping his residence in heaven, yet he cometh to his people upon earth by sending his Spirit to them, which is their Comforter. When the Comforter is come, whom I wil send unto you, even the spirit of truth, &c. Ioh. 15. 26.

4. Againe,Making fruitful. Thus chearing the hearts of his people, he also maketh them to fructifie. So doth the Sun to the earth, to trees and plants, by …hining upon them, it maketh them beare fruit, which otherwise, standing in the shade would be p. 20barren. What ever fruites the earth bringeth forth it may thanke the Sun for it. And thus the Lord Iesus by sending his spirit into the hearts of his people, he maketh them fruitful, who otherwise without him would be barren, as he himself setteth it forth fully Ioh. 15. 4, &c. By this meanes they who of themselves are not sufficient so much, as to thinke a good thought (as the Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 3. 9.) come to abound in good workes, and to be filled with the fruites of righteousness, which are by Iesus Christ to the Praise and Glory of God (as the same Apostle prayeth for his Philippians, Phil. 1. 11. Which fruits are the fruites of the spirit, so called, Gal. 5. 22.

5. To which I might yet add;Purifying. As he causeth them to fructifie, so also he purifieth them. Thi… doth the Sun, rising upon the earth, it clarifieth & purifieth the ayre, freeing it from those annoyances which in the night season had fallen upon it▪ And this doth the Lord Iesus, rising upon the heart of his people by his spirit he purifieth them▪ Thence compared to a refiners fire, Mat. 3. 2, 3. But I shall not give way to further inlargments.

Thus you see how Iesus Christ is as the Sun to his Church, performing the like office to his people that the Sun doth to the world. I might yet goe on and shew you how he is and will be as the Sun to all others, even to his Enemies, and that whether open or secret, Christ as the Sun to his Enemies, how?For his secret Enemies, Hypocrites, he shall discover them. Even as the Sun rising upon the earth it maketh a discoverie of what lay hid before. Thus shall p. 21the Lord Iesus, when he shall arise upon the earth, as he shall doe at his second coming, hee shall then make a discoverie of all men, of their Persons, Actions, Counsels; though now never so secret. So the Apostle layeth it down, 1. Cor. 4 5. Iudg nothing before the time, untill the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsells of the hearts. And both secret and open Enemies he shall then confound; who shall not be able to looke him in the face at the last day, when he shall (appeare in his glory, no more then a bleare eye can indure to looke upon the Sun shining in his strength. But then shall they flye from his presence. Even as the Psalmist saith of those beasts of prey. Psal. 104. 20, 21, 22. Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forrest doe creepe forth, The young lyons roare after their prey, &c. But the Sun arising they gather themselves together, and laye them downe in their dens. Thus shall it be with the Enemies of Christ and his Church. During the night of the Churches afflictions, they forage and make prey of the poore Lambs of Christ, exercising all kind of savage crueltie upon the Saints of God. But when this Sun shall arise upon the Earth, as one day it shall, the Lord Iesus appeare in his glory, then they will flye from his presence, running to their dens. So we have it described and set forth Rev. 6, 15, 16. Where our Apostle speaking of the manner of Christs coming, his coming to judgement at the last day p. 22(as it is commonly looked upon,) at this day (saith he) The Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the cheif Captaines (those who had before been the most robustious, and daring enemies of the Church,) they shall then hide themselues in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountaines; saying to the rocks and to the mountaines, fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lambe. So terrible shall the face of Iesus Christ be …o his Enemies when they shal see him; As see him they shall; Every eye shall see him (saith the seventh verse of this Chapter.) And see his face, and that as Saint Iohn here doth, shining as the Sun. And how terrible will this face be then to all those, who have formerly done that metaphorically, which some of the Iewes did literally, Math. 26▪ 67. Spit upon it. But I hold back.

Thus have I done with the first of these particulars. I shall be more brief in explicating the two other, & so put altogether in a joynt Application.

The face of this Son of man was as the Sun, and as the Sun, shining.]Branch 2. The face of Christ as the Sun shining. So doth not the Sun alwayes. Though it be above the Horizon, yet it doth not alwayes shine forth; being sometimes veiled with a cloud, or eclipsed by the interposure of the Moon. And such was the estate of this Son of man, Iesus Christ, here upon earth. He was then a Sun. To you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, (saith the Prophet speaking of the coming of p. 23Christ in the flesh,Christ upon earth like the Sun under a cloud. Mal. 4. 2.). But he was then under a cloud; the glory of his Divinity being hid under the veil of his Humanity, under a mean outside. Insomuch that they who then looked upon him, saw nothing extraordinary in him. He hath no form nor comliness, and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.] So the Prophet sets forth the state and condition of this Son of man upon the earth, Isaiah 53. 2. which was so mean and despicable, as that there was nothing sightly, much less glorious to be seen in him.

Such it was in his life, In his death Eclipsed.much more in his death. Then was this Sun under a sad and almost total Eclipse. Then was this Son of man no other, but a ruful spectacle of deformity and misery. His face, his countenance, was then marred. So the same Prophet in the Chapter foregoing expresseth the sadness of his condition. Many were astonished at him (saith he speaking of Christ) his visage was so marred more then any man, and his form more then the sons of men, Isaiah 52, 14. So was it with him in his Passion; wherein the person of Christ was subjected to the greatest indignity that could be cast upon it. His face was then far from shining.

But now, behold, this Sun is broke forth. Christ being risen from the dead,In his Resurrection breaking forth. and ascended into heaven, now his face shineth. So it did in his Transfiguration upon the Mount, Matth. 17. 2. His face did shine as the Sun. A preludium of that Glory, which he was to enter into after his p. 24Passion was over. Of which he tels those Disciples travelling to Emmaus, Luke 24. 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory. And what he therefore telleth them was to be done; here he sheweth unto his servant Iohn that it was done; making him an eye-witness of it, shewing him his face, which was as the Sun shining.

Such was the change of his condition. In his state of Humiliation mean, and despicable, none more; in his state of Exaltation, glorious, none so much. His Humanity, his flesh being cloathed with a singular and admirable clarity and brightness, so burnished that it shines like the Sun.

And herein shall the members be made conformable to the head. Herein the members conformable to their head.Whatever the state and condition of Gods Saints here be, though never so mean and inglorious, yet hereafter shall they be glorious creatures, shining, yea shining as the Sun. So our Saviour himself expresseth it, Matth. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father. Being exceeding glorious. And that even in their Bodies, which shall have a singular clarity and lustre put upon them, being made glorious bodies. It is sowen in dishonour, it is raised in glory, (saith the Apostle of the Bodies of Gods Saints,) 1 Cor. 15. 43. who shall change our vile bodie, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3. last.

p. 25Quest. But what then,Partaking of the same glory for kind, though not degree. shall their glory equal the glory of Christ?

Answ. Not so. Head and members shall both be glorious; Christ and his Saints shall both be made partakers of the same glory, the same for kind, but in a different degree. So much we may learn from the third Particular, which informs us that the face of the Sun of man shined as the Sun, yea,

As the Sun shineth in his strength.] Branch 3.foreign, In vigore suo, as the Sun at noon day, The face of Christ, as the Sun shining in his strength.or in the height of Summer, when it is in his greatest vigour and strength. Such a difference here is betwixt the head aud members of the mystical body.The glory of Christ transcendent. The Saints they shall shine, yea shine gloriously, shine as the Sun, Etiam justi fulgebunt sicut sol in regno patris; Christi verò corpus fulget, ut Sol in vigore suo; quo excellentia capitis prae membris significatur. Pareus ad Text.but not so as Iesus Christ doth; he shineth as the Sun in his strength. Such is the transcendent glory and excellency of the Head above the members (as Pareus observes it from this word in the Text.) He being (as before I said) the Head of the Church, and the first-born, it is meet that he should have a double portion, as he had of grace, so of glory, having the preeminence in all things. Here is his Personal property.

Besides which we may yet conceive some other operations of his hereby insinuated.His efficacious operations. I shall touch upon two or three, and that briefly.

p. 261. The Sun in his strength dissipates and dispels all mists and fogs, Dissipating and dispelling, fogs and mists of Heresies and Errors.which were before upon the earth, hiding the face of it. And so will the Lord Iesus, this Sun of righteousness, when he shall shew himself in his strength, he shall dissipate and dispel all those mists and fogs of Heresies and Errours, which do infect the Church▪ and darken the truth of God. So the Apostle tells us concerning Anti-Christianisme, in that known Text, 2 Thes. 2. 8. Where speaking of that Mystery of Iniquity, which began to work (as he saith) in his time, there being then some Errours and Superstitious doctrines held forth▪ which served as materials for the building of mystical Babel, he saith, Then shall that wicked one (meaning that man of sin, the Romish Anti-Christ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall answer with the spirit (or breath) of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.] He shall consume him, foreign, wasting him by little and little, till he come to nothing, (as that word doth properly signifie.) Thus doth the Sun, arising on the earth, by little and little it consumes and wasts the fogs and mists which were upon it, till at length they disappear, and come to nothing. And thus shall the Lord Iesus do to that man of sin, and all those Antichristian mists which have in so great a measure overspread the face of the Church, he shall consume them by little and little, by the preaching of his Gospel, till at length by the brightness of his coming, foreign, p. 27a powerful manifestation of his presence, he shall utterly destroy both him and them, foreign, abolish, and bring them to nothing, (as that word signifieth.) And so shall it be with all other erroneous doctrines It may be for a time they overspread the face of the Church, and darken the truth of God, but in his time the Lord Iesus shall dissipate them all, being unto his Church as the Sun shining in his strength.

2. Again the Sun shining in his strength resolveth and melteth what was before congealed and frozen. Melting frozen and congealed hearts.The Summers Sun resolves the Winters Frosts, loosing those bands of Orion, wherewith the Earth and Waters before were bound. And such operation hath the Lord Iesus upon the hearts of poor sinners. Though frozen (as it were) and congealed in sin, yet he arising, and coming upon them by the powerfull work of his Spirit, he thaweth, melteth, resolveth them, bringing them into a relenting temper. Such operation had the eye of Christ upon the heart of Peter. After he had denied his Master, and was grown stiff in his denial, standing to it, though pressed again and again (like the water, which being hard frozen, bears whoever treads upon it) adding Abjuration to his Abnegation, forswearing to his denying, yet no sooner doth his Master turn and look upon him, but presently his heart forgave. So Saint Luke expresly notes it, Luke 22. 61. 62. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, &c. (looked upon him foreign, with a benigne p. 28aspect, a gracious eye, even as the Sun looketh upon the frozen earth) and Peter went out and wept bitterly. Such a suddain thaw, there was upon the appearing of this Sun, his heart melted. And so did the heart of that Mary, whom the same Evangelist denominates a sinner, Luke 7. 37. a sinner foreign, a notorious lewd woman, a trumpet; upon her appearing and coming nigh unto Christ, vertue also going out of him (as it did for the healing of the Bodies of those that touched him, Lu. 6. 19.) her heart also melted, melted into tears, wherwith she washed her Saviours feet. Such operation hath the spirit of Christ upon the most obdurate and obstinate sinners. Though before through long custome and continuance in sin their hearts were hardned, even frozen in their wickedness, yet he coming to them in the power and strength of his spirit, meleth and softneth them, making them pliable and tractable, fit and ready to receive the impressions of his grace; so setting them at liberty from those bonds of sin, wherein before they were bound. This is the proper office of Iesus Christ, as the Prophet sets it forth, Isaiah 61. 1. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, &c. he hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to set them free both from the Guilt and Power of sin, which he doth by the Application of his Merit, and the communication of his Sp…rit unto them.

p. 293. Againe,Warning and heating them with joy, love, zeal. the Sun in his strength, not only looseth & softeneth the earth, but also warms it, heats it, whereby it cometh to steame upwards, exhaling and sending forth a warm vapour out of the bottom of it towards the Sun from which it hath received that warmth. And the like operation hath the Lord Iesus upon the hearts of his people, shining upon them, giving them some cleare and comfortable euidences of his love and favour, some sence and feeling of it, there with he Warmeth their hearts. So it was with those Disciples forenamed, whome our Saviour fell with as they were going to E…maus, while he talked with them opening to them the Scriptures, their hearts (as they say) burned within them. They felt a holy fervour in their spirits, kindled there, by that Spirit of Christ which accompanied his word. And such effect hath the Spirit of Christ, where he is pleased gratiously to communicate himself to the souls of his people, he causeth a holy fervour in thier hearts; Warming them with inward Ioy; which is the immediate fruit and effect of the face of Iesus Christ shining upon the soule. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, (saith the Psalmist,) adding, Thou hast put gladness in my heart more then in the time that their corne, and their mine increased. Psal. 4, 6, 7. No warmth so kindly as the warmth of the Sun. No joy like that which is caused by the light of Gods countenance, the shining of the face of Iesus Christ upon the soul. And breeding Joy, it also produceth Love p. 30and Zeale. Love to Christ; Zeale for Christ. The aforesaid Mary, having had experience of the great love of Christ in forgiving her so many and great sins, she returns an answerable affection, she loved much, Luk. 7, 47. And Paul after he had seene that great light shining round about him from heaven, and heard the Lord Iesus speake unto him, how Zealous was he ever after for Christ? Not more Zealous against him before, then now for him. Now he calleth out, Lord what wilt thou have me to doe? Act. 9, 3, 6. And not only do, but suffer. I am readie not only to be bound, but to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus, Act. 21, 13. Thus doth this Sun shining upon the heart in its strength, it draweth up ardent Affections towards it self.

I might go on,Drying up sinful corruption. and yet instance in some other particulars, wherein the Lord Iesus is like the Sun in his strength; As viz. In drying up of sinful Corruption, and inordinate lusts in the soule, even as the Sun in the Summer season dryeth up those waters wherewith the face of the earth, was before surcharged to the prejudice of it. And so in diverse other. But I shall harken to the Counsell which Aretius, writing upon the Text, giving to those that handle it; which is, that whilst they prosecute this Allegorie betwixt Christ and the Sun, wherin he acknowledgeth there are many very apt resemblances to be found, yet, ne modum excedant, they take heed of following it too far, so as to extort that from it which it will not naturally yield. Taking this advice, I shall pass to Application.

p. 31That consisteth of many Branches; Applic. Seek we the face of Jesus Christ.but I shall graft them upon one stock, reducing all to one head, which shall be onelyonly to exhort and excite every of us to seeke the face of this Son of man; Seeke the face of Iesus Christ. This is that which the Lord calleth upon his people to doe in that foresaid Text, Psal. 27, 8. Seeke ye my face. And wherefore was it that this Son of man here shewed his face in this glorious manner in the midest of the Churches, but that they should be invited to seek his face. And this doe wee. Having heard how glorious this face of Iesus Christ is, let all of us seeke it. This is the Psalmists resolve there, in the Text last named; Hearing what God sayed unto him, and other beleevers, Seeke ye my face, his heart ecchoeth backe againe, Thy face O Lord I will seeke. And let there be the like mind in every of us. Hearing how Christ shewed his face here unto his servant Iohn in the midest of the Churches, seeke we this face of his.

Q. How seeke it?Quest. How seek it? A. Take the Answere in two words Seeke it that we may See it; and seeke it that we may feele it.

1. That we may See it. Answ. That we may see it.A sight worth the seeing. His face was as the Sun, (saith the Text) Now what more desirable sight then this. Truely the light is sweet (saith the Preacher) and a pleasant thing it is to behold the Sun. Eccles. 11. 7 How pleasant to beholde this Sun, the Sun of righteousness. It is so to the Saints in heaven who behold this Sun shining in his strength, see p. 32Iesus Christ, as he is in the fulness of his glory, they are never wearie of beholding him. That we may also in due season be made partakers of that beatificall vision, to see Christ in his Kingdom of glory, seeke we his face now in his Kingdom of grace, that we may see it. This was that which some were so desirous to see when he was upon earth, to see the face of Christ; though then to the bodily eye it was scarce worth the seing, there being no beautie in him that he should be desired (as the Prophet hath it.) Yet Zacheus gets up into a tree to see him as he passed by Luk. 19. 3. And this is the request which those Greekes which came to worship in the Temple, made unto Philip, Sir, we would see Iesus, Ioh. 12. 21. What they desired to see with the bodily eye, every of us labour to see with the eye of our soules.

This is the vision which maketh the eye of the beholder happie and blessed.The Beatifical vision upon earth. Blessed are your eyes for they see (saith our Saviour to his Disciples) Math. 13. 16. And what did they see, that should make them so blessed? why, they sawe Christ in the flesh, But did not others so also? Yes, but not as they did. They saw him not onelyonly with their bodily eyes, (as the multitude did, many of which sawe him but beleeved not in him, as our Saviour tells some of them, Ioh. 6. 36. Yee also have seene me, and beleeve not; nay, multi viderunt & oderunt, many saw him and hated him,) but they sawe him also with the eye of their minde, they saw his inside, who he was, and what p. 33he was, they so saw him as that they beleeved on him; which is the true seeing of Christ. This is the will of him that sent mee, that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him, may have everlasting life (saith our Saviour) vers. 40. of the same Chapter. They sawe not only that meane out side of his, as others did, who were thereby prejudiced against him. Is not this the Carpenter? Mark. 6. 3. but they saw the glorie which was hid under that veile. The word was made flesh a…d dwelt amongst us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the onelyonly begotten sonne of the father, (saith Saint Iohn) Ioh. 1. 14. O that all our eyes may be blessed with this vision, with the beholding of the glory of Christ, that wee may see this face of his, shining as the Sun! That so we may give unto him the glory of those Personall Properties, wherein hee resembles the Sun; the glory of his Sole Lordship and Mediatorship, by submitting to him and resting wholly upon him; the glory of his transcendent Dignitie, by adoring and Worshipping him; the glory of his Omnisciens, by indeavouring to approve our selves unto him, and that not onelyonly our actions, but our secretest Counsels and intentions;Quest. How Christ is to be seen upon earth. …he glory of his absolute Puritie, by striving to be like him, holy as he is holy.

Q. But where, or how shall wee thus see him?

A. Take the Answer,Answ. 1. Neg. Not by way of vision. first, Negatively. Do not looke to see him as Saint Iohn here did, by way of vision, immediate Revelation. Thus p. 34indeede Christ here shewed himselfe to this his servant, but this was an extraordinary favour, and so not to bee expected by us. Nay thus wee cannot see him, see his face. When Moses desired to see the glory of God Exod. 33. 18. The Lord returnes him answere verse. 20. Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see mee and liue. And our Apostle here, upon the sight of the face of this Son of man fell down as dead. Such is the glory of this face, that no mortall eye is capable of beholding it in an immediate way.

Q. How then?Answ. 2. Affirm. In the Glass of the Gospel. A. Take the Answere Affirmatively.

1. Would wee see the face of Christ, looke into the glass of the Gospel. Here may we behold it both safely, and clearly. So may we behold the Sun, which shining in his strength, (being excellens sensibile,) cannot be looked upon without indangering of the eye, yet in a glass we may see it, and that (as I said) both clearely, and safely. And thus behold we this Mysticall Sun, the face of Iesus Christ, in this glass, the glass of the Gospel. Here it was that Paul saith of himself, and other beleevers of his time, that they beheld this face. 2 Cor. 3. last. But we all with open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of the Lord. And what Glass was this? why, the glass of the Gospell; wherin Christians doe, or may behold the glory of God shining in the face of Iesus Christ, the glory of his mercy, Iustice, power, goodness, all manifested, in, by, and through p. 35Christ; And that with open face, far more clearly then the Iewes did under the Lawe, where this Mysterie of Christ was hid, under the veile of Types and figures, as the Arke was under its divers coverings. And in this Glass, behold we this Sun. Here behold we the Mysterie of Iesus Christ, as it is held forth unto us in the doctrine of the Gospel; which acquaints us with his one Person, two Natures, three Offices, His Incarnation, Conception, Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, sitting at the right hand of his father; As also with the many and great benefits which he hath obtained for us, as Redemtion, Iustification, Adoption, Sanctification, Glorification. And withall, shewing us the way and meanes whereby we may come to be made partakers of them; so setting before us the whole mysterie of Christ, which it doth most clearly and fully; Insomuch that there is not a line as I may say) in this face, which is not here drawn forth to the life. All of us then, if we would have a view of the face of this Son of man, looke into this Glass, studie the doctrine of the Gospell, the Hystorie, the mysterie of it.

2 Waite upon Christ in his ordinances. In his Ordinances.When the Parents of our Saviour had sought him three dayes, at length they found him in the Temple, Luk. 2. 46. And here, this Son of man sheweth his face in the midest of the Candlesticks. Would we see the face of Iesus Christ, seek him in his Ordinances, in his publike worship and service. Here is the face of Christ to be seene (as I shewed p. 36you.) Seeke his face, saith the Psalmist in that forecited Text Psal. 105. 4. Speaking of the Arke of the Covenant; where God manifested his presence. The like doth the Lord Iesus now in the midst of his Ordinances, his Word, his Sacraments. There doth Christ shew his face unto his people, communicating himselfe to them that seeke him, in a gratious manner. Here then seek we his face, and that (as the Psalmist there hath it,) Evermore. Being constant in this our attendance upon the Ordinances of Jesus Christ. That so we may see him; see him in his Sanctuary; as David saith he did. Psal. 63. 1, 2. O God, thou a…t my God, early will I seeke thee. My soule thirsteth for thee, &c. To see thy power and thy glorie, so as I have seene thee in the Sanctuarie. Here had David seene more of God, then elswhere; in his Sanctuary, in his Ordinances. And would we have a sight of Iesus Christ, so as to see his face, seeke it in his Sanctuarie, in his Ordinances. Where content not our selves to heare of him, but labour to see him with our owne eyes; Yea, to feele him.

2. That is the second Particular.Answ. 2. Seek the face of Christ that we may feel it. So seeke the face of Jesus Christ, that we may feele it, or feele of it. Not contenting our selves with a bare simple intuition, a mere speculative knowledg of Iesus Christ, but labour also for an Experimentall knowledg of him. This is that superexcellent knowledg which the Apostle speaketh of, Phil. 3. 8. I count all things loss, for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Iesus. Tò foreign, p. 37put for foreign, that knowledg of Christ which is most excellent. And what knowledg was that? why not meerly a Contemplative, but an Experimentall knowledg. So he explains himselfe in the tenth verse. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection. foreign, Not onelyonly to know by what power it was that Christ was raised from the dead (as Grotius there so dilately expounds it,) but to know it in an experimentall way, to feele the power and vertue of Christs Resurrection, working the like effect in and upon himselfe, in raising up him from the death of sin to the life of Grace here, and Glory hereafter. This is the Excellent knowledg of Iesus Christ. And this let every of us looke after. Not contenting our selves with the bare beholding of this Sun, to see the glare and shine of it; but labour to feele that foreign, that strength, that vertue wherewith it shineth. To finde and feele Iesus Christ unto us, unto our soules, as the Sun is to the Earth. To finde and feele his gratious and efficacious presence with us, putting forth his power and vertue in us,The operations of Christ to be felt in the soul. exercising the like Operations upon us, that the Sun doth upon the Earth. What those operations are, I have alreadie showen you. Let me now reflect upon them, minding you of them againe, Exhorting you to endeavour to find and feele every of them in and upon your own soules.

1. The first is Illummination, Illumination.Inlightning. This was the Alpha, the first worke in the first p. 38Creation. God said let there be light, and there was light, Gen. 1. 3. And so it is in the second, the new Creation. New creatures must have a new light. Upon the account whereof they are called, foreign Sons or Children of light, Luk 16. 8. 1. Thes. 5. 5. Having beene somtimes darkness, now they are light in the Lord. Eph. 58. Being called out of darkness into a marveilous light. 1. Pet. 2. 9. And see that every of you be such. Being co…vinced what by nature you are, not onelyonly darke, but even darkeness it selfe, wholy in the darke as to what concerneth your eternall happiness, seeke after a new light, that you may be inlightned; that you may see a light shine forth unto you. This was the preparative to Peters inlargment [The Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison, Act. 12. 7. And so it was to Paules Conversion; [There shinned round about him a light from heaven. Act. 9. 3. And the like course God taketh with all those whom he hath a gratious purpose towards, to set them at libertie from the Captivity of Sin and Satan, and to bring them home unto himselfe, he causeth a light to shine forth unto them, a light from heaven. I meane a supernaturall light, revealing and making known to them that which is hid to nature; as viz. the Miserie of their naturall Condition, by reason of sin, and the punishment due thereunto, together with the meanes of deliverance by and through Jesus Christ; as also shewing them the way wherein they are to walke, so as they may please God. p. 39Now is it so that any of you are as yet strangers to this light, (which it is to be feared too many among us are, poore ignorant Creatures, whose soules are like dungeons, into which the Sun never yet looked, as darke as midnight, they know nothing of God, of Christ, of themselves, nothing of the mysterie of salvation,) be you awakened to looke up and to looke out for it. This is the watchword which the Apostle Saint Paul, (having received it from some of the prophets) the prophet Isaiah (as it is conceved) giveth to such as were in that dead sleep of sin, Eph. 5. 14. Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. foreign, he shall shine upon thee, inlighten thee. And let me hand it to every of you, who are thus asleepe. Awake you, and stand up from the dead that Christ may give you light. Be you awakened and roused out of that bed of sinfull securitie, wherein you have beene sleeping, and beeing convinced of your owne ignorance and blindness looke out for that light of knowledg, without which the heart cannot be good. That the soule be without knowledge, it is not good (saith the wiseman) Prov. 19. 2. Or (as the former Translation, not without the consent of the Originall readeth it,) without knowledg, the minde is not good. Of what use is a dungeon? fit for nothing but to make a prison of. And such is a soule without knowledg. And therefore in the fear of God now awake, open your eys. Behold, the Sun is up, the Sun of righteousness is risen, p. 40the Lord Jesus sheweth himselfe to you in the preaching of the Gospel; doe not now shut your eyes against the light. Men will not doe so by the light of the Sun. When that ariseth they will not shut their doores and windowes against it to keepe it out, but rather set them open to let it in, that they may receive the comfort and benefit of it. And so doe you by that light, the light of the Gospell, which now shineth forth to you. Let it not be said of you, what our Saviour chargeth upon the Jewes, Ioh. 3. 19. That Light is come into the world. and men loved darkness rather then light. This if you shall doe, it will be unto you, (as our Saviour there saith it was unto them,) a just Condemnation. This is the Condemnation.] Were it for heathens, who never heard of the name of Christ to be ignorant and blinde, as to what concerneth their eternal happines and salvation, this would be some extenuation, as of their sin, so of their punishment: But for Christians, such as are borne in times and places of light, having the Sun (as it were) standing over their heads, for them to love darkness rather then light, still to continue in their naturall blindnes and ignorance, so shutting out the light, they are here in foreign, self-condemned, and were there nothing else to be layed to their charg, this is to them a matter and ground of a just Condemnation. That it may not be so to any of you, be you perswaded to set open the doores and windowes of your soules, and to let in the beames of this Sun of righteousness into p. 41your hearts. Be you inlightened by the light of the Gospell, which as yet shineth forth unto you.

And being thus inlightened now reflect that light. Light received is to be reflected, how.So doe the Stars. Having received light from the Sun, they reflect it upon the earth. And the like doe you. Having received light from Iesus Christ, shew forth that light, and that by walking as children of light. That is the Apostles Exhortation to his Epehsians, Eph. 5. 8. Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord, walke as children of the light. And let it be mine to you, All of you to whome Christ hath beene as a Sun, inlightning of you, walke you as children of light. Hath Christ shined upon you, doe you shine. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (saith the Prophet to Ierusalem) Isai. 60. 1. And let me in his words (though happily in somewhat a different sense) speake unto you. Arise you, and shine, for the light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. The Lord Iesus, who is the true light, the Sun of righteousness, he is risen upon you in the preaching of the Gospel. And therefore doe you arise, and shine, shine as lights. That is Pauls Commendation of, or Exhortation to his Philippians (for it is read both ways) Phil. 2. 15. Ye doe shine, or shine ye, as lights in the world. And this be you also exhorted to doe. The night being spent, and the day come unto you, doe you cast off the workes of darkness, and put on the p. 42armour of light, (as the same Apostle exhorts his Romanes. Romans. 13. 12.) Those sinful ways and courses which heretofore you have walked in (which may fitly be tearmed workes of darkness, in as much as they both proceede from darkness, and tend to darkness; proceede from the darkness of ignorance, and tend to the darkness of Hell, whither they will bring them that go on in them) lay them a side, cast them away. Putting on the Armour of light, that bright shining Armour, Even the graces of the Spirit within, shining forth in an answerable Conversation without. Thus, Let your light shine before men, that they seeing your good workes, may glorifie your father which is in heaven, (as our Saviour presseth it, Math. 5. 16.) Here is the first of these Operations. Inlightning.

2. The second is Enliuening. Vivification.This also doth Iesus Christ (as I have shewen you.) Being like the Sun, the fountaine, as of Light, so of Life. In him was life. Ioh. 1. 4. As Naturall, so Supernaturall life, both Originally in him, as in the fountaine. Having then received the former, seeke also the later from him. That living the life of nature in him, (In him we live Act. 17. 28.) So we may live the life of grace by and through him: finding and feeling him living in us. Now I live (saith the Apostle) yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Gal. 2. 20. Thus the Sun liveth in the plant, vertually, by causing it to live. And O that Iesus Christ may thus live in every of us! by communicating unto us his quickning Spirit, p. 43whereby being raised from the grave of sin, we may live unto God; living the life of grace.

Which that we may be made partakers of, be we united unto him.No life from Christ without union with him. All Communion is from union. And such is the Communion which the members of the mysticall Body have with their Head, it floweth from that Union which they have with him. Being made one with him, they come to participate of what is in him. Now this Union is by and through faith. Hereby Christ cometh to dwell in the soule. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Eph. 3. 17. And dwelling there he communicates, and giveth forth this quickning spirit to beleevers, whereby they come to live. Thence saith the Apostle of his newe life; The life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, foreign for foreign, not onelyonly in the faith, that is, in the hope and assurance of obtaining eternall life which Christ hath promised (as Grotius expounds it) but by the faith, this being the instrumentall cause of that life which he then lived. Being by faith United unto Christ, he came to be made partaker of that new life, whereof Christ was the roote and spring, even the life of grace. And in this way seeke you this life. Being convinced that by nature you are dead, dead in trespasses and sins, and so unable to doe any thing as of your selves towards your quickning, come unto Iesus Christ that you may have life from him; never giving rest unto your soules untill you finde this p. 44newe life begun in them, that you can say with the Apostle. Now we live.

And having received a Principle of Spiritual life from Iesus Christ, Spiritual life, as begun, so maintained and increased by Jesus Christ.then looke unto him both for the preserving and increasing of it. Both these doth the Sun to the plant; having quickned the seede, it maintaineth that life, and increaseth it, untill it come to full maturitie and perfection. And for both these looke we unto this Sun of righteousness the Lord Iesus; that having received such a principle of Spiritual life from him, we may through the continued efflux of that Spirit of his, have that life preserved and maintained in us, which otherwise of it self is ready to dye. And not only maintained but increased. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (saith our Saviour speaking of his Elect, all true beleevers.) Ioh. 10. 10. that is, that that spiritual life, which they have received from me, may alwayes increase in them, untill it come to its perfection, till grace be swallowed up of glory. This benefit have beleevers by Christ. He being the Authour, he is also the finisher of their faith (as the Apostle describeth him. Heb. 12. 2.) And so of all other graces. And therefore looke we up unto him for this: every day (as it were) fetching new life from Iesus Christ. This doth the plant. Drooping in the evening, in the morning it receiveth a new life from the Sun, to which lifting up the head, it looketh. And thus, doe we feele any decaying or weakness of grace. p. 45looke we up unto the Lord Iesus, who is full of grace (as Saint Iohn saith of him Ioh. 1. 14. As full of grace as the Sun is of light. To him lift we up our heads, looking unto him by faith, that so of that his fulness we may receive grace for grace, (which the same Apostle there saith all true beleevers do, verse. 16.) One grace after another, and one degree of grace after another, until we shal have foreign, Graces answerable, and in some measure proportionable to those graces that are in Christ, and in the end for the grace of free Iustification receive the grace of Eternal Glorification (as that Text is by some expounded) Here is the second of these Operations.

3. The third is Chearing,Consolation. Refreshing. This operation hath the Sun upon hearbes and flowers. And the like hath Iesus Christ upon the hearts of his people. He is their Comforter. And here seeke we our Consolations. Not from Creatures; which what ever they be, are but like the Stars, which though they be many yet they give but a dim light. Such and no better is the Comfort which the Creatures are able to yield. Though a man be surrounded with never so great a conflvence of them, yet is it but a poore comfort which they are able to afford him. If the Sun be absent, it is night for all the Stars. True comfort not to be found in the creatures.And so is it with the soule; what ever other comforts it enjoyeth without Christ, it is but in a sad condition; And so it will be found, when God cometh to open the eye of it, so as p. 46to make a man truly apprehensive of it, Now, for all those sparkes, he seeth himselfe in the darke. And therefore thinke not to derive true comfort from them.

Nor yet from any thing in our selves, Nor in a mans self.our owne Righteousness, our owne graces or works, what ever we have done or can doe. The Lord speaking by the prophet Isaiah to the Jews concerning their false-confidences, Isai. 50. last. Behold (saith he) all ye that kindle a fire, that compass your selves about with sparkes, walke ye in the light of your fire, and in the sparkes that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lye downe in sorrow. They hearing the Iudgements of God denounced against them by the Prophets, comforted themselves with their vaine apprehensions that they should escape those evils by their own wit and policie, their Artes and Inventions. These were the sparkes which they compassed themselves about with; seeking comfort from them. Even as men in a cold wet winter season gather sticks, and make a fire of them to warme themselves with. But what saith the Lord? This shall ye have at my hand; ye shall lye down in sorrow. What ever they fondly flattered themselves with, they should find this in the end, that notwithstanding all those false fires, they should wander in the darke, meeting with nothing but perplexity and confusion in the end. And no better may they expect and looke for, who seeke for comfort from any thing in themselves, from their own good workes, workes p. 47of righteousness, or holiness which they have done, trusting in them and resting upon them, let them looke to lye down in sorrow in the end. They who shall make a fire of these sticks to warme themselves by, may well expect the like event to that which happened to Paul, from that fire which he, having gathered a bundle of sticks, made to warme himselfe withall after his shipwrack, out of which there came a Viper and seazed upon him. Act. 28. 3. Such will be the issue of those false confidences which men place in, and comfortes which they take up from their owne workes without Christ, they will prove dangerous, and if not shaken off, deadly to them.

And therefore renouncing our selves,All true comfort to be sought from Christ with all sublunary comfortes, as to any trust and confidence in them, seeke we the warmth of comfort from this Sun, from the face of Iesus Christ. Here is the fountaine of all true Consolation. If there be any consolation in Christ (saith Paul to his Philippians) Phil. 2. 1. Supposing that to be the choicest, cheefest consolation. And so it is. Even as the warmth of the Sun excelleth the warmth of what ever fire; which of what ever materials it be made, yet is it not so kindly, so chearly, so comfortable, as that warmth which cometh from the Sun. Nor yet is it so durable. The warmth which a man receiveth from the fire in the winter season it is presently gone, so as he returnes to his former temper againe, nay is the colder after it, and for it. Truly so is it p. 48with the Consolations of this world, they are fading, vanishing; though the heart may thereby be cheared for a time, yet they afterwards leave it sad, yea sadder then before, especially where there hath beene any inordinacie in the use of them. A truth which needeth no other proofe but the experience of those, who solace and drown themselves in carnall pleasures; when they have spent the day in them, their hearts are often sad and melancolie in the evening, the cause whereof is, because they finde themselves gulled and deceived by them, not meeting with what they expected, finding onelyonly a shadow, where they looked for a substance. But it is otherwise with the warmth of the Sun. That, as it is a kindly and comfortable, so it is a lasting and durable warmth. And such is that Consolation which a Christian hath in and from Iesus Christ. It is a sweete, a substantiall, a durable, lasting, everlasting, Consolation. That is Pauls Epithite, 2 Thes. 2. 16. foreign, Everlasting Consolation! O let every of us seeke after this Consolation; that we may but see the face of Iesus Christ shining upon us through the promises of the Gospell, so as we may have assurance of our interest in him, and his love to us, being able upon good grounds to say with the blessed Apostle, that, We live by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved us, and given himself for us. Gal. 2. 20. this will be to us a spring of Consolation, a comfort both in life and death. I pass to the fourth and fifth particulars, of which breifly.

p. 494. The Sun maketh plants and trees to fructifie. Fructification.And this benefit also seeke we from this Sun, the Lord Iesus; that by and through his spirit we may be made fruitfull in every good worke (as the Apostle prayeth for his Colossians. Col. 1. 10.) This it is to walk worthy of the Lord (as he there speaketh.) And hereby shall we evidence our union with Christ, and interest in him; our being in him, and his being in us. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit (saith our Saviour) Ioh. 15. 5. This God expecteth at the hands of all those upon whome the name of Christ is called; specially from those (to whom Christ is more clearly revealed, upon whome his face shineth in the preaching of the Gospel.) And that is our condition. This Sun standeth over our heads. See that our fructification be in some measure answerable to the meanes injoyed.

5. Againe,Purification. the Sun (as you have heard) purifieth the Ayre. O that we may all of us finde and feele the like efficatious operation of this Sun of righteousness the Lord Iesus upon all our souls! That his Spirit may be to us a purifing; Sanctifing spirit; purging and purifing our hearts from these sinfull and inordinate lusts, …mpure and corrupt affections, which doe in any kind… anoy them. This is the proper worke of …he spirit of Iesus Christ, which being a pure and holy spirit, maketh the soule where it cometh a … lodging for it selfe, by clensing and purifing … (in measure) from all spirituall anoyances. p. 50O that we may all of us finde this blessed Operation! That we may feele Jesus Christ thus coming to us by water. Which he doth wherever he cometh by blood. This is he that cometh by water and blood (saith Saint Iohn) 1. Ioh. 5. 6. washing away the filth of sin by his Spirit, where he taketh away the guilt of it by his blood. Every of us who would be assured of the one, labour to finde and feele the other.

Thus seeke we the face of Iesus Christ, Christ to be felt, as the Sun in his strength.that we may not onelyonly see him, but feele him; feele him to us as the Sun, as the Sun shining, yea (which is yet behind) as the Sun shining in his strength. Exercising those other Powerfull Operations upon us. Of which breifly.

1. Dissipating and dispelling of what ever mists of Ignorance,Dispelling mists of ignorance infidelity. or Infidelitie, or inordinate feares which lye upon our soules. Such mists the best of Gods Saints are here subject to. Being somtimes exercised with feares and doubtings, touching their spiritual and eternall condition. Such a conflict we finde the holy Psalmist (David or Asaph, uncertaine whether) under; Psal. 77. Where we may hear him sadly complaining of Gods casting him off verse 7. and of the failing of his promise verse. 8. of his forgeting to be gratious unto him, and shutting up his tender mercies in anger against him verse 9. And Heman the like, Psal. 88. 14. Where we may heare him after the like manner expostulating the matter with God, Lord, why castest thou off my soule? why hidest thou thy face from me? p. 51A good man under a sad desertion. And such temptations are the dearest of Gods Saints subject to, which lye as mists upon their soules, clouding and darkning of them, bringing them into, and holding them in a disconsolate condition. Now for the dissipating and dispelling of these, look we up unto Jesus Christ by faith, earnestly begging that he would shew us his face, causing it to shine forth to us as the Sun in its strength; clearing up unto us the evidences of his love and favour towards us, Confirming in us our faith. This is the boon which the father of that Demoniack beggeth from our Saviour Mark. 9. 24, Lord I beleeve, helpe mine unbeleife. And the Disciples put up the like request, Luk. 17. 5. Lord increase our faith. And thus feeling the infirmitie and weakness of that grace in our selves, seeke we the Confirmation and Augmentation of it from Iesus Christ, that by the cleare revealing and manifesting himself to us he would dispell all mists of Infidelitie.

Secondly.Thawing and melting of the heart. Thawing and melting our frozen hearts, not suffering them to lye under any sinfull obduracie, but bringing them to, and keepe them in a melting, relenting frame and temper; making them truly tender (as Iosia's heart is sayed to be 2 Chro. 34. 27.) So as they may alwayes be ready and willing to yield to what ever impressions the Spirit by the word shall make upon them.

Thirdly.Warming and heating it. And lastly, warming and heating of them with the sense and apprehention of his love, p. 52so as (with Mary) we may feele our spirits rejoycing in God our Saviour; joying in him in all estates and conditions; doing what the prophet Habakkuk resolves upon, Hab. 3. 17, 18. Although the figtree shall not blossome, neither shall fruit be in the vines, &c. Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. In all conditions, when all other comforts faile, yet there is matter enough of Ioy in the Lord Christ; as when the Candles are all blowne out there is light enough in the Sun: Rejoice we in him. Seeking how to make answerable returnes unto him. Answering his love with love, loving him above all; which who so doth not, Saint Paul hath denounced an Anathema Maranatha upon him, If any man love not the Lord Iesus let him be had in execration even unto the death. 1 Cor. 16. 22. And loving him, be Zealous for him. Zealous for his truth, Zealous for his worship and service, Zealous for his honour and glory. Thus labour we to find and feel these and the like, efficatious and powerfull operations of this Sun of Righteousness.The appearing of Christ not to be feared by those who have felt these his powerful operations.

Which whilst we doe, now feare not the rising of this Sun, the coming and appearing of the Lord Iesus at the last day. Which indeede unto all his enemies (as I shewed you,) both open and secret, shall be a terrible appearing, in so much as they shall not be able to abide it. So saith the prophet Malachie concerning his first coming, Mal. 3. 2. Who may abide the day of his coming?Which to others will be terrible. and who shall stand when he appeareth? Such was p. 53the day of his first coming, his coming in the flesh, a dreadfull day to obstinate and obdurate sinners, for whome it had been better he had never come. How much more the day of his second coming, his second appearing, when he shall come like the Sun in his strength, in the glory of his power and Majesty; come purposely to render vengeance to them that would not knowe and acknowledg him, nor obey his Gospell. Then shall all the kindreds of the earth wail because of him (as you have it verse. 7. of this Chapter. Rev. 1.) Then shall the sinners in Sion be afraid, fearefullness shall surprize the Hypocrites (as the prophet speakes) Isaiah 33. 14. And why? Because then they shall be discovered. That shall be a day of Revelation, when God shall bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts of men (as the Apostle hath it, 1. Cor. 4. 5.) Then shall all masks and vizardes be pulled off. And then shall they, who have here stood out against the Government of Jesus Christ, would not stoope to his scepter, to be guided by his word, they shall be dragged before his dreadful tribunall,Christs second coming to believers a joyful day. brought to appeare before the Iudgment seat of Christ, that they may receive the things done in the body (as the same Apostle tels them 2 Cor. 5. 10. So terrible shall that his second appearing be to all his Enemies. But to others, who have here owned him in the Relations of a Saviour and Lord, it shall be a joyfull day. Such was his first coming to these that beleeved on p. 54him. So it was to Abraham, who onelyonly sawe it afar off, by faith in the promise; your father Abraham rejoyced to see my day, (so our Saviour tels the Jewes) Ioh. 8. 56. And so it was to Iohn the Baptist, who being then in his mothers womb yet leaps for joy at the salvation of Marie, Luk. 1. 41, 44. by a secret sympathie exulting in the Incarnation of Christ. And the Angell bringing the tidings of the Nativity unto the shepherds, telleth them. Behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, Luk. 2. 10. The greatest Ioy that ever sounded in the eares of men or Angels. Such was his first coming to all beleevers. And such shall his second coming much more be unto them. When they shall see their King coming to them, not as he did to Ierusalem in that meane and despicable garbe, but in his glory, coming with clouds (as the seventh verse of this Chapter hath it,) sitting upon them as on a throne of glory, his face shining like the Sun in his strength, this shall be a joyfull and a happie day to them; all them, who having been in their measure made comformable to him here, shall then be transformed into his Image. When he shall appeare, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, 1 Ioh. 3. 2. Having beene like unto him in grace, we shall be like him in glory. When Christ who is our life shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4.

And so have I now done with this verse. Wherein we have met with three sacred Emblems, p. 55The, Mysticall Stars, Sword, Sun; the first in the Hand, the second in the Mouth, the third in the Face of this Son of man, the Lord Iesus; Each holding forth unto us many usefull truths and some of them verie seasonable for the present times. My prayer shall now be that they may be in like manner profitable to you, to whome they have beene delivered.

FINIS.