A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 1 · Chapter 10 · Part 3
Metaphors taken from Heaven.
COrporeal or Bodily Creatures, according to their Physical distinction are either simple, or mixt, and compounded. The simple are Heaven and the Elements, or the Ethereal and Elementary Region of the World.
Heaven properly signifies that outermost celestial body that incloses or compasses the Elements, and is the receptacle of the Stars and Constellations, Gen. 1.8, 14▪ &c. Gen. 15.5. Psal. 8.3. and 19.1.5. Esa. 14.13.
Also the Airy Region which is above us, and this either in conjunction with the Ethereal or Starry Heaven, Gen. 1.6, 7, 8, 9. (where by the mention of the waters being gathered together in one place under the Heavens, is intimated, that also, to be a Heaven, which is next and immediately above them, which is the lower Region of the Air) or separately from it, and so only the Air, Lev. 26.19. Deut. 28.23. 1 King. 8.35. 2 Chron. 7.13. Job 1.16. —2.12. Psal. 8▪8. Matth. 6.26. Luke 9.54. —12.56. But metaphorically Heaven is taken.
1. For Divine Glory, and infinite Majesty, which is called foreign, (phos aprositon) light inaccessible (or which none can approach to, 1 Tim. 6.16. By reason of similitude, from the greatness, splendor, beauty and elegancy of Heaven— to which we may refer the words of Bonaventure, Corpus quod est sursum, dicitur Caelum, &c. The Body which is above is called Heaven, because it is capacious,lib. sentent. dist. 2. n. 33. secret, and quiet; and because this threefold propriety is found in the celsitude of the Divinity, it is therefore called Heaven; it is capacious in the immensity of Power, secret in the depth of knowledge, and quiet in the tranquility of delight. This is superior to all Heavens, not by situation but dignity, and greater than every Heaven, not by extension, but from his own immensity, by which he is beyond all, but not excluded, &c.
So it is taken when God is said to dwell in Heaven, Psal. 2.4. 1 King. 8.39.43. &c. So Deut. 26.15. Look down from thy Holy Habitation from Heaven, and bless thy people, &c. So it is said of Christ that he came down from Heaven, John 3.13. —6.33, 50, 51. 1 Cor. 15.47. That is, he went forth from that inaccessible Light of Divine Majesty, and manifested himself in the Flesh. And the same Throne of Majesty is in the Heavens, Heb. 8.1. and 1.3. to which Christ (as God-man) in his state of exaltation went. See John 17.5. Heb. 7.26. Made higher then the Heavens, Eph. 4.10. Ascended up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all things. See Psal. 8.1, 2. and 108.5. &c. By which places, not so much the hight of the place, as the sublimity of the Divine Majesty is expressed.
2. Heaven is metaphorically taken for the spiritual Kingdom of God, and that state of happiness wherein he manifests and communicates himself to Angels and Men— And that is,
(1.) Of Grace, viz. The gathering and gracious Government of the Church Militant in this Life, to which belongs the appellation of the Kingdom of Heaven oftentimes attributed to the Church, Matth. 13.11, 24, 31, 33. and 20.1. and 22.1. &c. So when it is said to plant a Heaven, Esa. 51.16. and to create a New Heaven, Esa. 65.17. By which phrases the Restauration of the Church by Christ is noted, which is begun in this Life, and compleated in Eternity, 2. Pet. 3.13. The Reason of the Comparison is, because as the natural Heaven is very far distant from the Earth, so the ways of God in ruling his Church, and giving blessedness to believers do exceedingly surpass the manner of Earthly Administrations, Esa. 55.9. And as in the natural Heaven all things are in the exactest order, full of Light and radiance: So God in his Church, is the God of order and peace, 1 Cor. 14.33. Leading, Teaching, and saving his people by a most convenient order of mediums, and that by the Light of his saving Word.
(2.) Of Glory, viz. The Eternal and unspeakable felicity of Angels and Holy men, in the beholding and perfect fruition of the glorious God. To which belong those phrases, Matth. 18.10. Their Angels in Heaven behold the face of my Father— the speech is of the Angels appointed as keepers of the little ones— By which it appears that the Angels though acting on Earth for the good of Christians are nevertheless really in Heaven, that is, in a celestial state of blessedness, Matth. 6.20. Treasures are said to be laid up in Heaven, Luke 8.22. To have treasures in Heaven, Phil. 3.20. To have our Conversation in Heaven— By which phrases Faith and Christian Hope aspiring and tending to Eternal blessedness is to be understood. From this Heaven Satan is said to fall like Lightning, Luke 10.18. Satan (says) Illyricus) fell not from a place, but from his degrees of dignity— to wit from the favour of God and spiritual Blessedness, into the greatest wickedness, punishments and eternal and spiritual calamities. Of the scope of these words of Christ, Erasmus says thus— Jesus that he might fortifie their Mines, against that disease of vain glory, which even the Saints are sometimes tainted with, proposes the example of Lucifer to them, who for his pride was suddenly cast down from so great felicity — I saw (says he) Satan falling from Heaven like Lightning. His dignity in Heaven was very eminent, and yet for the swelling pride of his mind is flung from the highest (glory) to the lowest (wretchedness) how much more ought you to beware of pride who carry a mortal body about you, obnoxious to all perils. But others understand this of the power and efficacy of Christ, which by the Preaching of the Apostles he put forth, to which Satan against his Will was forced to give way, and was (as it were) cast down from the height of that power which he exercised over men.
In [Heaven,] we are also to consider the Ornaments of it, as the luminaries as they are called, Gen. 1.14. The Sun, Moon, and Stars which are the Organs of Light, —The Sun and Moon constantly shining do metaphorically denote eternal blessedness in Heaven. Thy Sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self— Esa. 60.20. the explication follows, For the Lord shall be thine Everlasting Lights, and the days of thy Mourning shall be ended. See Rev. 22.5. Such things as concern the state of the Church in this Life, and Heaven are mixt in this chapter of Esaiah, as an accurate inspection into it, will shew. The Chald. in Translating these words of the Sun and Moon, does (not unelegantly) expound them thy Kingdom shall no longer be abolished, nor thy Glory transferred. The Light of the Sun denotes prosperity, as shall be shewed hereafter; therefore on the contrary the setting or darkness of the Sun metaphorically denotes calamity, sorrow and misery, Jer. 15.9. Her Sun is gone down while it was yet day. Chald. their glory is translated in their Life time— that unexpected and most heavy calamities are treated of here, the foregoing and following verses shew. Amos 8.9. I will cause the Sun to go down at Noon, and I will darken the Earth in a clear day, that is, I will suddenly overwhelm you with heavy strokes and calamities. So Micah 3.6. Joel 2.10. and 3.4. Esa. 13.10. On the other side an Increase of the Sun and Moons Light, metaphorically signifies great spiritual happiness, Esa. 30.26. The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, &c. As if he had said, the help which I will afford you shall be so great and illustrious, that in that time the two luminaries of the World the Sun and Moon (as if they would congratulate the Deliverance of the People) will be more chearful and more shining then they were wont to be. Some refer this to an Hyperbole.
By the Name of [Stars] illustrious and principal men are understood, Dan. 8.10. And it (viz. that little horn by which Antiochus is understood) waxed great even to the Host of Heaven, and it cast down some of the Host and of the Stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. By the Host of Heaven the People of God or the Church sometimes circumscribed in Judea is understood; but by Stars, the Princes or chief men, who by their administration in the Church or Commonwealth were of more eminency then others, are noted, hence in ver. 24. it is so expounded, he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people— that is, he shall destroy the highest and the lowest. See 1 Macchab. 1.25.
2. By the Name of [Stars] the Teachers of the Word of God, and Church Rulers are figured, Rev. 1.15, 20. and 2.1. Which consideration fairly leads us to know.
A parallel between Stars and Ministers of the Gospel.(1.) Their Lord and Master, whose Countenance is said to shine as the Sun in its strength, Rev. 1.16.
1. As the Sun communicates his light to the Stars in Heaven: So Christ the Sun of Righteousness, Mal. 4.2. imparts the light of saving knowledge to his faithful Servants, 2 Cor. 4.6.
2. The Lord brings forth the Host of the Stars by number, and calleth them all by Names, Esa. 40.26. So Christ leads forth his Ministers in his Church as a sacred Host, against Satan and the World, and calleth them also by Name, Ps. 68.11.
(2.) Their Office: God placed the Stars in the Firmament, to enlighten the Earth, Gen. 1.17.
3. The light of Doctrine which the Ministers bring to the Church is from heaven, and taken out of the heavenly and divine Word alone, 2 Pet. 1.16.19. which is sweeter then honey to the souls of such as are taught of God, Psal. 19.10. Psal. 119▪103. but to others as Wormwood, Rev. 8.11. Because they tast nothing but bitterness and a denunciation of damnation in it.
4. A Star led the wise men to Christ, Matth. 2.9. —Ministers propose only that end in Preaching, 1 Cor. 2.2.
5. It is said that at the Commandment of the Holy One, Eccles. 43.10.they (viz. the Stars) will stand in their order, and never faint in their Watches— Of the Ministers of the Word it is said Heb. 13.17. That they watch for the Souls of men— Nor ought they to be discouraged in their Watches, nor faint because of the Worlds ingratitude, but both by doctrine and good example to keep the same order constantly, and so, they shall be quite different from these wandring Stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, Jude ver. 13. They are to take care that all things be done decently and in order in the Church, 1 Cor. 14.40.
6. It is said of the Stars that they fought from Heaven, against the Enemies of the People of God. Judge 5.20. So a most grievous fight against Devils is proposed to the Ministers of the word, Eph. 6.12. Let them look to it therefore, that they manage their warfare rightly, 2 Cor. 10.3, 4, 5. That they may be able to Glory in the Lord, for the heavenly reward that will follow, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8.
7. It is said of the Stars, that together with the Sun and Moon they divide between the day and between the night, and are for Signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years, Gen. 1.14. —So it is the duty of Gospel Ministers to divide between the day and night, light and darkness, that is, to inculcate and diligently shew the difference between good and evil, piety, and wickedness, Esa. 5.20. Jer. 15.19. Rom. 13.12, 13. 2 Cor. 6.14, 15. &c. Also to give signs and seasons, that is, to provide so as that the publick worship of God be kept up timely and seasonably, and in their Ministerial function to impart their gifts suitable to the wants of the flock in the respective seasons, that so there may be no disorder or confusion— to shew also days and nights, that is, to proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord, Esa. 61.2▪ and earnestly to inculcate the appointed day in which the Lord will Judge the World in Righteousness, Acts 17.31.
8. It is said of the Stars that they differ from one another in Glory— So there is a great diversity of the gifts of the spirit in the Ministers of the Word, 1 Cor. 12:4. &c.
9. All the Stars of light are commanded to praise God, Psal. 148.3. with Job 38.7. —So all the Ministers of the word, what measure of Grace soever they have received, or whatsoever gift they exercise in the Church, ought with ardency of spirit to praise the Lord, to serve him heartily, and without selfishness or envy to preserve mutual Peace and Concord among themselves, and their reward shall be certain if they behave themselves faithfully, and not only in this world, but also in Eternity.
10. Stars were seen by John worn in the Right hand of Christ, Rev. 1.20.—So let the faithful Labourers in the Gospel be certain of a most gracious protection by the omnipotent hand of Christ, Esa. 51.16. &c. and in the Life to come they that turn many unto Righteousness shall shine, as the Stars for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3.
So much for Ecclesiastical Stars; —The Stars being obscured, sometimes denote Calamity, Esa. 13.10. Ezek. 32.7. Joel 2.10. as was said before of the Sun and Moon.
The brightest Star that shines in our view is called in Greek foreign, (phosporos) in Latine Lucifer, both which words signifie a bringer of light, in Hebrew 'tis called foreign of the root foreign (halal) which signifies to shine; and is metaphorically translated to describe the unexpected ruine and overthrow of the King of Babylon, Esa. 14.12. How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer Son of the morning That Star is called Son of the Morning, because while it accompanies the morning it seems, as it were, to be born of it. Its course is perpetual and constant, so that it was not feared that it should fall from Heaven— And therefore to appearance it seemed impossible and incredible that so great a King, illustrious and splendid in power and Majesty beyond other Kings (as the Morning Star is before other Stars) should fall from his lofty and magnificent grandeur. Pope Gregory upon Ezekiel, and other School Doctors expound this of the Devils fall, because the Prince of Devils is called Lucifer— But this Epithet does not belong to that malignant spirit in this place, for God himself confirms our explication, ver. 4. saying, thou shalt take up this Parable, (Proverb, or Taunting speech for so the Hebrew is) against the King of Babylon, not against the Devil, &c. Where Christ our Saviour is called Lucifer, is expounded before in the chapter that treats of an Anthropopathy Besides the phrase foreign, (after proinos) stella matutina, the Morning Star is a symbol of the glorious light in Eternity, Rev. 2.28. See also Dan. 12.3. 1 Cor. 15.41, 42.