The Beauty and Order of Creation, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Meditations on the fourth Days Work.
SECT. 1.
FRom the Third▪ I come to the Fourth day, which we usually call Wednesday, which was the first day that had a Sun to give it light, to which were added the Moon to rule the N…gh…, and the Stars to attend her; which glorious work of a most glorious God should raise our thoughts to some holy meditation.
1. Now consider on this Day, how that as the Waters, which were before dispersed all abroad upon and about the Earth, were on the third Day gathered into one store-house, called Seas; so the light, which was before diffused, through the huge spaces of the Creation, was now (as it were) drawn together into one Body of the Sun, as a full and common treasury. Consider here, that the Lord, who is in himself infinitely more bright than the light it self, needed no light in respect of himself: and therefore it was for us, that he made the light: and we should bless him for it: so in regard of himself, he needed no word, nor revelations of heavenly mysteries, being infinite in all knowledge and wisdome; and therefore it was for us, that he gave his Word to be a Light, and caused by his Spirit the bright beams of holy truths to be cast abroad into the dark World: therefore we may conceive, how shamefull our sin and unthankfulness is, that we must be entreated to turn our eyes toward this light, and to come to Church to hear the Word, whereas (if need were) we should beg a place in the house of God upon our knees, rather than go without this light.
2. Consider, that although the Lord was pleased to give light to the World, yet there needed no Sun whereby to do it: witness the light of the three first Days, wherein no Sun shined: so when it pleased the Lord to give the light of Heavenly knowledge to his Church, yet he needed no Books, no written Word to do it by: witness those two thousand years, and more from the beginning of the World till Moses wrote the Holy Text, by inspiration of the Holy Ghost: and then consider, that as after the third Day, the Sun was made to give light to the World, which before was illightened without a Sun; so after many hundred years, the Lord placed the Books of Moses, and then other Holy Writings, as a Sun in the Firmament of his Church, to give light unto the same: And, as after the Sun was made, Men had no want of that light, which was given without a Sun in the former three Days: so you may consider, that now the Books of Scripture are written, and the light of Gods truth plentifully shining in them, there is no need of unwritten Traditions to give light unto us in any way or work of God: and therefore conclude, that the dotage of the Papists, in pleading for unwritten Traditions (now we have the written Word) is as gross, as if a M…n should complain for want of that wandering light of the three first days, now when …he ligh… is fully seated, and firmly fixed in the body of the Sun.
3. Consider, that as one Sun giveth light to the whole World: so one Word to the whole Church scattered throughout the World. And here see the absurdity of some unsound ones among us, who being more than half Papists, are not ashamed to condemn the study of those worthy writings of many forreign Divines, upon this poor pretence, because they lived in other Kingdomes and Common-wealths; and so their Doctrine doth not so well suit with our State and Kingdome. As if the same Sun could not serve all Nations with light; but that we must have one in England, and they another in France, &c. So if the Sun of holy truth do shine in the writings of these holy Men, why cannot we see and walk by this light, as well as out-landish Men?
4. Consider, that the light is still like it self; that light which was before the Sun, is of the same nature with that which now is in the Sun: so the truth and word of God is still the same, not contrary to it self. The light of holy truth, which was before the Word▪ written, and this which shineth in the holy Scriptures, is the same: and therefore the Papists, are yet more shameless, when under pretence of the unwritten Word, they thrust upon the Church such idle forgeries, as are contrary to the Word written, as if light could be contrary to light; or darkness might be called light. If the light of the written Word doth shew us, that marriage is honourable among all Men, and therefore not only among the Laity; then know it is no beam of this Heavenly light, which makes Men think they see much sin and shame in it, when it is used by the Ministers of the Word, but that it is even a dark vapour of the bottomless Pit; and so S. Paul saith, it is a Doctrine of Devils. If the Word written, by its light do shew the worship performed to Images to be gross, and shamefull Idolatry, then that Doctrine which commendeth this as a special point of devotion, and condemneth to the Fire those that refuse it, cannot be any beam of light issuing from the Word of God unwritten, but rather a dark shadow, caused by the Prince of darkness: so you may think of many other Popish fopperies. The Seas, the Trees, Grass, Herbs, &c. which were on the third Day, appeared to be of the same colour, by that light which then was, without a Sun, as th… did afterwards by the Sun-light: so those thin… which by the word written are now … to be white or black, lawfull o… …lawfull, did appear so also by the light o… …he Word, before it was written.
5. Consider also, that as the Lord could have given light without a Sun▪ and yet being pleased to make a Sun, doth also require, that we should see by this Sun: so the Lord, who could have given us knowledge without a word preached, and have taught us immediately by his spirit being pleased to set up the Ministry of the Word, and to teach us by it, doth req…ire that we should learn and profit by it. And therefore we must not think that we may neglect the Word▪ because God can teach us without it: we must be taught as God will teach us; and not as he can, but will not. God spake immediately to Saul from Heaven, condemning his cruelty against the Church; but yet sent him to a Man to learn what he should do. The Lord striketh down a sinner with the apprehension of his wrath for sin, but sendeth him to Men, even to the Preachers of his Word, to learn what he ought to do. And therefore they, who in regard of knowledge despise the preaching of the Word, and think it needless, may as well despise the Sun in regard of outward light for the eye of the Body, and think it may well be spared.
6. Again consider, that as the Sun in his circuit, passeth from East to West; so the light of the Word issuing by the special providence of God from the East, hath come toward the West. It is probably thought that Adam was created in the Eastern parts of the World, to whom the Word was at first delivered. However! it is certain, that Ierusalem is Eastward, whence the Law did issue, and the Gospel proceed unto these Western parts: and now toward the end of this great Day of the World, this light is bending towards those poor Western Barbarians of America.
7. Again▪ as the rising Sun is most looked at, being especially welcome after the dark Night, and not so much regarded at Noon, though then it shineth brighter: so the Word Preached is most affected ordinarily by a People at its first coming; but afterward… through their great corruption and unthankfulness, it seemeth stale unto them, although there be an encrease of gifts in the Preacher, and the truth shining brighter to them in his Ministery than at the first. If you finde this in your selves, let your hearts smite you for it, and be earnest with God to renew your affections to his Word, that you may gather an appeti…e by feeding upon this Heavenly Manna, and not like the carnal Israelites, begin to loath it, and to lust for grosser food, because this hath been so common. Consider, that as any Man well in his wits, accounteth it a blessing to have the Sun once in 24. hours, so should any one who is wise unto salvation, and taught of God, account it a blessing to have the word twice in a week, although it be the less regarded by earthly spirits, because it is ordinary.
8. Moreover, think with thy self, that as he that is stark blind cannot see the light when the Sun shineth most brightly: so he that is in natural blindness, cannot rightly see the divine vertue, and saving excellency of the Word; therefore call upon God with the Psalmist. Teach me O Lord, open mine eyes, &c. and make no great account of the judgment of such in spi…i…u…l things▪ who are worldly wise, or learned, but unsa…ctified: Think rather, that as no Spectacles can make that eye to see that is altog…ther blind▪ so no help of humane lea…ning, natural sharpness of wit, &c. can make that Man that is spiritually blind, rightly and savingly to discern spiritual things. If there be some light in the eye, tho…gh but dim, it may be helped and furthered by such outward means: so if there be some light of the enlightening sanctifying spirit▪ and …he mind, then th…se outward helps of secular Lea…ing, Arts, Tongues, natural quickness of wit, &c. may be of great and excellent use, and must not be despised.
9. Again consider, that as there is great difference in the cleerness of the light, between such a Day, when the Sun-beams are intercepted by a thick Mist or dark Cloud, and then when it shineth brightly through a cleer Ayr: so when the light of heavenly truths was dimmed by a thick mist of Iewish Ceremonies, when a Cloud was in the most Holy Place, even before the Oracle and Ark of Gods presence, when the Vail was whole, and not rent asunder, the means of grace were not so cleer, the mysteries of grace not so plainly unfolded by many degrees, as now since our Saviours coming, when there are no impediments; and this should stir thee up to thankfulness; every Sun-shiny day should make thee lift up a thankfull heart with feeling affections to the Father of lights for that cleer light of the Gospel which now shineth unto thee in the Church. And as there is a g…eat difference between the Sun in an Eclipse▪ and the Sun free from such Eclipse in his full glory; so shouldest thou think there is a great difference between the Gospel now cleerly preached since the reformation, and the Gospel much darkned by Popish mists, by humane Doctrines, yea Doctrines of Devils in the time of Popery. And when-ever thou seest the Sun Eclipsed, lament the miseries of those times: and when thou seest i… freed from the Eclipse again, bless God for the happiness o… these last hundred years. And as the Sun is not in a moment freed from the Eclipse, but by degrees; so was it in the reformation, by the Ministery of Walaus, and his followers, of W…ckliff and his fol…owers, then of Iohn Huss, of Hierom of Pragu…, of Luther, and Calvin, &c. And therefore think how vain the Popish objection is; Luther and Calvin did not agree, therefore both were Hereticks: the Sun was not so folly freed from its Eclipse, than in Lut…e… 's beginnings, as afterwards; and the difference was no more than between the Sun in some degree freed from the Eclipse, and the Sun more cleered and fre…d. Again consider, that the Sun is Eclipsed by the body of the Moon, coming between it and our sight: so the light of Gods Word is Eclpsed many times to many of us in particular, by reason of the World, and the things of the World, which are changeable like the Moon coming between it and our affections: so that our hear…s embracing & cl…aving to earthly things, have the Earth standing in their light, and Eclipsing he light of the Word. Therefore if you will see cleerly by the light of the Word, you must remove the World out of the way, put …he Earth out of your heart. And as Zacheus f…und himself too low, when he stood upon the ground, and therefore went up into a Tree, and stood above the Earth, that he might take a view of Christ: so that you may cleerly see Christ Jesus, you must not stand, much l…ss crawl and grovel upon the ground with an earthly heart, cleaving to the dust, and glewed to the Earth, but must get up above the Earth, in the height of an heavenly spirit, seeing the Earth below thee, and accounting it but as an heap of dung which thou treadest under thy feet; and refusest to lay in the bosome of thine affections, or to set it before the eye of thy Soul.
10. Consider, as the light of the Sun is offensive and displeasing to sore eyes, which rather delight in a dim Ayr, so consider that the reason, why the light of Gods Word preached, is so displeasing unto many, is because of the carnal distemper of their hearts, whereas to a sound heart it is most delightfull. And consider, though the light of the Sun be pleasing to a g…od eye, yet the sharpest sight may be dazeled by its brightness: so the light of heavenly mysteries in the Word: is of that surpassing excellency, as to overcome the cleerest apprehension of any sanctified Christ a….
11. Consider, as the light of the Sun is accompanied with a cherishing heat and warmth, whereby the Creatures on earth are refreshed, and made to grow; yea, whereby life is ingenerated and preserved: …o the light of the word is attended with a Divine operative warmth and vertue of the blessed spirit, whereby the new life is ingenerated and preserved in the hearts of the elect. Again, as the Sun by its coming in the Spring, renueth the face of the earth, and maketh such a difference in the world, as if it were a new world: so when the Gospel was preached abroad in in the world by the Apostles, it made a wonderfull alteration in the world, even as if it had been a new world: insomuch, that the heathens themselves, and enemies observed it, as Demetrius told his fellow smiths (speaking of Paul and his fellow Apostles) these be the men that have turned the world upside down. Ah wonderful change! when those idol Gods should be hated as wicked Devils, and lying spirits, which before were thought worthy of all reverence, when Demetrius his Diana shall be set at nought▪ and his wa… out of request, which before were so highly set by: when the name of one God shall be glorified throughout the world, whereas before many Gods were worshipped even in all parts of the world.
12. When the Sun is up men do both arise and perform the business and works of the day: so when the gospel is preached, as it hath been with us a long time, we must think it time to rouze up our selves from the beds of security, and awake by repentance out of the sleep of sin and impenitency, and to being forth fruits answerable to the gospel, and the means of grace. Consider how unseemly it is in this daytime to go naked without putting on Christ, to come abroad in the light with the loathsome rags of our natural pollutions, to be still in bed, to be busied in our night-works of darkness; to behave our selves no otherwise than those who never saw the light. Oh detest those courses of idleness, swearing, whoring and drunkeness, &c. as most unseemly in the day, most unfi… for the light; put away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.
13. Consider also, that as the Sun at the same time and in the same place hardeneth one thing, and softeneth another: so the word is a means to soften some hearts, and an occasion (though not a cause) of greater hardeness to others: as the Sun killed▪ some things by its scorching heat, and quickneth other things; so the word is to some the savour of life unto life, and to others the savour of death unto death. Many other meditations may you gather by comparing this excellent creature of God with that more excellent word of God.
SECT. 2.
NOw let us compare the Sun with Christ himself: he is called the Sun of Righteousness, of whom it was said, that he should arise with hea…ing in his wings, Malach. 4 2.
1. The coming of the Sun gladdeth the world: oh how joyfull was that news, when the Sun of righteousness was reported to be risen upon the earth, when the Angels said to the Shepherds; behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, Luk. 2.10. Oh how happy is the soul of a Christian, when after a night of natural blindness, after a stormy night of errours in the conscience, this blessed Sun riseth upon the soul, shineth upon the heart, dr…veth away clouds, darkeness, guilty fears, di…rustfull th…ughts!
2. As the Sun is sometimes hidden, so sometimes Christ doth withdraw the sence of his gracious presence from his beloved. The spouse in the song of songs sought long ere she could find him, when once he stepped aside. As the S…n returning maketh the earth which was benummed in winter, to spring and bring forth fruit again: so when Christ is effectually present and united to the soul, he causeth a spring of grace and fruits of the spirit to arise in that soul. Let the Meditation hereof move thee to lament thy barrenness, and cry with that blessed Martyr at the stake; Son of God shine upon me, shine upon my soul; heal it, quicken it, make it fruitfull to thy glory. It is an argument that they are far from Christ, who bring forth no fruits pleasing unto God, but yet remain in a carnal estate.
3. Consider also that those fruits are most sweet and pleasant commonly which grow toward the Sun-rising, and have the morning Sun to ripen and bring them to perfection: so the zeal and obedience of the Christians, who lived presently after our Saviours resurrection in the primitive Church, and in the times of the Apostles, was most excellent: and so the graces and obedience of such as remember their Creatour in the days of their youth, and consecrate the first f…uits of their time unto God, are exceeding pleasing and acceptable unto him.
4. When the Sun setteth at night, and leaveth us in the dark, we doubt not but that he will return again: so when Christ seemeth to withdraw himself from a faithful soul on which he hath cast the sweetest beams of comfort and refreshment: let such a one know for his comfort, that he will rise again: this night will not always last, though it be a long Winters night, a tedious time of desertion, yet a dawning; yea a perfect day will follow it, when the face of Christ shall shine again upon it. Again, as the Sun never so setteth, as not to shine at all, but when it setteth to one part of the world, it ariseth to another: so Christ never withdraweth his light from the whole world, but although he removeth from one nation, yet he shineth upon another; he hath a Church in all ages.
5. Again, as among those fruits which grow in the earth, such as grow most toward the Sun, are sweetest; such as are most in the shade, are sowrest: so among those Christians which are united unto Christ, those who have more free and constant communion with him, partaking most of his spirit, keeping more close to him than others, they bring forth most sweet and savoury fruits of obedience, their services have a more pleasing and heavenly relish of the spirit in them, than theirs; who though they partake of some life and warmth from Christ, yet have it in aless degree, and are less careful to remove such things out of the Sun as hide the face of Christ from them. Therefore this should move us to draw neer unto him, to dwell wi…h him, to walk i… the light of his countenance, then should we esteem his love to be better than life; so should we delight more in him, and both we and our services would be more pleasing to him. Ephesus was charged with the decay of first-love; surely this decay of heat had never been, but that she had withdrawn her self from the Sun; she did not keep so close to Christ as before: perha…s the world did get between Christ and her heart, and kept off the heat, and thereupon she cooled. And as you shall see some ag…d person, whose blood is cold, to stand in the Sun for warmth; so let us close with Christ Iesus, come home to h…m, that we may receive heat from him; and let us be more watchful that we step not aside from him in time to come.
6. As the Sun is able more effectually to thaw and melt the frozen ice, than many thousand men with axes and bettles: so the presence of Christ, and his love manifested to the soul, and shed into it, is more effectual in melting an hard frozen heart into sound godly sorrow, than a thousand threats or terrours of the law. Therefore let not an afflicted soul put back the hand of God tendering unto it the offers of grace in Christ-I…sus, because it is not yet sufficiently humbled; but so long as its conscience beareth witness, that it seeketh not mercy for a cloak of sin, but for a motive to obedience, let it with confidence apply the promises, knowing that the apprehension of the love of Christ shining upon the soul, is of all other the most ready and the most excellent means kindly and sweetly to melt and soft…n the heart, and to conform it to the will of God: this will make it yeeld, and fit it to receive any stamp of grace, that now it will be like wax before the fire, that will be moulded as it shall please the hand of God. Therefore do not stand back from Christ, because thou art sensible of too much hardeness in thy heart, but rather come to him; that this hardeness may be removed, and thy heart may melt at his love.
7. Let the glory and excellency of the Sun make thee to admire the infinite glory and excellency of its Maker: if the Sun cannot long be look…d on with a steady-eye, oh then how doth God dwell in that light which cannot be approached unto, who can stand before him? … Angels may well hide their faces at his presence; where then shall man appear in the rags of his pollutions? Oh learn to contemn all the glory of the earth in comparison of his infinite excellency, who made the Sun it self of nothing, which is more worth than the whole earth, and all its golden mines. Learn to humble thy self before him, whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun, who knoweth many more faults in us than we can see in our selves, be we never so watchful, who is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. Let it not seem incredible unto thee, that God should be every where present, and see all things in all places, seeing the Sun, which is one of his Creatures, and but apart of his fourth day's work, doth at once shine many hundred thousand miles, if you reckon how his light reacheth downward from heaven to earth, and that Northward, Southward, Eastward, Westward; yea from heaven to heaven: for, when it is on the other side of the earth, it shineth on the Moon on this side the earth, and causeth it to shine; yea it shineth upon every tree, upon every little grass, and doth (as it were) in its kind, look upon the smallest thing. Is it then to be doubted, that God, who can make a thousand Suns as excellent as this, with a word, should be in all places at once, and see all things at one view? Even reason may teach us, that it is more strange, that the Sun being a Creature, should shine so far, and on so many Creatures at once, than that the Infinite God should be thus every where present, and see all things. Yea, thou maist assure thy self, that as the Sun is not polluted with the loathsome puddles and dunghils on which it shineth; so neither is the Lord by filling all places, even there where are the greatest pollutions. He is no farther from happiness in Hell than in Heaven; for himself is Hi… perfection and excellency, from whom no degree of happiness can be taken.
8. Consider also the swiftness of the Sun, which is beyond the thought of man: wonderful is the work of God in this regard, if we consider what an huge compass the Earth hath, and then how the heavens are above the Earth, so that the Sun in twenty four houres doth not onelyonly go round about the Earth, but also round that huge compass between Heaven and Earth. I cannot conceive, but that it must needs go many hundred thousand miles in one hour. Now, is it not easier for God to be every where at once, …han for the Sun to make such a speedy course? yet notwithstanding, the time of thy life goeth as fast as the Sun it self; for it carrieth about, thy time, thy days, thy years, thine age with it. Oh consider every time thou seest the Sun in his race, my life runs along, and keepeth pace with this Sun, a thousand times faster than any Eagle can fly in the ayr; I sit still, but my life runneth post; I am idle, but my time is every moment in a speedy course; nay, I go backward when my time runneth forward: woe is me, that I grow less careful in hastening on in my journey; that I linger that I go out of the way, when my days are carried away upon the wings of the Sun: oh call to God for quickening grace, that the spirit of God may lift thee up, and carry thee on in a farr more speedy course of holy obedience. When thou thy self lackest means to pass away the time, or hearest others complain in this regard, look up to the Sun, and think with they self, doth not the Sun go fast enough? surely time goeth along with it, and never laggeth one inch behind it; is it not a madness then to call for more help to drive it forward? Is there not much more cause to labour by all means to make hast after our time which we have already lost, which hath long since out-run us? let us take time to bewail our loss of time, and be ashamed any more to complain of it, as if it were too slow-paced.
9. Consider, that as the Sun is not the Authour, nor cause of darkness, when he taketh away his beams from us, but the darkness followeth upon his removal; so God is not the Authour of sin or blindness, when he most justly denieth his light and graces to the unworthy sons of Adam, but that sin followeth thereupon: glorify his perfect purity, and do not conceive one thought against him, so as to enwrap him with thy self in guiltiness; but say with the Psalmist; The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Thus much for the Sun.
SECT. 3.
NOw follow the Moon and Stars. The Moon, which is appoin…ed to rule the night, is a Creature where we may behold the glory of God, though more dimly shining than in the Sun.
1. Here see God's wisedome and goodness in mitigating the darkness of the night, that when the Sun is out of sight, yet we should have a Moon to give us some, though not so great a light; and if both be sometimes absen…, yet then we have the Stars to make some abatement of utter darkness. How wonderful was the Lord in his works, who was pleased not onelyonly to give us so great a light by day but also to set up candles for us in the Heavens in the night time? even so should we think also how the Lord dealeth with his servants, if he take away the Sun-shine of comforts from them, even fulness of joy, yet even then he leaveth some Moon-light or Star-light at the least; some glimmerings whereby they conceive some hope, and are (though not much cheered, yet) supported. Be thankful for the least degree▪ and wait patiently for a greater measure▪ seek to him, stand not in thine own light, let not thy soul refuse comfort: or if there be no Moon or Stars to be seen, by reason of the clouds, yet I am perswaded, that in the darkest night there is some little degree of light, though not scarcely to be discerned by us; yet I do not think it is ever so dark as in those three nights before the Sun was made: so in the greatest decay of grace, the greatest darkness of spiritual desertion, when there is scarce any degree of spiritual life, grace or comfort to be discerned; yet in every true Christian, who once was made a new Creature, there is some degree; and it is not with him, as it was before the Sun of righteousness was risen upon him; there is not that utter darkness that was upon his soul, while it was in that more confused chaos and heap of unregeneration.
2. The Moon in respect of the Sun, is as the Church in respect of Christ; the Moon borroweth her l…ght of the Sun: so doth the Church her graces, righteousness, and all her happiness of Christ▪ the Sun of righteousness. What a poor Creature is the Moon! how dark is it when the Earth cometh between the Sun and her! how empty would the Church be of all light, grace, comfort, if Christ should be hidden from her! when the Moon is most enlightened by the Sun, yet there are some dark spots to be disce…ned in her: so when the Church is most replenished with the beams of this Sun of righteousness, viz. the graces of Christ-Iesus, yet she hath her spots in this life, which shall never wholly be done away until the life to come, when she shall be presented by Christ to the Father▪ not having spot or wrinckle, or any such thing: and therefore, to imagine a Church on Earth free from all blemishes, is, to fancy a Moon without spots.
3. As the Moon having received light from the Sun, giveth light to others, so that they see by the light of the Sun shining in the Moon, and then reflecting from the Moon upon the Creatures here below: so the Church, and every true member of it, having received the light of heavenly knowledge and sanctification from the Sun, must cause this light to shine before men, that they may see his good works, and so be moved to glorify his Father which is in Heaven; yea, to glorify Christ-Iesus, who is the Sun from whom the light which shineth in their hearts, is derived and received. And to be wholly dark, and voyd of the fruits of holiness, is an argument that we have no communion with Christ-Iesus: you must therefore shine to others by an holy Example, that they which will not see by the Sun-shine of the word, may yet see by the Moon-light of their lives derived from this Sun.
4. Again, as thou seest the Moon to shine in a very dark night; as it cannot chuse but shine having received light from the Sun; so in the midst of a most crooked generation in evil times, in places that abound with children of darkness, and works of darkness, a Christian must not forbear to shine in holiness, having received light from Iesus-Christ.
5. The Moon careth not, though thee vish persons hate her light, because it discovereth their works of darkness; …either doth she cease to shine because the dogs bark at her: so a Christian having received light from Christ, must not care though the wicked are offended at that light which shineth in his life, whereby their contrary practises are discovered the more clearly to be hateful works of darkness: neither must he cease to shew forth this light, because the doggish tongues of wicked railers and scoffers be moved against him: keep on in thy course, as the Moon doth all this while, and let thy light shine before men, that even the night-Walkers and Children of darkness may be converted and convinced by it.
6. As the Moon by being Eclipsed, doth shew that the light it hath, is not its own, but is received from the sun, in as much as the body of the earth coming between the sun and it, is seen to take away her light; which if she had of her self, she needed not to look toward another for it: so also the Eclipses and intermissions of the Acts of grace and motions of the spirit in a Christian, do oftentimes make it manifest to himself, and sometimes to others too, that the light which he hath is not of himself, but received from Christ, at whose pleasure it is either imparted or denied. Therefore learn thou to work this good out of that evil, even by thy failings to see thy emptiness, and to give glory to him by whose free grace thou art what thou art.
7. Again, as the Moon is unconstant, and full of changes, and yet still receiveth some light; so the Church hath been in an unconstant unsetled condition, is full of changes, yet never without some light: she is sometime waxing, somtimes waning; somtimes flourishing in grace, and in the purity and plenty of the word preached, like the full Moon; and then again declining, then again renewing; so that though the Moon be always visible, yet is she at somtimes but darkly visible; so the Church is always visible unto them who have eyes to see her, but at somtimes she maketh a dimmer appearance than at other.
8. Moreover, as the Moon when she is in conjunction with the Sun, doth then shine less unto us, than when she is in opposition, one half space of heaven distant from it; for when she is joined with the Sun, she is at the change; but when there is this diametrical opposition, she is at the full: so when Christ was here in the flesh conversing with the Church, it was then but in a mean condition, even in the change from Judaism to Christianism; so that now presently it became a new Moon, changed from a Jewish Synagogue to a Christian Church: but in short time after his ascension, through his spirit abundantly poured down upon it, when there was a diametrical opposition between Him and It, then it was at the full; and therefore he told them aforehand, that it was expedient he should go away from them, and then he would send the Comforter, even his blessed Spirit, whereby they should be made to shine more brightly in knowledg and graces than before whilst he was with them.
SECT. 4.
THe Stars also, those glistering pearls of the Orb of heaven, are notable and bright evidences of an infinite and most glorious Creatour; every one doth set forth his praise, even as if the heavens had as many Tongues as Stars to proclaim his excellency to the Earth.
1. Admire him therefore in the numberless multitude of the stars; admire him in their constant and orderly motions: admire him that telleth the number of the Stars, and calleth them all by their names. Think of the star that guided the wise men unto Christ, and pray that the day Star may rise in thine heart.
2. Consider how bright the Stars shine in a cold night, and think how thy soul should shine in grace in time of adversity.
3. Consider that neither Moon nor Stars do carry any special brightness in the presence of the Sun; and though the Moon be seen. yet she shineth but dimmely, or not at all; but the Stars are not apparent: so the Church in general hath no excellency in comparison of the Excellency of Christ: and as for the particular members, they are like stars after Sun rising; their beauty is scarce to be discerned.
4. Remember our Saviours comparison, who calleth the Ministers of the Church, Stars which he holdeth in his right hand. Rev. 1. and therefore think, that as the Stars are the ornaments of the heaven, so are faithful Ministers the ornaments of the Church, and not esteemed by Christ, as they are by the world, the off-scouring of all things.
5. Consider those Comets or Blazing-stars; though they make a greater blaze than the true stars of heaven, yet were they never fixed in the heavens, and therefore are soon extinguished: so those hypocrites, that make but a blaze for a time, they were but Meteors wandring in the air of unstable affections, not fixed in the Church, nor engraffed into Christ.
6. As the stars are numblerless; so are the heirs of glory, though far short of the reprobates: let the hope of a glorious condition like that of the stars, make thee heavenly-minded, and teach thee to comfort thy self in God, who hath provided such great things for thee.