The Rising Sun, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. The Suns Activity and Motion, the last Property.
WE are now come to the last Property of the Sun, his Activity and Motion, herein a further Resemblance of Christ. The Motion of bo…h is
1. Restlesse and perpetual. The Sun never stands still, what ever the other Creatures do; it is not an idle spectator of humane affairs, but is it selfe most active. When drest in his glory, sits not as our Ladies to be looked on; or as the Persian Emperours in a Chair of State to be worshipped. But as Job in his splendor, who led others in their Job 29. 25way, and sate chief, as the King in the Army. The Sun alwayes is in motion, Christ alwaies in action, vigilant, sleeps not. The Sun makes night to others by withdrawing, it self never had yet one night of Rest, or one day of Sabbath.
1. Then behold the great care and painsApplic. 1 Psal. 19 Isa. 63 of Christ, who travels as a Gyant. His life was nothing but labour; he went about doing good. The Sun walketh to day and to morrow. The Father worketh hitherto and John 5 17.still worketh, and I work saith the Son. The Sons work in his Humiliation was hard work, in his Exaltation he worketh still (not so hard) but higher work. Who knoweth the care of a Master of a Family, of a General in an Army, of a Publick Magistrate? Moses was tired out with the encumbrance of his weighty Office, and of the oversight of Israel all day from morning to night.
2. Be like these two great Lights, stand not still. The Sun hath but an imaginary solstice twice per annum; let not thy whole year be a Solstice, or pingue Otium. Heavens are always in motion. Earth only stands still; let heavenly minds be moving. Tempus est mensura motus, motus Temporis. Let not time be the measure of thy life, but motion and action. Let it not be said, he lived so many years, but did so many memorable actions; he saw so many dayes, but the dayes saw him doing so many good acts; that there may bee Latitude in our lives as well as longitude.
1. In Gods work be not negligent. To do Gods work negligently, and the worlds over diligently, both are accursed. Not slothful Rom. 12. 11in business, fervent in prayer, serving the Lord. The Oxen and Farm have A must inLuke 14. 18 the Worlds sense: the Christian saith, no must for the world, Must is only for Gods work. I must work the works of him that sent John 9. 1 Luke 2. 49.me. Again, Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business? Take heed of being early in the shop, late in the closet: busie at the Farm, idle in the Vineyard; awake at the Exchange, asleep at Church. That the Christian be not drowned in the good Husband.
2. In thy honest Calling. All things areEccles. 1 full of labour, and man born to it. Heavens alwayes moving, winds blowing, sea flowing, springs running, earth moves not, yet rests not neither, is alwayes bearing fruits, trees, seeds; in Winter, if it bears not, yet onelyonly lyes in, after hard labor, to get strength for new births. No Creatures made to be idle: the mighty Elephant, Warlike horse, paineful Oxe, yea, the little Ant and Bee.
The Christian is not exempted: when the Talent of Grace is given, it is with this charge, Occupy till I come, Angels have theirLuke 19 13 charge; Adam in his Innocency, had his Imployment; the second Adam, all whose life was a state of Innocency, yet had his work. If the Master be up at work, a shame for the Servant to be in bed. If Caesar say Eamus, the soldier marches after. The Sun looks into thy Chamber and saith, up sluggard, I rested not all night, wilt thou rest all day? The little Ant, to work sluggard, or to begging; I have no Master to compel me to labour, but I hate idleness.
The idle person is a Monster in nature, a bryar in the field, a weed in the Garden, a Drone in the hive, a thief in the candle. What wretches they, whose life is but a long vacation, whose work is to eat, drink, play? they rise, dress, dine halfe their dayes work is done; they play, sup, undress, and there is the other half. The soul in such Drones is but as salt to keep the body from putrefaction,Animam pros… le. as the Proverb is.
Idlenesse is as Babylon, the Mother of Fornications; the cage of Uncleannesse; it isEzek. 16. 49 Sodomy, or the mother of it; it was the sin of Sodom, it fills the body with diseases, the soul with sins. It is a crying sin. Sodom's idleness cryed. It fills streets with Beggars, Highwayes with Robbers, The Gallowes with condemned bodies, Hell with condemned souls. Hence that Germane Proverb, Hell is paved with the Crests of Gallants, and skuls of Monks, (the two most idle Societies or Fraternities.) Idlenesse cloathes the body with rags, soul with foul sins, it fills the body with hunger, and back with vermin.
God made no man to be as the Leviathan, to play in the waters, and no woman to be cloathed as the Lilies in the field, or as Solomon in his glory, yet neither to toyl nor spin.
The Heathens dedicated Horses to the Sun, whom they worshipped, as you read 2 King 23. 11. An active Christian is fit to be dedicated to Christ. But the Asse (a sluggish and dull Brute) was not to be sacrificed, but redeemed, or his neck broke, if the Firstling. God would have no Dullard either for Priest Exod. 13. 13or Sacrifice.
2. Swift. The Sun is said, 1. to run (not go.) 2. In a Race (the swiftest running.) 3. As a Gyant, or man of strengthPsal. 19 (the swiftest runner.) This Gyant is never weary, in an hour he runs thousands of miles, more then we do in many dayes or weeks. One hour is as much to Christ as an Age to us; one day as a thousand years.
Christ is said to have wings here in the Text, he comes not creeping, but flying. The winds are his wings, the Cherubims his Chariots, or his Chariot horses, and he hath twenty thousand of them in a Chariot, whoPsal. 68. 17 have six wings a piece: If a Chariot drawne with six horses make such riddance, what speed will Christ make! The Poets in their fictions to set out the Suns swift motion, feigned his chariot to be drawne with winged horses; Christ's is with winged Angels.
What comfort may this be to the ChurchApplic. … Malach. 3. 1 2 Pet. 3. 9 Mal. 8. 5 or believing souls! The Lord whom ye think long, will come suddenly to his Temple, He will awake as one out of sleep, and will not be slack, as men count slacknesse, to deliver his Church: and he will be a swift Witnesse against the enemies. I tell you, he will avenge Luke 18. 8his own Elect, and that speedily, said our Saviour of his Father; and his Apostle of him, Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will Heb. 10 37come, and will not tarry.
2. What Terror is this, or will it be to the wicked, who say, Where is the promise of 2 Pet. 3 4 Isaiah 5 19his coming? Let him make speed that we may see it. He can bring the flying Role into the Grand childs house soon enough. How sudpenly are the wicked cut off! Sodoms Sun set in the rising, Nebuchadnezzars at noon,Psal. 64. 8 as sudden as an arrow or bullet, that is at the mark, before you hear the noise. Babylon Rev. 18shall be destroyed in one hour, no hand shall stay upon it. When I shall visit, I will visit Exod. 32, 34 1 Sam. 3. 12their sin upon them, said the Lord by Moses, and when I begin, I will also make an end, and not be long about it.
3. The Suns motion is steady, certain, constant, to a minute; hath not for this six thousand years space altered his course; we know where to have it every day, month, year; it keeps his Solstices, and Aequinoxes as at first. Christ is as stable, hee Ye… and Amen: he the same to believing soules now, that ever, in his love, care, faithfulnesse. And to wicked ones, the same enemy, Oven, Furnace, consuming fire: He varyeth not a minute in his constant and unchangeable affection, love and hatred to both.
1. See then if there be diversity of carriageApplic. 1 in God to some over others. There is no irregularity, no anomaly in Gods actions o… affections. The Sun moves by Rule and Line, and so do all Gods proceedings; as David 2 Sam. 8. 2had two Measuring Lines, one to save alive, another to put to death. So doth God in the way of his Judgements and Mercyes, he proceeds by Rule and Line.
2. Let a Believer have his Faith established in the stedfastnesse of such a Saviour and such Affections and Promises. O Lord, I will Isaiah 25. 1exalt thee (saith the Church) thy counsels of old are Faithfulnesse and Truth. His Actions are founded on his Affections, his Affections in Councel, his Councel in Faithfulnesse, therefore change not. In sapientum decretis nulla est litura, the wise man is a certain man; he saith, Quod scripsi, scripsi; quod dixi, Jndg, 11. 35dixi; I have opened my mouth and I cannot go back. How unlike are we to him? we yea and nay: Amantes tanquam osuri. Amnon now loves, anon hates Tamar; neither his love nor hatred was founded in counsel and reason; but his love founded in lust, his lust in folly; therefore could not hold. Ahasuer…s now dotes on Haman, to morrow hangs him up out of the way. Such is the favour of Princes, such the certainty of worldly things. But Christ whom he loves, he loves to John 13. 1. Exod. 33. 19the end; where he sheweth mercy, he will shew mercy; because he is God, not man, that changeth not, neither repenteth. We may be unfaithful and deny him, and call all in question. He abideth faithful, and cannot deny himself; our unbelief shakes not his2 Tim. 2. 13 Rom. 3 faithfulnesse. When the Boat moves in the water, the child thinks the houses move on the land; such is our folly, we are apt to conceive so of God; we are changed, therfore he is changed.
3. Then woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with Isaiah 3. 11.him. Heavens Almanack foretels thy ruin, the Sun erects an ominous figure for thee. If God be not changed, thou art undone, unless thou be changed. God hath spoken evil against 1 Kings 22. 23thee, was Ahabs ruine. It had beene better for him, if his four hundred false Prophets, and so many lying Astrologers more, had foretold his Destinie. That terrible1 Sam, 15 threat of Samuel alive, to Saul, the Lord hath rejected thee, was more sad and certain, then that of the witch, and the conjured spirit, when Samuel was dead. Sun and Stars Prognosticate thy ruin: if they certain, because made and moved by the word of God; then his word certaine, and thy ruine certain. The Sun never goes beyond his Tropick, but returns. If Christ should give salvation to any but such as repent, believe, live holily, it would be such a thing as never was yet seen, he should go beyond his tropick. But ever where the Sun of Righteousnesse Luke 10, 6.comes and finds not the Son of Peace, thence he returns. We expect not that the Sun should leave his wonted course, and stand stil as in Joshuahs time, or go back, as in Hezekiahs; expect not then that God should create some new thing, and that heaven should open (against his decrees) to swallow thee up alive in thy sins, and that a sinful Ahab should be carried up to heaven in Elias's Chariot.
4. His motion, as it is certain and steady so it is uniform, equal, not Tardior et velocior, not uneven, sometime slower, sometime swifter; but it ever keeps the same pace. So is it with God, his way is perfect, Psal. 18. 30. His waies are equall, Ezek. 18. 29.
Let ours be so. Evennesse of the way commendsApplicat. 1 the way; of the thred the cloth. Josiah was an even walker, kept his way without2 Chron. 34. 2 deviation or turning to the right hand or to the left all his daies. Caleb kept on going, slacked not his pace, but fulfilled to follow Num. 14. 22.the Lord. Wicked men are like a landflood Josh. 3. 15.(or as Jordan in the time of harvest) that overflowes all his banks at sometimes, afterwards all is dry land. Godly men are like a fountain, that runs not so impetuously, but is alwaies running. Pharaoh once sent forExod. 10. 16. Exod. 12. 31. Exod. 8. 9. Moses in haste, another time by night; too violent to hold long; his usual answer was Tomorrow. The heavy weight of judgment made this wheele move so fast; when it was taken off, he stands stock still. You see Saul on a sudden rapture prophesying, There is a morning cloud; Ahab humbling himselfe, there is an early dew. But true grace moves not per saltum, is not a fit, flash, a start, and stop, and Retrograde, hot, cold, feaverish, (as he who was acted by the evil spirit) now in the fire, anon in the water. Grace is not a morning cloud, an evening dew; some noon …eat drops, but a set rain; a morning-Sun, that shines more and more to a perfect day. Not he that labours in his calling, and sometimes is idle, and spending at the Ale-house, is the good husband, but he who is stil at hisGen. 26. 13. business, and keeps doing. Isaack grew great and went forward, (the Hebrew is, he went going) and grew til he became very great and rich. He went on getting and gathering every day, and became a great man at last. SoJob. 17. 9. saith Job, the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clan hands, shal be stronger and stronger.
5. Irresistible. The Sun is not to be stayed or diverted in his course; this Gyant breaks all the opposition of clouds, which vanish in his sight; they strive in vaine who would make it stand, or goe back.
1. Then vain is the force of persecutors, who arm themselves against Christ and his members. Christum regem occidire nolite, timere bonum est. Betray, kil, crucifie, bury, seal the stone, set a watch, he wil rise: slay the Witnesses, they wil rise again. This little stone must become a great mountain, and shal Dan. 235fill the earth; he that falls against this stone, shall be broken, but on whom it shall fall, it wil Matth. 21 44grind him to powder. They who would oppose the Gospel, Solem sistunt, Deo resistunt. they say to the heavens, move not, to the Sun shine not, and kick against the Pricks. The Beast indeed hath his seven heads and tenRev, 131 horns, (much craft, more malice;) The Lamb hath seven eyes and seven horns (much wisdome Rev. 56as much power); with the breath of his nostrils he wil make the man of sin, the son of perdition. When Antichrist is in the saddle, and Satan or the Jesuite holds the stirrup; yet the Churches comfort is, Christ holds the Bridle, (I'le put my Bridle into thy jawes:) And saith, so farre shalt thou goe, no further.2 Kings 19 28
2. As vain is the crafty attempt of the Heretick and Impostor. The three great enemies of the Christian name shall fare alike;Rev, 16 13 14 the three unclean spirits, the Dragon, Beast, and false Prophet, who take their turns one after another: The Dragon the first 300 years making wa…re upon the Saints, under the heathen Emperors. Then the Beast (by name a Christian, and hating the Dragon) yet indeed that great Antichrist, who alone exalteth himself above all that is called God, and worshipped, (or every one who is calledforeign. 2 Thes. 2. 4. a God, and worshipful, every Authoritie, Degree, not only Sacerdotal, or Ecclesiastical, but Regal and Imperial) a more dangerous and Saint-bloud-drinking enemy for a greater space of 1260 years. In the end and taile of whom comes the false Prophet (under the name of a Saint, defying both the former, detesting Idols more then uncleannesse, and hating the Antichristian Garment and name more then the Nicolaitans nakedness or deeds. The most dangerous enemy of all the three. The uncleanest frog of all the fry, who under the name of a separated Saint, or another Christ, or a better inspired spirit, hath his Prophesies, Revelations, new discoveries, new heavens, but hateth the old Saint, Ministry, Baptism, Supper, Belief, Prayer, Doctrine, Holinesse, as Antichristian. This also is of the Three, and goeth into perdition.
6. Unwearied. But after almost six thousand years restlesse motion is as fresh and lively as the Bridegroom,—Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo. An emblem of Christ, whose arm is not shortned, but is able to save to the ut most, all that come still unto him. Hast thou not heard that the Creator. Heb 7. 25of the ends of the earth fainteth not? The Isa. 40. 28, 29.youths may faint and be weary; the young men Judg. 15. 18.may utterly fail. Samson after a great victory may faint for thirst. Eliazar the Son of Dodo, the second of the Worthies, his hand clave to the sword after a great slaughter, he2 Sam. 23. 10. could not now open his hand again; he needs some rest. But Christ is the same, his motion, care, might, the same; and as the Sun that hath lightned the world now so many ages, is as able for that service stil as ever. So Christ who hath governed the world, and preserved his Church for this six thousand years, his skil, power, and care, is not now to be questioned. But as old Caleb said, heJosh. 14 11. was as strong when he was fourscore and five years old, as when but forty: A…my strength was then, so is it now for warre, both to go out and to come in. So years and time make no impression on the Captain of our salvation, who is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever.Heb. 13. 8.
7. This motion is twofold. 1, Ordinary, and Quotidian, every day doth rise, run, set keep his course, scattering the darknesse and removing the cold of the night past, and giving light for the present use of that day; yesterday's light serveth not for to day, but there is the same need every day of the Su… continued, or renewed light, as there was the first day of his creation, to dispel the darknesse which was upon the face of the unformed world. And do not we daily need the fresh supply, and the renewed influence of the spirit of Christ, as we did at first conversion? Sun is not set one houre, but darknesse comes; Christ leaves not one houre, but then comes on the power of darkness. Auxiliary grace is as necessary as Habituall, Subsequent as Preventing: While the spirit moved, the wheels moved, no longer. Goe then to Christ daily, in him are our fresh springs; begge to be anointed with new oyle Ezek, 1.from this Olive branch, which through the two Golden Pipes of his Spirit and his Ordinances, empties his oyl of grace into the heartsZech: 4. 12. his people.
2. Extraordinary and Anniversary; if the Sun see thee not every day, as the remoter parts, yet wil it ere the yeare go about; if it hath ever shined in that clime. So if Christ gives thee not a daily visit, stay thou, at the appointed time, the Vision wil speak. Hab. 2.The Redeemer wil return out of Sion. If thou hast ever tasted that the Lord is gracious, or canst say, thou hast feared the name of the Lord, then though thou walkest in darkness, Isa. 50. 10.and hast no light, yet trust in the name of the Lord, and stay thy self on thy God. Say with the Church, in hope of his coming, when I fal I shal rise againe, though I sit in darkness, Mich. 7. 8.the Lord shall be a light unto me; and with the Prophet, I wil wait upon the Lord who Isa. 8, 19.hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I wil look for him.