The Rising Sun, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I. 1. Christ is to his Church, what the Sun is toDoct. 1. the world.
Christ is set forth under many resemblances, of a Rock, a Spring, the Brasen Serpent, a Lamb, Morning Star, Bread, Water, Light, Garments, Gold, Pearl, of a King, Prophet, Priest, Husband, Head, Root, &c. because no one good thing can set out Christ fully, for all can set him out but partially: and because what ever good is in any or all of these, that is Christ and more, and better; and that when we behold and use any of these, we might be put in mind of Christ.
This is as High, and fit, and full a resemblance of him as any one thing can be, if I could as fitly and fully pursue it. Psal. 84. 10. The Lord God is a Sun and shield to his people: But especially Christ is so often called, John 1. 12. Ego sum Lux mundi, what is that? But I am the Sun, I am the light of the world. John 1. 4. In him was life, which life was the light of men; and ver. 9. This is the true light &c. John Baptist was a light, Iohn. 5. 35. burning and shining: but not The Light. A Star of the first magnitude, but not the true light; but Christ only the true Light, as the true Vine, Iohn 15. 1. That is, 1. The great Luminare, foreign. 2. The Universall light, giving light to all that come into the world. 3. The Original uncreated light, that had his light from himselfe, all others from him. In him was light. Rev. 1. 16. and 10. 1. Christ is described, having his countenance shining, as the Sun in his strength. And Rev. 12. 1. The Church in relation to him, and conjunction with him, cloathed with the Sun; that is, his Righteousnesse. Cant. 6. 10. faire as the Moon, cleare as the Sun; (that is,) full of Christ. The Moon is faire, not clear from spots when at ful; the Sun is alwaies ful, alwaies clear. The Church hath not only her own imperfect, spotted Righteousnesse inherent to make her fair; but Christs perfect, Sunlike, imputed to make her clear without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.
In which regard, the Church is called upon, and encouraged to clear up, Isa. 60. 1.Parelius est reflexio radiorum solis in nube densa et aequabili, quae ad latus solis existit, et lanquam speculum solis radios recipit, coloremque ejus inde r…fert. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. The Church is the only Halo or Corona, on which this Sun makes his Impression. And the Church Militant and the Triumphant, are the two right Parelii, on either side of this Sun, near to him, and full of his Lustre and Glory.
This is a deep and rich Mine▪ I am digging into, I dare not promise to bring up all the treasures hid in it; I shall shew you what I can get up, and your selves may go and get much more. No Artist can draw all the Suns light into one roome, were his house all Chrystall; no labour can get all the water of the Sea into one vessel. Some abler Pen, or larger heart, may as a larger window, let in more of this light. I shall but draw the Curtain, and set open my narrow Casement, to let in what I have received.
There is in many things a likeness unlikeness between Christ and the Sun.
CHAP. 2. The Likenesse between Christ and the Sun.
THeir Likeness is seen in many Particulars, and because so many, I shall not defer the Application of all, til I have spoke of each, as usually we doe, but as we go along, apply each particular, to free your memories from the greater burden, and my self from needlesse repetitions.
Alike they are, 1. In their Essence. 2. Attributes. 3. Properties. 4. Effects. 5. Accidents.
1. In their Essence much alike; who knows the essence and nature of the Sun? what is that light unaccessible which it inhabits, what is the matter of it, and what and whence that heat? The weary Philosopher astonished with long admiration, and tyred with deep contemplation of this lower, and lesser Suns light and glory, gave over, seriously wishing himself out of this body, that he might behold the Body of the Sun, and know his Essence. Enquire not after the name, essence and generation of Christ: His Name is Wonderful, Secret. He dwels in light unaccessible;Isa. 9 6. wel may we at death, come to a clear view of these two Suns, and they are worth a death to come to a ful view of them, especially the Sun of righteousnesse, which we shal then see as he is 1 Joh 3. 3. foreign, with open face; the sight of perfect vision: here we are said only foreign, John 1. 14. attentè, consideratè spectare, contemplari. It is but a speculative Theory we have here. The Suns essence is a Quintessence, or rather a Sextessence, (a glorious essence indeed, or none such) being not of a grosse, mixt, but pure, simple, heavenly essence.
The heaven is a Quintessence purer farre then earth or the other elements; but the Starrs are purer then those heavens, and the Sun as much purer then all the starrs put together. There is a Confluence and Treasure of light put together in the Sun.
So is it with Christ. 1. His Divine Nature isJob. 15, 15. the purest essence, heaven not Pure in his sight; The Angels far below him, they hide their faces in his presence, Isa 6. 2. as the lesser stars their heads before the Sunne.
2. In his humane nature, There dwells the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily, Col. 3. 9. All treasures of wisdome, and knowledg, of grace and glory, more in Christ by far, then in all the Angels: as Saul above all Israel for Stature, higher from the shoulders and1 Sam. 10. 23. 2 Sam. 14. 25. upwards, and Absalom above all Israel to be praised for his beauty, from his feet and upwards no blemish in him; so is Christ fairer then the children of men from the feet and upwards, and higher then the highest Angel from the shoulders and upwards.
1. This may check the pride and blasphemyApplicat. of those proud spirits, and selfe anointing Cherubs, or new Christs, who call themselves not so low as Apostles, but are not, but Christs, and are not Apostles; who say,Naturam non vocat ipsam foreign, sed cer…as (ut ita loquar) qualitates, quas Dei virtus in nobis efficit. Ergo Impii et Ridiculi sunt qui ex …oc loco transfu sionem Divina essentiae in nos imaginantur ut Impius ille Ser…etus prafractè ad mortem usque defendit. Bez Ann in. lo…um. God is as much in them, as ever he was in Christ, because misunderstanding the sense of that 2 Pet. 1. 3. made partakers of the Divine nature. There is but one Sun, a many Stars, which partake of the nature and light of the Sun: cannot these Stars partake of the Suns light, but they must be so many Suns, ceasing to be Stars? The divine nature we are said to be Partakers of, is the communication of Divine or holy (God like) qualifications, such whereof we are capable, excluding the perfections of Christ, which are not communicable to the creature. Like as Christ is said to partake of our humane nature, being in all things like to us excluding only these imperfections of sin, whereof his Divine nature was not capable, nor were sutable to him.
The water cold by nature, when boyling on the fire, is made partaker of the nature of the fire, yet is water still; the waters coldnesse is not incapable of the fires heat; the fires heat expels not the waters moisture; there is fire and water both, water in nature; as fire in quality. The cold and rusty Iron in the fire, loseth both his coldnesse and colour; of cold becoms fire hot, of rusty fire-red; It partakes of the nature of the fire, yet is but Iron still. Or as Judas may be said, when Satan entred into him, to partake of the nature of the divel, He was a divel; he lived not, but Satan lived in him, (that is) heJoh. 6. 70. was full of all sin, hypocrisie, treason, impudence, malice, Impenitence, despaire, as if he had been a very divel rather then a man; yet was Judas Iudas still, a man, not transformed (at least not trasubstantiated) into a Divel. So when Christ enters into us, we are so acted by him, that we seem not to live, but Christ in us, Gal. 2. 20. And so that other place, as much mis-understood, 1 Joh. 5. 17. As he is, so are we in this world, is to be taken; not as if there were no difference at all between Christ and us; but there is 1. a sicut similitudinis, as is the father begetting, so is the young infant begotten; Ora. oculique, manusque eadem; an As of likenesse. And there is a 2d Sicut Aequalitatis, As of Equality: As is God the Father, suc… is the Son; Coessentiall, coeternal; not a… [as] of equality, but of similitude betweene Christ and us, we receiving of his fulnesse grace for grace, the same grace, not the same fulnesse.
2. Then give unto Christ the Glory due unto his name, sutable to his nature, Divine glory. Worship this rising Sun; it is not idolatry, but Purest Religion, not base Policie, but truest P…ety. The Sun was idolatrously worshipped with a forbidden worship among the Persians of old, and by some of the Atheistical Jews, Ezek 8. 16. But it is commanded that this Sun should be worshipped both by men and Angels, Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in his first be gotten into the world, he saith, l…t all the Angels of God worship him, Joh. 5. 23. that all men should honour the Son, as they honour the Father. Fear not then to give the same divine honour, religious worship to the Son, as to the Father, to believe in, place hope on, and make thy prayer to the Son of God. The creature Sun is to be admired for his Brightnesse; it is a shadow of the Deity, not to be adored. The SunHeb. 1. 3. the Creator is to be adored, he being the foreign, The brightnesse of his glory, and the expresse image of his Person, who upholdeth all things by the word of his Power.