The Rising Sun, Chapter 12

The Rising Sun · Chapter 12

p. 71CHAP. XII. The third Property, Light.

THe next great Property of the Sun, is his Light, which must not be forgotten, Jer. 31. 35. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a light by day &c. He speaks asJohn 1 4 9 & 8 12, & 9 5 & 12, 35 Isa 426John 1:4 if it was chiefly created for this purpose. Light is the glory of his glory and greatness. Herein an eminent resemblance of Jesus Christ, who is so often called a Light, the True Light, the Light of the world.

As in nature are to be seen several lights, so the Scripture mentions many sorts of Lights. 1 Some good. 2 Some b…d.

1. Some good. 1. Divine and Uncreated. 2. Created.

1. Divine and Uncreated. Light is so excellent a thing, that God hath not disdained to be described by it, entitled to it, clothed with it.

1. Take God Essentially, he is a Light, 1 Joh. 1. 4. clothed with Light, Ps…l. 104. 2.

2. Consider God Personally, 1. The father is called the Father of Lights, as he isJa…. … 17 the father of Christ, h. e. the Original of increated Light. He hath communicated the p. 72Light of Divine nature to Christ, who is God of God, Light of Light; into whom the Father hath put all fulnesse.

2. Christ as God inhabiteth foreign,Col. 1. 19. 1 Tim. 6. 16.Col 1:191 Tim 6:16 Light Inaccessible.

3. The Holy Spirit is a like co-equal, and co-eternal Light, whose proper work is illumination; and his first worke in the newEph. 1, 18.Eph 1:18 creature is answerable to that first word in the old Creation, let there be Light, and there was light. So here the spirit of God moves upon the heart, and brings it out of darkness into a marvellous Light.

4. Christ Iesus as Mediator is the Sunne, into whom the God head hath plentifully imparted all fulnesse of Divine Light (as the light of heaven is cumulatively aggregated and embodied in the Sun) to be the standing treasury of the Church, as the Sun is of the world. Thus those phrases are to be understood, that he is the true Light, and Light of the world, viz as he is God-Man, and Mediatour.

2. There are many Created Lights. 1. The Ancientest, the Angels who were at first all of them Angels of Light by creation, (though since many of them are fallen Stars) these the Lord cals the Morning stars who Job. 38. 7.Job 38:7sang together, when all the Sons of God sung for joy; glorifying God for the excellency of his work as they were created. These are Heavenly Lights.

2. There be other Lights in earth, whereof p. 73the first and chiefe are the holy Scriptures, Psal. 119. 105.Ps 119:105given to be a light to our feet, and a Lantern to our paths, to which we must attend and follow as a light shining in a dark place. Our Cynosura and Pole Star they are, as we are2 Pet. 1.2 Pet 1 Mariners; our Pillar of fire, as we are Travellers; our Sun, as Mr. Brightman interprets all along in the Apocalyps.

2. Next to these are Religious and godly Magistrates, Stars of the first magnitude in the inferior orbs; these come in place and dignity next to the Angels in Principalitie, power, and Influence, and when they come neerest to Scripture Rules and Presidents, they are of most sweet aspect, as Gods on earth, Gods set over us in the likenesse of men; and these are not as the lesser stars, but as the greatest Sun; when they rule in the fear of God (as David saith.)2 Sam. 23. 3042 Sam 23 they shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth, as a morning without clouds.

3. After these follow the godly andEst lucere Parum est ardere parum, ardere et lucere perfectum. Vae n…bis filuxerim… tantum. Matth 5 1…Matt 5:1 exemplary Ministers, who are the Stars in the hand of Christ, Rev. 2. 1. are to be burning and shining lights in grace, and doctrine; then are worthy to be looked upon, and followed as the light of the world. You are the light of the world, said our Saviour to his Disciples, lesser lights in the lesser world; these are to be as so many earthly Angels. (To the Angels of the seven Churches.) Paul was called by Chrysostome, Angelus p. 74Terrestris, and these are to receive their light of grace from the Sun of Righteousnesse in heaven, and their light of doctrine from the Sun of scripture in earth, that they may be as men of God throughly furnished to every good work.

4. Each private Christian is so to holdPhil. 2 15 16Phil 2:15 forth the word of life, that they may be as so many lights shining in the world.

Yet Christ and all these lights differ much, 1. He is the great and true light: John BaptistJohn 1 John 15 … John 6 32John 6:32 was a burning and shining light, Joh▪ 5. 35. but he was not that light, that true Light. Christ is the true Light, as he is the true Vine, the true Bread; that is the great and excellent Light.

2. Christ is perfect Light, in him no darknesse at all. In the Angels there hath been a defection of Light, there are now many of them in chains of darknesse. In Scripture is some obscurity; in Ministers, Magistrates, Best Christians are many defects, as spots in the Moon; there is smoak in our best elementary fire, and a black steam in our purest wax candles; no smoak or steam in the Sun.

3. He the fountain of Light (as the Sun to stars and creatures, having before been furnished and called to that office) he having received all fulnesse from the Father, freely imparts his light to Angels, Scriptures, Magistrates, Ministers, other Christians, yea to Eve…y man that cometh in… p. 75…he world, as the Evangelist speaketh: whichJohn 1. 9John 1:9 is to be understood 1. of the light of cōmon understanding and natural Reason, (not that higher light of supernatural Grace; this is not given to all, but hid to many:) for this, as other common mercies, and universal preservation, floweth from Gods rich benignity, as a fruit of Christs interposing. Or 2. If you will understand it of saving knowledg, He enlightens every one that cometh into the world, then it must be understood of all, and onelyonly those that are of that number; none have such light but from him. So in many places of Scripture the word Every is to be taken (which, if wel considered, would discover the unsoundness of Pelagian Doctrines, and Arminian Conclusions.) The Apostle saith, as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. TheRom. 12 3 1 Cor. 12 7 Eph. 4 7 1 Cor. 4 5 Luke 16 16 2 Thes. 3 ….Rom 12:31 Cor 12:7Eph 4:71 Cor 4:5Luke 16:162 Thess 3 manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withal; not that every man hath faith, (the same Apostle saith, all have not faith) or that every man hath the spirit; but he speaks only of such as are of that number, the Elect, called, and godly.

4. He the most eminent light, out shining all them, he present they silent, and draw in their light, as the Stars before the Sun. So Angels, Ministers, Scriptures, Ordinances, yea the Sun it selfe are silent, and of no more use to the Church in that heavenly Jerusalem, where the Lamb is the Sun, andRev. 21 23Rev 21:23 Temple, and Bible, and all.

p. 765. In him all fulnesse, as in the Sun of Light, in Sea of water; all receive all from him, yet all cannot receive all; their all they have, his all they can never have. The Seas treasure cannot be exhausted, when all Rivers, Springs, and other vessels are filled. We have but our measure, no fulness:Rom. 12 3.Rom 12:3 He no measure, the Father giveth not the spirit by measure to him. But all fulnesse, ofJoh. 3. 34.John 3:34 whose fulnesse we all receive, and grace for grace.

Ob. Are not the godly said to be full? Stevenful of faith, Paul of the Holy Ghost, theActs 6 Acts 13. 10. Rom. 15. 14.Acts 6Acts 13:10Rom 15:14 Romans of all goodnesse?

Answ. Christ hath his fulnesse, and the Saints their kind of fulnesse, but with greatPlenitudo multiplex. 1 Alia fontis, alia vasis. 2. Alia capitis, alia membri. 3, Alia divinitatis, alia creaturae. 4. Alia maris alia fluminis. 5. Alia permaneus, alia tran…iens. difference; theirs the fulnesse of a smal vessel, his of a fountain; theirs of a member, his of a head; theirs of men, and manhood, his the fulnesse of the Godhead; theirs of a Rive…; his of the Sea; theirs of a Brook or River after much raine, causing a land-flood, his an abiding undecaying fulnesse. Such a land-flood was that fulness, Acts 4. 31. after they had prayed, the place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, &c.

2. As there are these good and pleasing lights, so are there other sad and uncomfortable lights.

1. Such as were the old false Apostles, who did put themselves into the forme of2 Cor. 11. 13.2 Cor 11:13 Angels of light, pretending to more communion p. 77with God, insight into his Word and Worship, more choice revelations, extraordinary Holinesse, Mortification, purely Spiritual, perfect enemies to Antichrist, and all received formes, that would bring in a new Christ, and a new Creed into the world. These much troubled the Apostles and obstructed the spreading of the Gospel at first, and this Age seeth the sad effect of such new Angels of Light, pretending to new Truths, new Light.

These would purge out in their Reformation all the Old leaven, not only that of the Pharisee and of Antichrist, but that of theMatth. 13. 33Matt 13:33 Gospel and of Christ (for the Kingdome of Heaven hath his leaven too) because all old things must pass away, and all things must become new. But is the new Wine betterLuke 5. 39. Jerem. 6. 16Luke 5:39Jer 6:16 then the old? Can any new light bee so good as the old Sun? Are not the old paths, the good paths? All Truths hairs are as Christs, white. Truths glory is to be as ancient as God himselfe; Gods glory toDaniel 7. 22.Dan 7:22 be the ancient of dayes, yet a God not changed.

2. There are others who are as prodigious, blazing Stars, who draw the gazing multitude after them. New lights these are indeed, but true Stars they are not; a while they blaze, but are ever of malignant Aspect: The Vulgar looks upon them with admiration, the Judicious with horror. They outshine in appearance the fixed Stars for p. 78the present, but after a while they are extinct, being not made up of Heavenly, but combustible matter, and are ominous forerunners of sad calamities. Such are those whom Jude and Peter described in their Epistles,foreign. Jude v. 11, 12, 13, 16 who would make their way by new coyned phrases, speaking Great, high sounding, swelling words of vanity, yet are but wells without water, clouds without rain, trees without fruit, full of rage (at what they know not) till they fome againe; Raging waves of the Sea, foming out their owne shame; 2 Pet. 2. 17, 182 Pet 2:172 Pet 2:18walking in the wayes, and treading in the very steps of Caine, Balaam and Corah, eminent for all Impiety, Uncleanness and Opposition.

3. There are others who are as Wandring Stars, as Saint Jude termes them. GodsJude v. 12 Ministers are fixed Stars, Satans are H…ra…i…k unfixt, wandring. 1. They have no steadiness in their Doctrines, of one opinion to day, another to morrow, as they receive new light they say, changing their faith and leaving their Congregations, as oft as the Nomades and Tartars their Pastures. 2. Unfixt in their Orb and Stations, of one Calling to day, another to morrow. Heri catechumenus, foreign. Heri Sa. crilegi, hodie Sacrifici. Hierom.hodie Pontifex, heri in Amphitheatro, hodie in Ecclesia; vesperi in Circo, mane in Altari. Yesterday Tradesmen, Sword-men, to day Church-men; at a Play house, Tavern, Quarrel overnight, in the Pulpit next morning. 3. Most of all wandring in their p. 79Practices, began Religiously, end Impiously, …epent of their repenting, praying, hearing, …ast off Duties, Holiness, Morality, and …re translated into Swine that returne after outside washing to wallow in the mire.2 Pet. 2. 22.2 Pet 2:22 Luth…r wittily compares these ignorant Teachers to unskilful Physicians; and saith, TheOpus est juvene medico novo coemiterio, novo Theologo, novo inferno. Luth. new Doctor sends his Patient a new way to the Church yard, and these new Teachers their followers a new way to hell.

4. There are others who are called falling Stars, of which sort divers are foretold, who shall arise and fall in the last dayes, Matth. 24. 22. Before the coming of Christ, there shall be putting out of the lights; the SunMatth. 24, 29 Rev. 8. 10 and 9. 1Matt 24:29Rev 8:10Rev 9:1 shall be darkned, and many Stars shall fall from Heaven (from their former profession) Godly Ministers and Professors are fixed Stars never shall fall.

Non est quae cecidit stella, cometa fuit,

But these never were fixed in the Firmament of Election or sound Profession, were but blazing Stars or Planets at the best. These may fall and prove woful Apostates, and which is worse, one falls and fills all withRev. 8 1…Rev 8:1 wormwood, occasions bitter (wormwood) divisions, Separations, Censures, at last bitter Persecutions. Waters once turned into Marah, easily are after turned into Bloud. AnotherRev. 9 …Rev 9 Star falls, and he hath the Key of the Bottomless pit given him, none so fit to bee p. 80trusted with Hells Keyes to let out those multiformed Locusts, and to give a free toleration to all Satans Agents and Emissaris as a fallen Star. Fixed Stars have Keyes of Heaven, fallen Stars of Hell.

5. There is another foolish light, ignis fatuus, which sometimes appearing to the simple Country man affrights him, leads him out of his way into boggs and pits, and a… length hee is conceited it is some ill Spirit Such are those Imps of Hell, the Fortunetelling Astrologer, &c. who mutters and peeps, sai…h 8▪ 19.for hee will deliver nothing plainely. A man of such an age, statute, hair, (saith he) hath stole your Horse, Money, Plate, &c. Why doth he not name the man, and bring you to the Goods lost? but he mutters and peepes, that is all the Wizard and Familiar Spirit do. Yet do the simple people go from the living to the dead, from God, af…er Satan, by these. These pick the …redutous Vulgars purse, lead him into a world o… …Errors, destroy his dependance upon God▪ hee undertakes nothing but he first enquire… of Baalzebub, Shall I recover of this sicknesse? Shall I go up and prosper?

6. The last of these ill Lights is the e… Magistrate, (who as the good Magistrate … deservedly put in the first place, so these, … they be not put out of all place, deserve the lowest,) that suffers all those forenamed dangerous Lights in Church and State t… so wtheir Seeds while he connives or sleeps p. 81The good Magistrate beareth Gods Sword, which hath two edges, with one wounding Disturbers of Civil Peace, with the other Corrupters of Religion. The evil Magistrate beareth Satans Buckler, who protects all, wounds none.

But to return: There are many Lights we see, such as they are, some better, some worse: But Christ is the Light, the true light, the Sun; in divers respects:

1. The Suns light is the only day light; AllReas. 1. other Lights of Moon, Stars, Fire, Candle are but night lights when all is done, somewhat they relieve in the Suns absence; Christ makes the perfect day; in his Light eternal Light to be seen, without Ministers,Rev. 21. 2…Rev 21:2 Scriptures, Ordinances, which are of use only till we come to heaven.

2. Suns light at first appearance drives away the nights darknesse, and Christ his first Work is to deliver out of ignorance, and from the darknesse of Error and ungodlinesse: If we say we have fellowship with Christ 1 John 1. 61 John 1:6and walk in darknesse, we lye, and do not the Truth. And the first effects of Christs influence upon the Ministers labor, is to openActs 26. 1…Acts 26:1 mens eyes, and to turne them from darkness to light, &c.

3. Light discovers every thing that was3 Eph. 5. 13Eph 5:13 hid. That which maketh manifest is light, and discovers things in their right shape and colours, bee they beauties or deformities. Christ is this light, whose appearance chaseth p. 82darknesse, and maketh a new discovery of an unknown world of sin in the heart, before hid and swept behind the door,—I was alive before the Law once. ConcupiscenceRom. 7 9Rom 7:9 I had▪ but knew it not before the Law came, then sin revived, and I dyed. Christ appearing, the deformity of sin, loathsomenesse of Nature, defects and spots of Duties and Righteousnesse, are discovered, never seen before; and the beauty of Grace, excellency of Holinesse is laid open to enamour the soul. Christ is the only light that discovers to us the deep things of God, hid in darknesse till he revealed them; and the deep things in men, both the hidden mysteries of unknown wickedness, and the great mysteries of Grace and Godlinesse.

4. The Light directs us how to walk and4 keep our wayes, and keeps from stumbling and falling into danger. If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the John 11. 9John 11:9Light of this world. But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. And Solomon, The way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble. Prov. 4. 19.Prov 4:19When Israel followed the Pillar of fire they took no hurt. When Judas and Peter followed the Light, kept neer to Christ, they stumbled not; but Peter leaving Christ, dasht his foot against a stone, in Petram scandali, a stumbling stone, and bruised himself; but Judas into a Precipice, and broke his neck.

p. 835 The Sun is sent to call us out of our5 beds, and to invite man to go out to his labour. The Sun ariseth, and man goeth forth Psa. 104. 22, 2.Ps 104:22Ps 104:2to his work, and to his labour until the Evening. And this Sun is sent, not that wee should play out our Damnation with negligence and security, but work out our Salvation Phil. 2. 12.Phil 2:12with fear and trembling. Yet a little John 12. 35.John 12:35while the light is with you, walk while ye have the light, lest darknesse come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

6. How sweet is light to the sight, and how 6 Eccles. 11. 7Eccl 11:7pleasant it is for the eyes to behold the Sun? No sight so delightful as the Light, and the Sun is the heart-cheering light: But noTotus di…ideratissimus. Jun. Totus di…ideria. Montanus. Totus dulcedines. Heb. sight of the Sun it selfe so cheering the soul as the light and sight of Jesus Christ. His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars. His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, saith the Church, ravished with his beauty, Cant. 5. 15, 16.

1. If Christ be the light of the world, whatApplicat. 1 cause have we to bless God for Christ. We are excited to praise God again and againe by the Psalmist, that God made the great lights, and to say, His Mercy endures for ever. Psal. 139. 7, 8, 9Ps 139:7Ps 139:8Ps 139:9The Sun to rule by day, and the Moon and Stars by night. But what praise is to be given for Christ; who hath delivered usCol. 1, 13Col 1:13 from the powers of darkness. The world had been a dungeon, if it had not been for the p. 84Sun; and the Church a Hell without Christ.

2. See what need we stand in of Christ, much more then of the Sun. Satius solem non lucere (quam Chrysostomum non d…cere) quam Christum non lucere. Better not see the Sun, then not know Christ. Better without eyes then without faith Can we not walk but stumble without light? nor rise to work till Sun riseth, that we may go forth to labour? We can neither walk, nor work, nor pray, without Christ: Without me ye can John 15: Psal, 104. 20.John 15do nothing but err, wander, stumble, fall, perish. Doth Sun withdraw, and darkness follow? Darkness come, and Beasts of Prey come forth of their Dens? What darknesse followes when Christ withdraws? and then are wee assaulted with Satan and his Temptations. Do wee open our windowes to let in Sun light? open thine eyes and Christ shall give thee light? Is this light cheerful to the Traveller? Lord, what is the light of thy countenance? Blessed are they that know thy joyful sound. They shall Phil. 89. 15walk in the light of thy countenance all the day long. Do we daily need the renewed light of the Sun, and do wee not daily need a fresh supply of the Spirit of JesusPhil. 1. 19.Phil 1:19 Christ!

None but the blinde undervalue the benefit of light; none but of weak eyes are offended at it; none but Thieves and MurderersJob 24. 17.Job 24:17 hate and fly it. None but very ignorant, or very p. 85wicked, take offence at Christ, and are weary of him.

3. This may sadly warne us, who yet a3 little while have the light amongst us, toJohn 12. 35John 12:35 walk as children of light, lest darknesse come upon us, God either taking away his Gospel from us, or us from it, or his blessing from it and us both. The longest day hath his night, and the brightest day of Gospel grace abused, ends in the grossest darknesse. The children of the Kingdome are above all othersMatth. 8. 12Matt 8:12 cast into utter darkness. They who were lifted up highest to heaven, by enjoying most light, are thrown lowest into Hell for abuse of Light, and this Title of condemnation written over their heads, These loved darkness John 3. 19John 3:19better then light, because their deeds were evil. Was it not sad the Egyptians should follow the Cloud and Pillar of Fire into the deep and perish? How many go loaden with Mercies, and lighted with Sermons into the Chambers of Hell? How sad, the Samaritans should bee led blindfold into their enemies hands! More sad, if wee will go with open eyes into Perdition, and with the Decii, leap headlong into the gaping Gulph at noon day! But much more sad, those Samaritans should be stricken blind by the Prophet, sent of God to be a Seer, and to make the blind to see! How sad was it that the Sodomites should bee stricken with blindnesse by an Angel of Light! Sad if Satan the God of the World blind thee; but p. 86nothing so sad as when Christ shal take away thy sight, and God shall blind thine eyes. For this great judgment came I into the world, that they who see not may see, and that they John 6 39John 6:39who wil not see (when they see) should be made blind. The case of none so sad, as those who go to hel with Balaam, after their eyes are opened, and wilfully perish, as did that obstinate thiefe in the presence of a Saviour.

4. Though Christ be the great light and Sun, yet remember that Ministers, Scriptures and Ordinances,, are not to be cast aside. God created the Stars, and placed them in their orbs, as wel as the Sun; they have their measure of light, and place for use, though all of them united, equal not the Suns light, and he present, they of little use. Christ holds the Stars in his right hand, both to present and preserve them; the Church takes them as from Christs hand, and sets them on her head to honour them. They are Christs charge, and the Churches Crowne; in vain is the Arrow shot against the Sun or Stars, it may recoile and wound the shooter, it cannot reach those lights of heaven. Wicked men may be used as Gods snuffers to top (and overtop) his lights (the Ministers) but shall not extinguish them, God hath set them up to give light to his house, he wil not suffer them to be buried under a Bushel. It is our duty therefore, stil to attend to the Scriptures, and to the p. 87Ministry of the Word.2 Pet. 1. 9.2 Pet 1:9

1. To attend to the Scriptures; we have also a more sure word of Prophecie, (said the Apostle) whereunto ye do wel that you take heed, as to a light that shineth in a dark place. Here the Apostle cals Scripture-Light, our most sure rule to walk by. The most extraordinary Revelations are not to be equalled to them. The most solemn, clear, and infallible Revelations are lesse then Scripture. We, saith the Apostle, were with Christ on the Mount, and were eye witnesses of the glorious transfiguration, and were ear witnesses of that Divine testimony, Thou art my beloved Son. Yet you that have none of these Revelations have that which is as sure (more sure, foreign) the holy Scriptures, whereto ye do well to attend, &c.

Obj. But the Antiscripturist objects▪ that we must attend to this light of the written word, till the day star arise, and the day dawn in our hearts; but when we have once the spirits teaching, we neede no more the Letter of the Scripture.

Obs…urus locus est, Tota vita Homints. Dies autem est p…a cognitio Christi, vel vita illa … ata p… ha…. Qamdiu ig… tur his sumus. Summ… utilitatis est Scriptura. A…. in loc.Answ. Here this Scripture is mis-applyed, upon a double mistake. 1. Of what is the meaning of the day dawning, and day star arising in your hearts, which is to be understood of the state of glory, when we shall no more see in a glasse darkly; but while we are here we are in the dark, and in comparison of clear and perfect vision, we may say, now it is night, and then day. This is the first mistake.

p. 882. If you understand it of the Revelation of Christ here, who is the day-star, whose discovery of himself by his spirit to the believers soul, is the day dawning; then is there another mistake in the word Til, it is not a til of termination, but of provocation rather, and so of continuation stil, Til I … Tim 4 13.come, give attendance to Reading. Did Paul mean Timothy should read no more after his coming to him? The leaven is put into the Meale, and it sowres the Dough til all is Matth. 13 33.Matt 13:33leavened; but doth the woman take it out, or doth the sowrnesse cease, when all is leavened? It stil continues. Attend to the Scripture, searching til the day star arise, and then you wil see much more of the use and excellency of the Seripture, then you now imagine. And very observable it is, that our Saviour at his departure after his Resurrection, having breathed on his Apostles, and given them his spirit, bids them not be above Scripture, and lay it by. But he opened their understandings that they might understand Luke 24 45Luke 24:45the Scriptures.

2. To attend on the Ministry of the Word, for Christ hath given not only Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists (extraordinary officers) but Pastors and Teachers to perfect the Saints, to work in the Ministry to build up the body of Christ, til we comeEph. 4, 11, 12, 13.Eph 4:11Eph 4:12Eph 4:13 to a state of perfection, and the whole Church be compleatly gathered and made one perfect man (or body) in Jesus Christ, p. 89viz. to the end of the world.Heb. 8 11Heb 8:11

Ob. Is it not said, they shal not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother? therefore there is an end of the calling of the Ministry.

Answ. 1. Therefore there is a bar to the teaching of the uncalled Artificer. They shal not teach every man his neighbour, that have no more cal then any of his neighbors. It is no where said, that the Minister shall not teach his neighbours.

2. This is meant, there shall be so much of heavenly knowledge by means of the Scripture, Ministers, and Ordinances, when the spirit of God goes along, that they shall not need every man to teach his neighbour; not so much need, his meaning is. Not teach at all, he means not, for he bids them in this Epistle to Exhort one another, Provoke one another, Heb. 3 13 Heb. 10 24 Heb. 13 22Heb 3:13Heb 10:24Heb 13:22and suffer the words of exhortation. All which, he would not have done, if there needed not one man to teach his neighbour at all.

The Particle (not) is in many places not to be taken absolutely, but comparatively; not negatively, but diminutively: we wrestle Eph. 5 John 6 27Eph 5John 6:27not against flesh and bloud, saith the Apostle; not only, not so much, he meaneth; labour not for the meat that perisheth. He means not we should not labour at all; but not only, or not so much, as for that which endureth to eternal lise. To conclude, This place of Heb. 8. 11. is best opened by considering p. 90such a place as that of Christ. At that day, ye shall ask in my Name, and I say John 16 26John 16:26not unto yo…, that I wil pray the Father for you, for the Father loveth you. He meaneth not, that he wil forbear his Intercession; but besides it, they shal find the Father bearing a particular propensity of good wil to them. So here they shal not need to teach one another, as if that was all, but God wil give in his spirit, so that it shal become more effectual; they shal all know me, from the least to the greatest.

Obj. 3. Against Scripture and Ministry both, 1 John 2. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, &c.

Ans. The same answer to this, that to the former. You may with comfort attend on Scriptures, and Ministry of the word, because you have the spirit to anoint your eyes with eye-salve, and lead you into all truth, and to teach you all things, (not all things simply, or all things by inspiration, without use of means) but all written things, all necessary things.

But he meaneth not, they should upon pretending the spirit, either 1. Slight the Scriptures; for then why did he write this Epistle to them, if they needed none to teach them? 2. Or slight the Ministers? for why doth he himself preach and write to them? p. 913. Or Rely on the anointing, as if it was the only Bible and Light, when he tels them notwithstanding the anointing they might be, and were some of them seduced. These things have I written concerning them that seduce 1 John 2 261 John 2:26you.

5. If thou wantest light then, this directs us where to seek it. Go to Christ for it. And for that end, 1. Come out of the earth; live not as worms and moles under ground, God bereaveth such of sight; they would not esteeme the light, but despise it. The darknesse comprehendeth not the light; nor can an earthy heart discern spirituall things. Damps arising from the earth, put out all lights; and those of earthly spirits, cannot savour the things of God, but only those ofJohn 1 5 Luke 16 14 foreign.John 1:5Luke 16:14 the world. The Pharisees who were covetous, when they heard Christ, derided him, saith St. Luke.

2. Live not in th…se climes where the Gospel Sun comes not; follow the light (of Ordinances) as the wise men the Star. Our countrymen go not to Groenland til the Sun have been there, and stay not when the Sun is withdrawing. The Christian, as the Swallow, must follow the motion of the Sun Christ, and of the Gospel his Chariot.

3. Close not thine eyes by wilfull frowardnesse, lest God seals them up with judiciary excoecation, Matth. 13. 13. 15. Do nothing against the truth, but for it, 2 Cor. 13. 8. The Pharisees, because they stood in p. 92their own light, and said, they saw (better then our Saviour) their sin remained; and professing themselves wise, were made fools, foreign, and because they saw they wereRom. 1 21 John 9 40 41Rom 1:21John 9:40 made blind.

4 Op…n thy doors and windowes stand up from the dead, and Christ shal give thee light; Eph. 5 4Eph 5:4do what in thee is, that thou receivest not grace in vaine. We cannot make the Sun rise before Gods appointed time, and before that houre, it is in vaine to open all doors and windowes; these drive not away the night, but the Sun. But when the Sun is up, we may stop it out or let it in. We cannot by digging cause springs run, where God denyeth them; but where he placeth them, we may by digging make a well to receive them, or we may stop them up that they run not to us. We can by no means procure a blast of wind at Sea, then all sails cannot put on the ship▪ but the wind blowing faire, we hoise up the sayle, and have the benefit of it. Nature without grace cannot, grace without endeavour will not save us.

5. Go to thy Minister. The Greeks made their way by Philip, to a sight of Jesus;John 12 21 John 1 35 & 40 compared.John 12:21John 1:35John 1:40 and the first Disciples that Jesus called were John's Disciples formerly. The Magistrate may take civil Marriages out of the Ministers hands, if it be his pleasure; but spirituall and sacred marriages he cannot; they are to espouse believers to their husband, p. 93and to present them as chast Virgins unto Christ, 2 Cor. 11. 2.

6. Pray much to Christ; Lord, that mine …yes may be opened; those blind men had notMatth. …233 power to see, but they had power to be sensible. Lord I cannot see thy light, I can only see my owne darknesse; I cannot pray, or believe, but I can cry. Thou givest both light and sight, light where sight, sight where was no sight, and eye-salve to mend the bad sight. O Lord, who is so blind as thy Isa. 42 19 2…Isa 42:19servant? and who so deaf? Seeing many things, but observing nothing? Take off the scales from these eyes, the vaile from this heart, that I may come out of my darknesse, into thy marvellous light.