The Rising Sun, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Warmth the fourth Property.
THe fourth Property, which I may call the highest in the Sun, is his most comfortable warmth, which is that that crowns all the former. His greatnesse is commended by his glory, glory by his light, and light by this we now speak of, warmth. It is a shining and a burning light, of whose heat we read oft in Scripture, Exod. 16. 21. When the Sun waxed hot. 1 Sam. 11. 9. By that time the Sun be hot. which Property makes this creature … great resemblance of our Sun of Righteousness in many pa…iculars.
1. It is the sole property of the Sun (of all the Heavenly Bodies) to give heat. The Moon and Stars have their Glory, give their measure of Light, give not the least heat, That is the Suns work. Christ is the Garden enclosed, and the Well sealed, of Grace to quicken, of comfort to revi…e the soul. No Angel, minister, Ordinances can; they are of use, and can give light. The Law and Knowledge of God came by Moses, and the Prophets; but Grace and Peace comes onlyJohn 1. 17. by Jesus Christ.
2. The Suns light is of more large extent then is his warmth, that many see, who feelSol non omnes quibus lucet etiam …alefacit. not this; that reacheth those who are far off and lye in the shade: This, those only who are nearer, whom it taketh into closer embraces (it is in his wings, not Beames) and beholdeth with a direct face, and who are a longer space under it. Christ may impart common illumination to those who are far off; but his Grace, and Peace, and Love he imparts to them onelyonly who are nearer to him, more dearly embraced, whom he setteth his eyes and heart upon, spreading his skirt and wings over them. Thus doth he manifest John 14. 22himself to them otherwise then to the world. Many there are enlightned as by a winter Sun, who have also tasted of the Word of God, butHebrews 6. 4. were never warmed at the heart with the Love and Spirit of Christ, who therefore fall away, and as the stony ground, for lack of root and m…ure, hold not out.
3. The Suns warmth is another kind of Heavenly (and Divine) heat, then is in all the Creatures again; fire, cloathes, warm, but not as the Sun. Warm water in Winter will not make trees to grow: let the Husbandman graff, plant, cut, prune, digge, dung, water, no fruit comes of it till the Suns warmth brings it out. The Prophets2 Kings 4. 31 staff laid on the childs face, or if it had been b…oken on his back, brings no heat. But the Prophet laying face to face, and stretching himselfe on the dead child, his warmth brought in warmth and life into that child before dead.
The hens wing hath another heat to form, bring forth and hatch the chicken at first, and to recover it when drooping, then any other heat can have.
Now, as they are alike for these Properties in their Heat, so in their Operations.
1. The Suns warmth, (not light) dryes up the raine, dryes the Fens and High-wayes overf…owen with water, dissolves Rocks of Ice, thawes Mountaines of snow; turnes Mare congelatum, into Mare Pacificum; Mare clausum, into Mare Liberum, which no fire or Engine on Earth, or all the light in heaven could not do. It is Christ his approach dryes up the dirt and mends our wayes. At his approach Fens and Flouds of Ungodlinesse are dryed up, as when he once went through the red sea and Jordan. He breaks the hardest heart, which no Toole, Art, Paines, Terrors and Fire of Hell, and Light of Heaven could do. Zacheus as a Mountaine of snow melted, and the Thief on the Crosse as a Rock of ice dissolved, when this Sun breaks out upon them: ThereforeIsai. 64, 1, 2, 3 the Church prayeth, Oh that thou wouldest rent the Heavens▪ that thou wouldst come down, that the Mountaines might flow down at thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boyle.—Thou camest down, the Mountains flowed at thy presence.
The Suns heat hath a dissolving and mollifying vertue.
2. The Suns heat (not light) at spring produceth various Creatures, which are not engendered by propagation, but owe their being wholly and immediately to the Sun; neither do they live longer then the Suns a biding in those Climes in his strength and vigour. All our Graces in their first Production in the new Creature, owe their very ess… ▪ and afterward their conservari to Christ: Nature hath no hand in this Work. And a… our comforts depend only on Christ his approach and abode with us. Without me ye can do nothing.
The Sun hath also a Creating and vis formativa in it,
3. As the Sun produceth some new, so it reduceth, recovereth and restoreth by a redeeming kind of Vertue, others of the Creatures. To the withered grasse, to the seeds, herbs, plants, trees it gives a new Resurrection. To the Fields another face, to the Earth another Garment. The Suns warmth makes Fish, Fowle, Beasts breed and multiply. Christ by his returne recovereth decayed Grace, Peace, and Comfort, and causeth a new and rich increase of Spiritual life.
It hath a redeeming and recovering vertue also.
4. The heat (not light) of the Sun makes the Creatures grow; trees shoot at the Spring. Rain falls all Winter in vain till the Suns approach, which then maketh good use of all the winter rain, frosts and snow, for the good of the Creatures. All paines, Instructions, Corrections, Reproofs, Terrors, Judgments, Mercies, Ordinances are in vain till Christ himselfe approach, he can make good use of all.
It hath a fructifying vertue we see.
5. The Spring-Sun's warmth gives growth. The Summer-Suns greater and longer continuing heat▪ gives ripenesse and perfection to the fruits and seeds sowen; Christ his nearer coming and making his abode with us, isJohn 14. 23. that which brings Judgment unto Victory, Grace unto Perfection, Peace unto completeness, and brings in the full Harvest of Joy to the waiting Christian. Rain fals in Winter, fills the earth, fowles the wayes; but without fruit, for want of this enlivening heat. But the Summer Sun converts the falling showrs into fruitfulnesse, and his Gleames causeth them to ripen the fruits and hasten Harvest. How untoward are we under all Ordinances, and Dispensations left to our selves? But how doth Christ convert the crossest providences, coldest stormes and soaking showrs of affliction into a meanes to ripen and better us.
Thus it hath a ripening vertue.
6. By reason of this warmth the Creatures are refreshed and delighted. They sport and lye beaking themselves in the Sun; they leap and play. The colder Creatures, as Swallowes and the like, feeling the benefit of the Sun, and knowing their want, observe the Suns motion, come and go with it, stay not behind it, because cannot live without it. So do the godly joy at the presence, know not whether to go in the absence of Christ, after him they seek, with him stay,Num. 9. 22, 23 he departing as at the cloud removing, they pack up and follow. Herein the Christian resembling that admirable Sun…loving Flower Lotos; whereof our English Du Bartas thus.
For lo, so soon as in the Western Seas
Apollo …inks in silver Euphrates,
The Lotos dives deeper and deeper, ay
Till midnight, then remounteth toward day,
But not above the water till the Sun
Do re-ascend above the Horizon.
So ever true to Titans radiant flame,
That rise he, fall he, it is still the same.
It hath an Exhilarating and Reviving Vertue.
7. It is the Light of the Sun which dispels darkness, but i… is his warmth that disperseth mists, chaseth fogs, and drawes up the Vapours. It may be common illumination may drive away ignorance, and fill the mind with some general knowledg; but Christ his love is that which breaketh through the interposing fogs to the heart, and draweth up those Earthy affections toward himselfe.
It hath an Attractive Vertue.
8. The Suns light causeth only an outward alteration in the face of the Air, and superficies of the Earth; but it is the strength of his heat which penetrates the heart of the Earth, and the depths of the Sea; and in the one ingendreth those Pearls, in the other those precious Stones, Jewels, and Mines of Gold and Silver. So may the bare light of the Gospel make an overly change in the face, speech, and outward carriage of a Hypocrite. But the heat and strength of the piercing beams of Christ his Grace and Spirit worketh that inward and mighty change, and breedeth those rich Mines of Grace, Faith, Love, Sincerity, &c. in the hidden man of the heart, and turneth clods of Earth into Gold and Rubies, as wee said before.
Behold the Alterative Vertue of Christ and the Sun.
9. The Suns warmth and heat hath an excellent clarifying and purifying vertue in it; therefore we set out in May, and in the Summer Sun many things to bee purged and brought to their perfection. And how doth it purge and clarifie the spirit, to be under the warm beames of Christ his presence and favour! and how admirably is the impurity of the heart extracted, and the heart refined by this heat!
It is full of clarifying and refining Vertue.
1. This informes what a vast differenceApplicat. 1 Sol non omnes calefacit quibus lucet: ibi instruimur, hîc afficimur. Instructio facit doctiores, affectio sanctiore…. Bernard. there is between Christs reaching, and mans, as much as between the Sun and Stars. They give light, he heat: Man perswades, Christ drawes. As between Winter and Summer showres; they drown and foul the Earth, and make it freeze, these make it fruitful. Moses Ethiopissam duxit, Ethiopissam non mutavit. Moses made an Ethiopian his wife, but could not make his wife not to be an Ethiopian when he had done.
Mans teaching is like mans hewing a stone; he may smooth it, but he cannot make it soft. Christs teaching turnes stone into fl…sh. Man by Education or better Instruction may take a thorn out of the Field, where it was noisom, and set it in the hedg where it is of use (men may make men useful for Societies) Christ turnes this Thorne into aIsaiah 55. ult. Myrtle. Hence see the difference to bee found among so many Hearers; the difference is not in the ground, nor in the seed, but in the Sun and Seeds man. Many are called, few chosen. All with Paul saw the light, Paul only heard the voice. All were stricken down, he only converted. All Israel saw the fire, heard the same voice of words and thunder that Moses did, His face only shone; he had nearer approaches of God unto his soul; Then did the Disciples hearts burne withinLuke 24. 32 them when this Sun was so near and gave light to the darker Scriptures.
It was the Sun, not the Wind, which got off the Travellers Cloak: It is the love ofHosea 11. 4 Deut. 33. 14 Aurum optimum ac gemmas pre…iosissimas ad O…um & Meridi…m nasci▪ Cardan. Oriens & Africa minio & Argento vivo caret. Christ, not Lawes Terror, that maketh sin to be laid by. His Love is cords, his love is chains, his love constrains and drawes, I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of Love.
M…ses speaks of the precions fruits brought forth by the Sun. Where the Suns heat is most predominant, there are the richest Me…tals, the sweetest spices, the rarest fruits, the most precious Jewels. There is not in the East andIn s…ptentrione ferrum in ipsa superficie terrae, ita anrum ad Meridiem in agris & arena pura reperitur. Affrica any Quicksilver, very little Iron; but these meaner Me…tals of Brasse, Iron, Lead, are only in the Northerne Countries; they have Gold as naturally and abundantly as in our Countries Lead and Iron. Where this Sun is near and vertical, what fruitfulness is here over all others? What precious things doth this Sun bring forth? For Brasse I will bring Gold, and for Iron Silver, and for Wood Brasse, and for stones iron, Isaiah 60. 17.
2. It lets us see what difference between the comforts of Christs giving, and those which flow from the Creature. He that leaveth this Fountaine to go drink of those Cisternes, goeth from Gods blessing into the warm Sun (as we say): but he that hath drunk of those, and after tastes of this, finds he is come from the freezing shady side, into the cheering Sun side. The Sun's is Calor Coelestis, the most kindly heat, Christ's the most kindly comforts. The fire in Winter heats for a while, afterwards makes more chill. Strong Water at present warmes, but after leaves the stomack cooler. The end of carnal joy is heavinesse, P…v. 14. 13The Sun's is the cheering and the lasting heat; it heats and alters the air without, and it alters the temper of our bodies, that we need less fire, apparel, and strong drinks. The comfort had from Creatures is presently gone; Christ's alters the temper of our spirits, and abides much longer. The greatest inward heater is Wine, and the greatest outward is fire. Christ his love and comfort warmes more then both. Thy Love is better then Wine, Cant. 1. 2. The coals of Love are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame, Cant. 8. 6.
There are nine differences observable between the comforts of Christs giving, and other comforts.
1. His are soul purifying, whereas others defile it. Carnal mirth lets out all the spirits into looseness. They sate down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. They did eat Exod. 32. Judg. 9. 27and drink, and curse. But Godly and spiritual comfort makes the heart serious, savoury, dilates the heart to receive more Graces, expelleth what is noisom, and is of the same operation with godly sorrow; whose sadnesse Eccles. 7. 3 Act. 9. 31of countenance makes the heart better. Walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, are joyned.
2. Soul pacifying: his comfort and presence gives richest peace: first, his Love lets in Joy, and Joy brings in Peace; these three sit down together; and this Trinity of Blessings, make up the Unity and Perfection of Blessednesse, the Love of the Father, the JoyGal. 5. 22 of the Son, the Peace of the Holy Ghost. Other Joy corrodes and gnawes the heart, hath an ill farewel, and leaveth it in sadnesse.
3. Soul satisfying. Corn, Wine, Oyle, Lands, Moneys satisfie not the narrow eyes, much lesse the enlarged heart. He still cries with the Horsleach, Give, give, give more, give better. The Christians life consists not in these; the Beasts, and the more brutish Worldlings do, who drink both in the same Trough, and feed on the same husks. Theirs is a hungry Joy, this a filling; His strength shall be hunger bitten, Job 18. 12. but John 16. 24. Your joy shall be full.—In thy presence fulnesse of Ioy: and the heart full of thisJob 20. 22 Joy saith not with Esau in a bravado, I have enough, but with Jacob and Paul, I have all, and abound, I am full, &c. Phil 4. 18. Though as having nothing, yet I possess more then all things.
4. Soul quickning, making the soul active, vigilant, fit to pray, sing, praise, fit for Duty, suffering, dying. Godly men are never so fit for duty, never so prepared to dy as with these comforts. The Martyrs have gone singing and dancing with these to the flames. When Judas was gone out to fetch the Officers to apprehend Christ, then did Christ rejoice, Now is the Son of Man glorified, Job. 13. 31, 32now shall God be glorified in him. God shall first be glorified in him, then straightway glorifie him in himselfe. This puts1 Peter 4, 14 that Spirit of Glory, and of God upon the Saints.
The wicked mans Joy is intoxicating, stupifying, besotting, as Hamans, Belshazzers, Benhadads; they eat, drink, feast, and flesh'd with fleshly delights, they run desperatelyJudg. 9. 27, 39 upon danger, as Benhadad, or Gaal the son of Ebed; much like the horse rushing into the Battel, and crying, Aha at the sound of the Trumpet; or else besotted; they eat,Job 21, 13 drink, sleep, spend their dayes in peace, and in a moment go down quick into Hell. like Solomens Ox, who is going to the slaughter, orProv. 7. 22 like Jeremyes Lambs (those who dye like Lambs) In their heat I wil make their feasts, Jer. 51. 39, 40and make them drunken, that they may rejoice and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not awake, saith the Lord. I will bring them down like Lambs to the slaughter, like Rams with hee Goats. Danger is never nearer then when the wicked cry, Peace, peace. Never is he less fit for death, nor dies so miserably, as when overcharged with his Joyes.
5. Soul raising to God, towards heaven, in thankfulness, love, praise, dependance, submission, total resignation of self: these give Wings. Christ is now higher, Grace, the Promise, Salvation is sweeter, Glory and Eternity more precious; and Earthly Pleasures, Profits, Honors fall lower in his esteem. Whereas worldly joies, as worldly sorrowes, are heart-sinking, debasing, depressing.
6. Soul strengthening: The joy of the Nehem. 8. 10Lord is your strength. This strengthens a soul in Grace, and to Duty, in faith, patience, waiting, and in Prayer. Carnal Joy sets men far off from God; they never depart further, and never say to God, depart from us, so much as then. In sorrow they are less desperate; Pharaoh, Ahab, Iehoiakim (such wild Asses) may be taken in their month: I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and thou Jer. 2. 24. and 22. 21, 23wouldst not hear; this hath been thy manner from thy youth.—But how gracious wilt thou be when pangs come upon thee? Look how much Spiritual sorrow brings men nearer to God then carnal joy; so doth Spiritual joy as much more then Spiritual sorrow: therefore in Heaven there shall be all Graces, yet no spiritual sorrow, but all Spiritual joy, because there all is ripe: sorrow here is but the seed, joy is the ripe fruit.
7. This solid: not a flash, as the fire of Thorns, but joyes maintained with joyes, joy leading to joy, a standing boundless joy, an ending endless Joy; whereas the wicked mans joy is brewed with sorrow, compassed with it, tends to it, and ends in it, but hath it self no end.
8. Unmixt. others muddy, impure, mixt with sin, guilt, gripes of conscience; and when ready to run over, cooled with the handwriting upon the wall, the remembrance of his sin, the apprehension of Gods wrath. But Spiritual joy is the purest thing in the world; as the light of the Sun, light without darkness; as his warmth, pure without smell or smoak.
9. Permanent; never eclipsed, not by any disease or danger threatning death. 2 Cor. 1. 12. not any distress. 2 Cor. 16. 10. as sorrowing, but alway rejoicing. John 16. 22. Your joy shall no man take from you. They must needs swim in Joy whom Christ holds up by the chin. And as Josephs bow, so the ChristiansGen. 49. 22 joy must needs abide in strength when hee hath such a wall at his back, and such a well at his foot. At this Beer-la-hai-roi Hagar Gen. 16may fill her empty bottle as oft as she will, and thirst no more.
3. This directs what to do when wee complaine wee cannot profit, and do not thrive, The heart yeilds not, the sin decayes not. Go to Christ, desire to be under the direct beames of the Sunne. Trees thrive not in the shady side. Cry, Blow, O Cant. 4. 16.North wind, and breath O South wind, distil O raine, and look out thou Sun upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out. Let my Beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits. Hast thou a heart that will not yeild under Judgments? his Love can melt it. The Manna dissolved by the SunsNumb. 11. …. gentle heat, that was hardned and dryed in the Oven or boiling pot. Whom the furnace of Judgments burn, and the Oven heated with wrath doth bake and harden, the melting love of Christ doth mollifie. The last and …orest Vyal upon sin, which ends the mystery of iniquity, and finisheth Satans Kingdom, is poured from the Sunne. The brightnesse of Christs appearing is the destruction of Antichrist, and is that which alone distroyes the works of the Divel in the heart. Cry out therefore with the Church, Oh that thou wouldst rent the Heavens and come, and make this Mountaine melt and this rock flow at thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boyle. As thou didst of old at Mount Sinai, when thou didst terrible things that wee looked not for. Is my heart harder then the rock, higher then Mount Sinai; break this Rock, cast down this Mountain. Though I have had my part of Terro…s, and been brayed with the pestle of afflictions, though I have not wanted for light, yet my heart yeilds not, my heart freezeth in the shade, in midst of noon day light, as in the depth of Winter. There is one thing only remains, and the work is done. Shine out thou Sun of Righteousnesse, and with the warme beams of thy favour melt those Rocks of Ice, and bring downe these Mountaines of snow. Thou causest thy Spirit and warmer breath to blow, and the waters flow, Psal. 147. 18.
4. Comfort to them that have Christ near to them. They are like those Countries near the Line, they shall have a perpetual Spring, no Autumn; A constant Summer, no Winter in their year, but a renewed and successive harvest. These shall never want Grace sufficient, and peace necessary. Their tree casteth not leaf, nor loseth fruit. Christ will be both Sun and Shield: he will go with you in trouble. In the fire go with you, and be a Sheild to keep you from burning; in the water be a Sun to warm you, and keep you from shaking. So he was to Jacob, Sun by day burnt him not, and frost by night starved him not. The Lord will create upon every Isaiah 4, 5. 6.dwelling place in Mount Sion, and upon her Assemblies, a cloud and smoak by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence; and there shall be a Tabernacle in the day time for a shadow from the heat, and for a place of Refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. When the worldlings heart is cold in his belly, as Nabal, who became as cold as a stone; and when like old David thy native heat is decaied so far, that no cloathes nor fire can keep thee warm, Christ the Shunamite shall lye in thy bosom and cheer thy heart, that thou shalt say for joy, Aha, I am warm, the world is well amended with me, The Winter Cant. 2, 11, 12is past, the rain is over and gone, the Flowers appear on the earth, the singing of Birds is heard in the air, and the voice of the Turtle soundeth, and the Spring is come.