The Rising Sun, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. The fourth thing wherein there is a likenesse between Christ and the, Sun is their effects.
AMong the many like effects, I shall content my self to name a few. (Having among the Properties touched on divers already, and finding this discourse, begin to swel beyond my first intention) 1. The Suns appearance makes the day, puts an end to night, not all the sta…s conjoyned; so it is Christ his appearance which makes the Christians day; when he appeared to Saul and Silas at midnight in the dungeon, they could see to sing &Acts 16. 25. praise God; and when to Paul before at midday; his eyes were dazeled, not with the Suns, but with that light (of Christ appearing) far above the brightness of the Sun.
2. The Suns first appearance bringeth day, Acts 26. 13.his neerer approach the spring, his hotter beams the Summer, his longer continuance brings on the harvest. So is it with the Soul, to whom after the first day of grace caused by Christ his first appearance, the neerer approach of his Vernal rising, with his Healing-wings-embrace, causeth the growth or spring. The walking in the light of his countenance all the day long, makes the long summers day, and his abiding with us makes ou… Psal. 8915.harvest and our joy to be full.
3. The Sun departing, night comes on, his longer absence brings on winter; in the one so much darknesse, in the other so much of cold, wet, and dirt, as if it been never had either day or Summer. What a night of darknesse came upon Lot and Peter (Christs back once turned) but what a longer winter for cold, and mire, and dirty waies on David, upon that sad dereliction! The actings of Saints in such cases differing little from the most vile actings of gracelesse men, if they were to be judged by such single exorbitances. But Sunne ariseth and returneth, those then awake by repentance, and come to themselves again.
4. It is the Sun which makes that difference in climes and countries, makes one more sweet and delightful, another more sad, and not inhabitable, (those neer both Poles;) makes one more fertile, others more barren. And what is it but Christs presence, which makes the Church differ from the rest of the world? he makes it a Goshen, whereas they have a perpetual night and winter. What was it wherein Israel might glory above all other nations, but this? they had God so neer to them, in all which they called to him for; His cloud and pillar was continually among them.
5. The Sun is the great Restorer of the world, Redintegrates the Universe once in the yeare (at the Spring, as some conceive, at Autumn as others) puts the world into the same condition wherein it was created. Herein a great Resemblance of Christ, who is the worlds great Restorer and Renewer, who hath put lost mankind into the same condition of happiness wherein hee was at first created, as if he had never fallen or sinned. Behold I make all things new, saithRev. 21, 5 Christ.
6. I might further also speak of the Productive, and as it were the Creating effects of the Sun in bringing forth new Creatures yearly, as well as of his reductive, reviving, and redeeming the plants and herbs before dead and gone, as also of his nutritive and augmentative effects on all Vegetables, his admirable Alterative vertue and operation on Metals and Minerals, his Conservative, Maturative and Consummative Vertue and Effects on the Fruits and living Creatures; but I have touched on them already. Herein is Christ his vigorous operations fully represented; who besides his redeeming lost man, maketh the new Creature, createth grace de novo where none was, recovereth what was lost, reviveth what was decayed; nourisheth what is weak, increaseth what is small, conserveth what is wrought, hath a more admirable alterative force in an earthly or stony heart, then the Sun in causing Gold and Silver to grow in the earth, making flesh to grow where stone was, spirit where flesh was, grace where sin, Heaven where Hell was; turning a Swine-sty into an holy Temple: and besides, he ripeneth, perfecteth, consummateth whatever work of grace he hath wrought already.
7. Sun rising man goes forth cheerfully toPsal. 104 his labour; but setting, man comes home and gives over work. What may not a weak man undertake, Christ present and assisting? I can do all things through Christ strengthening me, Phil. 4. 1…said the Apostle; but what ca… the strongest do withour him? Without me (saith the Lord)Isaiah 10 4 they shal bow down under the Prisoners, and fall under the slaine. The Chariot, though it have four wheels, and they all oyled, yet moves not a step till drawne. Our Wil, though very active naturally, and oyled with all the skill Art can use, or with all the force Arguments can make, st…rs not in any gracious manner till assisted by Grace, and acted by Christ; Draw me, wee will run after Cant. 1. 4 and 6. 12thee; and my soul shall be as the Chariots of Aminadib.
8. The Sun present, we see our way, theJohn 11. 9 Traveller stumbles not; but when withdrawn, hee loseth his way, stumbles, or falls into a pit, gropeth as if blind, is full of perplexed doubts and sadnesse of heart. While Christ was with his Disciples, he kept them (though they were as sheep among wolves) not one of them was lost; but when he was seized on, (their light was taken away) the same night they were all scandal…zed and fell. Judas, while he kept Christs company, stumbled not; Christ departed, he fell into a pit and broke his neck; Peter stumbled and got a foule fall. When we follow the light of Christ his holy example, or have the light of his Grace following us, wee never fall; but when wee leave his example, or his spirit leaves us, wee presently miscarry.
9. Let me add one more. We see all the Creatures how they are delighted with the presence of the Sun. When the Sun approacheth, the Elements change their habit and temper, the Air growes more mild, warm, and pleasant, and all those numerous tenants (those daughters of Musick) do warble and eccho out their cheerful notes to the praise of the Sun; they build, they breed, they rejoyce (many of them come, stay, returne with this their great Leader and Commander.) The waters wax warme and temperate; there the fishes leap, play, breed and multiply. But the Earth especially decked as a Bride to meet this Bridegroom, cloatheth her selfe, and all her family in new and divers coloured apparel, and with their several New years Gifts present the worlds Benefactor with their Best, that he may not come in vain to any of their dwellings. Oh that wee were the Creatures Scholers, or School-fellowes in this respect, to acknowledge the benefits, admire the perfections, sing out the praises of this Sun of Righteousnesse, and with our best Presents of Thankfulnesse and Fruitfulnesse: shew we are loath to receive so much grace in vaine.