The Rising Sun, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name.
TO you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise.]
Having spoken of Christ apart, that he is the Sun of Righteousness, and of the godly apart, that they are such as fear his Name; We will now bring them together, (and they are best when together) Christ and they that fear his Name.
Doct. What ever the present condition and apprehension of such as fear Gods Name may be, there shall be a day when Christ shall rise upon them.
They shall come out of the cold shade into the warm Sun, and out of all their darkness into his marvellous light. To the upright ariseth light in darkness, saith David. TheyPsalm 112. 4 Isaiah 60. 1 shall hear that voice, Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
To speak the least, all the godly shall before they taste of death see this Promise fulfilled, and see the Kingdom of God come into them with power; or when they have tasted of death, they shall enter with power into the Kingdom of God, Mark 9. 1. where our Saviour implies, 1 That the godly do but taste or sip of deaths cup. It is a bitter potion to the wicked who drink the dregs. Christ tasted of death himself, Heb. 2. 9. Wicked ones are said to dy the death, the godly to taste onelyonly; and Christ is their Taster, therefore they need not fear it. 2. Nor shall they so much as taste neither till they have had a taste of Heaven, the Kingdome of God coming with power. Saint John hadRevel. 10. 9 honey in his mouth, before the gall in his belly. God will Antidote his servants against the bitterness of death by his cordial Promise; and then death tastes sweet, when heaven is tasted before.
This Promise doth imply, 1. That such as belong to God, and have true grace, (fear his name) may have small store of Peace and Comfort, no present sense and taste of the loveIsaiah 50. 10 of God, but walk long in darkness, seeing no light at all.
2 That as their condition is sad, their apprehension may be sadder, having nothing but fears, dreadfull fears of the Name of God.
3 Or that they may after a short winter day have a long night, without Sun and Stars a long time, as Pauls company in their tedious Sea Voyage. They may cry out with many a longing wish for day, and say withJob 29. 2. 3 Job, Oh that it were with me as in times past, when the candle of God shined upon my head, when by his light I walked through darknesse. The Lord is to some of his people as a wayfaring man that turnes aside to tarry but one Jer. 14. 8.night. The Lord comes guest-wise, as the Angel to Manoahs wife, who after the first apparition waited long for a second visite, andJudg. 13. 21. having that, never had a third; her busband never had but one.
4. They may be long under sad desertions, Lam. 3. 17.even to forget prosperity, and complaine pro tempore, as if God dealt with them as with Saul. I am sore distressed, and the Lord hath 1 Sam. 28. 15forsaken me, and answereth me no more.
5. They may be also sick withall (which makes long nights seeme much longer) soulesick, their hearts fainting for the salvation of God, as David complained, saying, whenPs. 119. 81, 82 wilt thou comfort me. What need of this sun-rising with healing else?
6. They may be also ready to sink under the weight of their own guilt, and Gods displeasure. What need of a Sunne of Righteousnesse else?
7. Yet suppose all this, and what more you can, Christ shall arise to purpose on these poore soules as the Sun in his strength, dispelling darknesse (as a cloud) dispersing righteousnesse (as beames of light) curing all the soule distempers with his healing vertue.
1. The reason hereof is partly from somewhatReas. 1. in God. 2. Partly from somewhat in themselves. 1. On Gods part. 1. His Power gives the first hope of it. He can say, Let he re be light, and there shall be light. Hee who at first commanded light to shine out of darknesse, can cause his marvellous light2 Cor. 4. to shine on those who sit in darknesse.
2. His power gives hope, but his promise (this promise here and many others) makes it certain. When God created the first light, there was onelyonly power and will set a work, there had been no Promise; here is a promise: Gods power makes things possible▪ his promise, things certain. It was onelyonly possible there should bee these heavens and this earth before Creation; there was no promise. But it is certain there shall be a new heaven 2 Pet. 3. 13.and new earth, because wee according to his promise expect it. It was possible that Christ might come to dissolve the works of Satan when Adam fell. But is certain Christ shall come to them that fear him; Here is his promise.
3. His Love backs his promise, as that hisPsal. 19. power. He that is for Power a Gyant, and for his promise and engagement Sponsor, is for his love as a Bridegroome and Spouse to his Church, whom he hath betrothed to himselfe in loving kindnesse, righteousnesse, mercies Hos. 2. 19. 20.and faithfulnesse.
4. His glory engageth all the former. There is never more glory given to God then when he maketh good this promise. Great rejoycing there is when shee who hath been long barren, hath conceived, as Sarah, Hannah. When he who hath been long in captivity is inlarged, as Joseph; when the exile is returned, when the blind come to see. The privation or want of the mercy sets the higher price upon it when it comes. The desire attained is a tree of life. Here the greatestProv. 13. 12. joy. Sing Oh barren, thou that didst not bear, Isai. 54. 1.break forth into singing, and cry aloud thou that didst not travel with child▪ Sharon breaketh forth into singing, and Lebanon claps his hands, and all the birds of the wood, and beasts of the field sing and leap for joy. The earth puts on her new clothes to entertain the welcome sun.
2. Partly, from somewhat in them. 1. Their prayers raise this sun (as the Prince of darknesse is raised by magick spels, and cursed imprecations,) Christ is raised by invocation. Thus the Disciples made the Sunrise before day, to still the tempest. What the Poets fained of the Moons coming downe to Endymion, may bee spiritually verified of Christ. This Sun of righteousnesse often comes downe to imbrace such as fear him, and call him downe by prayer.
2. Because of their miseries. In all theirIsai. 63. 9. Psal. 12. 5. Isai. 57. 18. Ezek. 16. 6. spiritual affliction, he is afflicted, and because of the sighing of the afflicted, he saith, I will up, I will rise and shine upon him; I have looked upon him, and see him in his bloud, I will heale him, and say unto him, live.
3. Their prayers move him much, their miseries more. But their grace make his bowels to role, and his repentings kindled within him. I have heard him bemoaning himselfe, I will surely have mercy on him: I Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20.have spoken against, but I will now remember him. Repentance is such a grace as overcomes Gods displeasure; holy fear gaines his favour; faith gets his heart; humility gets what grace it would have; he that resists the proud, and departs from the ungodly, He looketh Job 33. 27.upon man, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which is right, and it profited me not, He will deliver his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. So that we may say, Light is sowen for the righteous, Psal. 97. 11.and joy for the upright in heart: sowen in these two fields, 1. Of Gods eternall decree, in his power, promise, grace and love: These are the upper springs. 2. In the field of their graces, and holy duties, these are the neather springs, both which fal into one river, and make glad the City of God, both these fields yield a plentiful harvest of comfort to the godly.
Quest. But here the godly soul is oft troubled and saith, when shall this promise beeEzek. 12. 27 fulfilled? this vision is for many dayes to come. When will this Sun arise?
Answ. Though the Sun keep a certaine houre of his arising knowne to all, yet of this day and hour knoweth no man, when this Sun of righteousnesse will arise. The operation and course of nature is much alike. The dispensations of grace and peace are various & more different then any other actings of God, therefore nothing can be set downe certainly as a constant rule.
There are four notable dayes of the coming of Christ, two in this life, two after, all alike unknowne. 1. When Christ will come with his fanne in his hand, refiners fire, and fullers soap, at conversion to purifie an elect unconverted. 2. When with healing under his wings, to cheer and satisfie the Elect converted, yet unsatisfied soule. 3. The third great and notable day of the Lord is at death, when he comes as a Bridegroome, his reward with him to make perfect the elect converted, comforted soule; yet never perfected. And the fourth is the greatest of all when he cometh in the clouds to render to all according to their deeds. None of these four dayes of the Lord are like the Lords day which is knowne and kept by all alike, and we know that after every six dayes another will certainly follow; but as the thiefe by night, or the lightning (notLu. 17, 24, 25 27 the sun) by day, come suddenly, unexpected, or as the dayes of Noah and of Lot were, so shall all these comings of the Son of man be. 1. Those dayes came but once. 2. Came of a sudden. 3. Came to put a mighty difference between them and others, yet had we not need bee as the world was then, Eating, drinking, sinning, singing, &c. but as Noah and Lot, fearing, waiting, praying, preparing.
Samuel had the Sunne breaking out in the morning, (he was called young) and it shined all day to his old gray …ayres.
Abraham had no sun, nor …ight of heavenGen. 12. 4. Gen. 15. 1, 12, 18. …il he was seventy five years old, and had a sad houre of darknesse before the covenant made. The Lord had said hee would be a shield to him, before he shewed himselfe to be his Sun.
Job had a glorious morning Sun in his younger age. It was sadly overclouded at Noon, but brake out again ere night. Solomon the like or more glorious morning and noone, waded toward evening and set in a cloud.
Moses had frequent familiarity with GodNum. 12. 7, 8. as a friend, forty dayes entertained by him as his Ghest, and one day above all the rest had into the banquetting house as his onelyonly favourite, hee saw the similitude of the Lord, heard his Name proclaimed, beheld his glory, and had this superadded, I know thee by thy name, and thou hast found favour in my Exod. 33. 12.sight.
Jacob was twenty whole years kept in suspence about his sonne Joseph, ere he knew what was become of him, and full twenty years it was betweene his first vision at Bethel; and that at Penuel, where he saw God face to face.
Thomas was but eight dayes under thatJoh. 20. 26. uncomfortable fit of incredulity, then full satisfaction. Manoahs wife had two heavenlyJudg. 13. apparitions, not long between the one and the other, no more all her life. Solomon had his two also. The Son of God bad only one transfiguration; and twice that testimony,Luk. 3. & Luk. 9. Thou art my Beloved Son: the rest of his life was all Humiliation. Heman and Ethan haply never saw the sun of righteousnessePsal. 77. & 88. shine out all their dayes, never got higher then faith of Adherence, yet dyed in faith, not having received the promises.
But first, usually the Promise is made good when the Christian is conscientiously attending on Gospel ordinances to meet God in his way: when we wait to receive, God wayteth to bestow grace. 1. The Lords day is usually the day of the Lord, the desired dayLuk. 17. 22 Revel. 1. 10 of the Son of man; on that day John being in the spirit had that communion with Christ and the Revelation of so great mysteries. The Sabbath sanctified, is also blissed. Isaiah 56. 7 Exodus 20. 24The house of prayer is the place where God will make his people joyfull, and where God records his name in any place hee will there meet and blesse his people. Upon Isaiah 4. 5every dwelling place of mount Syon and upon her assemblies the Lord hath promised to creaete a cloud and smoak by day, and a pillar of fire by night, for upon all the glory shall bee a defence. Where was Christ to bee found but in the Temple? And when did he appearLuke 2. 46 to his Disciples but on the Lords day, one day after another? It is observed, if there beJo. 20. 19. 29 any wind at all stirring, it is about the Church, and if any breath of the spirit, it is within the Church. Sometimes Christ setsIsaiah 57. 19 this fruit on the Preachers lips, and there you must gather it.
Sometimes (and as usually) in and after prayer; Cornelius had his, and Peter his visionActs 10. when both at prayer; Christ had both those famous testimonies by audible voyce on the day of the holy Ghosts Transfiguration into a dove, and his owne Transfiguration Luke 3. 21. & 9 21after, when at prayer. When did Jacob see the face of God, but when he wept Hosea 12. 4and made supplication?
Often at the Sacrament, when wee set John 3. 33 Deut. 26. 17 18to our seals, and avouch God for our God, he sets to his seal▪ and doth avouch us for his people. Christ at Baptism received that first testimony from the Fathers mouth and the spirits descending upon him. And how many doe we read of, that have together withActs 2. 48. 8 & 10. 37 the water Baptisme received that also of the holy Ghost? So for that other Sacrament, how many can say in experience, the Lord hath been known to them in breaking of bread, when not till then discovered? Abraham Luke 24. 35 & 32 Genesis 15had the covenant first made and sealed at that first and notable Sacrament, or Sacramental sacrifice so solemnely celebrated. When Hezekiah and his people prepared themselves to a religious celebrating the2 Chron. 30 19, 20, 27▪ Passeover, their prayer came up to heaven, God heard and healed his people.
Wait then upon God in the way of his owne ordinances. And if thou know not yet where Christ is to be found, goe thy way Cant. 1. 8forth by the foot steps of the flock, and feed thy kids besides the shepherds tents.
2. Sometimes God revealeth himselfe in an extraordinary manner, when we have been seeking him in a more extraordinary manner: when Jacob was more importunate then ever, had wrestled, and wept all night, he saw Gods face in the morning.Gen. 32. 24
3. Often before some singular tryall to be undergone, and some hard service to bee performed; Jacob had that laetificall vision Gen. 28 Gen. 37at Bethel, when he was to enter on Labans hard service. Joseph had his divine dreame before hee was sold, that he might have somewhat to live upon in his hard bondage. Christ Iesus had that first Testimony Matth. 3 & 4before that first and great tentation of forty dayes. Moses and Gideon were prepared and forearmed with several signes that theyExodus 4 Jud. 6 & 7 might not dread those difficult undertakings they were set upon; if we have well provinder'd the horse over night, his Master reckons he may travel him the farther next day. Expect some change of weather when thou seest the Sun rising early, and shining gloriously.
4. Often againe after some great and sad tryal. Iacob never so much afraid of Esaus face, a little before he saw Gods face; and when he heard of Esau coming with his Troops to cut him off, hee saw Gods host encamping at Mahanaim to secure him; after the Trumpet had sounded louder and louder in Sinai terrours, Moses spake, and the Lord answered; after the last and sorest throw theExodus 19. 19 child is borne. And after the great thunderclap heaven is opened, and the refreshing showers fall plentifully on the thirsty earth.
5. Often even when under the heat and brunt of sorest tryalls and conflicts. Holy Steven standing before the Judge (who condemned Acts 7. 55, 56him, and the people who shut their ears against his Apology) sees heaven open, and his Saviour standing up to absolve him in heaven, who was condemned on earth; in the midst of the fiery furnace, the Son of Daniel 3. 25God walked among those precious sons of men. Into the dungeon, where Paul and Silas Acts 16, 25were cast, the Sun arose, and shone out at midnight. The spirit of Glory and of God never sits neerer, nor rests longer upon any1 Pet. 4▪ 14 then upon Gods servants under their greatest sufferings.
6. Sometimes again after some singular act of a well tryed obedience. After that high acting of Abrahams faith and obedience in a ready offering of his son, God could not hold, but speaks expressely, By Gen. 22. 16, 17my selfe I have sworn, that in blessing I will blesse thee. The like to Jacob after hee had sanctified his whole family, and had taken hisGen. 35. 9, 10, 14, 15 journey to Bethel, the Lord appeared more fully, and renewed the former promise and covenant with him.
7. But if at none of these forenamed times, then usually a while before they taste …f death. The Sun breaks out when near …tting, and gives the signe of the faire day Deut. 34. 1, 5…f eternity following. Moses saw not Canaan but at Nebo, there saw and dyed. Ste…en saw heaven open at his death, never before; before he had been full of faith, now of Assurance; before of Courage, now of Comfort; hee had believed in Christ before, …ow hee beholds him; hee was a precious Saint before, now like an Angel full of glory, from a lower heaven here on earth he ascendes to a higher, from vision, he goes …o fruition. Iesus Christ gave up the Ghost …n peace after that bloody agony in the garden, his bloudy death on the Crosse, and after that double horrour of darknesse. The Sun withdrawing his natural, and the Father his divine …ight from his spirit, yet all ended well.
8. But if not then, nor before, then certainely immediately upon the dissolution, then is this and all the other promises (not fulfilled in life) perfectly accomplished, thereforeHeb. 11. 13 Heb. 6. 12 wee are said here on earth to embrace the promises, there to inherite them. Here the childe of God is heire of the promises, yet (as the great heire during minority) hath but a smal part not the whole of his inheritance till he come to full age. Death is the time to us when we come to that state.
There are many promises never actually and wholly fullfilled til death, then are they all to the full. Manyare called [Blessed … here, that are onelyonly so by vertue of a promis… to be fulfilled then. Blessed are the poor i… spirit, Blessed such as mourne, as hunger an… thirst after righteousnesse. They have th… promise now, they have the blessedness, an… the fruition of the promise then. Now ju… ad rem, then jus in re.
9. Lastly, after all, and above all, at th… day of judgement. There shal be a rising o… the Sun, and a rising of the Saints: when thi… Bridegroome shal put on his glorious robe attended with ten thousands of his Saints the children of the Bride-chamber, and shall be admired in all those that believe; hee with2 Thes. 1. 10 Revel. 7 his Crowne on his head, they with thei… Palmes in their hands. Then shall bee sai… to all that feare his name, arise, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light; …oh. 5. 14 Isaiah 60. 1arise and shine, for thy light is come▪ The… shall all feare cease, teares be wiped away death and finne be svvallovved up in victory darknesse and shadows flye away. And th… Lamb shall be the Sun, this Sun shining i… his strength never more to set to all eternity▪ Then shall the Sunne be ashamed, and the Moone confounded, when the Lord of Host… shall reigne in Mount Zion, and in the New Isaiah 24. 23Jerusalem, and before his Ancients gloriously.
1. This shewes that the people of GodUse 1. may expect and meet with sad times here both for themselves, and for the Church. They who can say, are there any comforts like my comforts? Shal there be any joys like my joyes? May at present say, Behold and see if there be any sorrows like my sorrows? I am he who hath seen affliction by the rod of Lam. 1. 12 Lam 3. 1, 2his wrath. Hee hath led me and brought mee into darknesse and not into light.
In the world tribulation is the Churches legacy, and first payment; In Christ peace their last portion, and ful payment.
2. Yet may the godly expect glorious times also (many are apt to dream of such on earth, but that will not be til Christs kingdomJohn 18. 36 is of this world, which never was yet.) There are two glorious times the godly may expect. 1. On earth for their souls, when this glorious promise is fulfilled, when this Sunne of righteousnesse hath risen on them with healing in his wings. This is the most glorious day to be expected on earth. All Solomons glory nothing to this. The approach of God in those signal manifestations of his presence toNum. 16. 19 & 42 Rom. 9. 4 Isaael, is oft called the glory of the Lord, and the greatest glory of his people.
2. The other is in heaven; There are glorious times to bee expected indeed, when the Sun shall no more give light by day, nor the Moone by night, but the Lord shall be thy Isai. 60. 19, 20everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. These are the onelyonly glorious times the Scripture speaks of. Therefore let the over-busie and earthy Disciple take off his thoughts from Kingdomes, and the right-hand, andMat. 21. 21, 22 left-hand in seats of glory. And think againe of the old Cup and Baptisme of Christ, wherin the true professour may sooner become an Anabaptist then he is aware. Baptized, not baptismo flaminis, but sanguinis, not flaminis, but flammae, not with the holy Ghost, but with fire.
3. This informes us that the foundation of all true peace and comfort is layd in Grace. The Sun of righteousnesse onelyonly riseth on them that feare his Name, Grace and Peace alway joyned, but Grace leads the way; unsound Peace may goe before or without Grace, true Peace never without, never before Grace.
The same seed brings forth the straw and corne too; the husk, chaffe and kernel grow together, but are oft parted, not to their losse. The corne is beaten out of the straw by threshing, the kernel from the chaff by winnowing, yet are both the purer and more fit for use; Grace and Peace grow both upon one stalk, yet may Grace be beaten out of Peace and remaine pure.
4. What a mighty difference is there betweene the godly and the wicked, both in their Sorrowes and Comforts? Their Rock is not alike.
1. In sorrow there ariseth to the godly light in darkness, non dantur purae tenebrae Psalme 112. 4to him; in the wildernesse he hath in darkest night a Pillar of fire; when his wine is gone, Christ can turne his water into better wine; when he is distressed he is not deserted, when2 Cor. 4. 8 & 6. 10 perplexed not in despaire; as sorrowing but then most rejoycing; when having nothing, then possessing all things, but the wicked in their distresse are forsaken of God as Saul was. They runne up and down fretting, fuming, cursing God and King, and all that come in their way, and when they look down on the earth, behold nothing but trouble and darkness, and dimness of anguish, and after all Isaiah 8. 21, 22they are driven into darkness. He oft runs mad Deut. 28. 34for the sight of his eye, which he must, but cannot see, and for the sorrow of heart, which he cannot, yet must endure. Job fals down, and blesseth, Saul fals down, and despaireth; Job 1. 20Job fals, and lights on his knees, and takes no hurt; Saul fals, and the first that1 Sam. 28. 20 comes to ground was his head, and he is tataken up dead.
2. In their comforts there is a great difference. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out, and how oft cometh their destruction upon them? God distributeth sorrows in his Job 21. 17anger, saith Job. And againe, A dreadfull Job 15. 21sound is in his eares. In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. The wickeds joy is as a fire of thornes, or the childrens squibs which crack, smoak, burst and dye; or as the flash of lightning vanisheth as it shines, but after it a terrible thunderclap; or at best as the candle, which if it bee not suddenly blown out, is shortly burnt out. The godly mans comfort is as the Sun, whose light no winds can blow, no time can burne out; Job 31▪ 28they look not upon your sun when it shineth, They have a light as Paul had shining about them, passing the brightness of the Sun; hee cares not to eat of your dainties, having Jo…. 4, 32meat to eat the world knows not of.
1. His Sun is a rising, morning, lightincreasing Sunne; yours an Evening, setting Sunne.
2. His Sunne once risen, sets no more, but shineth more and more to that prefect day of eternity; yours once set, shall never rise more, but as Sodoms Sun entred into a thick cloud, as soon as risen, and set in fire and brimstone.
3. The godly's Sunne brings with it righteousness. The Joy of the Lord is the strength Isaiah 64. 5of their graces, they rejoyce and work righteousness; their comforts are chaste, pure and, heartpurifying. The joy of the hypocrite, is a polluting and infective joy; they are bad at all times, worse in their merry fit. Then they say to God, depart from us. They eatJob 21. 14 and drink, and curse God in their hearts. They feast and revel, and praise no other God, but the Gods of gold, and silver, and wine, and wantonness, till the hand-writing on the wall make them leave off with horrour.
4. The godly's comforts bring healing with them, make the soule more sound, expell vanity, increase humility, advance piety, sti… up to pray, beget praises, exalt God.
But the delights of the wicked taints the soul, ingender Diseases, as the sultry heat and moisture in Summer is the mother of putrefaction.
5 The godlies comforts are healing again, bringing the soul into perfect good constitution, removing the Disease. The wickeds increase and strengthen the Diseases; his is as water in a Fever, which only cooles as it goes, but feeds the Fever. The godly mans as wine to one in a languishing condition, which cheeres the heart, and begets good spirits.
6 The comforts of the godly make them grow (they never shoot higher, and thrive better, then when under or after those comforts.) They then are fat and flourishing, Psalm 92. 14grow up as fatted Calves in the Stall, that come on apace when well kept, are lively, lightsome, and will be the sooner fit for the plough or pale.
But the comforts of the wicked make them grow as wild Bulls of Basan, more brutish, hurtful, unruly. They grow fat as the heifer Jerem. 50. 11at grasse, and bellow as buls that are shortly to be brought to the slaughter.
5 The last Use is, to encourage the people of God in their present sadnesse. Let them expect, pray, wait, hope, and importune God to fulfil this Promise, Shall they Jeremiah 8. 4fall and not arise? Shal he turn away, and not returne? Hath God cast away his people? No, God forbid, saith the Apostle. Is theRomans 11. … Sun so set as to rise no more, hath not the longest night his morning following? Sit not still then in despondency. as the Egyptians under their judgement of darknesse, as men without hope, but up and pray as Jacob, till break of day. Urge this Promise; come in when thou art full of fears, as Bathsheba to David, Did not my Lord promise me so and so, and is it thy mind I should be disappointed? Produce this Scripture, Are1 Kings 1. 17, 18 not these thy own words; thy hand writing? whose Staffe and Bracelet is this? Or as David when he had that Promise, 2 Sam. 7. he came before God, and fell to Prayer, his heart was full, his faith was strengthenned, his Joy encreased, he was full of great expectations, Therefore hath thy servant found 2 Sam. 7. 25, 26, 27in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee, because thou hast revealed so much in the ear of thy servant. So say thou to God, Lord, remember Psalm 119thy Word unto thy servant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust.
Say, Lord, I should never open my mouth to ask, if thou hadst not promised; nor could I once hope if thou hadst not power; not should I desire, if it were not for thy glory; nor could I mourn for it, if I did not fear thy Name.
Lord, look on thy Promise, my need, thy glory, and my fear. Chase away shadows, Come my Beloved, and be like the Roe, o… like the Hart on the Mountains of Spices▪ The Roe can leap over the mountains, though I cannot get over Molehils; either makePsalm 18. 33 my feet like Hinds feet, and set me upon my high places, or be thou as the Roe. Lord Jesus, thou couldst come to Peter, and canstMatthew 14. 25 to me walking upon the waters; I would to thee, but cannot; stretch out thy hand of Love, when I cannot stretch out the hand Faith: Lord save me, I perish. I cannot apprehend thee, do thou comprehend me. The childs little arms cannot clasp about the Father, yet the fathers do emb…ace his childs nevertheless.
Oh Lord, I am shut up, I cannot come forth Psalm 88. 8to thee, when doors are shut, but thou couldst come in to thy Disciples when all doors wereJohn 20 shut.
Thou hast wings and canst come swiftly,Psalm 70 make no tarrying, O my God. The Chariots of the Sun tarry not beyond the appointed hour, Lord, Why are the wheeles of thy Chariot so slow? If it be paved withCant. 3. 10 Love, O that it were driven or drawen by Love, that it might move more swiftly. The Sun with his wings flies not only over Rocks and Mountaines, but over Seas and Lands Psalm 10. 1without any labour. Why art thou so farJeremiah 14. 8 off, O Lord, and standest as a mighty man astonied, that cannot save?
Lord, why is light given ▪to him that is in Job 3. 10misery, if I may not see the light of thy countenance to lessen my misery? Why do I behold the Sun, if I may not behold the Sun of Righteousness? How sad is it to see day abroad, and night within, all light on earth all dark in Heaven!
Take away thy Sun rather then thy favor, my life rather then thy light, which is better Psalm 63▪ 3 2 Samuel 14then life. If I may not see the Kings face, any Exile had been better. If I may not haveExodus 33. thy presence, any wilderness is good enough to mourn in.
Thou hast stricken me down, as thou didstActs 9 Saul, and I am stricken blind; but wilt thou neither thy self tell me what thou wouldst have me do, nor send some Ananias to me?Romans 11. 33 Thou hast shut me up in unbelief, but wilt not thou open the Prison doors, that the ransomed of the Lord may come forth withIsaiah 35. 10 joy on his head, that his sighing and mourning may flee away?
It was said of the worst of Tyrants, it can never be said of the God of Mercies, This is he that openeth not the house of his prisoners.
Isaiah 14. 17Use those means forementioned, attend on preaching, prayer, reading, meditations, godly society, holy conference, on Sabbaths, Sacrament dayes. Look on thy fleece after thou hast prayed, draw up thy net after thou hast cast it forth, stir up Faith, resigne thy selfe, only limit not the Holy One for time, way, meanes, and manner. The patient expectation of the poor Psalm 9. 18shall not perish for ever, nor shall the long tarrying of God be prolonged for ever. Though God never giveth grace for the use of the meanes, he usually giveth it in the use of Means.