The Rising Sun, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Communicativenesse a Communicable Attribute.
HAving spoken of the Incommunicable Attributes, I shal descend to some communicable ones, and that this discourse may not swel beyond intention, I shall the more contract my self. I might name many Attributes of this sort, as Communicativenesse, Greatnesse, Glory, &c. of which other creatures also do participate, yet are they most eminent in the Sun. I shall speake of communicativenesse under this head, and refer the rest to the next.
Communicativenesse is an excellent Attribute in the Sun. The Moon, Stars, Ayre Seas, earth, are all communicative of their several benefits to man: But the Sun most of all, and they enabled by the Sun. It buries not his light, shuts not up his influence, shines not to it self, is as free and liberal to the poor as rich, to the beggar as to the King; The Lord hath divided it and the stars, De…t. 4. 19.(saith Moses) to all nations under the whole heaven. They under the Poles have their share, as wel as they under the Line.
So hath Christ received of the Father,Eph. 4 8 John 1 16 Matth. 28 19 Mark 16. 15 gifts to be communicated unto men; of his fulnesse all receive▪ his merits are of largest extent, his Gospel to be preached to all nations, and to every creature.
1 Then is here provision for the poorestApplicat. 1. Christian who hath nothing to buy with▪ the Sun sels not, but gives his light freely, it is Gods light, it is the poore mans friend, his candle, fuel, raiment. Diogen…s hath as good a propriety in …t as Alexander; Christ is the poor mans friend, Advocate, Physician, Saviour and Master of that Corporation. The…e are his Guests, Disciples, Bride. He entertains none of other qualitie, but those in poverty. Come, he that hath no bread, nor m… ny. He cals all thirsty to come drink freely an… Isa. 55 1, 2without price. We love to match into Estates, great Families, marry with Nobility, Beauty, Preferments: Christ loves to bestow himself on poore, undone, helplesse persons; he matcheth with misery, beggery, infamy, base b…irth, humility, deformity. Ahasuerus thought the Crown better s…t on Esthers head, then Vashtyes, or al… the Pri…celyEsther 2 Ladies of the Court. And Christ his grace and favour, is confer'd stil on the humble soul; the highest Crown was set on the lowest handmaid. Poor Mary became Deipara, she was foreign, All be-graced, highly Luke 1 2….honoured, and shee got the name from the first and greatest of women, as her Son from the highest and first of men; she became Chavah, the only mother of the Living, and which is stranger, her Son the Adam and Parent of the world.
2. Then is Christs not a scant, but plenteous Psal. 130. 7.Redemption, not from one, but infinite Transgressions; not of one or a few, but of infinite persons. He sheweth mercy to thousands; his Sealed Book containes an innumerable Heb. 12. 22. 23company of Angels; and the foreign, General Assembly, and Church of the first born, Rev. 7, 9whose names are written in Heaven contains so many Myriades as no man can number, of all Kindreds, Nations, Tongues and people. They are not a few, but a world who1 John 2. 2 2 Peter 2. 5 are redeemed. The whole world of the Elect, severed from the world of the Ungodly.
3. Then there is just ground for our hopes, prayers, endeavours for the calling of the Gentiles who at present sit in darkness, and live without God in the world; without Covenant,Ephes. 2. 12. Promise and Gospel. And for the Jewes also, who shall be grafted in again, ifRom. 11. 23 they abide not still in unbelief, who are also at present without God, and King, and Teraphim, Hos. 3. 4, 3and Prophet, and Priest, and hope too, as much as the uncalled Gentiles; but there are promises for both. The ends of the earth are the Fathers Advowson, and the Son is ordained by him to be the Occumenical Bishop of the habitable world. He shallIsai. 53. 1… Psal. 72 … sprinkle many Nations, inherit all Lands, rule from Sea to Sea, to the utmost Indies. The Sun moves sometimes North, sometimes South, is sometimes in the East, and sometimes in the West, but ere the year goes about and ends, hath viewed all Climes; so shall the Gospel be preached to all Nations, before the end of the World. The Church is as the Sea, which if it lose in one place, gets as much in another. The Gospel is as the Sun, which when it goes from one place, goes to another.
4. Is Christ so communicative? then what an encouragement is this to poor souls to go to Christ?
1. For his freeness. He keeps open house to all comers; as Titu… sent none away sad, he none empty that come to him, upbraiding James 1. 5 Luke 7, 42.none, rejecting none, giving liberally, forgiving universally. The Sun is as free of his light as thou of thy sight; it is free cost. Christ is as free in giving as wee can be in asking. Ask on, my Mother, said Solomon. Ask again, my Queen, said Ahasuerus, Ask half 1 Kings 2. 20 Esther 7. 2.a Kingdom. Ask all, Ask a whole Kingdom, …aith Christ, I shall not deny thee. The mother is as wel pleased when her brest is drawn, as is the Infant. And Mercy is not more pleasing to us to receive, then to God to impart it. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth Mic… 7 1…iniquity, and passeth by the Transgressions of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not anger for ever, because he delightet in Mercy.
2. For his Fulness: In the Sun is mo… of light then thou canst need; in Christ much more then thou canst carry: when you come to him, you are as the poor hunger famished 2 Kings 7. 8Lepers, coming to the Syrians Tents, where they might eat their fill, load themselves, and leave more behind them then they could carry, and maist call in others to partake of thy riches as they did. You1 Sam. 14. 26 come into a wood dropping with hony.
Christs merits are not only as the widows Cruse, which wasted not; but as the loaves he blessed, the more was eaten, the more was left; and when the more fed of fewer loaves, more baskets remained then when few of more. To the five thousand remainedMark 8. 19, 20 twelve of five loaves; to the four thousand seven of seven.
While there was a Vessel empty, the Oyl 2 Kings 4. 6stayed not. There is more want of empty Vessels, then filling liquor.
In the Fathers house the returning son knewLuke 15 17 there was bread enough for every servant he kept, and to spare. At the Kings Sons marriage, Luke 14. 22much company, and room for more. Who then need want? None perish through necessity, but of carelesnesse or wilfulnesse. Consider that Parable, All are invited, all are entertained; the Refusers onelyonly refused.
Object. 1. Say not then, They must be so and so qualified who come to Christ; the Rich, Noble, &c. or the Righteous, Innocent, strong Believers.
Answ. The Instruction was to call the poor, maimed, halt, blind, the unworthy, the unlikely, Luke 14. 21.
Ob. 2. But they were such poor as had lyen all their life at the Pools side, or had been daily praying for an Almes at the Temple Gate.
Answ. They were such as were in the road to Hell, and lay in the High-wayes (being very Hedg birds) such as were set by the Divels fire side, as Saul was, such as are quiteHeb. 5. 2 out of the way, Luke 14. 23.
Obj. 3. But then they were such as were very forward, and came running.
Answ. So backward, that they must be called, intreated, drawn, driven, and compelled to come in. Luke 14. 23.
Object. But there can be no room for Scorners, Scoffers, Despisers of his former Grace, and forsakers of their own mercy.
Answ, There is yet room for such, the door of hope is not yet shut; Christ in the open Concourse calls out to the open Scorner.Prov. 1 21 22 He will open a door of Mercy to such as have shut the door of Duty against him; hee will receive such as have refused him; and stretcheth out his hand all day to such asRom. 10 21 have stopped their ears many a day at him.
See then, there is no impossibility of attaining Salvation to any; God is no austeer Master, that denyeth reaping to such as sow, or demandeth reaping where he hath not sowed. Perditio tua ex te, Israel would none of Hos. 13 9me, that is Gods complaint. They who sinPsal. 81 11 Prov. 8 36 wilfully against me, wrong their own souls, they hate me, and love death.
Salvation is offered on easie termes; If you cannot say, Have patience, and I will pay all; say, Have patience, and he will forgive all. Patience is no pay; forbearance is no acquittance with men, with God it is; his forbearance is our discharge, our submission his satisfaction.Indulgentia tua justitia mea. Bern. The Debtors foreign, the Prodigals peceavi, and the Publicans miserere, are the best plea, and do alwayes speed.
Here is a community: All is common in the Church, as Sun and Air, which none can challenge a Propriety in to exclude another: it is for me, it is for thee; no meum and tuum here. A carnal community abominable in Families; Secular community destructive to Republicks. But spiritual community we preach to all Believers: All have a like right to Christ, and his common Salvation. For the Righteousnesse of God, which is by faith in Iesus Christ is to all, and upon all that believe: for there is no difference, Rom. 3. 22.
Obj. Is there then an universal Salvation and Redemption?
Answ. As much the one as the other: but there is neither.
1. No universal Salvation; for broad Matth. 7 13is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many go in it.
2. No universal Redemption; for this is of the same latitude with Election and Salvation. Ephes. 17 Col. 1 14 Ephes. 5 25 John 10 15 Ephes. 5 23All that have Redemption, have also Remission of sins, as the Apostle in divers places affirmeth. Christ is said to have loved his Church, laid down his life for his Sheep: he is the Saviour of his body.
Yet 1. True it is there are some common benefits all mankind have by Christ, life,Sol non omnes quos calefacit, illuminat. breath, reason, and comforts of this life; as the Sun affordeth some common benefits to all creatures, who live, grow, increase by vertue of his influence, though they see not his glorious light.
2. There is also a sufficiency in Christ as in the Sun; if there were ten thousands of men more that had eyes to see, they should not want for light; but if all see not, it is not the Suns defect but their owne. There be several sorts of men that have no benefit by the Suns light. 1. Some there bee who are by nature uncapable till God give them sight as by a Miracle, being born blind. 2. Some lose their sight accidentally. 3 Some see not, being fast asleep, who open not their eyes. 4. Some wilfully close their eyes, and shut their windowes to keep out the light. 5. Some have weak eyes, and take offence, therefore shun the light. 6. Some are judicially blinded. as the Sodomites, Syrians, Elymas.
That none of these have benefit by the Sun, who offers his light to all, is not his fault. So when Christ is offered to all, all have not benefit.
1. We are all born blind as he, John 9. 1. nor can nature make us see, til we have been at Siloam.
2. Satan the God of this world, and Mammon that God the world, blind the eyes of many.2 Cor. 4. 4.
3. Some fall a sleep again after illumination, and it is as dark as midnight with them, whom the Apostle calls aloud unto, that he1 Cor. 15. 34. Ephes. 5. 14. may awake them; Awake to righteousnesse and sin not. Awake thou that sleepest, stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give the… light.
4. Some wilfully close their eyes, and who soMatth. 13. 15. blind as he who wil not see? Their eyes they have closed.
5. Others are much offended at Christ. Blessed is he whosoever is not offended in Matth. 11. 6.him.
6. Others are judicially blinded. He hath John 9.blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Again, God hath given Job. 12. 40. Rom. 11. 8.them the Spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.Cernitur …imorato contemplatore Deus, just… sed occulte suo judicio reprobcrum, nec diluen… mala, nec acceptans bona; insuper et corda indurans, ne forte doleant, et recipiscant, et convertantur, et sanet eos: et hoc non absque certa et aeterna ratione quod tanto formidolosius, quanto immobilius fixum erat in aeternitate. Bern. Isa. 42. 8. Isa. 14. 12. 13. Gen. 3, 6. Ezek, 28. 2, 3. Matth. 5. 48.
So that it is as much a mercy to have an eye to see, as the Sun to give us light; and the same cause to blesse God for giving an eye, or eare, as for the Gospel, and for giving faith as wel as giving Christ. Christ without faith profiteth no more then the Sun without an eye, or meat without a mouth. This being a communicable Attribute, it gives us an imitable example, the Uncommunicable Attributes of God, are Un-imitable. To aspire to be equal to God in glory, (which he wil not give to another) was the Pride of Lucifer; in Omniscience, was the sacriledge of Adam; in Power, was the insolence of Babylon; in wisdome and Policie, the ambition of Tyre; they all perished in such attempts: but to affect to be like God in holinesse, purity, mercy, forbearance &c, is a Gospel duty. So to affect to be like the Sun in his splendor, glory, to move in a higher orbe, that we might shine alone, and all others be eclipsed by our fame and glory, were to say with Lucifer, I will walk among the stars. But to be as like the Sun as may be in Communicativenesse, wil be our glory.
There is to be a communicativenesse 1. In Spiritual. 2. Civil matters.
1. In Spiritual things, and that 1. By theEst lucere Vanum ardere parum, ardere et lucere perfectum. Vae nobis si solum Lux erimus Dominus f…rvorem ab omnibus, splendorem non ita …xigit Bern. Heb. 3. Ministers, who must be as the lights of heaven, and the Salt of the earth, go about as Christ himself, doing good. He must be eyes to the blind, warmth to the cold.
The Sun when gotten higher, gives more heat then when it was lower, you must be more useful then when you were private Christians. 2. By private Christians, who must exhort one another, speak one to another. As you have received a gift, minister the same as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall. Yet God1 Pet. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 7. being the God of order, not confusion, intended not that all should become publick teachers, to extinguish the calling of the Ministry; they are to be Stars in private, not Suns; it were to be wish'd indeed, that theIsa. 30. 26. light of the Moon were like the light of the Sun, and that the hearers were almost and altogether such as the Preacher; that all the Lords people were Prophets: but not that the Sun should be pul'd down, and the Moon and Stars which are to give light only by the night, in absence, and defect of Ministers, should rule by day, and openly teach in the sight of the Sun. It went of old for a fable: I fear as this age hath turned many truths into fables, so it wil some fables into truths; and it may prove too true, that our Phaetons in the Chariot of Phoebus, wil set all on fire.
It is twice noted in sacred history, that1 King. 13. 33, the lowest of the people were made Priests, and both times ominous; In Jeroboam's time, whose house sunk with it; and in Hosheah's Reigne, when the ten Tribes were finally cut2 King. 17. 32. off. But both times it was but to officiate to Calves, and the Images in the high Places, never to the true God: Woodden Priests and Golden Calves may go well together; as was said of Caligula, who would himself be adored as a God, and would have his Horse consecrated for his Priest; there was like God, like Priest, as the Historian observed. As for the Church of Christ, she is described to be clothed with the Sun, the Moon under her feet, Rev. 12. 1.and a crown of Stars on her head: It is a sad change, that now she should be stript of the Sun, clothed with the Moon, and have the Stars trod under her feet.
2 In Civil things: 1 All rich persons should remember their charge: To be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, thereby laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to 1 Tim. 6. 18, 18 Rom. 12. 13.come; that they may lay hold on eternal life. Again, Distributing to the necessitie of the saints, given to Hospitality: propounding to themselves that example of him, who when he was rich became poor, that we through his 2 Cor. 8. 9.poverty might be made rich. Or this of the lower Sun, who is liberal to the poore, and shines not only on the fertile pastures, but on the barren rocks, and sandy wildernesses, whence no fruit can be expected.
2. But especially the Magistrate, who was wont to be emblem'd with a Sword in one hand, Ballances in the other, eyes closed, to be without respect of persons in administring justice, and by a fountaine, to denote their communicativenesse.
He should not (as Lucifer) affect a higher orb, and climb unduely to that place to which he is not called. Such prove prodigies, not stars, and are as the blazing stars (the astonishment of the world) made up of fiery and malignant matter, which after they have caused terror in the Land of the Living, consume themselves, and appeare no more.
The Sun is not placed in the highest, but in the middle Sphere; there more safe, there more useful. Saturn is far higher and Mars also is above him, but both of malignant Aspect. The Sun is the Earths Patron and Benefactor.
The Sun is more full of lively heat and influence when gotten higher; a warning to those exalted to Higher Places, to grow better as they are grown greater. Prodesse magi… quam praeesse.
Yet it is commonly observed in the Heavens, That the Sun moves slower when it is at the Highest, swifter when lower, and we ordinarily find men with their Advancement to lose much of their activity and usefulness.foreign. Plut.
Yet it was the grave advice of Plutarch, That Magistrates should herein also resemble the Sun, moving when at highest more slowly as to violence, not to activity; but more deliberately and with Moderation, for the benefit of the Commonwealth, and their own particular security.