The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 34
Meditation XXXIV. Ʋpon the putting out of a Candle.
LIght and darkneſs are in Scripture the two moſt uſual expreſſions by which happineſs and miſery are ſet forth unto us. Hell and Heaven which will one day divide the whole World between them, and become the ſole Manſions of endleſs woe, and bleſſedneſs, are deſcribed, the one to be a place of outward darkneſs, and the other an Inheritance in light. But it is obſervable alſo, that as the happineſs of worldly Men, and Believers is wholly differing; ſo the light to which the one and the other is reſembled, is greatly diſcrepant. The happineſs of the wicked worldling is compared unto a Candle, which is a feeble and dim light, and conſumes it ſelf by burning, or is put out by every ſmall puff of winde; but the proſperity and happineſs of the righteous is not lucerna in domo, as a Candle in an houſe; but ſol in Coelo, as the Sun in the Heaven, which though it may be clouded, or eclipſed, ye… can never be extinguiſhed, or interrupted in its courſe, but that it will ſhine mo…e and more unto the perfect day, till it come to the ful…eſs of Bliſs and Glory in Heaven. May we not then rather bemoan, than envy the beſt conditioned of Worldly Men, who comes out of a dark womb into a dark world, and hath no healing beames of the Sun of Rig…hteouſneſs ariſing upon him to enlighten his pathes, or …o direct his ſteps. What if he have ſome few …rictur…s of light, which the Creatures, that are no better than a ruſh Candle do ſeem to refreſh him with, and in the confidence of which he walkes for a time; yet alaſs! how ſuddenly do the damps of aſfliction make ſuch a light to burne blew, and to expire, and to leave him as loſt in the pitchy ſhades of anguiſh and deſpaire? How do the terrors of darkneſs multiply upon him every moment all thoſe evills that a reſtleſs fancy can ſuggeſt? He ſees nothing, and yet he ſpeaks of gaſtly ſhapes that ſtand before him: He cannot tell who hurts him, and yet he complaines of the ſtinging of Serpents, of the torments of fiery flames, of the wracking of his limbes. If he have Cordialls put into his mouth, he ſpits them out again, as if they were the gall of Aſpes, or if he have food miniſtred unto him he wholly rejects it, as that which will help to lengthen out a miſerable life; and yet die he dares not leaſt worſe things befall him. If death approach, he then cries out, as Criſorius in Gregory, Inducias vel uſque ad ma…e, inducias vel uſque ad ma…e; a truce, a reſpit Lord untill the Morning. So great are his ſtraits, as that he knowes not what to chuſe, or what to fly. O that I could then affect ſome fond worldlings with the vanity and fickleneſs of their condition, who have nothing to ſecure them from an endleſs night of darkneſs, but the wan and pale light of a few earthly comforts, which are ofttimes far ſhorter than their lives, but never c…n be one moment longer. Have you no wiſdom to conſider, that your Life is but a ſpan, and that all your delights are not ſo much? Have you never read of a ſtate of Bleſſedneſs, in which it is ſaid, that there ſhall be no night, and they need no Candle, neither light of the Sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they ſhall reign for ever and ever? or are you ſo regardleſs of the future, as th…t you will reſolvedly hazzard what ever can fall out, for the preſent ſatisfaction of ſome inordinate deſires? Do you not fear the threatning of him who hath ſaid, The Candle of the wicked ſhall be put out? O then while it is called to day make Davids prayer, from your heart, ſay, Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, thou ſhalt put gladneſs in my heart more than in the time my Corn and Wine increaſed.