The Privilege of the Saints on Earth, Application 1 – Application 3
Uſes.
Firſt. 1.What hath been here ſaid anſwereth that Challenge of the Papiſts; Where was your Church before the Dayes of Luther? We anſwer, Where the Light was. For though great Darkneſs was introduced by Antichriſt for many years before the breaking out of the Light in the daies of Luther, yet there hath been alwaies a mixture of Light in the obſcureſt times, and there the true Church hath been. There have been Witneſſes to the Truth ever ſince the riſe of the Man of Sin, and their teſtimony witneſſeth to the true Churh, diſtinct from Antichriſt, in that it witneſſeth to the Light where the true Church hath alwaies dwelt, which Church ſtill profeſſed againſt the Additions and Impoſitions of the Man of Sin, hating and abominating his Idolatrous Corruptions and Superſtitious Inventions, and held to the Faith and Truth of the Goſpel. And as this Church, like the Light, did ſtill bear witneſs to it ſelf: So did the continual oppoſition made againſt the Light and Truth profeſſed, bear witneſs to the ſame. And therefore we remit the Papiſts to their own oppoſitions and perſecutions, for an Anſwer to their Challenge. Yea, and this true Church hath been viſible at all times to them that are of the Light. (For what can men in darkneſs ſee?) The Day, you hear, hath been one all along, and therefore the Sun did never ſet in it, and the Light hath ſtill been, Index ſui & tenebrarum, A diſcoverer both of it ſelf and of darkneſs. All things that are reproved (or diſcovered) are made manifeſt by the Light: For whatſoever doth make manifeſt,Eph. 5. 13. is Light. And therefore the true Church hath alwaies ſeen both her ſelf and the falſe Church; but the falſe (wanting Light) could never ſee the true.
Ʋſe 2.
The Doctrine may ſerve to ſhew us the parallel between the Day of the Goſpel,Uſe 2. aud the Day of them that do profeſs it, which is alſo intermixed with Light and Darkneſs, ſo that it is neither Day nor Night. For,
Firſt, There is Knowledg mingled with Ignorance, and Truth with Errour, even in the beſt of God's Children, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 10-12.who know but in part, and propheſie in part, till that which is perfect, in another world, is come. For now we ſee through a glaſs darkly, but then face to face; now we know in part, but then ſhall we know, even as we are known. Thus it is, and thus it will be, till our Sun is ſet, and then it will be perfect light.
2. There is alſo Trouble mingled with Tranquillity,2 Cor. 6. 8, 9, 10. Adverſity with Proſperity,Iſai. 50. 10. Light of inward Peace and Comfort with inward Doubts and Darkneſs, whiles we live here below.
Ʋſe 3.
We are ſhewed,Uſe 3. That the darkeſt time of the Goſpel-Day is yet to come. For that time is to be expected in the Evening, which is the darkeſt part of all the Day. Only this Darkneſs will not be (as I conceive) in reſpect of the withdrawing of the Light of Truth, but of the Light of Peace and Tranquillity: For at the Evening of this Day, Men ſhall look unto the Earth, and behold Trouble, and Darkneſs, and Dimneſs of Anguiſh. And this will immediatly precede the Converſion of the Jews, through the oppoſition of Turk and Pope.
For this will be the time when the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole world ſhall be gathered together to the battle of the great Day of God Almighty.Joel 3. 10. At what time Men ſhall beat their Plough-ſhares into Swords, and their Pruni… hooks into Spears.
But though that will be the darkeſt part of the Day, yet we muſt expect gloomy times till then, though with intermixed beams of Light, wherein God will ſtill be ſetting this over againſt that, to the end that Men ſhould find nothing after him. And thus God will Chequer out the Goſpel-day, till that be fulfilled which is ſpoken by the Prophet Iſaiah, Iſa. 60. 1.Ariſe, ſhine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee. And ſeeing the day ſhortneth, and the ſhadows of the Evening begin to be ſtretched out, let us expect no more Dayes of Tranquillity and Peace, but Wars, and rumours of Wars, Nation lifting up Sword againſt Nation, and learning of War, the confuſed noiſe of Battle, and Garments rolled in blood; For the Man upon the red Horſe is gone forth, to whom power is given to take Peace from the Earth; and nearer the Evening ſtill the darker. That which concerns us, is to be in a Poſture of Humiliation and Preparedneſs, for the reception of theſe dark Diſpenſations. Here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints.