Christ All and in All, Sermon 25

Christ All and in All · Sermon 25

p. 468MAL. 4. 2.

The Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings.

SEcondly, for the ſecond, Chriſt is called the Sunne of righteouſneſs in two reſpects;

1. In regard of himſelf. He is the holy and juſt one. He hath not, nor ever ſhall have the leaſt ſpot of unrighteouſneſſe in his own perſon; he was born righteous and innocent: That holy thing that ſhall be borne of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God, ſo ſaith the Angel to the Mother Virgin, Luke 1. 35. foreign is more then foreign. It hath the force of the abſtract. And he lived and dyed righteous. The Apoſt…e ſpeaks of him, Heb. 7. 26. As of one holy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparate from ſinners. He was without ſpot and without guile, made like unto us in al things ſin only excepted. Satan himſelf, though he be the father of lies, and full of bitter enmity againſt Jeſus Chriſt, is forced to give this teſtimony to him, that he is the holy one of God, Mark 1. 24. He could neith…r have redeemed himſelf from death, nor have ſaved us from the wrath of God, if he had not been perfectly righteous.

2. In regard of his Elect; He is their righteouſneſſe: ſo the Prophet calls him, Jer. 23. 6. Jeſus Chriſt is the beleevers righteouſneſſe two wayes.

1. He is their righteouſneſſe in regard of juſtification. It is thorough the Imputation of his righteouſneſs unto them, that they are made righteous in the ſight of God; God looking upon them as inveſted with the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, accounts them righteous. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 3. 21, 22, 25, 26. All ar unrighteous in themſelves, and it is through him alone that they come to be righteous.

2. He is their righteouſneſſe in regard of ſanctification. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 1. 30. where he tells us, that Chriſt is made unto us, of God ſanctification, as well as righteouſneſſe; Jeſus Chriſt may be as truly called our righteouſneſſe of ſanctification as well as of juſtification. He is ſo in four reſpects.

(1) He is the meritorious cauſe of it, Eph. 5. 25, 26. Grace is as truly the purchaſe of Chriſt as glory; he hath brought holineſſe for us, as well as heaven: ſanctification is no leſſe the price of Chriſts blood then ſalvation. We are 1 Cor. 1. 2. ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus, propter Chriſtum ſaith Piſcator, i. e. propter ſatisfactionem illius.

(2) He is the material cauſe of it. It is by the blood of Chriſt that the filthineſſe of the ſoule is done away. Chriſts blood is the ſoules laver in which it is waſhed and made white, Heb. 9. 14. And then,

(3) He is the exemplary cauſe of it. Our ſanctification is according to that copy or pattern p. 470of holineſſe which is in Chriſt himſelfe. This is the meaning of that ſpeech of the Apoſtle, Joh. 1. 16. As the print which is made upon the wall anſwers the engraving or ſtamp which is upon the ſeal; ſo doth the believers holineſſe anſwer our holineſſe of Chriſt, not in degree and meaſure, but in kinde and quality.

(4.) He is the efficient cauſe of it. 'Tis Chriſt that doth by his ſpirit through the Ordinances work holineſſe in his Saints. He ſtubs up the roots of ſinne and ſets the routs of grace in the ſoul. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks 1 Cor. 6. 11. And it is he that doth both preſerve it and carry it on from one degree to another til it come to perfection. So that both in regard of his own perſon and in regard of his elect, he is called the Sunne of righteouſneſſe.

This is the ſecond particular. 3 For the third. Chriſt excels the natural Sun in theſe eight particulars, viz.

1. The natural Sunne ſhines but in one hemiſphere at once. Though it circuit about the earth in a little time, y…t it doth not ſh…ne in all places at once. Yea there are ſome parts of the world in which the Sunne doth not ſhine for many moneths together. Though it be a great body, yet the wings of it are not large enough to compaſſe the earth all at once, when it riſeth to us it ſets to our Antipodes, But now Jeſus Chriſt is able to ſhine over the whole earth at once. Though there be many parts of the world in which Chriſt hath never appeared, yet his wings are large enough to over-ſpread the whole earth. This Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhines in England and in America and all the Chriſtian world over at the ſame moment of time. That which is p. 471ſaid of the land of Judea concerning the King of Aſſyria, Eſa. 8. 8. That the ſtretching out of his wings ſhould fill the bredth of the land, is true of Chriſt in reference to the whole world; The ſtretchings out of his wings are able to cover the breadth of the whole world at one moment.

2. The naturall Sunne gives light but not ſight. If a man want the benefit of ſeeing, he hath no more benefit by the Sunne, in reſpect of ſeeing; then if there were no Sunne at all, but the Sunne-beames deſcend with never ſo much power upon a blind Bartimeus his eyes will not thereby be opened. But now this Sunne of righteouſneſſe hath a power to give ſight as well as light, he did in the dayes of his fleſh open the eyes of many that were naturally blinde you read of one, Joh. 9. of two others, Mat. 20. 30. 34. And he doth ſtill open the eyes of them that are ſpiritually blinde. It was he that by Ananias opened the eyes of Saul, Acts 9. 17. The truth is, no man doth ever ſpiritually ſee till the beames of the Sunne deſcend upon him, he is the ſpiritual day-ſpring that gives them power to ſee who are under the power of the groſſe darkneſſe of ſin and iniquity.

3. The natural Sunne hath endamaging qualities as well as healing qualities. It is many times offenſive and prejudiced both to men and fruits.

(1.) It doth fully and deface the beautiful countenance of men, Cant. 1. 6. If the eye of the Sunne do but look upon us directly, it changes the colour of the face into a ſworthy hue.

(2.) The hot beames of the Sunne do ſometimes by their vehement ſhining make men faint, p. 472when the Sun beat upon the head of Jonah, he fainted, Ch. 4. 8.

(3.) The fruits of the earth are many times ſcorched and withered to nothing by the violent heat of the Sunne, Mat. 13. 6. If God do withhold the raine, and ſend out the burning heat of the Sunne, the fruits of the earth mourn and languiſh. But now Jeſus Chriſt the Sunne of righteouſneſſe hath no hurtful quality, his beames neither make the face black, nor the ſpirits faint. He ripens the fruits of grace in the ſoul, but he never withers them, his beames are deſtructive to none but to ſuch as will not ſuffer him to ſhine upon them. Thoſe fruits that have no root, Chriſt withers, but where there is root and …p, the beams of Chriſt are never prejudicial. The Sunne hath a hardning vertue, but Chriſt never hardens any, unleſſe it be by accident, becauſe they will not ſuffer his beames to enter into their hearts. 'Tis rather the want of Chriſts beames, then the preſence of them, that occaſions hardning in any heart.

4. The natural Sunne is the creature of this Sunne of righteouſneſſe. Jeſus Chriſt as he is God, made this Sunne that ſhines in the Firmament, and put into it all the glory which is in it. For the Evangeliſt tells us, that all things were made by him, and without him was not made any thing that was made, Joh. 1. 3. He gave it both the light and heat which it gives to us. He hath ſet and appointed it the courſe which it runs, and which it hath run ſince its creation, and he doth by his providence order its ſetting and riſing for the good of the world. He is the light of all that light which the Sunne hath He is the fountain both of the being and preſervation of all that influence which p. 473the Sunne doth cauſe to deſcend upon the world. The dependence of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe is upon himſelf, but the dependence of the natural Sunne is upon him.

5. The natural Sunne doth communicate his light and heat equally to all. He ſhines as much upon the houſe and lands of the wicked as he doth upon the righteous. He doth impart and diſpenſe his influences alike to all, in the ſame manner and in the ſame meaſure. This our Saviour notes as an act of the bounty of God, Mat. 5. 45. But now it is not ſo with Jeſus Chriſt the Sunne of righteouſneſſe; He gives light and heat to one and not to another. Though all that live under the ſhining of the Ordinances do receive ſo much from Jeſus Chriſt as is ſufficient to leave them without excuſe, yet doth he cauſe peculiar beames to fall upon the hearts of ſome which do not fall upon another.

He ſhines upon one only to conviction, on another to converſion. He ſhines only upon the eares of ſome; He lets down hot gleames into the very hearts of others, 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have an inſtance of this in Paul, and thoſe that were in company with him, Act. 9. 6, 7. They ſaw the light, and heard a voice too, a confuſed voice which they did not underſtand, and therefore chap. 22. 9. Paul ſaith, they heard not the voice of him that ſpake. They heard an inarticulate ſound or a confuſed voice, but they knew neither who ſpake nor what was ſpoken, therefore they heard the voice, and yet heard it not; but now Paul both heard the voice and underſtood it, and was converted by it, which we do not finde recorded of any of the reſt. Some common beames doth Chriſt caſt forth upon all, but his ſpecial beames p. 474and influences are imparted to none but the Elect. Nor is this any derogation to the freeneſs of the grace of Chriſt, or to the fulneſſe of it. The fulneſſe and freeneſſe of grace conſiſts more in the greatneſſe of that he beſtowes, then in the multitude of them that enjoy what he gives them: Read of hidden Manna, of a white ſtone and a new name which Chriſt gives to ſome and not to others, Rev. 2. 17. This Sunne of righteneſs ſhines ſometimes on one in a houſe and leavs the reſt ſtill in darkneſſe.

6. The natural Sunne is an inanimate thing. Though it be in ſome ſence called the fountaine of life, yet it is in it ſelf without life. It hath neither the rational, nor the ſenſitive, nor the vegetative life. And in this reſpect the leaſt-living creature is more glorious then the Sunne; a living dog is better then an inanimate jewel. But now Jeſus Chriſt is a living Sunne. This Sunne of righteouſneſſe hath life as well as light and heat, Joh. 1. 4. All that ſpiritual life which is in the ſoul is communicated from Chriſt, and preſerved by Chriſt, the ſoul is dead till it be imbreathened by Jeſus Chriſt. And hence it is that Chriſt is ſo often in Scripture called our life, as Col. 3. 3, 4. becauſe he gives and maintaines both the natural and ſpiritual life. Yea the brighteſt beame the ſoul ever had from Chriſt here, is but a little glimpſe in reſpect of what ſhall be in heaven. There he ſhall ſhine.

(1.) Perpendicularly.

(2.) In all his ſtrength.

(3.) Without over-caſting.

7. The natural Sunne is the ſervant of men. It is called Shemeſh in the Hebrew, from a root that ſignifieth to miniſter becauſe it is the great ſervant p. 475of the world in giving light. But now Jeſus Chriſt is not our ſervant, but our Lord, whom men and Angels muſt worſhip. It is groſſe Idolatry to worſhip the natural Sunne. Job vindicates himſelf from it, chap. 31. 26. Joſiah demoliſhed all Sunne worſhip in his reformation, 2 King. 23. 5. Its idolatry to worſhip the Sunne, but its groſſe impiety not to worſhip Chriſt, the very Angels of heaven are commanded to worſhip him Heb. 1. 6.

8. The natural Sunne is onelyonly uſeful for the time and ſtate of this life. Whether the heavens ſhall be aboliſhed and annihilated at the day of judgement or only renewed; is a great queſtion amongſt learned men. If they ſhall be only renewed (as they probably will be) yet they ſhall not be uſeful to men in that way they now are. The glorified bodies of the Saints have no need in heaven, of the light of the Sunne to ſhine upon them as now they have, Rev. 2…. 5. The Saints in heaven ſhall be above the ſhining of Ordinances and above the ſhining of the natural Sunne? Every glorified body ſhall ſhine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father. They ſhall be farther above the Sunne, then the Sunne is now above them. But the Sunne of righteouſneſſe is uſeful in heaven; the Saints ſhall have the benefit of Chriſts ſhining upon them for ever and ever. This Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhall caſt his beames upon the ſoul and body glorified for ever, Rev. 7. 17. All the glory of heaven is communicated to the Saints through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

The uſes of theſe are Information. Exhortation. Conſolation.

p. 4761. For Information, It teacheth us theſe foure leſſons.

1. Behold from hence the glory of the Goſpel. The Apoſtle calls it foreign the glorious Goſpel, or the Goſpel of glory, 1 Tim. 1. 11. The Goſpel is exceeding full of glory; there's nothing in it but that which is very glorious. This is enough to proclaim the glory of it, becauſe in it the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is diſcovered; the Goſpel is the Orbe in which the Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhineth, it is the Chariot in which Chriſt rides. It is the Golden veſſel which carries this glorious light about the world. The Goſpel is the true Bethſhemeſh or houſe of the Sunne: it is called the Word of Chriſt, Col. 3. 16. Becauſe by this Word Jeſus Chriſt is diſcovered and manifeſted to the world. David doth admire the heavens for this, that in them God hath ſet a Tabernacle for the Sunne, Pſal. 19. 4. The Goſpel is that glorious Tabernacle which God hath ſet and eſtabliſhed for this great Sunne of righteouſneſſe. Where the Goſpel is not, Chriſt is not known, remove the Goſpel, and Chriſt the Sunne of righteouſneſſe is totally removed.

2. The exceeding great glory of heaven. The Scripture makes mention of heaven as of a glorious place. Amongſt other things this ſhewes the glory of it, that this Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhines in it, Rev. 21. 23. and 22. 3 This will further appear if we conſider how far Chriſts ſhining in heaven dazzels his ſhining here on earth. I will inſtance in theſe three particulars.

1. In heaven Chriſt ſhines upon the ſoul immediately. There is nothing to interpoſe between Chriſt and the ſoul; his ſhinings in this life are immediate through the Ordinances, We ſee his p. 477beames in this life through the thick glaſſe of Ordinances, the Churh tells us the manner of his ſhining in this life, Cant. 2. 9. We have his beames here only by reflection, but in heaven they are immediately darted down upon the ſoul. There is no Temple in heaven, Rev. 21. 22. Chriſt himſelfe is the Temple. Now if the mediate beamings of Chriſt upon the ſoul he ſo glorious? What abundant glory will there be in his immediate ſhinings!

2. In heaven he ſhines with his full ſtrength upon the ſoul. All have here on earth but ſmall beames of this Sunne; A beam in one Ordinance, and a beam in another, here a little and there a little, as we are able to bear it; the eye of the ſoul while it is unglorified, is not able without dazling to look upon Jeſus Chriſt ſhining in his full ſtrength. Thou ſhalt ſee my back parts, but my face cannot be ſeen, Exod. 33. 22, 23. but in heaven the ſoul ſhall be able to take a full view of Chriſts face, 1 Cor. 12. 12. All that ever we have ſeen of Chriſt in this world will be but darkneſſe in reſpect of that full ſight of his glory we ſhall have in heaven.

3. In heaven Chriſt ſhines without intermiſſion. The ſoul here doth often loſe the ſight of Chriſts face, every day is not a Sunne-ſhine day. There are ſome dark and gloomy dayes even to them that have the greateſt intereſt in Chriſt, Eſay 50. 10. but in heaven the Sunne is alwayes up. There are no clouds to Eclipſe the light of Chriſts face in that region. There's no night in heaven, Rev. 27. 25. That which cauſes the ſoul here to loſe the ſight of Chriſt ſhall not be in heaven. No ſinne enters into that holy place; if the immediate, perfect, uninterrupted ſhining of Chriſt can p. 478make a place glorious, heaven is a moſt glorious place.

3. The miſerable condition of thoſe that have no intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, The Scripture makes it the top of all miſery to be without Chriſt, Eph. 2. 12. This text beares witneſſe to it; How uncomfortable would the world be if there were no Sunne? If God had not made the Sunne, the world would have been but an uncomfortable priſon. What a muſe and aſtoniſhment are men put into when the Sunne is Eclipſed but for a few houres? How doleful is their condition upon whom the Sunne of righteouſneſſe hath never riſen! They have neither ſpiritual light, nor ſpiritual warmth, nor ſpiritual healing, nor ſpiritual ſoftneſſe that are without Chriſt. They want both the righteouſneſſe of juſtification, and of ſanctification that have not a ſaving intereſt in this Sunne of righteouſneſſe. There are no people upon the earth that ſtand in more need both of your compaſſions and prayers then thoſe that want Jeſus Chriſt. And they are ſo much the more miſerable, becauſe they want eyes to ſee their miſery.

4. That there is no righteouſneſſe either of juſtification or ſanctification without Chriſt, he is called the Sunne of righteouſneſſe in both theſe reſpects, and therefore till he ariſe upon the ſoule, it hath no righteouſneſſe in either of theſe reſpects.

1. For the righteouſneſſe of juſtification. The Papiſts they teach and maintain that a perſon muſt have in himſelf inherent righteouſneſſe to juſtifie him before Gods tribunall. They ſay that Chriſts righteouſneſſe is not the proper cauſe of juſtification, but that whereby God is pleaſed p. 479to accept of the habits of righteouſneſſe in us, placing the matter of juſtification either in ſomething habitually inherent in us, or flowing from us. This Doctrine doth deveſt Jeſus Chriſt of this name which God hath here given him. He is called the Lord our righteouſneſſe, Jer. 23. 6. If he be our righteouſneſſe, then we are not our own righteouſneſſe. I would not be found, ſaith a good Divine, in the righteouſneſſe of the best prayers I ever made at the day of judgement. To take off men from this Popiſh doctrine, I ſhall lay down theſe Arguments againſt it.

1. The righteouſneſſe of God and the righteouſneſſe of man are oppoſed in Scripture as things inconſistent in the matter of juſtification, Phil. 3. 9. To mingle theſe two together, were to wear a garment of linnen and woolen, which God forbade in his Law. He that ſubmits to the one cannot ſubmit to the other. So the Apoſtle teacheth us expreſly, Rom. 10. 3. he that truſts to the righteouſneſſe of man cannot truſt to the righteouſ▪ of God. Our righteouſneſſe is that which we do in obedience to the Law, but Chriſts righteouſneſſe is that by which we are reckoned righteous in the ſight of God.

2. If righteouſneſſe be by workes then it is not of free grace but of due debt. This is the Apoſtles argument, Rom. 11. 6. The Papiſts anſwer this, by underſtanding, by works, there the works of nature and unregeneracy only, and not of works flowing from faith. But this is a meer falſhood; for the Apoſtle proves, Rom. 4. 2. that works flowing from faith cannot juſtifie before God. Abraham was regenerate, Abrahams works were works flowing from faith, yet were not thoſe works his righteouſneſſe but Chriſt apprehended by faith.

p. 4803. That righteouſneſſe by which and for which a perſon is juſtified muſt exactly anſwer Gods juſtice. It muſt be ſo every way perfect, that juſtice it ſelf can require no more, but the beſt of our works are imperfect and defective. They are ſo in our own ſight, much more in the ſight of God, Eſay 64. 6. Not only our righteouſneſſe, but our righteouſneſſes are a ſilthy ragge, Pſal. 130. 4. David was a man after Gods own heart, yet doth he acknowledge that if God ſhould weigh iniquity none ſhould ſtand. Job had a very high teſtimony from God, Chap. 1. 1. yet he durſt not ſtand upon ſuch termes, Chap. 9. 3. 15. 20. 30, 31. Nehemiah did many good works, yet he comes to a Pſalme of mercy, chap. 13. 22.

4. This Doctrine makes a man his own juſtifier, which is contrary to Scripture. The Scripture aſcribes the work of juſtification to God, Rom. 3. 26. and Rom. 8. 33. To make mans works the cauſe of his juſtification, is to make him a juſtifier, which is the work of God alone.

5. This Doctrine make… the merit and ſacrifice of Chriſt either needleſſe or inſufficient. This is the Apoſtles Argument, Gal. 2. ult. To affirme either of theſe is a great wickedneſſe. To ſay it was needleſſe, is to make God cruel to his Sonne. Why ſhould he poure out his blood if there was no neceſſity of it? To ſay it is inſuffi…ient, is to vilifie his perſon, to contradict Scriptures which ſaith, he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt.

6. This Doctrine eſtabliſheth boaſting. Now the great deſigne of God in the juſtification of a ſinner, is to exclude boaſting, Rom. 3. 27. The Law of works layes a foundation of boaſting, but the Law of faith excludes boaſting.

7. This Doctrine robs the ſoul of all conſolation, and leaves it unſetled and perplexed. A man can never be free from troubles that builds the hopes of his juſtification upon himſelf, Rom. 10. 6, 7. The ſcope of the Apoſtle in that place is to put a difference between the righteouſneſſe of the Law, and the righteouſneſſe of faith. Amongſt other this is one, the righteouſneſſe of faith ſettles the heart; it ſaith not, who ſhall aſcend, &c? It knows Chriſt hath aſcended and deſcended, that he hath done all and ſuffered all, and ſo quiets the conſcience: He that truſts to his own righteouſneſs can never be ſetled, but will be ſtill diſputing. And therefore the Papiſts who cry up juſtification by their own works, cry down aſſurance of ſalvation. And they cannot do otherwiſe, for juſtification by our own righteouſneſſe and aſſurance of ſalvation are inconſiſtent. Thus I have proved the righteouſneſs of juſtification to be from Chriſt.

2. For the righteouſneſſe of ſanctification. This is alſo from Chriſt, he that is without Chriſt, is without ſanctification. Till this Sunne be riſen upon the ſoul, there is no holineſſe in the ſoul. A Chriſtleſſe condition, is an unſanctified condition. A man muſt prove himſelf intereſted in Chriſt, before he can be able to aſſert his Sanctification; we are ſaid to be ſanctified in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1. 2. you muſt thank Chriſt as well for the righteouſneſs of ſanctification, as for that of juſtification. Till theſe beames ſhine upon you, you have no grace in you.

p. 4822. For exhortation.

1. To all in general.

2. To you that have no intereſt in Chriſt.

3. To them that have an intereſt.

1. To all men in general; I would recommend two things.

1. Bleſſe God for Jeſus Chriſt. We have great cauſe to bleſſe God for the light of the Sunne, innumerable are thoſe benefits we receive by this creature. 'Tis our guid, 'tis our life, by the influences of it nature is revived, the body is cheered and all things uſefull for our life are refreſhed; the world had been an Egypt for darkneſſe, a Wilderneſſe for barrenneſſe, an Hoſpital of diſeaſes; if God had not made the Sunne: the beauty of the creation would have been hid, the benefit of the creation would have been loſt if this lamp of heaven had not been hung out: much more cauſe have we to bleſſe God for his myſtical Sunne, Eph. 1. 3. This will be the work of heaven to all eternity, had not this Sun from heaven viſited us, our condition had been as miſerable as the condition of devils.

2. Never ſee the Sunne but meditate on Jeſus Chriſt. A ſpiritual Chriſtian may learn very much Divinity from the works of creation. Though the whole book of Creation without that revelation of the Goſpel could not have made Chriſt known to the world: the Phyloſophers turn'd over every page of that great book, but they could ſpell nothing of Chriſt out of it; Yet now, we that have the Goſpel may help our knowledge of Chriſt by the book of creation. Chriſt is reſembled to ſo many creatures that we p. 483can hardly ſee any creature, but it preacheth ſomething of him, when your eyes behold the light of the Sunne, when you feel the warmth of the Sunne, when you perceive the influential vertue of the Sunne upon the creatures, then think on Chriſt: the very Sun in the Firmament wil riſe up in judgment againſt us that have Chriſt revealed in the Goſpel as a Sunne, if we do not fill our hearts with daily thoughts of him.

2. To them that are without the ſaving beams of Chriſt. I have onelyonly one thing to preſſe upon them. That they would endeavour that this Sunne may ſhine upon them; yea, that it may ſhine into them be not contented to live without the Sunne. I know it will be ſaid, what ſhall we do that Chriſt may ariſe upon our hearts?

1. Be ſenſible of your want of Chriſt, he that ſees and bewailes his own darkneſſe, will hardly dye without light. One reaſon why Chriſt doth not ſhine upon us, is, becauſe we think we have light in our ſelves, we think we ſaw Chriſt without the Sunne, therefore we are ſuffered to walk in blindneſs without the Sun. This our Saviour declares expreſly, Joh 9. 3….

2. Stand in thoſe places where the Sunne uſually ſhines. He that would have the Sunne ſhine on him, muſt not keep in dark Cellers and Vaults, but muſt come into the open aire. The ordinary place of Chriſts ſhining, is where his Goſpel is preached; the preaching of the Goſpel is the Eaſt where this Sunne ariſeth, 2 Cor. 4. 4. 6. The Goſpel is the Orbe of this Sunne; be that conſtantly waits here, will at l…ſt fee… the warm beams of Chriſt coming down upon him, eſpecially if he make it his deſigne to enjoy the beams of p. 484Chriſt in his Goſpel.

3. Take heed of ſhutting your eyes when the Sunne begins to appear. He that ſhuts his eyes will never ſee the Sunne, though it ſhine in all its brightn…ſſe. Stand with your eyes open, yea, with your eyes fixed, looking for Chriſts appearing, and he will cauſe his beames at laſt to fall upon you. To you on whom this Sunne hath ariſen. I have things to recommend to you.

1. Do you w…lk as the children of the Light? Put away darkneſſe, ignorance, blindneſſe, and be full of ſpiritual light. God may well expect much light from thoſe on whom Chriſt hath ſhined. Stumbling in a childe of God is worſ… then falling in another man. If you be ignorant of Gods Wi…l of your duty you are inexcuſ…bl… becau…e the Sunne of light is riſen upon you, …. … 1. Epheſians 4 17, 18, 19, 20

2. G… and keep … warmth in your hearts. The Sun…e hath an heating vertue. C…ldneſſ… of ſp…t is a temper unbefitting a childe of God. If a man be cold in winter when the Sunne is at a great diſtance, 'tis more excuſabl…; but to be cold when the Summer Sunne ſhines hot upon him, argues great diſtemper. To be luke-warme when Chriſt is riſen upon you, is inexcuſable. Chriſt expects heat and fervency from you in all your duties, hot love, hot devotion, fervency of ſpirit in the ſervice of God is expected from you, R…m. 12. 11. you will ſhame the beames of Chriſt, if you have not a holy warmth in all your ſervices; My heart (ſaith David) was hot within me, Pſal. p. 48539. 3. Ex omni parte caluit igne Dei, i. e. a-more Coelestium. A cold-hearted Chriſtian ſhames the Sun.

3. Be very fruitfull. The Sunne hath a fructifying vertue, it ripens every thing. Chriſtians muſt be carefull that their graces be ripened: raw, lean, weak graces ſhame the beames of Chriſt; you muſt be ſure to grow in grace, to perfect holineſſe, 2 Cor. 7. 1.

4. Keep your ſoules ſweet. The Sunne hath a ſweetning vertue. A mouldy muſty heart diſparageth Chriſt, you muſt be as the ſmell of a field which God hath bleſſed.

5. Be raiſed up in affection to heavenly things. The Sunne hath an exhaling vertue. Chriſtians muſt be higher then others, Revel. 12. 1.

6. Nouriſh ſpirituall ſoftneſſe. The Sunne hath a molifying vertue. A hard frozen heart is a ſhame to Chriſt. Davids heart was like melting wax, Pſalme 22. 14. Joſiahs heart was tender, 2 Kings 22. 19. A frown from God, an angry word from God, muſt melt a Chriſtians heart. If your hearts be hard, Chriſt may juſtly draw his beams from you; if the Sunne of righteouſneſſe doth not melt you, it is becauſe you are clay, not wax

3. For conſolation. Great comfort ariſeth hence to godly men.

1. Against ſpiritual darkneſſes. Sometimes Gods people ſee neither Sunne nor Starres, Eſay 50. 10. Well, be comforted, Chriſt is the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, he will ariſe and ſcatter all thoſe black miſts that trouble you; your Sun is not p. 486ſet, it is only eclipſed, the light of it will ſhine again.

2. Againſt all your own unrighteouſneſſe. The ſervants of God finde much unrighteouſneſſe and guilt in themſelves: becauſe of it they are caſt down, and go heavily. Well, remember Chriſt is a Sun of righteouſneſs, he is as full of righteouſneſs as the Sun is of light, and his righteouſneſſe is for thy benefit. 'Tis as much thine, as if it were thine own.

3. Againſt the want of ſublunary comforts. Gods people have often but little of theſe things. Well, yet the Sun is up, what folly is it to complaine for want of Moon-light or Star-light when the Sunne ſhines! If God hath cloathed you with the Sunne, the want of Moon and Starres may well be endured.