Several Works, Work 3 · Part (1 of 6)

Several Works · Work 3 · Part (1 of 6)

p. 411MAL. 4. 2.

But unto you that fear my name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings, and ye ſhall go forth and grow up as Calves of the ſtall.

MAlachy is the proper name of this Prophet, it ſignifieth an Angel or Meſſenger, only with the addition of (') as is uſual when common names are made proper. He is not ſo called, as if he were an Angel incarnate, as ſome have imagined, nor ye… as if he had his revelation by Angels. But haply the name might be put on him without …foreknowledge of what the Lord would call him unto▪ haply … Prophetical Spirit it might appear that God would make h… Meſſenger: But however, ſuch an one …e was and …mporarie with Nehemiah, becauſe he exhor… to the building of the Temple, as Haggai and … thoſe corruptions among the Jews, … the laſt, ſheweth to have been among … over the Jews, as marriage with …ng p. 412the tythes, Chap. 3. 8. Depravation of Divine worſhip, Chap. 1. 13. and 2. 8. And that this is the laſt of the Prophets, they themſelves acknowledge, therefore he admoniſheth them that they ſhould take heed to the Law of Moſes, keep that, they might expect no more Prophets until the great Prophet, the Lord Jeſus come (and John his fore-runner). God did in Babylon Pſal. 74. 9.Ps 74:9cauſe Viſions to periſh from among them in anger. There is none to tell when this calamity ſhall end (ſaid they in the Pſalmiſt) and now again he cauſeth it to ceaſe from them; that their expectations of the Meſſiah, that great Prophet, and of Elias his fore-runner might be raiſed, and that by the want of Prophecy they might be the more ready▪ to receive Chriſt that great Prophet, and to praiſe him when he ſhould be revealed; the Law and Prophets Prophecy until John; Zech. and Elizab. and Simeon, and the Baptiſt, were ſo immediately before him, that they rather ſhewed him, pointed at him come, than propheſied of his coming.

After he had reproved thoſe corruptions among them (as you hear) he threatneth ſpiritual Judgements on them: he tells them their expectations would be fruſtrated, they looked for the day of the Lord, as if that would heal all their troubles: No (ſaith the Prophet▪) it ſhall be ſuch a day as you dream not of: they looked for peace, but behold trouble; for light, but behold darkneſs; they looked for a day of ſhadowing from the diſpleaſure of the Lord, but behold (ſaith he) the day of the Lord ſhall burn like an Oven. What day this is, is very much queſtioned, ſome would have it to be the day of the laſt Judgement only, and ſuitably they underſtand the riſing of the Sun of righteouſneſs to be his laſt appearing, that foreign, illuſtrious appearing: But this ſeemeth not to be the All, if it be intended here; but this ſeemeth not to be a time for growing up as Calves; now is the time of perfection in glory. Nor yet ſecondly do I take it only of the day of their calami…y, when they ſuffered ſo much under the Grecians, Kings of Syria and Egypt, the Seleucidae and Lagidae▪ (the two leggs of that Image in Dan. as ſome underſtand Da…. 2. 33, 41, 42.it.) though this alſo might partly be meant: But this day I underſtand to be the time of Chriſt's appearing and manifeſtation to Iſrael; which to ſome would be a day of grace and rejoycing indeed, to others a day of gloomyneſs (according to p. 413that in this third Chapter; The Angel of the Covenant ſhall ſuddenly Mal. 3, 2.Mal 3:2come into the Temple, but who may abide the day of his coming? and who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth? for he is like the Refiners fire, and like Fullers Soap. And (alas!) the moſt of them would be found but droſs, and ſtubble, which muſt be purged away, they could not abide the fire. So when they rejected the Lord Jeſus, how fearful a day came on them? who could abide it? At the deſtruction of Jeruſalem 1100000. ſlain, (beſide near 100000. taken captive) This day burned like an Oven; O! a devouring fire it was: ſo fearful a thing its to have a day of grace, a day of Chriſt come on a people, and yet they ſleight it and reject it: Greateſt love rejected, turns into greateſt diſpleaſure; flaming love into flaming wrath; heat of affection into a burning of an oven, a furnace. Hear and tremble (Brethren) at this, we who now have a day of Chriſt, and a day of grace, leſt we find it in the end ſuch a day as this, ſo terrible to us.

But now, leſt thoſe mourners in Zion (that did wait for the conſolation of Iſrael, did fear the name of the Lord, were tender, and did tremble at this his word) ſhould be diſcouraged; he opens here a creek to let them in to hide themſelves; provideth a ſhadow, a skreen to ſet between them and this conſuming fire, in the words of my Text, But unto you that fear my name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs (ſaith the Lord) ariſe with healing in his wings: Ye that tremble at my word ſhall not be ſcorched, nor this ſmell of the fire paſs on you; as it was with the three children. The day of the Lord ſhall be a wounding to others, but it ſhall be a healing to you: they ſhall be caſt into a burning oven as ſtubble or hay, but ye ſhall go forth and grow up as calves of the ſtall.

So that the words are nothing elſe (as I conceive) but a Covenant of grace tempered into a cordial for poor drooping Spirits, which might now be ready to faint to hear how terrible a day this day of the Lord would be, which they had expected, promiſing themſelves ſo much happineſs in it, and their expectations ſhould not be fruſtrated, he would not make them aſhamed of their hope.

But unto you that fear my name, &c. Here is Chriſt promiſed (who is the Covenant, the ſubſtance of it, the mediator, the p. 314ſurety of it) and with him all things elſe: Syn…hdochi underſtood in theſe few things here implyed and expreſſed, as light, and healing, and liberty, and growth, going on from ſtrength to ſtrength, growing fat, and flouriſhing, proſperping into a Kingdom, yea an everlaſting Kingdom. The Text then you ſee (being the ſumm of the Covenant of grace) muſt needs be a bundle of promiſes made to ſuch as fear the Lord. I may not ſtand to open each of them, until I come to ſpeak particularly to them, leſt I hold you too long in the porch, and we not be able to view any of the inner rooms of the Text, ſo full of ſweetneſs and comfort.

Therefore firſt we ſhall ſpeak to that promiſe of Chriſt, unto you that fear my name ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings; and yet before we ſpeak to the promiſe it ſelf, ſomething we muſt ſay to the notion under which he is repreſented in this promiſe, and that is a Sun of righteouſneſs; from whence we will obſerve this Note.

That the Lord Jeſus is a Sun of righteouſneſs.Doctr.

There are two things (Brethren) here to be cleared. Firſt, that he is a Sun to his people. And ſecondly, a Sun of righteouſneſs, and what is meant by that.

Firſt then, for that he is a Sun; if it be granted that its he who is here meant, there need not much more to be ſaid to make it good. And that its a particular promiſe of Chriſt-God, manifeſted in the fleſh (ſurely) none will queſtion: for who elſe is it that's that good Phyſitian that can give healing but he? I am the Lord Exod. 15. 26.Exod 15:26that healeth thee; but that will appear better afterward. Let me add for the preſent a Scripture or two more to back this with, That Chriſt is held forth to us in Scripture, under the Metaphor of a Sun, ariſe and ſhine (ſaith the Lord to his people in their low and afflicted ſtate) he commands Babylon to come down, Iſa. 60. 1.Isa 60:1ſo he would have his people to lift up their hearts, ariſe out of the duſt wherein they had wallowed: Why, what is the matter? thy light is come, the glory of the Lord is riſen on thee: and who is this but the Lord Jeſus? is it not he that was given to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, to be the glory of his people Iſrael? Luk. 2. 32.Luke 2:32the Sun is the glory of the heavens and earth, when it p. 415breaks out, it maketh a glorious day, and every thing glorious whoſe beauty before did not appear, yea puts glory on things that had none before; its ſtrange to ſee (Brethren) things how glorious (even over-dazling the eyes) they appear, when the Sun ſhines on them, which have little or no glory at another time. And here in the ſecond verſe, darkneſs ſhall cover the earth, and groſs darkneſs the people: But the Lord ſhall ariſe on thee. Well, its he that is that light, that is that glory of the Lord. Add but that place in Luke, where he is ſaid to be the day-ſpring from on high, viſiting us through the tender mercies of our God: its true, the word there is foreign), which ſignifieth Luk. 1. 78.Luke 1:78either the riſing of the Sun moſt ordinarily, or elſe the place of the Suns riſing, the Eaſt; or elſe ſome render it, a branch that did ariſe out of the root of Jeſs. But me thinks that is not ſo agreeable to the ſcope of the place, for the next words are, to give light to them that ſit in darkneſs: therefore we may here note, that the day-ſpring, or riſing of the Sun, is put for the Sun it ſelf by a Metonymie, and the Sun by a Metaphor put for Chriſt, he is the Sun, which riſing, maketh it day; yea ſome there are that would have it underſtood of the Sun at noon-day, of the riſing of the Sun to the meridian, where it ſhineth moſt gloriouſly and moſt hot, according to that in Matthew, where the Sun riſeth Mat. 13. 6.Matt 13:6they wither that ſpring up quickly, and have no root; that is, the Sun ariſing to its height, then it ſcorcheth and withereth. And this I will not altogether reject here, becauſe this ſeemeth to be ſpoken then comparatively, becauſe the promiſe is made here to the comfort of ſuch as did then fear the Lord, and may afterward fear him, which could not be, except the Lord Jeſus this Sun of righteouſneſs had had ſome influence on them; therefore this may ſeem to be meant of his riſing to the height of the increaſe of his glory, when manifeſted in the fleſh. I mean the glory of light manifeſted to us, though it were his own diminution: but haply more of this afterward. Now I will conſider it only abſolutely, that he is this Sun. The Lord is a Sun and a ſhield, Pſal. 84. 11.Ps 84:11and how can he ſo be, except it be in Chriſt, as God was in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelf? So of a conſuming fire, he 2 Cor. 5. 19.2 Cor 5:19becometh a refreſhing Sun to his people, in his influences on them.

But wherein is Chriſt ſaid to be a Sun? We might follow the p. 416Metaphor very far, yet not too far neither. We abhor that dotage of the Manichees, who ſaid Chriſt's body went no further then the Sun, but there it was incorporated, on which account they worſhip the Sun. But we will a little inſtance in two or three particulars, wherein the reſemblance holdeth between Chriſt and the Sun.

Firſt, the Sun is one, and therefore called Sol from Solus, he only hath the ruling of the day aſcribed to him. And ſo, Brethren, the Lord Chriſt is one, though he be two natures, yet he is but one Chriſt, one perſon; though he be God and man truly, yet he is but one Jeſus, one Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he ſpeaks of him as man, not excluding the God-head: but to ſuit to the weakneſs of poor unbelieving creatures, 1 Tim. 2. 5.1 Tim 2:5we may go the more boldly to him, the diſtance between us now being not ſo great, he having taken part of fleſh and blood, Heb. 2. 14.Heb 2:14whereof the children, his poor people, are partakers. Its true, many falſe Chriſts there have been, and ſome there are now in Mat. 24. 14.Matt 24:14our daies; but theſe, alas, they are but blazing Comets, make a little ſtreaming light for a while, and fall into a filthy ſlime at laſt. There are alſo ſome Parelii (as they call them) images of the Sun made in a cloud, fitly diſpoſed for ſuch a reflexion of his beams. But alas! how ſoon do theſe images and appearances vaniſh, as ſoon as by any diſturbance the clouds ceaſe to be ſo diſpoſed; the Image of a beauty in a glaſs, in water, is far from the beauty it ſelf: So do all falſe Chriſts, and falſe Saviours whoever vaniſh. He is but one.

Secondly, the Sun is the glory of the heavens. Moon and ſtars have their glory, but one ſtar differs from another in glory; but there is none like to the glory of the Sun. O! the Lord hath 1 Cor. 15. 41.1 Cor 15:41put the excellence of glory on the Lord Jeſus; he is the foreign, the ſhining forth of his Fathers glory: he ſpeaks Heb. 1. 2.Heb 1:2here of Chriſt as incarnate, as the glory of God did ſhine in the face of Moſes, ſo that the people could not behold; ſo now the glory of the Lord ſhineth in the face of Jeſus Chriſt (as the 2 Cor. 4. 6.2 Cor 4:6Apoſtle hath it) ſo that we cannot behold it, it dazles our eyes ſtedfaſtly to behold this his glory, as it doth to behold the Sun in 1 Cor. 1. 14. The wiſdom and power of God.1 Cor 1:14his glory: Here is the glory of his grace, the glory of his wiſdom, of his mercy, his power, and all in Chriſt: he is the glory (as it were) of divine attributes, they all ſhine forth in him, p. 417each with his peculiar glory. The Temple, the glory of the Lord filled it, ſo that they could not ſtand before him to miniſter ſometimes. So, Brethren, now the Lord hath placed his name in Jeſus Chriſt, he hath filled him with his glory: therefore (ſaith the Prophet) the glory of the Lord is riſen on thee: that is, Jeſus Iſa. 60. 3.Isa 60:3Chriſt is manifeſted to thee: was not his glory ſo great as to confound John, though a veſſel fitted to be filled with thoſe glorious revelations from-him? He fell at his feet as one dead at the ſight Rev. 1. 15, 16, 17.Rev 1:15Rev 1:16Rev 1:17of him in that viſion. How glorious is an Angel, that the very ſight of him was an aſtoniſhment to John? what is the Lord of the Angels? If the Moon be ſo glorious, what is the Sun?

Thirdly, the Sun is full of light in it ſelf, and filsall things capable of its light, and yet hath never the leſs; the twinkling Tapers of heaven, they have each of them their light, ſome more ſome leſs: and the Moon hath much light, and giveth much; but what's borrowed light? Firſt, ſhe hath it not in her ſelf, nor in ſuch abundance as the Sun hath. So its here, the Saints they are lights of the Sun (as our Saviour ſaith) but alas! like poor Mat. 5. 14.Matt 5:14candles that burn dim, and ſometimes through the thickneſs of the damps of corruption in our hearts, burn blew, and are ready to go out for the moſt part… but as the light in the ſocket, ſometimes up and ſometimes down, and every moment a man would think it would go out▪ the Angels and ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, are like ſtars ſhining more gloriouſly and conſtantly: But alas! nothing to the Sun, he ſheds the light abroad throughout Heb. 12. 23.Heb 12:23the whole hemiſphere at once: Set up many lights at once in a dark night, they will give light but a little way, and how poor and weak a…light, ſo that when the Sun ſhineth they appear not at all; and that the Sun ſhould ſo long fill the world with his light and have never the leſs, this is admirable. But this is but a ſhadow (Brethren) to the light of Jeſus Chriſt; he is the Jo…. 1. 9.true light, that is, ſuch a light as that nothing elſe deſerveth to be called a light in compariſon of him; as far as the ſubject is recipient, a glorious ſpirit is before a vile body, ſo far is the light of Chriſt in its own nature above the Suns light. And then for fulneſs there is no compariſon, though there be hardly any thing obvious to ou… ſenſes (which are to …et in light to the underſtand…) that is more glorious, and ſo is more …it to ſet forth the p. 418Lord Jeſus his fulneſs of Light by. Light maketh manifeſt all things; and that that maketh things manifeſt is the Light: now Eph. 5. 13.Eph 5:13the light of the Sun, its true, diſcovers much, that before it aroſe appeared not; but its poſſible to hide from its light (Brethren) in the depths of the earth, in the bowels of man, it diſcovereth not any of thoſe, much leſs the ſecrets of hearts, there's no ſuitableneſs between ſuch a cauſe and ſuch an effect. But the Lord Jeſus, he ſearcheth all the deep things of men, the very Marrow Heb. 4. 12.Heb 4:12of their bones (which is the deepeſt, and hath the moſt coverings upon coverings) he ſearcheth them. So doth Chriſt the ends of men, which are the moſt hidden uſually in all their deſigns, they are deep as the Marrow in the bones, cloathed over with fleſh, and skin, and bones, pretence upon pretence, but Chriſt this Light is ſo piercing, that there is no hiding any thing from it.

Fourthly, The Sun, his Tabernacle is in heaven; there he made a Tabernacle for the Sun; there is the ſeat of the eye of the world, from whence he views all that is under his Government; Pſal. 19 4.Ps 19:4there is his Palace, and from thence he diſpenceth light and influence. So, Brethren, its with Jeſus Chriſt, he hath his Tabernacle in heaven, that is, in his Church, (for ſo oftentimes the Church is called) there the Lord placeth his Tabernacle; as he ſaith of Iſrael of old, I will place my Tabernacle among them, Lev. 26. 11.Lev 26:11and dwell in the midſt of them. He walks in the midſt of the golden Candleſticks to behold them, to be nigh them, to diſpence of Rev. 1. 13.Rev 1:13his light to them, and of his influence. So doth the Sun communicate of his light to the Moon, and to the Stars in heaven, and to the inhabitants upon earth. We are not to underſtand all this of Chriſt his perſon meerly, but Chriſt, as held out in his Ordinances, in his Church, therefore he is ſaid by the Church to make manifeſt the mercy and wiſdom of God; his Ordinances are the raies and beams (as afterward we ſhall ſpeak, when we come to open that part of the Text.) But his Tabernacle is the Church, thence he ſhines forth on many others, as the earth is lightned by the raies from heaven.

Fifthly, From the warming of the Sun; how cold and frozen are thoſe Northern parts of the world, becauſe remote from the Sun? how cold is the hemiſphere when the Sun is ſet for a time? …ow warm when it ſhines▪ So the Lord Jeſus it is that's the p. 419Author of heat; the Winter is paſt, the Summer is come, the Cant. 2. 11. 12.Song 2:11Song 2:12rain is over, the flowers appear on the earth, and the voice of ſinging of birds heard: that is, Chriſt is revealed in the power of his love to poor ſinners; this is that which warmeth the coldeſt heart when we are frozen in our affections; and as waters frozen up, cannot run this way nor that way, ſo we can do nothing, nor move towards God. Then, Brethren, its a ſight of the Sun of righteouſneſs, the Lord Jeſus, a hot gleamfrom him that thaws all, and melts all, warmeth all again: and therefore in this reſpect alſo, he may be compared to the Sun.

Sixthly, becauſe of influence (which may be, they ſay, where there is no heat nor light at leaſt) and therefore Philoſophers tell us, that by the influence of the Sun, the gold is concocted in the bowels of the earth, whither its light cannot come. And this is that (Brethren) that calls forth the fruits of the earth, that in the winter for fear of cold were retired, the ſap recoiling to the root, there to be preſerved until a ſeaſon for it: Now the Sun, the heat, and warmth, and influence thereof calls it forth again; ſo that the graſs, and fruits, plants and herbs, put forth, bud and bloſſom (as we ſee it in the ſpring) ſo the face of the earth is renewed. And ſo its in this caſe, the Lord Jeſus Pſal. 104 30.Ps 104:30from heaven ſhineth forth, and conveighing ſecretly the powerful influences of his Spirit, and of the Word to poor ſinners (though they were as dead and dry ſticks before, as trees that are ſtarven with the froſt, and ſeem dead) then they put forth again, then they grow green and flouriſhing, then the heart of a ſinner that was little worth before, becometh a golden Vial full of odours, its concocted, then the ſpices flow forth in the garden incloſed.

Seventhly, the Sun diſpels the miſts and fogs which are unwholſom, would poiſon the air; yea, and thick clouds which would muffle up the Sun from us, we know this by daily experience. So doth the Lord Jeſus (Brethren) all the miſts, fogs, and clouds of ſin, he diſpels them for his name ſake, he blots out the tranſgreſsions of his people as a cloud. Its the very heat (Brethren) of the love of Jeſus Chriſt, that conſumeth, (as Iſa. 44. 22.Isa 44:22I may ſay) melts away thoſe clouds, that they intercept not our communion and fellowſhip with him. O! there is not a day, but the ſtreamings of our filthy hearts would gather into a thick p. 420cloud and cover his face from us, were it not that the warm beams of his love did continually diſpell them and ſcatter them; we ſhould never enjoy the light of his countenance an hour together, if it were not for this; and for his names ſake he doth it. And ſo the cloud of ſorrow, let the diſeaſes of the people of God be what they will, never ſo great and black clouds they are compaſſed about with; their day is a day of gloomineſs and thick darkneſs, how come theſe to be diſpelled? is it not the Sun of righteouſneſs breaking forth on poor ſinners that doth it? one ſight of Chriſt as reconciled to him puts an end unto all.

Eighthly, the Sun is the cauſe of the ſweet intercourſe between the earth and the clouds, and the clouds and the earth: for its the Sun that exhales the vapours from the earth, and draweth them up into the middle region of the air, and there with the cold of the air its condenſed into a cloud, and hangs until it be diſſolved, and render it ſelf to the earth again to make it fruitful: and ſo the dew is in like manner begotten, only is not far lifted up above the earth, and with the cold of the night is congealed into little drops, and ſo ſweetly diſtills. So the Lord Jeſus, he draweth out the hearts, the affections of his people in prayers, ſweet breathings after himſelf; and theſe prayers come down again ſometimes on the ſame ſoul, ſometimes on another place: they fall, but abundance of ſweetneſs, and bleſſing, and mercy is poured out by this means on poor creatures, whereby they become fruitful.

Ninthly, The Lord Jeſus may be compared to the Sun, for that the Sun Giant-like rejoyceth to run his race, and who can turn him back? alas! all the clouds that gather about the Sun, that to our apprehenſions might haply ſeem to threaten a blotting of it out, a clogging of it, they are all below it. Its true, prayer once did hold him in his courſe, and it looks like a word of command, Sun ſtand thou ſtill: and ſo prayer may do much with Jeſus Joſh. 10. 12.Josh 10:12Chriſt, but not hinder him in his courſe, riding on in his triumphant charriot, conquering and to conquer, enlightning poor dark places and people. Before we come to the other, we will a little apply this to our ſelves.

Firſt then (Brethren) if the Lord Jeſus be a Sun, then they p. 421Ʋſe 1.that have this Sun riſen on them, they are children of the day; if the Sun be up, it muſt needs be day; and is not the Sun up Brethren, among us? is not the Lord Jeſus gone forth as a Gyant to run his race among us? we now have a day of Grace among us, and how long, or how ſhort it may be, I know not; Brethren, it ſeemeth to be declining in ſome reſpects, and the ſhadows of the evening growing low; O that we would be perſwaded, and ſtirred up to do the work of our day, in this our day! our great work, which is to work out our ſalvation with Phil. 2. 12.Phil 2:12fear and trembling. I doubt, if the Sun ſhould ſet, and the night come on you, wherein no man can work, you ſhould have 2 Cor. 4. 5.2 Cor 4:5this work yet to do many of you, eſpecially, brethren, you into whoſe hearts the Lord Jeſus, this Sun of righteouſneſs hath ſhone. O how ſhould you walk as children of the day, not in ſurfetting and drunkenneſs! I mean not with meat and fire only, Rom. 13. 13.Rom 13:13but with any creature-comforts, and delights on this ſide Chriſt; away then with all the works of darkneſs, all practices which did ſuit better with the times of ignorance and blindneſs and now walk as becometh the light and the day, that the Sun may not be aſhamed to behold you.

Secondly, Such as the Lord Jeſus then hath not riſen on, 2.they are yet in darkneſs, children of the night, and walk at uncertainties, know not whither they go. Alas, many a poor ſoul thinketh he is as ſure to go to heaven, as he is to die, when he is in the very rode to hell; only ſome go in the broad trodden path, open prophane impudent ſinners; ſome ſteal thither behind the hedge; they are going to hell, but in a cloſure, walk hidden from others and from themſelves. Many night-Birds there are among us, children of the night indeed, though in one reſpect many of us may be ſaid to be children of the day, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt in the diſpenſation of the Goſpel is held forth unto us, as they are ſaid to be the children of the Kingdom; yet in Gal. 1. 16.Gal 1:16reſpect of the inward revealing of Chriſt in the heart, I doubt many of us are ſtrangers to it; though we fly about in the light, yet we are but Owls and Bats, darkneſs agreeth better with us; our ſouls are full of darkneſs, our works are nothing elſe but works of darkneſs. How ſad a conſideration is this Brethren, that in the midſt of light we ſhould be children of darkneſs! … noon-day, when the Goſpel is at the heighth, and Chriſt, the p. 422Sun as it were at the meridian, we ſhould be ſtumbling and groping as at midnight, not knowing whither we go.

Then thirdly, As there is this difference of perſons where Chriſt cometh, from them where he cometh not, ſo it is in families 3.and people. Brethren, what a ſad people and family is that where they are all in Egyptian darkneſs! Jeſus Chriſt is not riſen unto any ſoul among them, they know him not experimentally, but they are all in blindneſs: Alas, none can help another, Exod. 10. 23.Exod 10:23the Iſraelites and Egyptians (though they dealed among one another) in one family there was light, in the other there was nothing but groſs darkneſs that might be felt. O who would live in ſuch a family! who would not haſte out of ſuch a condition? you would think that a ſad conditioned houſe, that the light of the Sun and warmth of the Sun never entreth into, of all places you would not live in it: this is is nothing brethren, to the total abſence of Chriſt, where neither Husband, nor Wife, nor Fellow-ſervant, nor Children, none of them have had the Lord Jeſus ſhining into their hearts; Groſs darkneſs ſhall cover the earth, (ſaith the Prophet) But on Zion ſhall the Glory of the Iſa. 60. 2.Isa 60:2Lord ariſe. Look into what families, brethren, you put your ſelves: no man would content himſelf to live in a dungeon continually; that family is worſe where Jeſus Chriſt hath never come.

Fourthly, Then take notice how ſweet a condition it muſt 4.needs be, to have an union and fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, eſpecially where that fellowſhip is conſtant: truly light is ſweet, And it is a pleaſant thing to behold the Sun (ſaith Solomon): Eccleſ. 11. 7.Eccl 11:7but alas, that is nothing to a ſight of Chriſt! poor ſinners in a dark condition, when they become ſenſible of it, will tell you what its worth to have a glimpſe of Chriſt, of the light of his countenance: poor creatures that for half an year together are without the Sun, will tell you how ſweet a condition it is to have the Sun ſhining on them. Mary Magdalen will tell you, (when ſhe wanted her Saviour, her Lord) with many tears, what a want it is, and what a joy to have his preſence. O what light is there in that ſoul: what joy, what peace, what comfort, what warmth, what melting over the Lord Jeſus! it is a little heaven on earth indeed, this enjoyment of the Lord Jeſus.

Fifthly, We may hence learn then brethren, whence cometh all 5.our light, and all our warmth, and all our fruitful influences, p. 423whereby we ſpring forth, and bring forth abundantly, it is from the Lord Jeſus. Thy heart was as very a dungeon as any, full of darkneſs and bugs, frogs and ſerpents, and how came it to be lightned, but that the Sun of God was pleaſed to ſhine on thee, yea into thy heart more then another, and freely with his preſence to ſcatter thoſe luſts thy ſoul was full of before. Art thou enabled ſo much as to bud, to think a good thought? its from hence, becauſe that the Sun of righteouſneſs hath ariſen on thee; thou haſt received ſome influence from him: doth it come to a bloſſom, a good word, holy communication? its from the ſame principle: doth the fruit knit and grow up into a ripeneſs, increaſe into an holy action, an holy walking with God, whence is it but from the Sun of righteouſneſs? doth the Marigold open? its according to the heat of the Sun **Peter mel…s becauſe Chriſt looks on him. 6. Gal. 1. 2, 20. Not I, but the Grace of God in me.Gal 1:2Gal 1:20: do our hearts open? are our hearts enlarged? hence it is (Brethren) forget not the fountain, we are apt to think, the ſparks are of our own kindling, &c.

Sixthly, Then (Brethren) we ſhould hence learn to whom, to your all give the Praiſe, the Glory of all. Let the Moon and Stars then fall down before this Sun, as it was in Joſephs dream: they ſhine but with a borrowed light, and the borrower is ſervant to the lender. How do the Birds each morning chant and chirp, when their little ſpirits are revived by the Sun riſing on them? and ſhall our mouths be ſealed up, when the Sun of righteouſneſs hath viſited our hearts, quickned them, enlightned them? The Stars you know appear not when the Sun ariſeth in his Glory: O dear friends, ſo ſhould we when the Name of Chriſt cometh in competition with our names, not appear, be content to be nothing, to decreaſe, ſo he may increaſe; Let him have the Glory of all.

Seventhly, Then (Brethren) learn to prize the Lord Jeſus, 7. Pſal. 89. 15. I will walk in the light of his countenance.Ps 89:15ſet a true eſteem on him: ſhould we want the Sun for one monethmonth, what a value ſhould we ſet on it? it is true worth indeed, brethren, to value things by their enjoyment, rather then by their …ant: now thou haſt the Sun-ſhine it may be, many a ſweet refreſhing warming from the Lord Jeſus, O prize it; every one is looking at and admiring a Comet, but who conſidereth the Sun? who admireth that? prizeth that? how much ado hath the Lord Jeſus with us to bring us to this? he is fain to put us in a dungeon, to make us bear the iniquities of our p. 424youth, to hide his face, to make us walk in darkneſs, before we will prize it; what a grief is this to him? is it not a trouble to our ſelves? and what a folly is it Brethren, to grieve the Lord Jeſus, and grieve our own ſouls, when we might ſave all this? O labour then to do it; beg ſuch a heart of Jeſus Chriſt.

Eighthly, Then Brethren, ſhut not the windows againſt the 8.ſhinings of this Sun of righteouſneſs: ſometimes the Lord Jeſus getteth within a ſinner for all his fence and guard, light cometh in at ſome chink, beginneth to diſcover the condition in which he is, ſheweth him the filthy vermine that are ready to run away with his ſoul, that the heart ſwarms withal, that he ſaw not before: and yet alas, he maketh a ſhift to clap to the window, to ſmother the light with both hands, puts it away, he deſires not the preſence of it; this is a ſad condition, when men are ignorant, and will be ignorant; when the Lord Jeſus would Jer. 51. 9.Jer 51:9have healed them, and they would not be healed; O how canſt thou tell, whether ever thou ſhalt be healed till thou die? O take heed Brethren, of this! it is the way to bring the blackneſs of darkneſs on you, to provoke God to clap the everlaſting chains of darkneſs on you, wherein you may be reſerved to the laſt day. Oh it is a ſad ſaying, that, Let him that is ignorant, be ignorant ſtill; the time may come, when the hour of darkneſs ſhall fall on your ſouls at the day of death, that you 1. Cor. 14. 38.1 Cor 14:38would give a world then but for a glimpſe of that light you now ſhut out, and fence your ſelves againſt; when your works of darkneſs and ſecret pleaſures of ſin (for whoſe ſake you have done it) do fly in your face, buffet you, ready to tear your throat out, hale you before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, O then for a ſight of Chriſt, but he is far from you; no, he would have enlightned you, but you would not; Therefore now the things which belong to Luke 19. 42.Luke 19:42your peace, are hid from your eyes. He might pitty Jeruſalem, and weep over her, but alas her condition was paſt cure; I would the condition of many a poor ſoul here were not ſuch; yea Brethren, the people of God themſelves, take heed of ſh…ing out the light of this Sun of righteouſneſs; for what will become of the light in the room, when its fulleſt of light, if the windows be clapt too? will it not be cut off? will it not become a dungeon? we complain many times of a dark, and ſad, and dead condition: the truth is, Brethren, we have ſhut him out, we p. 425have thought; Oh now we are full, now we have knowledge and heat enough; we have been ſo warmed with the influence of Chriſt on us, now it matters not for altogether ſo ſtrict a walking, now we have gotten the light of his countenance; this is a ſecret frowardneſs of our hearts, and then he is provoked to withdraw, and alas, we are in darkneſs again. Therefore take we heed Brethren, how we hide the face of God in Chriſt from our ſelves by ſuch wantonneſs under the beams of Grace.

Ninthly, Then Brethren, learn we not to reſt in the common 9.influences of this Sun, the Lord Jeſus he ſhineth on the good and bad, Brethren, but he ſhineth only on the heads of ſome, but into the hearts of others (as the Apoſtle ſaith) the 2 Cor. 4.2 Cor 4paſſages between the head and the heart are opened, and the light ſeizeth on the will and affections, as well as the underſtanding; the Sun may ſhine on thee, thou mayſt have much knowledge, and an head full of notion, and yet be but a weed; for it ſhines on the weeds as well as on the flowers; on the dunghill as well as on the garden; the dunghil never ſavours ſo bad, as when the Sun beateth moſt on it. O what ſteams are there then, enough to poyſon a man! Ah Brethren, the ſhining of Jeſus Chriſt, on ſome poor ſinners, what doth it but raiſe ſteams of luſt within? men are more vile, more wicked, their guilt greater, their condemnation ſurer, their ſins more loathſom to God then any others; therefore ſtay not here (Brethren) except we find that the light we receive from Jeſus Chriſt do ſcatter our luſts, for they will not endure the light that is ſaving indeed: except thou find that it change thee indeed, and transform thy heart into his image from Glory to Glory: if thou find thou art rather changed from diſhonour to diſhonour, from one vile affection to 2 Cor. 3. 18.2 Cor 3:18another, (foreign the Apoſtle cals them) all the light thou haſt received, is nothing.Rom 1. 26.Rom 1:26

Tenthly, They are not friends to Chriſt then Brethren, that 10.would make more Suns then one; what, is not the Lord of Glory a glo…s Sun enough? is there not a fulneſs of light in him; ſufficient for us all? a fulneſs of heat and influence in him for us all, but we muſt be flattering our ſelves and others into a rivalſhip with Chriſt? how groſs are the Papiſts in this point? making the Saints their mediatour of ſatisfaction and interceſſion both? I do them no wrong: they are the words of their p. 426Miſſall, praying for pardon by the merits of their Saints, and praying to them to intercede for them: yea and to the Virgin to command her ſon; O horrid! but in them its not ſo much, becauſe either they are in Egyptian darkneſs, and denied the means of light, or given up to ſtrong deluſions to believe a lye; 2 Theſ. 2. 11.2 Thess 2:11but for us that have the light of the knowledge of Chriſt in ſuch a rich manner among us, and yet have a Pope in our bellies, the indignity is much greater to Jeſus Chriſt: how prone are we to ſet up our own works, as our Saviour? who can ſay his heart is clean, and throughly purged from this evil? O that we were but aſhamed of it, and were able to ſay that we do it not in our hearts; for then its not ſo deeply chargable on us, (as I doubt) its on many of us. Therefore take heed of this Brethren, of ſetting up any ſpark of our own kindling (or of his kindling) in us, in defiance to the Lord Jeſus, in oppoſition againſt him, or partnerſhip with him in our ſalvation, in our comfort, or peace, or joy of faith: if we do, and give him not the whole, we do much diſhonour him, and ſhall find that we much wrong our own ſouls. No readier way (Brethren) to bring an eclipſe, then when the Moon wil be interpoſing between the Sun & the Earth.

Eleventhly, What enemies are they then to Jeſus Chriſt and to 11.Mankind, that would pluck the Sun out of the Firmament? would we not account him a deſperate enemy that would endeavour it? and are they any better? are they not much worſe, who would pluck away our Chriſt from us? whether they be ſins, or luſts within, which do indeed rather cloud or eclipſe at moſt. But there are ſome who would even pluck him out of his throne that the Father hath ſet for him in Heaven, in his Church, ſuch as deny the Lord that bought them, ſuch as will not yield him to be the moſt high God, equal to the Father; Phil 2. 8.Phil 2:8though Chriſt counted it no robbery, they count it a robbery for him be equal with him. Can a creature-Chriſt be a ſufficient Chriſt to give light, and life, and healing to poor ſinners? will this ever ſatisfie any tender conſcience, quiet any trouble…ul? let it go then for a damnable hereſie, and let us abhor it, and beware of it; for nothing is ſo groſs, but in theſe times Sathan 2 Pet. 2. 1.2 Pet 2:1finds ſome vent for it; and bewail it (Brethren) that ever any poor creatures that expect ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, ſhould attempt ſuch an high indignity againſt him? what is it but to kiſs p. 427him with Judas, and yet to betray him? with Joab to kiſs the Son, and yet to ſtab him? he that would bring the Sun down to the light and condition of the Moon, were a wretched man, but this is nothing to the caſe in hand.

Twelfthly, Then admire (Brethren) the tender mercy of the Lord that would give us ſuch a Sun, the Lord Jeſus, the Sun of 12.righteouſneſs! if he had left the world in a Chaos at firſt, and never commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſs, never ſet any Sun in the Firmament, who could have charged any thing on him? But he knew what a miſerable world it would it be without the Sun, and how little of the beauty, and excellence, and perfection of his works, and wiſdom would appear, if there were no Sun. But here (Brethren) ſhining forth more of his …enderneſs and bowels unto poor Sinners in a dark and dead condition, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-ſpring from an high hath viſited us; here are the ſoundings of his bowels toward us indeed, when we were forlorn and Luke. 1. 78.Luke 1:78helpleſs in our ſelves, to cauſe this day-ſpring from on high to viſit us. And truly for us in this Land, how long have we had the Sun of righteouſneſs riſen on us? and that yet it is not ſet, that he is not altogether eclipſed by the world of iniquity; that he hath ſtood ſtill (as it were) and not haſtened to a ſetting; this is unſpeakable mercy, admire it, bleſs the Lord, be filled with his praiſes!

Thirteenthly, Brethren, Then let us be exhorted to ſet our 13.ſelves in the warm Sun. I mean, to wait diligently on the Lord Jeſus in his Ordinances, for theſe are the Orb in which he moveth in his Church, the Heavens, and doth, as it were, wheel about the Church in them, as the Sun in the Orb, to communicate his light, and heat, and influences; and therefore its obſervable, that David ſaith, I had rather be a door-keeper in the Pſal. 84.Ps 84houſe of God, then dwell in the tents of wickedneſs; why, ſaith he, The Lord is a Sun, and a Shield, Glory, and a Defence round about them, therefore he would be a door-keeper in the houſe of God; becauſe there, and then, and to them, he is a Sun in a ſpecial manner. O Brethren, have you not experience of it? where and how come in your warmings on your ſpirits? is it not in the Ordinances of Chriſt? doth he not breath there, and feed there with his people? if a man ſhould be ſo p. 428peeviſh as that he would not have the Suns influence, except he did ſhine in his chamber, did move there, or ſhine on the earth, or move there, were he not moſt juſtly deprived of them? Here Brethren, here in the Word preached and heard, in the Seals, and Prayer, and all the Ordinances of Chriſt he will be found of his people, and above others in private; be much in maditation of the ſweetneſs, the riches of his love to poor Sinners, ſuch as thou art, this is to ſet our faces Brethren; towards the Sun. O how will this clear the eyes of an Eagle indeed, one that is gloriouſly born of heaven, though Owls are blinded by it? How will this (Brethren) darken the beauty and glory of all things here? You complain of earthlineſs, and you are faſt glewed to the world. O beg of God, that he would turn your eyes toward himſelf, toward the Lord Jeſus; behold this Sun in his ſtrength and glory, and ſee if this do not make all things elſe dull to you, to have no excellence in them, in compariſon of Chriſt, that you ſhall cry out, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt. O Brethren, this would make us ſparkle, like Diamonds, lying under the influence of the Sun: its for want of this that Chriſtians are like Diamonds in the dirt; this will make us ſparkle, as Moſes face did ſhine; this Brethren, is the way to contract the beams as in a burning glaſs, and ſet the heart on fire with love to Jeſus Chriſt; then our affections will flame, then ſhall we be a zealous people of good works; otherwiſe not.

Fourteenthly, Ariſe then and ſhine, thou poor fearing ſoul, 14.that lieſt in the duſt, be inlightned, lift up thy eyes thou that languiſheſt, and thy ſpirit is ready to faint within thee, thou art even dying, and couldſt with fears of thy condition: Oh thy light is come! is not the Sun in the Firmament, though he may be clouded from thee? what though there be much darkneſs in thee of ignorance, of diſcomfort, thou walkeſt in darkneſs and Iſa. 60. 1.Isa 60:1ſeeſt no light, the Sun may be up, though it appear not? it may be day with thee (poor ſoul) and thou a child of light and of the day, though thou beholdeſt not the Sun, nor the b…ms from the Sun; if thou haſt not the light of the Sun, the light of his countenance, thou mayſt have the influence of the Sun notwithſtanding, that reacheth the parts where the light cometh not. And be not diſcouraged at the enemies of Chriſt: what though the clouds of ignorance, errour, prophaneſs and idolatry p. 429gather together, and ſeem to threaten the Sun? Alas, how ſoon can he diſpel them, conſume them with the brightneſs of his glorious appearance? what if the Dogs do bark at the Moon, the Church, or at Chriſt, the Sun? will that hinder him in his courſe? what though the People when they are ſcorched with the heat of the Sun (as ſome Pagans are) do curſe the Sun? can they hinder his courſe? O no: as a ſtrong man he will run his race, and who ſhall hinder it? and thoſe that will not be made fruitful he will burn up and conſume; therefore be not diſcouraged; and thou that haſt much deadneſs, and coldneſs, and hardneſs, be not diſcouraged, there is influence enough in Chriſt, go to him, labour to act faith on him, ſet thy ſelf under his influence, wait on him in his Ordinances, and ſee if it come not into thee, to warm, to melt, to make fruitful in the work of the Lord.

Now for the ſecond, which is, that Jeſus Chriſt is the Sun of righteouſneſs. But leſt I ſhould dwell too long on the Text, if▪ I ſhould at large handle every part, therefore I will rather ſum up ſeveral things in one Obſervation, and its this.

Ʋnto them that fear the Name of the Lord, the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings, or d…th ariſe with Doctr.healing in his wings. Wherein I will labour to unfold ſeveral things, and then come to the Application of all to our ſelves.

Firſt then, What is meant by them that fear the Lord? here in this place of the Prophet, I conceive by the coherence of the Text, that hereby are meant ſuch, as when the Prophet had denounced the fearful threatnings of Judgement, The day of the Lord to be as a fire; oven, to conſume the ſtubble, &c. they were afraid, they feared the Lord and his judgements; they were apt to be too much diſmayed at it; but he tels▪ them, that to them it ſhould be a day of healing, and liberty, and light, and refreſhing to his people. The people of God may, and ought to be afraid of the judgements of God, when they hang bound up in a black cloud, but yet in the womb of a threatning; and ſo Joſiah was afraid, and rent his clothes, and humbled himſelf, 2 Kings 22. ch. 11. 19.2 Kgs 22his heart was tender, and he did tremble at this fearful word, the judgement threatned againſt Hieruſalem. A ſtout, ſtubborn, p. 430brawny, hard heart never melts nor moveth, but ſuch as thoſe are afraid; or elſe if judgement do break out, and the decree bring forth, the clouds pour out upon Sinners, then they are afraid. So David was afraid of the judgement of God executed on Pſal. 119. 120. … Chr…n. 21. 30.Ps 119:120Ʋzzah, and afraid of the Angel of the Lord. Now to ſuch as theſe, the Lord promiſeth a Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe with healing; ſuch fear hath torment in it and anguiſh, and therefore hath need of healing; but is this to be reſtrained either to their perſons, or to their conditions? ſurely no: the propheſies are Divine, they are of the nature of the author, with whom 1000 years are but as one day, therefore we are to allow to them a greater latitude, ſuch as is agreeable to them, they are not fulfilled punctually at once, but have ſpringing accompliſhment, Bacon advancement of Learning. li. 2. p. 121.and germinant throughout many ages, though the height or fulneſs of them may refer them to ſome age; and of all other propheſies, it is moſt true of that of Chriſt, with reſpect to the ſaving vertues of his blood to his people; therefore for perſons we muſt not confine it to them, no nor for things, to that ſort of fear which ſeemeth to be meant by the ſeries of the context; but this as all other promiſes of God are applyable to any condition of poor creatures, to which its ſuitable. As that of Joſhuah, I will, never leave thee, is applyed to want in outward things, and to encourage them to walk without covetouſneſs. Ioſh. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5.Josh 1:5Heb 13:5Therefore;

Secondly, Fearing of God, may be meant ſuch as God hath begun to work on, hath convinced them of ſin, and of wrath by reaſon of ſin; there is a fear wrought in ſuch an heart, as the poor Jaylour came ſpringing in and trembling; and the three Acts 16. 29. Acts 2.Acts 16:29Acts 2thouſand in Acts 2. To ſuch as theſe the Promiſe may be applyable, That Chriſt will ariſe on them with healing in his wings; though I know not that its to be taken in any equal latitude with this fear, for there may be ſuch a conviction and fear, and yet haply never any healing for them.

3. Such as fear the Lord and his Goodneſs (as the Prophet hath i…) Such as fear his Name, though he himſelf be in Heaven, Hoſ. 3▪ 5Hos 3:5and they cannot ſee him face to face, as Moſes did; they ſeek not …t ſ…gns of his preſence, though they ſee him but darkly and through a glaſs: though they ſee him not, being inviſible, …et by his … they know him; and the greateſt part of his p. 431name is Mercy (as you have it in Exodus) and his name ſpeaks Exod. 24. 6.Exod 24:6his nature, the Lord, the Lord God, gracious and merciful, long-ſuffering, &c. O! ſuch as theſe, they ſhall have the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe on them; if they have but little, yet they ſhall have more: Some they have had, elſe they could not be fearing him in ſuch a manner as this is, for this indeed is a part of the Covenant of grace made good to them already, that he will put his fear into their hearts; and this here is nothing elſe but the diſplaying of the ſame Covenant of grace to his people. Alas! many times the people of God that fear his name, are under cloudings, ſometimes in reſpect of temptation to ſin, they are ſore peſtered with them: Sometime the prevailing of ſin over them, to the darkning and diſquieting of their ſouls: Sometime they are in darkneſs and ſee no light, and yet fear the name of the Iſa. 50. 10.Isa 50:10Lord. Now to ſuch as theſe the Sun of righteouſneſs will ariſe with healing in his wings.

But ſecondly, what is meant by the Sun of righteouſneſs? That Chriſt the Covenant is meant, I told you before; but for a reaſon of this title, why a Sun? you have heard at large. But the Sun of righteouſneſs, why ſo called, is a further queſtion; and for anſwer to this, let me ſpeak a few words.

Firſt, One reaſon may be becauſe of his perfection; there ſhould nothing be wanting in him, he ſhould have all perfections which were juſt and fit for ſuch a Mediator to have; and ſo ſome think there is a Hebraiſm in the words, the Sun of righteouſneſs; the righteous Sun, the abſolutely perfect Sun: and this is a truth, in this Sun there was no ſpot, no wrinkle, no darkneſs, no deficiency of glory, of light, of heat, of influences, of pains in wheeling about his Church continually for their ſupply and refreſhing; but this is not all.

Secondly, Becauſe in him the righteouſneſs of God was eminently conſpicuous, therefore he may be called the Sun of righteouſneſs; Some imperfect footſteps of righteouſneſs there are in the creature, of holineſs and conformity to God, ſome lineaments of his Image, but very naked, they want their filling up, and garniſhing with colours, and will do while we are in the body: and there are ſo many blots, and blurs, and ſtains, that it ſcarce appears many times; witneſs the choiceſt examples of the Saints, as … Moſes, if you look on him at the water of Meri…ah, you p. 432would ſcarce have thought him ſo meek a man; and ſo David in Pſal. 106. 32. … Sam. 19. 29.Ps 106:32the matter of Ʋriah, and his dealing with Mephiboſheth. Theſe were ſhadows caſt on the beauty of Chriſt in them, that it was not ſo conſpicuous; the glaſs is dimmed, and defiled, and ſo not ſo tranſparent: but now the Lord Jeſus is a pure glaſs of divine attributes and perfections, and therefore of this righteouſneſs here ſpoken of. And ſecondly, conſpicuous in him was the vindictive righteouſneſs of God; it is true his juſtice is manifeſted in calling ſinners to an account, as he did the Angels, the Sodomites, the old world, and us in our times, his dealings do ſpeak him to Phil. 2. 6.Phil 2:6be a juſt God: but never any ſo much as his dealing with Chriſt, though a Son, and equal with him in all eſſential glory; yet if he will be ſurety for poor ſinners, he muſt as it were for a time vail his glory with raggs of fleſh, becauſe the children partake of the H…b. 2. 14.ſame; and though the Son of his incomprehenſible love, yet if he will ſo appear under the ſins of his people, he ſhall find them like a poiſoned garment, inflamed with wrath, he muſt drink up the cup to the bottom, though he were amazed at it, and compaſſed about with fear, ſurrounded with fear (as the Evangeliſt hath it) foreign, though it coſt him a bloody ſweat, put Mat. 14. 34.Matt 14:34him into an agony. A ſtrong potion (Brethren) that caſts the Lord of Life and Glory into ſuch a ſweat as this, though it lay him under reproach and ſhame, cloud Gods face from him, coſt him the very blood of his heart, and all the joy▪ of his ſoul for a time; though he put up ſtrong cries and tears, God will not be intreated to let the cup paſs from him, not ſpare him at all. O! here the Juſtice of God is conſpicuous in him. (Brethren) never Mat. 26. 39, 42.Matt 26:39Matt 26:42was there ſuch a pattern of righteouſneſs in God as this, that he would not ſpare ſin, though in his deareſt Son of his love. O then! ſhall ſons by adoption think to make bold with ſin, and not ſmart for it in ſome meaſure? Take heed you watchleſs, careleſs walkers before God. O! what ſhall become of poor ſinners then, that are never the better for all this, whoſe ſins ſhall be charged on their own account? Did it amaze the Lord Jeſus? With what hearts do you think (ſinners) you ſhall be able to look an angry God in the face, when his flaming indignation ſhall ſtream forth on your ſouls to all eternity? O! think on it ſinners, and tremble: but this by the by.

Thirdly, He may be called the Sun of righteouſneſs, as I conceive, p. 433as he is the fulfilling of all the promiſes that were made of him. The Lord made many promiſes, as the ſeed of the woman Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15ſhall break the ſerpents-head; and that in Abraham, in his ſeed all the Nations of the earth ſhould be bleſſed; and that a Virgin ſhould conceive and bear a ſon, whoſe name ſhould be Immannuel, God with Iſa. 7. 1….Isa 7:1us; ſignifying the union of natures in his perſon.

Now if Chriſt had not come according to the promiſe, where had been the truth of God his righteouſneſs? and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, it was to declare his righteouſneſs for the remiſſion of ſins, that are paſt, through the forbearance of God; Rom. 3. 25, 26.Rom 3:25Rom 3:26when all the Fathers had believed in him to come, and to be revealed, they dyed in faith, not having received the promiſes, that is, not having ſeen Chriſt come in the fleſh for the accompliſhment of their redemption, though afar off they beheld them and embraced them: Abraham ſaw his day and was glad. Now what had become of the faith of all theſe, grounded on the faithfulneſs of God who had promiſed; they without us, ſaith the Apoſtle, were not made perfect, though through forbearance Heb. 11. ult.Heb 11(as it were) their ſins were paſſed over; yet they would have returned on them again, if Chriſt had not come according to the promiſe; and therefore herein now Chriſt may be ſaid to be the Sun of righteouſneſs; but this concerneth moſt his firſt appearing in the fleſh, though for theſe ends and purpoſes, for which he doth ariſe unto every poor believing ſoul. Now therefore he is the Sun of righteouſneſs in this reſpect alſo, as well by his ariſing on any ſoul that ſtands in need of him now, as by ariſing on them then: for if God ſhould fail in any of them which he hath given to Chriſt, where were his righteouſneſs? This is the third.

Fourthly, Another conſideration wherefore he may be called the Sun of righteouſneſs, is this, becauſe he is the meritorious cauſe of our juſtification in the ſight of God, therefore he is called, the Lord our righteouſneſs; he was ſet forth (ſaith the Apoſtle) for a propitiation through faith in his blood, called Ier. 23. 6.Jer 23:6the righteouſneſs of God, as he accepteth of the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, as God in Chriſt paid the price of it, even the blood of God (as he imputeth it to us, or for Chriſts ſake doth not impute our ſins on us) Enter not into Judgement (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) Pſal. 143. 2.Ps 143:2with thy ſervant, for in thy ſight ſhall no fleſh be juſtified; not by p. 434the works of the Law, but by the blood of Jeſus: in this reſpect he is called a Sun of righteouſneſs.

Fifthly, in that he doth by his influences on the hearts of his people work on them a ſimilitude, a likeneſs to himſelf, to his Father, and ſo beget an inherent righteouſneſs, putting inward principles and ſeeds into their hearts, from whence flow all manner of holy converſation; in this alſo he is the Sun of righteouſneſs: the Apoſtle is clear in this, he is made of God to us wiſdom, righteouſneſs, ſanctification and redemption; which ſanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30.1 Cor 1:30is ſometimes called in Scripture righteouſneſs. So, he hath choſen us in him to the adoption of Sons, that we might be holy and unblamable, that by him we might be brought to ſuch a Eph. 1. 4, 5.Eph 1:4Eph 1:5ſtate and condition, by beholding him, by lying in his beams with our faces towards him, with open face. Now all ſhadows, 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 2. Made ſin that we might be m…de the righteouſneſs of God in him.2 Cor 3:182 Cor 5:2and ceremonies, and vails, (ſuch as in the Legal adminiſtration of the Covenant of grace were on him) being taken away, we are changed into his Image from glory to glory. In all theſe reſpects he may be called the Sun of righteouſneſs: and thus much for the ſecond thing.

The third then, What is meant by the ariſing of this Sun of righteouſneſs on them? if we underſtand it with reſpect to the people of God, of thoſe times that feared his name; then it cannot be underſtood (Brethren) as if that Chriſt had never ſhined on them: for, how come they then to fear the Lord, if he had not yet owned them as his people in Covenant? but it muſt be underſtood thus, that they ſhould behold him in a more glorious manner ariſing; they that ſhould live to ſee the day. Many waited for the conſolation of Iſrael, as Zach. and Simeon, Luk. 2. 25.Luke 2:25and many others, who could not have done it if they had had no influence from Chriſt on their hearts; therefore we muſt ſay, that even among the Jews, yea and before, many of them had a dawning of light, had ſome glimmerings of Chriſt, he did ſhine through all the darkneſs and ſhadows of the Ceremonies: Chriſt was held forth in them all, but only as the beauty of the picturre is in the ſhadow. But now we have the very image of the things, (ſaith the Apoſtle.) So that this riſing on them (Brethren) Heb. 10. 1.Heb 10:1may be as the riſing of the Sun to ſome height, rather then his firſt appearing: for I find that in the Goſpel of Matthew, ſo the word foreign is rendered. When the Sun is riſen, it withereth: p. 435Mat. 13. 6.Matt 13:6that is, when its up and at an height, then it withereth.

So now, (though before they had the dawning, I ſay, ſome ſcattering beams fore-running the glory of the Sun) yet now Joh. 10. 10.John 10:10they ſhould have it in greateſt glory, for he came that his people might have light and might have it more abundantly.

But now to us (Brethren) on whom he hath ſhone ſo long, he may be ſaid to riſe, as he breaks through any clouds of darkneſs, on us, as the Martyr at the ſtake cryed out, Son of God ſhine on me: he meant, that he ſhould ſhew him the light of his countenance, break in on the heart with more light and warmth, whereby he might be armed againſt that tertible death he was to encounter with; and the Sun in the Firmament broke out in a glorious manner through the thick clouds, as an Emblem, if not an earneſt of the other; and a viſible evidence or teſtimony to the ſtanders by, that it ſhould be ſo. So that now I conceive, when on any poor ſoul in his firſt agonies, the throws that he hath to bring forth the child Jeſus, his troubles of heart for ſin, and thick darkneſs on him the Lord Jeſus breaks forth on the ſoul with a glorious diſcovery of his love, yea with an hint of his love, its ariſing on him; and ſo as the increaſe of the glory of his people Iſrael: the glory of his people Iſrael is called his ariſing on them; ſo where the Lord doth in a more eminent Luk. 2. 32..Luke 2:32manner appear to his people, either after deſertion in reſpect of comfort and peace, or after deſertion in reſpect of holineſs, there he may be ſaid to ariſe on them. And thus much for the third.

The fourth thing is, what is meant by the wings of this Sun of righteouſneſs? this is ſo much the more difficult, by how much the more Metaphors it is cloathed with, one on another: For firſt, the natural Sun is ſaid to have wings. And ſecondly, then this Sun of righteouſneſs being compared to the natural Sun, is alſo ſaid to have wings; that we may therefore a little unfold it, let us firſt ſee what are the wings of the Sun, the natural Sun, and for that we muſt know it is Metaphorical: the raies, the beams of the Sun are ſaid to be the wings of the Sun; we read of the wings of the morning, wherewith the Pſalmiſt Pſal. 139. 9.Ps 139:9would flie away to the ends of the earth; what is that but the dawnings of the day? the eye-lids of the morning, as Job calls p. 436Job 3. 9.Job 3:9it: the firſt breakings of light, when the Sun peepeth above the Horizon, the raies and ſtreamings of light ſcattered before the appearing oſ the Sun: the Sun is as it were the eye of heaven, governing and viewing the earth; and the dawning of the day is as it were the eye-lids, opening before the eye do appear when it awakeneth. So Caryl and Mercer. they are called the wings of the Sun, (as is conceived) for ſeveral reaſons.

Firſt, becauſe as wings and feathers compaſs, clothe and adorn the fowl whoſe wings they are; ſo the rayes do clothe, and compaſs, and adorn the Sun as it were; how naked would a bird be without his feathers? and how naked would the Sun be without his raies and beams?

Secondly, becauſe of the ſwift motion of the Sun, not only in his diurnal courſe, as in Pſalm 19. He rejoyceth as a Gyant to run his race: but no ſooner is the Sun up, but he doth in a manner ſpread his raies to all the Hemiſphere, as a bird quickly when ſhe riſeth ſpreadeth her wings abroad; and therefore the Egypitans Hieroglyph. of the Sun, was a fowl ſpreading long wings every way.

Thirdly, becauſe the wings of a fowl, are thoſe under which ſhe gathereth her young, cheriſheth them, refreſheth, warmeth Mat. 23. 27.Matt 23:27them, that they may grow and increaſe: So here, the wings of the Sun are thoſe whereby the creatures in their kind are healed and cheriſhed; as you know how the body will be benummed, and languiſh with the cold of the night: when the Sun beams come to beat on it again, how doth it quicken and revive?

But now for the wings of the Lord Jeſus, what are his wings as he is the Sun of righteouſneſs? whatever anſwers to this Sun-beams are his wings; and what are theſe? In a word then, I take them to be the Word and Spirit eſpecially; not excluding other Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, but theſe eſpecially; yea (truly) the Spirit in the Word, and in other Ordinances of Chriſt, I take to be theſe wings here ſpoken of. The Spirit in the Word, even whereby he cometh and preacheth to men, even to them that were aſar off from Chriſt, is ſaid to come and preach peace; by which alſo (ſaith the Apoſtle) that is, by the Spirit, he went and preached to the Spirits in priſon, that now are in priſon, but not …ph. …. 17.when he ſent to preach to them; the Spirit of Chriſt in the Word which Noah preached to them (who was a Preacher of righteouſneſs) p. 437the Lord Jeſus went and preached to them: I ſay, 1 Pet. 3. 19.1 Pet 3:19theſe are the wings of our Sun of righteouſneſs; and ſo they are called haply for divers reaſons.

Firſt, that theſe proceeding from him, even as the raies of the Sun, which are his wings, proceed from the Sun, as the Sun ſends forth his beams and influences in a powerful manner; ſo Chriſt ſends forth his light and his truth, the Spirit as a perſon in the Trinity proceedeth from him as from the Father, but as to his Pſal. 43. 3.Ps 43:3office, to be an enlightening Spirit, a quickning Spirit, a comforting Spirit; ſo he proceedeth from Chriſt; I will ſend you the Comforter Ioh. 15. 26.John 15:26from the Father; he poured out of his Spirit on his Apoſtles and many others, who were to go forth in his name, and preach the Goſpel to the Nations; and the Word he ſends it Rev. 1. 16.Rev 1:16forth, out of his mouth proceedeth a two-edged ſword, which is his Word.

Secondly, as the beams ſupply the abſence of the Sun, ſo doth the Spirit of Chriſt ſupply his abſence; therefore while he was yet preſent, the Spirit was not yet given, not poured out in that fulneſs; but when he was to go, he comforts his Diſciples with this, that if he went, he would ſend them the Comforter, another Ioh. 14. 16.John 14:16Comforter; himſelf was one, and he would ſend them another, and that was his Spirit, and he ſhould lead them into all truth, bring all things to their remembrance, and be their Comforter, and help their infirmities, and ſo ſupply the abſence of Chriſt. Yea better then if he himſelf were with them; as we uſe to ſay, the Sun is come into ſuch an houſe, when the beams thereof are come in, which do ſupply the abſence of the Sun, and better it is for us to have the beams, then the Sun in our houſes.

Thirdly, becauſe of the ſwiftneſs of the opening of the glory of Chriſt to the laſt ages of the world. O! how ſwift are the beams of the Sun in a moment darted from heaven to earth, and over-ſpread the whole Horizon? So the Lord, his Word being quickned by the Spirit, doth run very ſwiftly (as the Pſalmiſt Pſal. 147. 15.Ps 147:15hath it) in how ſhort a time (as the age of the Apoſtles) did it overſpread the Horizon, gotten as far as Rome, and how mightily did it prevail, though the Jews did contradict, and blaſpheme, Acts 19. 20.Acts 19:20and endeavour to take off the wheels of his Chariots, yet it went on never the ſlower for that, it grew and multiplyed; p. 438Converts unto the face of the Church were as thick as the morning dew on the face of the earth, which is generated by the Pſal. 110. 3.Ps 110:3Sun.

Fourthly, as the beams of the Sun carry light, and heat, and refreſhing along with them to the poor languiſhing earth, and other creatures, ſo doth the Spirit and the Word, and the Spirit in the Word carries light with it; thy Word is a light to my feet; and indeed it is not Chriſt conſidered alone, but as he is held out in the Goſpel that is here reſembled to the Sun of righteouſneſs, Rom. 10. 18.Rom 10:18as I told you before; their ſound is gone forth into all the earth; that is, of them that preached the Goſpel of peace and reconciliation through Chriſt. And for heat; O! how doth many a poor creature come under an Ordinance with an heartleſs mind, cold and dead, and his heart doth burn within him, while the Luk. 24. 32.Luke 24:32Lord by his Spirit hath communion with him in thoſe Ordinances? and what refreſhings do ariſe to a poor weary ſoul, when the Lord createth the fruit of the lips, peace, peace, certain undoubted peace, he doubleth it for emphaſis: that peace which Iſa. 57. 19.Isa 57:19paſſeth underſtanding: and it ſhall ſurely be ſo, and ſuddenly too, not long, he delights not to hold poor ſouls in anxiety & trouble, only what he ſeeth needful for their humiliation, fetching them off themſelves and ſin, and making Chriſt ſweet to them indeed, that he may be precious to them. Other reaſons might haply be given, why the Spirit, and Word, and Ordinances are compared to the Sun, which are the wings thereof, but this ſhall ſuffice.

The fifth thing, what is meant by healing, and indeed this is large, and as large as our ſpiritual maladies are: ſome ſay, there is nothing more wholſom then the Sun; where it cometh with its beams, how doth it purge the air wherein we breath, conſuming the noyſom vapours that ariſe, and would infect it quickly, purging the earth from its dregs, or elſe we ſhould quickly find the offenſiveneſs of it? So the Lord Jeſus by the breaking forth of his Spirit in the Word of Truth, doth heal the air, conſume and ſcatter the venomous errors of men, wherewith we ſhould quickly be all poyſoned, were it not for this, that be makes manifeſt their folly to all men, and they proceed no further. He heals the waters, the waters of the Sanctuary: how often have they been polluted, yea poyſoned by ſome, and the Lord hath p. 439healed them again by his Spirit. Again, he heals the earth of its barrenneſs; in Winter the earth ſeemeth to be languiſhing, and all things withered and dead, when the Sun returneth how doth it heal it? To its here (Beloved) it is the Word and Spirit that opens the earth, moiſtens the earth, ſweetly refreſheth it, calls forth the fruits thereof: The fruits of the Spirit they are called, as the fruits of the earth are called, the precious fruits, put forth by the Sun and by the Moon (which ſhines by a derived influence Deut. 33. 14.Deut 33:14from the Sun:) how precious are the fruits of the Spirit, (Brethren) love, meekneſs, joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, humility, ſelf-denyal, theſe are the precious fruits put forth by the Sun, the Lord Jeſus, by his Word and Spirit beating upon our barren hearts; indeed he maketh the barren Wilderneſs to become a garden of God. Again, he healeth, he reviveth the ſpirits which languiſh and are ready to go out, as the poor Birds that in the Winter are hard put to it, and ſome lye you hardly know where, as if they were dead or dying: when the Sun returneth, how doth it refreſh and revive their little ſpirits that were left before? The night brings a heavineſs and burthen along with it to the body, but the morning, when the Sun ariſeth, how doth it enliven and lighten? Oh! ſo its in this caſe, many a poor ſoul can ſay by experience, that when darkneſs hath been long on them, they have no light, no comfort, no refreſhing, no breathing of the Spirit to their apprehenſions in his Ordinances on their hearts. O▪ how have hands hanged down, and their knees feeble, and knock one againſt another for feebleneſs, and that which was within them was ready to dye: But now, no ſooner hath the Lord Jeſus, the Sun of righteouſneſs looked on them, but they have had their ankle-bones ſtrengthened, the joy of the Lord is their ſtrength, as Neh. 8. but I intend not here much Neh. 8. 10.Neh 8:10to expatiate, only theſe two or three things.

Firſt then, the firſt thing in this healing which is brought under the wings of the Sun of righteouſneſs, is pardon for our ſins; who forgiveth all-thy iniquities, and healeth all-thy diſeaſes: theſe are exegetical one of another, or may ſo be looked on. Sin Pſal. 103. 3.Ps 103:3(Brethren) cuts off a creature from God, and ſo maketh a wound, which now is healed and made up when they are pardoned; Make the heart of this people fat, and let their ears be heavy; their eyes cloſed, leſt at any time they ſhould ſee with their eyes, or p. 440Mat. 13. 15.Matt 13:15hear with their ears, or underſtand with their hearts, leſt they ſhould be converted, and I ſhould heal them: which Mark reads Mark 4. 12.Mark 4:12thus, leſt they ſhould be converted, and their ſins be forgiven them. So then forgiveneſs and healing are all one; and its one thing ſurely included, in that of the Prophet Hoſea, I will heal their back-ſlidings, I will love them freely; the juſtification freely by Hoſ. 14. 4.Hos 14:4his grace, (as the Apoſtle calls it.) Poor ſinner, thou that ever kneweſt what ſin was, what a wound it was to thy ſoul; kneweſt that thy pardon is a healing to thee. So then this ariſing with healing in his wings, is by his Spirit in his Word; he conveyeth the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, the merit thereof, maketh it over to the poor ſoul that believeth, to the doing away of all the guilt. So as a Sun of righteouſneſs, properly he healeth: and this is the firſt.

Secondly, He taketh away alſo the anguiſh and trouble that did ariſe from ſin to the ſoul; as when a wound is healed, you know the anguiſh and ſmart is taken away, though while it is healing, (it may be) when ſearched and tented, there will be ſmart and ſore, yet afterward its taken away by degrees: I know ſome of you have felt, and haply ſome at preſent may feel the grief of your wounds. O! how they will throb, and beat, and burn, and ſmart ſometimes: broken bones are nothing to a broken heart, nor the broken fleſh any thing to a broken bone: the Lord heals the broken in heart, he bindeth up their wounds; I have ſeen his waies, and will heal him, ſaith the Lord; he ſpeaks to Pſal. 147. 3.Ps 147:3the condition of a poor diſconſolate ſoul under the wrath of God: He was wrath and ſmote him, yea he hid him and was wrath: Iſa. 17. 18, 19.Isa 17:18Isa 17:19O how this troubles a poor ſoul! he cannot but have his heart full of darkneſs, and terrour, and trouble, that hath the face of God hidden from him; well, ſaith the Lord, though he did walk frowardly before me, gave me not my ends in ſmiting him, yet I will heal him: and wherein doth this healing conſiſt? Alas▪ in reſtoring joy and comfort to him; the poor ſoul now was over-whelmed with ſorrow, his heart now was ready to ſink and fail within him, and leſt it ſhould ſo do, he will heal him; and how is this but by his Word and Spirit therein, which is the comforting Spitit, he will create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him. Here is a healing indeed, the healing of broken hearts, and broken bones; its the work that the Father ſent the Lord Jeſus for p. 441Luk. 4. 18.Luke 4:18into the world, in an eſpecial manner, that he annointed him for, poured out the Spirit upon him, annointed him with the oyl of Iſa. 61. 1, 2.Isa 61:1Isa 61:2gladneſs above his fellows, that he might ſpeak in due ſeaſon, that he might bind up the broken ſpirits: Now the Lord Jeſus, Brethren, our dear Saviour, he delighteth to do this will and work of his Father. O! he loveth to be doing with broken hearts: And O that we had ſome work for the Lord Jeſus this day, he is among us now, to ſee if there be any heart in this condition, that he may heal us; its his delight to do it. Well, this is a ſecond, he hath his cordials, as well as his purgatives, his lenitives as well as his corroſives.

Thirdly, he cometh with healing under his wings, as to take away the anguiſh, ſo alſo to purge away the filth of it, to heal the running putrifying ſore, that it may not run, and defile, and pollute all that a man taketh in hand: How much more (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſhall the blood of Chriſt purge our conſciences from dead Heb. 9. 14.Heb 9:14works, that we may ſerve the living God. With corroſives he eats down the proud fleſh and the dead fleſh; he dryeth up the bloody iſſues: then the perſon was healed when ſhe touched Chriſt, but the hem of his garment. This is that which troubles many a heart more then the guilt of their ſins; and indeed the returning and recoyling of ſin on them again and again, occaſioneth the queſtioning of their peace and comfort that they have had. O, how one cryeth out of this ſin, and another of that ſin, and walks heavily and ſadly! Well, the Lord Jeſus he will ariſe with healing under his wings for all theſe diſtempers.

Fourthly and laſtly, another healing is the taking away his anger manifeſted in outward calamities or diſeaſes in a people or perſon, I will heal their back-ſlidings and love them freely, for mine anger is turned away: either to turn away the affliction, or at leaſt the anger, which is the ſting; the inflamation of any affliction whatſoever, if it be but an itch, a ſcab, if it be fired with the anger of God, it ſhall be enough to conſume and deſtroy: the Lord challengeth it as a priviledge, See now, that I, even I am he, and there is no God with me, I kill and I make alive, I wound and I Deut. 32. 39.Deut 32:39heal, I wound their comforts, wound their peace, lay them a gaſping, a dying; art thou not he that kelled'ſt Rah. and wounded the Dragon? So Job, he maketh ſore, and bindeth up, he woundeth Iob 5. 18.Job 5:18and his hands make whole. Come ſay they, let us return to the p. 442Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal us, he hath ſmitten and he will bind us up, after two daies will he revive us, and the third day Hoſ. 6. 1.Hos 6:1we ſhall live in his ſight; Healing upon the returning of poor ſinners is a choice mercy indeed, and all from him, their returning in order to healing, and the healing unto returning. Behold I will bring it health and cure, I will cure them, and return to them abundance Jer. 33 56.Jer 33:56of peace, after be had threatened to deſtroy them in his anger by the Caldeans; So then it may be (Beloved) that the trouble of ſpirit thou haſt had for ſin, God hath laid his hand on thy family, on thy perſon, and all little enough to bring down the pride of thy heart, and to take away the iniquity of thy covetouſneſs, and wean thee from the creature. Well, he will return if thou return to him, he will return, he will heal thee; or at leaſt take away the anger that inflameth the Viſitation (which is a kind of healing; Brethren) though we are kept under it. But thus much for theſe particulars touching healing.

You ſee then, what it is that is held forth in this Doctrine, That Jeſus Chriſt will ariſe unto them that fear his name, with healing under his wings: that is to ſay, by his Word, and Spirit, and other Ordinances, conveigh to them pardon, and cleanſing, and peace, and comfort, and freedom from calamities, or the evil of them; and I hope it is ſufficiently proved by the ſeveral particulars; there have been many Scriptures produced to prove it in each particular; therefore we will not any longer inſiſt on that part, but come to the Application, which will be divers.

Firſt, we may take notice (Brethren) hence, what a comprehenſive evil ſin is, for if we ſpeak of healing (which is the Ʋſe 1.main thing in this Doctrine) it muſt needs lead us, being a relative to ſome diſtemper or other, that is, to be healed, whether it be a diſeaſe, or whether it be a wound, or both, for diſeaſes many times are cauſed by wounds; that its a diſeaſe, a wound might eaſily be proved in the firſt place, as by that of the Prophet, The whole head is ſick, and the whole heart faint, from the Crown of the Iſa. 1. 5, 6.Isa 1:5Isa 1:6head, to the ſole of the foot, nothing but wounds, and bruiſes, and putrifying ſores. O! how loathſom are theſe ſores! do we not read of the plague of the heart, a hard heart, the ſtone in the heart; in that place of Ezekiel, where he ſpeaks of his people p. 443Ezek. 34. 4.Ezek 34:4under the notion of a flock to be fed and guided? the diſeaſed have ye not ſtrengthened, neither have ye healed that which was ſick, neither have you bound up that which was brokon, diſeaſed and ſick. I might here by an enumeration of particulars, ſhew that every ſin almoſt, according to Scripture analogy, is a diſeaſe; To begin with the head, Brethren, is not blindneſs a diſeaſe? and is not ignorance a blindneſs of the mind, whereby we are Eph. 4. 18.Eph 4:18alienated from the life of God? (Dear friends) conſider it, how many among us, poor creatures, are groping at noon-day? the light that is in them is darkneſs, and O how great is that darkneſs! and is there not alſo a ſelf-conceipt and pride, whereby we think Rom. 12. 3.Rom 12:3of our ſelves above what we ought, and from hence it is that we grow more in the head than in other parts, a dangerous diſeaſe; there is much knowledge among many of us, but little heat, little warmth on the heart, little holy walking according unto it: Obſtructions between the head and the heart, is none of the leaſt diſeaſes among us. Is there not corruption of Judgement? and is it not a dangerous diſeaſe? if we had never thought ſo before, our times would have taught us this, the leproſie in the head, a man of unſound principles is leprous, and one of the worſt kinds alſo. O, what a vertigo hath taken many! they run round, until they be giddy, and fall, and break themſelves. Beloved, there are ſtrong carnal reaſonings in our heads, whereby almoſt, we will make any thing good that we would have forward; we ſhall make it ſeem reaſonable, that we may, cum rations inſanire. Go from the head to the heart, and ſee, is there not a ſtone there? and that is none of the leaſt diſeaſes: is there not a plague there? O what hardneſs of heart▪ and what ſtubborneſs, and what frowardneſs of heart there is? we might inſtance 1 King. 8. 38,1 Kgs 8:38in many: (Brethren) are there not eyes full of adultry, like fleams grown over them, which do blind? are there not 2 Pet. 2. 14.2 Pet 2:14pearls in the eyes, when the world is dear to us? what is our covetouſneſs elſe? and what is envy but a blood-ſhotten eye, which proceedeth from a heart full of vexing? and is not luſt a feavour, yea an ulcer on the liver, or a dart thruſt through it? and what is rotten communication, which men make no more of, and vain and fooliſh diſcourſing, but the rottenneſs of a grave, but the rottenneſs of lungs breathing forth continually? O, how ſome mens tongues are ſet on fire of hell! can utter nothing p. 444Jam. 3. 6.Jas 3:6but blaſphemies and oaths at every word. But we might be endleſs if we ſhould go to particulars. How many of us have a dead palſie, paſt feeling, commit all uncleanneſs with greedineſs? (ſaith the Apoſtle). Sinners, you little think what you are doing, while you are going on in a way of ſin: as alas, are not many of you this day in this condition! you are either contracting or ſtrengthening the diſeaſes of your ſouls, making freſh wounds in your conſciences. Ah! how lamentable were his condition that were wounded head and heart, full of ſores putrifying, that the very ſight of him, and ſavour of his wounds were enough to make all others ubhor him! yea, he is ſo far from ſeeking remedy, he wounds himſelf more and more, maketh them deeper and deeper, increaſeth his diſeaſes, he careth not how much he inflameth them; this is the condition of every poor ſinner you ſee: O! what ſad creatures are we, that have ſo many ſickneſſes on us, and each of them deadly; and how much more many then together? and if we feel nothing at all: he that is in the moſt deadly palſie or lethargie feels nothing at all, would be let alone, cannot endure to be ſtirred, becauſe that maketh him ſenſible of his condition; O! ſuch a mans condition is very dangerous: and is not this the caſe of our ſouls Brethren? O! what malignity is in ſin? the poyſon, and filthyneſs, and hurt of all diſeaſes and wounds are little enough to ſet it forth by: and how ſenſible are we of a wound, of a diſeaſe of the body? & how inſenſible of the diſeaſes of the ſoul? Well, in order to a healing, the Lord give us a feeling. But this is but the firſt.

But a little further to open the nature of ſin on this occaſion, which our Doctrine adminiſters to us; that which is to be healed, you have heard is ſin, and that which needeth healing is either a diſeaſe or wound (they are correlatives) that you have heard already; it is therefore compared to many ſorts of diſeaſes, wounds, and putrifying ſores, and bruiſes: But now I will ſpeak a little (Brethren) to the ill qualities and conſequences of ſin, conſidered as ſuch; which may tend to turn our hearts againſt it for the time to come.

Firſt then, there is pain and anguiſh in moſt diſeaſes, and in every wound and bruiſe, and eſpecially in cankerings, feſtered ſores; this is a proper paſſion of a diſeaſe, to have pain; and truly, Brethren, ſo hath every ſin a pain with it firſt or laſt; it is p. 445true, the cup of pleaſures goeth down merily with Sinners, but when its down, it is a cup of trembling to them: do but look on Gain, when he had ſinned in pouring out his Brothers blood, he quenched his bloody thirſt, but kindled a fire in his bowels, Gen. 4. 13. 14.Gen 4:13Gen 4:14which did conſume him; Oh every one that meeteth me, will kill me; fear hath torment, (as John ſaith) and ſee how full of fears a poor ſinner is! The wicked flee, when none purſueth; the very ſtones and beaſts being at enmity with them, they fear they ſhall be murthered by each of them. And how did Foelix tremble, when Paul diſputed of righteouſneſs, temperance, and Acts 24. 25.Acts 24:25judgement to come; as long as they can keep out the ſight of God, as they think, they are well: But bring a Sinner, and ſet him, as it were, in the face of God, let him but look on him as a righteous Judge of all the world, and moſt mighty to execute his pleaſure on Sinners, and then tell me, whether the ſtouteſt hearted-ſinner do not quail, as uſually at the hour of death? for truly for the moſt part, men ſeldom ſeriouſly eye their condition before then. How did the Jaylour ſpring in trembling, (in the Acts) Ah the Sinners in Sion are afraid, Fearfulneſs hath ſurprized the Hypocrites; who among us ſhall dwell with the Iſa. 33. 14.Isa 33:14devouring fire? who ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? Alas, the ſtubble will not endure before the fire! no more can ſinners endure to look on God, as a conſuming fire, it maketh the very heart ach, except altogether hardened from his fear to behold him; becauſe they know themſelves guilty, and lyable to thoſe burnings. There is (ſaith the Apoſtle) a certain fearful looking Heb. 10. 27.Heb 10:27for of judgement and fiery indignation which ſhall devour the adverſaries. Can a poor condemned Priſoner look on the Iudge, think on the Tree on which he muſt be hanged, on the fire but with fear and trembling? Can Belſhazzar read his ſentence on Dan. 5. ….Dan 5the wall, the hand-writing, but with terrour, his knees knocking one againſt another? Ah Brethren, methinks Sinners that are yet in their ſins, ſhould not read a leaf in the Bible, (each leaf concerneth him, is … doom) but he ſhould even ſmite his thighs together, there is ſo much terrour and fear accompanying ſin: Memoria teſtis, ratio index, timor carnifex, ſaith Bern. As the Saints have ſome antipaſts of Heaven, a bunch of Grapes before they come to Cannan, an earneſt of that joy unſpeakable and full of Glory ſo doubtleſs Sinners they have p. 446ſome hours of darkneſs coming on them, ſome wrings and gripes of a guilty conſcience, that ſometimes made ſome of them run to an halter, to a ſword for eaſe; none knoweth the hell of a guilty conſcience, but ſuch as have felt it. Oh the wrackings, the diſtortions of the Soul! The pulling of the very heart in pieces, and the rending of the very Bowels in pieces, with theſe impriſoned paſſions in the Soul!

But ſecondly, Even in ſinners that repent (Brethren) though the wound be then healing, there is pain alſo you know: Now the Lord Jeſus cometh in mercy to rouze the ſoul, to ſhame it out of its evil courſes: and is ſhame nothing? a man cannot hold up his head, he is confounded: ye are now aſhamed, (ſaith the Apoſtle) of the things which ye have done before: Rom. 6. 21.Rom 6:21can you look back on your former vain and filthy converſation, and your hearts not be aſhamed, your conſciences not be aſhamed? there is inward ſhame and confuſion, though it appear not outwardly. So in that place of Ezekiel, Thou ſhalt remember thy ways, and be aſhamed, that thou mayſt remember, and be Ez…k. 16. 61, 63.confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified toward thee. There will be a godly ſorrow which works repentance, and never was there any repentance without ſorrow; there's a pricking of the heart, and 2 Cor. 7. 10.2 Cor 7:10pricking in the reins, Acts 2. 37. There is no reſt in the fleſh by reaſon of the ſin and broken bones, That the bones which thou Pſal. 51.Ps 51haſt broken, may rejoyce. Is it not ſin that turns away the face of God? and what then can ariſe to the ſoul but trouble? Thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled. This is the firſt thing, there is pain in ſin and trouble, it troubles our hearts, and troubles our houſes, as it did Cains; troubles the City and Country, troubleth Iſrael.

Secondly, In ſin (Brethren) or accompanying it, there is weakneſs and indiſpoſedneſs, when its but growing on us, it ſeizeth on the ſpirits, the vigour firſt. So how lazie and liſtleſs are we for divers days bef…e it do appear? and much more afterward. Morbus is foreign Galen. Ariſt. Ethic. lib. 1. c. ult. cited by Regn. on Hoſ. pag. 77.foreign. How wonderfully doth ſin unbefit us for duty? we even move to it as an arm or foot out of joynt; when a man endeavours to bow it one way, it falls quite another way▪ foreign p. 447foreign. Luſt; where they are in prevalency, they are like to wens in a mans body, which ſuck up the ſtrength & nouriſhment; that which ſhould ſupply the reſt of the members, it turns to its own ſwelling. So doth pride turn that which ſhould humble us, that which would inflame our hearts, and melt us, to it ſelf, and ſo weakens us, keepeth our love at an under, that we cannot ſo livelily & vigorouſly ſerve the Lord. We complain of our weak hands and feeble knees, our indiſpoſedneſs to the ſervice of God: believe it, this is the reaſon of it, ſin unmortified, Heb. 12. 12.Heb 12:12this makes men reprobate to every good work: men of no judgement, Tit. 1. 16.Titus 1:16no dexterity at all to it; When we were without ſtrength, Chriſt died for the ungodly, and while we were yet Sinners, Chriſt dyed Rom. 5. 6. & 8.Rom 5:6Rom 5:8for us; they are convertible terms, a ſick man, a lame man, a wounded man, we cannot expect they ſhould walk, or work, or run in a race, it utterly unbefits us for any thing that is good; this is a ſad evil that is in ſin, as a diſeaſe or wound.

Thirdly, There is filthineſs and deformity in ſin alſo: O what a ſight it were to ſee a poor creature full of running ſores from Iſa. 1.Isa 1head to foot, all running and rotting; what filthineſs is here, and and deformity? So when a poor ſoul hath a luſt, a ſore running, and never ceaſing, how ſad a condition is this? Brethren, how ſtrangely will a fit of ſickneſs change a perſon, that the rareſt piece of beauty in the world, quickly becometh a gaſtly ſight, every part contracting its deformity from the ſickneſs, all withered and ſhrivelled, joynts looſed, the eye dead and dull, the face thin, the knees feeble, the hand trembling, and what not; Brethren, if the Lord open our eyes to behold in the glaſs of the word, the deformities of ſin and filthineſs, as we may ſee the lothſomneſs and uglineſs of a diſeaſe, we ſhould for ever be haters of it; but I will ſay no more to this head, That ſin is a diſeaſe, a wound.

Ʋſe 2. May be then to put us on to be more ſerious in viewing our ſelves in the glaſs of the Word, the Law of God, that we may ſee Ʋſe.what creatures we are, and loth our ſelves; our wounds are ſo many that we are all one wound, and all one diſeaſe, there is no ſound part in us; how pale and lean do our ſouls ſometimes look with envy at others? how are we ſwelled with pride? how great and unweildy are our bellies with this? O how do ſome of p. 448our bellies cleave to the very duſt! we are bowed down, as the woman in the Goſpel. O how lamely do we walk in the ways Luke 13. 11.Luke 13:11of God, halting between two, have a double object, and one foot in the wayes of God, and another in the way of ſin; alas, how many wounds have many of us, that we never ſearched to this day? if we did but know them, it would pluck down our feathers, the proudeſt of us; and for ſome of us, we have great need of this admonition, becauſe alas, until we ſee our ſelves wounded, ſee our deformities, we ſhall never care for healing, for having his comelineſs put upon us; no, nor can the people of God put a rate upon the mercy, nor the rich, exceeding rich Grace of God in Chriſt, whereby they are healed, except they have before their eyes, the many wounds and running ſores they are healed of; When Paul ſaw that he was the chief of the Sinners, then he advanceth the free Grace of God, that it had abounded, yea 1 Tim. 1. 15.1 Tim 1:15ſuperabounded; which a ſoul cannot admire the Lord for, except he ſee, and behold how ſin hath abounded. O then let us be all perſwaded to this duty, to eye our ſelves more often, more ſeriouſly, in the glaſs of the Law of liberty, the Law of Chriſt, and therein ſee how often, how grievouſly we offend him; ſee what deformities are upon us, that it may be admired how the Lord can love ſuch as we are, and Sinners that are yet, in ſin, that they may be willing to accept of pardon and deliverance in and through Chriſt; for truly we are not any of us willing, until we be reduced to extremity; then the Marriner or Merchant will caſt out his goods, when there is neceſſity for it, but not before. Therefore let all of us be perſwaded to this duty in the ſecond place.

Thirdly, Let us be inſtructed in this truth, that healing is not in us. I am the Lord that healeth thee, ſaith God to Iſrael, and therefore the Lord promiſeth the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings, which were needleſs, if healing were in our ſelves; ſome creatures, if wounded, healing is in themſelves, as ſome fiſh are ſaid, if wounded, to heal themſelves with their own ſlime; a Dog licks himſelf with his tongue. Brethren, ſins are not ſuch wounds as will heal themſelves of their own accord; neither as if a man have a ſlight cut it may be, he heedeth it not, it heals of it ſelf; believe it, the leaſt ſin, the leaſt wound thou makeſt in thy conſcience, in thy ſoul, it will p. 449not heal it ſelf, nor will a luſt heal it ſelf, and wear away of its own accord, as ſome diſeaſes will, though no phyſick be adminiſtred. It is a deadly diſeaſe, it ſeizeth upon the vitals, and then you know it is a matter of great difficulty and skill to cure it; no nor can a man cure himſelf: if he could, to what end did the Lord Jeſus undergo all? why he was ſmitten for our tranſgreſſ…ns, if we could have been healed by any ſtrength of our own? no, we were without ſtrength, when Chriſt dyed for us, as the Apoſtle bath it, and as to other things, ſo to this great work; did the Lord do any thing in vain? much leſs then would he do the greateſt thing that ever be wrought in vain; alas, who Iſa. 61. 1.Isa 61:1can pardon ſins but he? who can bind up the broken in ſpirit, but he who was ſent into the world for this very end? who can pour wine and oyl into the wounds, but the good Samaritan? who can give reſt for the anguiſh of the wounds but he? we cannot heal our ſelves; if the very marrow of our bones were diſtilled into continual tears, and all our moyſture, it would not make a balm to cure a wound of ſin, nor a cordial to ſupport in one ſwooning fit; there are many conſiderations wherefore we cannot do it; and therefore the Lord in pity and bowels toward us, ſent us his Son to be our Phyſitian, becauſe we poor ſick creatures need the Phyſitian, which we ſhould not, if we Iſa. 15. 18.Isa 15:18could heal our ſelves; our wound is incurable, and refuſeth to be healed by us.

Firſt, alas, We know not our diſeaſes, our diſtempers; you know a diſeaſe is half cured, if curable, when it is known in the cauſe; if a Phyſitian miſtake the diſeaſe, and miſ-applications according to his miſtake, quite contrary to the diſeaſe, this is the ruin of the Patient; ſuch Phyſitians are of no value, and ſuch ſhould we all be, and are; For we cannot know our ſins, nor the plague of the heart; who knows his errors? if we diſcover one luſt, that it breaks out in ſuch a manner, that it cannot be hid, yet there is ten for 1 Kings 8. Pſal. 19.1 Kgs 8Ps 19one that we never ſaw; and how can we then heal them? now the Lord Jeſus ſeeth our hearts through and through, and knoweth all the malig…y and poyſonous humours that lye there, and therefore knoweth how to purge them out; we know them not.

Secondly, We have no deſire to have them healed at all; we …w not what healing means, being not ſenſible naturally of p. 450our diſtempers, and ſores that are upon us: no man deſires that he knoweth not. We think we are in health and ſtrength of ſoul, in as good a condition as any, need nothing, and yet are poor, and miſerable, and blind, and naked, juſt like a poor man, Rev. 3. 17.Rev 3:17the ſtrength of his diſeaſe works him off his ſenſes, (as we ſay) he thinkeeh he is well as ever in his life, when alas he is drawi…g nigh the chambers of death, his diſeaſe is ſo much the more dangerous. Brethren, ſin …s our heads with ſuch fumes of pride and ſelf-confidence, and carnal reaſonings, that we are ready to conclude all is well with us, and I doubt many of us whom this concerneth, will put it away from us upon this very account; We are whole, need not the Phyſitian, ſo we have no deſire to be healed; the tender of a plaiſter by another to a man that thinketh Mat. 9. 2.Matt 9:2he hath no wounds, it is ridiculous, they are more ready to mock at it, then receive it; ſo far are Sinners from providing an healing for themſelves, becauſe they are not ſenſible of their need of it, they deſire it not. Depart from us, we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways, we are well enough without it; yea more, Iob 21. 14.Job 21:14we have no deſire to be healed, becauſe we are in love with our diſeaſes; not as a man that hath an iſſue, he knoweth doth him good, would not have it ſtopt; but we have many bloody iſſues of ſin, and becauſe of the pleaſure, and delight, or pro…t, or humour, or ſome things, we pleaſe our ſelves with them, for we are loath to part with them. Auguſtine himſelf was loath to be healed ſo ſoon of his luſt, not yet Lord, not yet, ſaid his heart, when he prayed for healing; the diſeaſe hath ſeized upon the will it ſelf, ſo that it is pleaſed and taken with the ſickneſs, the ill ſavour of our wounds, the ſtench of them is ſweet to us, while we have a ſtinking noſtril, and therefore no marvel if we can never heal our ſelves; there is need of this Lord Jeſus to come with healing under his wings.

Thirdly, We do reject healing and the Phyſitian; When he Mat. 23. 27.Matt 23:27would have healed us, we would not be healed; therefore much leſs can we do it our ſelves. I would have purged thee, and thou Ezek. 24. 13. Prov. 1. 21.Ezek 24:13Prov 1:21waſt not purged, &c. Brethren, how often hath the Lord Jeſus called upon us all, and have we not many of us as often refuſed? Hath he not ſtretched out his hands all the day long? all the day of Grace, which hath continued long with us, and we have been a rebellious, a diſobedient people, we would none of his counſel; p. 451either it is too mean, as Naaman ſaid when he was bid to go and waſh in Jordan ſeven times and he ſhould be cleanſed, What, are 2 King. 5…2 Kgs 5not Abana and Phar…ar, Rivers of Damaſcus, better then all the waters of Iſrael? ſo proud duſt and aſhes, the Lord opens a fountain for ſin and uncleanneſs, proclaimeth to every poor ſinner, who ever will let him come, let his diſeaſe be what it will, bathe in this Fountain, he ſhall be healed: what ſaith the proud ſinner, are there not waters of our own, will not our own repentance do it? we are very backward, through the pride of heart, to receive even gratis, as that proud Papiſt ſaid, He would not have heaven gratis; this Pope is in all our bellies; therefore the Apoſtle calls it a ſubmiſſion they would not ſubmit to the righteouſneſs of Rom. 10. …Rom 10God in Jeſus Christ; So we look upon the blood of Jeſus Chriſt as an unholy, a contemptible thing, will not truſt wholly to this grace; or elſe if not too mean, yet the way that God goeth to work with a ſinner to heal him, it is too ſevere, a bitter potion they muſt take down: what, muſt we ſo much bewail our ſelves, muſt we ſearch and try our ways, rake in our wounds? this we cannot indure, this will coſt us much ſmart and anguiſh, as it did David, and Peter, and Ephraim; poor fooliſh creatures! we had rather dye of our wounds, then to have them ſearched, far from that temper of David we are Search me, and Pſal. 139. 23.Ps 139:23try me; though ſome of us, I hope, have been ſo exerciſed in the work of ſearching and mortification, that we can many times ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Lord ſearch us, but alas, many of us it is otherwiſe with, we come not to the light leſt our deeds Ioh. 3. 20.John 3:20ſhould be diſcovered, it would ſhame us; you know Ahab could not indure to hear of his ſins, he hated M…caiah, 1 King 22.1 Kgs 22and that curſed principle is in all our hearts; we would be humored and daubed, and have the hurt of our ſouls healed ſlightly, becauſe we cannot digeſt the ſeverity and ſharpneſs of the medicines; we are afraid of the wrings and gripes, the Prayers, the Faſtings it will coſt us, and therefore we are enemies to it.