The Sacred Diary, Section 5
SECT. V. At the Breaking forth of the Light.
COnſider with thy ſelf, that there is a fourfold Light ſpoken of in Scripture, and that God is called Pater Luminum, the Father of Lights, James 1.17.
1. There is Lux materialis, a material Light, that which God created in the beginning, and of which he made the Sun and Moon to be as Fountains and Veſſels, that with the Beams proceeding from them the World might be illuminated. Conſider, how God was the Father of this in the firſt place, Gen. 1.3. God ſaid, let there be Light, and there was Light. He commanded Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs, ſaith the Apoſtle. And it is ſaid, Gen. 1.15. He ſet two Lights in the Firmament of Heaven, a greater Light to rule the Day, and a leſſer Light to rule the Night.
2. There is Lux naturalis, that which we commonly call the Light of Nature, and it is that ſame knowledg and Conſcience that was at firſt planted in the Mind of Man, by which he was made able to diſtinguiſh between Good and Evil. Of this alſo God is the Father, it is he that hath created in us Underſtanding to diſcern, and Conſcience to bear witneſs of Good and Evil.
3. There is Lux ſupernaturalis, or ſpiritualis, that which we commonly call the Light of Grace, and from this there ariſe two Beams,
(1.) That which ſhines into our Hearts, to diſpel the darkneſs of Sin in us, of which I have ſpoken before. It is in this ſence that the Children of God are called the Children of Light, and the holy Converſation that they lead is ſaid to be a walking in the Light. Now of this alſo God is the Father; it is he that by his Spirit enlightens our Hearts with Grace, as I ſpake before.
(2.) There is a Light that ſhineth in our hearts, to chear us with the aſſurance of God's Love and Favour: Light is ſown to the Righteous, and joy to the upright in Heart, Pſal. 27.11. Light and Joy are ſown together in the ſame Furrow: Of this alſo God is the Father, it is he only that can make us to hear the voice of Joy and Gladneſs. So David prayeth, Lord, do thou lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me. The light of his Countenance, is the light of his Favour; where the light of his Favour ſhineth, no clouds of Affliction can darken our Joy; it will make our Hearts merrier than Corn and Wine.
4. There is Lux immortalis, or Coeleſtis, we may call it, the Light of Glory: It is that ſame Light which God dwells in, the Light inacceſſible, the Light that none can approach unto, 1 Tim. 6.16. Yet that Light that God's Children ſhall one day dwell in alſo. Light we may call it, for it is where Darkneſs never made his Pavilion; a Light more glorious than the Sun or Moon: For it is where though no Sun ſhall be, yet where no Night ſhall be: The Glory of God lightens that place; and the Lamb is the Light of it, Rev. 21.23. Now of this Light likewiſe God is the Father: He that Inhabits it, he Created it, and he hath prepared it to be an Habitation for his Saints, that as many as ſhall be Citizens of the New Jeruſalem, may reſt under the Glory of it. The Sun ſhall be no more thy Light by Day (ſaith the Prophet) nor for brightneſs ſhall the Moon give light unto thee; but the Lord ſhall be unto thee the everlaſting Light, and thy God thy Glory, Iſa. 60.19.
Meditate alſo of the correſpondence between Grace and Light,
1. The Light, ye know, doth è Caelo manare, it floweth and breaketh out from the Heavens: So doth Grace too; it is derived and ſent down from Heaven.
2. Light doth tenebras fugare, it doth diſpel and drive away Darkneſs. So doth Grace too, diſpel the darkneſs of Errour and Ignorance.
3. Light doth purge the Air from Miſts and dark Fogs that choak it. Acts 15.9.So doth Grace purifie the Heart with the beams of it, from the corruption of Sin with which it is choaked and defiled.
4. Light quickens the Seeds that are ſown in the Earth, making them to ſpring and fructifie. So doth Grace always quicken the ſeed of God's Word when it is ſown in our minds: If that be not there, it withers and dies, but Grace makes it prolifical and fruitful.
5. Light doth viſum delectare, it pleaſeth the Eye-ſight. Light is ſweet, ſaith Solomon, &c. ſo Grace is pleaſant to an Eye that is ſpiritually enlightned. Even the Eyes of God himſelf are delighted with ſuch objects: For what be thoſe Beauties and Ornaments of the Spouſe, with which our Saviour Chriſt, in the Book of the Canticles, profeſſeth to be ſo much affected and raviſhed, as endowments of Grace in which the Spouſe excelled?
6. Light doth Occulta manifeſtare, manifeſt things that are hid. In the Dark there is no judging of Colours, but the Light makes all things manifeſt. So doth the light of Grace, it doth manifeſt thoſe things unto us, which before were hidden from us; eſpecially two ſorts of things, Dei miſericordiam, & noſtram indigentiam: God's Mercies, and our own Wants. As for God's Mercies, without the light of Grace, we cannot judg of them as we ſhould do: Either we take no notice of them at all; or we aſcribe not the having them, to him from whom indeed we receive them. And as for our Wants, the more our Eyes are opened to ſee them, the more hath the light of Grace ſhined into our Hearts.
7. Light doth Calorem generare; where Light is it doth beget heat: So doth Grace in us likewiſe, it begets in us an heat of Zeal and fervent Charity: It enlightens us not with Knowledg only, but warms us with Zeal alſo, to make us contend for God's Truth, and for his Glory.
The conſideration hereof, ſhould teach us to love Grace, and to hate Sin: We naturally hate Darkneſs, and love Light. Darkneſs is a thing horrid and hateful to Nature; but woful is the condition of thoſe that love Darkneſs rather than Light, John 3.19. it ſheweth that their deeds are evil: And every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, leſt his deeds ſhould be reproved: Like Owls and Bats, they ſhun the Light, for Light is a diſcovering thing.