The Sacred Diary, Section 16 – Section 7
SECT. XVI. At the ſpringing of the Day, or riſing of the Sun.
HEre conſider, that Chriſt in his coming into the World, was as the Day-ſpring from on high, or the ſpringing or riſing of the Sun from on high, Luke 1.78. Conſider how his coming is moſt fitly compared to a Day-ſpring, or to the riſing of the Sun, in divers reſpects.
1. The Sun doth (as it were) iſſue out of the Night, as appeareth to our Eyes: He ſeemeth to ſpring out of the womb of Darkneſs: The riſing of the Sun followeth the darkneſs of the Night. So our bleſſed Saviour at his coming, did ſeem (as it were) to ſpring out of Darkneſs; he lay hid before under the Veil; he was covered with Shadows, Types, Ceremonies, Myſtical Repreſentations, Dark Figures, &c. yea, the Prophecies which did bear witneſs of him had much darkneſs in them, though they were ſo clear, that they ſhewed the way to Chriſt unto all the Faithful: Yet the Light was but dim, in compariſon of that which followed. And at that time eſpecially there was much darkneſs overſpreading the Face of the Church, even about the time of our Saviours coming. Then was that true which is ſpoken, Pſal. 47.9. We ſee not our Signs, there is no more any Prophet, neither is there among us, any that knoweth how long. And beſides the want of this Light, there were ſpecial cauſes of darkneſs, viz. blind Guides: For ſuch our Saviour himſelf charged the Phariſees to be, who ſat in Moſes's Chair; and being blind and ignorant themſelves, took upon them to lead the blind, and inſtruct the Ignorant, and ſo no marvel, though both ſtumbled in the dark, and fell into the Ditch; and ignorance in theſe bred Errours in the People, and cauſed an increaſe of Darkneſs.
But now conſider, That Chriſt was not ſent for the ſalvation of the Jews only, but of other Nations alſo; and ſo conſider what darkneſs was on the World in general. The Nations of the World were all Regions of darkneſs, and of the Shadow of Death; and St. Paul calls thoſe Ages Saecula tenebrarum, Ages of Darkneſs. Even the learned Athenians worſhipped God as a Stranger, and their Altar had this Inſcription, To the unknown God. Now out of this Darkneſs (as it were) the Dayſpring iſſued, Chriſt came and manifeſted himſelf to the World.
2. The Day-ſpring, or Riſing of the Sun, removeth the Darkneſs, ſo Chriſt manifeſted in the Fleſh did chaſe away that Darkneſs, which was upon the face of the World, and ſoon after Chriſt's coming there was ſuch an Alteration, as if there had been a new World created, as it is expreſſed of the Land of Nephtali and Zabulon, ſo the like Change was alſo in many parts of the World, The Land of Zabulon, and the Land of Nephtali, by the way of the Sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The People which ſate in darkneſs, ſaw great light; and unto them which ſate in the Region and Shadow of Death, is Light ſprung up., Mat. 4.15, 16. Thus it might be ſaid of the World in general.
The Day-ſpring or Sun-riſing is beautiful and glorious. Pſal. 19.5. David compares the Sun at his riſing to a Bridegroom coming forth of his Chamber with all his Ornaments. Chriſt's manifeſtation to the World was glorious, and full of heavenly Beauty and Majeſty. Many glorious things appeared in him at his Birth, and in his Life many Miracles, Signs and Wonders; and among other things, the Beauty of his perfect Holineſs and Righteouſneſs was ſuch, that even the malicious Eye of his Adverſaries could ſee no ſpot or blemiſh in it: but eſpecially in that more glorious manifeſtation at his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion, and ſending down the Holy Ghoſt, by whom his Apoſtles were led abroad to carry the Light up and down in the World, his Beauty, Excellency, and Glory did appear.
4. The Day-ſpring, or Sun riſing yeildeth ſpecial Refreſhment to the Creatures, Men, Beaſts, Birds, &c. So the Coming of Chriſt yeilded ſpecial Comfort and Refreſhment to the People of God, yea, and to thoſe who formerly were not the People of God, Hoſ. 1.10. Many poor Gentiles after a tedious Night of many hundred years of woful Darkneſs and Blindneſs, were now moſt ſweetly refreſhed by the manifeſtation of Chriſt, as a glorious Day-ſpring, and a moſt bleſſed Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſing with healing in his Wings, whereby they ſaw the way of Peace, and the means of Reconciliation with God, and everlaſting Salvation by the Remiſſion of their Sins in the Blood of Chriſt.
5. Conſider, that the Day-ſpring or Sun riſing is a Cauſe of Health. The Night is cold and moiſt, and for want of heat to purge the Air, is the Cauſe of many thick Fogs and Vapours; but the Sun ariſing cleanſeth the Air, and overcometh thoſe foggy Vapours. So conſider what is ſaid of Chriſt, that he being the Sun of Righteouſneſs, ſhould ariſe with healing in his Wings, diſpelling thoſe unwholſom Vapours, which the Devil, the Prince of Darkneſs, had raiſed to poiſon the Souls of Men and Women. This Sun of Righteouſneſs did by the Sovereign Balm of his moſt precious Blood cure the Wounds of Guiltineſs which were upon their Conſciences, and by the precious Sun-beams of his Spirit did heal them of thoſe Corruptions, and Soul-ſickneſſes, giving them Spiritual Health, even the Spirit of Love and Power, and of a ſound Mind.
6. The Day-ſpring, or Sun-riſing, calleth Men out of their Beds, and rouzeth them from their Sleep: ſo Chriſt by his manifeſtation unto the World doth call Men from ſleeping in Sin, to awake unto Repentance unto Righteouſneſs. This St. Paul ſheweth plainly, Acts 17.30, &c. The times of this Ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all Men every where to repent. That Night-time, which was before the Day-ſpring, and coming of Chriſt, God winked at, but now commandeth all Men every where to repent. It was the time of Sleep, and God ſuffered the World to lie ſleeping and ſnorting in Sin and Wickedneſs, he winked at them, and awaked them not; but now he calleth upon to awake, that is, to repent, now it is Day, the Night is paſt; yea, ſaith he, he commandeth all men every where. The Lord ſent his Meſſengers from Nation to Nation, from City to City, to awake the World at the Day-ſpring, and at the riſing of the Sun of Righteouſneſs.
7. The Day-ſpring, or Sun-riſing, giveth Men light, and ſheweth them both how to walk and work: He is that Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the World, John 12.35, 36. Then Jeſus ſaid unto them, Yet a little while is the Light with you, walk while ye have the Light, leſt darkneſs come upon you; for he that walketh in darkneſs, knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may be Children of the Light. Chriſt's coming ſheweth the way wherein we muſt go, if we will be ſaved. The World for want of this Light, groped, and loſt the way to true Happineſs.
8. The Day-ſpring, and Sun-riſing, doth cauſe thoſe things that are harmful to hide themſelves. The wild ravening Beaſts that prey upon others, uſe to get to their Caves and Coverts, at the Sun-riſing, ſhunning the light. Thieves and Murtherers, which in the Night, uſe to break through and ſteal, do retire themſelves, and refrain at the riſing of the Sun. So at the coming of Chriſt, Herod and his company were troubled, and all Jeruſalem with him. The Scribes and Phariſees were troubled, and the Devil himſelf eſpecially, that Prince of Darkneſs, and that great Worker of the works of darkneſs was troubled, and cried out, Art thou come to Torment us before the time?
9. The Day-ſpring, or Sun-riſing is welcome to thoſe who are well buſied, and diligently walk in an honeſt Courſe of Life. So the coming of Chriſt as a Day-ſpring, and Sun of Righteouſneſs, was very welcome to thoſe that walked uprightly before the Lord; it was the time which they had long looked for, more than they that watch for the Morning: Therefore their Eyes were upon this Day-ſpring. So Zechary, Elizabeth, Joſeph, Simeon, Anna, the Godly Shepherds, and the reſt, flocked about our Saviour, like a company in the dark about a Torch, or Candle: Yea, the Wiſe Men of the Eaſt, by a leſſer light, were brought to this great Light, by the light of a little Star were conducted to Chriſt, the great Light of the World, John 8.12. I am (ſaith he) the Light of the World; he that followeth me ſhall not walk in Darkneſs, but ſhall have the light of Life.
II. Meditate how his ſecond and glorious Coming ſhall be like the Day-ſpring, or Sun-riſing.
1. Meditate on the brightneſs and glory of that Day, which ſhall ſpring (as it were) out of Darkneſs. What darkneſs poſſeſſeth the World at this Day, in compariſon of the Light of that great and glorious Day? How great and groſs is the Ignorance of Men in compariſon of the knowledg which then ſhall be revealed? How many things now lie hidden, like things covered in Darkneſs? How many things concerning the Myſtery of Chriſt, are yet unknown, and many things imperfectly known? How many reaſons of things that fall out in the World, are now hidden from Men? How many ſecrets are there in the ways of God's Providence, and his dealings with the World, and with his Church, which in this Nighttime of blindneſs and darkneſs we cannot ſee? Yea, how little do we ſee of the Excellency of Chriſt, of the beauty of Heavenly Things, and of the Glory of his Kingdom? Theſe are dark Times, and little of theſe things is diſcovered. Yea, how little do Men ſee into the Vanity, Vileneſs of Earthly things? Who ſeeth the exceeding ſinfulneſs of Sin, and odiouſneſs of it? How many ſecret ſins are now committed every hour, which are hid in darkneſs? Theſe are Times of darkneſs which now we live in before the laſt coming of Chriſt.
2. Conſider, That Chriſt's laſt coming like a Day-ſpring, ſhall remove this darkneſs of the World, and lay open things that were hidden, and diſpel all the dark Clouds that now hide the Light from us: It ſhall remove the Ignorance of heavenly things from the minds of Men; Chriſt himſelf ſhall be the Light of that Day. Then the things which are now imperfectly, ſhall then be perfectly known; then ſhall the Saints put away childiſh things, imperfect beginnings of Heavenly Knowledg, and ſhall have the underſtandings of Men in them; a perfection of Light, not ſeeing through a Glaſs darkly, but Face to Face. How clearly ſhall the light of that Day ſhew unto the Saints, the Beauty and Glory of Chriſt, and repreſent him to his Church as a moſt glorious Bridegroom? Conſider how that Day ſhall declare the equity of all the Lord's proceedings in dealing with his Creatures? How ſhall it cauſe all doubting and objections againſt it to vaniſh as a Miſt? How ſhall it lay open the folly and vanity of Men, in cleaving to the things of this World, and in following their Luſts? How evidently ſhall it make it appear, that the Godly have choſen the better part; that they were truly wiſe that preferred the Goſpel of Chriſt, the Glory of Chriſt, yea, the Reproach of Chriſt, above the pleaſures of Sin, or the greateſt things in the World? How ſhall this Day ſet forth all ſecrets in the clear Light? How ſhall all Sins not waſht away by true Repentance, be ſet before the eye of the World? How then ſhall the Righteouſneſs of the Upright be brought forth, after it hath been many years hidden by Slanders and falſe Accuſations? How ſhall all their works of Faith, all their labours of Love, and all the fruits of the Spirit be laid open and manifeſted? There are no falſe lights that can have any place at that Day, to make bad Wares ſeem better, every thing ſhall then appear as it is. O my Soul! how ſhouldſt thou labour in thy moſt ſecret places, and in thy moſt ſecret thoughts, to bear in mind the light of that great Day, when Chriſt ſhall appear as a Day-ſpring unto the World! Will theſe thoughts which I cheriſh in my Heart, theſe Affections, theſe Words, theſe Deeds, be able to abide the great light of that Day, when Chriſt ſhall come? Are they ſuch as may be preſented with boldneſs before the Face of Chriſt, and offered to the view of the holieſt Angels and Saints in Heaven, and be brought to the open Light, when the Son of Righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine in his Strength?
3. Conſider, That Chriſt's ſecond coming ſhall be in Power and great Glory. Matth. 24.30. The Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhout, with the voice of the Arch-angel, and with the Trump of God. 1 Theſſ. 4.16. He ſhall ſit on the right Hand of Power, and come in the Clouds of Heaven. Mat. 26.63. He ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels, Mat. 16.27. The glory of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, when they ſhine moſt gloriouſly, is nothing to this Glory of Chriſt, which at that Day he ſhall ſhew forth to the World. O my Soul! labour now to behold his Beauty, and Glory in the Spirit by Faith, and by that glimpſe raiſe thy thoughts to conſider of that height and brightneſs of Glory, wherein Chriſt ſhall ſhew himſelf at that Day; and how thine Eye, and thy Soul ſhall be filled with a moſt ſweet delight in his perfect Beauty and Glory. Could our Hearts be throughly taken up with Chriſt's Glory at that great Day, it would be a means to mortifie our fond deſires towards theſe things, wherewith our fleſhly Eyes or Hearts, are apt to be enſnared. It would greatly ſupport us under Afflictions. What, ſhould not I ſuffer with patience, who look to ſee the Beauty and Glory of Chriſt at the laſt Day? Yea, to ſee the glorious Face of Chriſt turned to me in love, might I not paſs through Troubles, Priſons, Famine, Nakedneſs, Baniſhment, Fire, Sword, any thing, in hope to behold the Beauty and Glory of Chriſt, and to enjoy the light of his Countenance for ever, when he ſhall come as a Day-ſpring from on High?
4. Conſider how Chriſt at his ſecond coming, ſhall moſt ſweetly refreſh all thoſe which …roughout the World belong unto him; he ſhall give them everlaſting reſt from all their Labours, which here they have undergone; everlaſting peace from all Cares, and Conflicts with the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil, freedom from all Troubles, deliverance from all Perſecutions; when many millions of Souls ſhall throng about him, and appear in his ſight; being ſuch as have believed him, and cleaved to him in ſincerity: Some of them having been ſawn aſunder, burnt to aſhes, ſome ſlain with the Sword, ſome kept in Bonds and Irons; ſome mocked, ſome ſcourged, ſome driven out of Houſe and Home, and ſpoiled of their Goods, toſſed to and fro, perſecuted from City to City, ſome deſtitute, afflicted, tormented, for his Name-ſake; he ſhall ſweetly eaſe and refreſh them as a Day-ſpring, when they ſhall appear before him. And for thoſe of his Saints that have been burdened with much Sickneſs, painful Diſeaſes, with Poverty and outward Wants, not having whereon to lay their Heads, nor wherewith to fill their Bellies; to them ſhall he give to drink of the full River of his Pleaſures, yea, he himſelf ſhall be their Refreſhment, and they ſhall ſo fully enjoy him, that they ſhall need nothing which may make them truly and perfectly happy.
5. Conſider, That Chriſt as a Day-ſpring at his ſecond coming, ſhall Cure all the Sickneſſes both of the Souls and Bodies of his. He ſhall deliver the very brute Creatures from the Bondage of Corruption. Rom. 8.19. For the earneſt expectation of the Creature, waiteth for the manifeſtation of the Sons of God; for the Creature it ſelf was made ſubject unto Vanity, &c. Ver. 21. The Creature it ſelf alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of Corruption, into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God: For we know, that the whole Creation groaneth, and travelleth in pain until now. Where you ſee, that the whole World is ſick and diſeaſed, by reaſon of the Sin of Man, it is pained, and groaneth as a Woman in Travel, longing for the time of Deliverance; and that is the time of Chriſt's coming, when this Day-ſpring ſhall appear from on high. An univerſal Corruption, and (as it were) Contagion, hath overſpread and ſeized upon the whole body of Nature, and all the Limbs; the whole World, and all its parts, and all the Creatures in it, and that by reaſon of the Sin of Man: Now Chriſt's coming ſhall refine all the Creation, and ſhall ſet up a new Heaven, and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs. The Beaſts, Birds, Fiſhes, the Corn, the Fruit of the Vine, &c. ſhall no longer be abuſed to Gluttony, Drunkenneſs, and Epicuriſm, and to be as Fuel to cheriſh the flame of unclean Luſts. The wedg of Gold, or bag of Silver, ſhall no longer be defiled, ſo as to be made an Idol to the diſhonour of its Maker, to carry away the Heart from him: Other Metals and Minerals ſhall be no longer defiled ſo, as to be turned into Inſtruments of Death and Cruelty, and to be ſtained with Innocent Blood: Other Creatures ſhall not be abuſed ſo, as to ſet forth the Pride of Vain Men and Women. Chriſt ſhall heal the Sickneſs and Corruptions of the World, and free it from the bondage of Corruption; his coming ſhall heal the World, much more ſhall it heal all the Infirmities of his Members. At the laſt Day the Lord at his coming will heal the Sick, and Diſeaſed; give ſight to the Blind, ſtrength to the Lame and Weak; hearing to the Deaf, beauty to the Deformed; yea, he ſhall cure them of Death and Mortality it ſelf; Death ſhall no more hang about them, nor have to do with them: Much more ſhall his ſecond coming bring perfect and perpetual health to their Souls; Sin ſhall then be fully Cured, and the Soul ſhall be made altogether ſound; and no Sin ſhall pain the Soul with the remembrance of it, nor afflict it with fear of Puniſhment: And ſence of Guiltineſs ſhall be taken away, as if Man had continued as holy as the Angels, and had always kept his firſt Eſtate.
6. Conſider, That this Day-ſpring at his ſecond coming, ſhall awaken all that ſleep in the Graves, and in the Sea,, and in all places whatſoever; all the Dead, from Adam to the laſt Day, all that lie ſleeping in their Graves from one end of the World to the other, ſhall be awakned. All Kings and Princes, and other great Men, who ſhall be found ſleeping in their ſumptuous Tombs and Monuments, and all that are buried any where: The Trump ſhall ſound, and the Dead of all ſorts, degrees, Ages, Nations, ſhall awake, live, ariſe, and come before the Son of God coming in his Glory. O the wonderful Change that ſhall be at that Dayſpring! When thoſe Eyes that have been ſhut up ſo many hundred Years ſhall be opened, and thoſe Bodies that have been long buried in a ſilent Grave, and covered with the darkneſs of death, ſhall be brought forth into the Light of the great and glorious Day. O my Soul! awake thou beforehand, that then I may awake full of Joy and Comfort, and be ſatisfied with the Image of my deareſt Saviour, and lift up my Head to behold my moſt glorious Redeemer, and the bright and bleſſed Day of my full Redemption. The Angels Trumpet ſhall then awaken the moſt ſecure Conſcience, that ever compoſed it ſelf to ſleep in Sin, yea, then all their ſins will awake with their awakened Conſcience, and rage fiercely againſt their Souls. Awake then, O Sinner, to Repentance; awake to Holineſs, and Righteouſneſs, that thy Conſcience may be at peace with him, and thy ſins may be aboliſhed for ever, that Chriſt may not find thee ſleeping at his coming.
7. As the Sun at his riſing, cauſeth harmful Creatures to hide their Heads; ſo this laſt coming of Chriſt is grievous to the Wicked; it will make them to call to the Mountains to fall upon them, and upon the Hills to cover them from the Wrath of the Lamb, and from the Preſence of him that ſitteth upon the Throne; then they would be glad to hide their Heads in the center of the Earth, when the Light of this Dayſpring ſhall appear. O my Soul! do thou now caſt off the works of darkneſs, and then the Light of that Glorious day ſhall not be grievous unto thee, which none of the Children of darkneſs can behold without confuſion of Face.
8. Conſider how welcome the ſecond coming of Chriſt will be to the Godly. The Faithful are deſcribed by this Property, that they love his Appearing. It is ſaid, That every one is a Friend to him that giveth Gifts. Oh! how welcome ſhall Chriſt be to all the Faithful, when he cometh with both his Hands full of rich and precious Gifts, ſuch as ſurpaſs the thoughts and underſtanding of Man: When Chriſt cometh to beſtow a Crown of Immortal Glory, an everlaſting Kingdom; Oh! what Heir of the Kingdom would not with a glad Heart bid him welcome? But chiefly, Chriſt ſhall be welcome to them in reſpect of himſelf, for then they ſhall ſee him as he is. Conſider, what a bleſſed ſight will this be, O my Soul, to ſee thy dear Saviour, who hath died for thee, loved thee, and waſhed thee with his own Blood, to ſee him now ſo Glorious: To ſee him on the Throne, who was nailed to the Croſs; to ſee him Reigning and Judging, who was Judged and Condemned; to ſee him moſt Bleſſed, who was made a Curſe; to ſee his Righteouſneſs ſhine forth to all the World, who was numbred among Tranſgreſſors, to ſee him in ſuch excellent Majeſty, and fulneſs of Glory, this will be moſt welcome. Oh! how bleſſed is the condition of that Soul, who being fitted for Chriſt, hath a longing deſire of his coming, and can from his Heart ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
9. As the Day-ſpring ſheweth Man his work and his way, ſo the glorious coming of Chriſt ſhall ſhew unto the World which way they have gone, and to what iſſue their way and works are come. Many now do imagine, that they go the way of Salvation, and the way of Life, and that they ſhall have Peace, and will not be convinced otherwiſe by the Word: But this Day ſhall declare it; it ſhall ſhew, that many ſuch have trodden the Path of deſtruction, and have been going down to the Chambers of death; yea, now the end and iſſue of all will appear to be Death, and Condemnation; on this Day the Lord will ſhew, who is Righteous, and who is Wicked; he will ſhew by the Light of that Day, who are Wheat, and who are Tares; which are for the Fire, and which are for the Gardner; which are for the right Hand, and which for the left.
SECT. VII. Whilſt thou art yet lying in thy Bed.
REmember that Almighty God is about thy Bed, and that he obſerves all the ſecret thoughts and workings of thy Heart: Commune with thy Heart upon thy Bed, Pſal. 4.4. Conſider, That we lie in our Beds, as it were within our Graves; and the Sheets between which we lie, may put us in mind of our Winding-ſheet. It is good to remember God upon our Beds, as David's practice was, and the Law of God was his Meditation by night as well as by day. When he meditated on God in the night Watches, he was as one ſatisfied with Marrow and Fatneſs, Pſal. 63.5. Meditation and Prayer may beſt be practiſed, Chryſoſt. in Gen. Hom. 3.when we are freeſt from diſturbance, in the Night, or upon our Beds after we awake, no Body then is troubleſome to us; then we have a greater freedom and tranquillity of our Thoughts, when we are not moleſted with Buſineſs, when there is none that can hinder us from having acceſs to God, when our mind knitting it ſelf together, is able diligently to make reference of all to the Phyſician of Souls. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and ſang Praiſes unto God, being thruſt into an inner Priſon, having their Feet made faſt in the Stocks, Acts 16.24, 25. Behold, the Doctor of the World (ſaith Chryſoſtom) faſt in Priſon, praying notwithſtanding at midnight with Silas. Neither the renting of their Clothes, nor their Stripes and Bonds, could hinder them from it, nay, they did ſo much the more ſhew their fervency toward the Lord. I have remembred thy Name, O Lord, in the night, ſaith David, Pſal. 119.55. The Night preſents us with many opportunities of deeper Meditation. Ambroſ. de bono Mortis. p. 245.We more ſincerely in the Night-time, and upon our Beds, do bethink our ſelves, ſaith St. Ambroſe.
Beware of plotting ill deſigns upon your Beds. It is ſaid of the Wicked man, that he deviſeth miſchief upon his Bed, Pſal. 36.4. he there employs his time of reſt, and freedom from buſineſs, to deviſe wicked acts, to execute the next day. Take heed of abuſing your Beds to ſatisfie your Luſts, and to draw others unto Adultery and Wantonneſs. Remember, that the Bed undefiled is honourable, but Whoremongers and Adulterers, God will judg.