Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 7 · Part 2
The Church compared to the Moon.
Cant. 6.10. She is fair as the Moon.
THe Moon is called in Hebrew Lebanah, of her Whiteneſs, and bright Shining. The State of the Church, all Expoſitors agree, is ſignified hereby.
The Church may in many reſpects be compared to the Moon.
| Simile. | Parallel. |
| NAturaliſts affirm, the Moon receiveth her Light from the Sun. | THe Church hath all her Light from Chriſt, the Sun of Righteouſneſs.Mat. 4.2. |
| II. The Moon receiving Light by the Beams at the Sun, ſhe ſhines forth, and giveth Light to the World. | II. So the Church receiving Light from Chriſt, ſhe ſhines forth in Brightneſs and Glory. The Sun gives Light, but receives none; the Moon both gives Light, and receives Light: So Chriſt, as God, hath his Light in himſelf; but as Mediator, hath his Light from the Father, to communicate it to the Church, that the Church may give Light to the World. Ye are the Light of the World. Mat. 5.14. |
| III. The Moon giveth Light to the World only in the Night. | III. So the Church gives her Light forth to enlighten Sinners, whilſt the Night of this World laſteth. |
| IV. The Moon, tho very fair and bright, yet (as Naturaliſts obſerve) hath her Spots. | IV. So the Church, tho pure and holy, yet in her ſelf is not without Spots of Sin. No Saint is without Blemiſhes. If we ſay we have no Sin, we deceive our ſelves, and the Truth is not in us. 1 John 1.8. |
| V. The Moon hath her various Aſpects: ſometimes ſhe is in the Full, and ſometimes in the Wane; ſometimes ſhe ſhines more glorious, and ſometimes leſs; and yet ſtill the ſame Moon. She doth not (ſaith an ancient Writer) always ſhew her Light in her full Orb: ſhe ſometimes ſo decreaſeth, that there ſeemeth to us not to be any Moon; yet ſhe is not then deſtitute of the Sun-Beams, tho it ſeem otherwiſe to our Sight. | V. So the Church is under various States and Changes. She doth not always ſhine as at Full Moon, or ſend forth a full Brightneſs, but is ſometimes ſo obſcured, that ſhe appears hardly viſible; ſhe was forced into the Wilderneſs,Rev. 12.6. from the Face of the Dragon, and Romiſh Beaſt: yet it is certain, the Church is always in being. Poſſe putes nobis perſuadere, eum eſſe Eccleſiae ſtatum, ut obſcurari nequeat, ut nil Perfidia, nil Hoſtes, nil Antichriſtus valeat? Delere hi quidem Eccleſiam nunquam poſſunt ſed in anguſtias compingere, & compellere in latebras poſſint, ſaith Whitaker. Thinkeſt thou that thou canſt perſuade us, that the State of the Church is ſuch that it cannot be obſcured, ſo that the Perfidiouſneſs of Enemies, and Antichriſt, can do nothing againſt it? They cannot indeed deſtroy the Church, but they can bring it into a narrower Compaſs, and drive it into Holes. The Church (ſaith Auguſtin) is like the Moon, which ſometimes ſhines wholly, being enlightned with the Sun-beams, and ſometimes is deprived of a great part of her Light; ſo the Church ſhines ſometimes moſt gloriouſly, and ſometimes is ſo obſcured that ſhe hardly appears at all. |
Inferences.
HEnce we may learn to look, and earneſtly expect to receive all our Light as well as Life from Chriſt, the Light of the World, and earneſtly pray with David, Pſal. 4.6.that he would lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us, that foraſmuch as we have no Light but what is communicated from him unto us, he would dart continually his glorious Beams into our Hearts,Mat. 5.16. that we may indeed be as ſhining Lights in this dark World.
2. This may alſo humble the moſt glittering Saints, to conſider that they cannot ſhine ſo bright in this World, but that their Spots may be diſcernible to themſelves and others, which may excite them to apply themſelves daily to the Sun of Righteouſneſs for cleanſing.Mal 4.2.
3. To keep clear, and ſhine as much as poſſible, that the poor, benighted, dark World may obtain Benefit by them, and confeſs it to the Glory of God.Mat. 5.16. Let your Light ſo ſhine, &c.
4. Take Comfort from hence, notwithſtanding your various Changes, Ebbings, and Flowings in this World, for that the Enemy may as ſoon change the Ordinances of the Moon, as make an utter end of God's Church, as you have heard.
5. What a dreadful Doom will ſuch be ſure to have, that love Darkneſs ſo, as that they do not only contemn, oppoſe, and endeavour to pull the Moon, viz. the Church, out of her Orb; but ſo wicked are they, they ſlight and contemn the Sun, from whence ſhe receives all her ſhining Brightneſs. Let ſuch read, Job 5.14. They meet with Darkneſs in the Day-time, and grope in the Noon-day, as in the Night: To whom is reſerved the Blackneſs of Darkneſs for ev…, 2 Pet. 2 17except Grace prevent by giving them Repentance.