Jesus Christ the Mystical

For the first. There are few that haesitate about the application of this metaphorical title to Jesus Christ, that are not utterly unacquainted with the word of God; because we read, that Jehovah. the Lord God is a Sun to his people, the giver both of grace, and glory to them. And the Prophet Malachi is very plain, that he is the Sun of righteousness, that doth arise with healing in his wings; this Sun being twice styled Jehovah in this Chapter. If any doubt be, it is touching the accommodation of this to Jesus Christ. And for the resolving of that, I shall lay down these two things, viz. that he may be justly so styled in a way of

• 1 Opposition,
• 2 Allusion.

1 If you look upon him in a way of opposition to

• 1 Levitical shadows, or ceremonies, which yet were typical prefigurations of him: Christ was as the Sun, in respect of those candles, torches, stars, or lesser lights at most. He did as far surpass them in regard of splendor, as the firmamentary Sun, doth the sign of the Sun painted upon any Table. They are indeed but dull shadows of him, that was the glory to come.
• 2 That innate or natural darkness, that is to be found in all men by nature. For by nature we were not only dark, but darkness; not in the concrete, but in the abstract, which carrieth abundance of emphasis in it. And when Jesus Christ comes, he fills us with light, as the Sun doth the body of the hemisphere, overrun with darkness. And thus he becomes the light of everyone that comes into this world; viz. that is spiritually illuminated by him. Thus we see he is as the Sun, in respect of umbrages, and as the Sun, to dispel all that intrinsical darkness to be found within us.

2 By way of allusion. Allusions may be many; but those that are natural, and obvious to all, (because I do desire to profit all) I shall make use of. He is as the Sun,

1 By way of beauty or excellency. The Sun is deservedly looked upon, as the Lord of all elementary virtues, the fountain of all aëriall light. By some as the heart of heaven. For as the heart is in the body natural, so is the Sun in the firmamentary body. Some look upon it, as the sparkling eye of heaven, that carrieth beauty in it; yea some of the Philosophers fancied, that in the sun was the soul of the world, which filling that fiery globe (which we ordinarily see) thence diffuseth his rays, as so many spirits, whereby he distributeth life, sense, and motion to all sublunary creatures. It must needs be granted by all, that it is the most glorious, beautiful, and the fairest among all the stars.

Which how far it may be accommodated to Jesus Christ, I shall briefly make out unto you. Jesus Christ is said to be fairer then the children of men. Personal beauty is a great ornament, when seconded with moral virtues, how much more when with divine graces? as in Joseph and David. But when attended with the fullness of grace, which was to be found in Christ alone, what abundance of luster must it needs add unto him? What that outward form, or feature of Jesus Christ was, is utterly unknown, though that Jesuit durst take upon him to describe it. God, I conceive, hath dealt by that, as by the body of Moses, hiding of it, lest any finding it, should idolize or adore it, in a distinct way from his Deity. But though we neither know the outward form, or feature of Jesus Christ; yet the Scripture holds him forth as very fair and beautiful, as altogether lovely to the eye of faith. Not only beautiful in one part, but in all parts; and two things that the word makes out to us, do abundantly demonstrate it.

1 That Jesus Christ was without spot, blemish, or deformity. Christ he was without any blemish in respect of sin. Deformities in body, always speak the presence of some sin in the soul Jesus Christ was in all things like to us, yet without sin. For such an high Priest became us, that was holy, harmless, and undefiled, separate from sinners. Jesus Christ he was

• 1 Holy. He had holiness to the Lord engraven upon his heart, as the high Priest had it upon his holy crown of pure gold, like to the engravings of a signet.
• 2 Harmlesse or innocent. Devoid of all natural pravity or sinfulness, unto which both Priest and People were obnoxious in the Levitical Law.
• 3 Undefiled, unpolluted; not contaminated with any sin. He knew no sin, by his own commission, though he felt much for it by imputation.
• 4 Separated from sinners. He was obnoxious, as to no sin, so to no guilt of sin in and of himself. Separated he was from sinners, as the high Priest when he entered into the holy of holies, was from the common people, which causes him to challenge the Jews, Which of you convinceth me of sin?

2. He was the brightness of his Fathers glory, or that resplendent luster or effulgency arising from the light of his Father. He was not only the reflection of the Father, as of the Sun in the Rainbow in a watery cloud; or as the Sun in the water or glass, at the rebound only. But as the Son is many times the reflection of the Father, being his own lively Picture and Image; as having all these glorious excellencies of wisdom, knowledge, purity, that are to be found in his Father. Hence it is that we are said [feelingly] to know the glory of God in the face of Christ. Because in Christ we may see all those glorious excellencies that are to be found in the Father, when as the veil that is upon our minds by nature, is done away. Now if Jesus Christ were sinless, and the glittering refulgency of his Fathers glory, he must needs surpass the Sun in beauty, when it shineth in its fullest strength.

2 In regard of the seat and influences of it, God hath placed a Tabernacle for the Sun in the heavens: There it keepeth it's residence. And hence Astronomers (clapping him into circles) allot unto him various Orbs; As the Eccentrique wherein the body of it remains; and a couple of orbs, the one to carry the part that is remoter from the earth, and another to carry the lowest part of it. And a late Astronomer hath found out one more, Eccentrum Eccentri; but all in heaven. Jesus Christ we know, not only as God, but as man, is now in heaven; and the Heavens must contain his bodily presence till times of the restitution of all things: And that he is set down in his Fathers Throne, on the highest Seat of all glory and excellency. By however, the Sun's residence be in heaven, yet his light and influences are here below on earth.

And he may be said to dwell among us in regard of his rays and beams: Jesus Christ, we know dwelleth in the highest Heavens, but by his rays and beams of grace, he dwells with them that are of a contrite heart, to revive the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones. By them he walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks; and as the Sun doth daily visit the earth with his influences, so doth Jesus Christ, the day spring from on high, visit his Saints with the imbreathings and revivings of his graces and comforts.

3 In regard of his magnitude and greatness: The Sun, of all the Planets, is deservedly looked upon as the greatest, both in bulk and virtue. The greatness of it Astronomers did heretofore gather especially by eclipses: And they make it out by demonstrations, that it is 166 times bigger then the earth: How much greater then is the Creator of the Sun, then that firmamentary sun it self. We know, that by the Word (i. e. Jesus Christ) all things, (even the Sun it self) were made. We find the Prophet crying out, Who may declare his generation! And I may say, Who can declare his greatness! no creature (I am sure) is able to demonstrate it, because there is no end of his greatness, it is unsearchable. The heavens do contain the firmamentary sun, but the Heaven of heavens cannot contain this mystical Sun in regard of his Deity.

4. His Form and Oneness.

1 The form of the Sun is of an orbicular round figure, a clear emblem of eternity; for in a circle there is neither beginning nor ending. We read of Melchizedek, that he was without beginning of days, or end of life, viz. as recorded in the history of Moses: And in that he was a lively type of Jesus Christ, who as God, is the first and the last, God blessed forever.

2. For Oneness. We know that there are many stars, but one Sun that gives light to the world. There are many Saints that receive of Christ's light continually, as the stars from the body of the Sun. In Arabia there is (as they say) to be found but one Phoenix; And in the body certainly there is but one heart: In the firmament but one Sun, and in the Church but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

5. In regard of motion. The Sun, we know, is very quick; and that in twenty four hours it doth encircle the whole world. David representeth him to run, like a giant, the race that is set before him: that is,

1 Very swiftly, infinitely faster then a man of the largest sieze, or the longest breath. David's illustration, though some way expressive, doth fall short of the Sun in the quickness of its motion. A bird upon the wing, an arrow shot out of the bow, cannot possibly reach the sun upon point of speed. How many thousand miles doth he run within an hour? It was a curious observation of that Cardinal, when he had the full prospect of the body of the Sun, ready to go down, to try a conclusion of the quickness of the motion of it, took the Psalms into hand: Before (saith he) that I had twice read the 51 Psalm, the whole sun was set. Whereby he doth conclude, that the sun runs in the eighth part of an hour 7000 miles: Though the Cardinals compute (as well as his doctrine in matters Polemicall, or of controversy) doth very much fall short of truth; yet his experiment in this, gives some proof of the quickness of the sun's motion: For the quickness of Christ's motion; how quickly did he come from heaven to earth, when he did assume our nature, and veiled himself under our humanity? How quickly comes he to the relief of his Church in distress? And is he not as quick as the lightning upon point of motion, when he comes to enlighten the world with his truth?

2 Indefatigably, unweariedly: How constant was Jesus Christ in doing the will of his Father, and to finish the work, that he sent him about: How doth he profess, that it was his meat to do it. Never was there any hungry man laboring so constantly for, or delighting in his appointed food, as Jesus Christ did constantly in doing the will of his Father.

6. It's obedience to the Command of God. There is an obediential power, whereby the firmamentary Sun standeth at God's appointment; that made it to stand still in Joshua's time: and to run back upon the dial of Ahaz, for a sign to Hezekiah. And how was it with Jesus Christ? what an obediential yielding was there of himself to the will of his Father? He declares unto all, that he came upon this errand, that he might fulfill his Fathers will, and finish the work that he had sent him to do; and that he did do all things that pleased him always: When he findeth it in the volume of the book to be written of him, that he should do his will, How doth his heart echo? Lo, I come, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy Law is within my heart. And when he was to complete the great work of our Redemption by his agony, his bloody sweat, and final passion; How doth he discover a will melted into the will of his Father, when resigningly he gives up himself in the midst of all that soul-anguish that was upon him, which extorted, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet mark how willingly he doth surrender up himself to his Father; Yet not my will, but thine by done.

So that in these six respects the firmamentary Sun is a lively emblem of that super-celestial Sun Jesus Christ. viz. both in regard of

• 1 Beauty and excellency.
• 2 Seat and influences.
• 3 Magnitude or greatness.
• 4 Form, and one-nesse.
• 5 Motion, and
• 6 Obedience.

No wonder therefore that this name is accommodated to him in Scripture.

And yet to make it out a little fuller: Do but consider with me the next thing that we are to speak to for the clearing of the first point, viz.

2 That Christ is the same to believers, as the Sun is to the world. Thence it is that he is held forth to us by this notion in this place, and the places fore-cited; that I will not trouble you with the repetition of: Only for the demonstration of it, consider with me, what benefit the world, receiveth by the Sun, the like shall we find believers to receive from Christ. Now among other things that the world receiveth from the firmamentary sun, I shall insist on these six: viz.

• 1 Light.
• 2 Life.
• 3 Heat.
• 4 Fruitfulness.
• 5 Comfort.
• 6 Purity.

All which Saints receive from Jesus Christ, and therefore to every individual, the promise may be repeated; Thy Sun shall no-more go down.

1. The firmamentary Sun is very operative to produce light, and dispel darkness. It is seated as it were in the center, navel, or heart of heaven, that it might impart its light to the stars that are above and below it, yea, and unto all the earth besides. How quickly doth it in his approaches near unto our Horizon, much more at his coming up into it, drive out darkness out of the air; and ferret it out of our houses; It is the Steward of light. Now as aëriall light flows from the sun, so all spiritual light flows from Jesus Christ. It is he that filleth

1 Gospel Ordinances with light, and maketh his word to be an enlightening word to the [mental] eyes of his people.

2 He it is that filleth the souls of his elect with light, not only with the light of natural reason, wherewithal He fills all that come into this world: But with the light of grace; He that did command light to shine out of darkness, 'It is he that shineth into our souls: He sets up a light there, viz. the light of saving knowledge, and justifying faith; yea, and the light of life too in the beginnings or it. The Sun natural is as the Father of light natural, and the Sun spiritual of light spiritual. Wherefore he saith, A wake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. A passage cited out of this Chapter of Isaiah; The Lord shall rise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. The Apostle changeth only the title Jehovah into Christ.

2 It produceth heat. Hence the Psalmist tells us, that there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. It is the heat of the sun that warms the seeds, and roots of flowers, and many herbs in spring, that are in the womb of the earth, and draweth them out by his shinings: It's his heat that doth produce Minerals within, as well as vegetables upon the surface of the earth: Now what the Sun is in the Kingdom of nature, that is Christ in the Kingdom of grace: It is he that by his word warms the hearts within, of his people.

1 Sometimes making them to yield: As the hard Adamant by soking of it in the warm blood of a Goat; which (as some say) is rendered thereby apt to be worked upon; so the hard heart of a sinner steeped in the warm blood of Christ, falls presently relenting that it may be wrought upon.

2 Sometimes to melt as wax before the fire: As David found by experience, My heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. It is this that turneth an heart of stone into an heart of flesh: according to that covenantpromise, I will take from them an heart of stone, and I will give unto them an heart of flesh: A melting heart by reason of fear, is a great judgment, as we see in the Canaanites, and Egyptians. But to have an heart melted by reason of sin, seen through the glass of the Gospel, and the piercings of Jesus Christ, is a transcendent mercy; As we see in Josiah: Of whom we read, that his heart was tender, and therefore penitentially he humbleth himself before the Lord. It is the heat under the Limbeck, that maketh the water drop out of the head of the Limbeck: and it is the inward heat which we find from Jesus Christ, that makes many times tears trickle down our eyes, because men keep not God's laws. It was this that made David wash his bed, and water his couch with tears.

3 Sometimes it inflames them, and setteth their hearts a burning within them; That warmth that Christ put into his word did so far transcendently warm Jeremiah's heart, that he professeth, his word was in my heart, as a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Fire will out. It was that which made the hearts of those Disciples so hot within them, that they brake out; Did not our hearts burn within us, while he spake unto us by the way, and opened unto us the Scriptures? It is Christ that filleth us so with the fire of love, that all the waters of affliction cannot quench it.

3 Sometimes it causeth life. How doth it draw out that plasticall or formative power, which is to be found in seeds, making them to sprout while they are under the clod, and thereby enquickning them? How doth it, as it were, every Spring call back roots and trees, out of their swoon or seeming deadness, in which they lay all Winter long? The Sun by his beams carrieth down life unto them; yea, to us also in some respect: It is the sun that concurreth as an universal cause to the generation of man, and to his supporting in the estate of nature: Did not the Sun so qualify the air with it's beams, it would be utterly unfit to generate or maintain the vital spirits in us: We owe indeed the life of nature, some way to the sun in nature: But sure I am, we owe the life of grace totally unto Jesus Christ, this spiritual Sun; Jesus Christ is our life, as well as our light; It is he that is a quickening Spirit. As no creature can possibly live without the benefit of the sun; so neither can any Christian live the life of grace without Jesus Christ.

4 It makes the earth very fruitful, it is the sun that makes the trees to sprout, and the grass to spring, corn to grow, and (in a word) that crowneth the earth with fruitfulness. Our God gives fruitful seasons in their season, filling our hearts with food and gladness; chiefly, though not only by the Suns means; whereby he doth renew the face of the earth, and bringeth precious things out of it. And is there anything that makes a Christian more fruitful in the fruits of righteousness then Jesus Christ? Without Christ, it is certain, we can do nothing, till he worketh in us both the will and the deed of his own good pleasure. But when his blessing comes to our souls, the command of Christ is operative as in the creation, when he said, Be fruitful: And it is he that by commanding, maketh us to be fruitful in every good work; and doth increase the fruits of righteousness in us: As all our well-springs are in Christ, so all our fruitfulness is from him.

5 It bringeth comfort: How doth the sight of the Sun in the open air cheer and revive the heart of a man newly drawn out of a dungeon; or that hath been a long time confined to his bed of sickness? How pleasant then is it to behold the light of the Sun? Its light, and warmth, and all its influences are refreshing unto us. It is not the promises, though never so cordial, that can bring in comfort to our souls, unless they do receive a command from Jesus Christ for this end and purpose: It is he that comforteth them that are cast down. It is he that is the consolation of Israel: and he comes furnished with a commission from his Father, and was anointed by the Spirit, to bind up the broken heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and to comfort all that mourn. It is he that gives commission to his Ambassadors to go about comforting work; Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, (saith the Lord;) speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and preach, saying, Her warfare is accomplished, and her iniquities are pardoned, &c. We may say of all other comforters, (if this Sun be absent) as Job of his friends, Miserable comforters are ye all. But if Christ be present, and all worldly comforts be absent, we may then say as Jacob, I have enough; I have all. He is able to make our hearts to be brimfull and run over, by the comforting influence of his own Spirit, as he did the heart of that Martyr, being full of comfort upon the sight of the stake. He is come (Augustine) he is come, he is come.

6 It bringeth purity and healing. We see by ordinary experience, how the Sun will as it were purge and heal the air, that was infected with pestilential breathings; and how it clarifieth it, that was overrun with fogs and mists (things that are unwholesome to the body of man.) And is there anything that will so purge the heart, as Jesus Christ will? When he is as Refiners fire, and Fullers Sope; when he sitteth to purify the hearts of the house of Levi, whom he doth intend to make spiritual Priests unto his Father. How doth he cry to his Spirit, as Hezekiah in another case, have out the filthiness out of the holy place. When once he begins to sprinkle clean Covenant-water upon us, from all our filthiness he will cleanse us. It is he that is able to purge away all our dross, and take away all our tin, and to purify us to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. When this Sun of righteousness doth arise, he doth arise with healing in his wings. Whereby he regenerateth us, and reneweth us after the Image of God, and beginneth here the cure of our corruptions, though the perfecting of the cure be reserved for heaven.

Thus we see, the mystical Sun, Jesus Christ, to be the same to believers, as the Sun in the firmament to the world, upon point of benefit; giving to them,

• 1 Light.
• 2 Heat.
• 3 Life.
• 4 Fruitfulness.
• 5 Comfort.
• 6 Healing.

[Qu.] But how may I know whether I have a right of propriety in this Sun or not; that so I may be able to judge, whether this cordial passage doth belong unto me or not? Thy Sun shall no more go down.

[Sol.] For answer hereof, I shall only offer to your considerations, some hints from these six properties, whereby you may be able to judge of your interest in this Sun. And let conscience briefly answer to these interrogations: viz. Hath Christ,

1 Come in with enlightening influence to my soul? There was a time, when I sat in the region of the valley of the shadow of death, when I was in another Egypt for darkness; but light is now risen unto me, and I am removed into another Goshen; He hath brought me out of the kingdom of darkness, and translated me into the kingdom of his dear Son. He hath communicated of those treasures of wisdom and knowledge unto me; whereby though he have not made me politically, craftily, cunningly, worldly wise, in the things of this life, to over-reach or circumvent others, or to enrich myself by indirect ways; yet he hath made me savingly wise, or wise unto salvation. He hath discovered himself in the face of Jesus Christ unto me. Yea, he hath shown me myself in the glass of his Word, how miserable I was by nature; how happy by my interest in Jesus Christ. And all this light filleth me with love to Jesus Christ, and maketh me more humble in mine own eyes, because the little that I know, is not the thousand part of what I know not. He hath made me, with Mary, thus wise, as to choose the better part, that one thing necessary; and with Moses, deliberately to choose to suffer afflictions with the people of God, rather then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. And with David, to take his word to be a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths. I can now say experimentally, Whereas I was born blind, now I see.

2 Warmed my heart with divinest love, which like the fire of the Sanctuary, is always burning within me, breaking forth in flames of piety towards God in Christ, and of humanity, courtesy, kindness towards men, especially toward Saints? Do I find it to be as the fire in the bush, that consumed it not, though it continued burning? Yea, that all the waters of affliction or persecution cannotslack, much less extinguish my love unto Jesus Christ? He hath so shed abroad his love in my soul, that makes me willing to do and die for Christ. Now how your pulses beat this way as Christians, let conscience judge And for you (Right Hon.) that are entrusted with the government of this great city, there is expected from you, not only warmth of love, but a peculiar fire of zeal to promote the glory of God, as you see in David, The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up. When observing the Ordinances to be contemned, the Name of God blasphemed, Sabbaths profaned, Religion trampled under feet; zeal then enforceth him, yea even consumeth him, for the promoting of the glory of God. You that are the Magistrates in this renowned City, consult your own consciences in this particular.

3 Come in with life? 'Twas my condition when I was in my natural estate, as it was with Lazarus some way, when buried. I did once lie in the grave of my sins, as he in the grave of the earth. Hath Christ enlivened and enquickned me to newness of life? Can I say truly as Paul, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, that hath given himself for me? Doth this life from Christ make me lively in all duties for Christ; that so I may serve God in my generation, either in a way of Magistracy, Ministry, or in a private orbe or station?

4 Made me any way fruitful? Doth the spring of grace come as fast forward in my soul, as the spring of nature now on the earth? doth he make me fruitful, as a good

1 Magistrate: to bring forth the fruits of the fear of my God, of truth, righteousness, of courage and judgment; causing me to hate covetousness, and reject bribes, which do blind the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous? Hath he begot in me desires to see the sanctifying of the Lord's Sabbath; to countenance Religion; and to be a terror to them that do evil, and an encourager of them that do well?

2 Minister. Hath he begot in me unfeigned desires to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and faithfully to feed the flock, over which the Lord hath set me; rightly dividing the word unto them, without respect of persons; and that by my life and conversation, I may be a pattern to the flock, in Faith, Doctrine, and Purity; lest otherwise I should prove like one of the Carpenters that built Noah 's Ark, who building it for another's safety, were themselves drowned?

3 Private Christian. Labouring as a Father to train up my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; As a Husband, to dwell with my yoke-fellow as a man of knowledge; and as a Master, to do that which is equal and just for my servants, having care for their souls, whose bodies labor daily for me. And above all, watching over mine own ways, and walking with my God continually, bringing forth all those Gospel fruits, even the fruits of the Spirit, as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against which there is no law, viz. to condemn them.

5 Brought in solid Gospel-comforts and reviving influences to my soul? when my spirit hath been overwhelmed, then the comforts of my God have rejoiced my heart. Have we found, that as our sufferings have abounded for Christ, so our consolation also hath abounded by Christ? Have we found, the hotter the day, the greater the dew at night; the hotter the time of trouble, the greater the dews of refreshing from our God? Ask what experience this way, and let conscience give answer.

6 Hath Christ arisen with healing in his wings to thy soul or no; healing thee of thy pride, passions, infidelity, impenitency, worldliness, hardness of heart, prejudice? In a word, hath he given a deaths-wound to all thy corruptions? and doth he begin to purify and cleanse thy heart by faith every day more and more? If conscience, rightly principled, can but assure thee, that thou hast received Gospe-light, heat, life, comfort, healing, and art rendered Gospelly fruitful in all the fruits of renewed obedience; thou mayest assure thyself, that the truth of this promise will be made good unto thee, that thy Sun shall never go down anymore. Which leadeth me now to the second Observation.

Doct. 2.

That however Jesus Christ, this true mystical Sun, may sometimes be eclipsed from, yet he will never go down anymore to his people.

It cannot be denied, but that Jesus Christ, this Sun, may be eclipsed in respect of us. Astronomers tell us, that eclipses do properly belong to the Moon, because that only totally may be deprived of light, viz. when it cometh into the shadow of the earth; which yet never ascendeth so high as any other Planet, to eclipse it wholly. I shall yet make use of this non-scripturall term, in respect of the notion of it, for want of a better.

Eclipses are nothing but the occultation, or hiding of any Star from our aspect; caused either by interposition of the Moon between us and the Sun, as in Solar; and of the earth between the Sun and the Moon, in all Lunar Eclipses. There may many things intervene between us and Jesus Christ, that may hinder his beams from flowing in upon us: Now Christ may seem to be offuscated, in respect,

• 1 Of himself, when his glory, power, or truth are eclipsed.
• 2 Of us, when as our graces and comforts are beclouded.

1 In respect of himself, Christ may seem to suffer an eclipse in reference to his own.

1 Glory: thus, when he came abroad into the world at the first, He came to his own, but his own received him not; and that mainly upon this account, because his glory was veiled and hidden from them: They could see no beauty in him, why they should desire him. The Prophet giveth there the sense of the people: They looked upon him, as a poor, despised, mere man, and that had nothing of worth in him. Indeed, to believers, Christ is always precious; they have an eye open to see his glory, and admire his excellency. As a Painter may have an eye open to see the worth of a piece, that another may lightly esteem; not because there is not excellency in it, but because an injudicious man in that art wanteth eyes for to discern it. Jesus Christ is to believers altogether lovely, the standard-bearer among ten thousands. Yet it must be confessed, the glory of Christ was mightily eclipsed, when his Deity was veiled under the frail fabric of man's humanity.

2 Power; when he seemingly suffered,

1 Himself to be over-poured on earth; to be apprehended, buffeted, scourged, and crucified; to see him that was the Creator of nature, to suffer death by his sinful creatures; this was that which brought that disciples faith to a low ebb; when he thus spake, We hoped that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel, viz. by his power. He looked for a temporal savior from the Roman yoke. But seeing the Power of Christ to be eclipsed, he scarce knoweh what to say or hope for.

2 When Christ suffereth his own people to be as they were in David's time.

• 1 Driven back, or routed in the day of their encounter with their enemies, being smitten with Panick fear, and not able to stand under it.
• 2 ^lie , Pillaged and plundered, given up to the will and lust of their enemies.
• 3 ^lie , Scattered up and down among the heathen; driven out of their own habitations: made a reproaah to their neighbors, a proverb and a hissing to all that are about them: Yea
• 4 ^lie , All the day long to be killed, and appointed as sheep for the slaughter. When Saints are massacred, and persecutors no more troubled, then butchers at the killing of sheep: Jesus Christ in all these seemeth to be under an Eclipse, in regard of his own power, at least in our apprehension; which maketh the Church to cry out, Awake, thou that sleepest, O Lord, arise, wherefore dost thou cast us off forever? wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction, and oppression? When we look upon the right hand, and there is none to save; and on the left hand, and there is none to deliver, and refuge faileth from our souls. The power of Jesus Christ seemeth to be in the eclipse in respect of his people, when he rescueth not in temptations, and in outward troubles he doth not deliver them.

3 Truth: The truth of Christ may be much obnubilated, Thus Christ sometimes suffered the third part of the Sun to be smitten, and the third part of the Moon, and the third part of the Stars; so that a third part of them were darkened; because the sun of Gospel-truth shined not, but was hidden; and the Moon representing the Church, and the stars representing the Ministers in it, were smitten, and lost much of their light. When Antichrist openeth the bottomless pit, and there ariseth a smoke out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace, it causeth an Eclipse of the Sun of truth, by reason of errors, superstitions, idols, and thereby an inundation of sin: Truth was hereby obscured, yea, a total eclipse by an inundation of errors, and by a general apostasy; As in that Apostolical Church, When the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair: When men's inventions were mingled with the doctrine and merit of Jesus Christ, what a total eclipse did the truth of Jesus Christ then meet withal?

2 In regard of us; Christ may seemingly be eclipsed.

1 When his graces are partially beclouded in us; as there is no star in the firmament, but is capable of an eclipse, so there is no grace in the soul but may be much darkened. A man's knowledge and faith may not only be in the wain, but in the eclipse; so that though he have Christ in the promise, he shall not be able to discern him: no more then those disciples going to Emmaus; when their eyes were held that they should not see his person, i.e. know it. A strange detention! When it is with us, as it was with Mary, with her blubbered eyes; who mistaketh Christ for the Gardener. Or as it was with Hagar, that had a fountain of water before her, yet could not see it till God was pleased to open her eyes. Christ may hide himself from our hearts, that knowledge or faith shall not be able to reach him. And as it is with knowledge and faith, so it is with hope too; as we see in those disciples fore-mentioned, going to Emmaus, We hoped that it was he that should have redeemea Israel: and as it was with the Church in Jeremiah's time, We have looked, (i.e. we hoped) for good, but no good came, and for a time of healing, but behold trouble; and despondingly men are ready to say, The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Saints hopes may be ready, in regard of temporals, to give up the ghost, as it was sometimes with Paul, who professed that all hopes that we should be • saved were now taken away. And the like I might instance in all other graces. But I must hasten.

2 In regard of comforts, which may be totally eclipsed, When God doth either hide his face; whereof Job doth bitterly complain, Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me possess the iniquities of my youth. This was that which drained so many tears from the Church in David's time, and from David with the Church; Wherefore hidest thou thy face, &c? And in Isaiah's time, Thou art a God that hidest thyself. Bitter it was to Absalom to be deprived of the sight of the face of David, so that he would rather put himself upon the visible hazard of death, then to be any longer without it: But infinitely more bitter it is to a Saint to be deprived of the face and favor of God. This draws out those mournful complaints, How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? forever? But however this be true, that there may be partial eclipses of many graces, and total eclipses of many comforts: Yet this Sun being once up in the Horizon of our souls, will never anymore go down from us; What else is the meaning of those promises, that I shall only use to confirm this truth withal? This in the text is so plain, that whoever runs may read it, that once being risen in our hearts, he will never set anymore unto us: And he that will not take God's word in one place, will take it in no place. To which I might add (if necessary) Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world. A promise not only extensive to the Apostles, for special presence; or Ministers, the faithful Dispensers of his word, their successors; but to all of them that were to believe by their Ministry: And that promise, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee: A promise first past to Jacob, then to Joshua; but yet for the people of Israel's sake, which were a lively figure of Christians. And therefore by the Apostle it is extended to all believers: q. d. It cannot be that I should leave thee, or desert thee: Well I may sometimes be beclouded and eclipsed from thee, yet I will never leave thee totally. This is the basis of the Apostles confidence; He that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it. When he layeth the foundations of the buildings of grace, he doth not desert his work, but he will stand by it, and carry it on, and that forever. Hence it is, that Christ, when he takes possession of the soul, he comes to abide in the soul: And abiding (we know) implieth continuance of residence. He dwells here as in his house, habitation, or temple. 'Twas a promise of his to abide in Mount Zion forever; that was for that periodicall ever of Christ's coming in the flesh. But Christ promiseth absolutely to abide forever with his people by his spirit. He will be always with us by his word, whereby he hath made himself known in a covenant-way, and by his spirit to regenerate and sanctify us to eternal life, by his special presence and power, preserving and securing us in all the collisions, combustions, confusions that are in the world. God engaging himself, That as he hath borne us from the belly, and carried us from the womb; so even to our old age, and hoary hairs, he will carry us. And he will guide us by his counsel, till he do receive us to glory.

As the hills stand about Jerusalem, so the Lord stands about his people from this time forth even forever. Now we know that God is not as man that he should lie, and as the Son of man that he should repent. Hath he said it, and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken it, and shall he not bring it to pass? These and many other promises that lie scattered up and down throughout the Book of God, are far more unalterable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians; upon which we may safely rest for our eternal security; that Christ will not go down from us, in regard of his special presence. And for the presence of all his graces, that are absolutely necessary unto salvation; However they may come into an eclipse, yet Christ will never finally take them from us; because the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. That gift of God, whereby he hath set us apart in his own counsel is unalterable and unchangeable; as being bottomed upon his eternal grace, love and mercy. Heaven and earth may change, but our God never changeth upon point of affection toward his people. Besides, the purchase of Jesus Christ, whereby he hath bought us to be to himself a peculiar people, that stands still in force, and shall never be made void, being founded upon that unalterable transaction with his Father in the behalf of us. But I must wave the enlarging of all these.

Now for the improvement of all: These points may be improved.

[Use 1] 1 By way of discovery: of which before, pag. 17.

[Use 2] 2 By way of comfort, to everyone of you, to whom this sun hath arisen, and the day-star hath appeared in your hearts. To you I mean, that can make it out by former discoveries, even to as many as fear his name, fearing him and his goodness, or because he hath been good and gracious unto you: Thou that fearest to offend or provoke him (as a dutiful child) a loving Father, because he hath been bountiful to thee, which makes thee to cry out, being solicited to sin, as Joseph did, How shall I do this great wickedness, and so sin against God? If Christ this true mystical Sun, be arisen in thine heart, he will never set in regard of those radical graces, at least, conferred upon thee.

[Obj. 1] But you say, that Christ will never go down, when once he doth arise to us; but alas, we find the contrary: If Christ be in us, whence then are all these evils upon us; how cometh it to pass that all our comforts are departed, and the love of Jesus Christ seemeth to be gone from our souls?

[Sol.] For answer hereof, note, That Christ may be present, though his comforts be absent. The Sun is in the firmament, though he be eclipsed. Comforts are ecilpsed upon a double ground.

1. Sometimes in a Prerogative way, when Christ doth with-draw himself from comforting of us; and this eclipse is not much unlike that at the passion of Jesus Christ, an eclipse not natural, but miraculous: Whither you respect,

1. The durance; for three whole hours, which no natural eclipse doth last; because of the greatness of the Sun, and the smaleness of the Moon, and the quickness of her motion.

2. The time; in the full of the Moon; because it was then the Jewish Passover; and Solar eclipses are always confined to the new of the Moon naturally; which made that Philosopher to cry out, that either nature, or the God of nature did suffer, at the sight of that eclipse: Though I cannot approve of his observing of the Moons getting between us, and the Sun.

3. The universality; It was general, not only in Judea, but in all the world, as is probably conjectured. Whereas no Solar eclipse can be universal in all the world, though it may be total in one part.

The Eclipse at the suffering of Jesus Christ, was by the inhibition of the beams of it by the God of nature, who, as he can withhold the fire from burning, the water from drowning; so the Sun from shining for a time. He puts out seemingly the eye of the world, as being unwilling to behold the wickedness then committing. Some have fancied, that God fetched back the Moon at the passion of Christ, in a retrograde way; as he did do the Sun upon the dial of Ahaz: but that seems improbable; for then that eclipse had been natural, in respect of the Sun, not supernatural. I rather look upon it as an eclipse in a way of mere prerogative, or miracle; and so Christ may withhold all his own rays and beams of comfort, that none shall look down upon us; for the exercise of the graces which he hath already conferred upon us.

2. Sometimes eclipses spring from natural causes; as the interposition of the body of the earth; when the Sun and Moon stand diametrally oposite, and the shade of the earth is darted up to her: this causeth the Lunar eclipse. And so when the dense body of the Moon interposeth it self between us and the Sun, it causeth a Solar eclipse. These are the natural causes of them. And so it is in regard of our spiritual eclipses, when as the condensated clouds of our sins ascend over our heads, and stand as the Moon between us and Christ, presently we come into an eclipse, in regard of our comfort. Your iniquities (as the Prophet saith) separate between you and your God, and your sins hide away his face from you. The Prophet seemeth to make use of eclipticall expressions: for so it is that our sins make our God to hide himself under a cloud, that our prayers cannot come at him. See therefore the cause of the eclipse of thy comforts, it may be some sin will be found, that doth interpose it self between thee, and the Sun of all thy comforts.

If thou findest sin in the wind, remove it away by repentance, that thy comforts may flow down again upon thee.

[Obj. 2] But the Eclipses of my comforts are very terrible and dreadful; and it may prove prodigious too.

[Sol.] I deny not but it is in spiritual eclipses as in the eclipses of the Sun. They are

1. Very dreadful in themselves, when total, though our God would not have his people dismayed at them; Learn ye not the way of the heathen, neither be ye dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them. If God doth eclipse our comforts, he would not have us to sorrow, as men without hope; he biddeth us to have patience, and telleth us, though heaviness cometh at night, yet joy will come in the morning. Yet

2 They are seldom prodigious. I have read indeed that Solar eclipses have had sometimes judgments seemingly to bring up the rear of them; and hence some have not stuck to father them upon the eclipses: Groundlesly, as

1 Famine, as that foretold by Agabus, is pretended by some to be ushered in with an horrible eclipse, if we believe Historians, which famine continued for five years, and the prices of all things came to be increased eight times more then ordinarily.

2 Captivity; as that into Babylon: And some deem the ruin of the Jews was portended by that horrid, miraculous eclipse at the death of Jesus Christ.

3 Pestilence; as that great eclipse in the first Peloponessian war; when as the whole body of the Sun was almost darkened, so that many stars by day were seen of divers, and which is reputed by some to have ushered in that grievous Attique plague, (whereof scarce the like) whereby Athens was almost quite destroyed; and that great pestilence, which did miserably afflict all Germany and France, in the year, 1093.

4 Earthquakes: As that horrid Eclipse in anno mundi, 3733. When the earth was shook 57 times in one year, after such a prodigious defect of the Sun, And that in Gordian's time, anno Christi, 237. wherein many cities were ruined, and many men lost their lives, when day was turned into night, and men could not see anything without candle-light.

5 Persecutions: as that stirred up by Antiochus Epiphanes, and that by Antichrist against John Hus, and Jerome. of Prague, when the Papists did confirm that hellish doctrine, that Faith is not to be kept with Heretics. And when the darkness was so horrid, that the birds fell down dead upon the ground.

6 Yea abundance of errors and blasphemies: as Arianism in Constantius's time, abounding after that eclipse; and that sad controversy about image-worship, between the Eastern and Western Churches, was feigned by some to have been ushered in by an eclipse of the Sun. And all that darkening of Gospel light, under all those successive Popes, seemed to some ushered in by that great eclipse, preceding the death of Charles the Great; after which, the Sun seemingly wore a black patch seven days successively, if we may credit it.

7 Wars; which sometimes have proved very bloody; as that of Darius, when routed by Miltiades, and after by Alexander, where he lost 90000 of his men in one pitched battle; and that of Xerxes in two remarkable battles also.

It cannot be denied but these have been the fore-runners sometimes, yet we cannot justly style them the causes of these great judgments. But

1 When such like judgments at any time befall us Christians, they are more to be imputed to the conjunction of our sins, then to the conjunction of the Planets. And one discriminating difference of Christians from heathens, is to look to the procuring cause of all; viz. sin: rather then to these supposed discoveries of the wrath of God.

2. I observe upon a just compute, bottomed upon the experience of a learned man, sometimes after eclipses, there have the most fruitful, healthful, and most desirable times followed. And yet I take not upon me to determine what is in the womb of providence.

3 The world hath had as grievous famines, captivities, pestilences, earthquakes, persecutions, errors, wars without them, as ever it had with them; how then can they truly be fathered on them?

4 I have read, that Hannibal had the beginning of his victories ushered in by one eclipse, and his total and final ruin by another: so that nothing certain can be concluded.

5 The face of the heavens was never the same exactly ten days, no not two days together since the Creation; and how can there be any experimental knowledge by this?

6 Most of the former judgments, cannot with the least color of probability, be imputed to those eclipses: For that famine whereof Agabus prophesied, began before the eclipse, though it continued after. And the captivity of Judah did betide them seven years after that eclipse which which was fore-told by Thales Misesius. And the ruin of the Jews (if at all) was portended not by a natural, but a miraculous eclipse, as formerly I made out: for their ruin befell them above five and thirty years after the horrid eclipse in Christ's time, which is far beyond the modern account of our star-gazers, who confine the operating of any Solar eclipse to so many years as the hours are, in which it is eclipsed; which cannot naturally exceed three at most. And for wars; how many eclipses did betide ^c this Land, from the year one thousand five hundred and sixty, unto the year one thousand six hundred and twenty? and yet how few were our wars in those times?

7 To intaile any of those former judgments upon eclipses, is merely heathenish; or to look upon them as any way ominous, or prodigious; It being only the way of the heathen, and therefore not to be appoved of by any Christian: As when that General saw the Sun eclipsed, being at sacrifice, he presently draweth off all his forces, and would engage himself no further. The like might be instanced in many others. But so the doubt formerly urged.

2 However things may succeed after natural and firmamentary eclipses, cannot be determined by man; yet we have cause to look upon the malignity ( if there be any) of all eclipses to be from the malignity of our sins, when any bad consequences follow: if that the passion of the Microcosme succeedeth the passion of the Macro-cosme; not because of the malignant aspect of the stars, but because of the malignant nature of our iniquities. This I must needs assert, that as after the darkest night, followeth commonly the clearest day; so after the eclipsings of God's countenance for a moment, commonly follow the influences of greatest mercies. Saints (I am sure) have found it so by experience, after all these hidings of God. It is for a moment that his wrath continueth, but with everlasting mercies that he doth frequently break in upon his people. Eclipses Solar do never exceed three hours, and the eclipses of the countenance of Jesus Christ, do seldom continue so long in the total darkness of them, but some promises, as so many stars, will appear unto them.

[Obj. 3] But my infirmities do most of all discover themselves, when Jesus Christ doth eclipse himself from me?

[Sol.] What I now speak, I shall not speak to palliat any man's sin. Yet we know that the spots of the Moon do never so much appear, as in her eclipses. Then all may see that her parts are not equally condensated; yet in this case my advise is to humble thyself for these infirmities; and if thou be in Christ, thou mayest be then confident that thou hast Jesus Christ with the Father, to be an Advocate for thee, if thou be a penitent believer. And that though thou fall (by infirmities) thou shalt not utterly be cast down; For the Lord will uphold thee with his hand; which may be expounded not only of falling into afflictions, but infirmities.

[Object. 4] But this troubleth me; never did any meet with such eclipsing of comforts, as I meet withal.

[Sol.] But how canst thou tell that? A man may know the continuance of his own, hardly of another's pain. I conceive there have been as many eclipses in former ages, as in these later times: though they never were recorded, or so much observed. And Saints doubtless in former times did some of them meet with the same, even as thou meetest withal this day. It is an observation by some, that the same eclipses do never return again, and that because the face of the heavens altereth daily. Which however it may hold true in naturals, yet it holdeth not true in spirituals; because we know the same afflictions that we meet withal, our brethren that have been in the world, have met withal. Nothing hath happened to thee, but hath happened to others thy fellow-members before thee. The same Sun eclipsed in one way to some in one time, hath been eclipsed often in regard of other places. How often are men in India and Africa robbed of the light of the Sun by eclipses, when we ourselves in England do enjoy the full benefit of it? And on the contrary. Thou art not therefore able to judge what others have met withal.

[Obj. 5] But the eclipses of my comforts are very long and frequent.

[Sol.] The eclipses of the Sun are longer, while the Moon standeth longer directly between us and it; And the shorter, the sooner the Moon is removed from between us and it. The longer sin continueth unrepented of after commission, the eclipse is like to be longer; and the sooner repentance followeth to remove sin, the shorter time, in all probability, it will continue. And for the frequency of thine eclipses; Some take upon them to determine, how often eclipses may happen to these two great Luminaries in a years space, viz. that there may be five, or thereabout, and not above six; And they observe also that there is no year that hath not some eclipses, albeit they do not appear to us. Spiritual eclipses may return often, and yet no oftener then they have to others before us. But for thee, that art subject to these spiritual eclipses; I would offer these few things by way of direction, and so conclude.

[Use 3] Of direction to thee in this estate.

1. See what it is that doth interpose it self between thee and Jesus Christ. In all probability, some sin or other. When Joseph's brethren had sold him, God at the last draws a cloud between him and them, eclipseth his favor, startling their consciences, and then they conclude, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear: therefore is this distress come upon us. Or, as Reuben saith plainly unto them, Therefore, behold also his blood is required. When conscience is awakened, then will the cloud appear more thick unto thee.

2. Take notice of the magnitude of thy sin by the greatness of thy eclipse. They are the eclipses of the Sun and Moon, that show both their greatness, and the greatness of the earth also: When David was under the eclipse, how doth he then bewail the magnitude of his sin, as the procuring cause of it. My sin is ever before me. And, Against thee, thee only have I sinned thus heinously. And he runs back to Original sin, to see if that had not contributed something to that grand eclipse that was upon him: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive me. Men knowing, that it is the greatness of the plaster, that may show the greatness of the wound: and the greatness of the eclipsings of God's favor may show thee the greatness of the sin, that is upon thee.

3. Let the Sight of thy Sin, and it's magnitude, drive thee unto repentance, which is the readiest way to bring thee out of thine eclipsed estate, and condition: When Job was brought penitentially to abhor himself in dust and ashes, how quickly did he find the flowings down of love upon him? And was it not so with David? How quickly did he hear of joy and gladness, so that the bones that God had broken do begin to rejoice, after such time as he seriously repented.

4. Give thyself wholly to prayer. Prayer will not draw the firmamentary Sun out of the eclipse one moment the sooner; no more then the Romans beating of brass pans, and lifting up their lighted torches towards the Moon, would draw her any whit the speedier out of the eclipse: Yet it may draw this super-celestial Sun much sooner out of it. When it came to that, Lord, in trouble they have visited thee, they have poured out a prayer while thy chastisement was upon them, how quickly then doth this mystical Sun shine in upon them? And then they conclude, Thy dead men shall live, &c. When Jonah was in the belly of the Whale, he looketh unto the Lord, and his prayer cometh to his holy Temple. How quickly then doth mercy come in to him? The penitent soul that goeth to God in the name of Jesus Christ, with a Be not far from me, for trouble is near, or upon me, may confidently expect, that comfort will not be long in coming.

5. Waite still on God. Sweet is the counsel of God himself, and exceeding cordial, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, — that walketh in darkness (i. e. that hath his Sun eclipsed,) and hath no light; Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God: Paralell is that declaration, Our God waiteth to be gracious unto his. A grand condescension, for the Creator to wait upon the creature! And he will be gracious to thee, when he hears thy cry. He can cause light to rise out of most obscure darkness. When the Sun went down in Abraham's time, we read expressly once, there was a great darkness, and a smoking furnace; and yet then God came in with a burning lamp among the pieces, i. e. emblematically, his people: God hath limited our eclipses, not only firmamentary, but spiritual; not only for hours, but for moments: And he waiteth still to be gracious to them that humbly wait upon him their God.

6. Keep out of the ecliptick line, when once thou art come out of it: Providentiall motions bring on Solar and Lunar Eclipses: but self-sinful motions bring on our spiritual Eclipses. If after thou are eluctated out of one, thou fallest into another again; Conscience will twit thee, Hast not thou procured this to thyself? But if thou carefully wait upon God, and keep thyself from sin; thou shalt always find this text to be verified, That Christ this Sun of Righteousness will never go down to thee: He will never remove out of the Horizon of thy soul: Though in a prerogative way he may eclipse himself, yet thou shalt find that thy Sun will not anymore go down from thee.