106 M E T A p H 0 R s FROM TIME. Book I. 3· As Light is put for that which is manifefl and apparent, fo Darknefs is put for that wh1ch 1S hidde.n? f~cret anJ unknown, Job xii. 22. Eccl. vi. 4· .Jja. xlv. 19. Matt. x. 27. See John 111. 20, 21. Eph. v. 11, 12, 13. So obfcure, or the meanefl: Son. of Men, is put for fuch as are of no eminent Note or Fame, Prov. xxii. 29. More efpecially as the Myfl:ery of Regmeration and the reiloring of Man to eternal Salvation is exprdfed by L ight; fo by Oppolition, Darkmfs denotes a State of Corrup– tion, Sin, and Damnation, and that alfo with Refpetl: to, (1.) The organical Caufe, which is the Truth revealed in the Word of God, in which Refpect, Darknefs lignifies Errors, Lies and perverfe DoCtrines, IJa. v. 20. ix. 2 • and lx. 2, 3· Job~txii. 35· Rom. i. 21, 22. Although by Way of Confequence the Things that follow are alfo noted in thefe Places. (2.) The formal Caufe, which is the Knowledge of Chrifl:, and Faith which works by Piety; in which Refpetl: Darknefs lignifies IP.jidelity and an lndulgonce in Sin, Pfal. lxxxri. 5· Prov. ii. 13. Jobll i. 5· and iii. 19. Ails xx,vi. 18. Rem. xiii. 12. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Eph. iv. 17, 18, 19. and v. 8, 11. 1 John i. 6. and ii. 9, 11. Although the antecedmt M ember is alfo noted in thefe Sayings, all Infidelity, Impiety, and Sins ariling from Ignorance and Errors in Dotl:tine. ( 3·) The final Caufe and lafl: Effetl:; in this Refpetl: Darknefs lignifies eternal Death and Damnation, Matt. viii. 12. and xxii. 1 3· 2 Pet. ii. 4· Jude Verfe 6. And whereas the Devil is the Author of all thofe Evils, he with his whole infernal Society are called the Power of Darknefs, Lttke xxii. 53· Eph. vi. 12. Col. i. 13. Metaphors taken from Time. THE other Effetl: of the Luminaries of Heaven is the Differencing of Time, from which Differences fome Metaphors are deduced. (x.) A 1JAr, is taken for the Profit and Benefit of the Time allotted or granted by God, 1 Sam. xxv. 8. We come in a good Day, that is, feafonably and for our Profit, your Preparation and Store being fuch as that you can reheve our Want, J ohn ix. 4· I muft work the Works of him that fent me, while it is Day, that is, while the allotted Sea– fan lafts, for that Purpofe given by Heaven. Upon which Erafmus paraphrafes, I am therefore fent into the World, that I jhoztld by Deeds of this Kind purch~Je Glory for God, by convincing Unbelievers that I fpeak true, that they may believe, and be cured of their Blindnefs. This Command I mufl: diligently foiJow, while it is Day; for Men that have any 1 hing to do, work by Day, the Night being unfeafonable for Labor, in the mean while therefore, while the prefent Day affords an Opportunity of acting what is necef– fary for the obtaining of eternal Life I mufl: not give over. For the Night is coming wherein Men neither will nor can work. See Luke xiii. 31, 33· John xi. 9• 10. aod xii. 35· Rom. xiii. 11, 12, 13. 2 Cor. vi. 2. 2. For the Knowledge of God and the Seafon of Grace, R om. xiii. 12. The Night is far jpmt, the Day is at hand. Here is an Oppolition between an _unconvened State, which is compared toNight, and a State of Converlion to the Krngdom of Chnfl:, which he calls Day, for the Realon before given, 1 TheJJ. v. 5, 8. re are the Children of Light, and Children of the Day: We are not of the Ntght, nor of Darknefs. But let us who are of the Day, be fober. In this Text there is an elegant Antanaclafis, for the word Day, Verfe 2, 4· is to be underftood of the Day of Judgmmt, and Verfe 5· of the Gift of Gofpel Reftauration by Chrift, to which v~rfe 7· the Mention of the natural Night oppolite to the Day is fubjoined. 2 Pet. i.. 19. until the Da)•-daw11 arife, &c. here Life and eternal Glory feem to be noted, that rn the Words ot the Apoille there may be an Oppolition between this Life, and that which is to come, this Life being compared to an obfcure Place which needs a Candle to light it (which Candle is the prophetical Revelatrons) but L1fe to come 1S compared tO a clear Day, 111 wh1ch Chn{l: our ~w'~'f'' (phofporos or) Light-bringer fh all illuminate the Eyes of Believers with a mofl: full and bnght Radrance. And thus the great PerftC'bon of rhe propbencal Scnp· tures (as alfo of the apo{l:olical, which are exaEtly conformable tothem, and as it werean explanatory Light to them) is proved, becaufe mo!1: fuffic1ent (w1tb the Help of D!Vlne Gcace,) for the obtaining of everla!ting Life, &c. The
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