CHRIST TilE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Book II. METAPHO~ PARALLEL X. The Sun communicates his X. Jefus Chrift communicates of his Fulnefs Light to rhe celd\,ial Bodies, viz. to the Angels. He is the Head of Principalities to the Firmament, Moon, and and Powers, &c. and to Saints, Prophets, and Scars, who have no other. Light !'poftles, who are called Lzghts, Col. u. 10. Eph. but what they dcnve from It. 1. 2 '· re arethe Ltght ofthe World, Matt. V. '4· . . ']ohn Baptijl1s called a bright and jhining Light, John 1. 9· Yet are Samts but dark Bod1es of themfelves, they have no Li"ht but what they receive from Chrift. 0 XI. Were it not for the Sun, XI. vVhat a dark and dolefome Dungeon, what a dark World would this be! what a Babe/ of Confulion, what a worfe than If God fhould fay to the Sun, Egyptian Slavery would this lower Creation be £hine no more; or fhould deprive if God fhould deprive us of the Light of Chrift: the Earth of the Li12,ht thereof, commumcated tn the Gofpel by his Word and who would delire to live one Moholy Spirit. ment longer here? XII. The Sun is a wonderful and amazing Creature, all gaze on it with Admiration. The Perjians and others ignorantly adored it as a God. Some infenfible Creatures, as the Marygold and Tulip, open their Leaves at its Approach, to receive its reviving influence, and fuut up at its Departure, as if mourning for its Abfence. Others bow and hang down their Heads, and wrap up themfelves, when he withdraws his Beams, in a feeming Sympathy, that fl1ews ' an Unwil– lingnefs in them to be feen by any Eye but his. XIII. The Sun in its Motions and Operations is very !hong, and Giant-like; he goes forth like a il:rong Man in his Might; who .can ftay the Sun in his Courfe ? XIV. The Sun in his Motion is yery fwifr; he makes hafte, as one who runs a long Race, even ·the whole ·Circuit of Heaven. XV. His Motions are conftant, ·he is ever in Motion, he .always keeps the fame Pace ; if he ever il:ood ftill, it was not to eafe him– frlf, it was not for his own, but .his Creator's Pleafure. XVI. The Sun's Motion is re– ·gular; he never goeth without his Bounds, J<eeps always in the Zo· diac, moving in ·the Ecliptic, be– nvixt the two Tropics. XV !"I. The Sun is never weary, ·though in a continual Journey; the Swiftnefs of his Courfe does -not tire him, nor is he fpent by his .-elllefs Motion, but .is frill as glo– ~:ious as ever. 3 XII. Chrift is wonderful ; Angels and Saints for Love admire him; the \Vorld and Devils 'virh Fear tremble at his Name, Ifa. ix. 6. 1 'I'im. lll. 16. He has the Admiration of Anaels and Saints, and Confternation of Devils anlwicked Men. The Saints adore and worfhip him, as ic is their Duty, becaufe he is God; and were there ten Thoufand Suns, the Saints would love and admire Chrift ten Thoufand Times more than them all. He cloth fo attract and ravifh their Hearts, by the beaming forth of the Rays of his Love on them, that they open when he vilits them,_ a?d !hut when he withdraws, drooping and langlllfhtng m lm Abfence, and wlll not be kiifed by any Lips, nor embraced by any Arms but his. XIII. The Motions and Operations of Chrift are ftrong and powerful, as when he moves to convert Souls, to help and deliver his People, or in revenging himfelf upon his and their Ene– mies, Eph. i. 20• XIV. Chrift's Motions are fwift and fpeedy. He flies on the Wings of the Wind, and jkips like a young Roe, Pfal. viii. 10. Cam. ii. 8, 9· efpecially when he comes to help and relieve his People. XV. Cr.rift's Motions are conftant, he is never out of Action : He ever lives to make lnterce.!}ion, Heb. vii. 25. He is always moving and working for his Cream!"es good, though in his Providences. becaufe his Footjleps are in the Dark, Pfa!. lxxvii. ~9· we are not able to difcern him, ftir nor move one Foot, his Motion (like the Sun's) being cer– tain, though undifcernible. XVI. Chrift's Motions alfo are regular, that is, wholly according to his Father's Will, 'John xii. 49· that is the only Way he takes, and rhe Line out of which he never goes: Not my Will, b.ut thine be done, Luke xxii, 42. XVII. Chrift is unwearied and indefatigable in all his Movings, Workings, and J ourneyings for the Good of his People. His Bounty and Liberality do not wafte his evcrlafting Treafure of Grace, nor can his laying out diminifh 1t; he is as powerful, as rich and glorious as ever, Col. iL 3· Eph. iii. '9· See the Metaphor Light. . XV!ll. Chnft
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=