Book II. CHRIST THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. METAPHOR. XXVII. The Sun makes the ·feveral Seafons of the Year, Win– ter and Summer, Spring and Au– tumn, according to its- Accefs and R ecefs to and from the feveral and ·refpeB:ive Climates. When it rifes rhigher in our Horizon, it makes •the Spring, clothing every Bufh ·wirh Leaves, and crowning the •Gardens and Fields with Flowers; •but when the Sun retires, every Thing hangs down its Head, the •-Grafs and Flowers wither, and all ··their Beau•y and verdant Fragran– ·cy vanifh . · XXVIII. The Sun operates ac– ,cordingtotheMatter itfi1 ines upon. It fofcens Wax, melts Snow and lee, but hardens Clay. It caufes a Dunghil to fend forth a more cor– rupt and unfavory Scent; but makes Rofes, and other Bloffoms yield a more fragrant and delightful Odor. PAR ALL EL. XXVII. When Chrifl: draws near the Soul by his heavenly InAuences, he caufes it to become g reen and flourifhing. When this Gofpei-Sun rifes hi~1, and fhines hot in any Kingdom or Country, it caufes them wonderfully to Aourifi1, it fertilizes Souls and N ations, and makes them to bring forth beautiful Bloffoms, and wholefomc .Fruit; but in his Retreats and Vvithdrawings, how do they languifh and pine away! It is Night where Chritl: is abfent, and Day where he is pre. fent, Cant. v. 6. His being at a diftance is the Soul's Winter, and his bleffed Approach is Sum– mer. As Birds chant their warbling Notes in the Spring, rejoycing at ·the Sun's coming; fo do thct Saints with Ipi ritual Melody congratulate the Ap– proaches of Chrifl:. XXVIII. Chrifl:, the Sun of Righteoufnefs, !hining forth in the Manifeftation of the Gofpel, caufeth the Heart of one Man to diffolve and melt like W ax, difl:illing him into Tears of Re– pentance; 01hers are hardened and grow obdu– rate as a Rock, not through the Golpt>l's fault, but their own obfl:inare and rebellious Minds, Lttkexxii. 6r, 62. Afls ii. 37· and vi. 29, 30. To fame the Word is a Savor of Life unto Life, and to others a Savor of Death unto Death, 2 Cor. ii. 15, t·6. XX IX. The Sun is often coverXXIX. Chrii1 is often veiled, fo that we caned with Clouds, and even in its menot fee him, viz. when ilrange and dark Provi– ridian Altitude or Exaltation it is dences attenJ us, as in the Cafe of Job. How fometimes hid from our Eyes; yet often do our Sins interpofe like Clouds, betwixt neverthdefs its powerful JnA uence us and this bleffed Sun of Righteoufnefs, leaving and Efficacy is riot then gone. our Souls in the dark? Yet in thefe withdrawings the Soul is fenfible that his Efficacy and Virtue XXX. Some cannot bear the powerful and fcorching Heat of ·the Sun. XXXI. The Sun drowns and fwallows up the Glory of the leG\·r Luminaries, as the Moon anci·Stars. XXXII. When the grofs Body of the Moon interpofes betwixt us and the Sun, it becomes cclipfed, ~ither wholly or in part, in our Ho– nzon. XXXIII. The Sun is faid to rejoice in his Courfe, as a flrong Man that runs a Race. XXX!V. The Sun is ofa ripen– ing ~Jality, makes all Things ready forHarve!l:; itripensTaresas -well as Wheat, bad as wdl as.good ;F rurt. are not removed. XXX. Some, like Felix, cannot bear the pow– erful Influences of Chrift's Word and heavenly DoC\rine, AEts xxiv. 25. XXX !. The dazzling Light, and tranfcendent Glory of Chrifl: exceeds all rhe Glory of the World, and all that is t·herein; their Light is but Darkncfs, when compared to him. XXX II. The Sun of Righteoufnefs is to us eclipfed, when this '~'orld gets between us and ChriQ, when our Hearts and Eves are fo much upon it, tliJt w'e cannot fee hin1 in his Beauty. Chril\ is never rotaliy eclipfed to a gracious Soul, becaufe Sin is infinitely lefs than him. XXXIII. J efus Chrifl: rejoices in doing the Work of the Father.; his M eat and Drink was in doing the Will of him that fent him: Lo, I corM to do thy Will, 0 God, Heb. x. 7· XXXIV. Chri{\ by his ble!fed Word, throu!;\h the Influences of the holy Spirit, ripens his chofen Ones for the Harvet\, which is the End of the World, and prepares them for Glory, Matt. xiii, 30. And the Wicked, through their own Per– ·verfenefs, are fitted, as Veffels of 'vVrath, for De– ftruftion, Ron<. ix. 22. METAPHOR.
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