• Bookii. CHRIST THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 461 MET A PH 0 R. IV. The Morning Star is a very pleafant Object to all that have Eyes to behold it and love the Light. PARALLEL. IV. Jefus Chrift is a very pleafant ObjeCt to Men that are fpiritually enlightened ; therefore it is that they do ardently delire to be near him, and with him where he is. David, though he had not fo clear a Sight and Profpeet of this bright and Morning Star, as Men have under the Gofpel; yet that ProfpeCI: he had, made him ufe this precious Prayer; 0 when jhall I come and appear before God! Pftd. xlii. 2. '!'hen jhall I beJatisfied when I awake with thy Likenefs, &c. Pfal. xvii. 15. I have a Dejire (faith Paul) to depart and to be with Chrift, &c. Phi/. i. 23. Thofe that look for him do alfo cry, Come, Lord 'Jefns, come qnick6·· ' V. The Morning Star is efteemcd V. Jefus Chrift is highly cfteemed by all that not a little ufeful to guide Mariners fail Heaven-wards, no fteering the right Courfe when they have Ioil: the Light of without him ; he gives good Alfurance to all that their more common Guide, viz_ follow him, '!'hey jhould not abide in Darknefs, but the Pole Star. have the Light of Life. The following of Chriil: Jefus is the mort certain Way to avoid the Rocks, the Sands, and the Hands of all fpiritual and temporal Enemies. VI. The (\1orning Star is by VI. Jefus Chri!t is really the mort excellent and Aftronomers accounted a Star of chiefeft Light that ever God fet in the Church; the firft Magnitude. Mojes and the Prophets, 'John Baptijl, and the . three btloved Apoft[es, Peter, 'Janw and 'John, .and Paul who was mofl eminent, were fhining Lights an_d glorious Stars, who adorn– ed the Profeffion of the holy Gofpel; but in all Things this bright and Morning Star infinitely furpalfed them in Splendor and Brightnefs, Heb. i. 3· VII. The Morning Star is ob-- VII. Jefus Chrift is a great Terror not only to ferved to be a Terror to Thieves wicked Men, but wicked Angels, to all that love and evil Men, when they fee this Darknt!fs more than Light, they hate him and Sun of the Morning appear they fear him, they confulted againft him, and mo·re hatle away to hide themfelxes, left times than once attempted to pluck this Star out the Light of the Day fhould overof the Firmament, fo that they might walk in take and difcover them. Darknefs, carry on their black Defigns and Deeds without Difcovery. Satan attehlpted his Deftl·uc– tion from the Pinnacle of the Temple, fers a Squadron of the black Regiment to re– folve upon his Death, M att. iv. 5· knowing him to be the Fore-runner of the Day, which Thieves and Robbers cannot endure; Come, let us kill the Heir, &c. Matt. xxi. 38- They hate the Light, come not to it, left their Deedsjhould be reproved. '!hey led him to the Brow of the Hill, that they might cafl him down headlong, Luke iv. 29. The evil Angels thought he came too fooli, Why art thou come to torment us before the 'J'inze? Matt. viii. 29. VIII. The Mornit1g Star (as other Stars) is fixed in its Orb, wherein it performs a conftant Mo– tion. VHI. Jefus Chri!t is conflant in his Orb or Sta– tion, he is a Prieft for ever, a Prophet to guide for ever, a King to govern for ev'er; he leav~s not his Office as incon!hnt Men do, but makes good his Word as fettled th Heaven. And lo, I ani with )'OU always, to the End of the World, Matt. xxviii. 20. I will ne·ver leave thee, nor for– fake thee ; or leave thee to a torfaking, Heb. xiii. 5· , IX. TheMotningStargivesmoft IX. Jefus gave a great Light unto the ·world Light juft before Break of Day. by the Minifhy of 'John, by the Appearatite of himfelf, atld by the Miniftry of the Apoflles and their immediate Succelfors. But the grcateft Light is tef~rved to the Flying of the Angel through the midfl of Heaven with the everla!ling Gofpel, before the gre~t ahd notable Day come, wherein the whole Earrh·fiJall be lightened with his Glory, both Jews and Gentiles !hall acknowledge the blelfed Mejfiah. Arife andfhine, j~r thy Light is come, the Glory of the Lord is rifen upcn thee. '!'he Gentiles foal/ ctme to thy Light, and Kings to the Brightmfs of thy Rijillg, Ifa. lx. t, 3· '!'he Earth jhall be filled With I he Knowledge of the Gloty of the Lord, as the Waurs cov~r th~ Sea, l!nb. ii. 14. X. It is the O}'inion of fame, X. ]tfus doth fend forth Very bldfed ahd fweet that the Morning Star doth fend Influences U}'On the Bodies and Stltils of Men that forth very b!effed Influences upon are under h!s gracious Rule and Dominion; it Is 6B ~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=