Metaphors, Allegories, Similes, Types, &c. THAT RELATE TO THE .MOST SACRED w.o R D OF G 0 D . B 0 0 K III. 'THE WORD OF GOD COMMPARED TO LIGHT. 'J'by Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, and a Light unto my Path, Pfal. cxix. I05. •We have alfo a moreJure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light thatjhineth in a dark Place, &c. 2 Pet. i. 19• .Left the Light of the glorious GoJPel of Chrift who is the Image of Godjhould jhixe upon .them, .&c. 2 Cor. iv. 4, 6. JN handling this Metaphor we will (1 .) Shew·what L ight is. (2.) Give irs various Acceptations. (3.) Run the Parallel, and .largely open ·the Properties of Gofpel ;Light; concluding with praCl:ical Improvements upon that and fame dependant and .collateral. Points. L ight properly taken, is thus defined, Lux eft claritas ftu JP!endor in Corpore lu– ·minofo, vel extra a corpore luminofo exiens-that is, .-Light is a Clarity, Brightnefs or Splendor in a luminous Body, or proceeding from it-It is called in Hebrew 111>1 . (Or) from whence comes the Greek •e=• cerno, to behold, which cannot be done, but where there is Light-. The Hebrew Word 11Nt) ]'v[aor is properly a lightfome or ·lucid Body, as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Gen. i. I4, I5· The Greeks call it ·<I>w,, Matt. xvii. 2. ADs .xxvi. ·23. the Latins lux and lumen-. It is threefold, viz. there is a •natural Light, a .Light of Grace, and a Light of Glory; the firft is common to all that have the Senfe of Seeing, the fecond to Belie·vers only on Earth, the third to the Saints and glorified Spirits in Heaven. The fecondSort of which we treat, proceeds from Chrift who is -called the Light, John i. and his Gofpel, which is alfo called Light, becaufe it has the fame InAuence and :Efficacy in illuminating the Minds of Men (which without it are fpiritually dark) as the Sun and other lucid Bodies have, to help our corporal Eyes in the.Difcovery of ObjeCts. Light metaphorically is put for Life itfelf, Job iii. 16, 20, 2 1. ( 2.) For any Profpe– rity and Joy of Mind arifing from thence, Efth. viii. 16. (3.) For the open and mani– feft State of Things, Matt. x. 27. Zeph. iii. 5· John iii. 2 r. 1 Cor. iv. 5·. (+) For Favor and good Will, Prov. xvi. I5. (5.) For the Myftery of Regeneranon, (1.) 'With refpeCl: to the o;·iginal Caufe of it, viz. the 'Word and Spirit of God, Pfal. xliii. Prov. vi. 23. lfa. ii. 5· 20. 2 Cor. iv. 6. 1. John ii. 8. (2.) With refpeCl: to the f ormal Caufe, which is the faving Knowledge of Chrift, and <rue Faith, ADs xxvi. 18. Eph. v . 8. 1 Pet. ii. 9· I John i. 7· Hence Believers are called the Sons of Light, L uke xv1. 8. Eph. v. 8. I 'I'hef. v. 5· and the Graces of the Spirit and EffeCl:s thereof, the Ar– morof L ight, R om. xiii.12.. (3.} With refpeCl: to the final Caufe, the laO: Scope and EffeCl: of Faith, which IS ·L1fe eternal, Ifa. lx. 19 20. John vm. 12. ADs xxv1. 23. 2 Cfim. i. 10, &c. More particularly by a Metaphor Light is put for Knowledge, Dan. v. I 1, .lfa. lx. 3· For Believers, Eph. v. 8. For the Minifters of the Gofpel, Matt. v, 14. For God him– :felf, I John i. 5· Natural Light was the firft perfeCl: Creature that God made of th;s vifible World, Gen. i. 3· ... . . Light is put for rhe Morning, N eh. vm. .3· And he read unto them- from the Lzght (So the Hebrew) until Mid-day-Noon-light m the Hebrew 0'1n~ Zocharn)lnt) figmfi<~S " .double '
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