• 'Book III. THE WORD oF GOD cOMPARED To LIGHT. 511 double Light, or that which is extraordinary 'lhining. The Devil is called an Angel of .Light, 2 Cor. xi. 14. that is by himfelf or Agents he alfumes a fpecious and feeming SanCl:ity on Purpofe to enfnare and deceive the Godly. God is faid to dwell in unap– proachable Light, 1 Tim. vi. that is, in fuch tranfcendent G:ory, that no mortal Eye can . approach unto. There is nothing fo illufrrious and glorious as Light, hence the.Joys .of Heaven are fet out by it. In what Refpefl the Word is compared to·Light, take as followeth, METAPHOR. ·I. LIGHT is pleafant and very comfortable. Truly Light isfweet,faith Solomon, and a plea– fan/ Thing it is for the Eyes to fee the Sun, Eccl.•xi. 7• How grievous is it to be blind or to be kept in a deep and dark Dungeon without feeing or beholding the Light.* II. Light hath a penetrating <OEality, it is of fuch a piercing and fubtil Nature, that it con– •veys itfelf into the leall: Crevice; you can hardly make a Fe11ce fo clofe.as whally to keep out Light. PARALLEL. .I. THE Word or Gofpel ofJefus Chrill: is very pleafant, and a delightful Thing. How woeful was the State of England in former Times when Men were kept in the lJungeon of Popijb Darknefs, without the precious Light of God's Word. Light is compared to Gladnefs, and a good Day,PfaLxcvii. 11. Many good Days have .we enjoyed fince God fent out his Light and Truth amongft us, Pfal. xliii. 3· II. The Word of God is of a fearching and pe– netrating Nature, the Apofl:le f•ith, it is quick and powerftd, jbarper than any two edged Sword, pierc– ing even to the dividing afimder of Soul mzd Spirit, and of the 'Joints and Marrow, and is a Difcerner ?f the ·Thoughts and Intentions of tbe Heart, Heb. IV. 12. It is a hard Matter for a Man, though never fo wicked, to !hut out or prevent the Light of God's Word from <tarring into, and piercing of his .evil and accufing Confcience. Ill. Light makes manifefl:. Great Light difcovers and makes Things manifcll:, cauling them to appear as they are in their proper Nature: W hich in the dark many Times are taken to be that which indeed they are not. 'When you would fee what aThing is, that you may make a true Judgment of it, you bring it to the Light. Whatfoever mak– eth manife(t, faith the Apome, is ,Light, Eph. V. 13· Ill. The Word and blelfed Gofpel of Chrill: is fo great a Light. that it makes wonderful Difco– veries to the Children of Men. r. It makes manife(t not only that there is a God, but alfo what a God lie is. Not only his Being but alfo his Manner of Being. 2. It Difcovers the Creation of the World. 3· The State of Man, before he fell and after his Fall. 4· The horrid Nature of Sin. 5· The fecret Counftl and e~ernal Love ofGod to lofr Man, together with the Severity of God towards fallen Angels. 6. It makes known· the Lord Jefus Chrifl and his blelfed Defign in coming into the World: His Incarnation, Nativity, Life, Death, Refurrection, Afcenfion, and Inter– . ceffion, &c. ' 7· ' It difcovers how God .is to be worlhipped: All his Laws, OrdiMnces, and Infritu– ' tions are revealed by it. 8. It difcovers the true Church which otherwife cannot be known. 9· La!lly, It makes manife(t whatfoever is needful or necelfary to be known, be– lieved or practifed .in order to Salvation, 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17. IV. Light haih a directive Vir- . tue, it guides.Men in their Way: The Traveller by the .Benefit of ,Light fees what Path to keep: And how to avoid the Dangers that may . attend, lhould he rum to theRight– ,Hand .or to the Left. IV. The Word of God direCl:s and guides Men in the right Way. Hence David faith, Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, aP.d a Light unto my P'aths, Pf al. cxix. 105. God is gracious unto Mankind in this refpect, viz. he leaves them not at an Uncertc:inty without an infallible Guide in Matters of Religion. Take away this un-erring Rule, and what Confufion would the Chrifrian ·• .riWx.u tpfll~, fweet istht Light. World
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