Book IV. THE CHURCH coMPARED TO A CANDLESTICK. 689 and in having Chrift for her Governor, or chief Pi k t, who, as Jercm obferves, fi ts at t l.e Stern, and guides her Courfe as he fees good: A r d 1,ftiy, by hw;ng Hope, that pre– Cious Grace of the Spirit, for the Anchor: W hicb /-lope we ba<x as the A12chor of t bc Soul, both Jure a12d jledfajl, &c. Heb. vi. 19. The N atu rv of :vhich ;sopened unJ er the FtfthHead of Metaphors, concermng the Graces of the Sptnt, to wluch we refer you. I N F E R E N C E S. !. THIS may inform us, that Trouble and Perfecmion muft be expected. No Ship fets out to Sea, but meets with Storms and l'empells at one Time or another; and therefore the Mariners look for them, and provide accordingly, to fecure the Ship, and fave themfelves; and fo !hould fpiritual Sea-faring Men do. !I. It may alfo be Matter of Comfort to the Godly. What Affurimce is here of SJfety ! Chrift, who guides the Ship, can at his pleafu re ftillthe Seas, and make the g :·eatefl Srorm in a Moment to be a Calm. l-leflilleth, as the Pfalmift faith, the Noife of the Seas, theNoife of.their V/aves, and the Tumults of the People, Pjal. lxv. 7· There– fore though Satan, that cruel Pirate, and other malicious Enemies of the Church, feek da1ly to Cink this fpiritua l Ship ; and though he be a Spirit, and therefore of great Power againft us, yet he is norhing to God, who is the crea[ing Spirit. That which is faid of Behemotb, is no lefs trm; of him : He that made him, can make his Sword ap– proacb unto .him, Job xl. 19. L et therefore the Power and Rage of our Enemies be ever PJ great, and their Oppofition at this Day ever JO fierce aga.inft: us., yet we have a n Affurance from our blefled Savior, ·thot the Gates of Hell fiull never prevail again(!: t he Church: She !hall never be broken to pieces, nor fuffer Shipwreck. 0 tbou t<Jjfcd with Te;npefls, and not comforted! THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A GOLDEN CANDLESTICK. :The Golden Cand!eflicks are tbe ftwn Churches, R ev. i. 20. MR. Brightmau, and others, underftand this Metaphor of Golden Candleflicks, is taken from rhe CandUlicks that were in the Tabernacle erected by Mofts ; and the Relemblance between thefe holds good in two or three .Particulars, which take as follow. METAPH OR. PARALLE L. I. IN general, the Ufe of a Candld\ick is to hold out the Light to othe". No Man, faith our Savior, ligbteth a Candle, and putteth it under a Bujhel, but into a Cand!eflick; and it giveth Light ta all that are in the Houfe. I. so the Church holdeth out the L ight of God's W ord to all that dwell therein, rn which re– fpect the Apoft k calleth the rhurch the Pillar of :Trutb, 1 'lim. iii. 17. becaufe !he holds out the Truth to be fcen, laith Weemje,* theExpre!lion be– ing taken from rhe Cufiom of many Nations, who are ufed to write their Laws in Tables, and 10 to hang rhern upon Plllars of Stone, that the Pc,•ple whom it concerned to know them, might fee and read them.; as amongft us, Proda– matJons are narled to Pofts 111 Market-Towns.t The Church holds out her Light rbree ways. 1_. By her D octrine; fhe having divers approved Minifters belonging to her, that fhe calleth fcvth to preach •nd publifl1 the Word of Truth. Hence (he'Law is faid to gof orth of Zi<Jn, and the W ord of the Lord from Jerufalem. 2. By her holy Difcipline. 3· Byher godlj Example and Converfation: Let your Light fo jhine before Men, that l hey may fe~ your good Works, and glorify JOUr Father wbich is in Heaven, Matt. v. r6. W r.lk as the Children of the Light, Eph. v. 8. The Church ought to meet publickly, to make a publrc Profeflion, I!. Candlefticks of Gold .are of -great Worth, and · feldom found but in the 1-loufes of Princes. • EJ.:ercil. Divht. Exer. 9· II. So the Church is very precious in God's Sight: Ye jhall be a peculiar 'Treajitre unto me, above all People, Exod. xrx. 5, 6. Mal. iii. 17. Hence 'f Dr. White. Way to tbe true Church, p. So. Curs. 'l'beol. Part. 2. Col. 324. 8N they
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=