He teacheth that the Churches felicity shall not be temporary, but eternal.1 For he separates her from the common condition of men, among whom, nothing is stable nor permanent. Why so? Because whatsoever is under the Sun, be it never so well established, yet is it subject to divers mutations and changes. But the state of the Church must not be measured according to the dangers of this present life, in regard she is preserved even in the midst of greatest storms. As if he should say; Judge not of thy salvation by outward appearances; but be thou sure that God holds that safely in his hand. The Lord will be thy Sun; so as thou shalt have no more need of the light, neither of Sun nor Moon. Fear not any change then, or confusion of things; for thou shalt enjoy a perpetual and an immovable light. And yet we must not take it as if the Prophet meant hereby to affirm that Gods children should be deprived of the commodities of this present life.2 For seeing the Lord hath bestowed them on all men indifferently, then hath he much more ordained them for his servants, for whose sakes, even all things were created of God, in regard he hath a special care over them. But the Prophet meant yet to signify something more excellent, which the children of God only do enjoy, namely, that heavenly light. This the wicked cannot apprehend, and therefore they deadly hate it. For howsoever they have the light of the Sun, and other like benefits; yet cannot their felicity be firm nor stable, because they are without feeling, which hinders them from tasting the principal good thing, to wit, that God is their Father. Our Prophet therefore distinguisheth the condition of the Church, and of the faithful therein, from the common estate of men in the world: to teach us not to measure it according to the changes §1and alterations of inferior things: as also §2to inform us, that in the midst of the most palpable and gross darkness, God useth to let the light of his fatherly countenance shine upon his children, to cause them to rejoice. Though all the elements then should cease to do their office, or should threaten us with an heavy look, let it suffice us notwithstanding that God favours us.
HEe teacheth that the Churches felicitie shall not be temporarie, but eternall.1 For he separates her from the common condition of men, among whom, nothing is stable nor permanent. Why so? Because whatsoeuer is vnder the Sunne, be it neuer so well established, yet is it subiect to diuers mutations and changes. But the state of the Church must not be measured according to the dangers of this present life, in regard shee is preserued euen in the midst of greatest stormes. As if he should say; Iudge not of thy saluation by outward appearances; but bee thou sure that God holds that safely in his hand. The Lord will bee thy Sunne; so as thou shalt haue no more need of the light, neither of Sunne nor Moone. Feare not any change then, or confusion of things; for thou shalt inioy a perpetuall and an immoueable light. And yet we must not take it as if the Prophet meant heereby to affirme that Gods children should be depriued of the commodities of this present life.2 For seeing the Lord hath bestowed them on all men indifferently, then hath hee much more ordained them for his seruants, for whose sakes, euen all things were created of God, in regard he hath a speciall care ouer them. But the Prophet meant yet to signifie something more excellent, which the children of God onely doe inioy, namely, that heauenly light. This the wicked cannot apprehend, and therefore they deadly hate it. For howsoeuer they haue the light of the Sunne, and other like benefits; yet cannot their felicitie bee firme nor stable, because they are without feeling, which hinders them from tasting the principall good thing, to wit, that God is their Father. Our Prophet therefore distinguisheth the condition of the Church, and of the faithfull therein, from the common estate of men in the world: to teach vs not to measure it according to the changes §1and alterations of inferior things: as also §2to informe vs, that in the midst of the most palpable and grosse darknesse, God vseth to let the light of his fatherly countenance shine vpon his children, to cause them to reioice. Though all the elements then should cease to doe their office, or should threaten vs with an heauie looke, let it suffice vs notwithstanding that God fauours vs.
- 1The Churches felicity not temporal, but eternal.The Churches felicitie not temporall, but eternall.
- 2Though the felicity of Gods chosen consists in eternal good things, yet are •hey not therefore to be deprived of the use of temporal things.Though the felicitie of Gods chosen consists in eternall good things, yet are •hey not therefore to be depriued of the vse of temporall things.
