The second difference between the nature of faith and it, is, that this taste (whatsoever the same be) is not of Christ himself, whose sleast touch hath a saving virtue joined with it, but of some sweetness that cometh from him; no more then the Cooke that licketh his fingers, can be said to eat of the meat prepared for his Masters Table: So as their estate may be likened unto those, who coming out of a close Dungeon, where, in all their life, they never saw the Sun, as soon as they come into a more open place, upon the first casting of the beams, are ravished with the excellency of the Sun, though yet they see not the Sun it self: for the Reprobate only see a glimmering of the light of the Sun, at the dawning of the day, before it ariseth; whereas the Elect have the tDay-star, even the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Jesus rising in their hearts, the comfortable heat whereof doth quicken and revive them, as it is said, the uDay-spring from an high doth visit them, the xglory of God doth arise upon ⟨p. 383⟩them: or they may be likened unto a Stranger that travailing a far Country, seeth the state and magnificence of the Court, and is admitted into the Presence-Chamber, which greatly doth affect him, though he himself have no part, nor interest in the King.
The second difference betweene the nature of faith and it, is, that this taste (whatsoeuer the same be) is not of Christ himselfe, whose sleast touch hath a sauing vertue ioyned with it, but of some sweetnesse that commeth from him; no more then the Cooke that licketh his fingers, can bee said to eate of the meate prepared for his Masters Table: So as their estate may bee likened vnto those, who comming out of a close Dungeon, where, in all their life, they neuer saw the Sunne, assoone as they come into a more open place, vpon the first casting of the beames, are rauished with the excellencie of the Sunne, though yet they see not the Sunne it selfe: for the Reprobate onely see a glimmering of the light of the Sunne, at the dawning of the day, before it ariseth; whereas the Elect haue the tDay-starre, euen the Sunne of Righteousnesse, Christ Iesus rising in their hearts, the comfortable heate whereof doth quicken and reuiue them, as it is said, the uDay-spring from an high doth visit them, the xglorie of God doth arise vpon ⟨p. 383⟩them: or they may bee likened vnto a Stranger that trauailing a farre Country, seeth the state and magnificence of the Court, and is admitted into the Presence-Chamber, which greatly doth affect him, though hee himselfe haue no part, nor interest in the King.
- sMat. 9. 21. 22
- t2. Pet. 1. •9.
- uLuke 1. 72.
- xIsaiah 60. 1, 2.Esay 60. 1, 2.
