I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 1 First, If the darkness be such as comes immediately after the rising and shining forth of the Promise, then it is but the darkness of a cloud, not of the night; the Sun doth not rise to set immediately, and therefore if darkness comes immediately after Sun-rising, it is certainly the darkness of an Eclipse, or of a Cloud, not of the night. There was a fair Promise rose and shined upon Joseph, when the Lord said, That his Sheaf should be higher than all the Sheaves of his Brethren; yet presently after that there arose a darkness upon him, but i• was the darkness of a cloud, and not of the •igh […] why so? Because he had a Promise first, which did sh•• […] ••m. So David had a fair Promise of the Kingdom, wh•• […] anointed by Samuel, yet a darkness presently rose upon him; bu• it was the darkness of a cloud only, and not of the […]; Why? Because it was such a darkness as arose immediately a•ter he •hinings forth of a Promise. And I pray you show me any scripture where you find that ever any darkness arose presently a•ter the breaking, shining forth of a Promise, which was more than the darkness of a cloud, which vanished away? Or when e do you find in all the Scripture, that ever any poor soul came into the dark, immediately after the giving out of a Promise, but that soul did come to the light again? Now as for the darkness that covers the Saints, it is usually a darkness that comes after the giving, and shining out of a Promise; and therefore that darkness is but the darkness of a cloud, and they may say, a cloud, a cloud, and it will pass away.

Answ. 1 First, If the darkness be such as comes immediately after the rising and shining forth of the Promise, then it is but the darkness of a cloud, not of the night; the Sun doth not rise to set immediately, and therefore if darkness comes immediately after Sun-rising, it is certainly the darkness of an Eclipse, or of a Cloud, not of the night. There was a fair Promise rose and shined upon Joseph, when the Lord said, That his Sheaf should be higher than all the Sheaves of his B••thren; yet presently after that there arose a darkness upon him, but i was the darkness of a cloud, and not of the igh why so? Because he had a Promise first, which did sh m. So David had a fair Promise of the Kingdom, wh nointed by Samuel, yet a darkness presently rose upon him; bu it was the darkness of a cloud only, and not of the ; Why? Because it was such a darkness as arose immediately ater he hinings forth of a Promise. And I pray you shew me any cripture where you find that ever any darkness arose presently ater the breaking, shining forth of a Promise, which was more than the darkness of a cloud, which vanished away? Or whe e do you find in all the Scripture, that ever any poor soul came into the dark, immediately after the giving out of a Promise, but that soul did come to the light again? Now as for the darkness that covers the Saints, it is usually a darkness that comes after the giving, and shining out of a Promise; and therefore that darkness is but the darkness of a cloud, and they may say, a cloud, a cloud, and it will pass away.