The word Sun is in Scripture taken divers ways; sometimes for the true and1 natural Sun in the Firmament; sometimes again for Persecution, and the rage2 of the Enemy, &c. but I take Sun here not to be any of these, but for the good and pure Word of the Gospel of Christ, unfolded, opened, and explained by the Servants of Christ; which Sun is the same that before you find to be darkened by the Antichristian Fog and Mist, which was darkened, I say, even to a third part 3of it. This Sun, or Word of the Gospel, Paul saith it is shadowed forth even by that which shineth in the Firmament of Heaven, because as that by its light and shining, giveth to those that have Eyes, to see the Glory and Excellency of this World; so by the shining and light of the Gospel, is given the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face 4of Jesus Christ, and a view of the Excellency of the things of the World to come. Now, I say, though while the Church is in this World, and on this side the state ⟨p. 205⟩of Glory, she cannot live and flourish without the shining of this Sun (but would be lifeless and lightless, and without all heat and comfort (For it is the entrance of the Law that giveth light here,5 and that lighteneth the Eyes, making wise the simple) yet at the day of the coming of her Lord in Person, she shall see far more clearly without the thus shining of this Sun, than ever she did or could see with and by it. And the City had no need of the Sun: For when by the light of it, the whole Body of the Elect have found out the way to this City, and when they have also by this light accomplished and fulfilled all their Work; yea, when the Lord himself is come, and doth immediately communicate far more glorious light to this City without it, than ever he did by it; What need is there then of the light of this Sun? for that is to be of use but for the time present, even until the whole of the Body of the Lord Jesus is come to the perfect measure, even to the measure of the stature of the fullness of 6Christ: So then, when the Body of Christ is in every sense completed in this life by the light of the Sunshine of his holy Gospel, what need of this Sun? And ⟨p. 206⟩hence it is that the Word of the Gospel is called, The Word of Reconciliation, the7 Word of Faith, and the Words of this Life.
The word Sun is in Scripture taken divers ways; sometimes for the true and1 natural Sun in the Firmament; sometimes again for Persecution, and the rage2 of the Enemy, &c. but I take Sun here not to be any of these, but for the good and pure Word of the Gospel of Christ, unfolded, opened, and explained by the Servants of Christ; which Sun is the same that before you find to be darkened by the Antichristian Fog and Mist, which was darkened, I say, even to a third part 3of it. This Sun, or Word of the Gospel, Paul saith it is shadowed forth even by that which shineth in the Firmament of Heaven, because as that by its light and shining, giveth to those that have Eyes, to see the Glory and Excellency of this World; so by the shining and light of the Gospel, is given the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face 4of Jesus Christ, and a view of the Excellency of the things of the World to come. Now, I say, though while the Church is in this World, and on this side the state ⟨p. 205⟩of Glory, she cannot live and flourish without the shining of this Sun (but would be lifeless and lightless, and without all heat and comfort (For it is the entrance of the Law that giveth light here,5 and that lightneth the Eyes, making wise the simple) yet at the day of the coming of her Lord in Person, she shall see far more clearly without the thus shining of this Sun, than ever she did or could see with and by it. And the City had no need of the Sun: For when by the light of it, the whole Body of the Elect have found out the way to this City, and when they have also by this light accomplished and fulfilled all their Work; yea, when the Lord himself is come, and doth immediately communicate far more glorious light to this City without it, than ever he did by it; What need is there then of the light of this Sun? for that is to be of use but for the time present, even until the whole of the Body of the Lord Jesus is come to the perfect measure, even to the measure of the stature of the fulness of 6Christ: So then, when the Body of Christ is in every sence compleated in this life by the light of the Sunshine of his holy Gospel, what need of this Sun? And ⟨p. 206⟩
- 1Josh. 10. 12.
- 2Mat. 13. 10.
- 3Rev. 8. 12 Rev. 9. 2.
- 42 Cor. 4. 3, 4.
- 5Psal. 19. 7 8. & 119. 130
- 6Ephes. 4. 10, 11, 12.
- 72 Cor. 5. 19.
