Secondly, These lights dwell in the hearts of every true believer. Faith and light can never be separated: Though some who have faith may be in the dark, yet light is not separated; it is only clouded, eclipsed or hidden from them. All believers are so much in a state of light, that they are called light (Eph. 5.8.) and many of them live in a plentiful enjoyment of light. A worthy man of the former generation, lying upon his death-bed, a friend asked him whether the light shining into the room did not offend him? he answered,1 putting his hand upon his heart, Here I have light enough. The heart of a godly man is the house of spiritual light, there he hath and holds the light of divine knowledge about the things of the Gospel, and the light of divine comfort arising from that knowledge. It is also reported of Mr. Deering our Country-man, that in his last sickness, and towards his end, being set upright in his bed for his ease, a friend requested him, that he would speak something for the edification and comfort of those about him: Whereupon, the Sun shining in his face, he took occasion to speak thus, There is but one Sun in the world, and there is but one Sun of righteousness which graciously shineth upon me; speaking further, he concluded thus, I bless God, I have so much light of joy and comfort in my soul, that were it put to my wish or choice, I had rather a thousand times die than live. As the hearts of these worthies were the dwelling place of light, so is the heart of every godly person in his measure and degree; the light of knowledge and of joy abide there. The Apostle saith (2 Cor. 4.6.) God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: And where that shine of God gives the light of knowledge, the light of comfort cannot be withheld, unless it be for a season, that the soul may rejoice the more in the end, and at last without end. For,
Secondly, These lights dwell in the hearts of every true believer. Faith and light can never be separated: Though some who have faith may be in the dark, yet light is not separated; it is onely clouded, eclipsed or hidden from them. All believers are so much in a state of light, that they are called light (Eph. 5.8.) and many of them live in a plentiful enjoyment of light. A worthy man of the former generation, lying upon his death-bed, a friend asked him whether the light shining into the room did not offend him? he answ•red,1 putting his hand upon his heart, Here I have light enough. The heart of a godly man is the house of spiritual light, there he hath and holds the light of divine knowledge about the things of the Gospel, and the light of divine comfort arising from that knowledge. It is also reported of Mr. Deering our Countrey-man, that in his last sickness, and towards his end, being set upright in his bed for his ease, a friend requested him, that he would speak something for the edification and comfort of those about him: Whereupon, the Sun shining in his face, he took occasion to speak thus, There is but one Sun in the world, and there is but one Sun of righteousness which graciously shineth upon me; speaking further, he concluded thus, I bless God, I have so much light of joy and comfort in my soul, that were it put to my wish or choice, I had rather a thousand times die than live. As the hearts of these worthies were the dwelling place of light, so is the heart of every godly person in his measure and degree; the light of knowledge and of joy abide there. The Apostle saith (2 Cor. 4.6.) God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: And where that shine of God gives the light of knowledge, the light of comfort cannot be withheld, unless it be for a season, that the soul may rejoyce the more in the end, and at last without end. For,
- 1Hic sat lucis. Oecolampadius.
