They be like the Pharaoh's, or fires upon the Sea-coasts, to show passengers their way in the dark night, that they may not suffer shipwreck. They are looking-glasses, by which the Saints should dress themselves. God did not bestow graces and excellencies upon them, merely for their own ⟨p. 7⟩sakes, for the adorning of their own souls, and to qualify them for their future Glory; (though that was one gracious •esign he had upon them, 2 Cor. 5 5. Col. •.12.) but that by their light, they m••m show others the way, holding forth the word of life; and by their heat they might warm others, and by their zeal provoke many, 2 Cor. 9.2. your zeal hath provoked many. Therefore saith our Lord,1 let your light shine, &c. No man lighteth a candle to put it under a bed, or under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light unto all that are in the house. Therefore as the Saints themselves sin against Gods design (in giving them such excellent shining graces) when they do withhold their light and influence, by putting them under the bed of pleasure, or the bushel of profit. So Standers-by, sin against the gracious ends and purposes of Gods love in the graces of his Saints, when they do not fruitfully improve them for their own imitation.
They be like the Pharo's, or fires upon the Sea-coasts, to shew passengers their way in the dark night, that they may not suffer shipwrack. They are looking-glasses, by which the Saints should dress themselves. God did not bestow graces and excellencies upon them, meerly for their own ⟨p. 7⟩sakes, for the adorning of their own souls, and to qualifie them for their future Glory; (though that was one gracious •esign he had upon them, 2 Cor. 5 5. Col. •.12.) but that by their light, they m••m shew others the way, holding forth the word of life; and by their heat they might warm others, and by their zeal provok many, 2 Cor. 9.2. your zeal hath provoked many. Therefore saith our Lord,1 let your light shine, &c. No man lighteth a candle to put it under a bed, or under a bus•el, but on a candlestick, that it may give light unto all that are in the house. Therefore as the Saints themselves sin against Gods design (in giving them such excellent shining graces) when they do withhold their light and influence, by putting them under the bed of pleasure, or the bushel of profit. So Standers-by, sin against the gracious ends and purposes of Gods love in the graces of his Saints, when they do not fruitfully improve them for their own imitation.
- 1Mat. 5.51.
