The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

A man that is born in a dark dungeon, and there continueth a long time, when he comes, after twelve or fourteen years to see a candle, he wonders at the excellency of that Creature; what delight will he take in beholding it, and enquiring into the nature of it? But bring this man afterwards into the open air, and let him behold the glorious Sun, his admiration of the candle will cease, and all his wonder will be at the beauty and glory of this great Luminary of the World. Every man is naturally in darkness: hence it is, that when he comes to behold the candles of creature comforts, he is so ravished and taken with them: but let him once come to see the Sun of righteousness, the All-sufficient and Eternal God, he despiseth those glimmering rushes, and all his wondering is at the excellency and perfections of this Glorious being. That which was glorious before, hath now no glory in comparison of this glory that excelleth. All things are small and little in his eye, who hath once had a sight of the great God. The great Cities of Campania are but small cottages to them who stand on the top of the Alps.

A man that is born in a dark dungeon, and there continueth a long time, when he comes, after twelve or fourteen years to see a candle, he wonders at the excellency of that Creature; what delight will he take in beholding it, and enquiring into the nature of it? But bring this man afterwards into the open air, and let him behold the glorious Sun, his admiration of the candle will cease, and all his wonder will be at the beauty and glory of this great Luminary of the World. Every man is naturally in darkness: hence it is, that when he comes to behold the candles of creature comforts, he is so ravisht and taken with them: but let him once come to see the Sun of righteousness, the Alsufficient and Eternal God, he despiseth those glimmering rushes, and all his wondering is at the excellency and perfections of this Glorious being. That which was glorious before, hath now no glory in comparison of this glory that excelleth. All things are small and little in his eye, who hath once had a sight of the great God. The great Cities of Campania are but small cottages to them who stand on the top of the Alpes.

Philosophers observe, that lumen est vehiculum influentiae: Light is the convoy of heat. Certain it is, Reader, that this light of knowledge would quickly cause heat in thy affections. Couldst thou but see God with an eye of faith, thine eye would so affect thine heart, that (as some, who have beheld Mahomets