Metaphor. | Parallel.
Light discovers and makes manifest the Nature of Things to Men; it hath a directive Quality in it, Men thereby know which way to go; it directs Travellers in their Way. | SO the Saints of God, by their holy Life and Doctrine, reveal and make manifest, not only the Works of Darkness, but also the Excellency of Christ, Grace, and Divine Things to Men; nay,1 the holy Angels are said to know many Things by the Church. The Saints, by their holy Lives and Doctrines, teach and direct others how to live, how to behave themselves towards God, and towards Men.
II. Light shines forth, and is visible to all; every one that hath Eyes may see the Light. A Candle should not be lighted, and put under a Bushel, but on a Candlestick, that it may give Light to all that are in the House. | II. So the Saints should let their good Works appear to all.2 Let your Light so shine before Men, that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Tho the Saints should do nothing through Vain-Glory, i. e. to be seen of Men; yet their good Works, and holy Walkings should be so done, that others should see it.
III. It is a great Mercy and Blessing to see the Light; Light is sweet, &c. Light drives back, or expels Darkness. | III. So 'tis a great Blessing to enjoy the Company of God's People, to dwell among such whose Conversations shine; for such godly ones drive back or scatter Wickedness. As Solomon saith,3 A wise and godly King scattereth the Wicked, and bringeth the Wheel over them: So every wise and godly Christian does what in him lies to to the like: What Darkness did Martin Luther (that Star of the first Magnitude) drive away! That blessed Light which ⟨p. 181⟩he afforded the World hath shone so gloriously, that the Devil, the Pope, and all their Adherents, notwithstanding all their Skill, have not been able to put out to this Day.
IV. When the Light of the Candle is put out, which is to give Light to the whole House, how do Men stumble, and grope in Darkness? | IV. So when the Saints shine not in Grace and Holiness, or fall into Sin, and wickedly comply with the Evils of the Times in which they live, how do the ungodly World stumble and fall; the which made our Saviour to say,4 Woe to the World because of Offences, &c. 'Tis a great Judgment to the Wicked, to have those who should be as Lights in the World, darkened, or give occasion of Stumbling.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
LIght discovers and makes manifest the Nature of Things to Men; it hath a directive Quality in it, Men thereby know which way to go; it directs Travellers in their Way. | SO the Saints of God, by their holy Life and Doctrine, reveal and make manifest, not only the Works of Darkness, but also the Excellency of Christ, Grace, and Divine Things to Men; nay,1 the holy Angels are said to know many Things by the Church. The Saints, by their holy Lives and Doctrines, teach and dlrect others how to live, how to behave themselves towards God, and towards Men.
II. Light shines forth, and is visible to all; every one that hath Eyes may see the Light. A Candle should not be lighted, and put under a Bushel, but on a Candlestick, that it may give Light to all that are in the House. | II. So the Saints should let their good Works appear to all.2 Let your Light so shine before Men, that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Tho the Saints should do nothing through Vain-Glory, i. e. to be seen of Men; yet their good Works, and holy Walkings should be so done, that others should see it.
III. It is a great Mercy and Blessing to see the Light; Light is sweet, &c. Light drives back, or expells Darkness. | III. So 'tis a great Blessing to enjoy the Company of God's People, to dwell among such whose Conversations shine; for such godly ones drive back or scatter Wickedness. As Solomon saith,3 A wise and godly King scattereth the Wicked, and bringeth the Wheel over them: So every wise and godly Christian does what in him lies to to the like: What Darkness did Martin Luther (that Star of the first Magnitude) drive away! That blessed Light which ⟨p. 181⟩he afforded the World hath shone so gloriously, that the Devil, the Pope, and all their Adherents, notwithstanding all their Skill, have not been able to put out to this Day.
IV. When the Light of the Candle is put out, which is to give Light to the whole House, how do Men stumble, and grope in Darkness? | IV. So when the Saints shine not in Grace and Holiness, or fall into Sin, and wickedly comply with the Evils of the Times in which they live, how do the ungodly World stumble and fall; the which made our Saviour to say,4 Wo to the World because of Offences, &c. 'Tis a great Judgment to the Wicked, to have those who should be as Lights in the World, darkened, or give occasion of Stumbling.
- 1Eph. 3.10.
- 2Mat. 5.16.
- 3Prov. 20.26.
- 4Mat. 18.7.
