Simile. | Parallel.
Naturalists affirm, the Moon receiveth her Light from the Sun. | The Church hath all her Light from Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.1
II. The Moon receiving Light by the Beams at the Sun, she shines forth, and giveth Light to the World. | II. So the Church receiving Light from Christ, she shines forth in Brightness and Glory. The Sun gives Light, but receives none; the Moon both gives Light, and receives Light: So Christ, as God, hath his Light in himself; but as Mediator, hath his Light from the Father, to communicate it to the Church, that the Church may give Light to the World. Ye are the Light of the World.2
III. The Moon giveth Light to the World only in the Night. | III. So the Church gives her Light forth to enlighten Sinners, whilst the Night of this World lasteth.
IV. The Moon, tho very fair and bright, yet (as Naturalists observe) hath her Spots. | IV. So the Church, tho pure and holy, yet in her self is not without Spots of Sin. No Saint is without Blemishes. If we say we have no Sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us.3
V. The Moon hath her various Aspects: sometimes she is in the Full, and sometimes in the Wane; sometimes she shines more glorious, and sometimes less; and yet still the same Moon. She doth not (saith an ancient Writer) always show her Light in her full Orb: she sometimes so decreaseth, that there seemeth to us not to be any Moon; yet she is not then destitute of the Sun-Beams, tho it seem otherwise to our Sight. | V. So the Church is under various States and Changes. She doth not always shine as at Full Moon, or send forth a full Brightness, but is sometimes so obscured, that she appears hardly visible; she was forced into the Wilderness,4 from the Face of the Dragon, and Romish Beast: yet it is certain, the Church is always in being. Posse putes nobis persuadere, eum esse Ecclesiae statum, ut obscurari nequeat, ut nil Perfidia, nil Hosts, nil Antichristus valeat? Delere hi quidem Ecclesiam nunquam possunt sed in angustias compingere, & compellere in latebras possint, saith Whitaker. Thinkest thou that thou canst persuade us, that the State of the Church is such that it cannot be obscured, so that the Perfidiousness of Enemies, and Antichrist, can do nothing against it? They cannot indeed destroy the Church, but they can bring it into a narrower Compass, and drive it into Holes.
Simile. | Parallel.
NAturalists affirm, the Moon receiveth her Light from the Sun. | THe Church hath all her Light from Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.1
II. The Moon receiving Light by the Beams at the Sun, she shines forth, and giveth Light to the World. | II. So the Church receiving Light from Christ, she shines forth in Brightness and Glory. The Sun gives Light, but receives none; the Moon both gives Light, and receives Light: So Christ, as God, hath his Light in himself; but as Mediator, hath his Light from the Father, to communicate it to the Church, that the Church may give Light to the World. Ye are the Light of the World.2
III. The Moon giveth Light to the World only in the Night. | III. So the Church gives her Light forth to enlighten Sinners, whilst the Night of this World lasteth.
IV. The Moon, tho very fair and bright, yet (as Naturalists observe) hath her Spots. | IV. So the Church, tho pure and holy, yet in her self is not without Spots of Sin. No Saint is without Blemishes. If we say we have no Sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us.3
V. The Moon hath her various Aspects: sometimes she is in the Full, and sometimes in the Wane; sometimes she shines more glorious, and sometimes less; and yet still the same Moon. She doth not (saith an ancient Writer) always shew her Light in her full Orb: she sometimes so decreaseth, that there seemeth to us not to be any Moon; yet she is not then destitute of the Sun-Beams, tho it seem otherwise to our Sight. | V. So the Church is under various States and Changes. She doth not always shine as at Full Moon, or send forth a full Brightness, but is sometimes so obscured, that she appears hardly visible; she was forced into the Wilderness,4 from the Face of the Dragon, and Romish Beast: yet it is certain, the Church is always in being. Posse putes nobis persuadere, eum esse Ecclesiae statum, ut obscurari nequeat, ut nil Perfidia, nil Hostes, nil Antichristus valeat? Delere hi quidem Ecclesiam nunquam possunt sed in angustias compingere, & compellere in latebras possint, saith Whitaker. Thinkest thou that thou canst persuade us, that the State of the Church is such that it cannot be obscured, so that the Perfidiousness of Enemies, and Antichrist, can do nothing against it? They cannot indeed destroy the Church, but they can bring it into a narrower Compass, and drive it into Holes.
- 1Mat. 4.2.
- 2Mat. 5.14.
- 31 John 1.8.
- 4Rev. 12.6.
