N00887:236
Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord:…
Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord: with devout and useful meditations, fetched out of the fire, by a Christian in a cold season, sitting before it. A work though never out of season, yet more particularly, designed for the seasonable and profitable entertainment, of them that would well employ their leisure [sic] by the fire-side. : [Three lines in Latin from Alsted]Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord: with devout and useful meditations, fetch'd out of the fire, by a Christian in a cold season, sitting before it. A work though never out of season, yet more particularly, designed for the seasonable and profitable entertainment, of them that would well employ their liesure [sic] by the fire-side. : [Three lines in Latin from Alsted]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1702
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Meditation XXI.
On the Flame.
To Look much on the Flame, is perhaps not Good for the Eyes; but it will be Good for my Soul, when Looking on the Flame, to think on that Glorious Lord, in the Description of whom, 'tis one Article, Rev.1. 14 His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire. Indeed, our Lord JESUS CHRIST is represented, as Clothed with Fire. For when we read, in the Vision which the Prophet Ezekiel had of Him, From the Appearance of His Loins even upward, and from the Appearance of His Loins even downward, I saw as it were the Appearance of Fire; I do with Vitringa understand it, of the Flammeous Colour and Aspect, of the Toga Talaris, or long Priestly Garment, wherein our Lord appeared. And, Omnia Dei sunt Flammea. Accordingly, as it would put out my Eyes, if I pore too near the Fire with them, so it would be as perilous as Criminal a Curiosity in me, to approach too near unto the Divine Majesty of the Son of God; with presumptuous Enquiries after what is not Revealed: And, Scrutator Majestatis opprimetur a gloria. But that the Eyes of our Illustrious Lord are more peculiarly compared unto a Flame of Fire, This is a Thing that affords ⟨p. 132⟩peculiar Instructions unto us. And there are especially two Things wherein I am here instructed. First, I am to Remember, That the Eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ, penetrate into the most secret Recesses imaginable. The Eyes of that Omniscient Lord, penetrate like Lightning, which is a Flame of Fire, into the most Remote and Hidden Corners in the World. He needs no other Light, but that of His own Eyes which are a Flame of Fire, to discover the darkest matters. Oh, let me Study to Approve my Heart, with all Sincerity, unto that Lord, who because He hath Eyes like a Flame of Fire, will make all the Churches to know, that He Searches the Reins and the Hearts of the Children of men. I am also to Remember, That there will be no Standing for Wicked men or Things, before the Eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Eyes of that Omnipotent Lord, will dart forth Judgments, like a Flame of Fire, upon those that shall oppose His Interests. Great Wrath will, as both Homer and Virgil take notice of it, produce a Flame of Fire in the Eyes. Let me take hed of provoking the Lord Jesus Christ, lest He that has Eyes like a Flame of Fire, do Revenge the provocations, by shooting forth Fiery Emanations of His Displeasure.