The excellency of a public spirit discoursedThe excellency of a publick spirit discoursed

3. Hence then the Lords People should observe Christ's Providential Dispensations and Appearances to them, so as to be encouraged thereby. Christ is wont to appear first as a Morning Star, and then as the Sun; that is to say, he does fi•st give a lesser degree of light unto his people, and that as an assurance of far greater light, and tha• the light given to them shall shine more and more to the perfect day. Christ as a Morning Star has been dispensing himself to his people in the two last ages of the World. When the Reformation began, then did Christ appear in his Providence as the Morning Star in respect of that light of knowledge which he blessed the world with. It was a dark day, (or a long night rather) during the Reign of Antichrist; but when the Providence of Christ began a Reformation in the Nations near two hundred years ago, there did appear the Morning Star. And the Light has been advancing and growing ever since that day. The Age wherein we now live is an Age of great light, (would to God it were ⟨p. 81⟩an Age of great zeal and holiness too) but it is an Age of greater Light than the former. There are many dark and difficult places in the Scripture, that formerly could not be understood, which of late have been opened with great clearness. And especially in this Book of the Revelations. The first Reformers did very few of them search into it; and those few that did saw but a little. Calvin though I believe he was the greatest Interpreter that ever wrote out the Bible, yet would not meddle with the Book of the Revelation. He professed he did no know what to make of it: When as in the last Century very many have looked into it, and made glorious discoveries; a blessed sign it is that all the glorious things spoken of therein shall be fulfilled in this very Age which God has now brought us to the beginning of. Inasmuch as the Book is unsealed, that is a sign the End is very near. There are two things which have lately happened which I would take notice of, and one may see the Morning Star in them. Though it is true, that we have cause to expect a dismal time. A little before break of day is the darkest time of all the night. Nevertheless the morning star does appear in two things; one is that wonderful Conversion of Pagans to the Christian Faith that has been in our days, and very lately.

3. Hence then the Lords People should observe Christ's Providential Dispensations and Appearances to them, so as to be encouraged thereby. Christ is wont to appear first as a Morning Star, and then as the Sun; that is to say, he does fist give a lesser degree of light unto his people, and that as an assurance of far greater light, and tha the light given to them shall shine more and more to the perfect day. Christ as a Morning Star has been dispensing himself to his people in the two last ages of the World. When the Reformation began, then did Christ appear in his Providence as the Morning Star in respect of that light of knowledge which he blessed the world with. It was a dark day, (or a long night rather) during the Reign of Antichrist; but when the Providence of Christ began a Reformation in the Nations near two hundred years ago, there did appear the Morning Star. And the Light has been advancing and growing ever since that day. The Age wherein we now live is an Age of great light, (would to God it were