The rising sun, or, The sun of righteousnesse shining upon the sons of unrighteousnesse a theological sun-dyal wherein is to be seen the rising, motion, influence and manifold operations of Christ upon the soul ... as also the description of the true believer ... as also the highest degrees and full growth and grace are here delineated ... / by John Sheffeild [sic]

CHAP. XVII. The likenesse of both in sundry Acci∣dents.

WE are now come to the last thing wherein the agreement holds be∣tweene these two Suns, viz. certaine Accidents; whereof 1. one greater; 2. many lesse.

The greatest is that of the Eclipses, which these two great Luminaryes are subject to. The less••r Luminary, the Sun sometimes lo∣seth his light and Lustre; and this greater Luminary hath sometimes lost the glory and brightness of his Godhead in his Exinaniti∣on, and in that self emptying abasement of his Passion. The Suns Eclipse is often and or∣dinary, but this was extraordinary, preterna∣tural, and but once.

2. The Sun is never totally Eclipsed; in part often. (His body being so many times bigger then the Moon's interposed, seven thousand times bigger, cannot lose all his light.) So Christ might be in his Person eclipsed to the unbelieving Jewes by his poverty, Cross and afflictions (whereby he was made lower then* 1.1

the Angels) when some others (even then) saw his glory, as the glory of the Only Begot∣ten* 1.2 of God, full of Grace and Truth.

2. In his Truth, by Hereticks and prevai∣ling Errors.

3. In his Regal Power, when persecuting enemies and Tyrants encroach on his Chur∣ches Liberty, and his Prerogative, breaking his bonds and the Churches hedg. But he is never totally eclipsed, because his power and grace doth more then seven thousand or ten thousand times exceed all Tyrants power, Hereticks Policy, persecuters rage, and Satans malice.

3. Yet was there once (never but once) a total Eclipse of the Sun; extraordinary it was, viz. at the time of Christ his Passion. Christ never had the light of his Fathers countenance wholly suspended, but then in Articulo Passionis, when he cryed out, Eli-Eli-Lama-sabactani. Such an Eclipse never did▪ nor can happen again: then did it ap∣pear Christ set his Tabernacle in the Sun; that was his Chariot or Apostle. The Sunnes darknesse then enlightned the world, and* 1.3 made the Philosopher cry out, Deus naturae patitur, aut mundi Machina dissolvitur. Either the God of Nature is now suffering, or the frame of the world is dissolving; then both Suns suffered, and were eclipsed toge∣ther, and went down at noon day; the Sun of the Lord, and that Lord of the Sun.

4. The Suns Eclipse is only caused by

the interposition of the Moons dark body, which hath all her light from the Sun. The Sun is then obscured, and the new changed Moon (never else seen by day) then dare shew her self.

It is the only interposing the Churches dark body of sin and guilt, made this Sun ob∣scured. She hath no light of her owne, but borroweth of him, and hee was content to lose all his glory protempore, that his Church and every new changed (converted) soul may appear before God with boldness, not otherwise able to abide the tryal of his pre∣sence.

5. It is a sight sad to behold when the Sun is Eclipsed: and it was the saddest day and hour of darknesse that ever was in the world, when Christ was put to death.

6. The Sun as to us seemeth, to lose his light; but as to Heaven, gives more. And Christ never shined more bright in Heaven, never gave like satisfaction to God, more Joy to Angels, Glory to Saints, then in his Pas∣sion. Then did the pleasure of the Lord prosper* 1.4 in his hand. He that was before pleased in his Person, was now more pleased in his Passion. In this only expiatory sacrifice did God smel a savor of rest. This was to our Saviour a day of Triumph, his Cross was the Trophy of his Victory and success, whereon he was lifted up and exalted: then was sin, death, hell swal∣lowed up in Victory. The dread of this Crosse, triumphed over Hell, spoyling all

those principalities, and thereby leading cap∣tivity captive. The bloud of this Crosse try∣umphed in Heaven: Having made peace •••• the bloud of his Crosse, Col. 1. 20. And th•• Merit of his Crosse triumphed in the Church which ever since hath taken up those Ange∣lical Hymnes, Glory to God on high, on eart••* 1.5 peace, good will towards men. Salvation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ascribed to the Lamb that was slaine, and glo∣ry to the Sun that was obscured. This w•••• the day wherein ou•• great High Priest we•• in his richest Robes into the Holy of Holies with his own bloud (but bearing all o•••• Names in his brest, and all our iniquities o•• his shoulder) and hath made an everlastin•• attonement or expiation, and the greatest Ho∣ly day the world ever saw.

7. The Sun eclipsed hath the same ligh•• in it self, is only hid from us for a while, b•••• recovers it self presently, and shines again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gloriously as before. There may be mis•• and darkness interposing between us and God, between Christ and the Father none between the Sun and the earth the Moon▪ be∣tween the Sun and heaven no Moon to inter∣pose: And changes there may seeme to b•• between us and God; between Christ and the Father all is well.

Satan might bruise his heel, Herod, Iews▪ Pilate might reproach, condemne, crucifie bury, set a guard about the Sepulcher. But if it be said, Who shall bind the influences of the Pleiades? with what bonds of death 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈…〉〈…〉t then possible to hold the Prince of life pri∣soner?

8. Some great Scholers have said, The Suns Eclipse bodes much ill to this lower world, and that the sad effects thereof are such, that the world is the worse for it seven years after, ere it recover it self. The truth whereof I'l not dispute: but certaine I am, the sad effects of this Eclipse upon the Land of Iudea, where it was most visible, are not yet ••••ased, but for this One thousand six hun∣dred yeares it hath felt the miseries which followed on their Crucifying the Lord of Glory.

9. Lastly, The Suns Eclipse is said to Prognostick great changes, downfal of King∣domes, and deaths of Tyrants, &c. Sure I am, that this Eclipse did not foretel as a Prognostick, but produce as the immediate cause, the greatest changes in heaven and earth. Then was Satan ruined; this Eclipse was his bane. When the Vyal of Gods wrath was poured on this Sun, and hee had* 1.6 cryed, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, It is finished, then was Sa∣tans Kingdome darkned, divided, destroyed, then was the Prince of this world judged and cast out; and then was there nothing but gnawing of tongues all the Kingdom of the Dragon over.

2. There are many lesse Accidents.

1. The Sun is sometimes present, some∣times absent, respectu nostri, but alwayes present in heaven, Christ sometimes leading

his Beloved, sometimes leaving his Beloved; alwayes interceding and giving light in hea∣ven, when his light shineth not on us.

2. Sometimes it hides it selfe, sometimes showes it self; but his light is intrinsecally the same without change. So there may bee changes in us, mists about us, stormes above us; none in Heaven. Amas nec estuas; z••∣las* 1.7 & securus es; Poenitet te & non doles; i∣rasceris & tranquillus es; opera mutas, ••••c mutas consilium. God is not changed when we are changed; we are angry and sin, re∣pent* 1.8 and change our mind. He is angry with∣out Passion, jealous without affection, repents without grieving, changeth his dispensation, not his disposition.

3. Sometimes Sun riseth early, shines out at first rising gloriously, yet a stormy day followes, and again clears up at even, and all ends well. Some in first Conversion have much peace and comfort, as Job, Solo∣mon, the Wise men, had the Star at first set∣ting out, afterwards sad stormes, desertions and tryals; but all ended well.

4. Sometimes at Sun rise the morning is gray, dark, duskish, and the day the fairer. What stormes were at the Conversion of the Jaylor and of Paul? yet all faire after.

5. Sometimes the Sun not seen all day, but showres from morning till almost Sun-set, then Sun breaks out and sets sereuely, and promiseth a fair day following. Some true

Christians have not a good day after their Conversion till death, as some mothers be∣tween Conception and Delivery ever ill, yet then do well. Christ fulfils that to many which he spake to his Disciples, They shall see the Kingdome of God in Power before they taste of death, and when seen, dy; that se∣tene evening the forerunner of the fair day of Eternity.

6. The un begins with light, then fol∣lowes heat. Christ his first work on the new Creature is light, therewith Conviction, Consolation after. Grace and Peace are twins, but Grace the elder sister. The Even∣ing* 1.9 went before the Morning in the first Creation; sorrow goeth before joy in the true Conversion. He that believes before hee repents, must (as Magus was directed) re* 1.10 pent after such believing, and repent of it. Saul the King had many merry signes and much joy before any sorrow, as the stony ground had all his joy at first. Saul the cho∣sen Vessel had a sad beginning with many sor∣rowes, but his joy followed and remained. The Butler had nothing but feares at first,* 1.11 and joyes at last. The Baker all hopes and joyes, but they ended in sor∣rowes.

7. The Sun sometimes discovers it selfe by light and heat both (as in Summer;) some∣times as much light but no heat, as in Winter, when it freezeth in the shade. Sometimes the Godly soul hath Grace and Peace toge∣ther

Gods love shining in his heart, hi•• heart again warm with love to God; some∣times his heart frozen, as to any perception of the love of God to his owne apprehension▪ when the by-stander sees it cleare day, 〈…〉〈…〉 to the manifest actings of Grace and Ho∣linesse.

8. The Sun when it is hid, it is the mist•• from below that do hinder the light of it. No∣thing but our sin doth separate between God and* 1.12 us, causing his face to be hid. Cold taken i•• the feet offendeth the head, and fumes from within the stomack offend the braine. O•••• faith is damped, joy eclipsed, soul distempe∣red, yea, Christ the head offended, only by the miscarriages and distempers from those Lusts that war in our Members.

9. We observe that before Sun doth rise, there is nothing but grosse darknesse; the Sun risen chaseth away that darkness, but the•• are seen long shadowes which appeared no•• before, but as Sun goeth higher, these grow less till Sun withdraw and decline, the•• these shadowes increase againe; but the Sun never shineth so clearely, but that there is a shadow inseparable from the Bo∣dy.

So till Christ arise, nothing but darknesse in the soul; at his first arising this darknesse scattered, but then long shadowes of much corruption appear, (till then not suspected) but Christ shining longer, these grow less•• and lesse; But he withdrawing, these get head

again, and we as bad to our thinking as e∣ver; but never any so perfect here as to be free from sin; It doth easily beset us, and we are all Periscii, in this sense; sin is as insepa∣rable from our imperfect nature here, as the shadow from the body. Those under the Line are called, Ascii, Shadowless, where the Sun is Vertical, and directly over their heads. In Heaven we shall be so, when un∣der the direct Rayes of Christ his face and presence. Here he beholds us but oblique••••, so that if we be not all corruption on both sides, as the Amphiscii, yet we have at least a dark side, and so are Heteroscii.

10, Once more. The Sun, how doth it with his beames alter the native and usual colour of things? rising, it gilds the clouds, enamels the drops of dew, makes them look like so many drops of Pearle; but especial∣ly, how doth it adorne that watry melting cloud whereon the Rainbow is set, the refle∣ction of his own face, with all the delightful colours which the eye can behold?

So Christ arising and shining upon the black uncomely soul, puts it into another complexion. When thou wast deformed, I made thee comely through my comelinesse; and thou wast perfect through my comelinesse which I put upon thee, Ezek. 16. 14. Oh how sweetly do young Converts look? who are as the dew of the youth, coming out of the womb of this morning-Sun, Psal. 1 10. 3.

But especially, what beauty is that put

upon the melting and heart broken Christian! upon him is set the Rainbow of the Covenant, and upon him are put all the Ornaments Christ can bestow upon him; as Religious Mordecai (formerly in sack••loth) advanced by the favour of the King, and going out fro•• the presence of the King in Royal Apparel, of blue and white, with a Royal Crown of gold up∣on his head, with garments of fine linnen and purple, Esth. 8. 15.

Yet sometimes the Sun arising and ap∣pearing, hath represented some things in a more dreadful appearance then before, 2 Kings 3. 22. When the Moabites rose up ear∣ly in the Morning, and the Sun shone upon the water in the trenches, the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as bloud, and said, This is bloud, &c. Nothing represents sin in so horrid and amazing a dresse to the ••ouls apprehension, as the breaking out of this Sun. Then break out, thou Sun of Righteousness, upon our watry mourning hearts, and set on thy Rainbow the token of thy Covenant; but let thy shining turne all that standing water in the deep ditches or trenches of corruption in our hearts into so much bloud, that we may drink no more of them, but with amazement look upon former, and with fear and horror fly from future sins.

11. Lastly, to name no more. The Sun shining out in his strength, disperseth clouds and mists, but (though it causeth not one, yet) it discovers a world of m••tes, which are

never taken away, for they hinder not at all the brightness of the Sun. So when Christ shineth out most gloriously to the soul, it now sees what it could never have seen or i∣magined before: I have heard of thee by the hearing ••f the ear, but now mine eye hath seen thee, wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes, Job 41. 5, 6. He now saw a world of motes.

But as it is the imperfection of our con∣dition* 1.13 here not to be free from such conti∣nual Motes, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men that they are vaine, Psal 94. 11. Yea, every man in his best estate is altogether vanity. So it is our comfort and happinesse, that these no ways lessen the brightness of Christ his Love and Grace (for then no flesh could be saved.) But as these sins do abound (.i. appear) so doth his Grace abound (.i. appear) much more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 2 9
• * 1.2

  John 2, 14
• * 1.3

  There was dark ness over all the earth from the sixth to the ninth hour, that is, from twelve a Clock to three Matth. 27. 45
• * 1.4

  Isaia•• 53. 2
• * 1.5

  Rev. 5. 12 and 7. 10
• * 1.6

  John 19. 30
• * 1.7

  Austin, Conf. l. 1.
• * 1.8

  Vult mutatio∣nem, non mutat voluntatem.
• * 1.9

  Gen. 1
• * 1.10

  Acts 8, 22
• * 1.11

  Gen 4••
• * 1.12

  Isaiah 69. 2
• * 1.13

  Quadam sun•• delicta Quoti∣dianae incursi∣onis, quibus omnes sumus ob∣jecti, &c. in ne∣go••i••••, in officiis, in quaestu, in victu, in visu, in auditu, quan∣ta ten••amur, ••t ••i nulla ••it ve∣nia istorum, ne∣mini salus com∣petat. Tertul, de Pudicit.