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]

The TABLE.

• THE Introduction to, and opening of the Text page 1
• Chap. 1 That Christ is to the Church what the Sun is to the world 6
• This prosecuted, in shewing, 1-A Likenesse: 2 Unlikeness between Christ and the Sun 8
• ... Chap. 2 The Likeness between Christ and the Sun, in five particulars; viz. 1 Their Essence, 2 Attributes: 3 Properties: 4 Ef∣fects: 5 Accidents.
• Of the Agreement in their Essence. 8, &c
• ... Chap. 3 The agreement between Christ and the Sun in their Attributes, Whereof, 1 some Incommunicable: 2 Some Commu∣nicable
• Unity the first Incommunicable Attribute 13
• Chap. 4 Omniscience the second incommunica∣ble Attribute. 19
• Chap. 5. The Suns Omnipresence a shadow of Christs 25
• Chap. 6. The Suns Omni-influence a fourth Incommunicable Attribute 28
• Chap. 7. Perfection another Incommunicable Attribute 39
• Chap. 8 Unchangeableness the last Incommu∣nicable Attribute 42
• Chap. 9. Communicativeness a Communica∣tive Attribute 47
• ...

• Chap. 10 Of several Properties in the Sun as a resemblance of Christ, whereof Greatness the first 60
• Chap. 11 Glory a second Property 68
• Chap. 12. Light the third Property 71
• Chap. 13 Warmth the fourth Property 93
• Nine Effects in the Suns warmth, the like whereof in Christ, 96, 97 & seq.
• The vast difference between Christs teaching and mans 100
• The difference between comforts given by Christ; and those flowing from the creature, shewed in nine particulars 123
• Chap. 14. The Suns Regency a shadow of Christs, alike in seven particulars 109
• How the Sun is said to rule? How said to be for a Sign. Iudiciary Astrology condemned 115, 116
• Chap. 15 The Suns activity and motion the last Property Alike in seven particulars 118
• Chap. 16 The fourth agreement between Christ and the Sun in their like Effects 132
• Alike in nine Effects ibid
• Chap. 17 Their likenesse in their Accidents 137
• Whereof, 1 one greater, viz. the Suns Eclipse, wherein a likenesse in nine particulars ibid
• 2 Many lesse accidents: eleven mentioned 141
• Chap. 18 The unlikeness and disagreement between Christ and the Sun in ten particulars 147
• Chap. 19 The second main Proposition, That Christ is the Sun of Righteousness 150
• Three things opened. 1 How Christ is said to be Righteous or Righteousnesse. 1. In respect of 1. his Person. 2. His Office 151
• 2 What Righteousnesse we have by Christ?
  • A twofold Righteousnesse 152
  • Sundry Theses or Aphorisms of Righteousnesse 154
• ...

• 3 How and why called the Sun of Righteousness? Shewed in three particulars 155
• Mans best Righteousnesse like the Moon at ful; in six par∣lars 156
• Four things done in Israels solemn Expiation day 157
• Four Notes of such to whom Christ is made Righteousness 161
• Five golden chains laid down in Scripture; viz. 1 Of De∣crees: 2. Graces: 3 Duties: 4 Beatitudes: 5. Privi∣ledges 163
• A fourfold unsafe Righteousnesse; 1 Seeming, not real▪ 2 Semi-righteousness, not complete: 3 Decaying, not persevered in. 4 Relyed upon, not disclaimed 166
• A fourfold good and necessary Righteousnesse. 1: Moral, or of Nations. 2 Legal, or of Duties. 3 Evangelical, or of Graces. 4 Divine, or of Faith 167
• Chap. 20 The third main Doctrine, That all the Godly are such as fear Gods Name 171
• Godly subject to a threefold fear: 1 Natural. 2. Inordinate. 3. Religious 172
• Religious fear hath a double object. 1 Evil, 2 Good
• Evil to be feared with fear of abhorrence 173
• Good with fear of Reverence 174
• Reverential fear twofold. 1. Of lowest Saints arguing lesse perfection. 2 Of greater perfection and the highest Saints 175
• ...
  Religious fear,
  • 1 The initial grace 176
  • 2 The lasting Grace 178
  • 3 The lowest grace 179
  • 4 The constant frame of the new heart 180
• All Christians are not of one stature 181
• The safety of such who have only this grace of holy fear 182
• Eight Notes of holy fear 185
• God takes notice of the least grace and lowest measures in

• his servants 186
• Eight Objections answered. 1 I have no Grace.
  Answ.
  • 1 Godly ones ever have low thoughts of themselves 188
  • 2 Not alwaies equal judges in their own case 189
  • 3 It is possible to have true grace, and be ignorant of it ibid.
  • 4 God can espy grace where we espy nothing but sin 190
• Three Gospel graces cover all sin: 1 Repentance: 2 Faith: 3 Sincerity 191
• Object. 2. No grace because so little, answered 194
• Object. 3 No grace because no growth 195
• Object. 4 No grace, because no parts ibid.
• Object. 5 No grace, because no more comfort 196
• Object. 6 No grace, because so many fears 197
• Object. 7 No grace, because so many temptations 197
• Object. 8 No grace, because such corruptions 198
• Three things hard to determine 199
• Eight kind of sins destroy not sanctification, lessen not Iusti∣fication, hinder not salvation, observed out of Rom. 7. 199, 200
• Seven other sins neither destroying Grace, nor depriving of glory 204
• Chap. 21. The fourth main Proposition, That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name 207
• Seven Positions implyed 208
• The Reasons, 1 Partly from somewhat in God; viz. 1. His Power. 2 His Promise to back his Power. 3 His love which confirmeth his Promise. 4 His Glory which enga∣geth all 210
• 2 Partly from somewhat in the godly, 1 Their prayers. 2 Mi∣series. 3 Graces 2••1
• ...

• Quest. When shall this Promise be fulfilled, or what is the time of this Sun rising? 212
• Dispensations of Grace and comfort various, not like the dis∣pensations or operations of nature ibid
• The four notable and great dayes of the Lord all unknown, 213
• Nine special times when this Promise fulfilled 215
• The Godly may meet with sad times 220
• The godly may expect glorious times 221
• Two glorious times to be expected ibid
• The foundation of all sound hope laid in Grace 222
• The great difference, 1 Between the sorrow in the godly and in the wicked ibid.
• •• In their comforts; set out in six particulars 224
• The godly to expect and pray for the accomplishment of this Promise 225
• Chap. 22 Of Christ his healing all the soul Diseases of his people 229
• The many and various soul Diseases of the Godly ibid.
• Five sad but common Diseases of all the Godly 231
• Three extraordinary Diseases of some Godly ones 232
• Three Reasons of the Point 234
• This healing implieth six things 237
• Four Means Christ useth to heal the soul 238
• Quest. Whence is it that many complain they are not heal∣ed? 242
• ...
  Ans.
  • 1. It may be their sin, from a fivefold default. ibid
  • 2 Or is their mistake. A threefold mistake of the godly 244
• Christ is not one benefit but many 246
• No mans case desperate 248
• How are we bound to blesse God for Christ? ibid.
• Five Directions to get spiritual health 249
• ...

• Chap. 23 The gracious heart can read Christ and self in every creature 254
• A threefold good use of the Creature ibid
• A fourth sinful use made of the Creature 256
• The last Doctrine, That all the godly in whom Christ hath begun a good work shall come to an excellent growth in due time 257
• Three especial growths or growing times to the godly 258
• Two growths more easily discernable ibid.
• A third growth not so perceptible 259
• A fourfold growth in the godly ibid.
• 1 In grace; in five particulars 260
• 2 In Comforts 262
• 3 In Experiences 263
• 4 In Acceptableness 264
• Three Reasons of the Point 265
• Thankfulness for Grace bestowed 267
• Five Motives to this thankfulness. ibid.
• ...
  Three sorts reproved:
  • 1. Such as grow not at all 268
  • 2 Such as grow from evil to evil 269
  • 3 Such who grow from good to evil 270
• Enquiry and examination of growth 271
• Nine Notes of growth 273
• Eight Hinderances to spiritual growth 277
• Nine Helps to growth 281
• Six Motives to growth 284
• That sad Objection of many of the godly who complaine of their non proficiency and want of growth. 288
• Seven Considerations laid downe in answer to this Objection 289
• Object. 2. I feel a decay, I have not such life, or lively stirrings of grace as formerly 292
• Four things in answer thereunto. 293
• ...

• Object. 3. My desires are not alike and uniform, but uncon∣stant 294
• Four things in answer to such a case ibid.
• Object. 4 I find more curruption in my heart beyond all i∣magination. 295
• Two things in answer thereunto 296

FINIS.