Davvnings of light wherein the true interest of reformation is opened in generall, and in particular, in this kingdome for the establishment of weaker judgements, and many other things impartially hinted, to a further discovery of truth and light in many of our present controversies : with some maximes of reformation / by John Saltmarsh ...

The increated Interest:

FIrst then for the Interest of Re∣formation, as it relates to God, I mean the supernaturall interest, or the increated interest: and we must know it lies radically in the counsels of God, and subsists in his power and infinity, and takes not degrees and improvements here below, as other interests naturall and politicall do: and therefore it is, that the Interest of Reformation rayes out in some ages gloriously at its very first rise, & then when it seems to have the least in∣gagement or complication below, but seemes rather to flow from new created springs and originals, so as

that scripture holds forth, Things which are seen,* 1.1 are not made of things which do appeare:* 1.2 and though some∣times other contraries may seem to have anticipated all the interest, and taken up the advantages beforehand, yet on a sudden God lets out an ef∣fusion of light, and spirit, and in a moment disinteresses and dispossesses all the former, and this appeares in that, when the people which sate in darknesse saw great light,* 1.3 and to them which sate in the region and shadow of darknesse, light is sprung up: for as the appearance of Christ to judge∣ment, is implied to be momentary, As the lightning that lightneth out of the one part of heaven,* 1.4 shineth unto the other part, so shall also the Son of man be in his day: now the Son of man is thus in his day of Reformation, as well as Condemnation; and as in light there is not that graduall alteration, and propagation, and working for interest in the aire, but a transfusion and illumination in such an intermi∣nate subject or body, because there is not in it any quality contrary, or ob∣structive,

that can put any impedi∣ment to so immateriall a thing as light: So it is in the spirituall trans∣fusions of grace and reformation, when the power and will of God car∣ries it and applies it irresistibly, effi∣caciously to such and such a season or State, or people; for God being as it were more immediate, and in∣distant, and intrinsecal in this work, he will not sometimes admit of any such grosse or inferiour artifice, and preparings, and consociations, which argues an impotencie in the agent and work: but as he is infinite, and the Creator, so he commands the creature to make room, and the crea∣ture in an obedientiall and passive ca∣pacity opens and entertains his di∣spensations, this is then when he would make bare (as it were) his glory, and shew himself to his peo∣ple, and put off the creature, and as it were devest himself of his interests here below, & act more immediately upon the world, and then his light and dispensation is carried on without reluctancy or disputings in the crea∣ture,

there is a melting at his pre∣sence, this divine work is sweetly in∣sinuated in that Scripture,* 1.5 his light∣nings enlightned the world, the earth saw and trembled, the hills melted like waxe at the presence of the Lord: the earth trembles, the earth, or the most grosse and opace impediment••, the hils, or high obstructions flow down, and are powred out, when God powres out himselfe in any strong activity upon them.

The work of Reformation being of this nature in part, and such an im∣mediate efflux of God in Christ, we should rise into higher conceptions and contemplations concerning it, and find out the interest on which it turns, in the most spirituall motions and beginnings.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 11.2••
• * 1.2

  Psal. ••7.••••
• * 1.3

  Mat. 3 ••
• * 1.4

  Luk. 17.24.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 97.4, 5.