[ CVIII] The manifestation of God in severall respects.
THe Sun doth manifest it self,* 1.1 first, by day-light, and that is common to all which dwell in the same Horison, unto which the Sun is risen; some have more than day-light, they have also the Sun-shining light, which shining light of the Sun is not in all places, where day-light of it is. Finally, the Sun is manifest in the Heavens in his full strength, for the body is present there, which none can endure but the Stars, which become glorious bodies, by that speciall pr••sence of the Sun amongst them. In like manner God, in whom all things live, and move, and have their being, doth manifest himself unto some, by the works of his gene∣rall providence,* 1.2 of which St. Paul speaks, God le••t not himself without witnesse, &c. This manifestation of God is like the day-light, it is common to all, it is an uni∣versall grace:* 1.3 The eyes of all things look up unto thee, &c. There is a second manife∣station, and that is more particular, but to some onely; it is like the Sunshine, it is that manifestation which God vouchsafeth to his Church, of which Esay speaketh, Arise,* 1.4 shine, for thy light is come, &c. for, in comparison of the Church, the rest of the World sitteth in darknesse, and in the shadow of death. The third and last ma∣nifestation, is that which God maketh of himself in Heaven, to the Angels and Saints, the clearest and fullest whereof a creature is capable; and those which partake this presence of God, become thereby glorious Saints, more glorious than the Stars, which receive their resplendent lustre from the aspect which they have to the Sun's body; so that it seemes, there are those who are in better case than we are,* 1.5 and there are those who are in worse; and therefore we must thank God for our present advancement, and remember, that we make forward unto that near∣nesse, unto which God is reserved for us in the Heavens.