THE Truth still gaines by Opposition , it not onely beares up against the violence of Affronts , but comes of with victory and triumph : like your noble mettals , it is fin'd by those flames , which the breath of malice hath rear'd to consume and wast it : what matchlesse Champions in all ages hath even the madnesse of impugners , armed to the patrocinie of the faith , Holy and Cotholike ? among others our Apostle is interessed in this sacred quarrell : In this whole Epistle he purposely combats Carpocrates and Epiphan. in Pana● lib 2. T●m. 2. beates downe in him that prodegie of opinion : Sin we must , and but by doing the will of the divels themselves , we have no other ascent or staire , by which to mount up to glory : In this first Chapter he enters the lists with Ebion , and vindicates both Zanch. in Prolegom . from his envy and cavill , that CHRIST is from eternity GOD , one with His Father in power and everlastingnesse , there were Meteors too , who made a blaze of piety , but were indeed false fires and soone went out in a stinch : they ware the livery of CHRIST , but Service or Attendance , they had none for Him : what the Romanes did condemne in Publicola , who prais'd Brutus in Plutarchus in vita Publ. words , but followed Tarquin in deeds , their workes did ever jarre and brawle with what they spake or taught : these our Apostle unmaskes in my Text , prickes the tumour , which swels them , and what ever dresse they put on , displaies them to be a Spurious broode within the pale , but no true Sonnes of GOD or of His Church : were they so , their lookes would not speake smiles , whilst stormes did surge in their breasts , they would steere as they set their compasse , nor would their faces be toward Canaan , and their hearts at Ashdod : what they seeme , they would be , be holy as their heavenly Father is holy , doe the workes of mercy , as He is mercifull , tugg and wrestle for perfection , as He is perfect , walke in light , as He is light , for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , GOD is Light .

The words are not many , but as Chrysostome that miracle of the Greeke Church spake of the Chrysost. ad pop. Antiocb . Hom. 1. like , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ they are weighty in substance , though not in bulke , as much sparkeling lustre may be in a small jewell , and in a little globe , we may surveigh a world of countries : the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is soone said , that GOD is Light , but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how He is so , to traverse this , will be a taske of more sweate : it must bee mine now , and my way shall be , to shew you what Light is , and withall what GOD is in relation to it : and so at once , how GOD and Light doe agree in the same proprieties : in the handling whereof I shall be animated ( I hope ) with your most Christian patience and attention .

The first quality in which GOD and Light doe agree , is the imperceptibility of both . 1.

The property of Light is such , as hath staggerd strangely and tir'd the Naturalists in the search and definition of it : insomuch that some Philosophers Cap. 53. sacr. Phi. ( saith Vellesius ) have thought it the bodily and materiall part of the God-head : GOD doth at once aske of Iob and ston'd him : Where is the Job 38. 19. way where light dwelleth , and as for darknesse where is the place thereof , that thou shouldst take it to the bounds , and that thou shouldst know the paths to the house of it .

GOD is in this respect Light , His Incomprehensiblenesse is above the pitch of all determinate capacities : What is immense how can the fleete dimensions of the minde containe it ? GOD He is so .

First , for time , all successions of Ages are but Immensitas divinae magnitudinis tuae ista est , ut intelligamus te intra omnia sed non inclusum , extra omnia sed non exclusum . Aug. Med cap. 30. an instant to Him , time it selfe but a drop of His Eternity .

Secondly , for place , to Him the vast circumference of Heaven and Earth is but a point : He is no where excluded , included no where , every where and yet without expansion .

We may admire and adore this infinitude , our thoughts are of too narrow a size and bore to comprehend it : and indeed GOD is for man to stand amaz'd and wonder at : the clog'd and drossie soule can never sound Him , who is the invisible fountaine of Spirits : nor is it within the reach of Art to define quidditativè what He is : de Deo scire Aquinas p. 1. qu. 1. art. 7. non possumus quidest : what the divine Essence is the full knowledge thereof descends not to any finite apprehension : Let others fathom this bottomelesse Abysse , and scorch their wings whilst they venture them about this flame ; I shall not desire to see what the Cherubims saw not , who covered Esa. 6. 11. their faces with their wings , as not able to behold this glory : May I bee shewen the least dawning or glimpse of it , it is as much as I am capable of , more than I can looke on without extasie and ravishment .

GOD is Light , but such that non nisi purissimis Soliloq . cap. 34. oculis videri potest , in Aug. wee must have pure eyes , cleare above the Eagles to gaze on this Sun : GOD dwels in Light in the Apostle , but such as 1 Tim. 6. 16. no man can approach unto : brightnesse is before my GOD in the Psalmist , bright enough ( would Psal. 18. 12. I ourface that lustre ) to dazle mine eyes , if not blind them : darke waters too , and thicke cloudes of the skie are His pavilion round about Him , ver. 11. darke and thicke enough to keepe of my dimme sight that it pierce not through them : I am doubly tutor'd not to pry too farre into this mistery , both by the gloominesse that is about GOD and the Light that is in Him .

Empedocles did well define GOD , who said , GOD is a Sphere , whose center is every where , Flut. Apoth . and circumference no where : nor blame I Simom ▪ des , who askt by King Hieron ( as Tullie tells it me ) De natura deorum liber . 1. what GOD is , if after much pause and travell , he gave his reason non plust and at a bay , with a quanto diutius considero , tanto mihi res videtur obscarior , the more I sift here , the more I am giddied , 't is a riddle I cannot unfold , a knot , I am not able to untie : no marveile , for Iob peremptorily ▪ Touching the Almighty , we cannot finde Him out : pardon Job 27. 23. the Schoolemen their dalliance with words , they bias aright for the maine : three things , they say , are without the verge of a definition : One the Philosophers materia prima the first wombe of all things , this they define not , ob summam informitatem , Petr. Galat. de arcanis cathol verit . lib. 2. cap 1. for it is informity and rudenesse ; the second is sinne , the first spoile of all things , this they define not ob summam deformitatem , for it is mishapen deformitie : the third is GOD , the first well-spring of life in all things ; Him they define not , ob summam formositatem , because of that beauty , the least beame of which puts out all inferior and borrowed lights .

Something we may and ought to know of GOD , Heaven and life depend upon it , as death and hell on a muffled ignorance : This is eternall life to know 1 Joh. 4. 13. thee the onely true GOD , and whom thou hast sent JESVS CHRIST : but , O GOD , quis cognovit te , nisi tu te , as Saint Augustine sweetely : we may reade over all the volumes of thy workes , and turne over every leafe of thy Word , we may search after thee , as with Cressent light , in every angle of Heaven and Earth , after all our queries of thy Majesty , 't is well if we know this , that Sola trinitas tua , soli tibi integrè nota est . Aug. Soliloq . cap. 31.

Something we learne of GOD in the Schoole of nature ; every creature hath a trumpet in his mouth to proclaime Him ; In these we see Him , as in a glasse , saith Saint Paul ; we reade Him too 1 Cor. 13. 12. as in a booke , not a page whereof is unwritten on , Basil. Hom. 11. Hexam . not a line but dictates us a divinity Lecture ; wee heare Him as in a harpe , not a string of it can be toucht in so sweete an harmony , without an infinite GOD : and saith Saint Athanasius , we view Athan. Orat. contr. Idola . Him as in a picture : even the beasts in Iob , weare His stampe and image , Aske the beasts and they shall tell thee , that the hand of the LORD hath Job 12. 7. wrought them : Anaxogoras being asked wherefore man was made , made answer to behold the Heavens , and did he , what miracle and power might he behold in them ? not a Starre spangles there , but is a Preacher and Herauld to the Majesty of its Maker : When I consider the Heavens ( saith David ) the workes of thy fingers , the Moone and Psal. 8. 4. Stars , that thou hast ordained , What is man ? Hee so speakes of their excellency , as if no streames or rivers of Eloquence could expresse them : pictures , some say are the books of Ideots , which leade the grosse conceit to GOD , not without delight and pleasure ; such an image is the world , not an ignorance so dull , but by the pedagogie of it may be brought to know GOD , so much of him , as to strip Rom. 1. 20. even Heathens of excuse .

Something we may know of GOD , from the standing Oracle of His-Word , enough to perfect 2 Tim. 3. 16. us to every good worke : this is Iacobs well in Orig : in Mat. contra celsum . Origen , whence all draw the waters of life , not onely Iacob and his Sonnes , the high-built apprehensions , but also the cattell and sheepe the low-rooft capacities : 't is a river of cleare waters in Gregory , fluvius est , in quo agnus peditat , & Elephas Greg. Epist. ad Leand. natat , where be shallowes for Lambes , and depths for Elephants : what the large Manuscript of the universe could not , the Tomes of holy writ , have discovered of the Deity : the Co-eternity of the Sonne of GOD with the Father , the procession of the HOLY GHOST from both , the unity of the three in one uncreated Essence , who ever saw through the darke spectacles of nature ? all essentiall truths , so farre as salvation is linkt to the knowledge of them , we see clearely by the light of the Scriptures , which ( as saith David ) are a light Psal. 119. 105. 1 Pet. 1. 19. to our feet , and a light shining in a darke place , Clem. Alexan. Protr . p. 25. saith Peter : they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , candles that never goe out in Clemens now , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an universall light to all anon .

This Light shewes to every man , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our holy faith , that the misteries of it are divine and true , but fully to no man the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the reason or manner , how they be so : I know with Augustine that GOD is unitas divinitatis , personarum pluralitate Meditat. cap. 30. multiplex , that there is a glorious Trinity in Unity , in which the Father is to be adored as being altogether of Himselfe , the Sonne to be glorified Hooker lib. 5. Sect. 5. Eccles polit. as that Consubstantiall Word , and the HOLY GHOST ever to be blessed and magnified , as that Coessentiall Spirit eternally proceeding from both : I know not , 't is a depth I dare not dive it , how there is one Essence of three persons , or three Lumb Sent. 1. d 34. a. 5. persons of one Essence , and yet not one GOD of three persons , or three persons of one GOD ; that GOD hath a Sonne equall with Him out of the wombe of everlastingnesse , GOD essentially as He , I believe this : but how He who made the world was borne , how a Sonne and yet one eternall with the Father , or not after Him in time , here I say with Ambrose in Lombard , mens deficit , Sentent . lib. 1. d. 9. a. 8. vox silet , non mea tantum , sed & Angelorum : how can I but be dumbe , where the tongues of Angels stutter ? how not entranc'd , when the glorious Cherubims clap their wings ? for who shall declare His generation ? that the HOLY GHOST Esa. 53. 8. is not the Fathers alone , nor the Sonnes alone , but proceeds equally from both , I subscribe here , Sentent . lib 1. dist. 10. a. 1. & d. 12. a. 3. how this Spirit of Truth comes from the Father , and is of one substance with Him , yet may not be said to be borne , nor cal'd the Sonne of GOD , or how the Son of GOD comes from the Father , yet may not be said to proceed , nor be cal'd the HOLY GHOST , Augustine here makes a proud knowledge strike saile to a devout ignorance : distinguish betwixt that generation there , and this procession here , nescio , non valeo , non sufficio , I S Aug. in Lumb ubi Supr. know not , J cannot , it is not within the kenn of my skill : And what Vaticans have we read , what Antiquity have we traded with , or had commerce with ? what Histories ? what fasts have pin'd us , what prayers have we breath'd out , that we should stand and not shake when the grand pillars of the Church shrink , or unlock those misteries the Seraphins have no key for ? canst thouby searching finde out GOD , or know the Almighty unto Job 11. 7. perfection ? let it be the pride of others to tread this maze , I shall as soone measure Heaven with my span , or weigh the smoake , or catch the winde in a seive , or shadow the Sun with my palme : as soone I will plow the waters , and sow my hopes there ; for as thy judgements , O LORD , so thy Psal. 36. ver. 6. nature is a great depth .

Most men cracke of their knowledge of GOD , and whereas Saint Paul rapt up into Heaven saw things he could not speake , these will speake things they never saw : 't is indeed the Epidemicall disease of the Age , we had rather be Rabbies than Saints , rather eate of the tree of knowledge , than the tree of life ; nor care many to loose GOD in the practike exercise of piety , whilest they seeke Him in the speculative niceties of the Schooles : GOD lookes for , I dare say , more conscience than most men have , askes lesse science than most men brag of : knowledge , 't is true , is the soules eye , the mistresse to guide the life to vertue , a Mercury to point the roade to goodnesse : when it doth so , I prize it above Rubies , and say , the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver , and the gaine-thereof than fine gold : but Prov. 3. 14. that which fires the braine , warmes not the heart , which disjoin'd from grace doth floate in some frothy notions , and seeke the applause onely of a dexterous wit and voluble tongue ; who would fraught his ship with such drossie oare , or stay for that gayle , which cannot waft him to Heaven ? in that day , when all knowledge shall vanish away , 1 Cor. 13. 8. where will be the scribe , where the disputer , where the wise ? a dramme of devotion will then outweigh a pound of discourse , one worke of mercy turne the scale to the whole library of Aristotle : Some talke over the series and descents of all times , as if they had beene made with the first Adam , and with such perfum'd breaths , in such richnesse of language , as if myrh and pearles dropt from their lips , but at that Assize , the laurell and crowne will be charities : Come yee blessed , I was naked and yee clothed me , I was hungry and yee fed me , I Mat. 25. 34. was sicke and yee visited me .

What ever tympany of knowledge swels others ; grant me , O LORD , to know thee savingly ; So inspire us all , as to obey thee in thy Word , not curiously prie into thy nature ; what ever Art wee would be graduats in , thou stand'st in the forefront of the Schoole , and bidst us learne thee first , ere we turne over a new leafe ? but how learne thee ? learne to awe thee for thy power , to trust thee for thy truth , to dread thee for thy justice , to depend on thee for thy providence , love thee for thy mercies , feare thee for thy love , reverence thee for thy goodnesse , and for thy tender compassions , take the cup of salvation , and sing praise unto thee : we beg not to see thy face , nor view thee as thou art , Moses , that standard of examples could not ; thy back-parts are enough , the least twilight or ray of thee enough to seale up our happines unto us and enhaunce it : thy Name is so appareld with Majesty , such mistery is shrin'd in it , that it Tertull lib. de Trinit init . pag. 197. is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with some , ineffable , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with others , indicible , with many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ineloquible , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all , obscure and unknowne what it is : what brightnesse than is in thy selfe , O GOD , what mists too about thee ? I say no more , thou art Light , and because so great a Light , not to be seene of any : and thus much of the first propertie , betwixt GOD and Light , the imperceptibility of them both .

The second property betwixt GOD and Light 2. is the delight somenesse and comfort of either .

Light is a most lovely and amiable qualitie , haud scio an rerum coelestium ulla sit excellentior luce , So Scaliger : Exercit. 71. it beautifies Heaven it selfe , the Sun would be but a blind heape , but for the light of the Sun : GOD from this treasury would enrich the whole Gen. 1. 14. world , and therefore made it the store-house of Light in the Creation : the day , which is the child of Light , Plato will have it so cal'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to long after , let the Preacher interpret the Etymon ; Eccles. 11. 7. Light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion . Chrys. Orat. 4. to behold the Sun , the worth of this benefit they can truly prize who live in disconsolate dungeons , fast bound in fetters and irons : what were the world without it ? how confus'd ? how formelesse ? what more comfort in it , than in the grave ? what joy can I have , asks blind Tobit , when I sit in darknesse and do not see the Light of Heaven .

GOD is in this respect Light , the Light and serenity of His countenance , is the onely happinesse of man ; in His favour is life , Psal. 30. 5. His living kindnesse is better than life , Psal. 63. 3. What is a bundle of Myrrhe betweene the breasts , what a Cant. 1. 12 , 13. cluster of Cypres in the vineyards of Engedi , such is GOD to atrue Christian heart , His love laid close unto it , and His grace spread abroad there , like aromatike odours in a house , or in the boosome , with what unimaginable refreshings is it cheer'd ? how sweetned with a divine fragrancy ? no powders of the Merchant smell so , the world yeelds not a breath , but 't is stinch unto it , how pleasant soever insent to a carnall sense : these are those perfumes and unguents the Spouse speakes of ; because of the savour of thy good ointments , Thy name is an ointment powred out , therefore the Virgins Cant. 1. 2. love thee : the Hebrewes observe , that those foure letters which make up the name JEHOVAH , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that mighty Name of GOD , are liter aequiescentes , letters of rest : and this inference Zanch ▪ de natura Dei , lib. 1. cap. 13. Fagius extracts thence , In GOD alone is the rest , repose , tranquillity of all creatures : He is that haven of rest , where till we arrive in our spirits , we are mazd in endlesse wandrings , tortur'd on the racke of selfe vexation , our desires know no shoares or bottome : the glorious Trinity alone , who made it , fils the heart with gladnesse , every Acts 14. 17. roo●●●ond angle of it , leaves not a chinke for distractions to creepe in ; for how can a sparkle of them fall on that breast , where to quench it is a fountaine of living waters , and fullnesse of joy flowing thence : whilst we are in our corruptible rags of earth , our soule will bee irregular and erratike , like the planets in their Epicicles , there will be windes to raise stormes in it , like Noahs Dove , shee findes not amidst the swelling tides of this world whereon to stay her feete : when dismantled of the clogging flesh , she shall be satisfied with the fatnesse of GODS House , and fild with the rivers of His pleasures , when united unto GOD , who is the Ocean of all true happinesse , it shall lie downe in the lap of eternity , it will than bee pleas'd and quiet , there will be no storme or tempest in it , it will rest in GODS everlasting rest : O GOD what are the heavens without Light , what are our bodies without a soule , what are our soules without thee ?

Thou , O GOD , art our rod and staffe of comfort , the joy and blisse of our soules , how should they long afterthee , and the fruition of that happinesse thou hast richly stor'd up for those who seek thee and it : but alasse we seeke thee not , nor care to finde thee , but in our gardens of pleasure , or wardrops of vanity , or ware houses of profit , or tables of surfet , or cellers of drunkennesse , or offices of bribery , or parlours of wantonnesse ; I had almost said , but in the stewes of impurities , the brothels of lewdnesse , or Acheldama the field of blood , we are no company for GOD : Some say to the wedge of gold thou art our confidence , and doe base homage to that , which should bee the worst drudge ; Some roule on the flouds of pleasure , nor did Cleopatra vie a more costly health to her Marke Antony , than what they let downe their throats , into the Charibdis and Scylla of our Laert. de vita Phil lib. 6. life , the belly , as Diogenes stil'd it ▪ Some like brutes looke downeward , nor know any other joy , than what is in the shadow and froth of things transitory , these are the men of this world , whose portion Psal. 17 14. is in this life onely , O what fooles are wee to cast away our soules upon such gaudes and trifles ! to loose an eternall kingdome for toies & vanities , to chaffer Heaven for Earth , as sottish Indians truck away Oare for glasse : heape up all the riches of the world in one pile , till they reach the starres ▪ charme up all the delights of the world into one circle , and enjoy them freely ; ther 's a desire in man which lookes over them as things fleeting and transient , as barke and shell onely , without pith or substance of true solace , such as can neither satiate , or stay .

First , they have nothing solid in them , they are Non sunt solidae , non fideles , etiamsi non nocent , sugiunt . Senec. Epist. 27. ad Lucil. meates of a washy and fluid nature , which or slip through the stomacke without concoction , or if they digest , 't is into raw and noysome crudities : who carouse deepest of pleasures , shall vomit them up againe , or if they stay , they will be the gall of Aspes within : thoughts that streame toward wealth , cataracks and rivers are but draughts enough for them : quod naturae satis est , homini Seneca Epist. 119. ad Lucii . non est : the grave Moralist speakes it of Alexander , who had swallowed up Darius and the Indies , and yet in those floods did thirst , and in that surfet was hungry : the land with her Mineralls of gold , the Sea with her ship-wrackt treasure , nature in her rich store-house , had not wherewith to quench the flame of his desire ; inventus est qui concupisceret ali quid post omnia , that huge vastnesse of appetite is now found , which craves somewhat after all things : I speake this among those , to whom wealth hath flowen in that abundance , as not to satisfie alone , but amaze , who send ships of Tarshish to the West for gold , and sutch spices from the East in the Navy of Hiram : the blessing of Heaven hath showred opulency into your laps , be content and thankefull , else you know whose it is , He that loveth silver , shall not bee satisfied with Eccles. 5. 10. silver , nor he that loveth abundance with increase .

Secondly , there is nothing sure in them ; you that lade your selves with thicke clay , you that swimme in a sea of voluptuousnesse , let me aske with the Prophet , How long ? the bowles , pleasure Hab. 2. 16. quafs in , may please the palat for a round or two , but the lees are at hand , even her best cordials Plus Aloes , quam mellis habet . Iuven. Satyr. 6. have some tart ingredients in them , and what-ever honey they are in the mouth , they are bitternesse in the belly : Salomon once feasted his eares with musick , and his tast with wine , and his eyes with whatever they desired ; here 's all Comedie to the last Sceane , which is shut up with I said of laughter it Eccles. 2. 2. is mad , and of mirth what doth it : the pompe of riches is brickle , like your globes of Christall , the least touch crackes them : the Wise man one while curtailes them onely of Eternity , Riches are Pro. 27. 24. not for ever , else-where he shootes home to their fleetingnesse , Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that Pro. 23. 5. which is not ? Sure riches make themselves wings , they flie as an Eagle toward Heaven : there is a gadding veine in money , which makes it ever and anon to shift masters , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ Pythag. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in Pythagoras , 't is a trick it hath , now to fawne , and anon to be coy , and who would weary himselfe to hunt the winde ?

The Cosmopolite without my envy shall graspe this cloude , nor will I fret at the Epicure & his earthly paradise : Say thou , O LORD , unto my soule , I am thy portion in the land of the living , it is enough to blesse and raise me above those icy hils of joy , whence our earth-wormes , Senec Epist. 119. ad Lucil. Idem de brevit . vitae cap. 16. whilest they climbe them , not slip onely but tumble : Absolute content dwels not here below ; what we here traffique for , is but Alchymie and dawbing : were we Monarchs of the world , and retinu'd with all the Equipage of greatnesse , all were but bracteata faelicitas , copper leav'd with gold , a bugel at best or glassy carkanet , which if we finger , we breake it : An apple of Sodome , Iosephus de bello Iudaico , lib. 5. cap. 5. which wee may eye not tast , unlesse our bread should be Ashes , for such a touch makes them : A false light , such as betraies our Sea-men to rockes and shelves , and as it leades , shipwracks them : A fresh brooke of water , which may dance and sport a while in her christall channell , but fals into a mare mortuum , a sea of gall and wormewood : for knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse 2 Sam. 2. 26. at the latter end : GOD is that Ocean , into which all the rivers of a full delight do run : He the fruit of that Eden , whose alone smell is all pleasure , whose tast is life : He that Spring and Source of true felicity , which all soules pant after , and of which who drinkes shall never thirst : He that cleare Sun , where all the light of grace and glory is center'd , and which no Eclipse can darken : O give us of the fruits of that Orchard , O leade us to those waters of comfort , O be thou our starre to the Heaven of happinesse : Thou , O LORD , who madst the Light without a Sun , and than madest the Sun to be the chariot of that Light ! O bee thou our Sun , that all our Light may bee gathered unto thee , be thy presence our Light , that we may shine like the Sun in beauty ; whilst thou art our Light , we can never want beauty , whilst thou art our Sun , we can never want Light : for thou art Light . And thus much of the second property betwixt GOD and Light , the delightsomenesse and comfort of them both .

The third property in which GOD and Light agree is their unblemisht purity and fairenesse .

Light is a quality most cleare , most pure , most unblemisht , that especially , whose emanation being from a body most simple and free from mixture , the Philosophers entitle celestiall : hence perhaps it is , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affies somewhat with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which Macrobius in the first of his Saturnals , taketh for the Sun , the Prince of the Planets of Heaven , the fountaine and alone mine of Light .

GOD is in this respect Light : that perfection of purity which shines in Him , no clouds of error , no mists of impieties can obscure or shadow : a lustre of holinesse shewes it selfe in the glorious Dietie , such whereto the fairest beauty of Angels is a ball of darknesse : So those glorious Hierarchies themselves in their mutuall cry ; Holy , Holy , Esa. 6. 1. Holy , is the LORD of Hoasts : the holinesse of Saints , though a faire body of brightnesse , is but a beame of this , and influenced from it : GOD onely is by nature pure , in the abstract purity , and His is the praise and glory of it in the sweet singer of Israel ; Exalt the LORD our GOD , and worship Psal. 99. 9. at His holy hill , for the LORD our GOD is holy : and therefore as He is Light here in my Text , so in Saint Iames He is the Father of Lights , James 1. 17. the rayes of which did He not dispence unto us wee were in darknesse , more palpable than those groping Aegyptians , more hellish than hell it selfe : what ever mid-night is below with man , there is all noone-day with GOD above , what ever darknesse is under His feet , there is all brightnesse before His face , and such as dampes all other : it is no Hyperbole in Iob , Behold the Moone and it shineth Job . 25. 6. not , yea the Starres are not pure in His sight : there is beauty in the Starres , more in the Sun , from whose Magazen of Light they borrow theirs : O how incomprehensibly glorious is that Light which is in thee O LORD ! who couldst create Lights to give such glory to thy work-manship ! these even the brute creatures may behold , those not the very Angels .

GOD is Holy , Three in one , all three but one GOD , and all holy in that Antheme of the foure beasts : Holy , Holy , Holy LORD GOD Almighty , Revel. 4. 8. which was , and is , and is to come : whom these beasts embleme , whether the foure Evangelists , as Haymo , Ribera , and others , or foure Angels who In Locum . for their more noble emploiments are set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in regard of the rest , is a question may giddy , not better me . Saint Augustines glosse hath more of pith and juice in it : Vnum JEHOVAM celebrant , Aug de fide ad Pet cap. 1. repetendo unum & idem ( Sanctus ) trinum agnoscunt , ter repetendo , quod uni tribuerunt : they acknowledge one GOD , whom they esteeme onely holy , and a Trinity they acknowledge in that blessed Unity of the God-head , whilst they repeate thrice Holy , Holy , Holy : GOD the Father is Holy : with this inscription the Bethshemites could blazon Him : Who is able to stand before this Holy LORD GOD ? 1 Sam. 6. 20. GOD the Sonne is Holy , Gabriell as both His Priest and Herauld , at once christens Him and proclaimes it ; that Holy thing which shall be borne Luke 1. 35. of thee , shall be called the Sonne of GOD : So is the HOLY GHOST , witnesse that royall title in Daniels vision , in which the Ancients interest Him , as by whom is the unction of holinesse the most Dan. 9. 24. Holy : Some things are holy by Creation as Angels ; blesse the LORD yee His holy Angels , that Psal. 103. 20. excell in strength : Some things by communication , as the Elect , who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Saint 1 Cor. 1. 2. Paul phraseth it , called to be Saints : Some things by dedication , as His Temple , O worship the LORD in the beauty of Holinesse : Somethings are Psal. 84. 7. holy for use , as the creatures , Moses branded with uncleannesse some of them , but Adam caus'd it , by his sinne filth was powred on all : CHRIST hath wip't out this legall impurity , and lodg'd under one roofe , whole hoofes and cloven : if the Jewes were than a holy people , the Gentiles are Deut. 14. 2. now a holy Nation : it is true of men , beasts , things , all creatures , through the foure corners of the earth , are cleane and holy , and this was taught 1 Pet. 2. 9. us by Saint Peters great sheete , let downe by foure corners from Heaven , but made good by CHRIST , who pulling downe that Screene or wall of partition betweene them , hath taught us not to call any thing uncleane which GOD hath cleansed : when Iulian poysoned the wells , the shambles , the fields , with his heathenish lustrations , the Christians ( saies my Antiquary ) dranke Theod. Hist. Eccles. lib. 3 freely of them , and by vertue of Saint Pauls Quicquid in macello : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nothing uncleane is S. Peters rule , at least with Saint Pauls paraphrase , munda mundis , if my selfe be cleane , I reade this posie on what ever I use , Holy : if otherwise , my cloathes ( saith Iob ) shall make me filthy . Job 9. 31.

All things are in themselves in some degree Holy , GOD alone is holinesse it selfe : So those Heavenly Musitians chant it : Who shall not feare Revel. 15. 4. thee , O LORD , and glorifie thy Name , for thou onely art Holy : who would not set this Sampler before him , to worke by , who would not write after so faire a coppy ? thus to doe we are prest by a Summons from above ; be yee Holy , for I am Holy : Levit. 11. 44. I say not , Absoluta aequalitate , but similitudine : GODS perfection is above the Heavens , we cannot Job 11. 7. reach it , imitate it we must , though the best fall short of the patterne , 't is here as in the starres ; those of lesser magnitude have light in them , the greatest shine brighter , yet these are dimme to the Sun : the holinesse of Saints is beneath that of Angels , the holinesse of Angels not at the same height with that of CHRISTS glorified humanity , and this infinitely below the loftiest pitch of holinesse , which is GOD : Strive we must to be holy as GOD is , not that we can equall our example , but to arrive at what perfection we may , and wee are capable of : Strive we doe , some for health , more for riches , and not a few here for gay cloathes : but holinesse , the salve of sinnes , the wealth of Saints , the robe of Angels , who strives for this salve , more soveraigne than all the ointments of the Apothecary , this wealth more pretious than the rocks of most pure Diamond , this robe more glorious , than all the wardrope of Salomon : the Hypocrite much cackles of purity , when all is shell and rottennesse ; one who worships GOD in publique , and at home cares not for him , who praies often , and his heart knowes not , whether his lips goe , who will have all good about him , and be himselfe the worst thing he hath : the meere Moralist breakes gloriously , and at his first rise out-shines the morning light , but a storme cloudes him at noone , or like Hezekias Sun , he goes backe many Theod. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 2 , 3. degrees in the dial , or like Iulian , full of hope and piety in his first yeares , a Nero in his end , all massacre and villany ; or as the foure Ages in the Poet , the first gold , as the head of that image in Hesiod . opera & dies . lib. 1. Daniel , the last , as the feete , clay or worse , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : the true Saint , is Antipode and treads crosse to them both , he is for the life , not paint of holinesse , nor till the game is his , gives he ore the chase , he mistakes not the goale , nor till he wins it , lags of , with Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he doth presse Phil. 3. 14. hard towards the marke , and saies , cloath me with righteousnesse , O LORD , I prize it above cloathings of wrought gold , and those garments that smell of myrrhe and richest powders of the Merchant : one mite of grace is worth a talent of bravery , the sackcloth of a Saint more glorious than the purples of a glutton : raiments of needle-worke and pretious imagery are for Kings Palaces on earth , without the white stoles of godlinesse wee shall never looke into those courts , where dwells the King of glory : Blessed are the pure in Math. 5. 8. heart , for they shall see GOD ; nor those , who are pure in their owne eyes , who about the froth of their owne braines , dare rent the peace of the Church , and warre for the aerie projections of their giddied heads , as if Heaven and Earth were little enough to be mingled in the quarrell ; the holinesse , without which we shall not see GOD , is that of the heart , not the lip ; write , O LORD , upon these flintie hearts of ours , holinesse unto thy selfe , give us but a drop from thy Ocean , for thou art all holy , one glimpse from thy Sun , for thou art all Light .