Christ the Sun of Righteousness

    CHRIST THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

    "But unto you that fear my name shall the[1] Sun of Righteousness arise, with healing in his wings," &c., Mal 4:2.

    [1] Sol XXXX quod solus appareat, hliov.

    "The Lord God is a Sun, and a Shield" Ps 84:11. Which, as Mr. Ainsworth noteth, may refer to Christ, Mal 4:2.

    OBSERVE. Jesus Christ is, and may fitly be compared unto the Sun, to the Sun in the firmanent, the great light of heaven.

    METAPHOR

    I. THERE is but one Sun to give light to the universe, and from its singularity it may take its name, Sol quia solus. There are many stars, but one Sun.

    PARALLEL

    I. THERE is but one Sun of Righteousness: God has many adopted sons, but he hath but one begotten Son: "There is but one Mediator betwixt God and man, the man Christ Jesus," 1Ti 2:5, but one Saviour or Redeemer for mankind, wherever they live throughout the whole universe.

    METAPHOR

    II. The Sun is not only light, but a fountain of light, the eye and soul of the world.

    PARALLEL

    II. Jesus Christ is Light in himself, respecting his Deity, the fountain and perfection of light and glory. The sea is not so full of water, nor the Sun of natural light, as Christ is full of grace and divine light, Joh 1:14.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Sun is a pure, bright, and spotless creature, the beauty and ornament of heaven. His brightness is such, that a man cannot look upon it, but it dazzles and blinds his eyes; unless looking downwards, and beholding it in water, which, though thick and gross, yet is a proper medium. The Sun, though he looks, as it were, with an open face upon the filth and nauseous things on earth, yet contracts from thence no filthiness or pollution.

    PARALLEL

    III. Christ is clearer than the Sun, therefore much fairer than the children of men, Ps 45:2; and this must needs be so, "He is the brightness of the Father's glory," Heb 1:3. O there is such beauty, purity, and glory in him, that in his eternal being and Godhead we cannot behold him; but if we look upon him in his human nature, where his glory is veiled, he has been seen in the flesh; he was visible, yet so that in him was no spot, no guile was found in his mouth, 1Pe 2:22. "He is altogether lovely, the chiefest among ten thousand," Song 5:10; Heb 4:13, Before whose eyes all things are naked, all the abominable thoughts, filthy ways and works of men; yet he contracts no stain of sin, nor did he when he conversed with men in the days of his flesh upon earth.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The Sun hath his orb, his tent, or as the scripture speaks, his tabernacle, Ps 19:4.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Christ hath his tabernacle in the heavens, at the Father's right-hand, there to plead and make intercession for us, Heb 7:25.

    METAPHOR

    V. The Sun is a communicative creature, placed in the heaven to enlighten the world; he is always sending forth his beams of light.

    PARALLEL

    V. Jesus Christ communicates of his influences and spiritual light. There is never a day, but Christ is ministering and giving forth light and goodness to the world, especially to his saints: "Of his fulness we all receive, and grace for grace, Joh 1:16.

    METAPHOR

    VI. The Sun is at the Lord's commandment, in his rising and setting, standing still, or going back; he doth all by God's special order and appointment.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Jesus Christ rose and came forth out of the bosom of the Father at God's command. He spake not but as he received commission from the Father; he laid down his life, and took it up again, and all by the commandment of the Father, Joh 10:10.

    METAPHOR

    VII. The Sun sends forth his light universally to all the world; it shines upon the just and upon the unjust; it is not confined to one nation or people, or to this or that man, but it is free to all.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Jesus Christ is an universal light, good to all: "I am, saith he, the light of the world," Joh 8:12. He enlightens every one that comes into the world, either naturally, morally, or spiritually; he holds forth light and grace to all. What nation is the Gospel confined to? "Go unto all nations, preach the Gospel to every creature," Mr 16:15.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. The Sun is the superintendent over the world, the chief governor, as it were, and head of influences, called the queen of heaven, Jer 7:18.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Jesus Christ is the great and only Potentate, all rule and government is committed into his hands; it is he who maketh day and night in souls and nations. God hath made all things subject under his feet, Mt 28:18; Heb 1:2; Joh 17:2; Eph 1:22.

    METAPHOR

    IX. The Sun is of a marvellous magnitude, called a "great light," Ge 1:16; and is affirmed by some to be one hundred sixty and six times bigger than the earth.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Jesus Christ is infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness; his being and greatness are immeasurable, respecting his Deity; a glorious and immense Being; the fulness of him that filleth all things; there are no bounds nor limits to his greatness.

    METAPHOR

    X. The Sun communicates his light to the celestial bodies, viz., to the firmament, moon, and stars, who have no other light but what they derive from it.

    PARALLEL

    X. Jesus Christ communicates of his fulness to the angels. He is the Head of principalities and powers, &c., and to the saints, prophets, and apostles, who are called lights, Col 2:10; Eph 1:21. "Ye are the light of the world," Mt 5:14. John Baptist is called "a bright and shining light," Joh 5:35. Yet are saints but dark bodies of themselves, they have no light but what they receive from Christ.

    METAPHOR

    XI. Were it not for the Sun, what a dark world would this be! If God should say to the Sun, shine no more; or should deprive the earth of the light thereof, who would desire to live one moment, longer here?

    PARALLEL

    XI. What a dark and dolesome dungeon, what a Babel of confusion, what a worse than Egyptian slavery would this lower creation be, if God should deprive us of the light of Christ communicated in the Gospel by his word and Holy Spirit.

    METAPHOR

    XII. The Sun is a wonderful and amazing creature, all gaze on it with admiration. The Persians and others ignorantly adore it as a God. Some insensible creatures, as the marygold and tulip, open their leaves at its approach, to receive his reviving influence, and shut up at its departure, as if mourning for its absence. Others bow and hang down their heads, and wrap up themselves, when he withdraws his beams, in a seeming sympathy, that shows an unwillingness in them to be seen by any eye but his.

    PARALLEL

    XII. Christ is wonderful; angels and saints for love admire him: the world and devils with fear tremble at his name, Isa 9:6; 1Ti 3:6. He has the admiration of angels and saints, and consternation of devils and wicked men. The saints adore and worship him, as it is their duty, because he is God; and were there ten thousand Suns, the saints would love and admire Christ ten thousand times more than them all. He doth so attract and ravish their hearts, by the beaming forth of the rays of his love on them, that they open when he visits them, and shuts when he withdraws, drooping and languishing in his absence, and will not be kissed by any lips, nor embraced by any arms but his.

    METAPHOR

    XIII. The Sun in its motions and operations is very strong, and giant-like; he goes forth like a strong man in his might; who can stay the Sun in his course?

    PARALLEL

    XIII. The motions and operations of Christ are strong and powerful, as when he moves to convert souls, to help and deliver his people, or in revenging himself upon his and their enemies, Eph 1:20,

    METAPHOR

    XIV. The Sun in his motion is very swift; he makes haste, as one who runs a long race, even the whole circuit of heaven.

    PARALLEL

    XIV. Christ's motions are swift and speedy. "He flies on the wings of the wind, and skips like a young roe," Ps 18:10; Song 2:8-9, especially when he comes to help and relieve his people.

    METAPHOR

    XV. His motions are constant, he is ever in motion, he always keeps the same pace; if he ever stood still, it was not to ease himself, it was not for his own, but his Creator's pleasure.

    PARALLEL

    XV. Christ's motions are constant, he is never out of action: "He ever lives to make intercession," Heb 7:25. He is always moving and working for his creature's good, though in his providences, because his "footsteps are in the dark," Ps 77:19; we are not able to discern him, stir nor move one foot, his motion (like the Sun's) being certain, though undiscernible.

    METAPHOR

    XVI. The Sun's motion is regular; he never goeth without his bounds, keeps always in the zodiac, moving in the ecliptic, betwixt the two tropics.

    PARALLEL

    XVI. Christ's motions also are regular, that is, wholly according to his Father's will, Joh 12:49, that is the only way he takes, and the line out of which he never goes: "Not my will, but thine be done," Lu 22:42.

    METAPHOR

    XVII. The Sun is never weary, though in a continual journey; the swiftness of his course does not tire him, nor is he spent by his restless motion, but is still as glorious as ever.

    PARALLEL

    XVII. Christ is unwearied and indefatigable in all his movings, workings, and journeyings for the good of his people. His bounty and liberality do not waste his everlasting treasure of grace, nor can his laying out diminish it; he is as powerful, as rich, and glorious as ever, Col 2:3; Eph 3:19. See the metaphor light.

    METAPHOR

    XVIII. The Sun is powerful in its operation, in expelling darkness; the night vanisheth at his approach; the clouds, and dark vapours of the morning, are also scattering and dispersed by the operation of its powerful beams.

    PARALLEL

    XVIII. Christ appearing and rising upon the soul, drives away and dispels darkness, turns night into day, and scatters all the clouds and black mists of sin, ignorance, and unbelief, in the soul; and not only so, but also by the influences of his word, and glorious operations of his Gospel, he dispels the dark fogs of ignorance, error, and confusion in the world.

    METAPHOR

    XIX. When the Sun hath chased away the thick vapours and dark fogs of the morning, it causes a very sweet and lovely day shining forth with great splendour and brightness.

    PARALLEL

    XIX. The Lord Jesus when he hath scattered and driven away, by the glorious and powerful rays of his word and heavenly doctrine, all error, heresy, and antichristian darkness, will make a lovely and glorious day in the world, as Isa 60:1,3-5,19-20; 62:2.

    METAPHOR

    XX. The influence of the Sun is very extensive, it reacheth to every creature, it penetrates into the bowels of the earth, and dives as deep as the bottom of the sea; nothing is hid from his heat. He shoots forth his beams like so many darts, to pierce the body of the earth, and with his light-giving rays, maketh search into the lowest and darkest dungeons. His remoteness from the earth impedes not his operation.

    PARALLEL

    XX. The influences oi Christ reach to every creature; there is nothing in heaven, earth, or hell, which he finds not out; all things are naked to him, because his eye is every where, Heb 4:13 "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I fly from, thy presence? If I ascend up to heaven, thou art there; and if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there," &c., Ps 139:7-8. Though he be seated in heaven, yet his hand reaches to the earth, as well as his eye. He is present, by his knowledge and powerful working, in every place and corner of the earth.

    METAPHOR

    XXI. The Sun dries up and exhales the gross and filthy vapours of the earth, which otherwise would corrupt the air, and render it pestilent and infectious, and is therefore of a healing quality.

    PARALLEL

    XXI. Christ exhales and dries up the stinking polluted sinks of sin and corruption, which else would infect and destroy the souls of his people. He purifies the inward man, always refining it from the dregs of the flesh, and the root of bitterness; and is therefore the soul-physician, Isa 61:1; 53:5; Mt 9:20.

    METAPHOR

    XXII. The Sun is useful to generation and production; many precious fruits are brought forth by it. It makes the plants, which were laid (as it were) in the grave, to rise and spring up again. Hence the Sun is called by some, Anima mundi, the soul of the world, because it animates the creatures.

    PARALLEL

    XXII. By the Spirit of Christ we are regenerated or born again, Joh 3:5. Holiness, faith, love, joy, &c., and all such precious fruits, are the productions of the Holy Spirit, through Christ, Ga 5:22. Such as lie (as it were) buried in the grave of sin and spiritual misery, shall (when the quickening beams of this spiritual Sun shine upon their souls) have a resurrection from that death, Eph 2:1, and by its efficacy shall their bodies also be raised from the dust at the last day, Joh 5:28-29; 1Th 4:16.

    METAPHOR

    XXIII. The Sun visits not every hemisphere, nor shines in every horizon at the same time; and it differs in the degrees of heat, in the respective latitudes, according as they are nearer to, or more remote from the equinoctial. Some places beyond the tropics, as Greenland, &c. see it not in many months. And it is well known, that according to the situation of places, as they bear from each other, east and west, the Sun rises sooner or later, proportionable to the difference of the longitude of each parallel.

    PARALLEL

    XXIII. The beams of Gospel-light, and divine illumination, do not shine alike in every nation, nor in every soul. In some European countries, especially in England, they are more bright and radiant than elsewhere. A great many places want the comfort of this spiritual Sun, more than Greenland wants the presence of the created Sun; for there the Sun shines half the year, but in many heathen countries the sunshine of the Gospel has not yet arose; yea, even in Palestine, and the adjacent countries where it first shone most gloriously, its light is for the most part (if not altogether) removed, and communicated to the Isles afar off, to the glory of his rich and unspeakable grace and love to us, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    METAPHOR

    XXIV. The Sun is of a more healing, warming, refreshing, and reviving quality, than any creature in nature. It is also of a burning quality, for by a burning-glass it will set combustible things on fire.

    PARALLEL

    XXIV. Christ warms and heats the soul, which of itself is cold, earthly, and of a benumbed constitution. He sends the Comforter, by him we are quickened, &c. Joh 14:16. He gives rest, he is the resurrection, and the life of his people, and therefore their Reviver, Joh 11:25. As a refiner's fire, he burns our dross, hay, stubble, &c. And if this fire be cherished, it parches and dries up the weeds and trash, the thorns and briars that grow in our souls, as predominant sin and lust, all self-love, corruption, and carnal confidence, &c., which else would choke the word and stifle all good motions in us. See Refiner.

    METAPHOR

    XXV. The Sun is of an illuminating and discovering quality, exposes to view what the night hides, which the Moon (though unclouded, and at full) cannot so well do. It shows things as they are. In the dark we may stumble and fall, yea, handle venomous creatures, or fall into dens, and tumble from precipices, &c. So that by its light we are guided in all the actions of our natural life.

    PARALLEL

    XXV. Christ is the Light of men, Joh 14:4-5,9. Natural or moral light is too dim, like the moon, to discover the secret pollutions of the soul: it cannot make you see the corruption and filth of such as lie in their blood, being captives to Satan: the heart does receive no light, but what comes from this Sun of righteousness; without it we shall stumble and fall, converse with sin which envenoms the soul, and at last tumble blindfold into hell and eternal damnation. By this blessed light is discovered, 1. What sin is, and its nature and consequences; for though natural conscience (if it may be so called) arraigns us for immorality, or any breach of the law of nature, yet it is too dark, and far short of discovering the horrid filth and abominable evil of sin in a Gospel way; that is the work of the Spirit, and it is only spiritually discerned. 2. This spiritual Sun, or Gospel-light, shows the sad and lamentable condition of fallen man by sin. 3. How insignificant the world, with all outward pomp and imaginary glory, is to release him, and afford any solid content or satisfaction. 4. It discovers the craft and subtlety of Satan, that arch-enemy of souls. 5. It reveals (as far as frail man can comprehend it) the Being of God, in his glorious attributes, and most sublime perfections.

    6. It holds forth the transcendent excellency of Jesus Christ, and the absolute necessity there is for poor fallen man to have an interest in him, in order to its peace with God.

    7. It informs us which are false ways, who are heretics, where the false church is, &c., which are things not to be known, but by the blessed light of this Sun of Righteousness, shining in his word, viz., the holy scriptures.

    This Sun of Righteousness gives us light and direction in all the ways of God's holy worship; this soul-guide leads in the right way of wisdom, and in the midst of the paths of judgment: he leads the blind by a way they knew not, and makes darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. See the Metaphor light.

    METAPHOR

    XXVI. The Sun is of a very pleasing and rejoicing quality: as darkness and sadness are companions, so are light and joy. When the heavens are obscured with black clouds, the whole creation sympathizes, and looks sadly, but when the clouds are scattered, and the Sun appears in its native brightness, its light is sweet, and, as Solomon says, "It is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the Sun," Ec 11:7.

    PARALLEL

    XXVI. What can be so desirable, so comfortable, as the light of God's countenance, to have this Sun of Righteousness shining on us? David accounted it the one thing desirable, "That he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple," Ps 27:4. If the beams of this spiritual Sun be withdrawn, the soul is restless till it finds them, seeking every where, and crying out with the spcuse, "Saw ye him whom, my soul loveth?" Song 3:2. "His favour and loving-kindness is better than lite," Ps 63:2-3.

    METAPHOR

    XXVII. The Sun makes the several seasons of the year, winter and summer, spring and autumn, according to its access and recess to and from the several and respective climates. When it rises higher in our horizon, it makes the spring, clothing every bush with leaves, and crowning the gardens and fields with flowers; but when the Sun retires, every thing hangs down its head, the grass and flowers wither, and all their beauty and verdant fragrancy vanish.

    PARALLEL

    XXVII. When Christ draws near the soul by his heavenly influences, he causes it to become green and flourishing. When this Gospel-Sun rises high, and shines hot in any kingdom or country, it causes them wonderfully to flourish, it fertilizes souls or nations, and makes them to bring forth beautiful blossoms, and wholesome fruit; but in his retreats and withdrawings, how do they languish and pine away! It is night where Christ is absent, and day where he is present, Song 5:6. His being at a distance is the soul's winter, and his blessed approach is summer. As birds chaunt their warbling notes in the spring, rejoicing at the Sun's coming; so do the saints with spiritual melody congratulate the approaches of Christ.

    METAPHOR

    XXVIII. The Sun operates according to the matter it shines upon. It softens wax, melts snow and ice, hut hardens clay. It causes a dunghill to send forth a more corrupt and unsavoury scent; but makes roses and other blossoms yield a more fragrant and delightful odour.

    PARALLEL

    XXVIII. Christ the Sun of Righteousness, shining forth in the manifestation of the Gospel, causeth the heart of one man to dissolve and melt like wax, distilling him into tears of repentance; others are hardened and grow obdurate as a rock, not through the Gospel's fault, but their own obstinate and rebellious minds, Lu 22:61-62; Ac 2:37; 16:29-30. To some the word is, "A savour of life unto life, and to others a savour of death unto death," 2Co 2:15-16.

    METAPHOR

    XXIX. The Sun is often covered with clouds, and even in its meridian altitude or exaltation it is sometimes hid from our eyes; yet nevertheless its powerful influence and efficacy is not then gone.

    PARALLEL

    XXIX. Christ is often veiled, so that we cannot see him, viz., when strange and dark providences attend us, as in the case of Job. How often do our sins interpose like clouds, betwixt us and this blessed Sun of Righteousness, leaving our souls in the dark? yet in these withdrawings the soul is sensible that his efficacy and virtue are not removed.

    METAPHOR

    XXX. Some cannot bear the powerful and scorching heat of the Sun.

    PARALLEL

    XXX. Some, like Felix, cannot bear the powerful influences of Christ's word and heavenly doctrine, Ac 24:25.

    METAPHOR

    XXXI. The Sun drowns and swallows up the glory of the lesser luminaries, as the moon and stars.

    PARALLEL

    XXXI. The dazzling light and transcendent glory of Christ exceeds all the glory of the world, and all that is therein; their light is but darkness, when compared to him.

    METAPHOR

    XXXII. When the gross body of the moon interposes betwixt us and the Sun, it becomes eclipsed, either wholly or in part, in our horizon.

    PARALLEL

    XXXII. The Sun of righteousness, is to us eclipsed, when this world gets between us and Christ, when our hearts and eyes are so much upon it, that we cannot see him in his beauty. Christ is never totally eclipsed to a gracious soul, because sin is infinitely less than he.

    METAPHOR

    XXXIII. The Sun is said to rejoice in his course, as a strong man that runs a race.

    PARALLEL

    XXXIII. Jesus Christ rejoices in doing the work of the Father; his meat and drink was in doing the will of him. that sent him: "Lo, I come, to do thy will, O God," Heb 10:7.

    METAPHOR

    XXXIV. The Sun is of a ripening quality, makes all things ready for harvest; it ripens tares as well as wheat, bad as well as good fruit.

    PARALLEL

    XXXIV. Christ by his blessed word, through the influences of the Holy Spirit, ripens his chosen ones for the harvest, which is the end of the world, and prepares them for glory, Mt 13:30; and the wicked, through their own perverseness, are fitted, as vessels of wrath for destruction, Ro 9:22.

    METAPHOR

    I. THE Sun is a creature, and had a beginning; and when time is swallowed up of eternity, it will set and rise no more, Joh 1:3.

    DISPARITY

    I. JESUS Christ is God, in his essence uncreated, and without beginning. Christ endureth for ever, he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, Re 1:8.

    METAPHOR

    II. The Sun gives light, but cannot give sight; the sun-beams, though never so powerful, cannot make a blind man see.

    DISPARITY

    II. Christ gives sight as well as light, he made the blind to see. He also cures spiritual blindness, as Saul's, by Ananias, Ac 9:17; Mt 20:30.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Sun shines but in one hemisphere at once; when it rises to us, it sets to our antipodes.

    DISPARITY

    III. Christ is able to shine over the whole world at once. It may properly be said of him, as of the king of Assyria, the stretching out of his wings is able to cover the world at one moment, Isa 8:8.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The Sun hath damaging as well as healing qualities, defaces beauty, maketh men faint, Song 1:6. Fruits are sometimes withered to nothing by it.

    DISPARITY

    IV. Christ hath no hurtful quality; he quickens the soul, never makes it faint. He makes deformity beautiful and lovely; ripens, but never withers the fruits of grace. His beams are destructive to none, but such as have no root; such indeed he withers, Mt 13:6.

    METAPHOR

    V. The Sun is inanimate, hath neither rational, sensitive, nor vegetative life, though in some sense called the fountain of life.

    DISPARITY

    V. Christ has life, light, and heat, and is often in scripture called our Life, Col 3:3-4, for he gives and maintains both natural and spiritual life.

    METAPHOR

    VI. The Sun is the servant of men, from the root xxxx to minister. It is idolatry to worship it.

    DISPARITY

    VI. Christ is our Lord, whom men and angels must worship; all the host of heaven adore him. It is gross impiety not to worship him.

    INFERENCES.

    I. HENCE we may learn to know the worth and excellency of Christ, as also the indispensible and absolute necessity every soul lies under of receiving divine illuminations from this everlasting Sun: for as natural bodies perish without the influence of the natural Sun, so will souls, if the Sun of Righteousness give not his life-cherishing efficacy.

    II. Hence we may also see, how greatly we are concerned to pray earnestly to God, that our hemisphere may never be deprived of this Sun of Righteousness, nor overspread with the clouds of superstitious Popery, nor other heretical errors and darkness.

    III. This may show the folly and madness of such as would drive the light of the Gospel out of the world: 1. In respect of the wrong and injury they would do the world thereby, if they could effect it. 2. Their inability to accomplish it.

    IV. Hence we may infer the necessity of labouring whilst it is day; we know not how soon our Sun may set, and we are not sure of another. The Lord thus threatens the prophets, that cause the people to err, "I will cause the Sun to go down at noon," &c., Am 8:9. Which judgment, the Lord God in mercy deliver England from.