The light that some men have, it is like lightning, which after a sudden flash leaveth them more in darkness. They can love the light as it shines, but hate it as it discovers and directs. A little holy light will enable to keep the word, and not betray religion, and deny Christ's name, as Christ speaketh of the church of Philadelphia, Rev. iii. 8.
4. Fourthly, where this fire is, it ii-iU sever things of diverse natures, and shew a difference between things, as gold and dross. It will sever between flesh and spirit, and shew that this is of nature, this of grace. All is not ill in a bad action, or good in a good action. There is gold in ore, which God and his Spirit in us can distinguish. A carnal man's heart is like a dungeon, wherein is nothing to be seen but horror and confusion ; this light maketh us judicious and humble, upon clearer sight of God's purity, and our own uncleanncss ; and maketh us able to discern of the work of the Spirit in another.
5. Fifthl}', so far as a man is spiritual, so far is light delightful %nito him, as willing to see anything amiss, that he may reform, and any further service discovered that he may perform, because he truly hateth ill and loveth good ; if he goeth against light discovered, he will soon be re- claimed, because light hath a friendly party within him. Whereupon, at a little sight of his error he is soon counsclable, as David in his intendment to kill Nabal, and blessed God afterwards, when he is stopped in an ill way, 1 Sam. xxv. 32.
* ' It yieldeth,' in A and B.
AND SMOKING FLAX. 61
In a carnal man, the light breaks in upon him, but he labours to shut the passages, he hath no delight to come to the light. It is impossible before the Spirit of grace hath subdued the heart, but that it should sin against the light, either by resisting of it, or keeping it prisoner under base lusts, and burying it, as it were, in the earth ; or perverting of it, and so making it an agent and factor for the flesh, in searching out arguments to plead for it, or abusing that little measure of light they have, to keep out a greater, higher, and more heavenly light ; and so, at length, make that light they have a misleading guide to utter darkness. And the reason is, because it hath n» friend within, the soul is in a contrary frame ; and light alwa3's hindereth that sinful peace that men are willing to speak to them- selves : whence we see it oft enrages men the more, as the sun in the spring breedeth aguish distempers, because it stirreth humours, and doth not waste them. There is nothing in the world more unquiet than the heart of a wicked man, that sitteth under means of knowledge, until, like a thief, he hath put out the candle, that he may sin with the less check. Spiritual light is distinct, it seeth spiritual good, with application to our- selves ; but common hght is confused, and lets sin lie quiet. Where fire is in any degree, it will fight against the contraiy matter. God hath put irreconcilable hatred between light and darkness at first, so between good and ill, flesh and spirit. Gal. v. 17 ; gi'ace will never join with sin, no more than fii'e with water. Fire will mingle with no contrary, but preserveth its ovm purity, and is never corrupted as other elements are. Therefore, those that plead and plot for liberties of the flesh, shew themselves strangers from the life of God. Upon this strife, gi'acious men oft complain that they have no gi'ace, but they contradict themselves in their complaints ; as if a man that seeth should complain he cannot see, or complain that he is asleep, when the very complaint, springing from a displeasure against sin, sheweth tliat there is something in him opposite to sin. Can a dead man complain ? Some things, though bad in themselves, yet discover good ; as smoke discovers some fire. Breaking out in the body shews strength of nature. Some infii-mities discover more good than some seeming beautiful actions. Excess of passion in opposing evil, though not to be justified, yet sheweth a better spirit than a calm temper, where there is just cause of being moved. Better it is that the water should run something muddily, than not at all. Job hud more gi'ace in his distempers, than his friends in their seeming wise carriage. Actions soiled with some weaknesses, are more accepted than complemental performances.
6. Sixthly, fire, where it is in the least measure, is in some derp-ee active; so the least measure of grace is uvrJciuf/, as springing from the Spirit of God, which, fi-om the working nature of it, is compared to fu-e. Nay, in sins, when there seemeth nothing active, but corruption, yet there is a contrary principle, which breaks the force of sin, so that it is not out of measure sinful, as in those that are carnal, Kom. vii. 13.
7. Seventhly, fire maketh metals pliable and malleable, so doth grace, where it is begun ; it worketh the heart to be pliable and ready for all good impressions. Untractable spirits shew that they are not so much as smok- ing flax.