1. In that it is compared unto things of the most infallible increase and progress; for besides that its growth is frequently likened unto that of plants and trees well watered, and in a fruitful soil, which fail not to spring, unless it be from some external violence ; it is like- wise compared unto such things as whose progress is absolutely in- fallible, Prov. iv. 18, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The path of the just is his covenant-walk before God, as it is frequently called in the Scripture, Ps. cxix. 85, 105; Isa. xxvi. 7; Ps. xxiii. 3; Matt. iii. 3; Heb. xii. 13; and it compriseth the principle, profession, and fruits of it. This, saith the wise man, is as the shining light; that is, the morning light. And wherein is it so ? Why, as that goeth on by degrees, and shineth more and more unto the high noon (though it may be interrupted sometimes by clouds and storms) ; so is this path of the just, — it goes on and increaseth imto the high noon, the per- fect day of glory. It is in its nature so to do, though it may some- times meet with obstructions, as we shall see afterward ; and so doth the morning light also.
There is no visible difference, as unto light, between the light of the morning and the light of the evening; yea, this latter sometimes, from gleams of the setting sun, seems to be more glorious than the other. But herein they differ : the first goes on gradually unto more hght, until it comes to perfection ; the other gradually gives place unto darkness, until it comes to be midnight. So is it as unto the light of the just and of the hypocrite, and so is it as unto their paths. At first setting out they may seem alike and equal ; yea, convictions and spiritual gifts acted with corrupt ends in some hypocrites, may for a time give a greater lustre of profession than the grace of others sincerely converted unto God may attain unto. But herein they dis- cover their different natures: the one increaseth and goeth on con- stahtly, though it may be sometimes but faintly; the other decays, grows dim, gives place to darkness and crooked walking.
This, then, is the nature of the path of the just ; and where it is otherwise with us in our walk before God, we can have no evidence that we are in that path, or that we have a living, growing principle
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of Spiritual life in us. And it is fit that professors of all sorts should be minded of these things ; for we may see not a few of them under visible decays, without any sincere endeavours after a recovery, who yet please themselves that the root of the matter is in them. It is so, if love of the world, conformity unto it, negligence in holy duties, and coldness in spiritual love, be an evidence of such decays. But let none deceive their own souls ; wherever there is a saving principle of grace, it will be thriving and growing unto the end. And if it fall- under obstructions, and thereby into decays for a season, it will give no rest or quietness unto the soul wherein it is, but will labour con- tinually for a recovery. Peace in a spiritually-decaying condition, is a soul-ruining security ; better be under terror on the account of sur- prisal into some sin, than be in peace under evident decays of spiri- tual life.
And, by the way, this comparing of the path of the just unto the morning light minds me of what I have seen more than once. That light hath sometimes cheerfully appeared unto the world, when, after a little season, by reason of clouds, tempests, and storms, it hath given place again to darkness, like that of the night; but it hath not so been lost and buried like the evening light. After a while it hath recovered itself unto a greater lustre than before, manifesting that it increased in itself whilst it was eclipsed as to us. So hath it been with not a few at their first conversion unto God : great darkness and trouble have, by the efficacy of temptation and injections of Satan, possessed their minds ; but the grace which they have received, being as the morning hght, hath after a while disentangled itself, and given evidence that it was so far from being extinguished, as that it grew and thrived under all those clouds and darkness; for the light of the just doth in the issue always increase by temptations, as that of the hypocrite is constantly impaired by them.
Again, as it is as the morning light, than which nothing hath a more assured progress ; so it is called by our Saviour " living water,'' John iv. 10, yea, "a well of water, springing up into everlasting life," verse 14. It is an indeficient spring, — not a pool or pond, though never so large, which may be dried up. Many such pools of light, gifts, and profession, have we seen utterly dried up, when they have come into age, or been insnared by the temptations of the world. And we may see others every day under dangerous decays; their countenances are changed, and they have lost that oil which makes the face of a believer to shine, — namely, the oil of love, meekness, self- denial, and spirituality of converse ; and instead thereof, there is spread upon them the fulsome ointment of pride, self-love, earthly-minded- ness, which increaseth on them more and more. But where this prin- ciple of spiritual life is, it is as the morning light, as an indeficient