VI. Light was also the firstborn commandment
given to the firstborn man (for the commandment of the Law is a lamp
and a light; Prov. vi. 23. and again, Because
Thy judgments are a light upon the earth); Ps. cxix. 105.
although the envious darkness crept in and wrought wickedness.
And a Light typical and proportionate to those who were its subjects
was the written law, adumbrating the truth and the sacrament of the
great Light, for Moses’ face was made glorious by it. Exod. xxxiv. 30. And, to mention more Lights—it
was Light that appeared out of Fire to Moses, when it burned the bush
indeed, but did not consume it, Ib. iii.
2. to shew its
nature and to declare the power that was in it. And it was Light
that was in the pillar of fire that led Israel and tamed the
wilderness. Ex. xiii. 21. It was Light
that carried up Elias in the car of fire, 2 Kings ii. 11.
and yet did not burn him as it carried him. It was Light that
shone round the Shepherds Luke ii. 9. when the Eternal
Light was mingled with the temporal. It was Light that was the
beauty of the Star that went before to Bethlehem to guide the Wise
Men’s way, Matt. ii. 9. and to be the
escort of the Light That is above us, when He came amongst us.
Light was That Godhead Which was shewn upon the Mount to the
disciples—and a little too strong for their eyes. Luke ix. 32, 34. Light was That Vision which blazed out
upon Paul, Acts ix. 3. and by wounding his
eyes healed the darkness of his soul. Light is also the
brilliancy of heaven to those who have been purified here, when the
righteous shall shine forth as the Sun, Matt. xiii. 43.
and God shall stand in the midst of them, Wisd. iii. 7.
gods and kings, deciding and distinguishing the ranks of the
Blessedness of heaven. Light beside these in a special sense is
the illumination of Baptism of which we are now speaking; for it
contains a great and marvellous sacrament of our salvation.