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Divine Light Displayed,

OR A

COMPENDIOUS DISCOURSE

Upon the BEING and ATTRIBUTES of GOD;

In Order to imprefs upon the Minds of MEN, a greater Awe and Veneration of the DIVINE BEING, which is the Way that will lead them unto eternal Blifs and Happiness.

489 Uxbridge Printing

Displayed by Edm. bal &

12mo, 2

Contains

Unto which is added

PENDIX,

emarks upon the alteration

of the Stile, and the Date of the Year, to prove, that according to the Motion of the Heavenly Bodies, no Time has been loft.

By EDMUND BALL,
Of CHESHAM, BUCKS.

1 AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: HE THAT FOLLOWETH ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

John, Chap. VIII. Ver. 12.

UXBRIDGE: printed by T. LAKE,

MDCCLXXIV.

994.

The PREFACE.

LAST Spring I published a Difcourfe concerning the Nature
of the Human Soul (Entitled an Antidote againft Infi-
delity,) and the Reason that induced me to do it, was because
1 am forry to fee this immaterial part of us fo much neglected;
as if Men really thought that they had no Immortal Soul to
anfwer for. Therefore I endeavoured as far as my weak abili-
ties would extend, to difplay to them what the Nature and
Properties of it were; in order that they might take off their
Minds from the fading Glories and Vanities of this Mortal
Life, and fix them upon thofe Solid and Subftantial Joys, which
are never fading, and Eternal in the Heavens. This Difcourfe.
here (which I intend fhall be my laft) is a Compendious thing,
upon the Being and Attributes of God, purpofely to reform the
Morals of Mankind, and give them a more exalted and Sub-
lime Idea of the Deity, whereby they may purge away thofe
Grofs Errors and Impurities in Religion, which the prefent
corrupted and degenerate Age is ftained with, and fo build
their Faith upon a more Unfhaken Foundation. For our Blessed
Saviour himself exprefsly declares to us, that a Sound and pure
Heart, is the Centre and Bafis of all true Religion and. Virtue,
and therefore let us conform to his moft holy Life and Example,
and fo endeavour to imitate him in all our Actions, as we may
by a ftedfaft Faith obtain the Graces and Influences of God's
holy Spirit, and then if we keep this Fountain of Life, pure
and
uncorrupted; he has promifed us, that out of our Belly fhall
flow Rivers of living Water; Which is the Earneft Defire
and With, of

Your, moft Humble Servant,

1

14.5 16

LIBRARY

EDMUND BALL.

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PSALM 139, VERSES 7, 8, 9, 10.

Whither fhall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither fhall I flee from thy prefence? If I afcend up into heaven thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there also.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermoft parts of the fea, even there fhall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

OLY David, in this divine fong, highly extols and adores the ftupendous majesty of God, praifing him for his all-feeing providence, and for his infinite mercies. And after he had made a tho rough and fincere repentance of all his paft fins, God lifted up his heart, and filled him with thefe divine raptures, and with that grace and fervency of foul: infpiring him at laft as an example to the whole world. And although indeed he had been guilty of fome tranfgreffions in his life, which the frailty of human nature is fubject to, yet in time, as it were by a divine impulse, he was made fenfible of his wickedness, and confeffed himself a finful man before God; and therefore used to go three times a day conftantly to his court to worship

the

the Lord, continually praying for his enemies, and celebrating with praifes and thanksgivings the honour of God. And not only with his lips did he adore the fupreme being, but the fpirit of God, (who with a fwift and efficacious touch confum mates all things) entered the Soul of this young delighter in Mufick, and prefently fanétified him into a Compoter of Pfalms; therefore defiring that God may be prailed in the Sanctuary, by the Sound of the Trumpet, the Pfalter, and Harp, as well as by the well tuned Cymballs, and an Inftrument of Ten Strings, together alfo, with other various Inftruments of Mufick. Hence, we find that David was infpired with the Love and Adoration of his Maker, who took this poor Shepherd from following the Flock, and immediately raised him to the degree of a Prophet. Therefore with the utmoft Surprize and Aftonishment does he magnify and adore the Omnipotence of God, crying out, I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Mourning for his Sins in 1uch a facred Solemn Manner, that he procured Pardon from God, upon his true Repentance and Reformation of Life. And as he was sheltered under his Almighty Wings, God ftil'd him in the Scripture a Man after his own heart, and by the divine command was made one of the Lords Anointed, who rejected Saul, and fent Samuel to Bethlem, to place the Crown of Ifrael upon David's Head, where he reigned Thirty-three years. For he was trained up in the Art of War, and poffeffed of a Martial Genius, and that only with Six Thousand Men, he invaded the Countries of the Gefhurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, (for the Arm of Omnipotence was with him) making the Philiftines tremble, at his victorious Arm. And now when Saul heard that he flew his thousands, but

David

David his ten thousands, it cut him to the heart; and he fought to flay him, because he was Jealous of his Crown, knowing that David had flain Great Goliah the Champion, and defeated all his dreadful Army in the Field of Battle. yet Jonathan his Son, loved him, and oftentimes refcued him from his Father's Cruelty, who ever perfecuted him after he had loft his Crown. Moreover Jonathan to fhew his humanity and greater Affection towards him, Shot three Árrows, in order to drive him further from Saul's fury; Nevertheless was David's humane and magnanimious Spirit fo great, that he forbears to hurt Saul, even when it lay twice in his power to destroy him. I have here given you a fhort sketch of King David's Character, and therefore let all the Worker's of Iniquity, follow this great and pious Man's Example, and bewail their Sins before God, and heartily repent of them as he did; fo as they may abound more and more in Grace, and true Holiness of Living; unto the Salvation of their Immortal Souls. I fhall now beg leave to explain to you, the following particulars, which naturally arite from this important Subject.

FIRST, The Existence and Nature of God.

SECONDLY, The divine Perfections, which are Effential to his Immutable Nature.

THIRDLY, I fhall fhew, that at the great and Univerfal Day of Retribution, God will bring every Secret thing into Judgment, whether it be good, or whether it be Evil.

LASTLY, I fhall infer from thence, an Inference or two proper to our Faith and Practice.

First then, I am to explain to You, the Existence and Nature of God. Now there is no greater proof

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of

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