an high estimate upon the Word what the judgement prizeth the affections embrace he that values gold will delight in it we are apt through a principle of Atheisme to entertaine slight thoughts of Religion therefore our affections are so slight David prized Gods Statutes at a high rate more to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold Psal 19.10 and hence grew that enflamed love to them I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes Psal 119.16 2. Pray for a spiritual heart an earthly heart will not delight in spiritual mysteries the earth puts out the fire Earthlinesse destroys holy delight get a spiritual pallate that you may rellish the sweetnesse of the Word He that tastes the sweetness of honey will delight in it If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 'T is not enough to hear a Sermon but you must taste a Sermon 't is not enough to read a promise but you must taste a promise when you have gotten this spiritual pallate then Gods Word will be to you the joy and rejoycing of your heart * Jer. 15.16 3. If you would delight in the Law of God purge out the delight of sinne sinne will poyson this spiritual delight If you would have Gods Law sweet let not wickednesse be sweet in your mouth Job 20.12 When sinne is your burden Christ will be your delight CHAP. IX Holy delight should cause thankfulnesse Use 5 WHat cause have they to be thankful who can find this spiritual delight in God Thankfulnesse How did David blesse God that he gave the people hearts to offer so chearfully to the building of the Temple Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort 2 Chron. 29.14 Their willingnesse was more than their offering so should a Christian say Lord when there are so many prest souldiers who am I that I should offer so willingly Who am I that I should have thy free Spirit should serve thee rather out of choice than constraint 't is a great blessing to have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this promptitude and alacrity in Gods service Delight doth animate and spirit duty now we act to purpose in Religion Christians are never drawn so powerfully and sweetly as when the chaine of delight is fastened to their heart * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Without this all is lost our praying and hearing is like water spilt upon the ground It loseth both its beauty and reward then blesse God Christian who hath oyl'd the wheeles of thy soule with delight and now thou canst run and not be weary For thy comfort be assur'd thou shalt not want any thing thy heart can desire Psal 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart A CHRISTIAN On the Mount OR A TEATISE concerning MEDITATION Wherein the necessity usefulnesse excellency of Meditation is at large discussed By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the City of LONDON Meditate upon these things 1 Tim. 4.15 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Psal 119.59 Amans Deum sublimia petit sumptis alis relicta terra in coelum volat Philo. lib. de victimis LONDON Printed by T. R. E. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchauge 1657. PSAL. 1.2 And in his Law doth he meditate day and night HAving led you through the chamber of delight I will now bring you into the withdrawing room of Meditation In his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. I. The opening of the words and the proposition asserted GRace breeds delight in God and delight breeds Meditation A duty wherein consists the essentials of Religion and which nourisheth the very life blood of it and that the Psalmist may shew how much the godly man is habituated and inured to this blessed work of Meditation he subjoynes in his Law doth he meditate day and night * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not but that there may be sometimes intermission God allows time for our calling he grants some relaxation but when it is said the godly man meditates day and night the meaning is frequently he is much conversant in the duty 'T is a command of God to pray without ceasing * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 These 5.17 The meaning is not that we should be alwayes praying as the Euchites held but that we should every day set some time apart for prayer so Drusius and others interpret it We read in the old Law it was called the continual sacrifice * Juge sacrificium Num. 28.24 not that the people of Israel did nothing else but sacrifice but because they had their stated houres every morning and evening they offered therefore it was called the continual sacrifice thus the godly man is said to meditate day and night that is he is often at this work he is no stranger to meditation The Proposition that results out of the Text is this Doct. That a good Christian is a meditating Christian Psalme 119.15 I will meditate in thy precepts 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard The beasts in the old Law that did not chew the cud were uncleane the Christian that doth not by meditation chew the cud is to be accounted unclean Meditation is like the watering of the seed it makes the fruits of grace flourish For the illustration of the point there are several things to be discussed 1. I shall shew you what meditation is 2. That meditation is a duty 3. The difference between meditation and memory 4. The difference between meditation and study 5. The subject of meditation 6. The necessitie of meditation CHAP. II. Shewing the nature of Meditation IF it be enquired what meditation is I answer What meditation is meditation is the souls retiring of it selfe that by a serious and solemne thinking upon God the heart may be raised up to heavenly affections This description hath three branches 1. Meditation is the souls retiring of it self a Christian when he goes to meditate must lock up himselfe from the world The world spoiles meditation Christ went apart into the Mount to pray Mat. 14.23 So go apart when you are to meditate Isaac went out to meditate in the field Gen. 24.63 he sequestred and retired himself that he might take a walk with God by meditation Zacheus had a minde to see Christ and he got out of the crowd He ran before and climbed up into a sycamore-tree to see him Luke 19.3 4. So when we would see God we must get out of the crowd of worldly businesse we must climb up into the tree by retirednesse of meditation and there we shall have the best prospect of heaven The worlds musick will either play us asleep or distract us in our meditations When a more is gotten into the eye it
of grace is call'd a free Spirit Psal 51. not only because it works freely but because it makes the heart free and cheerful in obedience a gracious heart doth not act by pure constraint but free consent Considerat 4 4. Delight in Religion will make the businesse of Religion more facil to us Delectatio conservat operantem in opere suo A quinas Arist Eth. lib. 10. Delight makes every thing easie there 's nothing hard to a willing minde Trahit sua quemque voluptas delight turnes Religion into recreation 't is like fire to the sacrifice like oyle to the wheeles like winde to the sailes it carries us full saile in duty he that delights in Gods way will never complaine of the ruggednesse of the way a childe that is going to his fathers house doth not complain of bad way A Christian is going to heaven in the way of duty every prayer every Sacrament he is a step nearer his Fathers house sure he is so full of joy he is going home that he will not complain of bad way Get then this holy delight Beloved we have not many miles to go death will shorten our way let delight sweeten it Considerat 5 5. All the duties in Religion are for our good We shall have the benefit If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self Prov. 9.12 God hath twisted his glory and our good together I gave them my statutes which if a man do he shall even live in them Ezek. 20.11 There is nothing the Lord requires but it tends to self-preservation God bids us read his Word and why this Word is his Will and Testament wherein he makes over a fair estate to be settled upon us Col. 1.12 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life he bids us pray and this duty carries meat in the mouth of it 1 John 5.14 This is the confidence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Ask what you will he will signe your petitions if you had a friend that should say come to me when you will I will furnish you with money would you not delight to visit that friend God will give to more than half the kingdom and shall we not delight in prayer God bids us beleeve and there is 〈◊〉 a honey-comb to be found in this precept Beleeve you shal be saved Salvation is the crown that is set upon the head of faith Well may the Apostle say his Commandments are not grievous O then if Religion be so beneficial if there be such gold to be digg'd out of this mine it may make us delight in the wayes of God What wil tempt if not self-interest Considerat 6 6. How did Christ delight in the work of our redemption Lo I come I delight to do thy will O my God Ps 40.7 8. 'T is by Expositors agreed that it is spoken mystically of Christ * Ecce venio videl Ego Messias ad sum promissus salvator qui tanquam vadis se sistit ad solvendum dobitum me tibi offero tau quam sacrificium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mollerus when he came into the world to sacrifice his life for us it was a free will-offering I have a baptisme to be baptised with Luke 12.50 Christ was to be as it were baptiz'd in his own blood and how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till it be accomplished Did Christ so delight in the work of our redemption and shall not we delight in his service Did he suffer willingly and do we pray unwillingly Did he so cheerfully lay down his life for us and shall nor we give up our lives to him Certainly if any thing could make Christ repent of shedding his blood it would be this to see Christians come off so hardly in duty bringing it rather as a pennance then a sacrifice Considerat 7 7. Delight in Gods service makes us resemble the Angels in heaven They serve God with chearfulnesse as soon as God speaks the Word they are ambitious to obey How are they ravish'd with delight while they are praising God in heaven we shall be as the Angels spiritual delight would make us like them here to serve God by constraint is to be like the devil all the devils in hell obey God but it is against their will they yeeld a passive obedience * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil but service which comes off with delight is angelical This is that we pray for that Gods will may be done on earth as it is in heaven is it not done with delight there Considerat 8 8. This delight in Gods Law will not breed surfeit Carnal objects do oft cause a loathing and nauseating we soone grow weary of our delights * Rerum juvenilium velox transmutatio Thom. Aqu. Eth. hence it is we change from one sense to another from colours to musick from musick to smell c. Too much pleasure is a paine but spiritual objects do not cloy or tyre the soul the more we study in the Law of God still the more delight we finde And in this regard David might say the Words of Gods mouth were sweeter to his taste than honey Psal 119.103 because one may soon surfeit upon honey but he can never surfeit with the Word of God He that hath once with Jeremy found the Word and ate it Jer. 15.16 will not be cloyd with it * Augent spirituales delitiae desiderium in mente dum satiant Greg. hom There 's that savourinesse in the Word that a Christian cries out Lord evermore give me this bread * Joh. 6.34 There is that sweetnesse in communion with God that the soul saith with Saint Bernard O si duraret O that it might be always thus O that what I now feel I might ever feel He that delights in God doth not complaine he hath too much of God but rather too little he opens and spreads the sailes of his soul to take in more of those heavenly gales he longs for that time when he shall be ever delighting himself in the sweet and blessed vision of God Consider 9 9. Without this holy delight we weary our selves and we weary God too Isa 7.13 Will ye weary my God also our delighting in God would make him delight in us but when we begin to say what a wearinesse is it to serve the Lord Mal. 1.13 God is as weary as we are he is even sick of such services When duties are a burden to us they are a burden to God and what should he do with them when a man is weary of a burden he will cast it off Let all this quicken delight in Gods service CHAP. VIII Shewing how a Christian may arive at this delight in Gods Law Use 4 Direct FOr the attaining this blessed delight in the Law of God three things are requisite 1. Set
4. Lord make me to know mine end and the me asure of my days what it is that I may know how frail I am The reason our affections are so chill and cold in spiritual things is because we doe warm our selves no more at the fire of meditation Illumination makes us shining lamps meditation makes us burning lamps What is it to know Christ by speculation and not by affection It is the proper work of meditation to excite and blow up holy passions What sparklings of love in such a soul When David had meditated on Gods law he could not chuse but love it Psalm 119.97 O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day When the spouse had by meditation viewed those singular beauties in her beloved white and ruddy Cant. 5. she grew sick of love vers 8. Galeatius Caraccialus that famous Marquess of Vico who had been much in the contemplation of Christ breaks out into a holy Pathos let their mony perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one hours communion with Jesus Christ 4. Meditation fits for holy duties The musician first put his instrument in tune and then he plaies a lesson meditation tunes the heart and then it is fit for any holy service as the sails to the Ship so is meditation to duty it carries on the soul more swiftly 1. Meditation fits for Hearing when the ground is softned then it is fit for the plough and the seed when the heart is softned by meditation now is a fit time for the seed of the word to be sown 2. Meditation fits for Prayer Prayer is Spiritualis pulsus the spiritual pulse of the soul by which it beats strongly after God There is no living without prayer a man cannot live unless he takes breath no more can the Soul unless it breathes out its desires to God Prayer Vshers in mercy and prayer sanctifies mercy * 1 Tim. 4.5 it makes mercy to be mercy prayer hath power over God vincit invincibilem * Luther Hosea 12.4 Prayer comes with Letters of mandamus to heaven Isa 45.11 Prayer is the spiritual Leech that sucks the poison of sinne out of the soul What a blessed shall I say duty or privilege is prayer Meditatio nutrix ora tionis Gerson Now meditation is an help to prayer Gerson calls it the nurse of Prayer Meditation is like oyl to the lamp the lamp of prayer will soon go out unless meditation cherish and support it meditation and prayer are like two Turtles if you separate one the other dies A cunning angler observes the time and season when the fish bite best and then he throws in his angle When the heart is warmed by meditation now is the best season to throw in the angle of prayer and fish for mercy After Isaac had been in the field meditating he was fit for prayer when he came home When the Gun is full of powder it is fittest to discharge So when the minde is full of good thoughts a Christian is fittest by prayer to discharge now he sends up whole volleys of sighs and groans to heaven Meditation hath a double benefit in it it powres in and poures out first it poures good thoughts into the mind and then it poures out those thoughts again in prayer meditation first furnisheth with matter to pray and then it furnisheth with a heart to pray Psalm 39.3 I was musing saith David and the very next words are a prayer Lord make me to know my end Hinc utilitas meditationis conspicitur quia animum Davidis ad pre candi studium erexit Calvin and Psalm 143.5 6. I muse on the works of thy hands I stretch forth my hands to thee the musing of his head made way for the stretching forth of his hands in prayer When Christ was upon the mount then he prayed So when the Soul is upon the mount of meditation now it is in tune for Prayer Prayer is the Child of meditation meditation leads the van and prayer brings up the Rear 3. Meditation fits for Humiliation When David had been contemplating the Works of Creation their splendor harmony motion influence he let the plumes of pride fall and begins to have Self-abasing thoughts Psalm 8.3 4. When I consider the Heavens the Work of thy fingers the moon and Starres which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindfull of him 5. Meditation is a strong antidote against sinne most sin is committed for want of meditation men sin through incogitancy and passion * Omnis passio inclinat cum impetu Tho. Quest 155. art 2. would they be so brutishly sensual as they are if they did seriously meditate what sin is Would they take this viper in their hand if they did but consider before of the sting Sin puts a worm in to conscience a sting into death a fire into hell did men meditate of this that after all their dainty dishes death will bring in the Reckoning and they must pay the Reckoning in Hell they would say as David in another sence Let me not eat of their dainties Psalm 141.4 The Devils apple hath a bitter kore in it Did men think of this sure it would put them into a cold sweat and be as the Angels drawn sword to affright them Judg. 22.23 Meditation is a golden Shield to beat back sin When Josephs mistress tempted him to wickedness meditation did preserve him How shall I do this Evil and sinne against God Meditation makes the heart like wet tinder it will not take the Devils fire 6. Meditation is a cure of Covetousness The covetous man is called an Idolater Col. 3.5 Though he will not bow down to an Idol yet he worships graven images in his coyn Now meditation is an excellent means to lessen our esteem of the World Great things seem little to him that stands high if we could live among the stars the earth would seem as nothing A Christian that stands high upon the pinacle of meditation how do all worldly things disappear and seem as nothing to him he sees not that in them which men of the world do He is gotten into his Tower and Heaven is his Prospect What is said of God He dwells on high he humbleth himself to behold the things done on the earth Psal 113.6 I may allude to with reverence The Christian that dwelleth on high by meditation accounts it an humbling and abasing of himself to look down upon the earth behold the things done in this lower Region Saint Paul whose meditations were sublime and seraphical looked at things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were not seen 2 Cor. 4. ult How did he trample upon the World how did he scorn it I am crucifled to the world Gal. 6.14 As if he had said it is too much below me to mind it He who is catching at a crown will not fish for gudgeons as Clopatra once said to Mark Anthony A Christian
gladly Mat. 6.20 and those that fasted for strife and debate did delight to know Gods wayes Esay 58.2 An hypocrite may out of some flashy hopes of heaven shew a delight in goodnesse but yet it is not such a delight as is found in the regenerate The hypocrites delight carnal for his delight is carnal A man may be carnal while he is doing spiritual things 'T is not the holinesse and strictnesse in religion that the hypocrite delights in but something else he delights in prayer but 't is rather the shewing of gifts he looks at than the exercising of grace * He delights in hearing but 't is not the spirituality of the Word he delights in Cor. 2.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not the favour of knowledge * but the lustre When he goes to the Word preached it is that he may rather feast his phancy than better his heart as if a man should go to an Apothecaries shop for a pill only to see the gilding of it not for the operative vertue The hypocrite goes to the Word to see what gilding is in a Sermon and what may delight the intellect Hypocrites come to the Word as one comes into a garden to pluck some fine flower to smell to not as a child comes to the breast for nutriment This is rather curiosity than piety Such were those Ezek. 33.32 thou art to them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument The Prophet being eloquent and having a pleasing delivery they were much taken with it and it was as sweet to them as a fit of musick but it was not the spirituality of the matter they so well liked as the tunablenesse of the voice It was a sharp yet seasonable reproof of Chrysostom to his auditory This is that saith he which is like to undo your souls you hear your Ministers as so many minstrels to please the eare not to pierce the conscience * Chrysost You see an hypocrites delight in Religion is carnal 't is not the being nourished up in the words of faith * 1 Tim. 4.6 which he mindes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the eloquence of speech the rarenesse of notion the quicknesse of phancy the smoothnesse of stile he strives only to pluck from the tree of knowledge Alas poor man thou mayst have the star-light of knowledge and yet it may be night in thy soul CHAP. VI. Trial of a Christians delight in God Use 2 LEt this put us upon a holy scrutiny and trial Trial. whether we have this delight in Religion 'T is life or death as we answer this Quest Quest How may this spiritual delight be known Answ 1 Answ 1. He that delights in Gods Law is often thinking of it what a man delights in his thoughts are still running upon he that delights in money his minde is taken up with it therefore the covetous man is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mind earthly things Phil. 3.19 Thus if there be a delight in the things of God the minde will be still musing upon them * Sicut illis accidere solet qui cogitatâ—ouibus vel seriis vel adlubescentibus abstinere non possunt Musculus O what a rare treasure is the Word of God! it is the field where the pearl of price is hid how precious are the promises they are the conduit that hold the water of life they are like those two Olive branches Zach. 4. which through the two golden pipes did empty the golden oyle out of themselves Zach 4.12 These seal up pardon adoption glory O Lord by these things men live Isa 38.16 Where there is a delight in the Law of God the minde is wholly busied about it 2. If we delight in religion there is nothing can keep us from it but we will be conversant in Word Prayer Sacraments He that loves gold will trade for it * Extremos currit mercator ad Indos Horace The Merchant will compasse sea and land to make money his proselyte Men will not be kept from their faires If there be a delight in holy things we will not be detained from an Ordinance for there we are traffiquing for salvation If a man were hungry he would not stay from the market for the aking of his finger The Ordinances are a Gospel-market and those that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse will not for every slight occasion stay away I was glad when they said come let us go up to the house of the Lord Psalm 122.1 Thou that art glad when the Devil helps thee with an excuse to absent thy self from the house of the Lord art farre from this holy delight 3. Those that delight in Religion are often speaking of it Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Mal. 3.16 Where there is gratia infusa it will be effusa The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious Eccles 12.10 David delighting in Gods testimonies would speak of them before Kings Psalme 119.46 The Spouse delighting in her beloved could not conceal her love but breaks forth into most pathetical and no lesse elegant expressions My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The standard bearer his head is as the most fine gold c. The disciples whose hearts were upon Christ make him the whole subject of their discourse as they were going to Emaus Luke 24.19 The primitive Christians who were fired with love to God did speak so much of heaven and the Kingdom prepared that the Emperour suspected they meant to take his Kingdome from him The words are as one saith the looking glasse of the minde * Verba sunt speculum mentis Bern. they shew what is in the heart Where there is spiritual delight like new wine it will have vent Grace is poured into thy lips Psalme 45.2 a man that is of the earth speaketh of the earth * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.31 He can hardly speak three words but two of them are about earth His mouth like the fish in the Gospel is full of gold Mat. 17.27 So where there is a delight in God our tongues will be as the pen of a ready Writer * Psal 45. This is a Scripture touch-stone to try mens hearts by Alas it shews how little they delight in God because they are possessed with a dumb devil they speak not the language of Canaan 4. He that delights in God will give him the best in every service Him whom we love best shall have of the best The Spouse delighting in Christ will give him of her pleasant fruits Cant. 7.13 and if she hath a cup of spiced wine and full of the juyce of the pomgranate he must drink of it Cant. 8.2 He that delights in God gives him the strength of his affections the cream of his duties * Mat. 22.37 If he hath any thing better than other
God shall have it Hypocrites care not what they put God off with They offer that to the Lord which costs them nothing * 2 Sam. 24.24 A prayer that costs them no wrastling no pouring out of the soul * 1 Sam. 1.15 they put no cost in their services Cain brought of the fruit of the ground Gen. 4.3 'T is observable the holy Ghost doth not mention any thing that might commend or set off Cains sacrifice When he comes to speak of Abels he sets an Emphasis upon it Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof * Abel obtulit non exigua sed pinguia Ambrose verse 4. but when he speaks of Cain he only saith he brought of the fruit of the ground Some sorry thing perhaps pull'd out of a ditch God who is best will be serv'd with the best Domitian would not have his Statue carv'd in wood or iron but in gold God will have the best of our best things golden services He who delights in God gives him the fat of the offering * Lev. 3.3 the purest of his love the hottest of his zeale and when he hath done all he grieves he can do no more he blusheth to see such an infinite disproportion between Deity and Dutie 5. He that delights in God doth not much delight in any thing else The world appears in an ecclipse * Utitur mundo fruitur Deo Aug. Paul delighted in the Law of God in the inner man and how was he crucified to to the world Gal. 6.14 'T is not absolutely unlawful to delight in the things of the world Deut. 26.11 Thou shalt rejoyce in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given thee None may better take the comfort of these things than beleevers for they have the best right to them they hold all in Capite * There is nothing ours but as we see out title in Christ Greenham and they have the dew of a blessing distill'd Take two talents said Naaman to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 so saith God to a beleever take two talents take thy outward comforts and take my love with them but the children of God though they are thankful for outward mercies which is the yearly rent they sit at yet they are not much taken with these things * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.31 they use them only as a conveniency for their passage * Omnia quibus uteris in hac vita debent esse tanquaÌ„ stabulum viatori non tanquam domus habitatori Aug. they know they need them as a staffe to walk with but when they shall sit down in the Kingdome of heaven and rest themselves they shall have no use of this Jacobs staffe Beleevers do not much passe for these things which are still passing * 1 Joh. 2.17 Their delight is chiefly in God and his Law and is it thus have we this low opinion of all undermoon comforts is the price fallen The Astronomer saith if it were possible for a man to be lifted up as high as the Moone the earth would seem to him but as a little point If we could be lifted to heaven in our affections all earthly delights would seem as nothing when the woman of Samaria had met with Christ * Invenit non aquam sed salutem Ambrose down goes the pitcher * John 4. she leaves that behinde * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in Joh. 4 he who delights in God as having tasted the sweetnesse in him doth not much minde the pitcher he leaves the world behinde 6. True delight is constant Hypocrites have their pangs of desire and flashes of joy which are soone over The Jews did rejoyce in Johns light for a season * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 5.35 Unsound hearts may delight in the Law of the Lord for a season but they will quickly change their note What a wearinesse is it to serve the Lord The Chrysolyte which is of a golden colour in the morning is very bright to look on but towards noone it grows dull and hath lost its splendor such are the glistring shews of Hypocrites True delight like the fire of the Altar never goes out affliction cannot extirpate it Psalme 119.143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me yet thy Commandments are my delights CHAP. VII A suasive to this holy delight in Religion Use 3 LEt me perswade Christians to labour for this holy delight Exhort Comment upon the Text. Let your delight be in the Law of the Lord * Plurimum refert utruÌ„ ex voluntate agas an necessitate Ambrose sup beat immacul And that I may the better enforce the Exhortation I shall lay before you several weighty considerations 1. There is that in the Law of God which may cause delight as will appeare in two things Considerat There is in it Verum 1. Truth 2. Goodnesse 1. Truth the Law of God is a series of truth Psalm 119.160 Thy word is true from the beginning * Quid acrius desiderat anima quam veritatem Austin tom 26. in John 4. The two Testaments are the two lips by which the God of Truth hath spoken to us Here is a firm basis for faith 2. Goodnesse Nehem. 9.13 Thou gavest them true Laws good Statutes Bonum Here is Truth and Goodnesse the one adequate to the understanding the other to the will Now this goodnesse and excellency of the Law of God shines forth in nine particulars 1. This blessed Law of God is a letter * Est quaedam Epistola omnipotentis Dei ad creaturam Greg. sent to us from heaven indighted by the Holy Ghost and sealed with the blood of Christ * Fertur de Carolo Borromaeo quod Scripturam solebat assidue volvere populo expâ—â—â—are idque tanto studio devotione reverentia ut ultimis vitae suae annis velut ipsissimas Deo ad homines literas non nisi capite flexis Genibus venerabundus lectitaret Julius Nigr. Tract ascetico c. 3. n. 9. See some passages in the letter Isa 62.5 As the bridegroom rejoyceth over the bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee and Hosea 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever in righteousnesse and in loving kindnesse and in mercies Is it not delightful reading over this love-letter 2. The Law of God is a light that shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 * 2 Pet. 1.19 it is our pole-star to guide us to heaven 't was Davids candle and lanthorn to walk with Ps 119.105 now light is sweet Eccles 11.7 't is sad to want this light those heathen who have not the knowledge of Gods Law must needs stumble to hell in the dark Hierom brings in Tully with his Oratory and Aristotle with his Syllogismes crying out in hell they that leave the light of the Word following the light within