Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A65794
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A method and instructions for the art of divine meditation with instances of the several kindes of solemne meditation / by Thomas White.
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White, Thomas, Minister of Gods Word in London.
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1672
(1672)
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Wing W1835; ESTC R25814
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99,155
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336
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think that it is in our own power or in the power of any Treatise that we read without Gods assistance to do us good Nay the Word of God it self is but a dead Letter if the holy Spirit be absent when we hear or read it But that thou shouldest desire a blessing upon thy self in reading of this book is not all I request of thee but that thou wouldest also extend thy Prayers further even for others that it may be also for their edification whosoever shall read it For as we are to pray that every Sermon we hear may be for the Spiritual advantage of others as well as of our selves It holds also in reading of Treatises of Devotion FINIS Books to be sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel A Commentary on the Hebrews By John Owen D. D. Fol. An Exposition of Temptation on Mat. 4 verse 1. to the end of the eleventh by Dr. Tho Taylor fol. A practical Exposition on the the third Chapter of the first Episile of St. Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly Mans Choice on Psal. 4. vers 6 7 8. By Anthony Burgess fol. The view of the holy Scriptures by Hugh Broughton fol. Christianographia oâ— a Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the World not subject to the Pope by Eph. Pagit These six Treatises next following are written by Mr. George Swinnock 1. The Christian Mans Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones business in Religious Duties Natural Actions his Particular Vocation his Family Directions and his own Recreation The first part 2. Likewise a second part wherein Christians are directed to perform their Duties as Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants in the conditions of Prosperity and Adversity 3. The third and last part of the Christian Mans Calling wherein the Christian is directed how to make Religion his business in his dealings with all Men in the choice of his Companions in his carriage in good and bad company in solitariness on a week day from morning to night in visiting the sick on a dying bed 4. The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration 5. Heaven and Hell Epitomised And the True Christian Characterized 6. The Fading of the Flesh and the flourishing of Faith Or One cast for Eternity with the only way to throw it well All these by George Swinnock 4 to An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful Observations thereupon by Will. Greenhill 4 to The Gospel Covenant or the Covenant of Grace opened Preached in New England by Peter Bulkely 4 to An Antidote against Quakerisin by Stephen Scandret Gods holy Mind touching Matters Moral which himself uttered in ten words or ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Elton B. D. 410. Fiery Jesuite or an Historical Collection of the rise Increase Doctrines and Deeds of the Jesuites Exposed to the view for the sake of London 410. Horologiographia Optica Dialling Universal and Particular Speculative and Practical together with the Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Silvanus Morgan 410. Heart-Treasure Or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every Christian with soul-inriching Treasury of Truths Graces Experiences and Comforts Octavo 1 part Sure Mercies of David being the second part of Heart-Treasure Closet Prayer A Christians Duty all three by Oliver Heywood A Practical Discourse of prayer by Tho Cobbet Of Quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwheile The Re-building of London encouraged and improved in several Meditations by Samuel Rolles The sure way to Salvation Or a Treatise of the Saints Mystical Union with Christ. Antidote against Infection of a multitude these two by Rowland Stedman M A. The greatest Loss upon Matth. 16. 26. by James Livesâ—y Octavo A. defence against the fear of Death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by Will. Geering The Godly Mans Ark or City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mris. Moors Evidences for Heaven by Edm. Calamy The Almost Christian discovered or the false Professor tryed and cast by Mr. Mead. Spiritual Wisdom improved against Temptations By Mr. Mead. 1. Heaven taken by Storm 2. The Holy Eucharist or The Sacrament of the Lords Supper briefly opened These two by Mr Tho. Watson Nonconformity without Contravercy by Ben. Baxter The Parable of the great Supper By John Crump late of Maidstone FINIS Mr. Holland
which do speak of the sinfulness of sin or of the Majesty of God and his terrible Wrath executing judgements upon sinners all which serve rather to terrifie a poor drooping Soul then to comfort it but let him rather Meditate upon those Scriptures which do speak of the merciful nature of God of the full satifaction of Christ and of his great love to poor sinners as to Paul Manasses Mary Magdalen and some such other great sinners whom God hath pardoned 5. Let your meditations be suitable to the Ordinances that you are to be made partakers of as if you are to receive the Sacrament Then meditate upon your preparatory concomitant and subsequent duties Meditate upon the love of God the Father upon the love of God the Son Jesus Christ consider the excellency of his person the greatness of his sufferings and how valid they be to the satisfaction of Gods Justice and so likewise to consider of the excellency nature and use of the Sacrament So if thou hast a Child to be baptized consider the Duties and promises of belonging to that Ordinance the Duties thereof belonging to thee for the present but to the Child for the future 6. The Scripture is not to be meditated on as it is to be read There is no part of the Scripture but what is to be read by us but there is a great deal of Scripture which cannot be a fit Suject for us to meditate upon but such as I shall mention though there be many parts of Scripture besides which may be fit proper Subjects for us to meditate upon but these most especially as the Psalms of David many Chapters of the Proverbs of Solomon some choice places of the Canticles most of the Holy Gospels and most of the Epistles Something of the Revelation and then all promises in general and that for two Reasons The one is because the Promises themselves put us upon the Duty and then the promises bring Comfort Far be it from us to despise the Consolations of our heavenly Lord Meditate also upon the holy and blessed Commands of God and the Examples of Saints and let this be your Meditation to say thus within your selves Why should Abraham love God or David love God more then I Why should the Angels love God more then I God hath forgiven me thousands of Iniquities and transgressions but never forgave the Angels one When thou readest holy Examples of the Old Testament you may see that not only such and such things are feasible but that with far less help it was done then now we in these Gospel times have to do it with 7. Let Christ be very much the Subject of your Meditation when I consider the whole business of the worship of God from the beginning of the World to Christ and how God doth acquiesse in Christ and that the highest Angels desire to know him I fully conclude that Christ is wonderfully worththy to take up our thoughts our chiefest love and our greatest joy so that the question will not be whether Christ be worthy of our love but rather whether our love be worthy of Christ and as the other so this is unquestionable and of doubt that it is not Instances OF Solemn Divine MEDITATION Meditation I. ALas my God I am in a sad condition mine afflictions grow daily upon me and that which is mine unsupportable misery my corruptions grow faster upon me then my affliction What before made me weep will not now make me sigh The heavy burthen of a great abomination doth not lie upon me so much as before I was oppressed with a vain thought in my prayers Alas Lord alas I am undone alas my Corruptions have almost made me love them and make me weary of Duties and careless of Graces My joyes are gone and my sorrows are gone that were suitable to thy Word and now my joys are but the laughter of Fools and my sorrows are Carnal Sensual and more of Hell in them then of Heaven and as now I can scarce tel my sorrows so have I scarce any sorrow to tell I have sate down and wept to consider the great decayes of holiness in me but now I can see my God going from me and when as now he is even out of sight mine eyes are as dry as my heart is hard Alas Lord if thou wilt not return thou wilt lose a poor Soul that hath loved thee and is somewhat troubled Now poorsad Soul that it is so wicked as it is Meditat. II. Lord thou seest the strange distempered temper of mine heart and Spirit ah blessed God I should take more comfort if I should see my heart-blood running forth before mine eye then to see mine eyes so dry and my heart so hard I have worn out almost all Motives to holiness they now take no impression in me which before were too strong for me to bear they ravisht me which now do not move me I scarce ever go to Prayer but I have enough and too many Spiritual complaints to employ it to express If every day I had not just cause to bewail a continued decay of Grace I might have some respite of my griefs But what shall I now do VVhen every day shall bear witness against me and every night my sin shall go to bed with me and lie in my bosome and rise in the morning more strong then at night Ah when my former holy life shall be more terrible then others wicked lives when my former prayers shall be like the Gall of Asps unto me VVhen those Duties which should be my comfort are my terrour Alas what can my poor Soul do when my present sins and my past duties which of them are the heaviest burthen unto me I do not know what shall I do When I consider these things then the thoughts of the affliction that lies upon me makes me weep a tear or two and my vain heart my deceitful heart would perswade me that I weep for my sins Those in desertion are in a blessed condition to me they are sad and I am miserable I am guilty of that which their Consciences do but accuse them off Alas have I my communion with God my sweet Communion and the power I had to prevail with him for any mercy almost that I prayed for now I can pray and pray and pray and go away without a blessing I can almost be content to be wicked Thou knowest mine heart or else my tears would deceive thee as well as me If they are worldly thoughts that have estranged me from thee thou knowest how to cure me if mine utter impoverishings will cure me let me be as poor Job if thou wast not such a Physician as thou art I was past cure Meditat. III. Lord I am come now to power out my soul before thee and my tears in thy bosome to tell thee the sad thoughts and sorrows of my heart Ah my God in this bitterness of my Soul and with tears in mine eyes and pride