then corruption of nature will shew it self Thou shalt soon perceive that thou art vain ignorant impotent proud worldly self-conceited fickle envious impatient unprofitable an harbourer of filthy lusts a stiff opposer of sound holiness passionate unsound and what not Begin to meditate when opportunity is offered thou art barren and canst finde nothing fit to bee matter of musing canst make use of nothing which thou hast heard or seen hast thou found matter thou art dull and sensless not able to fasten one thought upon it as is meer so hard-hearted that nothing can pierce or enter Thou settest forward but art quickly turned out of the way that thou mayest well wonder to see how far thou art strayed before that thou couldest discern that thou hast stepped aside some idle toy earthly business vain pleasure needless fear delightful remembrance of sin hath drawn thy thoughts another way Do not these things display the poison of our evil and corrupt nature Moreover by Meditation wee look into every dark filthy corner of our naughty hearts and rake into that stinking chanel which is seldome stirred So that when wee set about it wee shall bee compelled to say I heard of corruption by the hearing of the ear but now I see it with mine eye I feel it to the great disturbance of my soul And thus wee are drawn to deny our selves humble our souls and seek to Christ for succour and relief Secondly It is a spiritual means to purge out sin and to cleanse the ground of our heart from those noisome and hurtful weeds that grow in them No means more available to rince and purifie them to break the bed of sins and hunt away the litter of prophane lusts none comparable to this Note For though by the Word wee know them by conference wee revive the remembrance of them and by reading wee do both a Heb. 2.1 yet all these run out of our riven heads and abide meanly with us to suppress our corruption and to tame our hearts until wee bring our selves to often and much musing and debating of the good things which wee hear and read that so wee may digest them and of the evils which by occasion wee fall into that wee abandon them Even as worldly men ponder deeply their affairs which are weighty Meditation makes known the hainousnefs of sin inflames the heart with love of holiness cherisheth the graces of Gods Spirit which are as fire to consume the dross of sin and rouseth to earnestness in prayer to bee set at liberty from that cruel bondage Moreover the conscionable performance of this duty of Application of the Word with Examination and Prayer which is done by Meditation is through the blessing of God very effectual to kill and crucifie the lusts of the flesh The special sins prevented by this exercise Are 1. Idle roavings unprofitable wandrings unsavoury thoughts wishes and desires of heart who groans not under this burden who is not much hindered by them They distract in prayer reading hearing and cool our zeal dead our hearts waste much precious time steal away comfort defile the soul and bring forth much dangerous fruit The special medicine to cure this malady is Meditation it either keeps or thrusts out frivolous and idle thoughts and motions either it prevents them or keeps them under The Word hid in the heart preserves from sinning * Psa 119.11 When the door is open and the house empty it is an easie matter for the theef to enter but if the heart be occupied in goodness evil cannot finde room and harbour The foul spirit being cast out of a man seeketh to return with seven spirits worse than himself b Mat. 12.42 43. but is not able to re-gain possession till hee finde the house empty swept and garnished when wee do nothing and withall labour to get no good matter into our minds wee are sure to be pestred with evil cogitations arising from natural corruption or cast in by Satan but if the heart bee imployed continually in that which is profitable holy and excellent corruption shall not have that strength to molest nor stir nor Satan that opportunity to suggest Hath vanity taken root To remove it no means more profitable than oft and deep consideration of the swarms of evil cogitations that arise in the mind to bring them into vile account to bee weary and ashamed of them and to endeavour to entertain and harbour better motions and desires in their room What Christian can endure to have his heart taken up as a lodge or sty for froth filth vanity idleness or folly that seeth the loathsomeness of it and knows how and where to furnish himself with heavenly and comfortable matter Hee will judge himself watch and make earnest requests never ceasing till the number of idle imaginations bee abated 2. Earthly-mindednesse and the inordinate love of things temporal are bad weeds that cover much ground bitter roots that stick fast in our nature sins that set open the heart for Satan to take possession and dwell therein that make the Word unprofitable because it cannot have right and sound plantation that are attended with multitude of other sins and never go alone The only means to dig them out of the heart is Meditation Look into the vanity deceitfulness uncertainty vexation that outward things bring with them and thou wilt never set thy heart upon them Psa 49.11 Why do many men lay up for themselves treasure on Earth They know not the glory and dignity of Gods Saints they conceive not the necessity and excellency of saving Grace they never tasted the comforts of a godly life see not the Crown and joy that is prepared in Heaven for them that love and fear the Lord. It may bee they know there is a life to come an Heaven an Hell but their knowledge is dim uncertain confused idle earnestly often advisedly deeply they consider not of it It is impossible that hee should covet great things in this world or highly prize what is base and transitory that hath an eye to the recompence of reward What wee are in Meditation may easily bee guessed by our affection to the things that are perishing Hee that admireth the fading bravery of what is under his feet hath taken but sleight view of heavenly glory Thirdly By nature wee are very sluggish like unto the Oxe that will not draw unless hee bee driven or pricked with a goad Meditation is a spur to quicken us a Eccles 12.11 The words of the wise are as goads if the Word read or preached bee of great force it must needs work effectually if wee joyn Meditation Upon the first hearing the practice of good works may seem difficult and unpleasant our slothful nature will object many things against it A Lion is in the way a Lion is in the street it is hard to bee tied so narrowly dangerous to follow such courses But if wee consider the matter more attentively
is abased in our esteem Love the Lord Oh my soul and give thy self to the obedience of his Commandements thou art the perfection and end of all creatures the Lord thy life perfection comfort what thou art is of him that thou shalt bee happy is of his goodness thou owest him thy self thou wast created for his glory defile not his Image pollute not his workmanship bee not unthankful for what thou hast received forget not thy own estate O heavenly Father I heartily desire to follow thee whithersoever thou shalt lead mee to do what thou shalt command and to cleave unto thee as long as I live But I finde the flesh rebellious solliciting daily yea and violently haling to those things that are evil Ah miserable wretch that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of death Thou Thou Lord onely art able and willing to vouchsafe help and succour To thee therefore do I flye I pray thee have mercy upon mee in Jesus Christ and repair the lost image of thy self Thy hands have made mee and fashioned mee give mee understanding and I shall live thou createdst mee pure thou canst restore mee though corrupt Create in mee a clean heart and renew a right spirit within mee Breathe into mee the Spirit of Life and establish mee in the way of thy Precepts Heal my soul for I am defiled and cause mee to grow up unto the perfect stature of a spiritual man I have wounded my soul but cannot cure it defaced thy Image but cannot fashion it anew Look upon my misery dear Father forgive my sin and make mee a new creature for thy infinite mercy begin in mee this good work and perfect it to thy praise in thee do I trust to thee I seek for grace for in thee the fatherless finde mercy Quest I would know in the fourth place how wee might proceed to meditate on Gods infinite greatness Answ God is infinitely good without quality infinitely great without quantity his excellency is incomprehensible and surpasseth what wee can speak or think But for our proceeding in this Meditation according to our capacity wee may consider what it is what bee the parts of it and how incomparably it exceedeth whatsoever might bee likened unto it Great is the Lord and worthy to bee praised Psa 145.3 and his greatness is unsearchable Our God is the God of Gods and Lord of Lords a great God mighty and terrible who being both the original and end of all things Deut. 10.17 cannot rightly bee said to bee any thing for hee must needs bee above all and better than all Such is his greatness that hee is that one infinite and eternal being See how that I even I saith the Lord am hee Deut. 32.39 and there is no God with mee I lift up my hand and say I live for ever Thou Lord art so great that thou art most perfectly one in essence one in number The Lord hee is God and there is none besides him As thou art * Deut. 4.35 Mark 12.32 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. one in essence so art thou one in thy purpose determination promise For how shouldest thou that art one in number and essence bee otherwise than thy self All things do turn upon this point and hasten to this center if it were not unity multiplicity would destroy it Thou Lord art infinite without all limits of essence without matter or form efficient or end thou art without all dimensions of length breadth or thickness thou art without all limits of place and yet fillest all places in Heaven or Earth Thou art wholly without and within all and every place no where excluded and no where included and that without all localmotion or mutation of place a Job 11.8 9. Thou art higher than the Heavens deeper than Hell longer than the Earth broader than the Sea b 1 King 8.27 Psa 139.7 Isa 66.1 Act. 17.27 Simply and purely every where by essence and presence A God at hand and a God a far off Thou movest or changest all things without either motion or change in thy self thou art in every place present in every place entire within all things and contained in nothing without all things and sustained by nothing but containest sustainest and maintainest all things Thou art unspeakably present in every place by essence power wisdome and providence but thy glory is specially manifested to the Angels and Saints in Heaven thy grace power and mercy to the Saints on earth whom thou dost favour with whom thou dwellest Job 36.22 c. 1 Tim. 1.17 2 Pet. 3.8 for whose deliverance thou wilt arise and have mercy into whose hearts thou wilt shine comfort Thou art eternal before and after all beings without all limits of time past present and to come Thou art at all times but without respect of time an everlasting and immortal God before and after all times and in all times for ever and ever Thou art the King of ages the maker of times the Inhabitour of eternity a Psa 90.1 2. Isa 57.15 Psa 92.7 8. 102.12 13 26 27. Isa 41.4 43.10 11. Jer. 10.10 Isa 40.28 Before the mountains were made and ere ever thou hadst formed the earth from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Everlasting in thy self in love in the fruits of thy favour towards thy people which thou hast chosen in wrath and indignation against the obstinate and disobedient O God thou art great and wee know thee not neither can the number of thy years bee searched out Isa 40.15 16. All powers on earth come short to bee shadows of thy greatness The Nations are as a drop of a bucket less than nothing and vanity before thee Quest How must wee apply these things to the heart Answ Wee must stir up our selves to magnifie the Lord love fear reverence and trust in him for ever Great is the Lord and worthy to bee praised for hee sitteth upon the circuit of the earth and stretcheth out the Heavens like a curtain He bringeth the Princes of the earth to nothing and lifteth up the meek to honour Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite The men of this world labour to set forth the state and magnificence of earthly Monarchs the largeness of their dominions greatness of their power continuance of their house Oh my soul why art thou so silent awake and sing aloud of the praises of God whose greatness is infinite eternal incomprehensible thou canst not by searching finde him out but remember to magnifie his work which men behold Every man may see it Man may behold it afar off Love the Lord Oh my soul and stick fast unto him as thy life and treasure Hee is that infinite unbounded eternal goodness passing all humane both search and sight that filleth and includeth all things Alass how do wee affect a thousand things that cannot bee effected or if obtained do vanish or cloy and can no more
to remove the evil or obtain the good proceeding from a broken and contrite heart The sixth is fervent Petition earnestly craving and begging this at the hands of God who is only able to effect it The last is chearful confidence raising and rousing up our souls after such doleful complaining hearty wishing humble confessing unfeigned acknowledging and serious stirring up our selves and earnest craving of what wee want grounded upon the most sweet and sure Promises of God made to them that call upon him in Faith and upon the experience which the Saints of God in all ages have had of the success of their sutes who were never sent empty away but either obtained that thing which they begged or that which was much better for them but these things are specially observed in Meditation upon some grace or sin as will bee made more evident and plain by examples and are not ever necessary that they should bee particularly observed Quest What is to bee observed for conclusion of this exercise A. First We must begin when the heart is fitly disposed or at least labour to bring it into order before wee set upon this duty and break off before the spirits bee dulled and tired otherwise we shall lose the comfort and sweetness of it Secondly It is not good suddenly or abruptly to break off except some unavoidable necessity of company or business do urge us thereunto Thirdly The conclusion of this exercise consists principally in these things 1 Hearty thanksgiving to God that hath vouchsafed in such gracious measure to assist us in the performing of this duty 2 Recommending our selves and our waies to him that our life and carriage and all our thoughts and actions afterwards may bee answerable to those heavenly thoughts and desires which wee have had and express in the performing of this duty 3 Renewing our covenant to live by Faith and to walk with God in all holy conversation Quest Declare this by some example and first how should wee meditate on God his infinite excellency Answ Entrance may be made thus into it Oh Lord my heart desires to commune with thee that I might come into better acquaintance with thy Majesty but of my self I have no ability to conceive what is right or to think a good thought concerning thy highness Teach mee therefore Oh gracious God if not to comprehend thine excellency for that is impossible yet so to confer with thee that I may apprehend in some measure how thou hast revealed thy self and what thou wilt bee unto mee that knowing thee in thy power goodness truth soveraignty and grace I may unfeignedly cleave unto thee all the daies of my life Quest How must wee proceed in this Meditation Answ Wee must consider of his titles properties and works observing how infinitely hee exceedeth what excellency soever is in any or all the creatures in the world a 1 Tim. 6.16 1 Joh. 4.12 Exod. 33.20 Oh Lord thou dwellest in the light unapproachable whom man never saw neither can see and live thou art incomprehensible by reason and unnameable by words thy name is wonderful and thy nature secret I cannot comprehend what thou art I will labour to know what thou hast revealed I am not able to behold thy face let mee see thy back-parts for this is my life and joy of heart to know thee the onely true God which springeth and increaseth daily as I come to the fuller knowledge of thee and shall bee infinite because thou art infinite I beleeve as thou hast taught mee according to my manner and measure that thou art a Spirit without beginning without cause the first and absolute being living in and of thy self giving being and life to all creatures infinite eternal incomprehensible Gen. 17.1 without composition one in essence and three in persons most perfect a meer act blessed and glorious all sufficient in thy self for us a great reward void of all possibility to bee what thou art not great in power infinite in wisdome abundant in goodness everlasting in compassion rich in mercy faithful sincere constant in thy promises unchangeable in thy love gentle easie to bee entreated just and righteous in all thy Commandements and Proceedings the most absolute universal soveraignty of all things both in Heaven and Earth Thy name is wonderful in all the world for thou hast created all things and by thy appointment they continue unto this day Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and it abideth thou hast stretched forth the heavens as a curtain Job 9.7 8 c. and in them or dained a Tabernacle for the Sun Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the proud waves are quelled by thy command the day is thine the night also is thine the Moon and Stars are the work of thine hands Thou thunderest from Heaven by thy voice and bringest the winds out of their treasure thou breakest up the deep and causest the springs to ascend in the vallies Thou causest the grass to grow upon the mountains and satisfiest with thy goodness every living thing The earth Oh Lord is full of thy goodness but thy glory shines most bright in the assembly of thy Saints Oh what wisdome power grace mercy love long-suffering hast thou manifested in Jesus Christ the brightness of thy glory the image of the invisible God what great admirable things hast thou done for thy people thou hast reconciled them being enemies redeemed them being bond-slaves justified them being sinners of vassals of Satan thou hast adopted them to bee thy sons of unclean and polluted thou hast washed and made them clean Thou guardest them with thy Angels protectest them against dangers feedest them with fatness and marrow and hast reserved for them the Kingdome of Heaven All thy Works praise thee Oh Lord and thy Saints bless thee Great is the power wisdome holiness and glory of the heavenly Angels but they are finite created dependent great immortal glorious by participation only not able to behold the glory of God great is the renown dignity dominion of earthly Monarchs but their persons are mortal their glory fading their Dominion temporary their power limited what they are they have by deputation during pleasure As for our God hee is an infinite eternal absolute independent soveraign His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and his Dominion endureth throughout all ages Psa 90.1 2 Before the foundations of the earth were laid and ere the mountains were formed from everlasting to everlasting thou art God But Lord thine excellency far exceedeth all that I can conceive for what can a finite understanding comprehend of an infinite being I know very little of thy waies much less of thy nature yea what thou hast revealed of thy self in thy Word doth rather make known what thou wilt bee to thy people than what thou art in thy self As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are thy waies higher than our waies and thy thoughts than our thoughts Quest How
Thus man was made the wonder of the world the principallest of living creatures indued with a reasonable soul most divinely qualified and strictly united to that earthly mass to quicken and inliven it The end why man was made in respect of God was the glory of his power goodness and wisdome appearing in the work it self of his justice in rewarding man if obedient and in punishing man if disobedient of his grace and mercy redeeming him fallen into the gulf of misery and that man should praise and magnifie his glorious name In respect of man that hee should live blessedly for ever if hee did obey man by creation was immortal for death is an enemy no consequent of nature but a companion of sin man dieth not because his body was framed of the dust 1 Cor. 15.26 but because hee is infected with sin Subjection to mortality and all miseries accompanying it is a fruit of disobedience Hee is reasonable and intelligent able to think invent judge devise compose discourse remember chuse refuse suspend and affect These powers being essential to mans nature do still remain but very weak and corrupt since the fall Also to man is given power to eat drink sleep weep laugh and speak whereby hee may communicate to others whatsoever hee conceiveth hee was perfectly conformable to the will of God made after the Image of God in knowledge righteousness and true holiness But the Image of God is defaced with sin there remaining onely some reliques in us as the ruines of a magnificent and stately palace that served to shew what once wee had Moreover in the state of innocency man was honoured with great Royalties and Prerogatives for hee had liberty to eat of every tree in the Garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil and was made ruler over all earthly creatures that hee might freely use them to the glory of God his own necessity and lawful pleasure But these priviledges hee hath forfeited by rebellion against his Creator The effects of man are suitable to the faculties and gifts hee hath received as to know God call upon his name worship him sincerely preach the Word administer the Sacraments govern give counsel contemplate the works of God read write confer and dispute exercise the works of virtue and honesty govern the affections reverence superiors live peaceably and such like But in all these things wee have much dis-inabled our selves by wilful disobedience Would you see the prime dignity of man by comparison In soul hee is like the Angels invisible immaterial immortal beautified with understanding will and power inriched with admirable divine gifts whereby hee resembleth God or carrieth his Image In body hee is the perfection of all earthly things whom they are to serve In both hee is the Epitome of all created excellency in Heaven and Earth Quest How must these things bee applied unto the heart for the quickening of affection Answ Wee must stir up our selves to magnifie the goodness of the Lord towards man-kind to shame our selves in conscience of our sins and misery raise up the heart to the contempt of earthly things and love of obedience and seek unto God to have his Image repaired in us again through Jesus Christ Lord Psal 8.4 5 6 c. what is man that thou visitest him the son of man that thou so regardest him Thou hast made him little inferiour to the Angels adorned him with grace stamped upon him thy Image invested him with dignity and crowned him with glory and honour Thou hast given him Dominion over the work of thy hands and put all things in subjection under his feet Thou hast made him for thy service his soul to bee thy habitation his body to bee the Temple of thy spirit and all other things to bee serviceable unto him the world and all that is therein for his use All things are prepared for him all things are subject to him hee ruleth over all living creatures they labour for him obey his command Lord thou art the glory of man man the receptacle of thy works thy wisdome and power But as mine excellency by creation exceeds so doth my shame and misery by sin and disobedience The higher mine advancement the lower my fall This was my chief honour and title that I was the Image of God This is my disgrace and ignominy that I bear the Image of the Devil This is my comfort that God did love delight and desire to dwell in mee it is my misery that I am cast out of thy favour and lye under wrath Ah what grief is this to think how my condition is altered through my foolishness once immortal now mortal once pure now impure and polluted once rich in wisdome and grace now blinde and naked once the Image and free servant of God now the vassal of Satan once at peace with God my conscience all creatures now at war with his Majesty my self all the world Once a free man to walk at liberty now a bondslave that can doe nothing but sin once the Ruler of all creatures now of all creatures the basest Satan excepted once subject to no annoyance now secure from nothing that might offend If a Noble man fall from height of honour to great contempt and bitter extremities hee is much afflicted much greater cause have I to bemoan my folly who have cast my self headlong from Heaven unto Earth even to the gulf of misery and confusion Oh my soul why dost thou forget thy self so much as to affect the base things of this life It is a shame for him that was to subdue all things to suffer himself to bee subdued by men and to become a Lacquey to his vile affections doing honour to the three great Idols of the world profit pleasure and preferment The world is too vile for thy delight thou art created for more divine service the Lord himself covets thy love The glory of the world is put under thy feet as things to bee trodden upon that which thou shouldest affect is far above heavenly and glorious If the fashion of the body should bee so changed that the face and eyes bowed to the earth continually should never bee able to look up it would bee grievous But if the soul which should bee lifted up to God do creep upon earth bee glued to worldly vain delights the alteration is more uncomfortable and monstrous Hee that subdueth the world doth yeeld himself to the service of God which is perfect liberty But when wee become slaves to the world wee labour to make God servant to our lusts which is most abominable and accursed The glutton makes God his caterer his belly his God and himself the guest The covetous worldling would have God his Broker and himself the Usurer The angry sinner would have God his executioner and himself the Judge The ambitious inquisitor can sometimes make God and Religion his stile but honour shall bee his God and lust reign The Lord himself
satisfie desire than salt water quencheth thirst Oh that true love like a strong stream which the further it is from this head of eternity would run into it with greater violence In Gods love there is no mixture of sorrow no want of delight fulness of pleasure all manner of contentment Alas alas that ever so many cold winds of temptation should blow betwixt God and our hearts to make our affections cooler unto him What dull metal is this wee are made of wee have the fountain of felicity and eternity and yet complain of want and weariness Do wee freeze in the fire and starve at a feast Have wee God to injoy and yet pine and hang down the head Let mee have my God and let mee never want him so shall my joyes bee lasting pure incomprehensible for possessing him that is the pure eternal and an all-sufficient good how should I not finde fulness of joy and contentment in him Oh my soul fear the Lord and stand in awe of his Majesty for hee is a great God and terrible a King above all Gods At his presence the earth trembleth the mountains quake and the foundations of the world are shaken The Angels cannot behold his glory the Sun and Moon are not clean in his sight Fear the Lord and depart from iniquity harbour no wicked plot in thy breast contrive not evil in thy thoughts for thou hast to deal with a God that is light of hearing who dwelleth in thy heart and knoweth thy Imaginations long before And what needs any other evidence when the Judge is witness His eyes are as flaming fire his feet are as burning brass hee will tread down the wicked in his wrath and vex them that hate him Serve the Lord with fear and commit thy self to him in well doing Trust in the Lord at all times Hab. 1.12 Psa 55.18 19. and stay upon his mercy Hee is the everlasting Rock constant in promises ever present for our aid unchangeable in love and favour No place can hinder God from doing us good distance or difficulty may bee impediments to all the creatures to stay their help but God at a blush fills all places to comfort or confound as it pleaseth him Hee that is freed from dimensions may pierce and penetrate enter and pass whither hee pleaseth without probability or possibility of resistance Hee hath created the world and yet is not weary his provision is no whit abated his power nothing diminished Let him carry us which way hee will make the passages never so troublesome and perillous yet the same hand that makes them hard will make them sure and if wee bee faithful to him will master all the difficulties for us Let him cast us into such great miseries of long continuance that hee seem to forsake us as if hee would not return to our help yet wee know that hee is everlasting the Holy One of Israel who cannot leave them for ever that rely upon him O God as I have trusted thee with the beginning so will I trust thee with the finishing of my glory And though never so many or main hinderances of my salvation offer themselves and after all hopes threaten to defeat mee yet faithful art thou who hast promised who wilt also do it Quest I would now hear how wee must proceed to meditate on the Love of God Answ Wee must consider of the efficient cause subject end objects effects properties and kinds of this Love what is like what opposite unto it The Love of God signifieth either that love whereby God loveth us Joh. 5.48 1 Joh. 3.17 1 Joh. 2.15 or that affection whereby wee being united unto God do rest in him with pleasure and delight Of this Theological virtue first in order not the first in fruit and continuance the greatest the end of the Commandement the bond of perfection the fulfilling of the Law I purpose to meditate by the grace of God This Love is a grace supernatural and is neither in us by nature nor can bee acquired by our endeavour Yea the measure of love is not defined according to the endeavour of the received but the pleasure and will of the Spirit measuring and pouring it into every one The author or principal cause of Divine Love is God himself by his blessed Spirit renewing and regenerating our hearts to the love of his Majesty Love is the fruit of the Spirit a Gal. 5.22 b Joh. 4.7 Eph. 6.23 He that loveth is born of God Love is of God and God is love Hee loveth us in his well-beloved and is the ever-springing fountain of all love in us The Spirit openeth our eyes to see and behold the incomprehensible goodness of God without which there is no love For of a thing unknown there is no desire The same Spirit infuseth the grace of love whereby wee are enabled to love God and quickened unto it Rom. 5.5 whereas of our selves we are destitute of all power and ability to every spiritual duty And the Spirit sheddeth abroad the love of God in our hearts whereby they are warmed to love God again The means which the Spirit useth for this purpose is the Word of Grace revealing the incomparable love of God in Jesus Christ towards us most miserable wretches The less principal cause of love is man renewed by the Spirit 1 Joh. 4.7 Deut. 30.6 Man regenerate doth love the Lord not of himself but by the grace of God The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul Faith well rooted will a Gal. 5.6 Quantum cognoscimus tantum diligimus animate quicken and move love Faith and Love are both graces supernatural infused at once in the same instant of time but in order of working Faith hath the precedency and kindleth Love From this it followeth that the subject of Love is a renewed heart inlightened with the true saving knowledge of God purified by Faith and seasoned by Grace For Love is a spiritual affection in the reasonable part presupposing knowledge and affiance whereby the soul goeth forth to imbrace the good it apprehendeth The end of Love is the possession of God as the chief good Love as wee see makes man and woman one and so it doth couple us to God It is a weight whereby the heart is inclined toward God and wholly carried unto him The object of Charity is God in Christ God is to bee loved not only as hee is good merciful gracious long-suffering and bountiful and as hee doth love and daily lade us with his blessings But also as hee is wise just and powerful even as hee doth chastize and visit us with severe corrections For as the true love of children towards their Parents doth effect this that they love their Parents and perswade themselves that they bee beloved of them though they bee reprehended crossed corrected and cannot obtain what they will so true Love
of God and destruction of mankind by that temptation but it turned to his confusion and overthrow The seed of the woman hath bruised the Serpents head his power is crushed and his devices frustrated Nor did the instrument of the Devil escape unpunished the Serpent is accursed above all the beasts of the earth most wretched and ashamed to appear abroad hee is adjudged to creep upon his belly with pain to eat the dust for meat a grievous diet And the Lord hath put enmity betwixt him and the woman All sin especially prophanation and contempt of the Sacrament is like to this of our first Parents in some sort but this was the first sin the fountain of all sin the sin of man and his posterity for Adam received and lost integrity both for himself and us Quest How are these things to bee applied unto the heart Answ Wee must work our heart to humiliation stir up our selves earnestly to seek help and deliverance and acknowledge the justice of God in correcting and his incomprehensible mercy in vouchsafing means of recovery unto man How is man fallen from his first dignity and good estate hee was created holy and happy furnished with grace and set in place of high renown Thou Lord didst crown him with glory and honour and gavest him a patent for his posterity that they should live in blessedness before thee But wo is mee what alteration do I finde Man hath sinned and God is displeased Man that was the beauty of the world the beloved of God is now the map of misery the object of divine revenging justice His mind is besotted his conscience unquiet his will and affection poisoned with sin fear dread horrour and trembling possesseth his reins his body is naked deformed subject to annoyance of heat cold distemper many waies The Free-man of God the Lord of the creatures is brought into most miserable and sore bondage unto Satan sin his own conscience who can comprehend the miseries of this life whereunto hee lyes open No words can describe the spiritual plagues that are seized upon the soul already nor the dreadful torments that are prepared for him in hell for evermore Oh my soul enter into thy self consider and bewail thy natural estate thou art exposed to suffer a thousand evils to wearisome vanity in every thing yea through fear of death the upshot of evils thou art in bondage all thy dayes while in that state thou abidest Pharaoh did never put Israel to such hard service as the Devil putteth thee to while thou art under his power Thou art sick filthy naked crooked fallen from the love of God more odious in his eyes than the stink or filthy savour of a dead corps in the nostrils of man exposed to the torments of Hell shut up under the curse of the Law abidest under wrath How do men of the world take on when they have lost a great friend upon whom all their hopes depended when they bee cast from the top of honour into the gulf of misery poverty and disgrace weep oh my soul and pour out tears in secret for thou hast lost thy glory art spoiled of thy ornaments and hast provoked the Lord to anger by thy inventions The brute beasts take it as a grievous thing to bee insnared and taken and wilt thou laugh in the midst of bondage and count it liberty to bee a slave of Satan Death is terrible and wilt not thou fear Hell which followeth after it as a desert of thy transgression Ah miserable man and the more miserable that thou art senseless of thy misery yet now that I know my disease I will seek for remedy The sick person will take bitter pills to recover health the bondman desires liberty the captive freedome the condemned a pardon My present case is very wretched and in no case to be rested in Nature teacheth all creatures to shroud themselves from dangers or being in distress to seek help without delay much more am I to bee moved with mine estate who am subject to eternal death which hath already seized upon mee in a spiritual death of soul and mortality or dying state of the body wee will meet a disease betime labouring to rid our selves of it if any thing threaten our name and estate wee will indeavour quickly to free the one and the other But whither shall I fly for succour where shall I finde the Physician that is able to cure and redeem mee from the tyranny of Satan Set mee free from the fear of Hell I am even at my wits end not knowing which way to turn Oh Lord I am utterly destitute of all means to help my self it is not in my power to satisfie thy justice overcome death or deliver my soul out of the hands of the Devil I cannot think a good thought I know not nor of my self can know the way of Life or means of my recovery Blessed God as of thine infinite mercy thou hast ordeined so I pray thee reveal unto mee the way how I may escape eternal death deserved by my sin and bee made partaker of everlasting happiness through thy special grace Righteous art thou oh Lord and just are thy judgements I know that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted mee and that I have deserved much more than ever I felt from thee Thou mightest have cast mee for ever out of thy presence and given mee my portion with the Devil and his Angels But loe thou dost correct mee in measure for my good to purge mee from sin and bring mee unto repentance that I might bee saved Oh my God I will magnifie thy name for thou hast redeemed my soul from death my darling from the power of the doggs This mercy was not shewed to the Angels Creatures more excellent than man Should one redeem us from the state of villanage or ransome us from the Gallows wee would think wee could not bee thankful enough But Lord thou hast redeemed mee from revenging Justice from the power of the Devil holding mee under the curse from the power of conscience justly condemning mee from the power of sin commanding as King How great is thy mercy towards mee I am not able to comprehend it As my sin and misery hath abounded thy mercy hath abounded much more Quest Let us now hear what order is to bee observed in Meditation of sin Answ Wee must call to minde and discourse with our selves of the causes ends properties and effects and kinds of sin what is contrary unto it what like and what unlike O my soul what is sin wherewith thou art beset and stained yea miserably besotted since the fall of Adam what is it but the privation of Gods Image and corruption of the soul an aberration from the rule of perfection an evil disposition of the subject turning aside from the path of life and swarving from the mark and end that all should aim at God is the fountain of all good things the giver of every good and
freeman for evermore Those Saviours were meer men but Christ our Redeemer is God and Man They delivered their people by force of arms but Christ by his death first payed the price of our Redemption and then God by his great power rescued us from the hands of the Devil They brought their Redeemed into an earthly Canaan but Christ our Redeemer hath prepared for us an heavenly Inheritance They saved them that were oppressed and evil-intreated against their wills but Christ set us free who had voluntarily sold our selves into the state of slavery Quest How are these things to bee applied unto the heart Answ Upon consideration of these things wee must stir up our selves to seek the knowledge of Christ Jesus fly unto him with sound affiance rejoyce in God and sing praises to his name Oh my soul is deliverance from spiritual thraldome to bee found in Jesus Christ then enquire after him and seek to know him with gladness The Name Jesus is sweet honey in the mouth melody in the ear a Jubile in the heart What a servant were hee that knew not his Masters Name is not hee unworthy the benefit of Redemption that will not vouchsafe to enquire who hath paid his Ransome Oh my soul fly unto Christ in whom thou shalt finde deliverance from all spiritual thraldome God hath made Christ an Adam Head Root Store-house in whom are treasured all those good things which from him are communicated unto us Wee love to thrust amongst them with whom wee may finde benefit and profit Seek this above all that thou mayest bee by Faith in Christ Should Bankrupts hear of any that should answer their creditors for them they would quickly resort to him how much more shouldest thou resort to this Mediatour and Surety who will answer the debt of those that come unto him by Faith seek to bee ingrafted into him strive by Faith to grow up in him for the more nearly wee are united with any thing the more wee partake of the virtue and operation of it Those that are nearest the fire partake in the heat of it more than those that are further removed Thou seest men seek to bee made one person in law to bee most nearly joyned to such as may bring them in wealth Oh my soul why dost thou not seek more earnestly by a spiritual marriage to become one with him in whom is every good blessing Behold hee sueth unto thee not that hee might bee enriched by thee for thou hast nothing to give hee stands in need of nothing but that hee might answer thy debt set thee at liberty adorn thee with grace and endow thee with eternal life O my soul what great cause hast thou to love the Lord and rejoyce in his mercy God hath given his Son to dye for us before we asked it Christ hath when wee could not through our gracelesness once ask him fulfilled all Righteousness and discharged us from the danger of sin Wee take it as love in men if spoken to they will do small matters for us Hee that will bear a blow for us in our behalf bee bound for us in great summs of mony specially hee that will lye by it for our good But how much more art thou to acknowledge this grace of Christ who hath been thy Surety paid for thy deliverance not silver or gold but his precious blood The insensible creatures are called upon to rejoyce for the Redemption of Gods people when they were redeemed from Babel the joy did put them into an extrasie they knew not whether they were asleep or awake But this spiritual Redemption doth as far out-strip that temporal freedome as Heaven is above the Earth or hell worse than the house of bondage Sing unto the Lord oh my soul make a joyful noise unto the God of thy salvation What cause hast thou to praise him who hath visited and redeemed thee with such a Redemption Thou mayest remember the day when thou wast in thraldome to the burning wrath of God and stoodest under the condemnation of the Law when it was death to bee held to the duties of godliness in which is the exercise of true freedome and sin did hold thee so fast that though thou sawest the mischief of it and proposedst sometimes a new course yet thou couldest not return to it as before when this lust and that passion did tyrannize over thee and fears of conscience and death did hold thee in thraldome But now the Lord hath looked upon thee in mercy his wrath is appeased the Law is answered Satan is cast down and thou art received into special favour to walk with him Oh Lord I am ashamed that I should bee so senseless at the remembrance of this unspeakable love so forgetful of this undeserved kindness move the scales from mine eyes I pray thee and take the veil from my heart which will not let mee rejoyce in so excellent mercy Quest Shew how wee must proceed in Meditation on the Resurrection of Christ Ans Wee must consider the Subject Antecedents Causes End Time Place and things that happened with it the effects properties and consequents what is like and what unlike My soul desires to think upon the Resurrection of Christ in which I may behold the reconciled face of God Dear Father direct my mind rightly to conceive of this high mystery to the glory of thy Name and the comfort of my soul To rise from the sleep of sin is to leave or desist from evil Hee that is fallen prostrate ariseth when he gathers up himself Hee that layeth himself down to rest ariseth when hee is raised from sleep Hee that is dead ariseth when the soul is knit to the body The Resurrection of Christ is the first degree of his exaltation wherein the soul being united again to his body hee was raised up to spiritual and immortal life It is a motion partly natural partly supernatural Natural in respect of the subject bound and means For Christ rose so out of the grave that hee is said to bee there no more and he rose by means proper to a natural body that being removed which might seem to hinder Nor was this Resurrection in a moment but in certain succession of time which is required to every natural motion Nevertheless this motion is supernatural in respect of the cause efficient and the end The Divine Nature of Christ could not suffer nor dye nor rise again but hee was raised to life in respect of that nature that died for our sins or in respect of the body which for a time was separated from the soul and laid in the grave This was prefigured by types foretold by the Prophets of the Old Testament and most clearly spoken to his Disciples by our Saviour himself signifying unto them that the Son of Man must suffer at Jerusalem and bee buried and the third day rise again The principal cause of the Resurrection was the Divine Nature most strictly united with the Humanity In
Scripture this work is ascribed to the Father * Act. 2.24 who is said to raise his Son and to the Son a Rom. 1.4 Joh. 10.18 who by his Divine power or as the Apostle speaketh by the eternal Spirit raised up himself I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it Of his infinite love towards his Elect hee laid down his life and of the same love and affection toward them hee rose again which is more evidently seen in this that hee did vouchsafe to call them brethren with which sweet name full of love hee had not before saluted any man As hee suffered the most grievous torment for the salvation of the Elect his chosen people so for the glorification of his Spouse that is the Church hee rose again that hee might inrich and beautifie her with spoils taken from the enemy The Causes lead us to consider of the End why Christ rose again for every proper efficient intendeth an end which is ever good and that most excellent as the worker is of greatest wisdome and excellency Now therefore since Christ rose in special love to his peculiar people it must needs tend to their special exceeding great good By his Resurrection the glory of Christ which hee had with the Father before the foundation of the world was manifested which the world would not acknowledge by his Sermons nor by miracles confirming his Doctrine By his Resurrection he obtained those glorious Titles with which the Prophets foretold that the Messias should bee adorned such as bee Act. 3.15 1 Cor. 15.20 Col. 1.15 18. Apoc. 1.5 Rom. 14.9 The Prince of life the first-fruits of them that sleep the first-born of every creature the first-born from the dead and the first-begotten of the dead and the Lord of Dead and Living By his Resurrection hee shewed himself to bee the Conquerour of Death Sin and Satan meritoriously hee triumphed over our enemies upon the Cross actually hee began his triumph at the Resurrection Col. 2.23 24. Now when the powers of Hell could no longer hold him under it is manifest that they are subdued and conquered By his Resurrection hee declareth that his satisfaction is fully absolute Had the least penny of our debt remained upon the score not discharged hee could not have loosed the sorrows of Death Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification By the Resurrection hee prepared himself to the glorious function of a Mediatour As hee suffered without the gate to pay the price of our Redemption So did hee enter into Heaven to appear before the Father for us Hee died once for our sins and now liveth for ever to make intercession for us By his death hee purchased life and salvation for his people and now sitting in glory at the right hand of the Father hee doth communicate the blessing that hee hath procured for them Christ rose that wee might rise For hee that raised up the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4.14 shall raised up us with Jesus and set us together with him Early in the morning upon the third day after hee was buried our Saviour rose out of the Sepulchre in which hee was laid at which time there was a mighty Earthquake and an Angel descended from Heaven to rowl away the stone at which glorious apparition the souldiers that kept the Tomb were sore affraid and became as dead men The death of Christ wanted not signs of Majesty nor his Resurrection tokens of exceeding glory when the Earth was moved at his presence and the Angels descended from Heaven to do him service The effects of this Resurrection are far more glorious than the signs that did accompany it for unless his Resurrection had followed his cruel death all his benefits appropriated to us had layen buried together with him 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 6.8 9 1 Cor. 15.55 1 Pet. 1.3 1 Cor. 15.21 22. The Resurrection of Christ is a notable confirmation of his Doctrine the abolition of sin and death regeneration unto life eternal and vivification of our bodies are the fruits of it It was necessary that Christ should rise in regard of the excellency of his person for being the proper Son of God it was impossible hee should bee held of the sorrows of death being just and innocent as man it could not bee that hee should lye under the power of the grave and dying to overcome hee could not bee vanquished of the enemies It was also necessary in respect of the Covenant hee had made with the Father the dignity of his high office of eternal Mediation and that the truth of those things which were foretold concerning the glory of the Messias might bee fulfilled Many admirable things are spoken touching the Messias and the glory of his Kingdome who was first to lay down his life and then to take possession of his Kingdome in glory where hee shall live for ever to make intercession for his people which hee could not have done if hee had not risen It cannot bee that the Word of God should take none effect but it was foretold that the Messias should rise again in which respect his Resurrection was necessary Christ not as a private person but as a publick person Hee died for his Elect and virtually they rose in him when hee rose from the dead of whose Resurrection they partake actually when by lively Faith they are made one with him This Resurrection was exceeding glorious in respect of the power by which it was effected the life into which hee rose and the things that accompanied or followed after the Resurrection For the graves did open and many bodies of them that slept in the earth arose Whereby the grave did witnesse that its power was taken away and clean vanquished Jonah's deliverance out of the Whales belly was wonderful and miraculous the Lord was gracious in sparing Isaac and raising him as it were from death who was a slain Sacrifice in his Fathers account But these were only types and shadows of Christ his Resurrection the life and glory of the other The elect and faithful shall rise to glory at the day of judgement but they shall rise by the power of Christ Christ arose by his own power they shall rise as the Members of Christ but Christ rose as the first-fruits of them that sleep they shall rise as private persons but Christ arose as a publick They shall arise from corruption but Christ his body did not see corruption They shall rise to immortality and glory for themselves but Christ rose to glory that hee might govern his Church in glory and bring his Elect unto himself that where hee is there they might bee for ever Quest How are these things to bee pressed upon the heart Answ Wee must stir up our selves to behold and rejoyce in the Lords love towards us and fly unto Christ by Faith that wee might feel the power of his Resurrection quickening us to newness of life and comfort our selves against the fear of death and rotting in the grave with an assured hope of Resurrection to immortality and eternal glory FINIS Courteous Reader These Books are printed for and sold by Henry Mortlock at the sign of the Phoenix in Pauls Church-yard near the Little North-door Folios A Commentary upon the whole Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians wherein the Text is learnedly and fruitfully opened with a Logical Analysis spiritual and holy Observation Confutation of Arminianism and Popery By Mr. Paul Bain A Commentary on the Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the Major Prophets By John Trap M. A. Quartos An Exposition of the Prophecy of Ezekiel By William Green-hill The dividing of the Hoof or seeming Contraditions throughout sacred Scriptures distinguished resolved and applied By William Streat M. A. Some Sermons preached upon several occasions By Peter Sterry Large Octavos A Treatise of the Divine Promises in five Books In the first A general Description of their Nature Kinds Excellency Right Use Properties and the Persons to whom they belong In the four last A Declaration of the Covenant it self the bundle and body of all the Promises and the special Promises likewise which concern a mans self or others both temporal spiritual and eternal By Edw. Leigh M. A. of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford The Hypocrites Ladder or Looking-glass or a Discourse of the dangerous and destructive nature of Hypocrisie the reigning and provoking sin of this age wherein is shewed how far the Hypocrite or formal Professor may go towards Heaven yet utterly perish by three Ladders of sixty steps of his Ascending By John Sheffield Minister of the Word at Swithins London An Improvement of the Sea upon the nine Nautical Verses in the 107 Psalm wherein among other things you have a very full and delightful Description of all those many various and multitudinous Objects which they behold in their Travels through the Lords Creation both on Sea in Sea and on Land viz. All sorts and kinds of Fish Fowl and Beasts whether wilde or tame All sorts of Trees and Fruit All sorts of People Cities Towns and Countries By Daniel Pell Preacher of the Word Small Octavos Several Treatises useful for Christian Practice viz. Warning to Backsliders The way to true Happiness Mercies Memorials A Sermon preached on the fifth of Novemb. Milk and Hony first and second Part Orthodox Paradoxes The New Commandement Divine Similitudes or Mysteries and Revelations By Ralph Venning The Exceeding Riches of Grace advanced by the Spirit of Grace in an Empty Nothing-Creature viz. Mris. Sarah Wight Published by H. Jessey A Servant of Jesus Christ A Latin and English Grammar By Charls Hool M. A. Physical Rarities containing the most choice Receits of Physick and Chirurgery for the Cure of all Diseases incident to mans body Hereunto is annexed the Physical Mathematicks of Hermes Trismegistus Published by Ralph Williams Practitioner in Physick and Chirurgery Twelves The Saints Desire or Divine Consolations being a Cordial for a Fainting Soul containing Observations Experiences and Counsels The Saints daily Duty the Life of Faith and how a Soul may live in the sweet enjoyment of the Love of God c. By Samuel Richardson A Receipt for the State-Palsie or a Direction for setling the Government of the Nation delivered in a Sermon upon Proverbs 25. v. 5. FINIS