of meer general thinkings or that of Phansie or Speculation of our own but first laying a Scripture great and firm foundation And then after to improve those Scripture assertions by all the ability and help we can of Reason and Inferences of best Representations and Resemblances of Imagination and Invention General apprehensions and grantings of Scripture truths deceive and destroy many when they are rested in General notions of Heaven and happiness granting it there is a Heaven and no more makes many miss of it miss for want of more distinct apprehensions well grounded believing and due deep sinking of it to the bottom of the heart there to lie glowing to warm and kindle the affections to provoke into a labouring a mighty striving to win the Crown of glory The way is as wisdom in all other cases of consequence teaches to come off every day from general confused thoughts of Heaven and happiness restings on and runnings away with a supposed doing enough If we still grant there 's a Heaven and Happiness every day to endeavour distincter and clearer thoughts and knowledge Generals will not serve grantings must not be made the enough of a wise Christian he must have an extensive and enlarging clearness an encreasing firmness of Faith in the Doctrines the great points of salvation But we having this so prime an Article of faith that which hath wrapt up in it so rich a Treasure and preserves as it were that so inestimable Jewel of happiness mans last end that which is the great foundation and instigation of all a Christians strivings and hopes for he hath no hope in this life for happiness here This therefore should not be turned off nor terminated as too oft is done with a granting or bare assent but still obtain of us a fuller firmer warmer and more operative seeing and belief Now this cannot be without diligent gathering in and better still Meditating on particular Scriptures asserting and clearly manifesting this main Article and mans chief end comprised in it The Jewish Church had this typified in the Holy of Holies as Heb. 9.3.12.24 Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which were the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self This was that by the visible place faith might be stirr'd up to eye and view the invisible typified state of glory Psal 73.24 David tells us of it and was assured to be received up into glory that is into Heaven in glory Dan. 12.23 Of them that sleep in the dust some shall awake to everlasting life and shine as the brightness of the firmament and some as the stars for ever The Church of the New Testament in the writings given by Christ to it have this Doctrine of Heaven and happiness abundantly and most clearly set forth The first mentionings of it are out of the mouth of him that with the Father and Holy Spirit made it Math. 5.3 in Christs first Sermon Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven So verse 10 12. The persecuted for righteousness theirs is c. verse 20. Mention there is again of it Verse 34. and v. 45. and 48. Chap. 6. v. 1. v. 9. The first passage in the Lord's Prayer At least twelve several times in this first Sermon of Christ this Heaven is mentioned And as in the Gospels so all the new Testament over you may many scores of times find and see it lying as a most shining and glorious Diamond in the Mine or as in a rich Cabinet for to be viewed and laboured for The multitudes of places well weighed must needs hold forth to all that shut not their eyes wilfully a Local Heaven a place of happiness and glory It is no Allegorical Heaven as some have dream'd or may ignorantly imagine when it is asserted in so many clear passages which all of them in our reading or hearings should have their due weight weight of thinkings and efficacy on us for firm believing and answerable endeavours for not losing but enjoying it For the rank of places what it hath the Scripture tells us it is the third Heaven the first being that where the Clouds are the second where the glorious Lights Sun Moon and Stars are this third above them all call'd therefore the highest Heaven This third and highest Heaven is most inconceivably excellent not made of any preceeding matter much less of any elementary matter Some say it was made immediately of nothing and with it were also made concreated the Angels all at the same instant Heaven never being empty of Inhabitants The Sun Moon and Stars were made not the first day but the fourth day for Furniture of that Heaven under the highest Heaven 2. It is the largest and most capacious place as that which comprises or surrounds all the inferiour world and things in that O here here is Rechaboth room enough In this world here 's crowding pushing crushing of the Saints The wicked world would quite cast them every one out of it to be left alone and enjoy all to be let alone and have none to see and shame them any way But the Saints shall all be brought at last into a large place where none shall molest or trouble them Heaven is a Rechaboth indeed a most large place The Globe of the whole Earth and Water is as Geographers tell us at the least one and twenty thousand and six hundred miles in compass The Air above encompassing in that and especially the uppermost part of the Air must needs be far more in compass than the Earth and Water The Moon alone is very great though something less than the Earth some of the Planets are judged far greater than the Globe of the Earth The Sun by some is judged to be one hundred sixty six times greater than the whole Earths Globe which others make yet far greater which then must be some millions of miles in compass according to that account The fixed Stars which all are above the highest Planet Saturn are by the Learned every of them judged greater than all the Earth the least of them eighteen times bigger than the Earth those of the highest magnitude and the most glorious brightness an hundred and eighteen times bigger than the whole Earth Of these fixed Stars who can tell the numbers of them those which are reckon'd are but some hundreds in their Constellations How exceeding then vast must this starry Heaven be if the Planets and fixed Stars in it are so great and numerous O then how unspeakably vast and large must this third Heaven be which compasses round all the Earth Air and the starry Heavens What a Kingdom for Territories is this What a place for Christ to prepare Mansions for his in What a place for the all-glorious God and Jesus Christ to keep a Court in highest splendour and magnificence in And the Lord Jesus the Saviour that purchased this inheritance with his own blood for him to be ever viewed loved admired
enjoy the Lord of the Sabbath and have time turned wholly into Eternity These or such like Meditations may be sutable and quickening for improving the great opportunity of this day of Christ and we cannot think too much or too seriously for this great occasion Having in some measure thus endeavoured to open and illustrate this point of daily Meditation both that which may be sutable for the six days and for the Lords day I pass to the next sort Occasional Meditation CHAP. XV. Of Occasional Meditation and that which is more extraordinary SOlemn Occasional Meditation comes now to be considered which is the souls taking of time for and acting Meditation on some particular selected subject either out of the Word of God or among the Works of God or somthing providentially falling out or somthing concerning our selves any thing offering fit occasion for fruitful Meditation They may be chiefly referr'd to these two heads 1. Either such things as purposely we out of varieties of subjects before us do single out for Meditation to help and quicken us in godliness 2. Or some new fresh thing which the hand of Gods Providence holdeth forth for our particular observing and improving 1. That which we ourselves out of varieties of subjects may or do single out for our spiritual advantage Here the scope and compass our Eye hath to make its choice of and fix upon is very large The Eye in Meditation hath before it the fullest fairest prospect can come in view Here is a breadth length depth height a compass and circumference that in point of lawful liberty you may look from Earth to Heaven yea through the whole world in all its vastness and varieties of objects in it and beyond them all unto him that is so infinitely above them all God himself in all his so inconceivable exaltations and perfections O how narrow then must that Spirit be which shall be straitned and at a loss for matter to employ and busie its seriousness about That hath so large a Field to walk in and so great varieties as the vast world Heaven and Earth and all things in them and the infinite God with so many infinite excellencies as are in him and yet to seek how to Meditate Ah how barren low and poor must that spirit be which is enriched with so great provisions for mind and thought entertainment and for times improvement and yet cannot fruitfully employ it self on some one thing or other that presents it self to us and invites our seeing and pondering of it Although Meditation hath so great a latitude and liberty a liberty to travel farther and see more by far than all the great Travellers that have bin in the world yet spiritual wisdom teacheth us to endeavour the most advantageous way of engaging our thinking power in Meditation For the wisdom of this way we now are upon it needs must lie in that manner and order as most may conduce to the great and main end of glorifying God and our own salvation It is most true that in point of liberty it is my Christian priviledge to take and set before me any profitable subject to intend my thoughts upon when no particular occasion of Meditation doth otherwise oblige me I say when no particular contrary obligation is upon me I may chuse to meditate either on this or that useful subject as I please I have the whole Creation for my Eye-walk my Meditation and spirits recreation yea and farther than the whole world extends I may go to contemplate him that is the highest if I please like David and other Saints of God I may with my Eye walk and look among the Works of God the so excellent and unimitable pieces of his most admirable framing On all the so stately Fabrick of the world any of the rare built stories lower or higher any of the rich Furnitures or exquisite things contained in it First I may view the lower story wherein I am fix upon the precious things the Earth hath within the riches of Minerals and precious Metals Silver Gold and the so useful other sorts the riches of all sorts of precious Stones Diamonds Carbuncles Rubies Emeralds and all the rest I may view the innumerable exquisite things upon the Earth from the Moss and imperfect Plants to the Grass made for the Cattel to all things growing in the whole Garden of Nature and more peculiarly made for the service of man among all the Herbs Flowers Shrubs and Trees of all sorts and see in them the so fair Characters of the infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness of the great Creator written most legibly on them I may Meditate on all sorts of living Creatures from the least and lowest Mite or Insect all creeping things with all Beasts and Birds that go upon the Earth wild or tame Consider I may their several Natures Features and Shapes Beauties and Excellencies and withall the serviceableness and usefulness of them to that poor Clod of earth man for whom they are I may look to the Waters Fountains Rivers and vast Seas with the innumerable things and Creatures about and in them Fowls Fishes and these of so many Kinds Forms and Shapes all of them the demonstrations of the infinite glories of that unimitable Artist the great God My Meditation also may with the Psalmist take in the eternal and mighty Hills and Mountains with the Rocks Sands and Bulwarks made against the raging Seas that they return not again to cover the earth Psal 104.9 I may go up to the higher stories of this Fabrick of the World to the Waters above to the Clouds and their Bottleings up of Waters in them and that so great wonder in Nature the invisible and so powerful Wind which carries the Clouds from place to place whereby they at length open fall down and water the thirsty Earth with Dews and Showrs they also serve to purge and purfie the Air we breathe in I may eye other sorts of Meteors or Exhalations and things appearing in the Air as those fiery and dreadful sometimes impressions making us to wonder the falling Stars flying Dragons fiery dartings of some and fixing standing brightnesses of others of several shapes To all these I may adde that Voice of God the fearful Thunder and the concomitant Coruscations and Lightnings Lightnings also sometimes alone all these are mighty and stupendious operations of the great God Higher yet I may go to another higher story that of the Starry Heaven contemplate the so innumerable Stars of several glories and wonderful motions influences with the beauteous Moon to shine by Night her changings encreasings and decreasings and hidings and that Eye of the World the most glorious Sun all so admirably meditated upon by the Psalmist Ps 8. Ps 19. Ps 104. Ps 136. I may go yet one step higher to that third Heaven the Palace of God where also Christ is in his humane Nature exalted and appearing in highest glory It is also the native place of
particulars 1. Meditation on some passage or portion of Scripture 2. Or going over the chief points of Religion in order 3. Meditating of some of the works of God 4. Or something of my own spiritual state to make me more wise or warm or active for God 5. Or how the case of my soul stands 6. Or of my own evil hearts deceitfulness 7. Of my Enemies Satan and the World 8. Of my wants and weakness of Graoe 9. Of the swift passing of time and opportunities 10. Of the shortness of my life 11. Of death of the body 12. Of Judgment after death and of the Last Judgment 13. Of death Eternal and Hell 14. Of Heaven and Eternal happiness These are the heads of this first Branch CHAP. XXIII Meditation on some things providential THere is but this one thing which I will briefly dispatch remaining yet to be spoken of and then I come to the last sort of Meditation that is by a short and more sudden way Ejaculatory Meditation I say there should be Meditation on something providential a matter the hand of providence acts or orders holds forth and offers to our viewing and serious thinkings The great God as he always is guiding and ordering all things in all places in Heaveu Earth and Waters and among all Creatures especially the reasonable and chiefly above all in his Church and for his Saints against his and their Enemies As he is guiding with his hand all the concerns of particular persons to the supream end his own glory and likewise infallibly to the salvation of his Redeemed so there is ever and anon something observable particularly providential something which as the hand of providence holdeth forth so the heart of prudence and godly wisdom will take up that purposely it will set it self to see search and improve as it may be something sometime of the Church of God abroad or something of the People of God at home or in the place particularly we live in It may be there is some dispensation to some of our Relations or Friends or some matter falls out in our Family or yet nearer on our person and personal concerns There is seldom any space of time but the great Governour of the World is doing some remarkable thing it may be some admirable and glorious it may be some amazing and stupendious it may be some terrible and very dreadful work if we have our eyes in exercise and will observe Indeed Gods goings sometimes Psal 77.19 His footsteps cannot be seen but are very secret and unsearchable And there are others of his workings which are more easie for all to behold and understand There are varieties of Providences successively following each others which we should wait and watch for which we should take as they come fresh and warm out of the Lords hand and apply them warm to our hearts for a more kindly operation Meditate we should upon Providences while they are just new and fresh so we shall give them or rather our selves the advantage of a more ready and affectionate pondering a more profitable minding If I could still improve in Meditation of the Promises and in a wise warm lively also Meditating of providences in the one see better daily the riches of free Grace in the other the glorious governings of a God in wisdom righteousness and goodness How would my spirit under the dews of this fruitful Meditation be shooting up how would it prosper They are the highest form Christians that are arrived here at the contemplation of the works and great providences of God in the world In 1 John 2.13 He writes to some he calls Fathers others young men others Children Some by Children understand such as are as to Meditation taken up with the promises and matters of justification pardon and peace young men are such who are gotten farther and exercis'd about sanctification and conquering strong corruptions Fathers that beyond both are taken up and arriv'd at ponderings and contemplations of the works and ways of God and his great actings in the world So it is sometimes needful to Meditate on the Providences that are more obliging and engaging more awakening and inciting such as are as it were the special hand of the Lord touching us taking bold of us framing and ordering things for us And here there is great reason our Meditation should be more serious and curious as wherein we may see Gods so particular goings and workings toward us and for us Psal 18. All that excellent Psalm over David there enumerates and records all Gods goings towards him O then with the Psalmist let my soul meditate on all the works of God list and file up up the dispensations of his observable providences towards others and my self Meditate on his so merciful preservings directings prosperings and all other sorts and ways of Providence that I may admire and exalt him depend and trust and wait upon him and walk so before him that his ways may ever be mercy and truth towards me I have now dispatcht the second branch of Meditation on particular Providences and thereby the second general kind of Meditation which is set and occasional Meditation at particular times of leisure The last sort of Meditation comes now to be handled CHAP. XXIV Of more short and ejaculatory Meditation BEsides solemn and set Meditation there is also that which is sudden and short wherein the soul acts as one breaking out of a Throng or Croud goes aside from disturbances and diversions or breaks off from some present and too pressing business to take breath and respite it self whereby it makes a stand of thoughts turns the stream of former thoughts and like a Bird that was sitting on the ground rises and mounts up aloft to sing and sport it self even so a holy heart in heavenly mindedness will get out of the throng of cares and business will be often breaking off the thread of earthly thoughts and interpose some heavenly dart up to Heaven make a short visit thither refresh it self with some heavenly dainty take and taste of the Manna above look up to God to Christ his Spirit his Grace his Promises his Providences and gracious orderings have a running Banquet of heavenly sweet-meats when it cannot sit down and feed at large by a fuller set Meditation As there are ejaculatory Prayers and wishes when there is not opportunity for more solemn enlargements there should be also sudden and short meditatings quick interposings of good and holy thoughts then when the urgencies of Affairs incumbrances diversions and interruptions by company hindrances in any kind will not admit the opportunity of an abode of serious thoughts then sudden dartings up the soul to Heaven may be had be a refreshment as Jonathans tasting the Honey with the top of his Rod when being in pursuit of the Philistines he could not take a full meal David that meditated so much must needs in respect of his great occasions Civil and Military and Domestick
a little thinking Shall I suffer my self to be of that simple sort and to be carried away in that crowd to utter ruine If I neuer yet walkt in this heavenly thought-way the greater reason I have to hasten into it But if I have tasted tryed and found the surpassing sweetness and advantages of it have I not high encouragement to make a farther progress still in it And if by long beating this path I have largely experienced the most abundant pleasantness and sweetness have I not then greatest inducement to go on the more both evenly and earnestly Ah! then my soul consider with thy self the liberties the latitudes the pleasures and satieties which thy eye may still expatiate and recreate it self in by this rare Art of Divine Meditation Look to thy ways thy eye-ways their varieties and excellencies which are so many and of that transcendency that there never were nor can be any so various and spacious of that delicacy beauty and glory The wise and holy heart hath far the advantage of all the great Scholars and Artists all the highest Nobles and Princes he hath better walks and rarer eye-entertainments in his happy way of Meditation Ah! then my soul how canst thou in the least sort be slothful and backward to this so pleasant performance and soul-enriching way this so easie ascent to Heaven by the paths and steps purposely made thee to mount up thither See what plenties of rare provisions are made to entertain and take up thy thoughts What multitudes of fittest objects What sweet and precious things lie full before thee to give thee a full employment at all times and with a very great variety to be a preventive of weariness and cloying and introduce a more fulness of satiety and delight Thou hast that great Book of the whole Creation all the several most stupendious and glorious Works of God to take and look over all the guilded leaves and there to meditate on wonder after wonder Thou mayst carry thy eye over all the Earth full of Gods Riches descend into the bowels of it meet with all the hid Treasures and Rarities lockt up in the Makers rich Cabinet there below Thou mayst go upon the so large extended Waters through the paths of the Seas see the things of excellency in the one and other Thence thou mayst ascend up the steps and stories of the Air and Firmament the glorious Heaven beyond it with the so glorious Lights of such astonishing magnitudes and motions orders and influences Thence then mount up thou mayst to the highest Heaven that most holy place the Worlds most glorious piece and fabrick that Palace of the King of Glory with all his so glorious Retinue and Attendants of millions of millions of most happy Saints and Angels O what an ample provision is this for my spirits particular help and solace my eye-accommodation and recreation Yea how unspeakably gracious must I have declared my God to be towards me had I only been favoured with the ten thousand part of the things my Meditation can recreate it self upon Ah! but my soul thou hast more graciously afforded thee by thy God another book that richest Treasure of most infallible necessary and saving Truths there may I most highly meditate and satiate my self with that highest Mystery of godliness all the wonders concurring and meeting to make it up and among them that most especially of the so astonishing so all-amazing Mystery of God manifested in the flesh The very highest thought-walk given for a created Nature to take its most ravishing solace in Not only for sinners redeemed by the Lord of Glory but those of that uppermost rank of Nature that never needed a Saviour from sin yet being mutable creatures might all have fallen But in Christ their Head being given in their election to him and thence preserved by him These blessed Angels have this Mystery of Godliness this Lord of Glory Jesus Christ their Head of continuation of happiness the most transcendent object of their highest contemplation and admiration O what an account then shall I render to my God if I do not design and endeavour Meditation in some good degree proportionate and answering the so inconceivable eye-obligation and engagement herein lying on me But O my soul this is not all thou hast yet another Book besides that of the Creature and the other of Scripture the book of thy own self state and heart wherein with singular advantage thou mayst constantly busie thy thoughts most seriously And if thou art Christs Temple knowest his dwelling in thee thou mayst find it like the so glorious Temple of Solomon built of costly stones of spiritual excellencies over-laid with that pure gold of inward Holiness and Sanctification throughout Having in it that fire of heavenly love descended on it burning in it the Altar for offering thy self by Christ in thee a whole burnt-offering the golden Altar Christ for the perfuming of all thy services to ascend as Incense up to God and be pleasing most sweet and acceptable with him There you may find the golden Lamps with the seven glorious lights the Lord of light thy wisdom making thee light and shining in heavenly knowledge and wisdom Nay there may be found the golden Ark with the Testimony the Law by the finger of Christ written on the fleshly tables of thy heart and the Mercy-seat or Propitiatory whereby thou art made to God a friend by Christ who is the Propitiation residing in the Temple the hidden man of thy heart the Cherubims of glory cover thee and thy whole man made the Temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling and working in thee O what precious matter of Meditation may thy own glorious state and the beauties of Graces and Holiness the new creature formed in thee after the image of Christ and the Spirit of life and power to the highest praise of the infinite love of the most blessed God afford thee even that God who in riches of free grace hath thought upon and from all Eternity chosen thee to be a vessel of glory and honour O how many and many rare objects as have been formerly exprest are given and set before thee to improve Meditation upon And to and above all if there be not enough large enough high enough sweet enough and satisfying thou hast to search and dive farther into the infinite power of the All-sufficient God especially his infinite loveliness and sweetness to take thy highest solace fullest satisfaction in Ah! then my soul lift up to the utmost thy self in most glorious praises unto thy God who hath appointed such a way as this of heavenly Meditation to hedge in thy thoughts wildness and wandrings to help up thy thought otherwise earthliness Bless him with all that is within thee for vouchsafing and sanctifying so happy a way for thy both thought-imployment and improvement Bless him with all heart-enlargements thou canst for making thee so spacious and large walks Most highly rejoyce in him who hath afforded thee so transcending pleasant and delightful walks for thy thoughts to take their happy turns in Say unto thy God O what is man that thou art so mindful of him so mindful of that silly mind of man as to prepare and fit for him such blessed mind-walks and these in so great variety of excellency spiritual excellency for such pure pleasure and ravishing delight O then my soul never deny the doing of this work never defer the doing to a better time when time is now O be not heartless and listless dead and dull not uneven and inconstant in the fervent performance of it O daily contend to higher excellency in this heavenly Art to have the wings of thy spirit longer and stronger to soar a higher pitch to take a more nimble flight and make larger returns of blessed advantages in peace joy satisfactions of ravishments and highest raptures of spirit and by this assent of holy Meditation mount up still higher and higher till thou touchest Heaven it self till contemplation ends in vision and fruition of the most infinitely glorious God himself Vision is accompanied with plenary and most perfect satisfaction perfect happiness for ever To which most unspeakably glorious God the most infinitely highest Beauty and Excellency for the eye by contemplation to act and dwell upon the Father chiefly in his infinite riches of free Grace the Son in his infinite fulness of Redemption the Holy Spirit in his most glorious Inhabitation and Application of that Redemption be Honour Glory and everlasting Praises of Saints and Angels for ever Amen Soli Deo gloria FINIS
Chariot of fire by love and 3. It leaves continually an Agent in the Court of Heaven by Hope It s the great heart-warmer by privacy giving the greater advantage of importunity without any check from the presence of others The great heart-humbler Melter down and Refiner instrumentally by actings of sound and kindly Repentance Making the dross and embasing mixtures of Corruptions and Lusts to pass away and the heart become purer It s the peculiar advantage to learn and act the rare art and secret of wrestling with God and returning with the high encouragements of holy overcomings of him It is the way of the rarest hours highest soul-Raptures richest pourings in of comforts and most happy experiencings of the descendings down of Heaven in purest sweetest largest soul-satieties Therefore for richest furnishing us with fittest matter for a best heart frame to perform this daily duty performing it in the most spiritual and effectual manner for doing it as to out-do former all former doings we must look to lay the Foundation deeper and larger in better and more suited Thinkings and Meditatings think to the utmost to pray to the best The same word in the Hebrew signifies as divers of the Learned say both Meditation and Prayer First it signifies Meditation and then by a Metonymy of the Cause for the Effect it signifies Prayer To shew what Prayers should be still presented to the great God such as have some due weight of Meditation which are made out and made up of Meditation or have at least the best seriousness we can That great man of Prayer the Psalmist David ordinarily calls his Prayer his Meditation and peculiarly his Prayer in the morning the foundation of the following days work his Meditation Psal 5.1 2. in that excellent and warm beginning of that Psalm Prayer and Meditation like Hippocrates Twins born lived and died together so Meditation and Prayer rise and warm and grow servent or cool fall and decay together Prayer cherishes Meditation Meditation feeds Prayer O let my Spirit be still warmed inflamed and melted down in Meditation that it may run and flow and flame in this heavenly devotion and both issue in my daily wiser and warmer working out salvation 3. My serious and curious Mindings must make sure to single out and set in full view that or those things I particularly want and are most proper and necessary for the now for my souls present state There is no godly man but hath ever something which concerns him most Some corruption stirring that must be subdued some Temptation to be encountred some Grace to be endeavoured some comfort or help supplyed It may be many things may be the present if not urgent concerns CHAP. XII Meditation of daily self-denyal IN the next place let me Meditate of what I want as to self-denial and Mortification evidenced by the weeds of corruptions coming up in my spirit Mar. 8.34 or ready ever and anon to arise and get ground and all still upon that grand interest of self or the Reliques of the Roots or Stumps of it This which hath not been spoken to this self-interest the taking of it down in my heart is one of the greatest concernments Meditation daily should fix upon Self is the great Hinge the carnal heart hangs and turns upon There the Center is self the Circumference self all the lines are drawn from self and to self Self is the great Rival and Competitioner with the infinitely surpassing God and contends for superiority with him yea self sits in the Throne wears the Crown holds the Scepter and self is the sinners all in all 1. All positive actings in sensualities pride and covetousness and other evils are but to satisfie self 2. All negative ways and omittings of good are but to gratifie self to ease slothful self loth to be put to stir least willing to labour toil or strive least of all to lose smart and suffer Self claps the great strong Biass on the soul is the spreading prevailing poyson in it and empoysons it all over Self is highest in the estimation nothing passes at so high a rate not God himself Self is highest in the affection nothing so near as self Self is highest in the purpose and intention nothing so aimed at as self Self in the conversation it hath the endeavours earnestness and equality It is like the most dangerous seising deep rooting and spreading poyson of greatest virulency and prevalency Thus it is in a natural heart In a holy heart though the most high God by the power of Grace be now highest really chief yet that remaining part of self the pieces left behind oft as it were do justle him frequently justle him to get his place and sit uppermost for what do sins when our minds wisdom desires and wills and our ways when they thwart and cross his mind wisdom will and ways but as it were justle him and strive to be uppermost Hereby self sometimes out of carelesness self it seems to have regained the Throne and repossest it self of the soveraignty lost In the best heart there is so much of this bitter Root springing out so much of this soul-bane so much of this Touch-wood Tinder Powder to presently take and instantly blow up so much of this Idol this Dagon set so near the Ark that it hath need of the greatest daily mindings and ponderings as the greatest Enemy that hath gained the greatest advantage of us it lies still in our Bosoms It s like the worm that breeds and feeds of the Bodies own flesh This of all others is the greatest Idol I say self is the greatest Idol that ever was or will be There 's no Image of Jealousie like it in the Eye of a God therefore no one thing requires a more daily minding for a daily watchfulness Mindings for the effectual help and relief against all particular lusts which are but the lesser Branches of the great Root of self the Scouts and Forragers sent forth from the Head-quarter of self This self it is that is the great correspondent and confederate with Satan if self were not the ground within of his attempts from without he could do nothing The Mathematician boastingly said tell me but where I may place my Engine and I will shake the Earth Satan knowing where to place his Engine knows how to shake us and worst us if we watch him not and this self I must mind it most and trust it least labour the most peremptory and constant denyings of it and as my highest wisdom to mortifie particular Lusts that are all fed from this great Root and likewise to keep off Satan from this advantage ground I have it may be enlarged too far upon this very brief I shall be on those that remain CHAP. XIII Of some other particulars which may be sometimes Meditated upon in the day 1. A particular sin IT will be my wisdom to consider that sin or corruption which troubles me most which out of
Christ that he may both be admired of Saints and Angels and magnified in the sight of all wicked men and Devils Therefore he now is to appear in the highest glory splendour and power And he being made now the visible Judge this must be most glorious in that it is the consummating work of his Mediatory Kingdom preceding immediately his delivering up his Kingdom to God the Father as the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 15.24 For the method and most fruitful way of this so very necessary Meditation I conceive it may be 1. To begin with those Scriptures that most clearly and distinctly present us with the infallible certainty of this grand point 2. To then gather up the Remarkable particulars of it in Scripture as to the Nature Manner and the things that both accompany and follow it 3. How to manage it to our being best moved and stirred up by it 1. For the infallible certainty of this Judgment day let me look out those Scriptures in the Old and New Testament that speak perspicuously of it and then labour by Meditation and Prayer to sink deep into my heart to lay them so strongly to infuse as to leave a deep abiding tincture upon it To be put into a full possession and assurance of Faith in this so high soul-concernment In Jude 14. Enoch the seventh from Adam that so walked with God and that was first translated prophesied of the Lords coming to Judgment Job who is supposed by the Learned to have lived when the Israelites were in Egypt and before Moses time in his 19. Chapter 25 26 27. verses hath a most clear and full assertion of his Redeemers being the last day on the Earth and seeing him then c. Solomon Eccl. 12.16 God shall bring every thing to Judgment every secret thing good or evil Dan. 12.2 They that sleep in the dust shall arise some to shame others to life In the New Testament out of Christs the Judges own mouth Math 25.31 to the end This Doctrine is most fully with the particulars and manner of it described and in the other Gospels often So the Apostle of the Gentiles Acts 17.19 At Athens the great Vniversity of the World he tells them God had appointed a day to Judge the World in righteousness and by the man Jesus c. Rom. 2.16 In that day that God shall Judge the secrets of mens hearts So we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ c. 2 Cor. 5.10 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. Christ shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance to all that know not God and obey not the Gospel And Revel 20.12 13. to the end I saw the dead stand before God and judged according to their works c. The varieties of places in Scripture are like many Candles lighted in one place like multitudes of Lights in the Heavens all to give light to us below that we might have clearest discoveries firmest Faith strongest instigations to yield full compliance and obedience with greatest readiness pleasure and sweetness O I must answer for having the Scriptures the varieties perspicuities convincing Reasons and perswading endeavours of the Spirit of God towards me in them and by them The more in the Scripture is done for me the more will be required of me This for the first 2. The particulars remarkable to be gathered together of this day as the nature manner c. 1. I must meditate of the Person the so great and glorious Person that shall be Judge which is God himself as the Scripture often tells us as Eccl. 12.16 Rom. 2.16 as was mentioned before God shall judge c. Though this be greatly considerable under which our Faith must be concluded and this alone well pondered may greatly awaken awe and provoke us to all fulness of regard and care yet the Word tells us farther it is God by Jesus Christ so in Acts 17.19 God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World by that man he hath appointed Hath committed all judgment to the Son It is not committed to the holiest man that ever lived nor to any mighty Angel it is too high an Honour too great a Work for any created Nature only fit for him that is God and man For by being God there 's both an Omniscient and Omnipotent an infinitely Holy Righteous Good and Merciful Judge And by being Man there 's to all mens eyes a visible Judge that the Scriptures may be fulfilled And this for the Saints surpassing joy but the wickeds greater daunting and terrour let in by the eyes both of the one and other All must be judged by a Judge their eyes shall behold 2. For the time of his coming Mat. 24.42 it cannot will not be known At what hour your Lord will come you know not 3. For the suddenness and secresie of his coming 2 Pet. 3.10 The Lord will come as a Thief in the night Math. 24.44 At an hour you think not your Lord comes 4. For the place whence he sets out and comes 1 Thes 1.16 The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven 5. It will be in power and great glory such as never was and never the like again shall be never did the Sun of Righteousness ascend to and shine in such a Meridian such a transcendent height of glory Tit. 2.3 Looking for the glorious appearing 6. For the company and retinue it 's all the whole Court of Heaven come to wait on their King of Glory All the glorified Saints and Angels leave Heaven empty to make up his Train thousand of thousands giving their attendance Jude 8. With thousands of his Saints 2 Thes 1.7 Comes with his mighty Angels Math. 25.31 Cometh and all his holy Angels with him O what an unspeakably glorious attendance this is 7. For the dreadfulness of his coming 2 Thes 1.7 Christ is revealed coming in flaming fire 2 Pet. 3 10. The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements melt with fervent heat the Earth with the works in it burnt up 8. As a preparative to the Judgment Christ descends from Heaven 1. with a shout never was there such a shout made in all the time the world stood 2. with the voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God the Voice and Trump at Mount Sinai where six hundred thousand might hear that was a glorious and most dreadful voice and sound but nothing like this Never such a voice that which will make the whole world ring and the dead rise out of their Graves and with the same bodies the same numerical bodies that lived here 3. Those that are alive shall be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an Eye on the sound of the Trump 1 Cor. 15. 4. The dead in Christ shall rise first be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thes 4.16 17. O blessed and most joyful meeting of the Saints that were on Earth now raised changed and
when he would have those come right and return that have gone wrong and such to go on that have well begun he calls them to consideration and minding their ways Hag. 1.5 Consider your own ways in your hearts and again verse 7. Isa 46.8 Bring it to mind Put your hearts upon your ways in the former here they must bring their doings upon their hearts by considering Ezek. 18.28 He considereth and turneth Consideration is the rise of returning Luke 15.17 The Prodigals returning was upon his considering common wisdom acting in consideration is the souls helm and spiritual wisdom acting in Meditation is the Christians Helm as the Word is his compass and the Gales of the holy Spirit fill his sails and make him move We cannot look for a Ship to sail well without the Helms steering well Meditations Helm must steer our course our course to the Harbour of true happiness must have its rise in due consideration as the Scripture every where shews O let me Lord keep up ever this right order and method in my walkings let Meditation be the spring that carries all the Wheels of my spirit right and even that still pondering all my paths my ways may be established This then I propound as a principal ground of the necessity of Meditation that dependance of the Will Affections and actings spiritual on the understanding sanctifi'd and furnisht with light and wisdom for salvation which wisdom and light is the guide to and stirrer up of the will affections and endeavours by the means of Divine Meditation This I have the more now insisted on in that the great failings of all sorts rise from neglect of this consideration and Meditation because this consideration is no more considered All Christians that would have the Will purpose the Affections move the executing power endeavour well must use the grace of spiritual wisdom that is the first wheel in the heavenly frame of spirit and wisdom by the way of Meditation to set on going all the wheels of other graces disperst through the heart The Graces planted as principles of spiritual life strength and motion and given to animate all operation CHAP. XXVI Of the second ground of this so necessary Duty of Meditation HEavenly things should have not only a meer seeing and knowing but a minding and meditating from their obliging and challenging excellencies Prov. 8.6 and 22.20 Excellent things have I not written to thee excellent things saith Solomon Phil. 3.8 For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ c. their so far transcending excellencies their rare objective excellencies give me leave to call them so that is they are not only excellent things in themselves though never known or shewn to us but they are made to be excellent objects for our observation and minding All made to be minded but some of them more peculiarly made and prepared made great made high deep and large fil'd brim full yea running over with both native excellency and likewise sutableness for us sutableness for our spirits to act and make their chief abode of seriousest thoughts upon for a spiritual and holy eye to fix upon and be pleased in As in Philosophy they reason if there be objectum sensibile an object of the outward sense and that which especially is excellent if there be Odours and rich Scents if sounds excellent sounds or if there be rare Colour Feature Motion and that so excellent object Light especially such glorious Lights as the several Stars the Moon and the most glorious Sun there must be those Senses of smelling hearing seeing which may perceive their objects and receive the pleasure and benefit of them otherwise they must be all in vain If there were no Creatures with any Senses to perceive these Objects of Colour Light and the rest to what end were any of them What use would Colour or Light be of without any eye to behold it The omniscient God he cannot need it The Angels and Spirits being without bodies they do not need it Creatures blind and Creatures made without sense Elements as Earth Water and the other Elementaries such as Stones Metals Trees and such like insensitive things they need it not neither need any smells sounds or tastes only the sense is suted to the Object and the Object to the sense The Object is made or manifested and shewn for the sense So if there be spiritual Objects and no spiritual eye fitted for them and if spiritual Objects be held forth and shewn and there were never any eying of them they then in that respect as to their holding forth would be in vain And the spiritual eye would be in vain as if the eye had no Object to behold it would be in vain and as no eye at all Therefore doth God in Scripture call so oft for a beholding of the things of Heaven because of their excellencies purposely shewn for that end Joh Behold the Lamb of God 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what love the c. Therefore when there are such abundance of spiritual and heavenly things set out in such rare Colours and proportions shining in such high splendour and glory When so many most bright and beauteous when so great and extensive rarities and excellencies beam forth and shine so gloriously in heavenly and spiritual things there then needs must be an Eye a spiritual Eye for these so excellent Objects to behold them and be exercised about them Yea when there is such a height depth latitude and length and vastness every way of dimensions of excellency shining in them and this purposely that they may be viewed and admired and also improved therefore there must be an answerable eying and considering 1. A real sincere acting of minding and meditating to answer their most real worth 2. A deep searching of thoughts to answer their height and depth of excellency 3. An abode and dwelling and enlarging of thoughts to answer the latitude and extensiveness of excellency in them that all their glory and excellency so near as can be may be known and tasted The excellencies therefore of spiritual things are for eying and pondering the greatness of their excellencies for great eying and earnest Meditating Therefore we find that great Artist in Meditation the holy Psalmist so busying his thoughts and meditating in several things as about God and his Glory Greatness Holiness Righteousness Truth Mercy Severity and Power Psal 104. Psal 12.6 About the Word of God in those shining rays of its infallible Truth Purity Perfection mighty efficacy and glorious excellencies Psal 19.7 8. Psal 119. And so about the works and ways of God 2 Tim. 3.16 The blessed Apostle Paul was so acted in his thoughts about the Word of God and the Gospel Christ and Free Grace the fullness of Christ Ephes 2.4 7. the workings of his Spirit and the whole mystery of godliness 1 Tim. 3.16 Thus other Saints in Scripture Prophets Apostles and divers else The wise hearted will have their eyes thus exercised
Eccl. 12. Imagine then that great and terrible day of the Lord to be come thou seest the Heavens departing as a scrowl the Elements melting with fervent heat the Earth with the works therein burnt up imagine thou seest the Lord Jesus descending from Heaven with his mighty Angels coming with the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God seest the dead arising the living all changed in a moment and all persons whatsoever convented and brought before Jesus Christ the Judge such a Judge as never any was in any degree to be compared with so unspeakably excellent and glorious sitting on his high Throne in highest and most transcendent majesty and glory as there cannot possibly be greater Among all that are to be judged imagine thy self there appearing at the Judgment seat to make thy personal answer and take thy Eternal doom that presently thou art call'd come thou sinner come hold up thy hand at the Bar answer for thy self that thou hearest the Judge call read the indictment read it aloud and answer thou sinner to every part of thy charge 1. First thou that standest here at this Bar to be tryed thou hast a noble faculty of reason and understanding and with it a power of thinking and meditating given into thy soul and that above all others to meditate of heavenly things thou answerest it is true Lord I cannot deny it 2. Thou also hadst my Word a perfect rule to direct thee my Ministers to perswade thee my Spirit to draw thee thine own conscience to call upon thee which also called loud often and earnestly upon thee to consider yes Lord thou answerest it is most true 3. Time also and opportunity thou hadst space sufficient allowed thee to meditate and consider if thou wouldst have done it a time of youth and time enough then also a time of it may be riper years and old age a time of many years great patience waitings on and strivings with True Lord thou answerest I had many opportunities to consider 4. But when thou should have remembred thy Creator in the days of thy youth thou didst forget him wouldst not think of him of his Word of his ways thy own state and thy souls concerns Thy first fresh years were spent in walking in the sight of thy eyes and minding vanities thou couldst find time enough to think of thy pleasures thy play sports and pastimes thy excesses filthiness loosness but not of thy God or thy souls great affairs At such a place in such a year such a month such a day of that month such an hour or suchhours of that day is it not so sinner there then thou wert thinking musing devising for such a pleasure such a sport such a vanity and such a wickedness and the following day at such a place and such an hour doing the like and so day after day thy thoughts were lavisht lost let out on impertinencies and meer vanities but purposely taken and turn'd from all religious seriousness all soul-matters Was not this thy usual way to ravel out that thy youths time in never minding thy God and the things are holy never to consider any thing to any purpose indeed What say'st thou sinner to all this charge of embezling that precious time of tender and more pliable youth Are not all particulars charged against thee true Yes Lord Jesus I was such a one as to every particular and cannot deny any thing charged 5. Ah but beyond that time thou livedst up to riper years and when the time of fond phansie and folly wore off by the ripening of reason on thy coming to mans estate then had you more reason far more to mind and meditate on the great concernments of God and your soul I then lookt for seriousness when you now could be serious and serious enough in things of lower concernment as for your calling and business for getting wealth and growing rich to be great and high and have abundance ah how couldst thou studdy muse beat thy Brains in the day and in the night appointed for rest and sleep how did thy worldly mindedness act thee thy mind running thoughts intending multiplying with all possible earnestness and eagerness Ah friend what have been the multitudes of thy musings day after day in such and such cases business bargains purchases and projects What an engrosser of thoughts hath Mammon been in thy covetous frame of heart and what a most shameful excluder of good and heavenly thoughts continually Yea I have to charge thee farther before men and Angels with thy studyings and contrivances the deepest and most intense thoughts of heart thou hast had for credit applause and honour from men like thy self for rising growing high getting power and being great in the world O how this this friend provokt and engag'd your thoughts studyings plottings all the soul-earnestness that was in thee to be accounted and applauded to be great and high but you never would be half so serious spend any such proportion of time to get Honour that comes from God and to be one the Lord commends Sinner is not all this also true canst thou deny any one part of this charge No Lord saith the Prisoner it is all very true Over and above thou hast meditated and devised and that many and divers ways for satisfying thy lusts in every way thou likedst and wert pleased in Meditated for mischief taking revenge which was none of thine but mine as now appears yea for opposing good causes persecuting the godly such as would be upright in their Generation and not be wrapt up in the wickedness of the times Ah what of all others what depths and heights of musings and devisings hath thy heart of hatred thy keenest hellish malice brooded and brought forth against my Saints these Saints that lived with thee here they are before thee see them there 's such a godly painful Minister and there 's another and there are all the rest you hated and opposed here friend are such Christians you have plotted against and persecuted so often there 's such that lived in such places about you there 's such who lived in the same Town with you here 's one that lived the very next door to you here be those who were in the same Family of your familiarity of your daily converse with and your spiteful opposition to here 's such a fellow-servant such a Brother or Sister such a Child or Parent such a Husband or Wife hated and scorned for godliness sake This this hath been thy manner sinner from thy very first to the end of thy days which have not been few all the thoughts of thy heart evil all but steps in the long walk of the vanity of thy mind Thoughts thou hast enough thy mind that meditated enough was ever acting busie enough but bad thou wouldst not meditate the right way on the best things on holy and spiritual things not in all thy time so as to convert and turn to God What
the things which please Gods own description of a gracious frame of spirit by a gracious choice Contrary a sinful unconverted heart is described by thusing things that are sinful and provoking I say the change of the will is a high evidence of sincerity a chusing of God for our God chusing of Christ his offered grace above all him to our Righteousness and Justification our Wisdom our Sanctification so coming to taking of trusting on him is an act of the will in chusing him a chusing the holy ways of God universally Psal 119. Respect to all thy commandments This not so much in knowing as purpose of heart for keeping all To add but one thing more The new Creature is principally seen in a new will and a new will in a new aim altering utterly that old sinful carnal aim of carnal self and satisfying of it sinfully aiming at only or chiefly self and satisfying self in worldly and carnal things This Idol Self the grand aim is taken down is no more the souls Master-mark that gave all the Laws made every thing serve to it and end in it eyeing of self chiefly aiming at seeking and striving most for self is changed and there 's a new Master-aim a new mark to which it designs and principally drives at God and his glory serving and pleasing him This evidently appears in the Saints in Scripture They exalt God called such as seek God serve God live to God to Christ Psal 22.26 Psal 24.6 This the generation of them that seek him and deny themselves Rom. 6.11 Alive unto God 2 Cor. 5.15 Live not to themselves but to him that dyed for them 1. Universal allowance of all known good in the mind 2. Universal abhorrence of all known evil chusing all good and an universal purpose of will to please God in all things are the things the sincerity of them stands of those two noble faculties renewed 3. A real change of the corrupt carnal and disorderly movings of the affections to a making them holy and heavenly to setting them on the things above and taking them off really the things below from their usual sway rule violent running to carnal and earthly things and from their customary and predominant deadness flatness and remissness to and in spiritual and heavenly things A change really upon the great and leading affection love the great weight that carries all Amor meus est pondus meum as the devout Ancient said My souls love is my souls weight the strong biass that still leads it Hence arise the other holy affections they are acted from love desire delight sorrow fear hatred of all known evil Psal 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil Psal 119.104 I hate every false way A Character it is of a wicked man he abhors not evil Psal 36.4 But a holy heart when it comes even new out of the furnace is new cast new made it 's stampt with predominant love to God and his ways and with new self-loathing and sin-abhorring Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you Vers 36. Then shall ye remember your evil ways and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations I shall add no more particulars The truth and sincerity of this whole work wrought first in thee really and then known must be the ground for evidencing of thy assurance which must be done by comparing the pattern of the new Creature described in the infallible Word of Christ and the copy of it drawn in thy heart Such serious searching and due meditating with praying and other ordinances must be on thy part thou must 2 Pet. 1.10 Give all diligence to make thy calling and election sure But withal there must be a due consideration and praying for the evidencing and sealing Spirit of Christ the Comforter and diligent still attending upon those ways and means of grace the Holy Spirit uses to come and seal and comfort in I know other things might be mentioned especially in a purposely handling this Doctrine of Assurance The manner of Gods working in such as are effectually drawn to Christ differs in circumstances and in the sensible perceivings of it accordingly as God pleases to work and assurance as the Spirit pleases is given in a different way But trying by this change upon the heart in a renewing the mind subduing and turning that great wheel of the soul the refractory and stubborn will changing the main aim from self and the creature to God in Christ Really plucking up the affections rooted in the earth and finding them set upon things above an evident change and turning the grand affection of love out of its old channel and a placing it upon God his Word ways and people the Saints above all other things when these things freely given thee of God and by the Spirit of God received are made known to be in thee 1 Cor. 2.12 this is a right assurance O pray pray for this sealing and assuring Spirit this will help thee against the fears doubts deceits of thy own heart and Satans methods and clear up thy good condition to thee This assurance attained the next Meditation must be of the best ways of keeping and preserving it which must be endeavoured yea of thy growing up to the riches and fulness of assurance to a Plerophory as it is called The preserving of assurance and growing up in it 2 Pet. 1.10 must be by care and diligence used about it and used for exacter walking in all Christs ways Endeavours of mortifying thy corruptions combating with Satan and the world and getting victory Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh I will give him a white stone with a new name The white stone is thy Justification the new name is Adoption of Sons both assured upon victory obtained There must be a tender care of obedience to and compliance with the Holy Spirit and of not grieving of it Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption If thou wouldst have the Holy Spirit a sealing Spirit thou must not be a Griever of that Spirit by any ordinary neglectings and ilightings of it or by contrary walkings to it wilful and presumptuous evils especially provoke and grieve and will hinder assurance Psal 85.8 God will speak peace to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly This in David Psal 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones thou hast broken may rejoyce Some Saints by their falls have felt it long it may be ever after as great bruises in the body Others upon care and fruitfulness have kept their peace and assurance long it may be to the last CHAP. XII Of the next Meditation namely how weak and imperfect thy Grace is THis is a Meditation very necessary for making thee very humble greatly fearful and careful and highly to provoke thee to contend to a growth and strength of grace to be rooted and stablisht daily