of the ladder stood upon the earth his divine nature which was the top of the ladder reached to heaven The Arrians and Socinians deny his Godhead as the Valentians do his manhood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Ep. ad Antioch If the God-head be in him he must needs be God but the God-head shines in him Col. 2.9 In him dwells 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the fulnesse of the God-head * Non dicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod discrimen contra Eutichianos notatu dignum Beza and to confirme us in this truth let us consult with those Scriptures which do clearly assert his Godhead 1 Cor. 8.6 To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and Phil. 2.6 who being in the form of God Basil lib. 1. Cont. Eunom which is as much saith Basil as to exist in the essence of God 1 Tim. 3.16 God was manifest in the flesh and 1 John 5.20 We are in him that is true even in his sonne Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THIS IS THE TRUE GOD * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Besides these testimonies of Scripture which do expressely assert the God-head of Christ it may be clearly demonstrated by those incommunicable properties belonging to the Deity which are ascribed to Christ and are the flowers of his Crown As 1. Omnipotency * Justin Martyr Orat. 1. ad Graec. Heb. 1.3 2. Omnisciency Mark 2.8 3. Ubiquity Mat. 28.20 4. Power of sealing pardons Mat. 9.6 5. The mission of the holy Ghost John 16.7 6. Coequality with God the Father Phil. 2.6 both in power John 5.19 21. and dignitie John 5.23 Thus we see his God-head proved and as he is God-man he is altogether lovely He is the very picture of his fathers glory Therefore he is called the expresse image and character of his person * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.3 The very effigies and print of Gods face is seen in Christ the glory of Gods wisdome holinesse mercy doth most transparently shine forth in him Thus his person is lovelie 2. Christ is lovely in his disposition A good nature is able to render deformity it self lovely Christ is lovely not only in his complexion but in his disposition He is of a loving and merciful disposition and in this sense may be called deliciae humani Generis * Titus Vespas It is reported of Marcus Aurelius the Emperour that he was of a most affable winning temper given to clemency and every day he would set one houre apart to hear the causes of the poor Thus Jesus Christ is of a most sweet disposition * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar He will not alwayes chide Psalme 103.9 He is inclinable to shew mercy to the penitent He delights in mercy Micah 7.18 He envites sinners to come to him Mat. 11.28 he begs of them that they would be saved 2 Cor. 5.20 he knocks at their hearts by his Spirit till his head be fill'd with dew and his locks with the drops of the night Rev. 3.20 If any poor soul accepts of his offer and doth arise and go to him how doth Christ welcome him * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macarius Christ makes the Feast Luke 15.23 and the Angels make the musick verse 7. But if men will not receive the tenders of grace Christ grieves Mark 3.5 He is like a Judge that passeth the sentence with teares in his eyes Luke 19.42 And when he came nigh the City he wept Ah sinners I come to save you but you put away salvation from you * Acts 13. I come with healing under my wings but you bolt out your Physician I would have you but open your hearts to receive me and I will open heaven to receive you but you will rather stay with your sinnes and die than come to me and live Psalme 81.11 Israel would none of me Well sinners I will weep at your Funerals Oh how lovely is Christ in his disposition he comes with his suppling oyle to poure into sinners wounds He would faine break their hearts with his mercies He labours to overcome their evil with his good 3. Christ is lovely in his sufferings when he did make expiation for our sins * 1 Pet. 2.24 but what lovely in his sufferings lovely when he was buffeted spit upon besmeared with blood O yes he was most lovely upon the crosse * Rubore sui sanguinis nos candidos effecit Ghislerus because then he shewed most love to us He bled love at every veine His drops of blood were love-drops The more bloody the more lovely * Quanto pro me vilior tanto mibi charior Aug. The more Christ endured for us the more deare he ought to be to us Osorius writing of the sufferings of Christ saith Gal. 6.14 that the crown of thornes bored his head with seventy two wounds * Doles domine non tua vulnera sed mea Ambrose Quid dicamin crucem tollere Tully and Tully when he comes to speak of the death of the Crosse shews his rhetorique best by an Aposiopesis or silence what shall I say of this death Though a great Orator he wanted words to expresse it Nor did Christ only endure paine in his body but agony in his soul He conflicted with the wrath of God which he could never have done if he had not been more than a man We reade that the Altar of wood was overlaid with brasse that so the fire on the Altar might not consume the wood Exod. 27.1 2. This Altar was a type of Iesus Christ The humane nature of Christ which was as the wood was covered with the divine nature which was like the brasse else the fire of Gods wrath had consumed it and all this Christ suffered was nostra vice in our stead * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Isa 53.5 We eat the soure Grape and his teeth were set on edge We climbed the tree we stole the forbidden fruit and Christ goes up the ladder of the Crosse and dies Oh how lovely ought a bleeding Savior * Pendet anima dulcia poma de ligno decerpit Bern. de Floribus to be in our eys Let us weare this blessed crucifix alwayes in our heart * Inspice vulnera pendentis sanguinem morientis caput habet inclinatum ad osculandum cor apertum ad diligendum brachia extenia ad amplexandum totum corpus expositum ad redimendum haec quanta sint cogitate haec in statera vestri cordis appendite ut totus vobis figatur in corde qui totus pro nobis fixus fuit in Cruce Aug. lib. de Virgin Crux Christi clavis paradisi The Cross of Christ saith Damascen is the golden key that opens Paradise to us How beautiful is Christ upon the Crosse The ruddinesse of his blood took away
have been meditating upon a promise live upon a promise when you have been meditating of a good conscience never leave till you can say as Paul Herein I exercise my self to have a good conscience Acts 24.16 * Meditatie sine exercitio similis est lyrae taciturnae Beloved here lies the very essence of Religion That this rule may be well observed Consider 1. It is onely the practical part of Religion will make a man blessed Meditation is a beautiful flower but as Rachel said to her husband Give me children or I dye Gen. 30. 1. So if Meditation be barren and doth not bring forth the childe of obedience it will dye and come to nothing 2. If when you have meditated in Gods law you do not obey his Law you will come short of them who have come short of heaven 'T is said of Herod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 6.20 He did many things he was in many things a practicer of Johns Ministery They who meditate in Gods Law and observe not to do are not so good as Herod nay they are no better then the Devil he knows much but still he is a Devil 3. Meditation without practise will encrease a mans condemnation If a Father writes a Letter to his son and the son shall read over this Letter and study on it yet not observe to do as his Father writes this would be an aggravation of his fault and would but provoke his father so much the more against him Thus when we have meditated upon the Evil of sin and the beauty of holiness yet we do not eschew the one nor espouse the other it will but incense the divine Majesty so much the more against us and we shall be beaten with many stripes FINIS AN APPENDIX to the FORMER DISCOURSE upon Psalm 139.18 verse When I awake I am still with thee By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar from 11. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6.21 LONDON Printed by J.T. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill 1657. A Christian on Earth still in Heaven PSAL. 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee THE Scripture is a Spiritual Paradise the book of Psalms is placed as the Tree of Life in the midst of this Paradise the Psalms are not onely for Delight but usefulness they are like the Pomegranate Tree which is not onely for savour but fruit or like those Trees of * Ambrose Epist 42. the Sanctuary Ezek. 47.12 both for food and medicine The Psalms are enriched with variety and suited to every Christians estate and condition They are a Spiritual Panoply and Store-house if he find his heart dead here he may fetch fire if he be weak in grace here he may fetch armour if he be ready to faint here are cordials lying by There is no Condition you can name but there is a Psalm suited to that condition 1. In Case of sickness Psalm 41.3 Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness and sure that bed must needs be soft which God will make and there is a parallel-Psalm to this Psalm 73.26 my flesh failes my health is declining but the Lord is the strength of my heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag or as the Septuagint renders it he is the God of my Heart 2. In Case of reproach * I was a reproach among my enemies Psalm 31.11 But I trusted in thee O Lord I said Thou art my God verse 14. Blessed be the Lord for he hath shown me his marvellous loving-kindness in a strong City ver 18. Here was some Sun-shine breaking forth of those black clouds * Quisquis detrabit famae mere ad det mercedimeae Aug. in Psal 39. 3. In Case of unkind dealings from friends Psalm 55. For it was not an enemy then I could have born it but it was thou mine equal my guide and my acquaintance we took sweet counsel together verse 12.13 here was the malady cast thy burden upon the Lord v. 22. there was the cure The Chaldee reads it cast thy hope The Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cast thy Care God is power therefore he is able to help he is Mercy therefore he is willing He shall sustain thee here is Gods promise which is his bond to secure us 4. In case we are close begirt with Enemies There is a Psalm suited to this condition Lord how are they encreased that trouble me many are they that rise up against me Psalm 3.1 I laid me down and slept v. 8. David when beleaguered with Enemies could lye down and sleep upon the soft pillow of a good conscience and Psalm 27.3 though an host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear He shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me vers 5. The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall hide me so safe as if I were in the holy place of the sanctuary where none but the priest was to enter 5. In case of poverty If a Christians estate be brought so low that like the widow 1. King 17.12 he hath nothing but a handful of meal and a little oyl in the cruse left There is a Psalm of Consolation I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me Psalm 40.17 I will bless her provision I will satissie her poor with bread Psalm 132.15 here is the dew of a blessing distilled and Psalm 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord. Behold riches in poverty what though the water in the bottle be spent if this well be at hand 6. If sin through the immodesty of tentation prevail against a child of God there is a psalm consolatory Psalm 65.3 Iniquities prevail against me as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away In the Hebrew * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is thou shalt hide them It alludes to the mercy-seat which was covered with the wings of the Cherubims so are the sins of the godly when repented off covered with the wings of mercy and favour 7. In case of prayer and no speedy return Psalm 69.3 I am weary of my crying my eyes fail while I wait for my God But in the same Psalm he draws the breast of comfort vers 33. the Lord heareth the poor and depiseth not his prisoners Would we have fruit before it is ripe When the mercy is ripe we shall have it and besides there is nothing lost by waiting we send out the golden fleet of prayer to heaven the longer this fleet staies out the greater return it will bring with it David found it so therefore he pulls off his sackcloth and puts on the garments of praise Laudabo in Cantico I will praise the name of God with a Song vers 30. 8. In case of desertion This is the poisoned arrow that wounds to the heart but still there is a Psalm to turn to The Lord will not
cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance Psalm 94.14 This is like a star in a dark night or like the plank and broken pieces of the ship on which Paul and the rest came safe to shore Act. 27.44 God may conceal his love from his children not take it away * 2. Sam. 7.15 he may change his providence towards them not alter his purpose 9. In case of death there is a psalm revives though I walk in the valley of the shaddow of death I will fear no evil Psalm 23.4 The sting and poison of this serpent is taken away Thou art with me with thy power to support with thy grace to sanctifie with thy love to sweeten Thy Rod and thy staff do comfort me I have the staff of thy promise in the hand of my faith and with this I can walk thorow the dark entry of death Thus in every condition Davids Psalms like Davids harp may serve to drive away the evil spirit of sadness and unchearfulness from a Christian so much concerning the Psalms in general I come now to the words of the text when I awake I am still with thee Where you have the very effigies and portraicture of a godly man drawn out he is one that is still with God It was Davids happiness that he lived above the common rate of men not only as he was higher in power and dignity being a king but higher in sublimeness of affection * Animam habuit angeliflcatam Tertul. having his heart and hope raised above the world I am stil with thee Divines give many reasons why David was called a man after Gods heart but sure this is not the least because the frame of his heart was so heavenly this being most agreeable to Gods nature and will David was a man that as Ambrose speaks lived in the world above the world Assoon as he awaked he stept into heaven David was a Seraphical saint a mortal Angel like a true bird of paradise he did seldom touch with his feet upon the earth He was least alone when he was most a lone Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus Tul. Offic. When he awaked he was with God Nor was this onely when the fit was upon him a thought of God and away but it was a fixed temper of heart I am still with thee * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The pulse of his soul was still beating after God The hypocrite may have a blush of godliness which is quickly over Job 27.10 but the constitution of Davids soul was heavenly I am still with thee Not but that David had some diversions of mind Caution to have the eye alwayes fixed upon God will be the state of the blessed in heaven but David was still with God 1. Because the bias and bent of his spirit was towards God His heart like the needdle in the compass pointed heavenward 2. Because he was more with God then he was any where else Subjectum a majori parte as we use to say a man lives at his house not but that urgency of occasions draw him abroad sometimes but he is said to live there because he is most resident there The words hold forth this proposition Doct. That it is the sweet temper of a Gracious heart to be still with God I am still with Thee David awaked in heaven He was ever above We read in the old Law that those creatures which did creep upon all four were to be had in abomination but they which had wings to flie and leggs to leap withall were accounted clean Lev. 11.20 Those are among the uncleán and are abominable to God whose souls creep upon the earth but they who have the leggs and wings of grace to mount up with who are still with God these are pure and precious in Gods eyes For the illustrating this point there are three things to be explained and amplisied 1. What it is to be still with God 2. In what sence the soul is still with God 3. Why a gracious heart is still with God 1. What it is to be still with God In general it is to have a sweet intercourse and Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus In prayer we speak to God in the Sacrament he kisseth us with the kisses of his lips he giveth us a privy seal of his love 2. In what sence the soul is said to be still with God I answer the soul is still with God five manner of wayes 1. By contemplation So Ainsworth understands the Text. contemplatione I am still with thee that is by divine contemplation Davids thoughts were ever and anon running upon God So vers 17. How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God! Davids mind was a spiritual mint he minted most gold most of his thoughts were heavenly Thoughts are as travellers and passengers in the soul Davids thoughts were still travelling towards the Jerusalem above In Davids dangers God was still with him in Davids contemplations he was still with God Anaxagoras said he was born to contemplate Heaven Thus a Christian is still with God he is viewing glory his thoughts are all packed up and gone 2. Defiderio The soul is still with God by desire His anchor is cast in Heaven Hebr. 6.19 and he is carried thither with the sails of desire David did shoot his heart into Heaven by desire * Videmus terram torrefactam dehiscere ac si aperto ore potum e caelo appeteret significat propheta se desiderio ferventem ad deum accedere ac si vitalis humor eum deficeret Calvin in Psal 143. he had strong anhelations and pantings after God Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth I desire besides thee he saith not he had nothing upon earth he had his Crown and Scepter but nothing he desired like God Psal 42.1 as the hart pants after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God The hart as Historians observe is a dry thirsty creature especially when chased by the hunter now nature is on fire and must have water to quench it thus the pious soul pants after the refreshing streams of Christs blood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil and these desires of a Christian are rightly terminated he desires aswell conformity to Christ in grace as Communion with him in glory he desires the Sun of righteousness not onely for its refreshing beams but for its healing wings he desires not only Christs presence but his image Lord give me thy self that I may be more holy what should I do in Heaven with this unholy heart what converse could I have with God or angels thus the soul is still with God by desire and he desires not onely mercy but grace Amore. 3 3. The soul is still with God by love Where a mans love is there he is what