pleasures of Christ 1 Cor. 3. end As Christ is a King so are Believers made Kings to God Rev. 1.6 As he is Heir of all things Heb. 1.3 so they are Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ of the same Kingdom Rom. 8.17 they are compleat in him Col. 2.10 A third motive may be this The great willingness and readiness of Jesus Christ to receive and save poor lost sinners such as are willing to take Him and accept of Him upon Gospel-terms this appears in these Particulars First That his desire is towards his Cant. 7.10 Swears as he lives he desires not the death of a sinner Ezek. 33. so as the fault is Man's and not his if any be not saved John 5.40 you will not come unto me that you may have life See this clearly in that Book Entituled The Self condemning Sinner Secondly In that he offers Himself freely to all without exception of any that will come to him in a way of faith and love Isaiah 55 1. Rev. 22.17 Thirdly In that he invites all to come to him that find their want and need of him Mat. 11.29 and promises to cast away none that come to him John 6.37 Fourthly In that he sends his Ministers to woe and beseech them in the name of Christ to come in and be reconcil'd to God 2 Cor. 5.20 Fifthly In that he bewails their folly that will stand out against him and their own salvation Mat. 23. Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets how often would I have gathered thy children together as the Hen gathers her chickens and you would not Lastly You are to take notice how you are to walk worthy of and suitable to so dear a Redeemer and precious Saviour by imitating him in his carriage both towards God and Man in his doings and sufferings 1. His doings 1 Epist John 2.6 He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked Q. But you will say Can any walk as he walked He was void of all sin we are sull of sin A. There 's a double As one that imports Equality and another Similitude as it imports equality it 's impossible for any to walk as he walked but as it imports similitude and likeness so we may and must walk after him As a Scholar that writes after his Master's Copy he begins every Line as his Master begins and ends as he ends he frames every Letter as his Master frames it joyns letters and syliables together as his Master doth though there be no equality he cannot write as well as his Master yet there is a similitude he labours to imitate and write like his Master So true Christians though they cannot live and walk so exactly as Christ did yet they labour to come as neer to him as they can to imitate and follow him though not in his divine acts which he did as God and as Mediator which is impossible yet in his moral and humane acts which he did as Man so they labour to make him their only pattern in their carriages both towards God and man First In their carriage to God now for his carriage towards God that was full of piety full of saith full of zeal full of heavenly-mindedness First Full of Piety Heb. 7.26 He was holy harmless separate from sinners 1 Pet. 2 22. He did no sin neither was there any guil found in his mouth and we required to follow him in that 1 Pet. 1.15 1 Ep. John 3.2 Secondly Full of faith ever confident of his Father's presence assistance and acceptance in whatsoever he did even in his greatest desertion on the Cross crying my God my God He held fast his faith and we requir'd to follow him in thiâ— Isaiah 50.10 Heb. 3.14 1 Pet. 1.13 Thirdly He was full of zeal for God both in publick and private First In publick the Zeal of God's House even consum'd him John 2.15 16 17. Secondly In private He went about doing good to the bodies souls of others Acts 10.38 We are to imitate him in this it being the end of our Redemption Titus 2.14 The end of his correction of us Revel 3.19 Fourthly He was full of heavenly-mindedness still extracting spiritual and heavenly discourses from worldly and Earthly occasions John 4.10 Joh. 13.2 John 6.26 27. and we are requir'd to follow him in this Col. 3.1 2. Phil. 3 20. Secondly Follow him in his cariage towards man now for that you may observe in the Scripture it was full of wisdom innocency truth justice humility meekness love mercy and pitty to others and we commanded in the Scriptures to imitate him in all these First In his wisdom and innocency Mat. 10.16 Secondly In his truth Eph 4 24. Thirdly In his justice and righteousness Rom. 13.7 Luke 1.6 In his humility and meekness Mat. 11.20 In his patience 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. In his love to all even our very Enemies Mat. 5.44 45. Eph. 5.2 and in mercies to the Bodies and Souls of men Rom. 12. the 3 last James 5. 2 last In his pitty and compassion Gal. 6.1 1 Pet. 3.8 Jude 22.23 Thus for his doings Secondly To imitate him in his sufferings 1 Pet. 2.21 Q. How did Christ suffer A. 1. He suffer'd willingly none could compel him to it John 10.18 You must follow him in this when God calls unto it as the Apostle Acts 21.13 Secondly Christ suffered patiently Isaiah 53.7 Heb. 12.2 we to follow him in this as we are commanded in the same place to look unto Jesus and 1 Pet. 2.21 tread in his steps Thirdly He suffer'd believingly that God would support him and deliver him so must we 1 Cor. 10.13 Fourthly He suffer'd fruitfully so as to learn obedience by his sufferings Heb. 5.8 so are we Micah 6.7 8. Revel 3.19 Fifthly Christ suffer'd constantly even to the death and so are we requir'd Rev. 2.10 Thus of Christ CHAP. IV. The Third Head the Spirit of God called the Holy Ghost IN and about him to meditate on these things First What he is Secondly What his Offices Thirdly What signs you have of the Spirit 's Inhabitation 4. Motives to get him 5. Means to procure him and 6. The means to preserve and increase communion with him First What the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost is viz. the Third Person in the sacred Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son And here to take notice of three things First That he is a distinct Person from the Father and the Son and the Third Person in Sacred Trinity 1 Epist John 5.7 Secondly That he is true and very God as well as the Father and the Son as is evident 1. By testimony of the Scripture Acts 5.3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost thou hast not lied unto man but God 2. By Reason 1. Because He is the Author and Inditer of the Scripture Acts 28.25 2 Pet. 1.21 2. Because the Scripture ascribes those Attributes to him that are proper to God as Eternity
he did Lament 1.12 Behold and see if there were ever sorrow like to my sorrow c. Lastly He is altogether lovely in the benefits he purchased which are either Fundamental or Consequential First For the Fundamental they are theâ—e First Reconciliation Colos 1.21 Adoption John 1.12 Justification Rom. 5.1 2 Cor. 5.21 Sanctification Eph. 2.1 Acts. 26.18 Glorification John 17.21 Secondly For the Consequential benefits these you have Rom 5.1 2 3 1 Cor. 3. the two last Sixthly You are to meditate on the great Work of ouâ— Redemption by Jesus Christ and in it of these particulars The greatness of the Person that redeem'd us the greatness of the Price wherewith the greatness of the misery from which the greatness of the happiness to which he redeem'd us the compleatness of this Redemption and the Evidences you have of your interest in this Redemption First On the greatness of the Person that redeemed us No other but the Eternal Son of God every way Coequal with his Father and whoever heard of a King that gave his Son or a Prince that ever offer'd voluntarily to lay down his life for Enemies Rebels and Traytors and yet behold God and Christ hath done this for us Gal. 4.4 Secondly On the greatness of the Price wherewith he redeemed us with no other than his precious Blood 1 Pet. 1.18 Thirdly The greatness of the misery from which he hath redeemed us Vers 13. from that Vassall age and slavery we were in to sin Satan and the World Death Judgment and Hell 1 Thes 1.10 Psal 103.1 2 3. Fourthly On the greatness of the happiness unto which he hath redeemed us viz. To be Heirs and Co-heirs with himself Rom. 8.17 1 Pet. 1.10 Fifthly On the compleatness of this Redemption as he hath compleated it for us Heb. 9.12 26. So he makes us stand compleat in himself 2 Col. 10.16 Sixthly On the evidences you have of your interest in this Redemption Three whereof you have 1 Cor. 1.30 to whom Christ is made Redemption to them he is also made wisdom to enlighten them and righteousness to justifie them and holiness to sanctifie them A fourth Evidence you have 1 Pet. 1.18 They are redeemed from their vain Conversation and made new Creatures 2 Cor. 5.17 Fifthly They are redeemed from all iniquity Tit. 2.14 Not only from the condemning but the commanding power of it Rom 6.14 Sixthly They are made a People Zealous of good works Titus 2.14 and are redeemed out of the hands of their Enemies that they may serve the Lord without fear in righteousness and holiness all the days of their life Luke 1.74 Seventhly To meditate on the ways and means of his effecting this our Redemption as these his Incarnation Conversation Passion Resurrection Ascension Session and Intercession at the right hand of God First About his Incarnation to consider and take notice that the Word was made Flesh Joh. 1.14 And the End wherefore he took our Nature was that he might make us partakers of his Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 He the Son of God became the Son of Man that we the Sons of Men might be made the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever-living God John 1.12 Isaiah 56.5 In the Incarnation of Christ to take notice of these two Branches of it viz. his Conception and Nativity First For his Conceptiont herein to meditate First On the wonderful manner of it it being not after the manner of other Men but by the over-shadowing of the Holy Ghost Luke 1.35 Secondly The Reason of it that He might be pure and free from Original sin wherein all others are conceiv'd and born Psal 51.5 Joh. 3.6 Thirdly The End of it that He might by the purity of his Conception cover the impurity of our Conception Secondly In the Nativity of Christ First Take notice of whom it was He was born And why so First That he was born of a Virgin to fulfill the Scripture Isaiah 7 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive c. And so born that he might be without the least spot and contagion of sin wherein all others are both conceiv'd and born Psal 51. Secondly Of the Virgin Mary because the Messiah was to come of the Tribe of Judah Heb. 7.14 and the Seed of David of which stock Mary came as you may see in the Genealogy Luk. 3. Secondly To meditate on the use we are to make of it namely this That as Christ was conceiv'd and born for us so we be careful to look to this that He be conceiv'd and born in us or we can never expect to receive any benefit by his Conception and Birth for us Secondly To meditate on the Conversation of Christ and consider how He walkt and liv'd in the World which you may find in the Gospel to have been Very wisely inoffensively humbly holily spiritually heavenly and actively for the glory of God and the good of Souls such must our Conversations be conformable to the pattern set before us that so having good Consciences they may be asham'd who have and would slander our good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3 16. 1 Epist John 2.6 Thirdly In the Passion of Christ to meditate on these Particulars the Matter of his sufferings the Causes of his sufferings the Manner of his sufferings and the Use we are to make of his sufferings First The Matter of his sufferings what it was that He suffered which was First The Vailing of His glory under our Flesh Secondly The imputation of the sins of the whole World 1 Pet. 2.24 Thirdly The fierceness of his Father's wratâ— Lam. 1.12 and the Curse due to all our sins Gal. 3.13 Fourthly The rage of Men and Devils in the prosecution and persecution of him unto death Even the shameful cursed death of the Cross Secondly The Causes of his sufferings First The efficient Cause that was God Isaiah 53.10 Acts 2.23 Secondly The instrumental cause was the Devil and his Instruments Judas and the Jews Luk. 22.53 Thirdly The meritorious cause our sins Isaiah 53.3 4. 1 Pet. 2.24 Fourthly The final cause that He might bring us back again to God 1 Pet. 3.18 and Redeem us from Eternal sufferings and sweeten and sanctifie all our temporal sufferings Thirdly For the manner of his sufferings that was First Willingly without compulsion Secondly Patiently so as he was as a Sheep dumb before the Shearer Isaiah 53. Thirdly Constantly unto Death Fourthly For the use you are to make of his sufferings which is this To be willing to suffer a little from him and for him who hath suffered so much from us and for us and the rather First Because by his sufferings he hath freed us from Eternal sufferings sweetned and sanctified all our temporal sufferings Secondly Because he hath promised if we suffer with Him we shall Reign with Him 2 Tim. 2.12 Thirdly Because if we chuse rather to sin than suffer for him we must expect to suffer for ever in Hell Mark 8. last Fourthly Because
Heb. 9.14 Omnisciency 1 Cor. 2.10 Omnipresency Psal 139.17 Omnipotency 2 Tim. 2.7 Isaiah 11.2 Thirdly Because those works are applied to him which are proper to God as Creation Gen. 1.2 and Conservation Job 33.4 Psal 33.6 Regeneration and Sanctification John 3.6 1 Cor. 12.6 Fourthly Because the divine worship is given to him as Mat. 28.19 Go Baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Therefore true and very God Thirdly That he proceeds from the Father and the Son is evident John 15.26 and hence he is call'd the Spirit of God Rom. 8.11 and the Spirit of the Son Rom. 8.9 and so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies because he is spired or breathed from them as you may see further John 16.14 15. Secondly To meditate on the Offices of the Spirit and these either respect Christ his Word or his Church First For those respecting Christ they are these First The Spirit formed Christ's humane nature in the Womb of the Virgin Mary Luke 1.35 36. Secondly The Holy Ghost anointed Jesus Christ as he was Man with gifts and graces and that without measure and having thus consecrated him and furnished him with gifts for the great office and work of a Mediator he with God the Father sent him into the World for the accomplishing that work Isai 61.1 and 11.2 Acts 10.38 John 3.34 John 1.32 Thirdly The Holy Ghost descending from Heaven and resting upon him visibly in the shape of a Dove did publickly shew him and Seal him in his Baptism Mat. 3.16 Fourthly The Holy Ghost witnesseth that Jesus Christ who was crucified was the Son of God the true Messiah Act. 5.31.32 He witnesseth also to the Doctrin of Christ's Resurrection in which he was declared mightily to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 Secondly For the Offices of the Spirit in and about the Word of God take notice first 't was He inspir'd holy Men of God with the mind and will of God infallibly dictated it unto them and guided them in the penning or writing of it 2 Pet. 1.20 Acts 1.16 Mark 12 36. Heb. 9.8 Fourthly He quickens the Word so as to make it effectual to quicken dead Souls without Him 't is but a dead and a killing Letter John 6.63 He makes it quick and lively in operation to the dividing between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow the searching-out and discovering the secrets of the heart Heb. 4.12 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 10.4 5. It is he that speaketh by it to the Churches Revel 2.7 Revel 3.22 Rev 14 13. Thirdly His Offices in respect of the Church and People of God these are either common to all or peculiar to the Elect First For those common to all they are such as these First To give life and preserve life in all Job 33.4 Ps 139.14 15. Secondly To bestow gifts and abilities on men for their particular callings and functions both sacred and civil as 1 Sam. 11.6 Judges 11.29 1 Cor. 12.9 10. Mat. 7.22 Thirdly Restraining-grace whereby they are kept from many evils which they would otherwise run into as Abimelech Gen. 20.6 Fourthly To act and over-act all the gifts and parts and power of men to his own glory and the good of his Church and People Zach. 4.6 Secondly For those that are peculiar to the Elect they are such as these First To unite them unto Christ their head and the mystical Body of Christ the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 6.17 Secondly To inhabit or dwell in them as his House and â—emple Rom 8.11 1 Pet. 4.17 Thirdly To illuminate them with the saving sancâ—iâ—â—ing experimental knowledge of God in Christ John 16.13 Fourthly To convince them of sin righteousness and judgment John 16.8 First Of Sin particularly the sins of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel that This is 〈◊〉 which lays them open to the wrath of God in Life and Death and after Death John 3. last Mark 16.16 Secondly Of righteousness how that there is none in them to make them stand acceptable in the sight of God the Garment of their own righteousness and good works is a Garment too short to cover their nakedness their own righteousness is but as a filthy Rag but the righteousness of Christ that is a perfect righteousness such as God accepts for poor sinners and makes them stand so righteous in God's sight as if they had never sinned this appears in that Christ is gone to the Father which he could not have done if he had not fulfilled all righteousness Thirdly Of Judgment how that he has judged and condemned the Serpent and his Seed the Devil and the wicked World so as they shall never prevail against his Elect Mat. 16.18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and that there is true and sound judgment to be found only in the Christian Religion and not in any Idolatrous and false Religion and that Christ hath the government of his Church upon his own Shoulders and all that subject and submit unto his Government shall by it judg and condemn at last the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 Fifthly To humble them under and mortifie in them the deeds of the Flesh Rom. 8.13 Sixthly To quicken them with spiritual Life Rom. 8.11 Regenerate and sanctifie them John 3.5 and Evidence it to them 1 Cor. 6.11 Seventhly To help them in and under all their infirmities in duty Rom. 8.26 John 14.26 Eighthly To direct and guide them in all their ways Rom. 8.14 Psal 143.10 Ninthly To support and comfort them in all their sorrows and sufferings Rom. 5.5 John 4.26 Tenthly To witness to their Spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 Eleventhly To Seal them up to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.13 Twelfthly To be the earnest and first fruits of their Eternal Salvation Eph. 1.14 Rom. 8.23 Lastly To confirm strengthen and establish them in every good word and work to the end Eph. 1.13 Eph. 4.12 13. Again Thirdly To take notice of and meditate on the Evidences you have of the receiving and indwelling of the Spirit of God in you because If any have not the Spirit he is none of Christ's Rom. 8.9 1 Ep. John 4.13 Hereby we know he dwells in us and we in him by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3.24 Q. But how may we know that we have receiv'd the Spirit and that he dwells in us A. Thus 1. By the way and means in and by which he is given and receiv'd and that is the Ministry of the Word Acts 10.44 Whilst Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on those that heard him and hence the Ministry of the Gospel is call'd the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 and Men are said to receive the Spirit by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 Secondly You may know you have the Spirit by this if you can finde the foregoing acts and operations of the Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect If he be
that have this Book because your Memory is weak to take it in your hands and begin with the first Head of Meditation and then go on Day after Day until you have gone thorow and if there be any special subject you desire to meditate on to look into the Contents Thirdly For the Egress or Conclusion of your Meditation First so reflect and look back how we have perform'd it If not with profit and comfort then to take notice wherein we are defective and faulty and humble our selves under it and mend it the next time If we have reaped benefit and comfort by it to bless God for it and conclude all with praise for his gracious presence with us and pray he would make all effectual for the bettering of our heads and hearts and tongues and lives And thus of Meditation in general Next because most complain of scarcity or want of matter others of distraction through want of Method I have therefore thought fit to select the choisest things for Meditation through the Body of Divinity and reduce them to their several Heads that so however you cannot remember them all yet you may have them still before your eye and go on in the Meditation of them Day after Day CHAP. II. AND first I shall begin with solemn and deliberate Meditation and after give you some heads for sudden and occasional Meditation For solemn and deliberate Meditation the matter of your Meditation may be reduced to these 6 or 7 Heads God and Christ the Holy Spirit Man the World and the good and evil Angels by which God governs the World First I shall shew you what special things you are to meditate on in GOD to begin with him who is the beginning of all things and to be often and much in meditation on him for the more we meditate on him the more we shall know him and the more we know him the more we shall love him and the more we love him the more we shall desire him and the more we desire him the more shall we labour after communion with him not only in grace here but in glory hereafter but here in meditating on God take with you these three Cautions First To meditate on him in a way of faith and not reason because reason cannot comprehend the Unity in Trinity or Trinity in Unity Secondly Not to conceive of God out of Christ because God out of Christ is a consuming Fire Hebr. 12. last Thirdly Take heed of framing any Image of God in your minds he being a Spirit and an Infinite Spirit in all and through all and above all but to conceive of him I say in Christ who is the express Image of the Father the Ladder by which we are to clime up to Heaven to see and know God One well expresseth it thus when I see the body of a living man I know his Soul is there also and therefore when I speak to his body I speak to his understanding also because they are together so in viewing with the eye of my mind the humane nature of Christ glorious in Heaven I do at the same time look upon the God-head that being personally united unto it for in him dwelleth the God-head bodily or Personally Q. What are those things we are to meditate on in GOD A. His Nature Attributes Word Works Worship 1. His Nature and here take notice what he is in his Beeing and that he only is Jehovah 1. What he is in his Beeing This cannot be conceived much less defined by finite Creatures yet may be described so far as he hath revealed himself in the Scripture which is this An Eternal Infinite Perfect Incomprehensible Spirit distinguished into three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost every one Co-essential and Co-equal To open this briefly mind well I say he is a Spirit John 4.24 Now what a Spirit is our Saviour tells you Luke 24.31 Iohn 1.18 sc a Substance or Beeing that cannot be seen or felt 2. I say he is an Eternal Infinite Perfect Incomprehensible Spirit these Attributes distinguish him from all other Spirits as Angels and the Souls of men 1. He is an Eternal Spirit i. e. One that had no beginning nor can have any end 1 Tim. 1.17 To the King Eternal c. and Revel 1.8 But now Angels and the Souls of men though they shall have no end yet had a beginning were Created by God Gen. 12.1 2. God he is an Infinite Spirit i. e. Such a Beeing as cannot be contained within any place 1 Kings 8.27 Behold The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him and Isa 66.1 But for Angels and the Souls of men they are contained within their proper places 3. God he is a perfect Spirit unto whom no degree of goodness or excellency can be added 1 Iohn 1.5 Gen. 17.1 I am God All-sufficient But for Angels and the Souls of men they are capable of more degrees of goodness and excellency 4. God is an incomprehensible Spirit Psal 145.3 His greatness is incomprehensible 1 Timothy 1.16 He dwells in light unapproachable we may more easily comprehend what God is not than what he is but now for Angels and the Souls of Men we may in some measure comprehend what they are so far forth as God hath revealed it 3. I add distinguished into three Persons Here to take notice 1. What a Person is sc a distinct Subsistence or beeing having in it the whole God-head and distinguished from another by his incommunicable properties as 1. Of the Father to beget Psal 2.7 the Son to be begotten John 18. and of the Holy Ghost to proceed from both John 15.26 2. To take notice why we say Distinguished and not divided sc because the God-head being one pure simple unchangeable Beeing it cannot be divided or separated one from the other but are in one the other as you may see cleerly John 14.9 Lastly I add Co-essential and Co-equal i. e. Every one true and very God and not one before the other or greater than the other being every one God as appears in that the same names of God and properties of God and actions of God are given to every Person in the Trinity The Father God Eph. 13. John 17.3 The Son God Isai 9.6 Heb. 1.8 The Holy Ghost God Acts 5.3 4. 1 Cor. 3.16 To take notice and meditate seriously on these things in the Nature of God because the ignorance and want of the serious consideration of it is the cause of so many misapprehensions of God and aberrations from God 2. That you may the better know what God is to take notice that he only is Jehovah Psal 83.18 Thy Name only is Jehovah Q. What is the meaning of that Ans This word Jehovah it imports three things 1. That he hath his Beeing in and of and from Himself being deemed Hava or Hajah that signifieth To be and be of himself and from himself 2. It is he that gave a beeing to all that have any beeing as Isa 44.24
the blood of Martyrs Oh what wonderful condescention of the great God is this to his poor worthless Creatures that when he might have left us still in our contracted blindness and suffered us to grope through inward to outward and eternal darkness He should cause the light to shine forth once more upon us and reveal his mind and will how he would have us to walk and to worship him so as to enjoy him in grace here and in glory to all Eternity hereafter How should the consideration of it affect our hearts make us to prize and to value this blessed Book to love and delight in reading of our Father's Letters and the rather because it 's the great Charter of our Peace our evidence for a better life and our Eternal Inheritance 1 Ep. John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know you have Eternal Life 2. To meditate on the excellent properties of it as 1. The Divinity of it that it 's all and every part of it divinely inspir'd 2 Pet. 1. last 2 The infallibility of it that it never did or can deceive any being the word of him that is truth it self and hath said Heaven and Earth shall pass before one Iota or title of it go unfulfilled Luk 16.17 3. The All-sufficiency of it that it contains all things necessary to be known believed and practised to salvation 2 Tim. 3.16 17. 4 The Authority and Efficacy of it on the Conscience to humble and comfort when Men and Angels cannot by all they can say or do one word of God dropt into the Conscience by the Spirit of God is able to humble the proudest sinner and raise up the most dejected Soul so as to make him to acknowledge God is in it of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. 3. To meditate on the Precepts Promises Examples in the Word First First The Precepts that they are good and just and holy Rom. 7.12 as you may find David did Psalm 119.15.23 And when you meditate on the Precept to remember that there is no Precept but is backt with a promise of acceptance assistance and a reward Secondly Meditate on the Promises in the Word that they are many for number exceeding great for quantity and precious for quality 2 Pet. 1.4 All the godly man's called therefore the Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 Promises of all things concerning life and godliness this and a better that he will give grace and glory and with-hold no good thing Psalm 84. the end That they are all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus 2 Pet. 1.20 Still to go to them as the Bee to the Flower and suck sweetness out of them and when you meditate on them remember still God is as faithful in performing as gracious in promising 1 Thes 5.33 Thirdly On the threatnings of the Word that they are infinitely more dreadful than the threatnings of men the threatnings of men can reach only to the Body but the threatnings of God unto the Soul Men's threatnings only to this life but God's to all Eternity Math. 10 28 Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell and here remember God is as righteous in making good his Threatnings as his Promises there 's only this difference he promiseth that he may fulfill but threatens that he may not fulfill Fourthly On the Examples in the word of mercy and goodness to the obedient and Justice and Severity to the disobedient and when you meditate on them to take notice There is no Example in it but is for our instruction and hath a promise or a threatning in the Bowels and Bosom of it Rom. 15.4 1 Cor. 10.11 Secondly Above all to meditate on the Gospel or the New-Covenant of Grace and in and about that to meditate on these 8. things 1. What it is 2. Why call'd the Covenant of grace 3. Why a new Covenant 4. Wherein the old Covenant and new agree and differ 5. What those special spiritual things are contain'd in the Covenant 6. What Signs there are of a Person 's being actually in Covenant 7. The Means for it and the Motives to it 1. What it is viz. That Second Contract or Agreement which God the Father made with Christ and in Him with all his Elect To give them Christ and all that is Christ's even all things that pertain to life and godliness upon their believing in Him Psal 84.11 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Secondly Q. Why is this call'd a Covenant of Grace A. In opposition to the Covenant of Works which God made with Adam in the state of Innocency That promised Life and Salvation upon condition of doing the whole will of God this only upon condition of believing and giving God the glory of his grace in it Eph. 2.8 9. 3dly Why is it call'd the new Covenant In opposition to the old Covenant of grace made with the Jews under the Law The old Covenant is the revelation and dispensation of the Covenant before the coming of Christ the new Covenant the Revelation and Dispensation of it since the coming of Christ 4ly Wherin do the old and new Covenant agree A. In two things First In the substance which is one and the same in both viz. Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3. Revel 13.8 Heb. 13.8 Secondly In the way of receiving Life and Salvation to wit by Faith in Christ Act. 15.10 11. Heb. 4.2 Then Fifthly Q Wherein they differ A. In three things the clearness easiness and efficaciousness of it First In the Clearness in the new Covenant Christ and the benefits that come by him are more clearly revealed unto us than to them under the old they had it under types and shaddows and Ceremonies which things are now done away by Christ Heb 8. last Secondly In the Easiness the service of the old Covenant was a Service they were not able to bear Act. 15.10 But Christ's Yoke is easie and his Burden is light Math 11. last Because he hath freed us from those heavy Yokes and Burdens that lay on them as of many costly Sacrifices long and tedious Journeys prohibition of many Meats observation of many Days Rites and Ceremonies from all which we are freed by Christ Thirdly In the Efficaciousness oâ— Power of it there was less of the influence of the Spirit of grace given to ordinary believers under the Law than to those under the Gospel this plentiful Effusion of the Spirit being reserved unto the time of Christ's Ascension John 7.39 Eph 4.7 8. Heb. 7 18 19. Sixthly What those special spiritual blessings are which are promised in the Covenant which are first in general That God will be a God to them Gen. 17.7 and a Father 2 Cor. 6. last that is He will do all God and a Father can as he can do all things and is as
under Heaven by which we can be saved Joh. 8.24 If you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins and therefore it 's a gross Error A man may be saved in any Religion so he walk according to the Rules of it and as he is the only remedy so he is an All-sufficient remedy hath thorowly trode the Wine-press of God's wrath fulfilled and brought in everlasting righteousness and so able to save to the uttermost all such as come to God by him Heb. 7.26 Thirdly To meditate on the infinite love of God to Man-kind in vouchsafing such a Remedy to us and none to the fallen Angels Heb. 2.16 and John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave c. with such a Sic as has no Sicut such a So as has no Like so as cannot be conceiv'd much less expressed Fourthly On the infinite love of Christ in the voluntary undertaking this great Work for us and standing between the wrath of God and out Souls when the whole Creation trembled at it Psal 40.8 This is such a love as passeth love and passeth knowledge Men and Angels not able to comprehend what the bredth and length and depth and heighth is of this love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners Eph. 3.18 19. Fifthly To meditate on the amiableness or loveliness of Christ in himself that your hearts may be drawn out the more after him Cant. 5. last He is altogether lovely all desirable in his Names Nature Offices Graces Actions Passions and Benefits purchased by him for us First In his Names His name is as an Ointment poured out Cant. 1.3 God hath given him a name above every name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow Phil. 2.9 And this Name JESUS so full of sweetness that as Bernard hath it it is Mel in ore melos in aure Jubilus in corde Honey in the mouth Musick in the Ear and a Jubilee in the Heart so sweet that Austin after his Conversion delighted not to read any Book wherein was not the Name Jesus And for his Name Christ how full of sweetness is this so called because he was Anointed to be the Mediator King Priest and Prophet of his Church You may read more of his precious names Isai 9.6 Secondly Altogether lovely in his Natures both Divine and Humane First For His Divine Nature He is God Co-essential Co-eternal and every way coequal with his Father and therefore stiled God's-fellow Zach. 13.7 Secondly For His Humane Nature as He was Man so He was a Just and Innocent Man Mat. 27.19 A good man that always went about doing good to the Souls and Bodies of others Acts 10.38 An eminent Man above all Men fairer than all the Children of Men Isai 45.2 and that both in Soul and Body And needs must as being without all sin from which all deformities come especially in his state of Exaltation as the Apostle tells you when he met with him in the way of his Persecution Act. 26.13 At mid-day O King I saw in the way a light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun shining round about me c. Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Offices oâ— Mediatorship Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office First His Office of Mediatorship for first he hath reconcil'd by this God and Man Law and Gospel Mercy and Justice Secondly Hereby He hath opened a way for us into the Presence oâ— God whom we could no more draw nigh to without Him than the Stubble to the consuming Fire Heb. 12. last Secondly For His Priestly Office He is altogether lovely in that First Because He is a Priest not after the Order of Aaron but the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.4 Aaron was a temporary Priest but Christ an Eternal Priest Secondly In that He was not only a Priest but Altar and Sacrifice all which never any before Him was Isaiah 56.67 and 60.7 Thirdly A Priest that sprinkles Persons and Services with his precious Blood so as to take away the iniquity of our holy things and render all acceptable to his Father Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 Fourthly A merciful High Priest that cannot but have a fellow-feeling of all our infirmities Heb. 11.15 and knows how to succour them under their temptations Heb. 2. end Fifthly A Priest that is holy harmless separate from sinners and so able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him seeing He ever lives to make Intercession for them Heb. 7.25 Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Prophetical Office A Prophet that excels all other Prophets First In that all other Prophets were but Types of this Prophet even Moses himself Mat. 10.27 Heb. 3. Secondly Other Prophets could speak only to the Ear but Christ to the hearts of men other Prophets could only instruct but not convert Christ doth both Revel 3.7 Christ in speaking makes his to live Joh. 5.25 Thirdly Other Prophets could reveal but a part of God's will Christ he makes known the whole will of God John 15.15 Heb. 1.1 2. Fourthly All other Prophets had their Authority and Commission from Him He his from Himself Mat. last the last Eph. 4.11 In a word such a Prophet as he is the Angel's Surety Mediator of the Covenant the Angel as he goes from God to us and us to God the Surety as he undertakes for us and the Mediator he goes between God and us Fourthly Altogether lovely in his Kingly Office for He is King of kings a King that excels all other Kings in His wisdom power righteousness mercy Secondly A Universal King over all Nations and all Creatures in the World Math. 28. All Power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth and Eph 1 22. Thirdly He is a spiritual King a King that sets up his Throne in the Hearts and Consciences of Men which other Kings cannot however the Pope and his Pope lings will usurp it Revel 18.13 Fourthly He is an everlasting King whâ—â—e Kingdom can never be shaken Heb. 12.27 Of whose Kingdom there is no end Daniel 2.44 Fifthly Altogether lovely in his Graces and that both inherent in him and diffusive from him First Inherent in him therefore do the Virgins love him and run after him Cant. 1.2 and the Angels worship Him Heb 1. And he must needs be so because in Him is the fulness of grace and truth John 1.14 and he hath the Spirit without measure John 3 34 and is anointed with the Oil of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 Secondly In his diffusive graces for from his fulness it is we all receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16 that is grace like to that in Christ and one degree and measure of grace after another 2 Cor. 3. last Fifthly He is altogether lovely in his actions for never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.40 and never man did as he did Joh. 9.39 Sixthly A together lovely in his Passions never any man suffer'd what he did or as he did nor suffer'd so willingly patiently constantly aâ—
all the sufferings of this life are not worthy the glory that shall be reveal'd Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 This light and momentary affliction c. Fourthly In the Resurrection of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth and certainty of his Resurrection we have the testimony of God Angels and Men for it 1 Cor. 15.3 to the end Secondly On the Ends of his Resurrection as First That he might declare to all the World that he was the Son of God true and very God Rom. 1.4 Secondly That He might manifest to all the World that he had fully satisfied the Justice of God John 16.8 9. Heb. 2.13 14. Thirdly That He might strengthen our faith in that full satisfaction and reconciliation He hath made for us whence that Rom. 4. last He died for our offences and rose again for our Justification and hence that Triumph Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemns It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again c. Thirdly The evidences you have in the Merits and Benefits of Christ's Resurrection Whether he be risen as our Head and will raise us up hereafter to glory which we may know thus if we be risen with him and by him from a state of death to a state of life and grace called the first Resurrection Revel 20.6 Such only shall have an interest in the benefits of the second Resurrection at the last day John 5.28 Fourthly What you must do to get an interest in the first Resurrection that you may come to have the comfort of the second and that is to attend constantly on the Ministry of the Word and to beg the Spirit of Christ to quicken that Word that it may quicken your dead Souls according to his promise John 5.25 Fifthly In the Ascension of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth of it by the testimony of Angels and Men Acts 1.10 11. Luke 24.51 52. Secondly The End of his Ascention to shew that he was true and very God in that he could lift up his Body into the Ayr 2. That he might open the Gate of Heaven for us which we had shut by our sin and prepare a place for us in it Heb. 10 19 20. John 14.3 4. Thirdly Take notice of the use you are to make of the Ascention of Christ which is To ascend daily in our hearts and affections to him Colos 3.1 2. Sixthly In the Session of Christ at the right hand of God First To take notice what it is viz. that Equality of Glory and Dignity Authority and Power He hath with his Father Phil. 2.6.9 Eph. 1.20 Secondly To meditate on the End of his Sitting there which is First That He may Rule and Raign until he hath made all his Enemies his Foot-stool 1 Cor. 15. Secondly That he may assure us that as he sits there in our name and nature so he will cause all his at the last to sit with him upon the same Throne of glory Rev. 3.21 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it which is the same Col. 3.1 2. Seventhly In the Intercession of Christ First To take notice what it is viz. the presenting of his active and passive obedience to his Father for the procuring all that grace and mercy he hath purchased and his Father hath promised to his Elect or if you will thus That part of his Priestly Office whereby for his satisfaction sake he desires wills and procures for all his Elect the acceptation of their Persons and Services and the remuneration of all their weak endeavours for his glory Revel 8.3 4. Revel 14.13 Secondly Meditate on the Ends of his Intercession as First That we may have the benefit of all he hath done and suffered for us which we could not had he not gone into Heaven to make Intercession for us Heb. 9.7.24 Secondly That so he might take away the iniquity of our holy things and render our Persons and services acceptable to his Father and so be able to save us to the uttermost 1 Epist John 2.12 Heb. 7.25 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it and that is In all our services still to draw neer to God in the name of Christ and beg the acceptance of our Persons and Service and all that grace we stand in need of for his Intercessions sake Col. 3. â—7 Heb. 4. last But then Eighthly To meditate on the great Priviledges that come by Jesus Christ to such as have a true actual and real interest in Him as 1. Remission of all our sins 2 Cor. 5.19 1 John 17. Rev 15. 2. Imputation of Christ's righteousness 2 Cor. 5.20 3. Reconciliation to God 1 Colos 20. And thereby 1. Peace with God and Conscience Men and Angels Rom. 5.1 Col. 3 15. Isai 11.6 Hos 2. end Heb. 1. last 2. Communion with the Father and the Son 1 John 1 3. 3. A spiritual right and title to all Creature-comforts which are lost by the Fall 1 Tim. 4.45 and all that is God's and Christ's all his Attributes Promises Providences 1 Cor. 3. 2 last 4. A sanctified use of every estate both of Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good c. 4. Priviledge Adoption of us into his Family to be the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever living God Eph. 1.5 Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 5.1 5. Sanctification of our natures Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith in Christ 1 Thes 5.21 The God of Peace sanctifie you throughout c 2 Pet. â— 4 Whereby we are enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 6. Acceptation of our Persons and all our Services notwithstanding all our infirmities and imperfections Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 7. Inhabitation of his Spirit to assist us in all our duties and lead us in all our ways 1 Joh. 3 last Rom. 8.14.26 8. Confirmation and establishment in a state of Grace Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 9. The continual Intercession of Jesus Christ for all that Grace and Mercy we stand in need of Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.2 3. 10. Lastly The Consecration of Souls and Bodies Rom. 8.30 John 17.22 Tenthly To meditate if you would have the comfort of the forenamed Priviledges To meditate I say on the Evidences of an actual and real interest in Christ and that 1. Because it is expresly commanded 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith Know ye not that Ghrist is in you c. 2. Because the most do deceive themselves herein flatter themselves that they are Christ's and Christ is theirs because they are baptized into his Name and make a profession of him to whom Christ will say at the last Day I know you not c. Luke 13.25 And therefore to search and see the interest you have in Him be not only nominal and professional but actual and real Q. Well then How may we know it Ans By the Grounds of it the Means of
barely speak the Word Let there be Man but they consulted together saying Let Vs make Man Gen. 1.26 Not that God needed it but to shew that He intended to make Man a more excellent Creature than the rest 2. He not only consulted about the making Man but He put his hand to it for he formed Man of the dust of the Earth and breath'd into him the breath of life Gen. 2.7.22 Thirdly Meditate on the excellent ends wherefore God made Man namely to contemplate those glorious Excellencies of his which shine forth in the work of Creation and shew forth to others the glory that is in them to be quickned by it to serve him in all and for all and that he might be for ever happy in communion with Him and injoyment of him in all Prov. 16.4 Isai 43.7 Rev. 4. last 1 Cor 6. last The serious meditation of these things will cause us to admire and adore Him in what he hath done for man and to say with David Lord what is man c. Psal 8. Fearfully and wonderfully am I made O how precious are the thoughts of thee Psal 139. This also should bequicken Man to serve Him cheerfully in all and for all that should make all for us and us for himself or else will shame and confound us at the last that all his Creatures should serve him better by the very instinct of nature than we by the instinct of grace Sect. 2. Secondly To meditate on the cursed Estate of Man by transgression and here to meditate on these two things the Causes of it and the Consequences of it First The Causes of it and these either External or Internal 1. External and here First The efficient cause the Devil the Devil having fallen himself from God by his disobedience out of enmity against God and envy of Man's happy condition vehemently desir'd and endeavour'd the fall of Man that so he might have the more company both in sin and punishment whence our Saviour stiles him a Lyar and a Murderer from the beginning Joh. 8. And Peter tells us He walks up and down like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. The 2d outward cause was Instrumental viz. the Serpent Gen. 3.1 Q. But could a Serpent speak A. It was not the Serpent but the Devil in the Serpent therefore call'd the old Serpent Rev. 20. Q. But why did he make use of the Serpent rather than any other Creature A. 1. Because of his subtilty the Serpent being more subtil than any other Beast of the Field 2. In respect of his activity to move up and down more nimbly and creep in and out of the Garden unseen of Adam who was the keeper of it Q. But why did not Eve fear and mistrust the Serpent and the Devil in it A. 1. she fear'd not then because she had no sin then and there was no enmity then between Man and the Creature 2. She did not mistrust any mischief because it is probable she was ignorant of the fall of the Angels had she known it she would have watcht more narrowly against him Q. What may we learn here that the Devil made use of the Serpent because of his subtilty A. If there be any Person or gift more excellent than other the Devil will be sure to make use of it for the doing more mischief as he did of the Scribes and Pharisees and the Rulers of Israel because they were more learned and honourable Joh. 7.48 49. And therefore the greater any Man's parts and place is it should be his wisdom to be the more watchful against Satan and cause him to abuse them to the dishonour of God the wronging of others and the wounding of his own Soul Secondly For the internal and principal cause of Man's Fall that was the abuse of his own free-will because he freely and voluntarily transgressed and broke God's Commandment in eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 2.17 Eccl. 7. last Therefore God no way accessary to it nor could be the Author of it as some wicked ones have thought and taught for God used all means both before and in his Creation to prevent it as in his making him after his own Image and endowing him with knowledge and power to do what he requir'd and in that he immediately instituted a Sabbath to put him and keep him in remembrance of his dutie to God therefore every man to justifie God and condemn himself Secondly To meditate on the Consequents of the Fall which is Sin and the Curse By our first Parents disobeying the command of God in eating the forbidden Fruit there followed the curse of God upon Adam and all his Posterity and this Curse it comprehends under it three things Guilt Filth and Punishment every Son and Daughter of Adam came in guilty of that first sin as you may see cleerly Rom. 3.9.19 Especially Rom. 5.12 17 18 19. Q. And how so When as they were not then born Is it Justice in God to punish all for one Man's offence A. Yes 1. Because Adam's sin was not peculiar to his Person but common to all Man-kind Adam sustaining the place not of a private but a publick Person he was the Father and Root of all Man-kind and receiv'd whatsoever good he had not only for himself but all his Posterity Had he stood in obedience he and his had continued in that blessed Estate wherein they were created but now falling from that by his Rebellion he brought the Curse upon himself and all his Posterity Divines illustrate it thus In Murder though the hand only kill yet the whole Man becomes guilty In a Parliament what 's done by the Knight of the Shire or the Burgess of a City is said to be done by all that made choice of them When a great Person commits Treason he doth not only disinherit himself but his posterity the consideration of this should cause every one to take to heart that first sin and humble himself before the Lord under it That you maybe the more effectually humbled under it 1. To consider of the greatness of that first sin how-ever it may seem a small matter in the eye of carnal reason to eat a little forbidden fruit yet as one truly Peccare in minimo peccatum non minimum To sin this did so much the more aggravate their sin that they would offend so great and good a God for so small a matter that when God had given them liberty to eat of all other Trees in the Garden yet they would not deny themselves in this one besides this first sin is that contains in the bowels of it may other crying sins as Apostasie Infidelity Curiosity Blasphemy Pride Presumption Murder c. In a word was the cause of all other sin and misery upon the Creature and of the Damnation of all Souls that have been are or shall be damned and therefore we have every one great and continual cause of humbling and abasing our selves before the
Christ and never leave you until it hath crown'd you with Glory Col. 3.4 Ninthly To meditate on and make use of the means God hath revealed and commands you to â—se to get out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace What are they Mark a few 1. You must be willing to see and be sensible of and humbled under your want of Grace as they Acts 2.37 and the Jaylor Acts 16.30 2. You must labour to be united unto Christ the Fountain of Spiritual Life and Grace for the Son quickneth whom he will John 5.21 and John 1.16 from his fulness we receive Grace for Grace and 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life 3. You must prize and value it hunger and thirst after it above all other things in the World Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 4. You must go to the Covenant for it and beg the Lord to remember his Covenant and glorifie his Grace in giving in that Grace to you which he promiseth in the Covenant Psal 84.11 and tells him this Grace is as free for you as for others and will be as glorious on you as on others and you shall give him the glory of it here and to all eternity Read and ponder well that excellent place 2 Cor. 9.8 A sufficiency of Grace in him for you 5. You must wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word which is the only ordinary means of getting it James 1.21 1 Pet. 1.23 when ever you come to hear the Word remember to beg the Spirit of God to quicken his Word that it may quicken your dead Souls whereby you may be enabled to stand up from the dead and act as new Creatures in a state of Regeneration to God and for God It is the Spirit alone that quickens John 16. and him that God hath promised to such as ask him Luke 11. And therefore I say still remember to beg the Spirit of God and wait upon him in the ministry of the Word till he come to breath into this Spirit Life a Life of Grace that may fit you for and entitle you to a Life of Glory to quicken and encourage you Sect. 4. Take notice of the happy estate of Man by Glorification and what those things are you are to meditate on in and about that are these 1. What this Glory is and wherein it consists 2. The Properties of it 3. The certainty of it 4. Who they are that shall partake of it 1. What this glory is In the general it is no other then the lustre or beauty of a person or thing that draws admiration after it and it is either External Internal or Eternal 1. External is that state and pomp men have in the World and drawes the eyes of others after it of which you may read Gen. 45.13 You shall shew my Father of my glory in Egypt that is of the pomp state and honour I am exalted to 2. Internal Glory is that within in the Soul in the excellent Gifts and Graces that it is endowed withal Psal 45. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within and Numb 6.27 where God said to Moses He should bring Joshua before the Priest and put some of his Glory and Spirit upon him 3. Temporal Glory Is that which he promiseth to his in this life Prov. 22.4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is Riches and Glory 4. Eternal Glory Is that which God will confer upon the Saints in Heaven If you ask what that is we must answer in the words of Austin Facilius est excogitare quid non sit quam quid sit It cannot be conceived much less expressed yet as they guessed at the fruitfulness of the Land of Canaan by the mighty clusters of Grapes they brought thence so may we at the glory of Heaven by that glymps the Scripture holds forth of it That you may have the clearer sight of it we will consider it comparatively with that which is in the World and then absolutely as it is in it self First If we compare it with that glory which is visible in the World we may guess somewhat at the transcendent excellency of it You may see abundance of glory in all the Works of God especially in those Celestial Bodies above the Sun the Moon and the Stars but alas what is this to the Glory of Heaven And If in Heav'ns outward Court such glory be What is the Glory which the Saints do see Du. Bartas 2. Consider it absolutely in it self And here take notice of the Glorious Place and Glorious Company and Glorious Endowments of Soul and Body the Glorious Employments of both and the Glorious Priviledges the Saints shall enjoy there 1. For the Glotious Place that is the highest Heaven that which the Apostle calls the Third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. and this place is Verus totus Olimgus wholly Light not only bespangled here and there with glittering Stars but as one great Sun and that which is increased by the admirable splendor of the glorified Body of Jesus Christ and those millions of glorified Saints whose Bodies there shall shine not onely as the Stars Dan. 12. but as the Sun Mat. 13.43 2. For the Glorious Company There you shall have the society not only of all your Christian Alliance Friends and Acquaintance that have liv'd and dyed in the Lord but of all the Holy Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Saints not only of the Glorious Angels but the ever blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost and if the company of a few humble upright chearful Christians be so sweet here how sweet must communion be with all these 3. For the Glorious Endowments 1. Of the Soul As soon as the Soul is separated from the Body it goes to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. It is perfected in all its Faculties Understanding Will Memory Affections 1. For the Understanding It is perfected in the knowledge of God and all that 's good 1 Cor. 13.10 11 12. Here we are but as in the Grammer School there we shall be in the University here the knowledge most have is but the least part of that they shall know there of God and the Creatures of the Mysteries of Religion and the Secrets of Nature 2. For the Will there shall be in it a perfect conformity to the Will of God we shall will all that is good and that more freely and with more alacrity then here we ever willed any pleasure of this life 3. For the Memory It shall be so perfected as to remember all that is good and nothing that is evil so as to be troubled for it but rejoyce rather in this that we are freed from it 4. For the Affections These shall be wholly taken up with and rest upon God and all that is good the measure of our love and delight in him shall be to love and delight in him without measure 2. For the glory of the Body you may reade it 1 Cor. 15.42 43.