Thus man was made the wonder of the world the principallest of living creatures indued with a reasonable soul most divinely qualified and strictly united to that earthly mass to quicken and inliven it The end why man was made in respect of God was the glory of his power goodness and wisdome appearing in the work it self of his justice in rewarding man if obedient and in punishing man if disobedient of his grace and mercy redeeming him fallen into the gulf of misery and that man should praise and magnifie his glorious name In respect of man that hee should live blessedly for ever if hee did obey man by creation was immortal for death is an enemy no consequent of nature but a companion of sin man dieth not because his body was framed of the dust 1 Cor. 15.26 but because hee is infected with sin Subjection to mortality and all miseries accompanying it is a fruit of disobedience Hee is reasonable and intelligent able to think invent judge devise compose discourse remember chuse refuse suspend and affect These powers being essential to mans nature do still remain but very weak and corrupt since the fall Also to man is given power to eat drink sleep weep laugh and speak whereby hee may communicate to others whatsoever hee conceiveth hee was perfectly conformable to the will of God made after the Image of God in knowledge righteousness and true holiness But the Image of God is defaced with sin there remaining onely some reliques in us as the ruines of a magnificent and stately palace that served to shew what once wee had Moreover in the state of innocency man was honoured with great Royalties and Prerogatives for hee had liberty to eat of every tree in the Garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil and was made ruler over all earthly creatures that hee might freely use them to the glory of God his own necessity and lawful pleasure But these priviledges hee hath forfeited by rebellion against his Creator The effects of man are suitable to the faculties and gifts hee hath received as to know God call upon his name worship him sincerely preach the Word administer the Sacraments govern give counsel contemplate the works of God read write confer and dispute exercise the works of virtue and honesty govern the affections reverence superiors live peaceably and such like But in all these things wee have much dis-inabled our selves by wilful disobedience Would you see the prime dignity of man by comparison In soul hee is like the Angels invisible immaterial immortal beautified with understanding will and power inriched with admirable divine gifts whereby hee resembleth God or carrieth his Image In body hee is the perfection of all earthly things whom they are to serve In both hee is the Epitome of all created excellency in Heaven and Earth Quest How must these things bee applied unto the heart for the quickening of affection Answ Wee must stir up our selves to magnifie the goodness of the Lord towards man-kind to shame our selves in conscience of our sins and misery raise up the heart to the contempt of earthly things and love of obedience and seek unto God to have his Image repaired in us again through Jesus Christ Lord Psal 8.4 5 6 c. what is man that thou visitest him the son of man that thou so regardest him Thou hast made him little inferiour to the Angels adorned him with grace stamped upon him thy Image invested him with dignity and crowned him with glory and honour Thou hast given him Dominion over the work of thy hands and put all things in subjection under his feet Thou hast made him for thy service his soul to bee thy habitation his body to bee the Temple of thy spirit and all other things to bee serviceable unto him the world and all that is therein for his use All things are prepared for him all things are subject to him hee ruleth over all living creatures they labour for him obey his command Lord thou art the glory of man man the receptacle of thy works thy wisdome and power But as mine excellency by creation exceeds so doth my shame and misery by sin and disobedience The higher mine advancement the lower my fall This was my chief honour and title that I was the Image of God This is my disgrace and ignominy that I bear the Image of the Devil This is my comfort that God did love delight and desire to dwell in mee it is my misery that I am cast out of thy favour and lye under wrath Ah what grief is this to think how my condition is altered through my foolishness once immortal now mortal once pure now impure and polluted once rich in wisdome and grace now blinde and naked once the Image and free servant of God now the vassal of Satan once at peace with God my conscience all creatures now at war with his Majesty my self all the world Once a free man to walk at liberty now a bondslave that can doe nothing but sin once the Ruler of all creatures now of all creatures the basest Satan excepted once subject to no annoyance now secure from nothing that might offend If a Noble man fall from height of honour to great contempt and bitter extremities hee is much afflicted much greater cause have I to bemoan my folly who have cast my self headlong from Heaven unto Earth even to the gulf of misery and confusion Oh my soul why dost thou forget thy self so much as to affect the base things of this life It is a shame for him that was to subdue all things to suffer himself to bee subdued by men and to become a Lacquey to his vile affections doing honour to the three great Idols of the world profit pleasure and preferment The world is too vile for thy delight thou art created for more divine service the Lord himself covets thy love The glory of the world is put under thy feet as things to bee trodden upon that which thou shouldest affect is far above heavenly and glorious If the fashion of the body should bee so changed that the face and eyes bowed to the earth continually should never bee able to look up it would bee grievous But if the soul which should bee lifted up to God do creep upon earth bee glued to worldly vain delights the alteration is more uncomfortable and monstrous Hee that subdueth the world doth yeeld himself to the service of God which is perfect liberty But when wee become slaves to the world wee labour to make God servant to our lusts which is most abominable and accursed The glutton makes God his caterer his belly his God and himself the guest The covetous worldling would have God his Broker and himself the Usurer The angry sinner would have God his executioner and himself the Judge The ambitious inquisitor can sometimes make God and Religion his stile but honour shall bee his God and lust reign The Lord himself
is abased in our esteem Love the Lord Oh my soul and give thy self to the obedience of his Commandements thou art the perfection and end of all creatures the Lord thy life perfection comfort what thou art is of him that thou shalt bee happy is of his goodness thou owest him thy self thou wast created for his glory defile not his Image pollute not his workmanship bee not unthankful for what thou hast received forget not thy own estate O heavenly Father I heartily desire to follow thee whithersoever thou shalt lead mee to do what thou shalt command and to cleave unto thee as long as I live But I finde the flesh rebellious solliciting daily yea and violently haling to those things that are evil Ah miserable wretch that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of death Thou Thou Lord onely art able and willing to vouchsafe help and succour To thee therefore do I flye I pray thee have mercy upon mee in Jesus Christ and repair the lost image of thy self Thy hands have made mee and fashioned mee give mee understanding and I shall live thou createdst mee pure thou canst restore mee though corrupt Create in mee a clean heart and renew a right spirit within mee Breathe into mee the Spirit of Life and establish mee in the way of thy Precepts Heal my soul for I am defiled and cause mee to grow up unto the perfect stature of a spiritual man I have wounded my soul but cannot cure it defaced thy Image but cannot fashion it anew Look upon my misery dear Father forgive my sin and make mee a new creature for thy infinite mercy begin in mee this good work and perfect it to thy praise in thee do I trust to thee I seek for grace for in thee the fatherless finde mercy Quest I would know in the fourth place how wee might proceed to meditate on Gods infinite greatness Answ God is infinitely good without quality infinitely great without quantity his excellency is incomprehensible and surpasseth what wee can speak or think But for our proceeding in this Meditation according to our capacity wee may consider what it is what bee the parts of it and how incomparably it exceedeth whatsoever might bee likened unto it Great is the Lord and worthy to bee praised Psa 145.3 and his greatness is unsearchable Our God is the God of Gods and Lord of Lords a great God mighty and terrible who being both the original and end of all things Deut. 10.17 cannot rightly bee said to bee any thing for hee must needs bee above all and better than all Such is his greatness that hee is that one infinite and eternal being See how that I even I saith the Lord am hee Deut. 32.39 and there is no God with mee I lift up my hand and say I live for ever Thou Lord art so great that thou art most perfectly one in essence one in number The Lord hee is God and there is none besides him As thou art * Deut. 4.35 Mark 12.32 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. one in essence so art thou one in thy purpose determination promise For how shouldest thou that art one in number and essence bee otherwise than thy self All things do turn upon this point and hasten to this center if it were not unity multiplicity would destroy it Thou Lord art infinite without all limits of essence without matter or form efficient or end thou art without all dimensions of length breadth or thickness thou art without all limits of place and yet fillest all places in Heaven or Earth Thou art wholly without and within all and every place no where excluded and no where included and that without all localmotion or mutation of place a Job 11.8 9. Thou art higher than the Heavens deeper than Hell longer than the Earth broader than the Sea b 1 King 8.27 Psa 139.7 Isa 66.1 Act. 17.27 Simply and purely every where by essence and presence A God at hand and a God a far off Thou movest or changest all things without either motion or change in thy self thou art in every place present in every place entire within all things and contained in nothing without all things and sustained by nothing but containest sustainest and maintainest all things Thou art unspeakably present in every place by essence power wisdome and providence but thy glory is specially manifested to the Angels and Saints in Heaven thy grace power and mercy to the Saints on earth whom thou dost favour with whom thou dwellest Job 36.22 c. 1 Tim. 1.17 2 Pet. 3.8 for whose deliverance thou wilt arise and have mercy into whose hearts thou wilt shine comfort Thou art eternal before and after all beings without all limits of time past present and to come Thou art at all times but without respect of time an everlasting and immortal God before and after all times and in all times for ever and ever Thou art the King of ages the maker of times the Inhabitour of eternity a Psa 90.1 2. Isa 57.15 Psa 92.7 8. 102.12 13 26 27. Isa 41.4 43.10 11. Jer. 10.10 Isa 40.28 Before the mountains were made and ere ever thou hadst formed the earth from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Everlasting in thy self in love in the fruits of thy favour towards thy people which thou hast chosen in wrath and indignation against the obstinate and disobedient O God thou art great and wee know thee not neither can the number of thy years bee searched out Isa 40.15 16. All powers on earth come short to bee shadows of thy greatness The Nations are as a drop of a bucket less than nothing and vanity before thee Quest How must wee apply these things to the heart Answ Wee must stir up our selves to magnifie the Lord love fear reverence and trust in him for ever Great is the Lord and worthy to bee praised for hee sitteth upon the circuit of the earth and stretcheth out the Heavens like a curtain He bringeth the Princes of the earth to nothing and lifteth up the meek to honour Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite The men of this world labour to set forth the state and magnificence of earthly Monarchs the largeness of their dominions greatness of their power continuance of their house Oh my soul why art thou so silent awake and sing aloud of the praises of God whose greatness is infinite eternal incomprehensible thou canst not by searching finde him out but remember to magnifie his work which men behold Every man may see it Man may behold it afar off Love the Lord Oh my soul and stick fast unto him as thy life and treasure Hee is that infinite unbounded eternal goodness passing all humane both search and sight that filleth and includeth all things Alass how do wee affect a thousand things that cannot bee effected or if obtained do vanish or cloy and can no more
A TREATISE OF DIVINE Meditation By that Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. JOHN BALL Late Minister of the Gospel at Whitmore in Staffordshire Published by Simeon Ashe Preacher of the Gospel at Austins London Josh 1.8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Gen. 24.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide LONDON Printed for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard neer the Little North-door 1660. TO THE Christian Reader THis Treatise of Divine Meditation was penned long since by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ Mr. John Ball who therein intended the benefit of some private friends onely But Copies thereof being dispersed into many hands good people of sundry ranks and qualities upon the perusal of it were very desirous to have it printed for more publick use And because it was known unto many that this my worthy friend had committed all his Manuscripts to my trust that nothing might pass to the Press without my approbation I was importuned as by others so by the five Reverend Brethren who subscribed and sent the Epistle prefixed that I might receive incoucouragement by their Testimony to own the publication of it The subject matter is needful and profitable and the language with the method and manner of handling it doth speak Mr. Ball the Author My leisure hath not given mee leave with seriousness to read over this discourse yet upon the credit of the forementioned able Ministers of Christ who have perused it I hope that it will be serviceable to thy soul Which is the desire and shall bee the prayer of Thy Friend and Servant in Christ Sim. Ashe Aug. 9. 1660. TO THE Christian Reader Reader THere is no duty more neglected amongst Christians than this of Meditation whence it is that though the heads of many are swelled with notions yet their hearts are very empty of grace and good affections A Treatise therefore of Meditation which would remove obstructions and open the passages between the brain and heart could never bee more seasonable or necessary than in these daies wherein there is Multum scientiae parum conscientiae men being much taken up with speculative controversal matters to finde them discourse but little meditating upon plain and practical truths to affect their hearts and amend their lives It is a sad and a strange thing that there should bee more light in the world an increase of knowledge and less heat a decay of love that there should bee so much profitable preaching and yet no more profiting amongst the hearers one cause whereof doubtless is the omission of this duty We must read and consider hear and consider if wee would get good by what wee read and hear without Meditation Truths are devoured not digested And as leanness of soul is to bee seen in many through sinful rejection and casting away of wholesome food so the like is to bee seen in others that are fed with such food for want of good concoctiō This little Tractate of the eminently learned judicious and godly Mr. Ball is to teach the Art of Divine Meditation to help thy spiritual digestion wouldest thou take in the advice herein contained thou shouldest finde thy soul growing and thriving by it Indeed it is a thousand pitties that any thing of this Reverend Author humane frailty excepted should die with him though this small peece hath seemed to lie buried in oblivion hitherto 't is now risen as from the dead to admonish us of a necessary duty will again rise in judgement against them that shall still continue their sinful and shameful omission of it Though it be posthumous yet thou mayest be confident it is not spurious Mr. Heary Baker were the person in whose hands this Copy lay as well known to others as to us they would desire no more satisfying evidence than his affirming as he did that hee received it from the Reverend Authors own hand Thou hast here the substance of the original Copy without any further alteration than what the oversight of the Transcriber here and there made necessary And though there may be wanting somewhat of that accurateness in this peece which was in others prepared for the Press by the Authors own hand yet they who are acquainted with his other works will clearly see a great resemblance between this and them As to the doctrine herein contained 't is useful and excellent and that which few have so practically handled but they who look for quaintness of expression more than the quickning of their affections and right ordering of their conversations must turn away their eyes this was not written for them The excellency of Rules lieth in their fitness to direct in necessary duties and those which this book affords have more of solidity than lustre of use than shew Let us intreat thee therefore not only to read over this Tractate but to live it over lest thou shouldest mistake the end of its publication And do not think this holy exercise is such a grievous task as that thou shouldest be afraid of it 't is such a duty as after a little experience thou wilt finde to be not so much a burden as a spiritual recreation and that to press thee to the practice of it is in effect but to perswade thee to delight thy self with sitting to the fire when thou art benummed with cold or to please and refresh thy self with food when thou art ready to perish with hunger nay such sensitive refreshments are not to be compared with these spiritual delights of getting a dead cold heart warmed a starved soul nourished by digesting its food by Divine Meditation The greatest difficulty will be in thy first setting to this duty which when once thou art acquainted with thou wilt be angry with thy self that thou either knewest or began it no sooner Courteous Reader we cannot take our leave of thee till wee have once more intreated thee to set to this duty If thou wouldest be blessed in all thy enterprizes or concernments with the blessings of God Josh 1.8 If thou wouldest have thy understanding inlightened with the knowledge of God thy affections inflamed with the love of God thy heart established with the promises of God thy solitariness cheared up with the company of God thy afflictions mitigated with the comforts of God and if thou wouldest have thy thoughts words and works regulated by the command of God pray and consider pray and meditate So advises Thy Servants in the Lord Jesus Sa. Cotes Wil. Reynolds John Whitlock Robert Smalley John Armstrong August 9. 1660. The Contents WHat the word Meditation signifies page 1 How Meditation and prayer differ page 4 Reasons shewing the necessity of meditation Ibid Who are bound to use
this exercise page 11 What the matter or subject of our meditation ought to bee page 17 What the fruits effects and benefits of meditation are page 20 What use wee are to make of this point page 49 What superficial and careless thinking upon some points of Doctrine by fits is page 53 What the lets and Impediments of this duty are page 59 How the first Impediment is removed page 61 What a second let or Impediment is page 65 How it is to bee remedied Ib What a third Impediment is page 68 How it is to bee remedied page 69 What a fourth let is page 71 How it is to bee remedied page 72 What should move us to bee careful to take time for this duty page 73 What things hinder the fruitful performance of this duty page 74 How these abuses are to bee remedied page 75 What the sorts and kinds of meditation are page 77 What occasional Meditation is ib. What Rules are to bee noted touching extemporary Meditation page 78 What the benefits of extemporary meditation are page 80 How a man should fit himself for extemporary meditation page 84 What solemn or setled meditation is page 85 What motives should perswade Christians to set upon this duty page 86 What things must bee looked unto that this exercise might bee taken in hand with good success page 88 What Rules are to bee observed touching the choice of matter Ib. VVhat wee must do if our heart bee so barren that wee cannot call to mind any thing that hath been taught us nor remember any mercy wee receive page 93 VVhat particular meditations concerning Duties to bee performed or practised wee may finde commended unto us in the writings of Godly men page 97 110 VVhat place is fit for meditation page 115 VVhat they must do that have no room to bee alone page 117 VVhat time must bee set apart for meditation lb. VVhat is to bee said to them that pretend multitude of worldly business to excuse the omission and neglect of this excercise page 123 VVhat course must be holden to redeem time out of the world for meditation page 125 How wee must make entrance into this exercise page 127 In what order wee must proceed after the entrance page 130 VVhat must bee observed for the conclusion of this exercise page 137 How wee must meditate on Gods infinite excellency page 139 How wee must proceed in this meditation page 140 How these things are to bee applied upon the heart and pressed upon the soul page 145 How wee are to proceed in meditation of the holy Angells page 154 How these things are to be pressed and urged and applied unto the heart page 156 How wee are to meditate on mans excellency page 161 How it is to bee applied unto the heart for the quickning of the affection page 168 How wee are to meditate on Gods Infinite greatness page 176 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 181 How we are to meditate on the love of God page 185 How it must bee applied unto the heart page 198 How wee are to meditate on the fall of our first parents page 207 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 221 How wee are to meditate on sin page 228 How it is to bee pressed upon the heart page 245 How wee are to meditate on the work of Redemption page 246 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 267 How wee are to meditate on the Resurrection of Christ page 273 How it is to bee pressed upon the heart page 284 A TREATISE OF Divine Meditation Quest WHat doth the word Meditation signifie Answ Those two words in the Original which our Translators render to Meditate signifie Primarily to meditate commune or discourse with ones self or which is the same to imagine study consider or muse in mind or heart Psal 1.2 In his Law doth hee meditate a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day and night 77.6 I commune b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search Isa 33.18 Thine heart shall meditate terrour 59.13 conceiving c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and uttering from the heart words of falshood And secondarily To pray or express that with the mouth which the heart mindeth either 1 Articulately Gen. 24.63 Isaac went out to meditate d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meditari meditata eloqui in the field i. e. to meditate his evening prayers and pray over his meditations Psal 55.17 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 105.2 Talk yee f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colloquimini of all his wondrous works Or 2 Inarticulately Isa 8.19 And when they shall say unto you seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui mussitant should not a people seek unto their God 38.14 I did mourn h Where are words used coming from the same Hebrew root as a Dove 31.4 Like as the Lion and the young Lion roaring i Where are words used coming from the same Hebrew root on his prey The former of these two significations being the Principal Quest How is Meditation to bee defined as it is taken in the former sense Answ Meditation is a serious earnest and purposed musing upon some point of Christian instruction tending to lead us forward toward the Kingdome of Heaven Psal 119.23 48. and serving for our daily strengthening against the flesh the world and the Devil Or it is a stedfast and earnest bending of the mind upon some spiritual and heavenly matter discoursing thereof with our selves till wee bring the same to some profitable issue both for the setling of our judgements and bettering of our hearts and lives Quest How do Prayer and Meditation differ Answ They are often confounded in name but inseparably linked in nature going hand in hand together and can no more bee severed than two Twins who live and dye together only in Prayer wee confer and commune more directly with God by Petition and Thanksgiving Psa 42.11 in Meditation wee talk and confer more directly and properly with our selves and with our own souls Quest What reasons may shew the necessity of this duty Answ First It is commanded by God who hath supream Authority to command what hee pleaseth is infinite in Wisdome to judge what is most profitable for us and most acceptable to himself is of great Power to punish our contempt and abundant in Goodness to reward our obedience It is his good pleasure that wee should purposely separate our selves from other matters to think seriously upon some good and holy observation that our understandings might bee bettered and our affections stirred to hate evil and love good Secondly How necessary this heavenly exercise is may easily be conceived for that the hearts even of good Christians are too much
pestered with unsavoury thoughts desires and delights of folly vanity and much other naughtiness that they think it utterly impossible to bring them to any better point and no wonder if they neglect this duty of Meditation the understanding of the best setled Christian is dim his memory feeble his affections so overlaid with sin that without much striving hee cannot mount aloft nor run swiftly in the way of Gods Commandments So ponderous is the flesh that presseth down that unless wee labour the thing with our hearts the word will not stick fast nor work kindly nor our affections rise to any good purposes would wee thrive in grace and raise our desires and delight in heavenly things wee must breathe our selves well in Meditation Thirdly Would you have examples for the warrant of this necessary practice Naturally wee desire not to go alone nor travel in a way which none hath trodden before us wee may truly affirm all godly men have meditated and the most holy have most abounded in Meditation This the Holy Ghost reporteth of Isaac the Patriarch a Gen. 24.63 That hee went out into the field towards the evening to meditate which had not been so commendable if hee had not used so to do being such holy duties should bee often used herein following his Father Abraham who was the friend of God and very familiar with him b Gen. 5.22 Enoch in his whole life walked with God and had much talk and communion with him David promised to c Psa 119.48 Psal 119.148 meditate on the statutes of the Lord. And what hee vowed that hee did perform Mine eyes prevent the morning watch to meditate on thy word His life was a life of sorrow before hee came to the Kingdome Saul hunted him like a Partridge after hee was incumbred with wars abroad and the disobedience and rebellion of his sons at home what time could hee take to commune with God how could hee quiet his heart or bring it into order when others slept his eyes were waking and his heart was musing upon God his word and works his reins did teach him in the night season What point of divinity can bee learned without Meditation not one for as none can say that it is his own work which his own hands hath not made So none can count any point of divinity his own which he hath not wrought by the Meditation of his own heart Amongst Christians who have excelled such as have been most frequent and earnest in this exercise of holy Soliloquies pressing their hearts to the love of God and solacing themselves in the remembrance of his love Even as much odds as is betwixt a young scholar that can onely say his part and patter over his rules by rote and a learned School-master that by long practice and experience hath the use thereof or as there is between a cunning Artificer that can make his own work and an ignorant Shop-keeper that only sells the same such or more is the difference between the Christian that meditates Psal 119.97 98 99. and him that meditateth not David attained to more wisdome than the Antient his teachers his enemies it was by meditation of the Law of God Fourthly The Lord by his Prophet complaineth of the neglect of this duty Jer. 8.6 None saith what have I done Fifthly Meditation putteth life and strength into all other duties and parts of Gods worship When Nehemiah heard of the affliction of his brethren and the ruine of Jerusalem hee entred into a deep and earnest consideration of Gods judgements and of the causes thereof which were the sins of the people that thereby hee might bee the more fit to humble himself by prayer and fasting before the Lord a Neh. 1.2 7. When Peter came to himself and knew where hee was and from what hee was delivered and by whom then hee began with all thankfulness to muse on the great danger hee had escaped and of the author and instrument of his deliverance b Act. 12.11 Paul beholding the superstition of the Athenians and finding an Altar which was dedicated to the unknown God began to pity the blindness and ignorance of the people and to meditate how hee might take occasion from the inscription to win them to God c Act. 17.23 Quest Who are bound to use this exercise Answ This exercise doth appertain to all persons professing Christianity d Deut. 6.6 8. and howsoever all men have not equal education learning strength of memory stayedness of mind sharpness of wit and invention variety of reading opportunity of time and place c. yet is no man to bee freed from it There is none so simple or busie of so high place or base condition of so short memory or quick capacity such a babe in Christ or so strong a Christian that can exempt himself from this duty unless hee purpose to live unprofitably to others uncomfortably in himself and disobedient against God e Josh 1.8 Joshua was a valiant Captain a mighty Governour one alwaies busied in the wars of God yet must hee meditate in the Law a Psa 119.15 48 72. Who shall pluck out his neck when such a man must bear the yoak what must an holy man a King a Warrier notwithstanding his holiness dignity troubles have the word of God to dwell in him and bee his Counsellour what shift canst thou finde to excuse thy self in the neglect of it when neither worldly honour nor weight of business nor strength of body nor courage of mind nor variety of incumbrances nor multitude of distractions shall be held as plea sufficient art thou a Father of many children and so pleadest the great charge that lieth upon thy hand hear what the Lord saith Deut. 6.6 11.18 And these words which I command thee shall bee in thy heart The more thou hast to care for the more need hast thou to acquaint thy self with the Law of God that thou mayest teach and pray for them that depend upon thee Thou art Young and lusty it is good for thee to bee wise aforehand and to remember the Lord for thou must give account how thou hast spent thy daies thou must answer for the sins of youth b Eccl. 12.1 Call to mind what counsel a good Father gives to his Son a Father that advised in love a godly Father who by experience knew that his admonition was wholesome a Father moved by divine inspiration in that which hee spake My Son forget not thy Fathers instructions Binde them continually upon thine heart c Prov. 6.20 21. What better treasure canst thou lay up in thy breast what safer direction canst thou follow The word of life is a precious and sweet liquor fit to season the green vessel a sure guide to lead us in the darkness of this world Wilt thou pretend poverty to excuse omission of this duty Oh fool and blind dost thou not consider and if thou bee oppressed
with want thou hast the more need to strive for grace peace with God and joy in the Holy Ghost Thou hast nothing in this world provide spiritual treasure and learn what legacies the Lord hath bequeathed unto thee in his holy word Wee need not urge reasons to perswade old men who have accustomed themselves to the practice of godliness and by long custome have made that easie to them which to another seems difficult if not impossible to continue the use of this exercise for by experience they know the singular benefit and comfort of it They have tasted many times how sweet a thing it is to commune with the Lord how profitable to incite and call upon their souls and though the natural stomach be decayed the spiritual appetite still encreaseth in them a Psa 92.13 14. There is none so employed or tied by any service or duty to man but hee may finde some time either by day or night to call upon God to confer and talk with God and with his own soul in the presence of God especially upon the Sabbath day wherein the poorest Artificer and most painful Plough-man Prisoner and Gallislave must put apart some time if not to hear and pray publickly from which hee is restrained yet to behold muse and meditate with himself both of the word and works of God Canst thou finde time to eat drink sleep b Psa 16.7 redeem some portion of time from worldly business to refresh thy self with sweet Meditation c Psa 119.55.148 Is it not better to want thy full sleep than to deprive thy soul of communion with God It were a busie day when thou wouldest not a little attend to salute a kind friend who is come a far journey to visit thee in love Let no day pass without some conference with God and thine own heart Many hear the Word of God praise the Preacher wonder at the doctrine delivered are affected with joy or sorrow but the godly man treasureth up the Word in his heart not as a Talent in a Napkin but as provision in a store-house which hee bringeth forth in due season a Luk. 2.19 Mary kept all those sayings and pondered them in her heart when as others heard them as well as shee b Gen. 37.11 Jacob observed Joseph's dream the brethren heard it but the Father kept it in mind Quest What ought to bee the matter or subject of our Meditation Answ Some good or profitable observation gathered out of the Word or raised from the Works of God as the Titles and Properties of God c Psa 1.2 119.54 by which hee sheweth what hee is to his Church and People his Power Wisdome Justice and Mercy also the works of the Most High as his Decree Creation Providence the fall of man our Redemption by Christ Vocation Justification Sanctification and Glorification likewise our own vileness and sinfulness both in general and particular also our manifold wants and infirmities our mortality and daily dangers with the mutability of all things in the world the great and sundry priviledges which wee injoy daily through the inestimable kindness of God in Christ Jesus the sundry afflictions and troubles of this life and how wee may best bear them and go thorow with them to the glory of God and our own spiritual good It is good to observe further and think upon the vanity of all earthly things the vain confidence of worldly men the destruction of the wicked the assaults that are made against the Church and how the Lord doth still protect her with his right hand In brief the Word of God is a rich store-house of good matter and the world a stage furnished with great variety every day bringeth forth manifold occasions of Meditation and a godly mind may make good use of every Word or Work of God of every thing it seeth or heareth whether it bee good or evil Quest What bee the fruits effects and benefits of Meditation Answ They are manifold for it calls our minds out of the world to a Psa 42.4 39.3 mourning or mirth to complaint prayer rejoycing and thanksgiving in the presence of God It drieth fleshly and bad humours of worldliness and earthly-mindedness it quickens and awakens the dull and drowsie heart that is ready to bee sleeping in sin there is no private help so available to gave and sift weed and purge and as it were to hunt and ferrit out of our hearts swarms of wicked and unsavoury thoughts and lusts which otherwise will not onely lodge and dwell but rule and reign in them and to entertain and hold fast heavenly thoughts which otherwise will run out of our riven heads as liquor out of a rotten vessel It is an ointment to soften our hard hearts and to sweeten the bitterness of our lives in all inward and outward troubles It is a soveraign preservative against the sugered baits of worldly pleasures and commodities that they become not poison unto us Meditation is the searcher of the heart the manure of the soul the fosterer of zeal the key of paradise the ladder of Heaven the remedy of security the pastime of Saints the improvement of Christianity It enters us into the first degrees of heavenly joyes exalteth our minds and thoughts above the highest pitch of worldly things and imparteth unto us some first beginnings of the vision of God it is as watering to plants as blowing to fire as oyl to aking joynts as Physick to the sick It urgeth to repentance it quickneth to prayer confirmeth faith kindleth love digesteth the word encourageth in well doing and refresheth with heavenly consolations More Particularly First Meditation discovers corruption and acquaints us with the rebellion of our hearts and lives with our blindness security earthly-mindedness and infinite other loathsome filthinesses which neither wee our selves would take knowledge of while wee carry our selves in many things as good Christians amongst men neither any other would ever think that so much poison could bee inclosed in so narrow a room as within the compass of one silly man or woman The vanity of mind frowardness of will will shew themselves sooner in this duty than in any other By the hearing of the Law comes the knowledge of sin but never so clear and distinct as when wee constantly set our selves to walk with God Let us observe what unfaithfulness injustice worldliness impatience breaketh forth in our callings what weariness coldness deadness distrust possesseth the heart in prayer how full of wandrings forgetful irreverent how soon tyred wee bee in hearing the Word how senseless froward and hard-hearted under the Rod and wee shall bee forced to acknowledge that wee are very stubborn and rebellious prone to evil and averse to that which is good But set thy self to think upon some instruction that hath been taught or thou hast observed do it seriously conscionably religiously constantly as one who desireth to spend all time well and
that wee should not onely seek the Kingdome of Heaven but minde it set our thoughts upon it and turn the bent of our desires wholly that way a Mat. 6.19 Col. 3.1 The Lord hath given to us the great things of his Law b Hos 8.12 caused the Scriptures to bee written for our learning and sent his Prophets to declare unto us his mind and pleasure Christ Jesus the great Dr. of the Church hath revealed the glory of God as it were in open face and fully and clearly made known the last will of his heavenly Father touching mans salvation than which nothing can bee more wonderful excellent delightful comfortable Now for us to pass by these things as strange and now and then only to cast an eye towards them is it not an offence intollerable How should the heart be framed after the image of God but by a serious Meditation of heavenly things whereby their likeness is stamped upon the soul as by Application the seal leaves the impression upon the wax Wee are strangers in this world who have no abiding City on earth nor may place our hearts delights and felicity here but Heaven is our home and our chiefest comfort must bee to have daily communion with God Phil. 3.20 and to have our conversation in Heaven with him which cannot bee enjoyed ordinarily without Meditation If it bee tedious at first use will make it easie and the sweetness which at length wee shall taste in contemplation will make it delightful Quest What say you of superficial and careless thinking upon some points of Doctrine by fits seldome in a good mood Answ The chief praise of this duty is that wee be much in its use Psal 119.97 1.2 from time to time through the whole course of our life and every day thereof that by recording holy and divine things especially those which tend to soundness in the matter of salvation a little time more or less as opportunity is offered and occasions will permit may be bestowed of us to dry up fleshly and bad humours of earthly-mindedness and worldlyness c. and to quicken our dull hearts lest after sleep in sin the Devil draw us to deep forgetfulness and security Neither can any thing if it be weighed bee less tollerable in the sight of God Almighty than whereas hee hath given us his Scriptures which tell us his mind and teach us how we may commune with his Majesty and for our behoof hath given us an earnest charge to ponder them in our heart to have them in our minde to make them the matter of our cogitation talk delight and practice yet that Christians should not bee better acquainted with this heavenly course nor bee occupied thus unless it bee seldome as it were upon high daies and that very coldly as if God had been earnest with us about a trifle or as if hee had offered us great injury to move us thereunto Nor is this work sleightly to bee gone about wee must set our hearts to the cogitation of heavenly things thorowly debating and reasoning them with our selves so far as wee are able that wee might bee inabled to order our lives as well in one state as another and strengthened against the assaults of Satan and allurements of this present evil world Meditation is a weighty matter and great pity that works of greatest importance should finde the most sleight regard It is the work of the Lord wherein remiss dealing is condemned as injurious to God hurtful to our selves a Jer. 48.10 The fruit of Meditation stands in fervency hee that is not serious shall reap no profit How should the Word sink into our stony hearts if it bee not minded how should mercy or judgement affect if wee dwell not upon the thought of them The heart must bee pressed before it will relent and fixed upon things above before it will rejoyce in them Meditation is one part of a Christian mans treasure that is ever in his hand can never bee taken from him Many duties must wait their seasons but all estates conditions companies actions minister occasion of Meditation nor can this liberty bee taken from us by the rage of Satan or cruelty of persecuting Tyrants for so long as wee bee with our selves wee may commune with our selves and with the Lord. Now the more excellent our treasure is the more careful must wee bee to preserve and employ it Quest Seeing this duty is so necessary profitable divine and comfortable what doth keep so many from the practice of it Answ The main impediment and hinderance of this as of all other duties is the nourishing of some one sin or more unrepented of which dimmeth the eye of the mind that it cannot behold spiritual things any more than the Owl can behold the light and cloyeth the appetite that it cannot relish heavenly dainties any more than a full stomach doth hunger after sweet meats As a black cloth can take no other dye so an impenitent heart is uncapable of Divine Meditation Quest How is this impediment to bee removed Answ This bar can never bee removed till our hearts bee purged by humble and unfeigned repentance hearty sorrow free confession and well advised purpose of reformation Wherefore as they that intend to keep any precious liquor will see that their vessels bee clean So they that will entertain holy thoughts and desires must give all diligence to keep their hearts pure and undefiled Quest What are the special lets that hinder the performance of this duty Answ They bee diverse whereof some do keep men that they do not use this exercise at all others drive them to use it without any fruit or sound profit performing it sleightly and negligently making it an idle Ceremony or a matter of course or custome Quest What bee these lets Answ One is a deadly custome of ranging after fond and deceiveable thoughts delights and dreams of things either impertinent or unprofitable and oftentimes impossible being such as never were nor are nor ever shall bee or else flatly wicked hurtful and pernicious For the heart of man is exceeding deceitful slippery fickle wandring and wicked infinite waies Besides that the subtil and malicious fowler even Satan that old Serpent doth set his snares so thick in our waies that it is very hard for us to pass thorow them without being intangled To this head may bee referred worldly cares and pleasures which clog the soul that it cannot mount aloft For as a bird whose wings are limed is not able to take her flight on high So the man whose mind is intangled with worldly cares and earthly delights is not able by holy Meditation to soar aloft up to Heaven When the mind is carried after other desires it is unfit for heavenly Meditation slow and unwilling to bee occupied in cogitation and consideration of any holy matters hee that knows it should bee performed is sometimes grieved for the omitting of it but if the mind
perform this duty but hee may finde some place to do it in either in the field with Isaac Gen. 24.63 Dan. 6.10 or in the house with Daniel or at least if they bee hindered all the day long in his a Psa 6.7 4.4 bed with David Quest What time must bee set apart for the performance of this duty Answ First The Lords day is the fittest time in the week for the performance of this exercise but though it must not bee omitted on that day yet it must not bee put off till that day Secondly Some time convenient must bee set apart for this duty every day and that must bee observed constantly as much as wee can for by that means wee shall bee better enabled to finish this work with better success Thirdly No part nor hour of the day is absolutely necessary to bee kept neither is a man so strictly bound to observe the time which hee hath chosen as fit and seasonable that hee should charge himself in conscience to bee guilty of sin if upon occasion hee change it unto some other Order in all good duties is a cause of constancy and constant order is a notable means of continuance Fourthly As for the fittest hour in the day a mans own experience must instruct him and his occasions direct him whether to take the golden hours of the morning when being awakened and refreshed by sweet sleep and quiet rest hee shall finde himself free and fit to meditate upon some heavenly matter as Jacob did or the evening Gen. 28.16 when hee hath ended his labours which was the time that a Gen. 24.63 Isaac took or the midst of the day which was b Act. 10.9 Peters time or any other part and hour of the day c Psa 55.12 David and d Dan. 6.10 Daniel used three times a day to pray and meditate Fifthly The most quiet and free times if strength and wakefulness will give leave are the morning evening and night season which were the times approved among the Heathen who for the better imprinting of any thing in memory give this counsel which common experience doth confirm to think seriously upon it in the evening before they sleep and to call it again to minde in the morning when they awake Oh how sweet it is to awake with God in the morning and to salute him with our first thoughts How safe and profitable to prevent unsavoury thoughts and wicked projects by lodging up in our soul some holy matter worthy our chief employment Psa 88.13 119 48 Psa 5.3 Psal 63.1 Job 1.5 and to prepare the heart to walk with God before wee enter into the world Hee that makes himself well ready every morning shall pass the rest of the day with much ease and great comfort It is much with what liquor the heart is first seasoned if it be well prepared with some heavenly Meditation before the cares of this life take up the room it will be kept in better order in all businesses occasions accidents whatsoever How fit is it when wee have tasted of the blessings of the day that wee should render unto God the fruit not of the lips but of the heart and come into his presence from whom wee have received so many favours What more expedient than that wee should commend our selves into the hands of God with confidence and make our accounts even being to lye down in his fear What more excellent recreation after tedious labour than to recount the mercies of the Lord his fatherly protection the dangers wee escaped what service wee owe to God for all the tokens of his love and what cause wee have to bee humbled for all our sins Of the night David saith a Psa 16.7 My reins shall teach mee in the night season God used to speak to his servants in the * Psa 119.55 Psa 63.6 Job 4.13 night by dreams and visions When wee are freed from cares and incumberances compassed about with darkness that outward objects apprehended by the eye cannot draw the mind away when all things are quiet and still then what greater solace or sweet refreshing can bee found than to lift up the heart to Heaven But these times may bee commended as fit not urged as absolutely necessary Sixthly Every man must set apart some time for this duty but they the most that have most leisure and opportunity Meditation is an affirmative duty which must bee taken in hand when the Lord calleth thereunto and putteth it upon us by affording us means and season Quest What say you to them that pretend multitude of worldly businesse to excuse the omission and neglect of this exercise Answ It is their sin that they will thus set God against himself as though hee should command them to do that which hindereth them from another duty commanded God hath appointed unto us our several standings in our general and personal callings they are both of him and the duties belonging to them both will excellently stand together if the Commandements of God bee not contrary Nay rather wee should think that following of the world to bee too much which is not ordered and moderated by due consideration how far and in what manner wee should deal in the world so as not to bee hindered from holiness by it but even to practise holiness in our earthly affairs If wee bee rich wee have the less cause to bee holden from Meditation by wordly cares If poor wee have the more need of this duty to moderate our care that it exceed not nor carry us to unbeleef What example soever wee have of the contrary in the multitude of worldlings among whom wee live yet wee must know though others will not that wee are not set here in our places to do as loose and wretched servants who when they go to Market neglect their Masters business and mis-spend their time Quest What course must bee holden to redeem time out of the world for Meditation Answ First Walk so on earth as that thy chief delight bee in Heaven still use this world as a Pilgrim doth his cloak Love will finde somewhat to do they that delight in the world will make business in the world as children invent matter of play But if Christ bee our beloved and our treasure in Heaven nothing can hold our hearts from him Secondly Order the affairs of this life wisely that every thing may have its fit time and season wee have sufficient allowance for the dispatch of all our labours if wee take the opportunity and manage both work and means with discretion If thy heart bee upright fear not Eccl. 10.10 God will teach thee how to walk To the man that is good in his sight God giveth wisdome knowledge and joy Thirdly Spend not much time either in consulting privately with thy self or by talking in company with others about that whereof there is no use or which may bee done and ended in
a little space Thoughts of the world do tickle us and that may bee determined in a few sentences and in a part of an hour which may if wee take not heed hold us work the most part of a day Worldly speech doth so relish to our pallats that if wee enter upon it wee cannot tell when to make an end These two great devourers of time must narrowly bee watched against for if wee waste time needlesly about the things of this life wee must needs fall short in better matters Fourthly Gird up thy loins with strength and what thou dost Pro. 31.17 Eccl. 9.10 do it with all thy might thy calling requires labour trifling will not serve the turn Quest How must wee make entrance into this exercise Answ After wee have selected something wherein wee have some knowledge or understanding wee must make entrance unto it by some short yet earnest and pithy prayer unto God to guide and direct us therein by the gracious assistance of his holy Spirit without which wee shall beat our brains to no purpose The Heathen began their business with invocation Of our selves wee are not able to think one good thought and if in presumption of our wit invention memory learning or any thing beside wee set upon this work the success is like to bee answerable to the beginning without the help of God wee can do nothing that is good The matter or form of our prayer must bee this or such like Oh Lord sith it hath pleased thee to give mee a minde ready and desirous to perform this holy duty for which I humbly thank thy heavenly Majesty I beseech thee by thy holy Spirit to assist mee therein that I may bring the same to a profitable and comfortable issue Thou hast charged mee Oh Lord to seek thy face that is thy blessed and holy presence Let my soul answer and say with thy faithful servant Lord I will seek thy face Oh cause the light of thy face to shine upon mee enlighten my understanding strengthen my memory and sanctifie my will and affections with-hold my ranging and truant-like heart from all trifling fantasies deceitful dreams vain hopes carnal fears and worldly cares wherewith it is naturally and customarily intangled keep it unto thy self and unto thy laws that it may wholly delight and solace it self in thee and grant that this point that I now go about to think upon may bee so settled in my memory and rooted in my heart that I may reap the fruit thereof all my life long to thy glory and my own comfort and salvation through Jesus Christ Quest In what order must wee proceed after the entrance Answ First Wee must first travel with our judgement to inform it and then make application that it may work upon the heart Knowledge without affection is dead and fruitless Affection without understanding is blinde and inordinate All good motions arise from sound judgement and must bee ruled by it else they will bee as a ship without a Governour that is in danger to run upon the sands or to split against the rocks Secondly For the helping of our judgement understanding invention and memory it is good for to call to minde so far as wee can what the Holy Ghost saith in the Scriptures of that thing which wee meditate upon referring the particular passages to the several heads or places of reason This is a great help to lead us along in our discourse with more ease and facility and to furnish us more readily with profitable matter touching the point wee meditate upon as the marks set up in the high-way direct a traveller in his intended journey yet wee must not be curious nor scrupulous herein for that would distract the mind and draw us too much from the right end of this holy exercise which is not to practise Logick but to exercise Religion and to kindle piety and devotion And therefore it shall bee our wisdome to take such places or heads only as are most pregnant and ready at hand and do more easily offer themselves to our mind But this order cannot bee prescribed as necessary but as profitable only In this wee must labour with diligence and sincerity that the understanding or memory may bee bettered or confirmed but the method is left free as each man shall finde it most convenient Thirdly Our proceeding to inform the mind cannot bee after one manner in all things We must observe one thing in our Meditation of God another of his Works one of good Duties another of our Sins one thing when wee meditate on simple theams another when wee consider of an intire sentence This shall bee in a good measure made clear by examples hereafter following Fourthly Application is the life of Meditation for the encrease of knowledge and strenthening of memory is vain and to little purpose unless the affection bee reformed and kindled It is not the knowledge of good and evil but the hearty and unfeigned affecting of the one with a zealous detestation of the other that makes us holy and happy Wee must therefore indeavour to have a sensible taste lively touch and feeling of that whereof wee have discoursed with our selves according to the former direction that wee may bee affected either with godly joy or godly sorrow godly hope or godly reverence c. Fifthly The affections to be quickened are divers according to the nature of the thing meditated upon As for example if wee meditate on God or any of his mercies or benefits wee must labour with our hearts and affections to feel how sweet the Lord is that as doting Lovers do inwardly conceive a carnal delight in thinking and speaking of them whom they so love and of the letters and tokens they have received from them So wee may conceive a spiritual joy and contentment by thinking and speaking of the Lord and of his mercies towards us Again if wee meditate on sin according to the former example wee must labour to feel the plague in our own hearts 1 King 8. Jer. 2.19 and to know that it is an evil thing and bitter to forsake the Lord our God and not to have his fear in us Sixthly The chief things to bee observed for the quickening and affecting of the heart are these 1 Trial examination and communing with our selves wherein wee have offended or come short of our duty 2 Taking shame to our selves for our transgressions joyned with lamentable and doleful complaining and bewailing of our own estate either in respect of the sin that aboundeth or the grace that is wanting 3 A most passionate vehement earnest and hearty longing after the removal of this sin and punishment which wee hate and obtaining the good things which wee love 4 Religious quickening and calling upon our souls by many strong and forcible reasons to hate evil and follow that which is good The fifth is an humble and unfeigned acknowledgement and confession of our own weakness and inability either
are these things to bee laid to heart and pressed upon the soul Answ Wee must stir up our selves to desire full knowledge of God and free communion with him to trust love reverence glory in his name and to walk before him in all humility of mind Blessed is the man that knoweth the Lord and cleaveth unto him in love fear and affiance yea happy is the man whose God is the Lord. Look unto God Oh my soul observe his waies seek his face and labour after more intire fellowship and familiarity with him The knowledge of God is excellent easie comfortable it perfecteth the understanding seasoneth the will changeth the affections rejoyceth the heart The worth and excellency the profit and delight that knowledge bringeth is answerable to the object which is apprehended in which the knowledge of God hath infinitely the preheminence Nothing can rejoyce the heart in which the goodness of God is not felt nor his power wisdome and mercy seen Oh how sweet and delightsome is it to behold the face of God as it shineth in Jesus Christ to contemplate the happy Reconciliation of justice and mercy by his unsearchable wisdome to think upon his long-suffering tender love and never-fading compassion Love the Lord Oh my soul and trust in his mercie serve him with fear and rejoyce in his holy name for hee is thy strength thy rock thy portion thy salvation His favour is better than life in his presence is fulness of joy hee is goodness it self the highness of all good things that can bee desired The pleasures of the world are vain earthly gain breeds great vexations Trial. worldly honours vanish and come to nothing but God is our pleasure glory gain everlasting immeasurable But woe is mee my sight is dimm my judgement vain my heart carnal my affections disordered my thoughts loose I know little of God I have been very negligent to seek acquaintance with him These vain things below the gifts of Gods bounty have stollen away my heart from the giver of every good and perfect gift If men speak I tremble if they smile I rejoyce in their presence I am reverent if superiours chearful if friends if absent I long for their company if present I desire to give them content if in distress I mourn if in prosperity I rejoyce when separated from them in body I am with them in spirit If I bee ignorant of the things of this life I inquire after them if I have sustained loss I fall out with my self for it am pinched at the heart learn wisdome against another time and labour by double diligence to redeem it again But I have greatly neglected the knowledge of God when hee threatneth I am senseless in his presence I am irreverent dead-hearted when I appear before him lumpish in Prayer loose in Meditation scarce lifting up a thought to Heaven soon tired in the Meditation of heavenly things never well till my thoughts bee set at liberty to range up and down not moved to hear thy name dishonoured little affected with grief when I have offended Taking shame I am ashamed and confounded in my self to hear and see the wisdome of worldly men in the affairs of this life when I am so rude and ignorant in the things that concern my eternal happiness The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters crib but I am not acquainted with the Lord my life my light my portion from whom I have received what I am in whom I look to bee eternally blessed Ah wretched man that I am I look for reverence from mine inferiours for love from them of whom I have deserved little to whom I can shew small kindness If men give not credit to my Word I take it grievously but in these things I have offered wrong to the Lord of life who is glorious in Majesty dreadful in power plentious in goodness Hearty wishing most constant in his promises Oh that mine eyes were open to behold the glory of God and my heart inclined to love him unfeignedly intirely above all things Oh that my soul were close united to his fear that I could solace my self in his favour and stand in awe of his displeasure that I might not sin against him Awake Stirring up our selves Oh my soul rouze up thy self to seek the knowledge of God in Christ whom to see is eternal happiness What contentment canst thou take in any thing if God bee not seen in it If the eye of the body wherewith wee behold this light bee annoyed or dimmed wee will seek far and wide for help and shall wee not labour to have the eye of our spirits cleared wherewith we see the Lord the Son of Righteousness the light and joy of every Christian Raise up thy self to love reverence and trust in the Lord Thou canst not comprehend his goodness which is immeasurable his power which is unsearchable his truth which is firm and immoveable as his infiniteness passeth thy conceit covet the more inseparably to cleave unto him Couldest thou comprehend his nature hee should not bee all-sufficient in himself nor able to satisfie thy desire But as God is infinite and never to bee comprehended essentially so is our joy in him bottomless our help from him most certain and our love to him should bee above measure our confidence in him without wavering Humble acknowledgment Oh my God I do confess before thee that I am miserably stained with ignorance unbeleef irreverence I am full of carnal wisdome harlotry love vain fear fleshly confidence corrupt joy But grievously wanting in true knowledge sound faith sincere love and holy reverence of thy holy Majesty Nor is my want greater than my inability to help my self the dead cannot restore himself to life nor the blinde to sight supernatural graces must come from above Petition Therefore unto thee O Lord do I direct my supplication give mee grace to know thee as my chief happiness to love thee as the perfect good unite my heart unto thee in Faith and Reverence that nothing may draw mee aside from thy testimonies Confidence It is thy promise to write thy Law in my heart and to put thy fear in the inner man Oh Lord thou art able to do what thou wilt and thou wilt accomplish what thou hast spoken unto thee I commend my soul and upon thee I will relye as long as I live Quest Let the holy Angels be a second instance how are wee to proceed in the Meditation of that subject Answ Wee must consider their author nature properties estate end and offices The Angels are more excellent than man but inferiour to the Almighty from whom they received their being in time according to his good pleasure and by whose goodness such as abode in the truth were still preserved in their being and blessed condition The truth hath taught us to define them to bee spirits finite compleat immortal made after the Image of God who through
doth look to God when hee sendeth persecution war sickness or any other calamity God is to bee loved in Christ in whom hee is well pleased greatly delighted in us If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him bee accursed Christ hath redeemed us unto God and reconciled us being enemies Hee is ordained of God to be our Lord and King advanced at the right hand of his Father to give salvation unto Israel Love is a supernatural gift or Grace whereby wee * Psa 63.8 Josh 22.5 Deut. 4.4 cleave to God in Christ and desire to possess him with joy and comfort The acts or effects of Love presupposed or comprehended under it are these First To acknowledge God to bee the chief good and with most earnest desire to bee carried towards him that wee might bee united to him Secondly To rest delight and rejoyce in him and to desire nothing above him nothing against him nothing equal unto him Thirdly To seek the advancement of his glory and to think will speak or do what is acceptable in his sight whether wee have to deal immediately with his Majesty or others pertaining to him Hee that loves God will love what the Lord loveth and hate what hee hateth do what hee commandeth and forgo whatsoever is forbidden Whose keepeth the Word 1 Joh. 2.5 in him verily is the love of God perfected Fourthly To neglect no occasions which are or may bee offered for the exercise of piety Love is diligent and laborious Fifthly To love them that fear God for his sake and to draw as many as possibly they can to the knowledge and obedience of the truth If wee love one another 1 Joh. 4.12 God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us The Properties of Love are First It cannot bee lost the act of Love may bee intermitted but the grace cannot bee lost for the gifts of God are without repentance the life of grace is everlasting Secondly It is imperfect in this life and ever wanting somewhat that may bee added to it for as long as wee live here it is far short in degree to that the Law requireth Thirdly It is sincere and entire for nature though for degree defective True love is not maimed in parts though it bee not come to full growth Fourthly It increaseth by degrees in this life and shall bee perfected in Heaven When Faith shall cease then Love shall come to full strength and glory Not that the Saints can love God in measure answerable to his goodness and excellency for a finite virtue cannot infinitely love the infinite God the infinite Beloved but their love shall bee preserved so far as a creature is capable Fifthly It is most pure and comfortable free from all mixture of sorrow and vexation Men though never so loving are compassed with infirmities subject to passions and many things may befall them they may do somewhat that is to us occasion of grief and pain but in the Lord each Christian heart shall ever finde matter of solace and refreshing never of vexation and discomfort if the fault bee not in himself Oh the excellency of Love what is it but the gate of Heaven the beginning of everlasting happiness not the least portion of that glorious inheritance which wee shall then fully possess when love is grown to perfect ripeness The degrees and kinds of love are diverse Wee love God for good things received or benefits past wee love him also for the good wee expect that is eternal happiness with the comforts of this life and wee love him for himself and for his own glory God is to bee loved for himself and not for another end form or efficient for hee is the last end of all things his essence is perfect goodness his goodness is from himself and not from an external efficient but nothing hinders why God should not bee loved for his blessings received or hoped for Each grace of the Spirit is for original divine in nature excellent for use necessary bending towards Heaven but if comparison bee made love must have the preheminence for use and continuance The dignity and sweetness of love will appear by the baseness of what is opposite That is best whose contrary is the worst Now what is more abominable hateful pernicious so full of vexation and horrour as the love of sin love of the world and hatred of God As continual fear unquietness discontent doth accompany these with eternal confusion in the latter end So unspeakable joy peace contentment security do wait upon it and the end shall bee everlasting glory and full fruition of God in Heaven Quest How must these things bee applied to the heart Answ Wee must stir up our hearts to the hearty intire love of God by examination taking shame to our selves for our manifold slips and great slackness complaining of our great bondage and inability to raise up our souls hearts wishing and longing to bee fired with the love of God calling upon our selves to bee more hot and fervent and seeking unto the Lord by earnest and hearty prayer Love the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within thee love him with all thy strength and let his glory bee dear unto thee for hee is the object of love gracious Affectus amoris pro objecto habet pulchrum bonum merciful long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth hee is thy Father thy God thy Husband thou art bound unto him by covenant his love to thee is free and of meer grace thy love to him is debt many waies due from thee deserved by him Hee loves thee for thy profit thou art to love him for thy own good for in his love stands thy perfection Hee is the chief good absolute all-sufficient the rest and stay of the mind beyond which it can desire nothing in whom it findes incredible joy and comfort and shall possess everlasting consolation when it is immediately united to him by vision and love The former blessings thou hast received the future good things thou dost expect and look for do challenge this duty at thy hand Publicans and sinners love those that love them and for kindness return affection God hath loved thee first loved thee when thou wast not when thou wast miserable Hee hath laden thee with his benefits given thee more than thou wouldest desire and prevented thee with favours which thou never didst ask hee made thee of nothing hee is thy preserver redeemer Saviour who hath delivered thee from death and hell and vouchsafeth unto thee life and mercy his blessings upon thee are innumerable pass all thought and reckoning What canst thou render less than hearty affection for these inestimable favours Oh my soul thou canst not love thy self truly if thou love not him above all things for thou art coupled to him by love in whose presence is fulness of joy without whom to bee is to bee most miserable Thou canst not but desire happiness but happy thou canst
not bee without love But ah wretch that I am I finde mine affection is weak toward God strong to vanity Those wee love do wee not love to bee present with them If they bee absent do wee not think long till they return again Are wee not grieved to hear them wronged by word or deed whom wee esteem dearly of are wee not desirous to give them content doth it not cut us if wee do them any harm Are wee not with them in thought though absent in body glad of a letter that comes from them is not the messenger welcome that can bring us tidings of their welfare But I finde little joy in coming publickly or privately into Gods house or presence I think little of him and that but overly I speak little to him and that not without weariness and distraction Nay I am like those children who can play abroad all the day long and never care to look unto their Parents When did my heart long to return home and to bee with Christ Though God through sundry troubles do even smoak mee out of this world yet I will not come away in mine affection When I see Gods name blasphemed and all wickedness committed do mine eyes gush out with tears or do not I offend daily and pass it over taking too light penance of my self It is irksome to mee to do his will I do not long for his presence nor bewail his absence I do not study to please him in all things nor can I rejoyce in the prosperity of his Saints when I my self am in misery and distress I cannot prize his favour am not cheared with his promises do not delight in his statutes above all things His Word is his Letter sent unto mee but I am not glad and diligent with care and conscience to read it vanity hath stollen away my heart and the transitory bewitching pleasures of the world which cannot profit have taken up my thoughts This hath been mine impudent behaviour against thee my God which I cannot with any words of indignation sufficiently discover If a woman should bee dead in the nest when her husband were before her but should bee affectionate to every stranger if shee should not care how long shee were absent from him but think her self best while they were asunder if shee cared little how her loving husband were offended casting that at her heels which hee takes to heart were not this shameless behaviour in her And shall I not bee ashamed to shew no more love to thee to whom my soul is married in Christ Oh my soul what canst thou finde in the world why thou dost affect it it hath bred much vexation and sorrow thou hast been crossed and molested with it the more thou lovest it the greater trouble discontentment thou findest therein and wilt thou still take pleasure in thy pain what canst thou not finde in God and that above all thought and conceit why thou shouldest intirely cleave unto him what occasion couldest thou finde at any time to draw thy affection from him wilt thou leave the fatness and marrow that is in the house of God to feed upon the refuse and scraps that this world affords Ah wretch that I am who shall deliver mee from this bondage of sin I am full of uncharitable and false love I can love my self I have affection enough to the things of this world to the gifts of God and those the meanest more than to the giver as harlots to rings gold bracelets more than to the sender But I have not power to raise my soul to the love of God in Christ here my affections lye dead and will not mount aloft Oh that the love of God did possess my reins in such sort that in thought I might bee still with him rejoyce in his presence and walk before him in dutiful obedience Oh that my heart did burn with love that is strong as death hot as coals of Juniper that hath a vehement flame that no waters can quench no floods can drown no allurements can draw aside Why art thou so dead Oh my soul why dost thou not lift up thy self to the love of God whom hast thou in Heaven but him and who in earth is to bee desired in comparison of him for whom dost thou reserve thy prime affection for the world sin vanity Oh adulteress knowest thou not that the amity of the world is enmity with God thou hast gone astray and deeply defiled thy self with the love of sin return now unto the Lord and embrace him with most intire and dear affection what thou hast bestowed upon the world pleasure lusts carnal delights to thy great discomfort now set it wholly upon things above that it may finde rest and comfort Oh Lord I beseech thee who art only able to purge my heart of all filthy prophane love and to fill it with the pure love of thy holy Majesty this is thy promise I will circumcise your hearts and make you love mee with all your hearts therefore I am bold to make this prayer and will confidently wait upon thee for this mercy Quest How should a man proceed to meditate on the Fall of our first Parents Answ Hee must consider the subject causes and end of that act aimed at but not obtained the degrees properties and effects of it By the Fall of our first Parents wee understand the first sin of Adam and Eve whereby they transgressed the Commandement of God in eating the forbidden fruit this is fitly so called because as an heavy body falling upon some hard and sharp rock is greatly bruised and hurt so man after hee had received so many and great gifts from God sinning wickedly against his express charge and commandement did grievously wound himself The subject of this transgression was our first Parents Adam and Eve made after the Image of God perfect in stature of body and strength of mind enriched with excellent prerogatives of liberty and dominion planted in a garden of delights that they might dress it and keep it favoured of God and admitted into near fellowship with him The principal outward cause of mans disobedience was Satan the Prince of darkness that old murtherer who being fallen from God and shut up under condemnation did with incredible fury and malice seek the dishonour of God and the destruction of mankind This envious one spying his opportunity set upon the woman as the fitter to be made his prey when shee was alone and by his subtilty beguiled her The Serpent the most subtil of beasts which the Lord had made was the instrument that hee used to seduce the woman and the woman her self being first in the transgression was made the willing instrument of her husbands destruction The quality of the fruit as it was good for meat and pleasant to the eye was by accident a cause that moved them to eat which yet they might and ought to have forborn having liberty to eat of all the trees
wax cold for want of communication and the coldest affections are inflamed by conversings Note and intercourse of speech Seventhly Meditation is a gracious means to ease and refresh the mind wearied in worldly businesses It seasoneth our meat sleep labours Psal 139.17 18. Oh how sweet and pleasant a thing it is to come into the presence of God to record his mercies to solace our souls in the remembrance of his love This is the place of rest after a toilsome journey the cool shade to the weary labourer the water-brooks to the panting Hart Psal 42.1 No mirth no melody is to bee matched to it The joy and comfort of the Spouse in the presence of Christ is a matter incredible to the carnal heart Psal 63.52 6. who never tasted of the refined Wines and fat things in the house of God Eighthly Take away Meditation and the duties of Religion lose their life and vigour Prayer is cold reading unprofitable Think daily with thy self what great honour it is to bee the Son of God what unspeakable joy to possess assurance that our sins are pardoned how unvaluable a prerogative to lay open thy cares into the bosome of the Lord perswade thy self of his readiness to hear mercies to forgive and compassions to relieve them that ask in his Sons name These things will stir up intention and fervency in prayer with what sighs and groans will hee confess and bewail his iniquity who with a single eye doth behold the filthiness of sin and look into his own estate But lay aside Meditation and all is turned into form comes to bee of little use For the appetite will decay if it be not sharpened desire will cool if it bee not quickened Meat received into the mouth and spit forth again presently nourisheth not Seed must bee covered as well as cast into the ground Reading benefits little without Meditation which is to the Word what chewing and digestion is to meat that should feed the body 1 Tim. 4.15 Ninthly Frequent and daily repetition and regard of heavenly things brings us to better and more inward acquaintance with God most comfortable fellowship and communion with him The more wee speak and converse with a man the better wee know him the further wee see into his worth faithfulness and excellency So doth communing with God lead us to the sound and comfortable knowledge of his Majesty This is the fruit of holy musing than which what can give more joy and comfort what knowledge so delightful to the mind as the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in whom the Father hath revealed the treasures of his wisdome the riches of his grace long-suffering and mercy Nothing can revive the soul so much as the feeling of his love and the assurance of his fatherly care over us Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us we shal be safe Tenthly To call to remembrance the Lords mercies of old and his free promises that never fail is a singular ease and refreshing in the time of temptation when Satan doth sift and winnow us with temptations Psa 77.5 6 11 12. Psa 145.5 Psal 119.52 Psal 119.93 and terrours within and troubles without I remembred thy judgements O Lord and was comforted I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickened mee Eleventhly As the mind is such is the life for that is the fountain of actions whether good or evil if the mind bee pure the life is holy if the mind bee defiled the actions cannot bee upright Wouldest thou live a Christian life and injoy those great liberties which God affords to his children in this life then thou must scatter the bed of disordered cogitations and nourish godly desires and motions in their room meditating on the Law of God doth bring on the doing of it even as evil thoughts do bring on evil actions for the thought is as the seed and conception of all our actions Now look as after conception there is a travel to bring forth and a birth in due season so when the soul by thought hath conceived presently the affections are tickled and excited the will inclined and stirred which commandeth the inferiour powers to execute what the thought suggested Twelfthly Meditation fitteth for conference hee that hath digested good matter by serious cogitation study and care is able to bring it forth and utter it as occasion requireth As they that have treasured up much gold and silver can easily lay it out when it may bee to their advantage whereas others that after long study can speak excellently being put to it upon the sudden can say little for lack of Meditation herein like unto them that having laid up nothing in store are compelled to borrow of the Usurers before they can make their purchase Thirteenthly and lastly The Word of God appears excellent his works great Psa 8.3 his favour unspeakable when wee ponder them in our hearts By it in our solitariness wee enjoy God and our selves and by conversing with him wee are fitted for and made more profitable in all good company Quest What use is to bee made of this point Answ If formerly thou hast been a stranger to this exercise now learn it begin to practise it entertain not conceits as though it were needless unprofitable impossible burdensome for a Christian life cannot stand without it Thou shalt finde it exceeding beneficial delightsome easie when thou art entred into it it is tedious onely to corruption to the heart renewed it is most sweet and comfortable The neglect of this duty is the very cause why many Christians injoy not the tenth part of those priviledges that God hath provided for them in this their pilgrimage why they are kept under their strong corruptions and break forth offensively in their dealings in the world Moreover how should a man bee assured of Gods love if knowing this to bee a duty required hee never address himself unto it in good earnest It is not sufficient to praise that which is good speak well of the children of God keep our selves pure from the gross stains of the time but we must hate iniquity and love righteousness which they do not who harbour such thoughts as are displeasing to his Majesty How can a purified mind take pleasure in those filthy waters that flow from the stinking puddle of original corruption It is for swine to wallow in the mire and corrupt fountains to send forth muddy streams If the treasure bee in Heaven the heart must be there If the soul bee of an heavenly disposition nothing is more delightful than to walk and commune with God By thy thoughts thou mayest know thy self as evil thoughts will argue an evil heart so good thoughts will argue a good heart for these cannot bee subject to hypocrisie as words and deeds are which sometimes come more from respect of the creature than of the Creator It is the will of God