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
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
satisfie desire than salt water quencheth thirst Oh that true love like a strong stream which the further it is from this head of eternity would run into it with greater violence In Gods love there is no mixture of sorrow no want of delight fulness of pleasure all manner of contentment Alas alas that ever so many cold winds of temptation should blow betwixt God and our hearts to make our affections cooler unto him What dull metal is this wee are made of wee have the fountain of felicity and eternity and yet complain of want and weariness Do wee freeze in the fire and starve at a feast Have wee God to injoy and yet pine and hang down the head Let mee have my God and let mee never want him so shall my joyes bee lasting pure incomprehensible for possessing him that is the pure eternal and an all-sufficient good how should I not finde fulness of joy and contentment in him Oh my soul fear the Lord and stand in awe of his Majesty for hee is a great God and terrible a King above all Gods At his presence the earth trembleth the mountains quake and the foundations of the world are shaken The Angels cannot behold his glory the Sun and Moon are not clean in his sight Fear the Lord and depart from iniquity harbour no wicked plot in thy breast contrive not evil in thy thoughts for thou hast to deal with a God that is light of hearing who dwelleth in thy heart and knoweth thy Imaginations long before And what needs any other evidence when the Judge is witness His eyes are as flaming fire his feet are as burning brass hee will tread down the wicked in his wrath and vex them that hate him Serve the Lord with fear and commit thy self to him in well doing Trust in the Lord at all times Hab. 1.12 Psa 55.18 19. and stay upon his mercy Hee is the everlasting Rock constant in promises ever present for our aid unchangeable in love and favour No place can hinder God from doing us good distance or difficulty may bee impediments to all the creatures to stay their help but God at a blush fills all places to comfort or confound as it pleaseth him Hee that is freed from dimensions may pierce and penetrate enter and pass whither hee pleaseth without probability or possibility of resistance Hee hath created the world and yet is not weary his provision is no whit abated his power nothing diminished Let him carry us which way hee will make the passages never so troublesome and perillous yet the same hand that makes them hard will make them sure and if wee bee faithful to him will master all the difficulties for us Let him cast us into such great miseries of long continuance that hee seem to forsake us as if hee would not return to our help yet wee know that hee is everlasting the Holy One of Israel who cannot leave them for ever that rely upon him O God as I have trusted thee with the beginning so will I trust thee with the finishing of my glory And though never so many or main hinderances of my salvation offer themselves and after all hopes threaten to defeat mee yet faithful art thou who hast promised who wilt also do it Quest I would now hear how wee must proceed to meditate on the Love of God Answ Wee must consider of the efficient cause subject end objects effects properties and kinds of this Love what is like what opposite unto it The Love of God signifieth either that love whereby God loveth us Joh. 5.48 1 Joh. 3.17 1 Joh. 2.15 or that affection whereby wee being united unto God do rest in him with pleasure and delight Of this Theological virtue first in order not the first in fruit and continuance the greatest the end of the Commandement the bond of perfection the fulfilling of the Law I purpose to meditate by the grace of God This Love is a grace supernatural and is neither in us by nature nor can bee acquired by our endeavour Yea the measure of love is not defined according to the endeavour of the received but the pleasure and will of the Spirit measuring and pouring it into every one The author or principal cause of Divine Love is God himself by his blessed Spirit renewing and regenerating our hearts to the love of his Majesty Love is the fruit of the Spirit a Gal. 5.22 b Joh. 4.7 Eph. 6.23 He that loveth is born of God Love is of God and God is love Hee loveth us in his well-beloved and is the ever-springing fountain of all love in us The Spirit openeth our eyes to see and behold the incomprehensible goodness of God without which there is no love For of a thing unknown there is no desire The same Spirit infuseth the grace of love whereby wee are enabled to love God and quickened unto it Rom. 5.5 whereas of our selves we are destitute of all power and ability to every spiritual duty And the Spirit sheddeth abroad the love of God in our hearts whereby they are warmed to love God again The means which the Spirit useth for this purpose is the Word of Grace revealing the incomparable love of God in Jesus Christ towards us most miserable wretches The less principal cause of love is man renewed by the Spirit 1 Joh. 4.7 Deut. 30.6 Man regenerate doth love the Lord not of himself but by the grace of God The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul Faith well rooted will a Gal. 5.6 Quantum cognoscimus tantum diligimus animate quicken and move love Faith and Love are both graces supernatural infused at once in the same instant of time but in order of working Faith hath the precedency and kindleth Love From this it followeth that the subject of Love is a renewed heart inlightened with the true saving knowledge of God purified by Faith and seasoned by Grace For Love is a spiritual affection in the reasonable part presupposing knowledge and affiance whereby the soul goeth forth to imbrace the good it apprehendeth The end of Love is the possession of God as the chief good Love as wee see makes man and woman one and so it doth couple us to God It is a weight whereby the heart is inclined toward God and wholly carried unto him The object of Charity is God in Christ God is to bee loved not only as hee is good merciful gracious long-suffering and bountiful and as hee doth love and daily lade us with his blessings But also as hee is wise just and powerful even as hee doth chastize and visit us with severe corrections For as the true love of children towards their Parents doth effect this that they love their Parents and perswade themselves that they bee beloved of them though they bee reprehended crossed corrected and cannot obtain what they will so true Love
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
largely to discourse upon them Sixthly Variety of matter is very profitable for often iteration of the same thing breeds heartlesness It is with Meditation as with medicines which with over ordinary use lose their soveraignty and kill in stead of purging Quest What are the benefits of Extemporary Meditation Answ 1 It fits for setled Meditation as it furnisheth with matter and prepareth the heart to commune with God as oft salutations makes way to familiar conference Hee that observeth the Lord in all his dealings and makes spiritual use of earthly things shall with more ease finde and fasten his heart upon some good matter and have it at command to attend upon the Lord in most serious Communication Secondly It kindles the graces of the Spirit which might otherwise bee damped with the foggy mists of earthly cares and vain delights As the fire gathers that which causeth it to burn faster so the Spirit raiseth holy thoughts upon outward occasions which do revive the grace wee have received Thirdly Since the greatest part of our life is spent in worldly affairs unless wee lift up our hearts to God upon occasions offered in our callings journies and such like wee shall deprive our souls for the most part of sweet fellowship and communion and company with the Lord. Fourthly If God walk along with us in the labours of our callings is it not an offence in us to take no notice or observation of his presence Fifthly Occasional Meditation is a sharp spur and strong provocation to prayer and praise Hee cannot want matter of thanksgiving or supplication that conscionably observeth and considereth the goodness of the Lord towards him in the things of this life and infirmities of the creature and his own inability of himself to effect or bring any thing to pass Sixthly It furthers much to bring us to the knowledge of our selves and to encrease humility self-ignorance is a disease most dangerous the daughter of corruption infidelity forgetfulness pride presumption earthly-mindedness flattery bad company ill examples and custome in sin One special Remedy of this over-spreading malady is oft and diligent Meditation of the things that shall happen fall out or be presented to us in our daily vocations Seventhly The thoughts of this nature are not onely lawful but so behooveful that wee cannot omit them without neglect of God his creatures our selves the creatures are half lost if wee onely imploy them not learn something of them God is wronged if his creatures bee unregarded our selves most of all if wee read this great volume of the creatures and take out no lesson for our instruction Quest How should a man fit himself for extemporary Meditation Answ First Hee must get an heart desirous to reap profit by every thing that doth befall him Love of wealth draws the covetous to study how he might turn all things to his advantage and love of grace will produce the same effects in her kind Secondly Hee must learn to read the power goodness bounty and wisdome of the Lord written in fair characters in the large volume of the creatures and in every leaf and line thereof The fire hail snow rain dew frost yea herbs plants fish and fowl praise the Lord that is give occasion to man to magnifie the name of God Psal 8.1 2 3. who is great and excellent Thirdly Let him make spiritual use of earthly things and mark how the one is resembled and shadowed forth in the other And to this end it is good to observe the parables and similitudes and borrowed phrases in Scripture whereby a Christian may soon furnish himself in this point Fourthly It must bee remembred that in every thing the wise just powerful and good providence of God doth over-rule this perswasion rooted in the heart draws a man to acknowledge the hand of God in whatsoever happeneth great or small Quest What is solemn or settled Meditation Answ It is a purposed and advised bending of the mind to consider and muse on some good and wholesome matter with resolution to work the heart into an holy temper to which end wee separate our selves from all companies and occasions that might distract us Quest What Motives should perswade Christians to set upon this duty Answ Besides the benefits before mentioned which principally belong to solemn Meditation these considerations may bee of force to quicken us First Wee must exercise our selves in the Word of God with care and diligence that it may sink into us abide with us quicken and conform and strengthen us Wee are commanded to treasure up and feed upon the Word of Life Psal 119.11 Isa 8.16 Luke 11.28 Rev. 1.3 Binde up the Testimony seal up the Law among my Disciples Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Blessed are they who read and they who hear the words of this Prophecy and keep those things that are written therein James 1.21 Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is so called because it should abide in our hearts like a Siens in a stock and never bee removed but there grow and fructifie unto eternal life But the Word cannot take root bee remembred digested wee cannot feed upon it without Meditation Mat. 24.15 Let him that readeth consider and understand Secondly The Scriptures were written to bring us to happiness to fellowship and communion with God to everlasting life They set forth the way to blessedness and direct how wee may bee partakers of glory Rev. 1.3 Joh. 20.31 1 Joh. 1.3 And if wee be not careless of the salvation of our souls wee must search into this Mine as well by Meditation as reading or hearing Quest What things must bee looked unto that this exercise might bee taken in hand with good success Answ Choice of good matter fit place due time holy entrance orderly proceeding and seasonable meet conclusion Quest What rules are to bee observed touching the choice of matter Answ The matter of Meditation must be some good and profitable thing as God himself his attributes titles properties works of mercy and judgement creation and providence his Word Threatnings Promises Commandements our own unworthiness mortality the afflictions and manifold changes of this life and how we may go thorow them with comfort But out of this variety make choice of some one to bee the subject of thy discourse for hee that is every where is no where Nothing is more hurtful to the body than many medicines The sore to which sundry kinds of plaisters are applied is hardly brought to a scar Nihil tam utile est quod in transitu profit Senec Think upon one thing until thy affections be wrought upon Nothing is so profitable that it can benefit much in passing by hee that comes by the fire may feel a glympse of heat hee onely is warmed that tarrieth at it It is the property of a weak stomach to taste many things to hold and digest nothing Many matters thrust upon us at
to remove the evil or obtain the good proceeding from a broken and contrite heart The sixth is fervent Petition earnestly craving and begging this at the hands of God who is only able to effect it The last is chearful confidence raising and rousing up our souls after such doleful complaining hearty wishing humble confessing unfeigned acknowledging and serious stirring up our selves and earnest craving of what wee want grounded upon the most sweet and sure Promises of God made to them that call upon him in Faith and upon the experience which the Saints of God in all ages have had of the success of their sutes who were never sent empty away but either obtained that thing which they begged or that which was much better for them but these things are specially observed in Meditation upon some grace or sin as will bee made more evident and plain by examples and are not ever necessary that they should bee particularly observed Quest What is to bee observed for conclusion of this exercise A. First We must begin when the heart is fitly disposed or at least labour to bring it into order before wee set upon this duty and break off before the spirits bee dulled and tired otherwise we shall lose the comfort and sweetness of it Secondly It is not good suddenly or abruptly to break off except some unavoidable necessity of company or business do urge us thereunto Thirdly The conclusion of this exercise consists principally in these things 1 Hearty thanksgiving to God that hath vouchsafed in such gracious measure to assist us in the performing of this duty 2 Recommending our selves and our waies to him that our life and carriage and all our thoughts and actions afterwards may bee answerable to those heavenly thoughts and desires which wee have had and express in the performing of this duty 3 Renewing our covenant to live by Faith and to walk with God in all holy conversation Quest Declare this by some example and first how should wee meditate on God his infinite excellency Answ Entrance may be made thus into it Oh Lord my heart desires to commune with thee that I might come into better acquaintance with thy Majesty but of my self I have no ability to conceive what is right or to think a good thought concerning thy highness Teach mee therefore Oh gracious God if not to comprehend thine excellency for that is impossible yet so to confer with thee that I may apprehend in some measure how thou hast revealed thy self and what thou wilt bee unto mee that knowing thee in thy power goodness truth soveraignty and grace I may unfeignedly cleave unto thee all the daies of my life Quest How must wee proceed in this Meditation Answ Wee must consider of his titles properties and works observing how infinitely hee exceedeth what excellency soever is in any or all the creatures in the world a 1 Tim. 6.16 1 Joh. 4.12 Exod. 33.20 Oh Lord thou dwellest in the light unapproachable whom man never saw neither can see and live thou art incomprehensible by reason and unnameable by words thy name is wonderful and thy nature secret I cannot comprehend what thou art I will labour to know what thou hast revealed I am not able to behold thy face let mee see thy back-parts for this is my life and joy of heart to know thee the onely true God which springeth and increaseth daily as I come to the fuller knowledge of thee and shall bee infinite because thou art infinite I beleeve as thou hast taught mee according to my manner and measure that thou art a Spirit without beginning without cause the first and absolute being living in and of thy self giving being and life to all creatures infinite eternal incomprehensible Gen. 17.1 without composition one in essence and three in persons most perfect a meer act blessed and glorious all sufficient in thy self for us a great reward void of all possibility to bee what thou art not great in power infinite in wisdome abundant in goodness everlasting in compassion rich in mercy faithful sincere constant in thy promises unchangeable in thy love gentle easie to bee entreated just and righteous in all thy Commandements and Proceedings the most absolute universal soveraignty of all things both in Heaven and Earth Thy name is wonderful in all the world for thou hast created all things and by thy appointment they continue unto this day Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and it abideth thou hast stretched forth the heavens as a curtain Job 9.7 8 c. and in them or dained a Tabernacle for the Sun Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the proud waves are quelled by thy command the day is thine the night also is thine the Moon and Stars are the work of thine hands Thou thunderest from Heaven by thy voice and bringest the winds out of their treasure thou breakest up the deep and causest the springs to ascend in the vallies Thou causest the grass to grow upon the mountains and satisfiest with thy goodness every living thing The earth Oh Lord is full of thy goodness but thy glory shines most bright in the assembly of thy Saints Oh what wisdome power grace mercy love long-suffering hast thou manifested in Jesus Christ the brightness of thy glory the image of the invisible God what great admirable things hast thou done for thy people thou hast reconciled them being enemies redeemed them being bond-slaves justified them being sinners of vassals of Satan thou hast adopted them to bee thy sons of unclean and polluted thou hast washed and made them clean Thou guardest them with thy Angels protectest them against dangers feedest them with fatness and marrow and hast reserved for them the Kingdome of Heaven All thy Works praise thee Oh Lord and thy Saints bless thee Great is the power wisdome holiness and glory of the heavenly Angels but they are finite created dependent great immortal glorious by participation only not able to behold the glory of God great is the renown dignity dominion of earthly Monarchs but their persons are mortal their glory fading their Dominion temporary their power limited what they are they have by deputation during pleasure As for our God hee is an infinite eternal absolute independent soveraign His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and his Dominion endureth throughout all ages Psa 90.1 2 Before the foundations of the earth were laid and ere the mountains were formed from everlasting to everlasting thou art God But Lord thine excellency far exceedeth all that I can conceive for what can a finite understanding comprehend of an infinite being I know very little of thy waies much less of thy nature yea what thou hast revealed of thy self in thy Word doth rather make known what thou wilt bee to thy people than what thou art in thy self As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are thy waies higher than our waies and thy thoughts than our thoughts Quest How
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
then corruption of nature will shew it self Thou shalt soon perceive that thou art vain ignorant impotent proud worldly self-conceited fickle envious impatient unprofitable an harbourer of filthy lusts a stiff opposer of sound holiness passionate unsound and what not Begin to meditate when opportunity is offered thou art barren and canst finde nothing fit to bee matter of musing canst make use of nothing which thou hast heard or seen hast thou found matter thou art dull and sensless not able to fasten one thought upon it as is meer so hard-hearted that nothing can pierce or enter Thou settest forward but art quickly turned out of the way that thou mayest well wonder to see how far thou art strayed before that thou couldest discern that thou hast stepped aside some idle toy earthly business vain pleasure needless fear delightful remembrance of sin hath drawn thy thoughts another way Do not these things display the poison of our evil and corrupt nature Moreover by Meditation wee look into every dark filthy corner of our naughty hearts and rake into that stinking chanel which is seldome stirred So that when wee set about it wee shall bee compelled to say I heard of corruption by the hearing of the ear but now I see it with mine eye I feel it to the great disturbance of my soul And thus wee are drawn to deny our selves humble our souls and seek to Christ for succour and relief Secondly It is a spiritual means to purge out sin and to cleanse the ground of our heart from those noisome and hurtful weeds that grow in them No means more available to rince and purifie them to break the bed of sins and hunt away the litter of prophane lusts none comparable to this Note For though by the Word wee know them by conference wee revive the remembrance of them and by reading wee do both a Heb. 2.1 yet all these run out of our riven heads and abide meanly with us to suppress our corruption and to tame our hearts until wee bring our selves to often and much musing and debating of the good things which wee hear and read that so wee may digest them and of the evils which by occasion wee fall into that wee abandon them Even as worldly men ponder deeply their affairs which are weighty Meditation makes known the hainousnefs of sin inflames the heart with love of holiness cherisheth the graces of Gods Spirit which are as fire to consume the dross of sin and rouseth to earnestness in prayer to bee set at liberty from that cruel bondage Moreover the conscionable performance of this duty of Application of the Word with Examination and Prayer which is done by Meditation is through the blessing of God very effectual to kill and crucifie the lusts of the flesh The special sins prevented by this exercise Are 1. Idle roavings unprofitable wandrings unsavoury thoughts wishes and desires of heart who groans not under this burden who is not much hindered by them They distract in prayer reading hearing and cool our zeal dead our hearts waste much precious time steal away comfort defile the soul and bring forth much dangerous fruit The special medicine to cure this malady is Meditation it either keeps or thrusts out frivolous and idle thoughts and motions either it prevents them or keeps them under The Word hid in the heart preserves from sinning * Psa 119.11 When the door is open and the house empty it is an easie matter for the theef to enter but if the heart be occupied in goodness evil cannot finde room and harbour The foul spirit being cast out of a man seeketh to return with seven spirits worse than himself b Mat. 12.42 43. but is not able to re-gain possession till hee finde the house empty swept and garnished when wee do nothing and withall labour to get no good matter into our minds wee are sure to be pestred with evil cogitations arising from natural corruption or cast in by Satan but if the heart bee imployed continually in that which is profitable holy and excellent corruption shall not have that strength to molest nor stir nor Satan that opportunity to suggest Hath vanity taken root To remove it no means more profitable than oft and deep consideration of the swarms of evil cogitations that arise in the mind to bring them into vile account to bee weary and ashamed of them and to endeavour to entertain and harbour better motions and desires in their room What Christian can endure to have his heart taken up as a lodge or sty for froth filth vanity idleness or folly that seeth the loathsomeness of it and knows how and where to furnish himself with heavenly and comfortable matter Hee will judge himself watch and make earnest requests never ceasing till the number of idle imaginations bee abated 2. Earthly-mindednesse and the inordinate love of things temporal are bad weeds that cover much ground bitter roots that stick fast in our nature sins that set open the heart for Satan to take possession and dwell therein that make the Word unprofitable because it cannot have right and sound plantation that are attended with multitude of other sins and never go alone The only means to dig them out of the heart is Meditation Look into the vanity deceitfulness uncertainty vexation that outward things bring with them and thou wilt never set thy heart upon them Psa 49.11 Why do many men lay up for themselves treasure on Earth They know not the glory and dignity of Gods Saints they conceive not the necessity and excellency of saving Grace they never tasted the comforts of a godly life see not the Crown and joy that is prepared in Heaven for them that love and fear the Lord. It may bee they know there is a life to come an Heaven an Hell but their knowledge is dim uncertain confused idle earnestly often advisedly deeply they consider not of it It is impossible that hee should covet great things in this world or highly prize what is base and transitory that hath an eye to the recompence of reward What wee are in Meditation may easily bee guessed by our affection to the things that are perishing Hee that admireth the fading bravery of what is under his feet hath taken but sleight view of heavenly glory Thirdly By nature wee are very sluggish like unto the Oxe that will not draw unless hee bee driven or pricked with a goad Meditation is a spur to quicken us a Eccles 12.11 The words of the wise are as goads if the Word read or preached bee of great force it must needs work effectually if wee joyn Meditation Upon the first hearing the practice of good works may seem difficult and unpleasant our slothful nature will object many things against it A Lion is in the way a Lion is in the street it is hard to bee tied so narrowly dangerous to follow such courses But if wee consider the matter more attentively
wee shall see great cause good incouragement to set upon that work with diligence joy and chearfulness as the mercies of God the love of Christ the comforts of grace the bond of Creation preservation redemption the promise of divine assistance and gracious acceptance the peace of conscience and lively hope of an Inheritance in the highest Heavens When these and such like considerations are duly weighed wee shall finde many and more effectual provocations to incite to holiness than possiblely can bee to incite unto sin or to dishearten in any good enterprize Fourthly In company wee are apt to forget our selves and take offensive liberty to bee idle loose vain in speeches pettish in behaviour The reason is because wee are not stored with good matter wee have not seen into the manifold imperfections of our hearts nor tried in secret how wee can master and overcome corruptions Whereby the necessity of Meditation is manifest that gaging the heart thorowly and fighting against sin at home wee might bee more watchful in company lest wee should bee overtaken and better enabled to resist for as hee who goeth to war is first trained and made fit to use his weapon at home and the scholar tryeth masteries privately before hee come forth to dispute openly so must a good Christian try what hee can do against his affections lusts alone by himself in his solitary Meditation and resolve against them accordingly as hee seeth the difficulty to require before hee can in his common dealings with all sorts and companies bee strengthened against temptations and falls and free from offence-giving in his words and deeds 5 Unbeleef and hardness of heart are evils no less dangerous than common to the godly that feel them to the ungodly that are insensible a curse a judgement that cannot sufficiently be lamented The special remedy is earnest communication with our selves and with the Lord in secret How doth the heart relent when wee set our selves in the presence of God to record our disobedience with shame and sorrow and when wee call to remembrance our mortality the day of death the coming of Christ to judgement the favours of God the love of Christ his most bitter death and passion Hardness of heart cometh from want of due consideration a Mark 6.52 8.17 18 19 20 21. Tenderness follows Meditation as contraries are cured by their contraries To chide the heart for sin and force it by strong reasons pressed again and again upon the conscience is effectual to break and rent it as hard stroaks with beetle and wedges are to cleave the knotty Oak They that look up to Christ will mourn over him To stock up infidelity and to plant the word of promise what means to Meditation a Psa 77.9 10 11 12. when wee consider the power goodness unchangeableness of the Lord his free grace rich mercy and constant truth how hee dealt with his servants in former times and hath holpen us in the day of our calamity doth not the heart rise in indignation against distrust To check and reprove dejectedness of spirit and to stir up our selves to wait and trust in the Lord is a ready way to get freedome from distracting thoughts that overwhelm and oppress the soul Thirdly Meditation may be called the beginning of all sound Reformation when will men turn from their sins with an holy resolution to cleave unto the Lord in all things Never till they come to their right mind and bethink themselves b Hos 7.2 Jer. 5.24 Luk. 14.28 15.17 Mark 14.72 Psal 4.4 They may promise fair in sickness conceive some purposes of amendment upon the sight or hearing of judgement denounced against their bosome sin but all this abides meanly with them to break the heart or change it from those sinful delights wherewith it was bewitched They must remember and weigh what they have done before they can rise out of the miry-puddle into which they are fallen c Jer. 8.6 Rev. 2.5 Fourthly Hereby well-grounded and working knowledge is attained encreased without understanding wee cannot begin this exercise but wisdome is begotten and confirmed by it d Psa 119.92 93 99. They that hear often read much but live not in the exercise of Meditation and digest not what is brought to their minds by outward means they continue still in darkness or hang upon the credit of their teachers at the best their knowledge is less profitable to themselves and others as that which swimeth in the brain but is not kindly rooted in the heart In earthly occasions wherein wee are sharper sighted than in spiritual wee conceive not a matter at the first hearing the more we think upon it the better wee come to know it In spiritual things often reviewing the same thing is most requisite It is Meditation that settleth the truth in the judgement assureth it to the conscience and firmly groundeth it in the heart that it becometh a behooveful word ready in the time of need and ruling over the whole man with an universal milde and gentle soveraignty It may bee added that if wee meditate of what we hear wee shall see more into the truth use and benefit of what is taught than hee that preacheth Surely there is no doctrine so plain or work so small but great good might bee gathered much learned out of it by study and diligence Fifthly What an help this is to strengthen memory all men know by continual practice Doth not the light of reason teach us to call that oft to mind which wee would not have to overslip us Psal 119.15 16. I will meditate on thy statutes and will not forget thy Word The Saints of God know it is needful to grow in wisdome and to retain what they have learned but look how necessary it is to bee filled with wisdome and to hold a Heb. 2.1 2. fast what wee have received so needful it is to repeat again and again and to bethink our selves of what hath been commanded and commited to our custody Defect of memory is best supplied by Meditation Sixthly * Quo magis aliquid per contemplatione nobis innotescit eo magis in illius amorem erar descimus quo magis aliquid amamus eô frequentius de ipso cogitamus Meditation enlargeth delight in goodness much blowing will make the fire to burn under green wood Our nature desires liberty and goodness is burdensome to the flesh but if wee accustome our selves to minde and muse and think upon the word until it be made our own it will be pleasant to our taste Psa 119.23 24. sweeter than hony or the hony comb Familiarity is the best Nurse of Friendship better than good turns Even as looking breedeth loving so when by the thought of mind wee look upon good matters there is a love of them bred in us for affections kindle on a thought as tinder doth when a spark lighteth on it The most vehement love doth
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
his grace and goodness abode still in the estate of innocency and blessedness they are created spirits limited in essence compounded of subject and accident act and possibility immortal by participation mutable by creation but established by grace in their first state As spirits they are invisible immaterial incorruptible intelligent as chief instruments of Gods providence they are furnished with great power incredible swiftness singular wisdome burning zeal and undoubted faithfulness as blessed Ministers that ever attend his Throne they are indued with clear knowledge of God inestimable love exceeding joy and admirable glory Their life is spiritual their state blessed and permanent for they stand ever in the presence of God behold his glory and rest in him with full delight Their End and office in respect of God is to praise his Name and execute his Commandement in respect of Christ to minister and attend upon him in regard of men to rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner to guard and protect the faithful against the dangers of this life and the assaults of Satan to curb bridle and destroy their enemies and to gather the elect together at the day of judgement Quest How are these things to bee pressed and urged and applied unto the heart Answ 1 Wee must stir up our selves to admire the power goodness and glory of God in himself his tender care over us rouze up our souls to the obedience of Gods will and respect of his children and take courage to rely upon God in the midst of dangers that compass us about who would not fear thee O Lord our God glorious in Majesty dreadful in Holiness wonderful in Power Thine holy Angels excel in strength are cloathed with glory that man cannot behold but all their might and goodness is derived from thee a drop of thy Ocean a beam of thy Sun if the glory of the creature bee so great the glory of the Creator must infinitely surpass all comprehension Oh how blockish am I that in the view and contemplation of the work have not enlarged my heart to laud and magnifie the work-man Arise my soul and gird thy self to the chearful sincere faithful obedience to Gods Commandement To do the will of God is Angelical preferment a divine and heavenly exercise the greatest freedome and perfection Make haste delay not to exercise his good pleasure Loe the Angels in Heaven are thy samplers whom thou oughtest to follow Let not that seem irksome to thee that is delightsome to them esteem it not a burden which is to them an heavenly solace and refreshing Ah wretched man why should I grudge to yield obedience to my heavenly Father or do his will negligently by the halves when those Noble spirits and heavenly souldiers do alwaies stand in readiness to receive his commands and execute their commission Doth the world despise the poor Saints of God for their outward baseness yet I will honour them as the onely excellent for God is their Father the Angels their Attendants Wee cap and bow to them that are nobly attended gorgeously arrayed honourably served but herein the Saints excel if the thing bee well considered They are esteemed the scum of the world but respected of God in such manner that hee hath given his Angels charge over them the guard that attends upon his Throne is assigned to watch over them Walk on couragiously O my soul walk on couragiously in the waies of piety Fear not the assaults of Satan the fury of any adverse power that shall oppose it self for more are with thee than can be against thee If Satan with his bands endeavour thy destruction The troops of heavenly Angels do watch for thy defence yea the Lord himself is thy keeper and stands at thy right hand to save thee from all them that rise up against thee How great is the clemency and tender care of the Lord over his poor people what tongue can express what heart comprehend his infinite goodness hee sends from on high his mighty souldiers to encamp about us watch over us preserve and save us from them that lye in wait to vex and annoy Oh my Father what can I render unto thee for this thy great kindness and unspeakable mercy I have nothing to give but my heart which here I offer unto thee and because I am weak exposed to the temptations of Satan and allurements of this wicked world I pray thee give mee thy grace confirm and strengthen mee that I may imitate those pure spirits every day more and more that I may praise thy Name execute thy Commandements love thy Children rejoyce in the conversion of them that go astray and fight thy battels against sin and Satan Quest Let man bee the third example how must wee proceed to meditate on that Subject Answ For the better information of our judgement wee must consider these particulars the Author the Matter Form End Properties and Effects what are like and what opposite Man is inferiour to the Angels but of earthly creatures most excellent The Author of this principal work is God himself Father Son and Holy Ghost and that in special manner for other creatures were made by a simple command man not without a divine consultation Gen. 1.26 others at once man hee did first form then inspire others in several shapes like to none other but themselves man after his own Image others with qualities fit for service man for Dominion Hee was made the last of the creatures and brought as the Lords Vicegerent into this world as into a parlour ready trimmed and prepared for so worthy a guest Man consisteth of two parts Matter and Form Heaven and Earth a humane body and divine soul and well may be called a little abridgement map or table of the whole world In his soul is the nature of Angels though not so active and extensive In his body are the Elements Meteors Minerals as may appear both by vapours fumes and spirits Hee lives the life of plants hee hath the senses of beasts and above all the addition of reason His body was framed of the dust of the ground in more exquisite manner than any other furnished with most excellent instruments absolutely composed both for beauty and duty in all the works of holiness and righteousness For variety of parts sweetly knit together and orderly disposed it was wonderful for temperature exact for form erect and streight In the whole beautiful glorious strong subject to no annoyance most artificially fashioned that it might bee the neat stately Palace of a Divine Noble reasonable soul In every part beauty strength convenience meet together The distinct consideration of every member with its temper proportion placing figure and use might well astonish The soul of man was immediately created of nothing and being indued with most excellent faculties and gifts natural and supernatural was infused into the body and inseparably knit had not sin made an unnatural divorce to give life motion and sense unto it
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
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