bottom ver 9. For with thee is the fountain of life Dulcius ex ipso fonte c. and is not this most satisfactory It is a witty observation of Picus Mirandula That in the Creation of the World God gave the water to the fish the earth to the beasts the ayr to the fowls afterward made man in his own image that man might say Lord there is nothing upon earth to be desired besides Thee what can satiate my soul but to be still with thee 3. To be still with God is the most comfortable life what sweet harmony and musick is in that soul The Bird the higher it takes its flight the sweeter it sings so the higher the soul is raised above the World the sweeter joy it hath How is the heart inflamed in Prayer How is it ravished in Holy Meditation What joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 and these joys are those mellea flumina those honey-streams which flow out of the Rock Christ Tell me is it not comfortable being in Heaven He that is still with God carries Heaven about him he hath those praelibations and tasts of Gods love which are the beginnings of Heaven * Rom. 8.23 So sweet is this kinde of Life that it can drop sweetness into the troubles and disquiets of the World that we shall be scarce sensible of them * Nihil sentit crus in nervo quando animus est in coelo Tertullian It can turn the Prison into a Paradise the Furnace into a Festival it can sweeten death A soul elevated by grace can rejoyce to think of dying Death will but cut the string and the Soul that Bird of Paradise shall flie away and be at rest 4. To be still with God is the most durable life nunquam deficit semper resicit Diuturniora sunt praestantio ra the life of sense will fail we must shortly bid farewell to all our outward Comforts these blossoms will drop off We read of a Sea of glass mingled with fire Rev. 12.2 Bullinger and other learned Expositors understand by that Sea of glass the World Indeed it is a fit embleme of it the World is a Sea and it is seldome calm and 't is a Sea of glass slippery and this glass is mingled with fire to shew it is of a perishable and consuming nature Riches take wings and relations take wings but you that by the wings of grace are still soaring aloft This life shall never have an end it is the beginning of an eternal life happiness is but the cream of holiness you that are still with God shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 You shall see God in all his embroidered Robes of majesty * In Coelesti beatitudine sine alique taedio manens aeternitas inspectio sola divinitatis efficit ut beatius nihilesse possit Cassidor lib. 2. Ireneus lib. 4. contra haeres cap. 37. Greg. Nyssen lib. de beatitud Damascen lib. 4. de fide 1 Joh. 3. We shall see him as he is and this sight vvill be ravishing and full of glory Oh then is not this the best kinde of life He who when he awakes is still with God when he goes to sleep at death shall be ever with the Lord. Quest Quest But how shall I arrive at this blessed frame of heart to be still with God Answ Answ 1. Get a right Judgement 'T is a great matter to have the Judgement set right Get a right judgement of sin and you will be never with it get a right Judgement of God and you will be still with him In God are all combined excellencies How sweet is his love how satisfying is his presence But as the Painter drew a vail over Agamemnons face because the greatness of his grief for his daughter Iphigenia could not be expressed So when I speak of the glorious perfections in God I must draw a vail neither pen nor pensil can set them forth in their orientlustre the angels here must be silent 2. If you would be still with God watch over your hearts every day Lock up your hearts with God every morning and give him the key The heart will be stealing out to vanity * Nihil corde meo fugacius Bern. Lord saith Bernard there 's nothing more flitting then my heart Keep watch and ward there especially Christians look to your hearts after an Ordinance when you have been with God in duty now expect a temptation Physitians say The body must be more carefully looked to when it comes out of an hot Bath for the pores being open it is more in danger of catching cold After your spiritual Bathing in an Ordinance when you have been at a Sermon or Sacrament now take heed that you do not catch cold 3. Beware of remisness in duty * Sic putamus orâsse Jonam sic Danielem inter leones Sic latronem in Cruce Hierom. when you begin to slacken the reins and abate your former heat and vigour in Religion there steals insensibly a deadness upon the heart and by degrees there ariseth a sad estrangement between God and the Soul And Brethren how hard a Work will you finde it to get your hearts up again when they are once down A weighty stone that hath been rowled up to the top of a steep hill and then falls down to the bottom how hard is it to get it up again Oh take heed of a dull lazy temper in Gods service we are bid to be fervent in spirit Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lecto neglecto mollem discute somnum Sarisburiensis in Policrat lib. 1. The Athenians enquiring at the Oracle of Apollo why their plagues did continue so long the Oracle answered them they must duplare aram double their Sacrifices * Plutarch those who would hold constant communion with God must double their devotion they must be much in praier and mighty in prayer we read that the coals were to be put to the incense Lev. 16.13 incense was a Type of prayer and the coals put to the incense was to shew That the heart of a Christian ought to be inflamed in holy services nothing more dangerous then a plodding formality 4. If you would be still with God be much in the Communion of Saints many Christians live as if this Article were blotted out of their Creed how doth one Saint whet and Sharpen another As vain company cools good affections so by being in the communion of Saints we are warmed and quickned Be often among the Spices and you will smell of them These directions observed we shall be able to keep our acquaintance with God and may arrive at this blessed frame as here David had When I awake I am still with thee FINIS CHRISTS LOVELINES OR A Discourse setting forth the Rare Beauties of the Lord Jesus which may both amaze the eye and draw the heart of a sinner to him By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of
you shall perish in these dayes of the Gospel though you have been plac'd under a trumpet lesse shrill and powerful It shall be my prayer for you all that you may be fruit-bearing trees that when the great Vine-dresser shall remove you hence by death he may transplant you into the coelestial Paradise Be pleased to accept of these few notes which some years since you did seeme to hear with much affection I shall only desire two things of you that you would thoroughly peruse them and then copy them out in your daily practise Get up into your Tower of Meditation and look often with Moses upon him who is invisible * Heb. 11.27 But I will not hold you any longer I remember Saint Paul in the close of his Epistle craves the Thessalonians prayers * 1 Thes 5.25 and so shall I end my Epistle begging a contribution of your prayers for me that the Lord would give me the strength of heaven to do the work of heaven * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist that he would help me to take heed to my self and my doctrine that he would make me not only faithful but successeful in my Ministry among you that so when the chiefe Shepheard shall appear I may receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away * 1 Pet. 5.4 I shall not further enlarge unlesse in my affections towards you Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his wil working in you that which is wel-pleasing in his sight * Heb. 13.20 21. which shall be the earnest prayer of him who is Your friend and servant for Jesus sake THOMAS WATSON THE EPISTLE To the Reader Christian Reader THere are some exercises of Religion which stand only in a forme of godlinesse when men draw neer with their mouth and honour God with their lips and bestow a little bodily exercise and attendance upon him when in the mean time their hearts are farre from him running after other objects Isaiah 29.13 Ezek. 33.31 Other duties there are which are more spiritual and wherein the life and power of godlinesse doth consist Among these that of heavenly Meditation is one when as the Apostle saith of the blessed Angels 1 Pet. 1.12 the heart desires to look into the mysteries of salvation Ever since the fall of Adam sinful men have had the disposition of Adam to flie away and to hide from the presence of the Lord. Natural men are without God in the world he is not in all their thoughts they could be well enough content to have him cease from before them Esay 30.11 He is every where else to be found onely shut out of the hearts of wicked men The heart never willingly fixeth on God till he be the Treasure of it for where a mans treasure is there will his heart be also It canot easily Meditate but where it doth delight Psalme 119.97 Love is the weight of the soul it readily moves to the object which it loves Mary will not away from the empty Sepulchre where a little before her Lord had lien Every good man is of Davids minde Psalme 16.8 to set the Lord alwayes before him that he may be in his feare all the day long There is nothing of a more unstable and roving temper than the minde of man Some have prescribed the study of Mathematicks to fix the volatile agilitie thereof but certainly the more serious the more setled the soul is Nothing therefore will so ballace and compose it as true holinesse which doth of all other things make it the most serious the most willing to acquaint it self with God that it may be at peace Job 22.21 He is the Rest of the soul Inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in te The more it knows of him the more desirous it is to stay with him that it may know more The more it tasteth of his favour the more it longeth after his glory as Moses did Exod. 33.17 18. What the Philosopher saith of all knowledge is indeed true onely of the knowledge of God and Christ that it is quies intellectus And therefore our Saviour calleth it eternal life John 17.3 In which alone the soul doth Rest Now one excellent meanes of fixing the heart on God is meditation whereby a man calls together All that is within him to blesse his name Psalme 103.1 Meditation is the wing of the soul which carrieth the affections thereof to things above by this as Moses it goeth up to the top of Pisgah to take a view of the promised land It is as Clemens Alexandrinus saith of prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a conversing with God as Chrysostome saith of faith so may we of Meditation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It makes God and Christ and precepts and promises ours by giving us a fuller possession of them Hereby we hold fast the things which we have learned we awaken our faith inflame our love strengthen our hope revive our desires encrease our joys in God we furnish our hearts and fill our mouthes with materials of prayer we loosen our affections from the world we praeacquaint our selves with those glories which we yet but hope for and get some knowledg of that love of Christ which passeth knowledge Meditation is the palate of the soul wherby we taste the goodnesse of God the eye of the soule whereby we view the beauties of holinesse that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby our spiritual senses are exercised Acts 24.16 Heb. 5.14 it is the key to the wine-sellar to the banquetting house to the garden of spices which letteth us in unto him whom our soul loveth it is the arme whereby we embrace the promises at a distance and bring Christ and our souls together Though some learned men of former times have written some few things upon this subject yet of our age and in our language I do not remember any who have purposely handled it but our Christian Seneca the learned and Reverend Bishop Hall which being one small tract in the midst of a voluminous work may haply not be in every mans hand to peruse The necessity excellency and usefulnesse of this Christian duty the Reverend Authour of this book hath elegantly described which is therefore worthy the perusal of such as desire to acquaint and furnish themselves with so excellent a part of Christian skill whereby Time may be redeemed and improved unto the prepossession of Eternity The Lord so fill us with the love of him and with all the the fulnesse of God that we may be able continually to say My heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise From my Study at Lawr. Jury Nov. 7. 1657. Thine in the Lord Edw. Reynolds THE SAINTS SPIRITUAL DELIGHT PSAL. 1.2 But his delight
hath he had towards us We have taken up his thoughts from eternity If we have had some of Gods first thoughts well may he have our first thoughts 5. This is to imitate the Pattern of the Saints Job rose early in the morning and offered Job 1.5 David when he awaked was with God Psalm 139.17 and indeed this is the way to have a morning blessing In the morning the dew fell Exod. 16.13 The dew of a blessing falls early now we are likeliest to have Gods company If you would meet with a friend you go betimes in the morning before he be gone out We read that the Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles Acts 2.3 4. and it was in the morning as may be gathered from Peters Sermon verse 15. 't was but the third hour of the day the morning is the time for fruitfulness In the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish Isaiah 17.11 by morning Meditation we make the seed of grace to flourish I would not by this wholly exclude evening Meditation Isaac went out to meditate in the Eventide Gen. 24.63 When business is over every thing calm it is good to take a turn with God in the Evening God had his Evening Sacrifice as well as his Morning Exod. 29.39 as the cream in the top is sweet so the Sugar at bottom in two cases the Evening Meditation doth well 1. In case such hath been the urgency of business that thou hast time onely for reading and prayer then recompense the want of the morning with evening Meditation 2. In case thou findest thy self more inclineable to Good thoughts in the evening for sometimes there is a greater impetus upon the heart a greater aptitude and tuneableness of minde dare not neglect Meditation at such a time who knowes but it may be a quenching the spirit do not drive this blessed Dove from the Ark of thy Soul in these cases evening Meditation is seasonable but I say if I may cast in my verdict the morning is to be preferred as the flowr of the Sun opens in the morning to take in the sweet beams of the Sun so open thy soul in the morning to take in the sweet thoughts of God And so much for the timing of Meditation CHAP. XIV How long Christians should be conversant with this duty Quest Quest 2. BVt how long should I meditate Answ For the quamdiu Answ the how long if we consider how many houres the world hath it is hard if we cannot give God at least one hour every day I shall only say this for a general rule Meditate so long till thou findest thy heart grow warm in this duty If when a man is cold you ask how long he should stand by the fire Sure till he be throughly warm and made fit for his work So Christian thy heart is cold never a day no not the hottest day in summer but it freezeth there now stand at the fire of Meditation till thou findest thy affections warmed and thou art made more fit for spiritual service David mused till his heart waxed hot within him Psalm 39.3 I will conclude this with that excellent saying of Bernard Domine nunquam a te absque te recedam Bern. Lord I will never come away from thee without thee Let this be a Christians Resolution not to leave his Meditations of God till he finde something of God in him some moving of bowels after God Cant. 5.4 Some flamings of love Cant. 6.8 CHAP. XV. Concerning the usefulness of meditation HAving answered these questions I shall next shew the benefit and usefulness of Meditation I know not any duty that brings in greater income and revenue then this 'T is reported of Thales that he left the affairs of State to become a contemplating Philosopher * Diog. in vitâ Thal. Oh did we know the advantage which comes by this duty we would often retire from the noise and hurry of the World that we might give our selves to Meditation The benefit of Meditation appears in seven particulars 1. Meditation is an excellent means to profit by the word reading may bring a truth into the head meditation brings it into the heart better meditate on one Sermon than hear five I observe many put up their Bills in our Congregations and complain that they cannot profit may not this be the chief reason because they chew not the cud they do not meditate on what they have heard If an Angel should come from heaven and preach to men nay if Jesus Christ himself were their Preacher they would never profit without meditation 'T is the setling of the milk that makes it turn to cream it is the setling of a truth in the mind that makes it turn to spiritual aliment the Bee sucks the flower and then workes it in the Hive and makes honey of it The hearing of a truth preached is the sucking of a flower there must be aworking it in the Hive of the heart by meditation then it turnes to Honey There is a disease in children called the Rickets when they have great heads but their lower parts are small and thrive not I wish many of the Professors in London have not the spiritual Rickets they have great heads much knowledge but yet they thrive not in godliness their heart is faint their feet feeble they walk not vigorously in the waies of God and the cause of this disease is the want of meditation Illumination without meditation makes us no better then Divels Satan is an Angel of light yet black enough 2. Meditation doth make the heart serious and then it is ever best Meditation doth ballast the heart when the ship is ballasted it is not so soon overturned by the wind and when the heart is ballasted with Meditation it is not so soon overturned with vanity Some Christians have light hearts Zeph. 3.4 his Prophets are light A light Christian will be blown into any opinion or vice you may blow a feather any way there are many feathery Christians the divel no sooner comes with a temptation but they are ready to take fire now meditation makes the heart serious and God saith of a serious Christian as David of Goliahs sword there is none like that give it me Meditation consolidates a Christian solid gold is best the solid Christian is the only metal that will pass currant with God The more serious the heart grows the more spiritual and the more spiritual the more it resembles the Father of Spirits When a man is serious he is fittest for imployment The serious Christian is fittest for service and it is meditation brings the heart into this blessed frame 3. Meditation is the bellows of the affections meditation hatcheth good affections as the hen her young ones by sitting on them we light affection at this fire of meditation while I was musing the fire burned Psalm 39.3 David was meditating of mortality and see how his heart was affected with it verse
needs be erroneous and a man at last goes to hell upon a mistake Therefore be sure you read before you meditate that you may say it is written Meditate on nothing but what you believe to be a truth believe nothing to be a truth but what can shew its Letters of credence from the Word observe this rule let reading usher in meditation Reading without meditation is unfruitful Meditation without reading is dangerous SECT III. Rule 3 3. DO not multiply the subject of meditation that is meditate not on too many things at once like the bird that hops from one bough to another and staies no where single out rather some one head at a time which you will meditate upon Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus Too much variety distracts * Varietas distrabit animum Sen. One truth driven home by meditation will most kindly affect the heart a man that is to shoot sets up one mark That he aims at to hit When thou art to shoot thy minde above the world by meditation set one thing before thee to hit if thou art to meditate on the passion of Christ let that take up all thy thoughts If upon death confine thy thoughts to that One subject at a time is enough Martha while she was cumbred about many things neglected the One thing so while our meditations are taken up about many things we lose that One Thing which should affect our hearts and do us more good * Claouâ— claâ—um pellit Drive but one wedge of Meditation at a time but be sure you drive it home to the heart Those who aim at a whole flock of birds hit none Several Medicines applied together the one hinders the virtue of the other whereas a single medicine might do good SECT IV. To Meditation join Examination Rule 4 When you have been meditating on any spirituall subject put a query to thy soul and though it be short let it be serious O my soul is it thus with thee or no when thou hast been meditating about the fear of God that it is the beginning of Wisdome * Prov. 1.7 Put a query O my soul Is this fear planted in thy heart Thou art almost come to the end of thy daies Art thou yet come to the beginning of Wisdom When thou hast been meditating on Christ his Virtues his Privileges put a query O my soul Dost thou love him who is so Lovely * Cant. 5. ult and art thou ingrafted into him Art thou a living branch of this living vine When thou hast been meditating upon the Graces of the Spirit put a query O my soul art thou adorned as the Bride of Christ with this chain of Pearl Hast thou thy Certificate for heaven ready Will not thy Graces be to seek when thou shouldst have them to shew Thus should a Christian in his retirements parly often with his heart For want of this Examination Meditation doth evaporate and come to nothing For want of Examination joined with Meditation many are strangers to their own hearts though they live known to others they dye unknown to themselves Meditation is like a perspective glass by which we contemplate heavenly objects but Self-examination is like a looking glass by which we see into our own souls and can judge how it is with us Meditation joined with Examination is like the Sun on the Dial which shews how the day goes it shews us how our hearts stand affected to Spiritual Things SECT V. Rule 5 Shut up meditation with prayer * Oratio sine meditatione tepida meditatio sine â—ratione infrugifera Bern. de scala claustrali Pray over your meditations Prayer sanctifies every thing without prayer they are but unhallowed meditations Prayer fastens meditation upon the Soul Prayer is a tying a knot at the end of meditation that it doth not slip Pray that God will keep those holy meditations in your mind for ever that the savour of them may abide upon your hearts 1 Chron. 29.18 O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of thy people So let us pray that when we have been musing of heavenly things and our hearts have waxed hot within us* we may not cool into a sinful tepidness and lukewarmness but that our affections may be as the lamp of the Sanctuary alwaies burning SECT VI. Rule 6 The last Rule is Let meditation be reduced to practise live over your Meditation Josh 1.8 Thou shalt Meditate in this book that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein Meditation and practise like two sisters must go hand inhand Cassian saith that the contemplative life caÌ„not beperfected without the practick Cassian Collat. 19. We read that the angels had wings hands under their wings Ezek. 1.8 It may be an Hieroglyphical Embleme of this truth Christians must not onely fly upon the wing of Meditation but they must be active in obedience they must have hands under their wings The end of Meditation is action We must not only Meditate in Gods law but walk in his law Deuter. 28.9 Without this we are like those Gnosticks of whom Epiphanius complaines they had much knowledge but were in their lives licentious Christians must be like the Sun which doth not only send forth heat but goes its circuit round the world 't is not enough that the affections be heated by meditation but we must go our circuit too that is move regularly in the sphere of obedience After warming at the fire of Meditation we must be fitter for work Meditation is the life of Religion and practice is the life of meditation 'T is said in the Honour of Nazianzen fecit quae docuit he lived over his own Sermons So a good Christian must live over his own meditations For instance First When you have been meditating of Sin which for its bitterness is compared to Grapes of Gall for its damnableness to poison of asps and you begin to burn in an holy indignation against sin now put your meditations in practise Give sin a Bill of Divorce Job 11.14 If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles 2. When you have been meditating of the Graces of the spirit let the verdure and lustre of these graces be seen in you live these graces meditate that you may observe and do 'T was St. Pauls counsel to Timothy 1 Tim. 4.7 exercise thy self to Godliness Meditation and practise are like a pair of Compasses the one part of the compass fixeth upon the center and the other part goes round the circumference a Christian by meditation fixeth upon God as the Center and by practice goes round the circumference of the Commandements A man who hath let his thoughts run out upon riches will not onely have them in the notion but will endeavor to get riches Let your meditations be practical when you
was in the Ark The Ark was a Type of Christ 4. The Soul is still with God because of those dear relations it hath to God There are all the terms of Consanguinity God is our Father John 20.17 and where should the child be but with its Father he is our Husband Isa 54.5 and where should the wife be but with her husband he is our friend Joh. 15.15 now friends desire to be still together God is our Rock 2 Sam. 22.2 where should Christs Doves be but in the Cliffs of this blessed Rock God is the Saints Treasure and where the Treasure is there will their hearts be also 5. The gracious soul is still with God because of those rare excellencies which are in God 1. Fulness Every one desires to be at a full fountain Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell Observe Christ is not only said to be full in the concrete but fullness in the abstract nay in him is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all fullness a vessel may be full of water but that is not all fullness 't is not full of Wine a Chest may be full of silver but that is not all fullness 't is not full of Pearl but in Christ is all fullness * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 macar He is bread to strengthen John 6.48 Wine to comfort Joh. 15.1 Gold to inrich Rev. 3.18 He is all and in all Col. 3.11 Thus there is a variety of fullness in the Lord Jesus O Christian what is it thou needest Dost thou want quickning grace Christ is the Prince of life Act. 3.15 Dost thou want healing grace Christ hath made a medicine of his own body to cure thee * Corpus Christi aegris medicina languorem sanans sanitatem servans Bernard Isa 53 5. Dost thou want cleansing grace there is the bath of his bloud to wash thee 1 John 1.7 The bloud of Jesus cleanseth us from all our sin Let not the Poets tell us of their Aonia and Castalia Fountains in which they supposed their Nymphs to have washed These waters distill'd out of Christs sides are infinitely more pure Pliny saith that the Water-courses of Rome are the worlds wonder Oh had he known these sacred Water-courses in Christs bloud how would he have been stricken with admiration and do you wonder the soul is still with Christ when there is all fulness in him Nay but that all is not all the Apostle goes further it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To note the Duration of this fullness 't is not Transient but Immanent This fulness is not in Christ as the water in the pipe or spout the Spout may be full of water but it continues not there Water doth not dwell in the spout but this fulness is in Christ as light in the Sun it dwells there Christs fulnesse is a never-failing fulness what can be said more nay but the Apostle carries it yet higher in him dwells all the fulness of the God-head if Christ had all the fullness of the Creation the Treasures of the earth the holiness of the Angels yet this could not satisfy the soul In him there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fulness of the Godhead the riches of the Deity are in him and the communication of this blessed fulness * Eph. 3 19. Pro cujusque membri medulo Beza so far as there is a capacity to receive * is that which satisfyes the Soul and fills it brim full and if there be such a plenitude and fullness in God no wonder a gracious heart desires to be still with God 2. Sweetness God is love 1 John 4.19 Every one desires to be with them from whom they receive most love The Lord doth often make himself known to the soul in an ordinance as he did to the disciples in breaking of bread Luke 24.35 He manifests himself in the comforts of his Spirit Gal. 5.22 which are so sweet and ravishing that they passe all understanding and do you wonder the soul is so strongly carried out after God Truly if it be still with God to speak with reverence 'T is long of God He gives those Jewels and Bracelets those love-tokens that the soul cannot but desire to be still with God Vse 1 It shews us an art how to be in heaven before our time namely by being still with God A Good Christian begins his heaven here Grace translates him into the paradise of God Sunt pennae volucres mihi quae celsa conscendant poli Boetius Eliah left his Mantle behind but hewas taken up in a fiery Chariot So it is with a Saint the mantle of the flesh is left behind but his soul is carried up in a fiery Chariot of love Vse 2 2. Use is of Reproof and it consists of two branches 1. It reproves them that are never with God Branch they live without God in the world Ephes 2.12 'T is made the characteristical note of a wicked man God is not in all his thoughts Psalm 10.4 He never thinks of God unlesse vvith horrour and amazement as the Prisoner thinkes of the Judge and the Assizes and here two sorts of sinners are indicted 1. Such as are still with their sinnes A child of God though sin be with him yet he is not with sin his will is against sin Rom. 7.15 Minus est nocens qui sponte sua non est nocens Sen. That which I do I allow not he would fain shake this viper into the fire he forsakes sin but sin will not forsake him so that though sin be with him yet he is not with sin but a wicked man and sin are together as two Lovers mutually solacing and embracing a wicked man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Worker of iniquity Luke 13.27 like a workman that followes his Trade in his Shop 2 Such as are stil with the world T is counted a piece of a miracle to find a diamond in a vein of gold and t is as great a miracle to find Christ that precious stone in an earthly heart The world is mens Diana they minde earthly things Phil. 3.19 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the Ostrich though she hath wings yet by reason of the weightiness of her body cannot fly high most men are so weighed down with thick clay * Hab. 2.6 that they cannot soar aloft they are like Saul hid among the stuff * 1 Sam. 10.22 like Sisera who had his head nalied to the earth * Judg. 4.21 so their hearts are nailed to the earth Absaloms beauty stole away the hearts of Israel from their king 2 Sa. 15.6 the worlds bewitching beauty steals away men hearts from God * Curvae in terras a nim ae et caelestium inanes T is sad whē the husband sends his wife a jewel she so fals in love with the jewelthat she forgets her husband an
from me but ye gave me no meat Why were the foolish Virgins shut out They had done no hurt they had not broken their lamps I but they took no oyle in their lamps Matth. 25.3 Their wanting oyle was the indightment therefore let not any man build his hope for heaven upon negatives This is building upon the sand the sand is bad to build on it will not ceament * Arena est terra sterilis minuta grana ejus non cohaerent being ex materia friabili but suppose a man should finish an house upon it what is the issue the flood comes viz. persecution and the force of this flood will drive away the sand and make the house fall and the winde blows the breath of the Lord as a mighty winde will blow such a sandy building into hell Be afraid then to rest in the privative part of Religion launch forth further be eminently holy So I come to the next words but his delight is in the Law of the Lord * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret in loc and in his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. II. What is meant by the Law of God what by delight in the Law and the proposition resulting THe words give us a twofold description of a godly man First He delights in Gods Law Secondly he meditates in Gods Law I begin with the first His delight is in the Law of the Lord The great God hath graffed the affection of delight in every creature it hath by the instinct of nature something to delight it self in * Ovis frondem cervus fontem Canis leporem Pylades sectatur Orestem Now the true Saint not by instinction but divine inspiration makes the Law of God his delight This is the badge of a Christian ejus oblectatio in lege Jehovae his delight is in the Law of the Lord. A man may work in his trade and not delight in it either in regard of the difficulty of the work or the smalnesse of the income but a godly man serves God with delight 'T is his meat and drink to do his will For the Explication of the words it will be enquired 1. What is meant by the Law of the Lord. This word Law * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken either more strictly or more largely 1. More strictly for the Decalogue or ten Commandments 2. More largely 1. For the whole written Word of God * Musculus Diodat * Tota dectrina a Deo patefacta Ecclesiae tradita Mollerus 2. For those truths which are deducted from the Word and do concenter in it 3. For the whole businesse of Religion which is the counterpane of Gods Law and agrees with it as the transcript with the original The word is a setting forth and Religion is a shewing forth of Gods Law I shall take this word in its full latitude and extent 2. What is meant by delight in Gods Law The Hebrew and Septuagint * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both render it his will is in the Law of the Lord * Plus valet consouantia voluntatum quà m vocum Bern. Serm. sup salve Regina and that which is voluntary is delightful a gracious heart serves God from a principle of ingenuity he makes Gods Law not only his task but his recreation upon this Scripture-stock I shall graffe this Proposition Dost Doct. That a child of God though he cannot serve the Lord perfectly yet he serves him willingly His will is in the Law of the Lord he is not a prest souldier but a volunteer * Quia Deus cor quaerit cor intus inspicit testis est judex approbator adjutor coronator sufficit ut offeras voluntatem Aug. in Ps by the beating of this pulse we may judge whether there be spiritual life in us or no. David professeth Gods Law was his delight Psalme 119.77 he had his crown to delight in he had his musick to chear him but the love he had to Gods Law did drown all other delights as the joy of harvest and vintage exceeds the joy of gleaning I delight in the Law of God saith Saint Paul in the inner man Rom. 7.22 the Greek word is I take pleasure * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law of God is my recreation and it was an heart-delight * 't was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the inner man * 2 Cor. 5.12 a wicked man may have joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the face* 2 Cor. 5.12 like honey-dew that wets the leaf but the wine of Gods Spirit chears the heart Paul delighted in the Law in the inner man CHAP. III. Whence the Saints spiritual delight springeth THe Saints delight in the Law of God proceeds 1. From soundnesse of judgement The minde apprehends a beauty in Gods Law now the judgement as the primum mobile draws the affections like so many orbes after it The Law of God is perfect * Lex Dei integra Hierom. Pagnin Absoluta consummata cui nihil desit Fabrit in Psalm Psalme 19.7 it needs not be eeked out with traditions The Hebrew word for perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to allude to a perfect entire body that wants none of the members or lineaments Gods Law must needs be perfect for it is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 The Septuagint renders it The Law of the Lord is pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagint like beauty that hath no staine or wine that is clarified and refined The soul that looks into this Law seeing so much lustre and perfection cannot but delight in it The middle lamp of the Sanctuary being lighted from the fire of the Altar gave light to all the other Lamps So the judgement being lighted from the Word it sets on fire the lamps of the affections 2. This holy delight ariseth from the predominancy of grace When grace comes with authority and Majesty upon the heart it fils it with delight naturally we have no delight in God Job 21.14 Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of they wayes nay there is not only a dislike but antipathy sinners are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters of God Rom. 1.30 Rom. 1.30 but when grace comes into the heart O what a chang is there Grace preponderates it files off the rebellion of the will it makes a man of another spirit * Josh 14.24 It turnes the lion-like fiercenesse into a dove-like sweetnesse it changeth hatred into delight Grace puts a new by as into the will it works a spontaneity and cheerfulnesse in Gods service Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power Psalme 110.3 3. This holy delight in Religion is from the sweetness of the end Well may we with cheerfulnesse let down the net of our endeavour when we have so excellent a draught Heaven at the end of duty causeth delight in the
God shall have it Hypocrites care not what they put God off with They offer that to the Lord which costs them nothing * 2 Sam. 24.24 A prayer that costs them no wrastling no pouring out of the soul * 1 Sam. 1.15 they put no cost in their services Cain brought of the fruit of the ground Gen. 4.3 'T is observable the holy Ghost doth not mention any thing that might commend or set off Cains sacrifice When he comes to speak of Abels he sets an Emphasis upon it Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof * Abel obtulit non exigua sed pinguia Ambrose verse 4. but when he speaks of Cain he only saith he brought of the fruit of the ground Some sorry thing perhaps pull'd out of a ditch God who is best will be serv'd with the best Domitian would not have his Statue carv'd in wood or iron but in gold God will have the best of our best things golden services He who delights in God gives him the fat of the offering * Lev. 3.3 the purest of his love the hottest of his zeale and when he hath done all he grieves he can do no more he blusheth to see such an infinite disproportion between Deity and Dutie 5. He that delights in God doth not much delight in any thing else The world appears in an ecclipse * Utitur mundo fruitur Deo Aug. Paul delighted in the Law of God in the inner man and how was he crucified to to the world Gal. 6.14 'T is not absolutely unlawful to delight in the things of the world Deut. 26.11 Thou shalt rejoyce in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given thee None may better take the comfort of these things than beleevers for they have the best right to them they hold all in Capite * There is nothing ours but as we see out title in Christ Greenham and they have the dew of a blessing distill'd Take two talents said Naaman to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 so saith God to a beleever take two talents take thy outward comforts and take my love with them but the children of God though they are thankful for outward mercies which is the yearly rent they sit at yet they are not much taken with these things * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.31 they use them only as a conveniency for their passage * Omnia quibus uteris in hac vita debent esse tanquaÌ„ stabulum viatori non tanquam domus habitatori Aug. they know they need them as a staffe to walk with but when they shall sit down in the Kingdome of heaven and rest themselves they shall have no use of this Jacobs staffe Beleevers do not much passe for these things which are still passing * 1 Joh. 2.17 Their delight is chiefly in God and his Law and is it thus have we this low opinion of all undermoon comforts is the price fallen The Astronomer saith if it were possible for a man to be lifted up as high as the Moone the earth would seem to him but as a little point If we could be lifted to heaven in our affections all earthly delights would seem as nothing when the woman of Samaria had met with Christ * Invenit non aquam sed salutem Ambrose down goes the pitcher * John 4. she leaves that behinde * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in Joh. 4 he who delights in God as having tasted the sweetnesse in him doth not much minde the pitcher he leaves the world behinde 6. True delight is constant Hypocrites have their pangs of desire and flashes of joy which are soone over The Jews did rejoyce in Johns light for a season * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 5.35 Unsound hearts may delight in the Law of the Lord for a season but they will quickly change their note What a wearinesse is it to serve the Lord The Chrysolyte which is of a golden colour in the morning is very bright to look on but towards noone it grows dull and hath lost its splendor such are the glistring shews of Hypocrites True delight like the fire of the Altar never goes out affliction cannot extirpate it Psalme 119.143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me yet thy Commandments are my delights CHAP. VII A suasive to this holy delight in Religion Use 3 LEt me perswade Christians to labour for this holy delight Exhort Comment upon the Text. Let your delight be in the Law of the Lord * Plurimum refert utruÌ„ ex voluntate agas an necessitate Ambrose sup beat immacul And that I may the better enforce the Exhortation I shall lay before you several weighty considerations 1. There is that in the Law of God which may cause delight as will appeare in two things Considerat There is in it Verum 1. Truth 2. Goodnesse 1. Truth the Law of God is a series of truth Psalm 119.160 Thy word is true from the beginning * Quid acrius desiderat anima quam veritatem Austin tom 26. in John 4. The two Testaments are the two lips by which the God of Truth hath spoken to us Here is a firm basis for faith 2. Goodnesse Nehem. 9.13 Thou gavest them true Laws good Statutes Bonum Here is Truth and Goodnesse the one adequate to the understanding the other to the will Now this goodnesse and excellency of the Law of God shines forth in nine particulars 1. This blessed Law of God is a letter * Est quaedam Epistola omnipotentis Dei ad creaturam Greg. sent to us from heaven indighted by the Holy Ghost and sealed with the blood of Christ * Fertur de Carolo Borromaeo quod Scripturam solebat assidue volvere populo expâ—â—â—are idque tanto studio devotione reverentia ut ultimis vitae suae annis velut ipsissimas Deo ad homines literas non nisi capite flexis Genibus venerabundus lectitaret Julius Nigr. Tract ascetico c. 3. n. 9. See some passages in the letter Isa 62.5 As the bridegroom rejoyceth over the bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee and Hosea 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever in righteousnesse and in loving kindnesse and in mercies Is it not delightful reading over this love-letter 2. The Law of God is a light that shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 * 2 Pet. 1.19 it is our pole-star to guide us to heaven 't was Davids candle and lanthorn to walk with Ps 119.105 now light is sweet Eccles 11.7 't is sad to want this light those heathen who have not the knowledge of Gods Law must needs stumble to hell in the dark Hierom brings in Tully with his Oratory and Aristotle with his Syllogismes crying out in hell they that leave the light of the Word following the light within
an high estimate upon the Word what the judgement prizeth the affections embrace he that values gold will delight in it we are apt through a principle of Atheisme to entertaine slight thoughts of Religion therefore our affections are so slight David prized Gods Statutes at a high rate more to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold Psal 19.10 and hence grew that enflamed love to them I will delight my selfe in thy Statutes Psal 119.16 2. Pray for a spiritual heart an earthly heart will not delight in spiritual mysteries the earth puts out the fire Earthlinesse destroys holy delight get a spiritual pallate that you may rellish the sweetnesse of the Word He that tastes the sweetness of honey will delight in it If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 'T is not enough to hear a Sermon but you must taste a Sermon 't is not enough to read a promise but you must taste a promise when you have gotten this spiritual pallate then Gods Word will be to you the joy and rejoycing of your heart * Jer. 15.16 3. If you would delight in the Law of God purge out the delight of sinne sinne will poyson this spiritual delight If you would have Gods Law sweet let not wickednesse be sweet in your mouth Job 20.12 When sinne is your burden Christ will be your delight CHAP. IX Holy delight should cause thankfulnesse Use 5 WHat cause have they to be thankful who can find this spiritual delight in God Thankfulnesse How did David blesse God that he gave the people hearts to offer so chearfully to the building of the Temple Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort 2 Chron. 29.14 Their willingnesse was more than their offering so should a Christian say Lord when there are so many prest souldiers who am I that I should offer so willingly Who am I that I should have thy free Spirit should serve thee rather out of choice than constraint 't is a great blessing to have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this promptitude and alacrity in Gods service Delight doth animate and spirit duty now we act to purpose in Religion Christians are never drawn so powerfully and sweetly as when the chaine of delight is fastened to their heart * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Without this all is lost our praying and hearing is like water spilt upon the ground It loseth both its beauty and reward then blesse God Christian who hath oyl'd the wheeles of thy soule with delight and now thou canst run and not be weary For thy comfort be assur'd thou shalt not want any thing thy heart can desire Psal 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart A CHRISTIAN On the Mount OR A TEATISE concerning MEDITATION Wherein the necessity usefulnesse excellency of Meditation is at large discussed By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the City of LONDON Meditate upon these things 1 Tim. 4.15 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Psal 119.59 Amans Deum sublimia petit sumptis alis relicta terra in coelum volat Philo. lib. de victimis LONDON Printed by T. R. E. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchauge 1657. PSAL. 1.2 And in his Law doth he meditate day and night HAving led you through the chamber of delight I will now bring you into the withdrawing room of Meditation In his Law doth he meditate day and night CHAP. I. The opening of the words and the proposition asserted GRace breeds delight in God and delight breeds Meditation A duty wherein consists the essentials of Religion and which nourisheth the very life blood of it and that the Psalmist may shew how much the godly man is habituated and inured to this blessed work of Meditation he subjoynes in his Law doth he meditate day and night * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not but that there may be sometimes intermission God allows time for our calling he grants some relaxation but when it is said the godly man meditates day and night the meaning is frequently he is much conversant in the duty 'T is a command of God to pray without ceasing * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 These 5.17 The meaning is not that we should be alwayes praying as the Euchites held but that we should every day set some time apart for prayer so Drusius and others interpret it We read in the old Law it was called the continual sacrifice * Juge sacrificium Num. 28.24 not that the people of Israel did nothing else but sacrifice but because they had their stated houres every morning and evening they offered therefore it was called the continual sacrifice thus the godly man is said to meditate day and night that is he is often at this work he is no stranger to meditation The Proposition that results out of the Text is this Doct. That a good Christian is a meditating Christian Psalme 119.15 I will meditate in thy precepts 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard The beasts in the old Law that did not chew the cud were uncleane the Christian that doth not by meditation chew the cud is to be accounted unclean Meditation is like the watering of the seed it makes the fruits of grace flourish For the illustration of the point there are several things to be discussed 1. I shall shew you what meditation is 2. That meditation is a duty 3. The difference between meditation and memory 4. The difference between meditation and study 5. The subject of meditation 6. The necessitie of meditation CHAP. II. Shewing the nature of Meditation IF it be enquired what meditation is I answer What meditation is meditation is the souls retiring of it selfe that by a serious and solemne thinking upon God the heart may be raised up to heavenly affections This description hath three branches 1. Meditation is the souls retiring of it self a Christian when he goes to meditate must lock up himselfe from the world The world spoiles meditation Christ went apart into the Mount to pray Mat. 14.23 So go apart when you are to meditate Isaac went out to meditate in the field Gen. 24.63 he sequestred and retired himself that he might take a walk with God by meditation Zacheus had a minde to see Christ and he got out of the crowd He ran before and climbed up into a sycamore-tree to see him Luke 19.3 4. So when we would see God we must get out of the crowd of worldly businesse we must climb up into the tree by retirednesse of meditation and there we shall have the best prospect of heaven The worlds musick will either play us asleep or distract us in our meditations When a more is gotten into the eye it
affection on work 2. They differ in their designe The designe of study is notion the designe of mediation is piety The design of study is the finding out of a truth the designe of meditation is the spiritual improvement of a truth the one searcheth for the vein of gold the other digs out the gold 3. They differ in the issue and result Study leaves a man never a whit the better it is like a Winter Sun that hath little warmth and influence Meditation leaves one in a more holy frame It melts the heart when it is frozen and makes it drop into teares of love CHAP. VI. Showing the subject of Meditation THe fourth particular to be discussed is the subject-matter of Meditation The subject of Meditation What a Christian should meditate upon I am now gotten into a large field but I shall only glance at things I shall but do as the disciples pluck some ears of corn as I passe along Some may say alas I am so barren I know not what to meditate upon to help Christians therefore in this blessed work I shall shew you some choice select matter for meditation There are fifteen things in the Law of God which we should principally meditate upon SECT I. MEditate on Gods attributes The attributes of God are the several beames by which the divine nature shines forth to us and there are six special attributes which we should fix our meditations upon 1. Meditate upon Gods omnisciency His eye is continually upon us he hath a window opens into the conscience Our thoughts are unvail'd before him He can tell the Words we speak in our bed-chamber * Rev. 5.6 2 Kings 6.12 He is described with seven eyes to shew his omnisciency * Egyptii olim in sceptro Regio Oculum designarunt Thou numberest my steps Job 14.16 The Hebrew word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to take an exact account God is said to number our steps when he makes a curious and critical observation of our actions God sets down every passage of our lives and keeps as it were a day-book of all we do and enters it down into the book Meditate much on this omnisciencie The meditation of Gods omniscience would have these effects 1. It would be as a curben-bit to check and restraine us from sinne Will the thief steal when the Judge looks on 2. The meditation of Gods omnisciency would be a good means to make the heart sincere * Marcellius Titul 7 dist sexta God hath set a grate at every mans breast doth not he see all my wayes Job 31.4 If I harbour proud malicious thoughts if I look at my own interest more than Christs if I juggle in my repentance the God of heaven takes notice The meditation of this omnisciency would make a Christian sincere both in his actions and aimes One cannot be an Hypocrite but he must be a foole 2. Meditate on the holinesse of God Meditate on the holiness of God Mirabilis Sanctitate Holinesse is the embroydered robe God wears it is the glory of the God head Exod. 15.11 Glorious in holiness 'T is the most orient pearle of the crown of heaven God is the exemplar and pattern of holinesse It is primarily and originally in God as light in the Sunne you may as well separate weight from lead or heat from fire as holinesse from the divine nature Gods holinesse is that whereby his heart riseth against any sinne as being most diametrically opposite to his essence Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity Meditate much on this attribute The meditation of Gods holinesse would have this effect it would be a means to transforme us into the similitude and likenesse of God God never loves us till we are like him * Amor fundatur similitudine There is a story in Peter Martyr of a deform'd man who set curious faire pictures before his wife that seeing them she might have faire children and so she had Jacobs cattel looking on the rods which were pilled and had white strakes in them conceived like the rods Gen. 30.38 39. So while by meditation we are looking upon the beames of holinesse which are gloriously transparent in God we shall grow like him and be holy as he is holy Holinesse is a beautiful thing Psal 110. It puts a kinde of angelical brightnesse upon us 't is the only coyne will pass currant in heaven by the frequent meditation of this attribute we are changed into Gods image 3. Meditate on the wisdome of God He is called the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 His wisdome shines forth in the works of providence he fits at the helme guiding all things regularly and harmoniously he brings light out of darkness he can strike a streight stroke by a crooked stick he can make use of the injustice of men to do that which is just He is infinitely wise he breaks us by afflictions and upon these broken pieces of the ship brings us safe to shore Meditate on the wisdome of God The meditation of Gods wisdom would sweetly calme our hearts 1. When we see things go crosse in the publick the wise God holds the rains of government in his hand and let who will rule God over-rules he knows how to turne all to good his work will be beautiful in its season 2. When things go ill with us in our own particular the meditation of Gods wisdome would rock our hearts quiet The wise God hath set me in this condition and whether health or sicknesse wisdome will order it for the best God will make a treakle of poyson all things shall be physical and medicinable to me either the Lord will expel some sinne or exercise some grace The meditation of this would silence murmuring 4 Meditate on the power of God This power is visible in the creation He hangs the earth upon nothing Job 26.7 What cannot that God do that can create nothing can stand before a creating power * Creatio fit irrifistibiliter He needs no prae-existent matter to work upon He needs no instruments to work with he can work without tooles He it is before whom the Angels vaile their faces and the Kings of the earth cast their crowns He it is that removes the earth out of her place Job 9.6 An earthquake makes the earth tremble upon her pillars but God can shake it out of its place God can with a word unpin the wheeles and break the axletree of the creation He can suspend natural agents stop the Lions mouth cause the Sunne to stand still make the fire not burn Xerxes the Persian Monarch threw fetters into the sea as if he would have chain'd up the unruly waters but when God commands the windes and sea obey him * Mat. 8.27 If he speak the word an army of stars appeare Judges 5.20 If he stamp with his foot an Hoast of Angels are presently in a Battalia if he lift up
are two reasons why so few meditate upon the state of their souls 1. Self-guiltinesse Men are loth to look into their hearts by meditation lest they should finde that which would trouble them The cup is in their sack Most are herein like trades-men who being ready to sink in their estates are loth to look into their books of account lest they should finde their estate low but hadst thou not better enter into thy heart by meditation than God should in a sad manner enter into judgement with thee 2. Presumption men hope all is well men will not take their land upon trust but will have it surveyed yet they will take their spiritual estate upon trust without any surveying They are confident their case is good * Prov. 14.16 'T is a thing not to be disputed on and this confidence is but conceit The foolish Virgins though they had no oyle in their lamps yet how confident were they They came knocking 't was a peremptory knock they doubted not of admittance so many are not sure of their salvation but secure they presume all is well never seriously meditating whether they have oyle or no. Oh Christian meditate about thy soul See how the case stands between God and thee do as Merchants cast up thy estate that thou mayest see what thou art worth see if thou art rich towards God Luke 12.21 Meditate about three things 1. About thy debts see if thy debts be paid or no that is thy sinnes pardoned see if there be no arrearagies no sinne in thy soul unrepented of 2. Meditate about thy Will see if thy Will be made yet Hast thou resigned up all the interest in thy self Hast thou given up thy love to God Hast thou given up thy will This is to make thy Will Meditate about the Will make thy spiritual Will in the time of health if thou puttest off the making of thy Will till death it may be invalid perhaps God will not accept of thy soule then 3. Meditate about thy evidences These evidences are the graces of the Spirit see whether thou hast any evidences What desires hast thou after Christ what faith see whether there be no flaw in thy evidences are thy desires true dost thou as well desire heavenly principles as heavenly priviledges Oh meditate seriously upon your evidences To sift our hearts thus by meditation is very necessary if we finde our estate is not sound the mistake is discovered and the danger prevented if it be sound we shall have the comfort of it What gladnesse was it to Hezekiah when he could say Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight Isa 38.3 so what unspeakable comfort will it be when a Christian upon a serious meditation and review of his spiritual condition can say I have something to shew for heaven I know I am passed from death to life * 1 John 3.14 and as an holy man once said I am Christs and the devil hath nothing to do with me * Bucer SECT 8. THe eighth subject of meditation is Meditate on the paucity of them that shall be saved meditate upon the paucity of them that shall be saved but few are chosen Matth. 20.16 among the millions in Rome but few Senatours and among the swarmes of people in the world but few beleevers One said all the names of the good Emperours might be engraven in a little Ring * Flavus Vopiscus there are not many names in the book of life We read of foure sorts of ground in the Parable and but one good ground Matth. 13. How few in the world know Christ how few that believe in him quis credidit Who hath beleeved our report * Is 53.1 how few that strike saile to Christs Scepter Luke 19.14 The Heathen Idolaters and Mahometans possesse almost all Asia Africa America in many parts of the world the devil is worshipped as among the Parthians and Pilapians Satan takes up most climates and hearts How many formalists are there in the world 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having a forme of godlinesse like wool that receives a slight tincture not a deep die whose Religion is a paint which a storm of persecution will wash off not an engraving These look like Christs Doves but are the Serpents brood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius They hate Gods image like the Panthar that hates the picture of a man Oh often meditate on the paucity of them that shall be saved The meditation of this would 1. Keep us from marching along with the multitude Thou shalt not follow a multitude Exod. 23.2 The multitude usually goes wrong most men walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the course of the world * Non qua eundum sed qua itur Sen. Ephes 2.2 That is the lusts of their hearts and the fashions of the times They march after the Prince of the aire The meditation of this would make us turne out of the common roade 2. The meditation of the fewnesse of them that shall be saved would make us walk tremblingly few that finde the way and when they have found it few that walk in the way The thoughts of this would work holy fear Heb. 4.1 not a despairing fear but a jealous and cautious fear This feare the eminent Saints of God have had Austin saith of himselfe he knocked at heaven-gate with a trembling hand This fear is joyned with hope Psalme 147.11 The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him in those that hope in his mercy A childe of God fears because the gate is streight but hopes because the gate is open 3. The meditation of the paucity of them that shall be saved would be a whet-stone to industry It would put us upon working out our salvation If there are so few that shall be crown'd it would make us the swifter in the race This meditation would be an allarme to sleepy Christians SECT 9. THe ninth subject of meditation is Meditate upon final apostasie meditate upon final Apostasie Think what a sad thing it is to begin in Religion to build and not be able to finish * Luke 14 30 Joash was good while his uncle Jehoiada lived but after he died Joash grew wicked and all his Religion was buried in his uncles grave We live in the fall of the leaf how many are fallen to damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 Meditate seriously on that Scripture Heb. 6.4 5 6. It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renue them again unto repentance A man may be enlightned and that from a double lamp the Word and Spirit but these beams though they are irradiating yet not penetrating 'T
is possible he may have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a taste of the heavenly gift he may taste but not concoct * Potest summis labris delibare Estius as one saith a Cook may taste the meat he dresseth but not be nourished by it * M. Perkins This taste may not only illuminare but reficere * Thom. Aquin. it may carry some sweetnesse in it there may be a kinde of delight in spiritual things Thus farre a man may go and yet penitus recidere fall away finally Now this will be very sad it being such a God-affronting and Christ-reproaching sinne Know therefore it is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord Jerem. 2.19 Meditate upon final relapses The meditation of this would make us earnest in prayer to God 1. For soundnesse of heart make my heart sound in thy statutes Psal Ps 119.80 119.80 Lord let me not be an Alchimy Christian work a thorough work of grace upon me Though I am not washed perfectly let me be wash'd throughly Psalme 51.2 That which begins in hypocrisie ends in apostasie 2. The meditation of hypocrites final falling away would make us earnest in prayer for perseverance Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps stip not Psalme 17.5 Lord hold me up that I may hold out Thou hast set the crown at the end of the race let me run the race that I may wear the crown it was Beza's prayer Domine quod coepisti perfice ne in portu naufragium accidat Beza and let it be ours Lord perfect what thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer shipwrack when I am almost at Haven SECT 10. THe tenth subject of meditation is meditate of death * Vera Philosophia est mortis contemplatio Plato in dial de sap We say we must all die but who is he that meditates seriously upon it Meditate 1. Of the certainty of death statutum est 'T is appointed for all once to die Heb. 9.27 There 's a statute out 2. Meditate upon the proximity of death it is near to us Et mors atra caput fuscis circumvolat alis We are almost setting our feet upon the dark entry of death The Poets painted time with wings it not only rides Post but flies and carries us upon its wings The race is short between the cradle and the grave the sentence of death is already passed Gen. 3.19 To dust thou shalt returne so that our life is but a short reprieval from death which is granted to a condemned man Mine age is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as nothing Psal 39.5 nay if it were possible to take something out of nothing our life is lesse than nothing reckon'd with eternity 3. Meditate upon the uncertainty of the time We have no Lease but may be turned out the next houre there are so many casualties that it is a wonder if life be not cut off by untimely death * Quis scit an adjiciant hodiernae crastina vitae tempora dii superi Horat. How soon may God seale us a lease of ejectment Our grave may be digging before night To day we lie upon a pillow of downe to morrow we may be laid upon a pillow of dust To day the Sermon-bell goes to morrow our passing-bell may go 4. Think seriously that to die is to be but once done and after death there 's nothing to be done If thou diest in thy impenitency there 's no repenting in the grave If thou leavest thy work at death half done there is no finishing it in the grave Eccles 9.10 There 's no work nor devise nor wisdome in the grave whether thou goest If a garison surrender at the first summons there is mercy but if it stay til the red flag be hung out and the garison is storm'd there 's no mercy then Now 't is a day of grace and God holds forth the white flag of mercy to the penitent if we stay till God hold forth the red flag and storme us by death now there 's no mercy There is nothing to be done for our souls after death Oh meditate of death 'T is reported of Zeleucus that the first piece of houshold-stuff he brought into Babylon was a tomb-stone think often of your Tomb-stone The meditation of death would work these admirable effects 1. The meditation of death would pull down the plumes of pride Cum sis humi limus cur non humilimus thou art but pulvis animatus shall dust and ashes be proud Thou hast a grassy body Is 40.6 Agnoscat homose esse mortalem franget elationem Aug. and shalt shortly be mowen down I have said ye are gods Ps 82 but lest they should grow proud he adds a corrective ye shal die like men v. 7. ye are dying gods 2. The meditation of death would be a means to give a deaths wound to sinne nihil sic revocat a peccato c. No stronger antidote against sinne saith Austin than the frequent meditation of death am I now sinning and to morrow may be dying What if death should take me doing the devils work would it not send me to him to receive double pay carry the thoughts of death as a table-book alwayes about thee and when sinne tempts pull out this table-book and read in it and you shall see sinne will vanish We should look upon sin in two glasses the glasse of Christs blood and the glasse of death 3. The meditation of death would be a bridle for intemperancy shall I pamper that body which must lie down in the house of rottennesse Our Saviour at a feast breaks forth into mention of his burial Mat. 26.12 Matth. 26.12 feeding upon the thoughts of death would be an excellent preservative against a surfeit 4. The meditation of death would make us husband time better and croud up much work in a a little room Many meet in Taverns to drive away time the Apostle bids us redeeme it Eph. 5.15 Redeeming the time Our lives should be like jewels though little in bulk yet great in worth Some die young yet with gray haires upon them we must be like grasse of the field useful not like grasse of the house-top Psalme 129.6 which withers before it be grown up To live and not be serviceable is not vita but tempus * Seneca 5. The meditation of death would make us lay in provision against such a time It would spur us on in the pursuit after holinesse Death is the great plunderer it will shortly plunder us of all our outward comforts our feathers of beauty and honour must be laid in the dust but death cannot plunder us of our graces The Common-Wealth of Venice in their armoury have this inscription happy is he that in time of peace thinks of warre * Id etiam depictuon aurcis literis in porta aquaria civitatis Embrincensis he that often meditates of death will make preparation against
one who was digging in his garden and on a sudden made King and a purple garment richly embroydered with gold put upon him so shall it be done to the poorest beleever he shall be taken from his labouring work and set at the right hand of God * Injectaci vestis purpura auroque distincta Curtius having the Crown of righteousnesse upon his head * Mat. 25.33 Statuet oves ad dextram O in effabile gaudium in beat is glorificatis qui ad dextram Christi sistent astituri ipsi ut subditi screnissimo suo principi ut filii benignissimo suo patri ut regale sacerdotium gratiosissimo suo pontifici mater solomonis fuit ad dextram regis in Throno posita 1 King 2.19 O vero quam caduca haec etsi regia majestas in novissimo autem die vere magnifica gloriosa erit constitutio ad dextram solomonis coelestis desiderium cordis plenissime illis dabit apponet capiti eorum diadema auri * Ps 21.3 Solom Classius Exeg 4. Meditate often on this Jerusalem above The meditation of heaven would 1. Excite and quicken obedience It would put spurs to our sluggish hearts and make us abound in the work of God knowing that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 The weight of glory would not hinder us in our race but cause us to runne the faster this weight would adde wings to duty 2. The meditation of heaven would make us strive after heart-purity because onely the pure in heart shall see God Matth. 5.8 't is only a cleare eye can look upon a bright transparent object 3. The meditation of Heaven would be a pillar of support under our sufferings heaven will make amends for all One houres being in heaven will make us forget all our sorrows the Sunne dries up the water one beame of Gods glorious face will dry up all our tears SECT 14. THe fourteenth subject of meditation is Meditate on eternity Meditate upon eternity Some of the Ancients have compared it to an intellectual sphere whose centre is every where and circumference no where Eternity to the godly is a day which hath no Sun-setting and to the wicked a night which hath no Sun-rising Eternity is a gulf which may swallow up all our thoughts Meditate on that Scripture Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal 1. Meditate upon eternal punishment the bitter cup the damned drink of shall never passe away from them The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted Gods vial of wrath will be alwayes dropping upon a wicked man When you have reckon'd up so many myriads and millions of years nay ages as have passed the bounds of all Arithmitick Eternity is not yet begun This word EVER breaks the heart Horaque erit tantis ultima nulla malis Cogita centum millia annorum cogita decies centena millia annorum cogita mille milliones annorum immo seculorum nondum inchoasti aeternum Cornel. de Lap. Think of this all you that forget God If the tree fall hell-ward so it lies to all eternity Paenae gehennales torquent non extorquent puniunt non finiunt corpora Prosper Prosper Now is the time of Gods long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.9 after death will be the time of the sinners long-suffering when he shall suffer the vengeance of Eternall fire Jude 7. Si Deus diceret damnatis impleatur terra arena minutissima it a ut totus orbis hisce arenae granulis sit repleta à terra usque ad coelum Empyraeum mille simo quoque anno angelus veniat dematque ex hoc arenae â—umulo unum granulum eumque post tot millenarios annorum quot sunt granula ea exhauserit liberabo vos a gehenna O quam exultarent damnati at vero post omnes hos millenarios restant alii alii millenarii in infinitum in aeternum ultra Drexel 2. Meditate upon life eternal * Eternitas Est interminabilis vitae tota simul perfectâ— possessio Bâ—â—â—ius l. 5 de Consol Philosoph prosa 6. The soul that is once landed at the heavenly shore is past all stormes The glorified soul shall be for ever bathing it self in the rivers of pleasure Psalme 16. ult This is that which makes heaven to be heaven We shall be ever with the Lord. 1 Thes 4.17 Austin saith Lord I am content to suffer any paines and torments in this world if I might see thy face one day but alas were it onely for a day and then to be ejected heaven it would rather be an aggravation of misery but this word ever with the Lord is very accumulative and makes up the garland of glory A state of eternity is a state of security * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. O vita vitalis vita sempiterna sempiterne beata ubi gaudium sine merore requies sine labore sanitas sine languore opes sine amissione perpetuitas sine corruptione Aug. Manuali cap. 7. de gaud The meditation of eternity would 1. Make us very serious in what we do Zeuxes being ask'd why he was so long about a picture answered aeternitati pingo I paint for eternity The thoughts of an irreversible condition after this life would make us pray and heare as for eternity Vive Deo vive aeternitati 2. The meditation of eternity would make us over-look present things as flitting and fading What is the world to him that hath eternitie in his eye * Eterniâ— inhianti fastidio sunt transitâ—ria Bern. Epist 3. 'T is but minutissima pars puncti * Simonides which as the Mathematicians say is just nothing He that thinks of eternitie will despise the pleasures of sinne for a season * Heb. 11.25 3. The meditation of eternity would be a meanes to keep us from envying the wickeds prosperity Here they ruffle it in their â—ilks but what is this to eternity as long as there is such a thing as eternity God hath time enough to reckon with all his enemies SECT 15. THe last subject of meditation is Meditate on your experiences meditate upon your experiences Look over your receites 1. Hath not God provided liberally for you and vouchsafed you those mercies which he hath denied to others who are better than you Here is an experience Gen. 48.15 The God who hath fed me all my days Thou never feedest but mercy carves for thee thou never goest to bed but mercy draws the curtaines and sets a guard of Angels about thee Whatever thou hast is out of the Exchequer of free grace Here 's an experience to meditate upon 2. Hath not God prevented many dangers hath he not kept watch and ward about you 1. What temporal dangers hath God screen'd off Thy neighbours house on fire * Paries cum prâ—ximus ardet Virg. and it hath not kindled in thy
dwellings Another infected thou art free Behold the golden feathers of protection covering thee 2. What spiritual dangers hath God prevented when others have been poyson'd with errour thou hast been preserved God hath sounded a retreat to thee thou hast heard a voice behinde thee saying this is the way walk in it * Isa 30 21 When thou hast listed thy self and taken pay on the devils side that God should pluck thee as a brand out of the fire that he should turne thy heart and now thou espousest Christs quarrel against sinne Behold preventing grace here 's an experience to meditate upon 3. Hath not God spared you a long time Whence is it that others are struck dead in the act of sinne as Ananias and Saphira * and you are preserv'd as a monument of patience Here is an experience God hath done more for you than for the Angels he never waited for their repentance but he hath waited for you year after yeare Isa 30.18 Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious He hath not only knockt at your heart in the Ministry of the Word but he hath waited at the doore How long hath his Spirit striven with you like an importunate suitor that after many denials yet will not give over the suit My thinks I see justice with a sword in its hand ready to strike and mercy steps in for the sinner Lord have patience with him a while longer My thinks I hear the Angels say to God as the King of Israel once said to the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.22 Shall I smite them shall I smite them So my thinks I heare the Angels say shall we take off the head of such a drunkard swearer blasphemer and mercy seems to answer as the Vinedresser Luk. 13.8 let him alone this year See if he will repent Is not here an experience worth meditating upon Mercy turns Justice into a rain-bow the rain-bowe is a bowe indeed but hath no arrow in it that justice hath been like the rainbowe without an arrow that it hath not shot thee to death Here is a receit of patience to read over and meditate upon 4. Hath not God often come in with assisting grace when he hath bid thee mortifie such a lust and thou hast said as Iehoshaphat 2 Chr. 20 12. I have no might against this great army Then God hath come in with auxiliary forces his grace hath been sufficient When God hath bid thee pray for such a mercy and thou hast found thy self very unfit thy heart was at first dead and flat all on a sudden thou art carried above thy own strength thy tears drop thy love flames God hath come in with assisting grace If the heart burn in prayer God hath struck fire The Spirit hath been tuning thy soul and now thou makest sweet melody in prayer Here is an experience to meditate upon 5. Hath not God vanquished Satan for you * Satan nihil non molitur contra Sanctos scutum fidei aggreditur his tentationum arie tibus sic porest copium obsi dere in tantas dubitationes praâ—pitareout deum expauescat ei irascatur aliquando blasphemet Nâ—que turâ—a neque Caesar unquam tanto impetu pessunt civitatem aliquam oppugnare quam Satan aliquando conscientias piorum Luthâ—r in Ps 118. When the Devill hath tempted to infidelity to self-murder when he would make you beleeve either that your graces were but a fiction or Gods promise but a counterfeit bond now that you have not been foil'd by the Tempter it is God who hath kept the garrison of your heart else his fiery darts would have entred Here 's an experience to meditate upon 6. Have you not had many signal deliverances When you have been even at the gates of death God hath miraculously recovered you and renued your strength as the Eagle may not you write that writing which Hezekiah did Isa 38 6. The writing of Hezekiah King of Judah when he had been sick and was recovered of his sicknesse you thought the Sunne of your life was quite setting but God made this Sunne returne back many degrees Here 's an experience for meditation to feed upon When you have been imprisoned your foot taken in the snare and the Lord hath broken the snare nay hath made those to break it who were the instruments of laying it Behold an experience Oh let us often revolve in minde our experiences If a man had physick receits by him he would be often looking over his receits You that have rare receits of mercy by you be often by meditation looking over your receits The meditation of our experiences would 1. Raise us to thankfulnesse Considering that God hath set an hedge of providence about us he hath strewed our way with roses this would make us take the Harp and Vial and praise the Lord and not only praise but record * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato 1 Chr. 16.4 The meditating Christian keeps a Register or Chronicle of Gods mercies that the memory of them doth not decay God would have the Manna kept in the Ark many hundred years that the remembrance of that miracle might be preserved a meditating soul takes care that the spiritual Manna of an experience be kept safe 2. The meditation of our experiences would engage our hearts to God in obedience Mercy would be a needle to sowe us to him We would cry out as Bernard * Duas babeo minutias domine c. Bern. I have Lord two mites a soule and a body and I give them both to thee 3. The Meditation of our experiences would serve to convince us that God is no hard master we might bring in our experiences as a sufficient confutation of that slander When we have been falling hath not God taken us by the hand When I said my foot slippeth thy goodnesse O Lord held me up Psalme 94.18 How often hath God held our head and heart when we have been fainting * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripides and is he a hard Master is there any master besides God who will wait upon his servants Christians summon in your experiences What vailes have you had * Ps 19.11 What inward serenity and peace which neither the world can give nor death take away a Christians own experiences may plead for God against such as desire rather to censure his ways than to try them and to cavil at them than to walk in them 4. The meditation of our experiences would make us communicative to others We would be telling our children and acquaintance what God hath done for our souls * Psal 44.1 at such a time we were brought low and God raised us at such a time in desertion and God brought a promise to remembrance which dropt in comfort The meditation of Gods gracious dealing with us would make us transmit and propagate our experience to others that the mercies of God shewn to us may bear a plentiful crop of
loath to put its neck under Christs yoak now a Christian must hate himself no man ever yet hated his own flesh Ephes 5.29 yes in this sence he must hate his ownflesh The lusts of the flesh * Rom. 8.13 He must offer violence to himself by mortification and Meditation say not it is hard to meditate * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost is it not harder to ly in Hell 2. We do not argue so in other things Riches are hard to come by therefore I will sit still and be without them no difficulty is the whet-stone of industry How will men venture for gold and shall we not spend and be spent for that which is more precious then the gold of Ophir By Meditation we suck out the quintessense of a promise 3. Though while we are first entring upon Meditation it may seem hard yet when once we are entred it is sweet and pleasant Christs yoak at the first putting on may seem heavy but when once it is on it becoms easy T is not a yoak but a Crown Lord saith Austin the more I Meditate on thee the sweeter thou art to me * Quanto magis in te meditor tanto es mihi dulcior amabilior de lectant me bona tùa puro mentis intuitu dulcissime pii amoris affectu Aug. Tom. 9. According to that of holy David My Meditation of the shall be sweet Psal 104.34 The Poets say the top of Olympus was always quiet and serene * Olympi cacumen semper quie tum T is hard climbing up the rocky Hill of Meditation but when we are got up to the top there is a pleasant prospect and we shall sometimes think our selves even in heaven * Contemplationis pluma nos sublevat atâ—ue inde divinâ dulcedine ád coelum erigimur Bonaventure By holy Meditation the soul doth as it were breakfast with God every morning and to be sure his breakfast is better then his dinner When a Christian is upon the mount of Meditation he is like Peter on the mount when Christ was transfigured Mat. 17. he cries out bonum est esse hic Lord t is good to be here he is loath to go down the mount again If you come to him and tell him of a purchase he thinks you bid him to his loss what bidden manna doth the soul tast now how sweet are the visits of Gods spirit when Christ was alone in the wilderness then the Angel came to comfort him when the soul is alone in holy Meditations and ejaculations then not an angel but Gods own spirit doth come to comfort him a Christian that meets with God in the mount would not exchange his hours of Meditation for the most orient pearls or sparkling beauties that the world can afford No wonder David spent the whole day in Meditation * Homo meditabundus Psa 119.97 Nay as if the day had been too little he borrows a part of the night too Psalm 63.6 when I remember thee upon my bed and Meditate on thee in the night-watches When others were sleeping David was Meditating He who is given much to Meditation shall with Sampson find an honey comb in this duty therefore let not the difficulty discourage * Virtus maximè nitet in arduo The pleasantness will infinitely countervail the pains Having removed these two objections out of the way let me again revive the exhortation to Meditate in Gods law day and night And there are two sorts of Meditation which I would perswade to CHAP. XII Concerning occasional Meditations 1. OCcasional and 2 deliberate 1. Ocasional Meditations such as are taken up upon any sudden occasion There is nothing almost doth occur but we may presently raise some Meditation upon as a good Herbalist doth extract the Spirits and quintessence out of every herb so a Christian may from every emergence and occurence extract matter of Meditation A gracious heart like fire turns all objects into fuel for Meditation I shall give you some instances When you look up to the heavens and see them richly imbroidered with light you may raise this Meditation if the Footstool be so glorious what is the Throne where God himself sits When you see the Firmament bespangled with Stars think what is Christ The Bright Morning Star Revelation 22.16 Monica Austins mother standing one day and seeing the Sun shine raised this Meditation Oh! If the sun be so bright what is the Light of Gods presence When you hear musick that Delights the sences presently raise this Meditation What musick like a good conscience * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignoepist ad Philadelph This is avis paradist the bird of Paradise within whose chirping melody doth inchant and ravish the soul with joy he that hath this musick all day may take Davids Pillow at night and say with that sweet singer I will lay me down in peace and sleep Psal 4. 8. How blessed is he that can finde heaven in his own bosom When you are dressing your selves in the morning awaken your Meditation think thus but have I been dressing the hidden man of the heart * 1 Pet. 3.4 Have I looked my face in the Glass of Gods word I have put on my cloaths but have I put on Christ It is reported of Pambo that seeing a Gentlewoman dressing her self all the morning by her Glasse he fell a weeping O saith he this woman hath spent the morning in dressing her body and I sometimes spend scarce an hour in dressing my soul When you sit down to dinner let your Meditation feed upon this first course how blessed are they that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God * Lu. 14.15 What a Royall Feast will that be which hath God for the Founder What a Love-feast where none shall be admitted but Friends When you go to bed at night * Dic dormituro potes non ex pergisci amplius di experrecto potes non dormi re amplius Sen. imagine thus shortly I shall put off the earthly clothes of my body and make my bed in the grave when you see the Judge going to the Assizes and hear the Trumpet blow think with your selves as Hierom did That you are still hearing that shrill Trumpet sounding in your ears Surgite mortui Arise ye dead and come to judgment When you see a poor man going in the Streets raise this Meditation here is a walking Picture of Christ He had no place where to lay his head * Mat. 8.20 My Saviour became poor that I through his poverty might be made rich When you go to Church think thus I am now going to hear God speak let me not stop my ear if I refuse to hear Him speaking in his Word I shall next hear him speaking in his Wrath Psalm 2.5 When you walk abroad in your Orchard and see the plants bearing and the herbs flourishing Think how pleasing a sight it is to God to see a
4. Lord make me to know mine end and the me asure of my days what it is that I may know how frail I am The reason our affections are so chill and cold in spiritual things is because we doe warm our selves no more at the fire of meditation Illumination makes us shining lamps meditation makes us burning lamps What is it to know Christ by speculation and not by affection It is the proper work of meditation to excite and blow up holy passions What sparklings of love in such a soul When David had meditated on Gods law he could not chuse but love it Psalm 119.97 O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day When the spouse had by meditation viewed those singular beauties in her beloved white and ruddy Cant. 5. she grew sick of love vers 8. Galeatius Caraccialus that famous Marquess of Vico who had been much in the contemplation of Christ breaks out into a holy Pathos let their mony perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one hours communion with Jesus Christ 4. Meditation fits for holy duties The musician first put his instrument in tune and then he plaies a lesson meditation tunes the heart and then it is fit for any holy service as the sails to the Ship so is meditation to duty it carries on the soul more swiftly 1. Meditation fits for Hearing when the ground is softned then it is fit for the plough and the seed when the heart is softned by meditation now is a fit time for the seed of the word to be sown 2. Meditation fits for Prayer Prayer is Spiritualis pulsus the spiritual pulse of the soul by which it beats strongly after God There is no living without prayer a man cannot live unless he takes breath no more can the Soul unless it breathes out its desires to God Prayer Vshers in mercy and prayer sanctifies mercy * 1 Tim. 4.5 it makes mercy to be mercy prayer hath power over God vincit invincibilem * Luther Hosea 12.4 Prayer comes with Letters of mandamus to heaven Isa 45.11 Prayer is the spiritual Leech that sucks the poison of sinne out of the soul What a blessed shall I say duty or privilege is prayer Meditatio nutrix ora tionis Gerson Now meditation is an help to prayer Gerson calls it the nurse of Prayer Meditation is like oyl to the lamp the lamp of prayer will soon go out unless meditation cherish and support it meditation and prayer are like two Turtles if you separate one the other dies A cunning angler observes the time and season when the fish bite best and then he throws in his angle When the heart is warmed by meditation now is the best season to throw in the angle of prayer and fish for mercy After Isaac had been in the field meditating he was fit for prayer when he came home When the Gun is full of powder it is fittest to discharge So when the minde is full of good thoughts a Christian is fittest by prayer to discharge now he sends up whole volleys of sighs and groans to heaven Meditation hath a double benefit in it it powres in and poures out first it poures good thoughts into the mind and then it poures out those thoughts again in prayer meditation first furnisheth with matter to pray and then it furnisheth with a heart to pray Psalm 39.3 I was musing saith David and the very next words are a prayer Lord make me to know my end Hinc utilitas meditationis conspicitur quia animum Davidis ad pre candi studium erexit Calvin and Psalm 143.5 6. I muse on the works of thy hands I stretch forth my hands to thee the musing of his head made way for the stretching forth of his hands in prayer When Christ was upon the mount then he prayed So when the Soul is upon the mount of meditation now it is in tune for Prayer Prayer is the Child of meditation meditation leads the van and prayer brings up the Rear 3. Meditation fits for Humiliation When David had been contemplating the Works of Creation their splendor harmony motion influence he let the plumes of pride fall and begins to have Self-abasing thoughts Psalm 8.3 4. When I consider the Heavens the Work of thy fingers the moon and Starres which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindfull of him 5. Meditation is a strong antidote against sinne most sin is committed for want of meditation men sin through incogitancy and passion * Omnis passio inclinat cum impetu Tho. Quest 155. art 2. would they be so brutishly sensual as they are if they did seriously meditate what sin is Would they take this viper in their hand if they did but consider before of the sting Sin puts a worm in to conscience a sting into death a fire into hell did men meditate of this that after all their dainty dishes death will bring in the Reckoning and they must pay the Reckoning in Hell they would say as David in another sence Let me not eat of their dainties Psalm 141.4 The Devils apple hath a bitter kore in it Did men think of this sure it would put them into a cold sweat and be as the Angels drawn sword to affright them Judg. 22.23 Meditation is a golden Shield to beat back sin When Josephs mistress tempted him to wickedness meditation did preserve him How shall I do this Evil and sinne against God Meditation makes the heart like wet tinder it will not take the Devils fire 6. Meditation is a cure of Covetousness The covetous man is called an Idolater Col. 3.5 Though he will not bow down to an Idol yet he worships graven images in his coyn Now meditation is an excellent means to lessen our esteem of the World Great things seem little to him that stands high if we could live among the stars the earth would seem as nothing A Christian that stands high upon the pinacle of meditation how do all worldly things disappear and seem as nothing to him he sees not that in them which men of the world do He is gotten into his Tower and Heaven is his Prospect What is said of God He dwells on high he humbleth himself to behold the things done on the earth Psal 113.6 I may allude to with reverence The Christian that dwelleth on high by meditation accounts it an humbling and abasing of himself to look down upon the earth behold the things done in this lower Region Saint Paul whose meditations were sublime and seraphical looked at things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were not seen 2 Cor. 4. ult How did he trample upon the World how did he scorn it I am crucifled to the world Gal. 6.14 As if he had said it is too much below me to mind it He who is catching at a crown will not fish for gudgeons as Clopatra once said to Mark Anthony A Christian
have been meditating upon a promise live upon a promise when you have been meditating of a good conscience never leave till you can say as Paul Herein I exercise my self to have a good conscience Acts 24.16 * Meditatie sine exercitio similis est lyrae taciturnae Beloved here lies the very essence of Religion That this rule may be well observed Consider 1. It is onely the practical part of Religion will make a man blessed Meditation is a beautiful flower but as Rachel said to her husband Give me children or I dye Gen. 30. 1. So if Meditation be barren and doth not bring forth the childe of obedience it will dye and come to nothing 2. If when you have meditated in Gods law you do not obey his Law you will come short of them who have come short of heaven 'T is said of Herod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 6.20 He did many things he was in many things a practicer of Johns Ministery They who meditate in Gods Law and observe not to do are not so good as Herod nay they are no better then the Devil he knows much but still he is a Devil 3. Meditation without practise will encrease a mans condemnation If a Father writes a Letter to his son and the son shall read over this Letter and study on it yet not observe to do as his Father writes this would be an aggravation of his fault and would but provoke his father so much the more against him Thus when we have meditated upon the Evil of sin and the beauty of holiness yet we do not eschew the one nor espouse the other it will but incense the divine Majesty so much the more against us and we shall be beaten with many stripes FINIS AN APPENDIX to the FORMER DISCOURSE upon Psalm 139.18 verse When I awake I am still with thee By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar from 11. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6.21 LONDON Printed by J.T. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill 1657. A Christian on Earth still in Heaven PSAL. 139.18 When I awake I am still with thee THE Scripture is a Spiritual Paradise the book of Psalms is placed as the Tree of Life in the midst of this Paradise the Psalms are not onely for Delight but usefulness they are like the Pomegranate Tree which is not onely for savour but fruit or like those Trees of * Ambrose Epist 42. the Sanctuary Ezek. 47.12 both for food and medicine The Psalms are enriched with variety and suited to every Christians estate and condition They are a Spiritual Panoply and Store-house if he find his heart dead here he may fetch fire if he be weak in grace here he may fetch armour if he be ready to faint here are cordials lying by There is no Condition you can name but there is a Psalm suited to that condition 1. In Case of sickness Psalm 41.3 Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness and sure that bed must needs be soft which God will make and there is a parallel-Psalm to this Psalm 73.26 my flesh failes my health is declining but the Lord is the strength of my heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag or as the Septuagint renders it he is the God of my Heart 2. In Case of reproach * I was a reproach among my enemies Psalm 31.11 But I trusted in thee O Lord I said Thou art my God verse 14. Blessed be the Lord for he hath shown me his marvellous loving-kindness in a strong City ver 18. Here was some Sun-shine breaking forth of those black clouds * Quisquis detrabit famae mere ad det mercedimeae Aug. in Psal 39. 3. In Case of unkind dealings from friends Psalm 55. For it was not an enemy then I could have born it but it was thou mine equal my guide and my acquaintance we took sweet counsel together verse 12.13 here was the malady cast thy burden upon the Lord v. 22. there was the cure The Chaldee reads it cast thy hope The Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cast thy Care God is power therefore he is able to help he is Mercy therefore he is willing He shall sustain thee here is Gods promise which is his bond to secure us 4. In case we are close begirt with Enemies There is a Psalm suited to this condition Lord how are they encreased that trouble me many are they that rise up against me Psalm 3.1 I laid me down and slept v. 8. David when beleaguered with Enemies could lye down and sleep upon the soft pillow of a good conscience and Psalm 27.3 though an host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear He shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me vers 5. The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall hide me so safe as if I were in the holy place of the sanctuary where none but the priest was to enter 5. In case of poverty If a Christians estate be brought so low that like the widow 1. King 17.12 he hath nothing but a handful of meal and a little oyl in the cruse left There is a Psalm of Consolation I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me Psalm 40.17 I will bless her provision I will satissie her poor with bread Psalm 132.15 here is the dew of a blessing distilled and Psalm 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord. Behold riches in poverty what though the water in the bottle be spent if this well be at hand 6. If sin through the immodesty of tentation prevail against a child of God there is a psalm consolatory Psalm 65.3 Iniquities prevail against me as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away In the Hebrew * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is thou shalt hide them It alludes to the mercy-seat which was covered with the wings of the Cherubims so are the sins of the godly when repented off covered with the wings of mercy and favour 7. In case of prayer and no speedy return Psalm 69.3 I am weary of my crying my eyes fail while I wait for my God But in the same Psalm he draws the breast of comfort vers 33. the Lord heareth the poor and depiseth not his prisoners Would we have fruit before it is ripe When the mercy is ripe we shall have it and besides there is nothing lost by waiting we send out the golden fleet of prayer to heaven the longer this fleet staies out the greater return it will bring with it David found it so therefore he pulls off his sackcloth and puts on the garments of praise Laudabo in Cantico I will praise the name of God with a Song vers 30. 8. In case of desertion This is the poisoned arrow that wounds to the heart but still there is a Psalm to turn to The Lord will not
cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance Psalm 94.14 This is like a star in a dark night or like the plank and broken pieces of the ship on which Paul and the rest came safe to shore Act. 27.44 God may conceal his love from his children not take it away * 2. Sam. 7.15 he may change his providence towards them not alter his purpose 9. In case of death there is a psalm revives though I walk in the valley of the shaddow of death I will fear no evil Psalm 23.4 The sting and poison of this serpent is taken away Thou art with me with thy power to support with thy grace to sanctifie with thy love to sweeten Thy Rod and thy staff do comfort me I have the staff of thy promise in the hand of my faith and with this I can walk thorow the dark entry of death Thus in every condition Davids Psalms like Davids harp may serve to drive away the evil spirit of sadness and unchearfulness from a Christian so much concerning the Psalms in general I come now to the words of the text when I awake I am still with thee Where you have the very effigies and portraicture of a godly man drawn out he is one that is still with God It was Davids happiness that he lived above the common rate of men not only as he was higher in power and dignity being a king but higher in sublimeness of affection * Animam habuit angeliflcatam Tertul. having his heart and hope raised above the world I am stil with thee Divines give many reasons why David was called a man after Gods heart but sure this is not the least because the frame of his heart was so heavenly this being most agreeable to Gods nature and will David was a man that as Ambrose speaks lived in the world above the world Assoon as he awaked he stept into heaven David was a Seraphical saint a mortal Angel like a true bird of paradise he did seldom touch with his feet upon the earth He was least alone when he was most a lone Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus Tul. Offic. When he awaked he was with God Nor was this onely when the fit was upon him a thought of God and away but it was a fixed temper of heart I am still with thee * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The pulse of his soul was still beating after God The hypocrite may have a blush of godliness which is quickly over Job 27.10 but the constitution of Davids soul was heavenly I am still with thee Not but that David had some diversions of mind Caution to have the eye alwayes fixed upon God will be the state of the blessed in heaven but David was still with God 1. Because the bias and bent of his spirit was towards God His heart like the needdle in the compass pointed heavenward 2. Because he was more with God then he was any where else Subjectum a majori parte as we use to say a man lives at his house not but that urgency of occasions draw him abroad sometimes but he is said to live there because he is most resident there The words hold forth this proposition Doct. That it is the sweet temper of a Gracious heart to be still with God I am still with Thee David awaked in heaven He was ever above We read in the old Law that those creatures which did creep upon all four were to be had in abomination but they which had wings to flie and leggs to leap withall were accounted clean Lev. 11.20 Those are among the uncleán and are abominable to God whose souls creep upon the earth but they who have the leggs and wings of grace to mount up with who are still with God these are pure and precious in Gods eyes For the illustrating this point there are three things to be explained and amplisied 1. What it is to be still with God 2. In what sence the soul is still with God 3. Why a gracious heart is still with God 1. What it is to be still with God In general it is to have a sweet intercourse and Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus In prayer we speak to God in the Sacrament he kisseth us with the kisses of his lips he giveth us a privy seal of his love 2. In what sence the soul is said to be still with God I answer the soul is still with God five manner of wayes 1. By contemplation So Ainsworth understands the Text. contemplatione I am still with thee that is by divine contemplation Davids thoughts were ever and anon running upon God So vers 17. How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God! Davids mind was a spiritual mint he minted most gold most of his thoughts were heavenly Thoughts are as travellers and passengers in the soul Davids thoughts were still travelling towards the Jerusalem above In Davids dangers God was still with him in Davids contemplations he was still with God Anaxagoras said he was born to contemplate Heaven Thus a Christian is still with God he is viewing glory his thoughts are all packed up and gone 2. Defiderio The soul is still with God by desire His anchor is cast in Heaven Hebr. 6.19 and he is carried thither with the sails of desire David did shoot his heart into Heaven by desire * Videmus terram torrefactam dehiscere ac si aperto ore potum e caelo appeteret significat propheta se desiderio ferventem ad deum accedere ac si vitalis humor eum deficeret Calvin in Psal 143. he had strong anhelations and pantings after God Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth I desire besides thee he saith not he had nothing upon earth he had his Crown and Scepter but nothing he desired like God Psal 42.1 as the hart pants after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God The hart as Historians observe is a dry thirsty creature especially when chased by the hunter now nature is on fire and must have water to quench it thus the pious soul pants after the refreshing streams of Christs blood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil and these desires of a Christian are rightly terminated he desires aswell conformity to Christ in grace as Communion with him in glory he desires the Sun of righteousness not onely for its refreshing beams but for its healing wings he desires not only Christs presence but his image Lord give me thy self that I may be more holy what should I do in Heaven with this unholy heart what converse could I have with God or angels thus the soul is still with God by desire and he desires not onely mercy but grace Amore. 3 3. The soul is still with God by love Where a mans love is there he is what
seen him were so amazed at his beauty and did seed upon it with such delight that they were unwilling to look off again * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Josephus And herein he was a Type of Christin whom are all sparkling beauties to be found he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether lovely 2. Moses was a Type of Christ in his Education he was bred up a while at Court and as Josephus saith Pharaohs Daughter set a Crown of Gold upon his Head but leaving the Court he went and lived in the Land of Midian Exod. 2.15 so Christ left the Royal Court of Heaven to come and live in the World 3. Moses was a type of Christ in his Office he was a Prophet Deut. 34.10 and there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like unto Moses He acquainted Israel with the mind of God he gave them the two Tables of the Law So Jesus Christ is a Prophet Luke 24.19 he reveals to his people the mysteries of salvation He unseals the Book of Gods decree * Ideo angelus dictus ob officium propheticum Tertul. and makes known his Will Rev. 5.5 He is counted worthy of more glory then Moses Heb. 3.3 4. Moses vvas a Type of Christ in his Noble Acts 1. he was a Deliverer of the people from the Egyptian furnace he vvas a temporal Saviour So Jesus Christ his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Saviour Mat. 1.21 He shall save his people from their sinnes 2. Moses vvas an intercessor for Israel and turned avvay the Wrath of God from them Num. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Christ is the Saints Advocate Rom. 8.34 Who also maketh intercession for us 2. Christ vvas typified by David 1. David vvas a King So is Christ adorned vvith Regall povver he is a King to govern his people Revel 15.3 and to conquer his enemies Psal 110.1.2 David was a man after Gods own heart This did prefigure Christ in whom God was well pleased Mat. 3.17 3. Christ was typified by Solomon 1. In his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies peaceable so Christ is call'd the Prince of peace Isa 9.7 This the Angels proclaim'd at his incarnation Luke 2.14 Peace on earth all his wars tend to peace he gives that peace which passeth all understanding * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. 2. Solomon typified Christ in his government His was a most flourishing Kingdom 2 Chr. 9.22 King Solomon passed all the Kings of the earth in riches so Christs Kingdome is very glorious all his subjects are made Kings he reigns in heaven and earth and of his Kingdome is no end 3. Solomon typified Christ in his Wisdome he was the Oracle of his age 1 King 4.31 He was wiser than all men * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joseph antiq l. 8. So Christ received the unction from his Father he had a spirit of wisdom and holinesse poured upon him without measure John 3.34 Isa 11.2 Behold a greater than Solomon is here Thus Jesus Christ was prefigured by those persons who were most lovely 2. Christ was typified by Things most lovely I will instance only in five Type 1 1. Christ was typified by the pillar of cloud and fire which was Israels guide and conduct in the Wildernesse Exod. 13.21 * Erat columna corpus quoddam ex acre condensato mirum in modum à Deo preparatum ad usam Israeliticum in cremo Tornielli Annal. This did typifie Christ our pillar of cloud who guides our feet into the way of peace Luke 1.79 The cloud was unerring for God was in it such is Christ who is the way and the truth John 14.6 How lovely is this pillar to behold Type 2 2. By the Manna This pointed at Christ He is like the Manna in three things 1. The figure of Manna was circular Exod. 16.14 There lay a small round thing c. The circle is a figure of perfection this typed out Christ in whom is all perfection 2. Cibus paratus The Manna was a meat prepared for Israel in an extraordinary manner so the Hebrew word from whence Manna seems to be derived * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to prepare Manna was a meat cook'd and dressed in heaven God himself prepared it and then serv'd it in Thus Jesus Christ was like Manna he was prepared and set apart by his Father to the blessed work of mediatorship Heb. 10.5 Abody hast thou prepared me 3. The Jewish Rabbins say Manna suited it self to every ones pallat whatever he desired that he found in Manna so Jesus Christ suits himself to every Christians condition he is full of quickning strengthning comforting vertue * Amaritu dines mundi dulces reddit Austin What fools are they that preferre the earthly mammon before this heavenly Manna Type 3 3. By the mercy-seat which was a sacred embleme or hyeroglyphick representing the mercy of God to his people there the Lord did give forth his Oracles and answers of peace to his people Exod. 25.22 There will I meet thee and I will commune with thee c. This mercy-seat was a type of Christ * Cyrill de incarnat unigen Greg. hom 6. sup Ezek Rupertus in and thorough whom God is appeased towards us Therefore he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Propitiation Rom. 3.25 O how lovely is this mercy-seat We could not speak to God in prayer nor would he commune with us were it not for this blessed propitiatory The Hebrew word for mercy-seat * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Covering to shew that in Christ the sinnes of beleevers are covered Type 4 4. Christ was prefigured by the brazen Serpent Numb 21.9 The brazen Serpent resembled Christ two wayes 1. It was made like a Serpent but it was no real Serpent so Christ was in the likenesse of sinful flesh Rom. 8.3 but he was not a sinner he was made sin but he knew no sinne Christ was as void of sinne as the brazen Serpent was of a sting 2. Qui istam Scrpentem metallinum intuerentur à Serpentum morsibus sanati fuerunt ita qui Christum fide contemplantur c. Tostat Paradox 4. When the people of Israel were stung by the fiery Serpents v. 6. then whosoever did look upon the brazen Serpent were cured Thus when sinne stings the souls of men for it is a Serpent with five stings it stings men with guilt shame horror of conscience death the curse of God Now Christ that brazen Serpent being looked upon with a penitent beleeving eye Zach. 12.10 cures these deadly stings * Joh. 3.15 Oh how lovely is this brazen Serpent many of the Jews saith Tostatus worshipped the Serpent of brasse let us in our hearts adore this brazen Serpent the Lord Jesus Type 5 5. Christ was typified by Noahs Ark which saved Noah and his family from the flood Thus when the wrath of God as a deluge overflows the wicked Christ is
of the ladder stood upon the earth his divine nature which was the top of the ladder reached to heaven The Arrians and Socinians deny his Godhead as the Valentians do his manhood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Ep. ad Antioch If the God-head be in him he must needs be God but the God-head shines in him Col. 2.9 In him dwells 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the fulnesse of the God-head * Non dicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod discrimen contra Eutichianos notatu dignum Beza and to confirme us in this truth let us consult with those Scriptures which do clearly assert his Godhead 1 Cor. 8.6 To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and Phil. 2.6 who being in the form of God Basil lib. 1. Cont. Eunom which is as much saith Basil as to exist in the essence of God 1 Tim. 3.16 God was manifest in the flesh and 1 John 5.20 We are in him that is true even in his sonne Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THIS IS THE TRUE GOD * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Besides these testimonies of Scripture which do expressely assert the God-head of Christ it may be clearly demonstrated by those incommunicable properties belonging to the Deity which are ascribed to Christ and are the flowers of his Crown As 1. Omnipotency * Justin Martyr Orat. 1. ad Graec. Heb. 1.3 2. Omnisciency Mark 2.8 3. Ubiquity Mat. 28.20 4. Power of sealing pardons Mat. 9.6 5. The mission of the holy Ghost John 16.7 6. Coequality with God the Father Phil. 2.6 both in power John 5.19 21. and dignitie John 5.23 Thus we see his God-head proved and as he is God-man he is altogether lovely He is the very picture of his fathers glory Therefore he is called the expresse image and character of his person * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.3 The very effigies and print of Gods face is seen in Christ the glory of Gods wisdome holinesse mercy doth most transparently shine forth in him Thus his person is lovelie 2. Christ is lovely in his disposition A good nature is able to render deformity it self lovely Christ is lovely not only in his complexion but in his disposition He is of a loving and merciful disposition and in this sense may be called deliciae humani Generis * Titus Vespas It is reported of Marcus Aurelius the Emperour that he was of a most affable winning temper given to clemency and every day he would set one houre apart to hear the causes of the poor Thus Jesus Christ is of a most sweet disposition * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar He will not alwayes chide Psalme 103.9 He is inclinable to shew mercy to the penitent He delights in mercy Micah 7.18 He envites sinners to come to him Mat. 11.28 he begs of them that they would be saved 2 Cor. 5.20 he knocks at their hearts by his Spirit till his head be fill'd with dew and his locks with the drops of the night Rev. 3.20 If any poor soul accepts of his offer and doth arise and go to him how doth Christ welcome him * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macarius Christ makes the Feast Luke 15.23 and the Angels make the musick verse 7. But if men will not receive the tenders of grace Christ grieves Mark 3.5 He is like a Judge that passeth the sentence with teares in his eyes Luke 19.42 And when he came nigh the City he wept Ah sinners I come to save you but you put away salvation from you * Acts 13. I come with healing under my wings but you bolt out your Physician I would have you but open your hearts to receive me and I will open heaven to receive you but you will rather stay with your sinnes and die than come to me and live Psalme 81.11 Israel would none of me Well sinners I will weep at your Funerals Oh how lovely is Christ in his disposition he comes with his suppling oyle to poure into sinners wounds He would faine break their hearts with his mercies He labours to overcome their evil with his good 3. Christ is lovely in his sufferings when he did make expiation for our sins * 1 Pet. 2.24 but what lovely in his sufferings lovely when he was buffeted spit upon besmeared with blood O yes he was most lovely upon the crosse * Rubore sui sanguinis nos candidos effecit Ghislerus because then he shewed most love to us He bled love at every veine His drops of blood were love-drops The more bloody the more lovely * Quanto pro me vilior tanto mibi charior Aug. The more Christ endured for us the more deare he ought to be to us Osorius writing of the sufferings of Christ saith Gal. 6.14 that the crown of thornes bored his head with seventy two wounds * Doles domine non tua vulnera sed mea Ambrose Quid dicamin crucem tollere Tully and Tully when he comes to speak of the death of the Crosse shews his rhetorique best by an Aposiopesis or silence what shall I say of this death Though a great Orator he wanted words to expresse it Nor did Christ only endure paine in his body but agony in his soul He conflicted with the wrath of God which he could never have done if he had not been more than a man We reade that the Altar of wood was overlaid with brasse that so the fire on the Altar might not consume the wood Exod. 27.1 2. This Altar was a type of Iesus Christ The humane nature of Christ which was as the wood was covered with the divine nature which was like the brasse else the fire of Gods wrath had consumed it and all this Christ suffered was nostra vice in our stead * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Isa 53.5 We eat the soure Grape and his teeth were set on edge We climbed the tree we stole the forbidden fruit and Christ goes up the ladder of the Crosse and dies Oh how lovely ought a bleeding Savior * Pendet anima dulcia poma de ligno decerpit Bern. de Floribus to be in our eys Let us weare this blessed crucifix alwayes in our heart * Inspice vulnera pendentis sanguinem morientis caput habet inclinatum ad osculandum cor apertum ad diligendum brachia extenia ad amplexandum totum corpus expositum ad redimendum haec quanta sint cogitate haec in statera vestri cordis appendite ut totus vobis figatur in corde qui totus pro nobis fixus fuit in Cruce Aug. lib. de Virgin Crux Christi clavis paradisi The Cross of Christ saith Damascen is the golden key that opens Paradise to us How beautiful is Christ upon the Crosse The ruddinesse of his blood took away
being ravished with the amazing beauties of Jesus Christ Use 1 Use 1. Information And it hath three Branches 1. Bran. 1. Behold here as in a Scripture-glasse the transcendent excellencies of the Lord Jesus He is altogether lovely * Si de placenta mellea aut saccharea si de fructu sapidissimo v. g. de ficu quae nulles habet acinos sed tota est edilis delicata dicimus haec placenta tota irritat orexin si de vino suavissimo falerno cretico moscatellato dicimus hoc vinum summe est desiderabile quid dicemus de Christo qui omne desiderium non tantum satiat sed longe superat Corn. d. Lap. here is a faire prospect set before us I wonder not that Paul that Seraphique Saint defired to know nothing save Jesus Christ* 1 Cor. 2.2 What would he know more He is altogether lovely No wonder the Apostles left all and followed him Mat. 19.27 had I the tongue of Angels I could never set forth Christ in all his lively and lovely colours Besides what hath been said take a further view of Christs lovely excellencies in three particulars 1. He is our light Light is a glorious creature Eccles 11.7 Truly the light is sweet The light puls off the vaile and draws aside the dark curtaines of the night making every thing appear in its fresh colours Thus Jesus Christ is lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is call'd that true light John 1.9 and the bright morning star Rev. 22.16 when the soul is benighted with ignorance Christ is the morning-star that enlightens it He is the Sunne of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 * i. e. tanquamradiis justitiae suae perfundens electos Tremel This Sun of righteousnesse is more glorious than that in the Firmament 1. The Sunne in the firmament riseth and sets but the Sun of righteousnesse when it once riseth upon the soule in conversion never sets finally upon him it may pull in its beames when the clouds of our sin come between but it comes out of the cloud again as it did to David it never sets finally 2. The Sunne in the Firmament only shines upon us but the Sunne of righteousnesse shines within us Gal. 1.16 but when it pleased God to reveale his Sonne in me The Sunne in the Firmament shines only upon our faces but the Sunne of righteousnesse shines in our hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts How sweet are these beames 3. The Sunne in the Firmament shines only in the day-time but the Sun of righteousnesse shines in the night In the night of desertion and affliction this Sunne shines Psalme 112.4 Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse Oh how lovely is this Sun of righteousnesse by the bright beames of this Sunne we see God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. in secund Ep. ad Cor. 2. Christ is our food He is not only lovely to the eye but to the taste Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed This is Princely fare Accedis ad Christum non carne sed corde edis Christum non dente sed fide Aust it was never prepared for the Angels but for us 'T is lovely feeding here Al the rarities of heaven are serv'd in in this dish And my blood is drink indeed This blood is better than wine 1. Wine may be taken in excesse Noah took too much of the Grape but it is otherwise with the wine of Christs blood there is no feare of excesse here Though a drop be sweet yet the more we drink the better the deeper the sweeter Drink yea drink abundantly Obeloved Cant. 5.1 Excesse here makes us sober * Hac ebrietas sobrios reddit 2. Wine though it cheares the heart yet at some times if it be taken it may be hurtful give wine in a Feaver and it is as bad as poison But this wine of Christs blood is best in a Feaver When the heart burns as hot as hell in the sense of Gods wrath and is as it were in a spiritual Agony and Feaver now a drop of Christs blood doth allay the inflammation and sweetly refresheth the soul 't is lovely drinking at this fountaine 3. Christ is our life Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appeare Life is sweet life makes every thing comfortable In this the Devil said true Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2.3 A man will cast the plate and jewels overboard to save his life he will lose a legge or an arme to preserve the vital parts Vt serves vitam ferrum patieris ignem Is life lovely and is not Christ who is our life lovely He was typified by the the tree of life in the Garden Gen. 2.9 That tree was Symbolical as Austin saith it was a pledg and signe of life if man had continued in obedience It was certainly a lovely tree but it was only a type of Christ who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The tree of life Rev. 2.7 This tree of life the Lord Jesus is a better tree than that which grew in Paradise Adams tree in Paradise might preserve life but it could not prevent death there was dying for all that but this tree of life Jesus Christ prevents death John 11.26 Whosoever beleeveth in me shall never die that is not die the second death Rev. 2.14 This blessed tree is an antidote against death If there were a tree to be found in the world that could preserve men from dying how farre would they go on pilgrimage What vast sums of money would they give for one leaf of that tree such a tree is Christ he will keep you from dying and is not this tree very lovely In particular there is a threefold life flows from Jesus Christ 1. The life of grace Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace This life is gemma aeternitatis a bud of eternity t is a life purchased for us by Christs death 2. The life of comfort which is the creame of life John 16.22 Your heart shall rejoyce This is an holy jubilation of Spirit so sweet and ravishing is this joy that if David when he had lost his joy had lost also his crown and God had put the question to him which of these two he would have restored David would have said Lord restore unto me the joy of thy salvation Psal 51.12 Rather my comfort than my Crown 'T is Hilary Tearm with a Christian while these joys last 3. The life of glory John 17.22 This is the most noble life this is to live the life of Angels nay to live the life of God 'T is the highest elevation and perfection of the reasonable creature and may we not cry out with Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What more lovely than Christ from whom these golden streams of life flow Oh that all this might make him amiable in our eyes What should we admire
be brought unto the King in rayment of needlework Psal 45. and you shall hear Christ pronounce that blessed word Cant. 4.7 Thou art all faire my love and there is no spot in thee Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill Loves entercourse between the Lamb and his Bride Christ and his Church Or a clear Explication and Application of the Song of Solomon By Will. Guild D.D. FINIS ERRATA FOr Mediation pag. 71. line 12. read meditation for medulo p. 304 marg r. modulo for isunt p. 331. marg r. insunt for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 338. marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Isa 32.13 p. 346. l. 5. r. Deut. 32.13 for love p. 363. l. 6 r. lovely for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 366. marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Sermon upon Psal 37.37 p. 2. for praemit r. premit for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 38. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE INDEX CHAP. I. THat negative goodness is not sufficient to entitle a man to heaven Pag. 4 CHAP. 2. What is meant by the Law of God 11 What is meant by delight in Gods Law 12 Doct. That a true Saint delights in Gods Law ibid. CHAP. 3. Whence the Saints delight in the Law springs 13 14 CHAP. 4. A characteristical difference between a childe of God and an hypocrite 16 17 19 CHAP. 5. Two cases resolved p. 20 23. CHAP. 6. The tryal of a Christians delight in God and his Law 27 28 CHAP. 7. An Exhortation to this spiritual delight in Religion 35 36 37 CHAP. 8. How a Christian may attain to this blessed delight 51 52 CHAP. 9. This delight in God should cause thankfulnesse to God 53 54 Concerning Meditation CHAP. 1. That a good Christian is a meditating Christian p. 59 CHAP. 2. What Meditation is 61 62 CHAP. 3. That Meditation is a duty 66 67 CHAP. 4. How Meditation differs from memory 69 CHAP. 5. How Meditation differs from study 71 CHAP. 6. The subject-matter of Meditation 72 SECT 1. Meditate on Gods Attributes 73 Six in particular 1. Meditate on Gods omnisciency 74 2. Meditate on Gods holinesse 75 3. Meditate on Gods wisdome 77 4. Meditate on Gods power 78 5. Meditate on Gods mercy 81 6. Meditate on Gods truth 84 SECT 2. Meditate upon the promises 85 SECT 3. Meditate upon the love of Christ 90 SECT 4. Meditate upon sin 96 SECT 5. Meditate upon the vanity of the creature 101 SECT 6. Meditate upon the excellency of grace 103. Grace is better than gold p. 105 Grace is better than gifts 106 SECT 7. Meditate upon the estate of your soules 109 SECT 8. Meditate upon the fewness of them that shall be saved 113 SECT 9. Meditate upon the sadnesse of final apostasie 117 118 SECT 10. Meditate of death 120 SECT 11. Meditate upon the day of judgment 125 SECT 12. Meditate on hell 133 SECT 13. Meditate on heaven 139 SECT 14. Meditate upon eternity 143 SECT 15. Meditate upon your experiences 148 CHAP. 7. Discovering the necessity of Meditation 193 CHAP. 8. Use 1. Inform. It shews why so few good Christians 199 CHAP. 9. Use 2. Rept It reproves them who do not meditate in the Law of God 201 CHAP. 10. Use 3. Exhort A holy persuasive to Meditation 203 CHAP. 11. The answering of Objections 207 210 CHAP. 12. Concerning occasional Meditations 215 CHAP. 13. For the right timeing of meditation 222 CHAP. 14. How long Christians should be conversant in this duty 231 CHAP. 15. The usefulnesse of Meditation 233 CHAP. 16. The excellency of Meditation 249 CHAP. 17. Divine motives to Meditation 251 CHAP. 18. Rules for Meditation 259 In the Appendix to MEDITATION Doct. THat it is the sweet temper of a gracious heart to be still with God 289 What it is to be still with God 290 In what sense the soul is said to be still with God 291 292 293 Why the soul is still with God 298 Use 1. Shewing how a Christian may be in heaven before his time 305 Use 2. Reproof 1. Branch It reproves them who are never with God 306 2. Branch It reproves them who are seldome with God 309 Use 3. A persuasive to Christians to be still with God 312 1. Argument How unworthy it is to have the heart set upon the world 313 2. Argument What a rare kinde of life it is to be still with God 314 1. It is the most noble life 315 2. It is the most satisfactory life 316 3. It is the most joyful life 317 4. It is the most durable life 318 How a Christian may arrive at this blessed frame of heart 320 Concerning Christs loveliness Doct. Jesus Christ is infinitely lovely 332 That Christ is most lovely appears 1. By his titles 333 2. By Types prefiguring him which were either 1. Of Persons as Moses 334 David 336. Solomon 337. or 2. Of things 1. Christ was typified by the pillar of cloud and fire p. 338 2. Christ was typified by the Manna 339 3. Christ was typified by the mercy-seat 340 4. Christ was typified by the brazen Serpent 341 5. Christ was typified by Noahs Ark. 342 3. That Christ is lovely appeares by several resemblances He is compared to things most lovely As 1. To the Rose of Sharon 343 2 To a precious Vine ibid. 3 To a corner-stone 344 4 To a Rock 345 5 To a river in a dry ground 346 6 To a rich Treasury ibid. 7 To a beautiful Robe 347 4 Christs lovelinesse appeares by real demonstrations 1 Christ is lovely in himself five manner of ways 1 He is lovely in his person 348 349 2 He is lovely in his disposition p. 352 3 He is lovely in his sufferings 354 4 He is lovely in his graces 357 5 He is lovely in his conversation 360 2 Christ is lovely in the esteeme of others He is lovely 1. To God his Father 362 He is lovely 2. To the Saints 363 He is lovely 3. To the Angels ibid. Use 1. Information 1 Branch Behold the lovely excellencies of Christ 364 2 Branch It shews us that the reason why many embrace not Christ is their ignorance of his lovelinesse 371 372 3 Branch It shews the misery of a Christlesse person 1 Who lives without Christ 379 2 Who dies without Christ 382 Use 2. Exhort 1 Branch Labour to get a part and interest in Christ 384 2 Branch Fall in love with this lovely Saviour 387 Try your love to Christ 1 By the degrees of it p. 389 2 By the fruits of it 391 3 Branch Labour to render Christ lovely in the eyes of others 397 1 By commending his beauty 398 2 By adorning his Gospel 399 Use 3 Consolation Christs glorious beauty and lovelinesse shall be put upon the Saints 401 40◠FINIS