all the sufferings of this life are not worthy the glory that shall be reveal'd Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 This light and momentary affliction c. Fourthly In the Resurrection of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth and certainty of his Resurrection we have the testimony of God Angels and Men for it 1 Cor. 15.3 to the end Secondly On the Ends of his Resurrection as First That he might declare to all the World that he was the Son of God true and very God Rom. 1.4 Secondly That He might manifest to all the World that he had fully satisfied the Justice of God John 16.8 9. Heb. 2.13 14. Thirdly That He might strengthen our faith in that full satisfaction and reconciliation He hath made for us whence that Rom. 4. last He died for our offences and rose again for our Justification and hence that Triumph Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemns It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again c. Thirdly The evidences you have in the Merits and Benefits of Christ's Resurrection Whether he be risen as our Head and will raise us up hereafter to glory which we may know thus if we be risen with him and by him from a state of death to a state of life and grace called the first Resurrection Revel 20.6 Such only shall have an interest in the benefits of the second Resurrection at the last day John 5.28 Fourthly What you must do to get an interest in the first Resurrection that you may come to have the comfort of the second and that is to attend constantly on the Ministry of the Word and to beg the Spirit of Christ to quicken that Word that it may quicken your dead Souls according to his promise John 5.25 Fifthly In the Ascension of Christ to meditate on these things First The truth of it by the testimony of Angels and Men Acts 1.10 11. Luke 24.51 52. Secondly The End of his Ascention to shew that he was true and very God in that he could lift up his Body into the Ayr 2. That he might open the Gate of Heaven for us which we had shut by our sin and prepare a place for us in it Heb. 10 19 20. John 14.3 4. Thirdly Take notice of the use you are to make of the Ascention of Christ which is To ascend daily in our hearts and affections to him Colos 3.1 2. Sixthly In the Session of Christ at the right hand of God First To take notice what it is viz. that Equality of Glory and Dignity Authority and Power He hath with his Father Phil. 2.6.9 Eph. 1.20 Secondly To meditate on the End of his Sitting there which is First That He may Rule and Raign until he hath made all his Enemies his Foot-stool 1 Cor. 15. Secondly That he may assure us that as he sits there in our name and nature so he will cause all his at the last to sit with him upon the same Throne of glory Rev. 3.21 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it which is the same Col. 3.1 2. Seventhly In the Intercession of Christ First To take notice what it is viz. the presenting of his active and passive obedience to his Father for the procuring all that grace and mercy he hath purchased and his Father hath promised to his Elect or if you will thus That part of his Priestly Office whereby for his satisfaction sake he desires wills and procures for all his Elect the acceptation of their Persons and Services and the remuneration of all their weak endeavours for his glory Revel 8.3 4. Revel 14.13 Secondly Meditate on the Ends of his Intercession as First That we may have the benefit of all he hath done and suffered for us which we could not had he not gone into Heaven to make Intercession for us Heb. 9.7.24 Secondly That so he might take away the iniquity of our holy things and render our Persons and services acceptable to his Father and so be able to save us to the uttermost 1 Epist John 2.12 Heb. 7.25 Thirdly The use that we are to make of it and that is In all our services still to draw neer to God in the name of Christ and beg the acceptance of our Persons and Service and all that grace we stand in need of for his Intercessions sake Col. 3. â—7 Heb. 4. last But then Eighthly To meditate on the great Priviledges that come by Jesus Christ to such as have a true actual and real interest in Him as 1. Remission of all our sins 2 Cor. 5.19 1 John 17. Rev 15. 2. Imputation of Christ's righteousness 2 Cor. 5.20 3. Reconciliation to God 1 Colos 20. And thereby 1. Peace with God and Conscience Men and Angels Rom. 5.1 Col. 3 15. Isai 11.6 Hos 2. end Heb. 1. last 2. Communion with the Father and the Son 1 John 1 3. 3. A spiritual right and title to all Creature-comforts which are lost by the Fall 1 Tim. 4.45 and all that is God's and Christ's all his Attributes Promises Providences 1 Cor. 3. 2 last 4. A sanctified use of every estate both of Prosperity and Adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good c. 4. Priviledge Adoption of us into his Family to be the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever living God Eph. 1.5 Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 5.1 5. Sanctification of our natures Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith in Christ 1 Thes 5.21 The God of Peace sanctifie you throughout c 2 Pet. â— 4 Whereby we are enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 6. Acceptation of our Persons and all our Services notwithstanding all our infirmities and imperfections Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 7. Inhabitation of his Spirit to assist us in all our duties and lead us in all our ways 1 Joh. 3 last Rom. 8.14.26 8. Confirmation and establishment in a state of Grace Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 1.5 9. The continual Intercession of Jesus Christ for all that Grace and Mercy we stand in need of Heb. 7.25 1 Joh. 2.2 3. 10. Lastly The Consecration of Souls and Bodies Rom. 8.30 John 17.22 Tenthly To meditate if you would have the comfort of the forenamed Priviledges To meditate I say on the Evidences of an actual and real interest in Christ and that 1. Because it is expresly commanded 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith Know ye not that Ghrist is in you c. 2. Because the most do deceive themselves herein flatter themselves that they are Christ's and Christ is theirs because they are baptized into his Name and make a profession of him to whom Christ will say at the last Day I know you not c. Luke 13.25 And therefore to search and see the interest you have in Him be not only nominal and professional but actual and real Q. Well then How may we know it Ans By the Grounds of it the Means of
Christ here if you will have him to own you hereafter before all the World Mat. 10.32 But if you be ashamed of him he will of you 6. And Lastly You must hearken to that of our Saviour Luk. 21.36 Watch and pray alwayes that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those things which shall come to pass and stand before the Son of Man 1. Watch for his coming as to general so to particular Judgment which you know not how soon it may be Blessed is he that watches and keeps his Garment Rev. 14. Blessed is the Servant whom when his Lord shall come doth find so doing Mat. 25. 2. Pray pray without ceasing that whensoever he comes you may be able to bid him welcome and lift up your heads because your Redemption draws nigh Amen These special things you are to meditate on in and about the Day of Judgment and the rather because many and great will be the benefits of it For 1. it will make you to take the more heed to your thoughts words and wayes seeing all must come to judgment 2. It will quicken you to get and clear up your interest in Christ and make him your Friend that so you may find him an Advocate instead of a Judge 3. It will cause you to erect a Tribunal here and sit in judgment on your selves that so you may not be condemned with the wicked World 4. It will stir you up to a more faithful discharge of your duties as it did the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.8 10. Knowing the terror of the Lord we perswade men and labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 5. It will make you take heed how you censure and judge others Rom. 14.10 and slight what others censure and judge of you 1 Cor. 4.3 4. Seeing we must all be â—udged of the Lord and we are sure he will judge 〈◊〉 â—â—â—teous judgment acquit the Innocent and condemn only the Nocent Thirdly Of HELL In and about that to meditate on these things What Hell is The hideousness of the place The greatness of the punishment both of loss and sense The eternity of it How inexpressibly they bewail their folly in bringing themselves there What they would be willing to do and suffer they might get out of it And what our duties are in respect of it 1. What Hell is viz. That place which God hath prepared and appointed to be the habitation of the Devil and wicked Reprobates to punish them with everlasting torments for the praise of the glory of his Justice That there is such a place is clear out of the Word Mat. 25. last Mark 9.43 to 49. 2 Thess 1.8 9. 2. The hideousness and dreadfulness of the place called A great Deep a bottomless Pit Rev. 9.1 A Prison 1 Pet. 3.19 Darkness and utter darkness Mat. 22.13 A Lake of Fire Rev. 19.20 3. The greatness of the punishment there both of loss and sense 1. Of lâ—ss not only of all Honours Riches Pleasures and Comforts of this Life but a separation for ever from the gracious presence of God and bliss of the Saints 2 Thess 1.9 Quod omnium omnino suppliciorum summum quo Deus homines punire potest The greatest punishment God can inflict upon the Creature Nam uti videre Deum ipsissima beatitudo est ita Deum videre non posse maxima damnatorum poena est saith a Father As the happiness of the Saints consists in the Vision of God so the misery of the damned in that they are deprived of the presence of God this is that which they call paena damni the punishment of loss 2. For the paena sensus the punishment of sense That is so great as it cannot be greater Luke 16.23 I am horribly tormented in this flame saith Dives And needs must it be so 1. In respect of the things they are to suffer as the Worm that never dyeth and the Fire that never goes out Mark 9.44 A Fire that so far exceeds in torment this earthly Fire as real Fire doth painted Fire now Fire of all torments is the greatest and Fire with Brimstone of all fires the hottest Rev. 21.8 Isa 20.23 And as extremity of fire so some think of cold because it is said There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 2. The torment is so great in respect of the extent of it because it is to be inflicted on the whole Man Soul and Body every faculty and power of both none here being free from sin none there shall be free from punishment and if the pain of one member sometimes be unsufferable here what must the torture of all if a drop of God's Wrath be so bitter what will be the Sea of God's Vengeance 3. So great in respect of the ground of their suffering to wit the infinite wrath of God which the whole Creation cannot stand under much less a poor weak sinful Worm of the Earth 4. To meditate on the eternity of the punishment in Hell After the damned have been in those torments as many thousands and millions of years as there be Creatures in the World and motions in those Creatures they are as far from ending as at the first beginning for the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment Mat. 25. last There the Worm of Conscience never dies and the Fire of Hell never goes out and if a gnawing oâ— a Worm in the Tooth or the Bowels the holding of the hand or the foot in the fire but a few â—ours be unsufferable what will the eternity of it be Well might he cry out Oh! Eternity Eternity Eternity in Hell for ever for ever for ever Eternity is enough to make the least punishment though it were but the biting of Fleas or stinging of Ants intollerable 5. Meditate on the remedilessness of those torments As they are endless so they are remediless Insernus sine misericordis quos tenet cruciat saith one Ther 's neither Silver nor Gold Wit nor Policy Might or Power can help neither Tears nor Prayers Sighs nor Groans Vows nor Promises Cries nor Wishes never to have been or to have been the vilest of Creatures will be heard or prevail no nor any Creature in Heaven or Earth to interceed for them nay should all the Angels and Saints in Heaven fall down at the feet of Christ to beg mercy for one Soul it would be to no purpose Christ would deny them all there without mercy without pitty without remedy they must lie and cry and never die whence that pathetical wish of the Lord Deut. 32. Oh that men were wise c. 6. Meditate on the sad company wicked men shall have in Hell Viz. No other then the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 And if Job complained that he was a Companion for Owls Job 30.29 and David cries out Wo is me that I dwell in Mesech c. Psal 120.5 How will the wicked then to have no other Companions than the Devils If the appearance of an
will teach you sayes Job to trust in God for a livelyhood Mat. 6.26 and to know your times and seasons for every work Jer. 8.7 The Dove will teach you Innocency and Sympathy the little Birds to sound forth praises to God every morning and evening Cantat a lauda Deo laudes gratissima summo Hinc vos in gratâ—s gratu lacessit avis 3. Ask the Fishes of the Sea and they will teach you sayes Job The Sea by her continual fluctuating and foaming will mind you of the continual unquietness and resâ—lesness of wicked men Isa 5â— 20 They are like the troubled Sea c. The Fish of the Sea they will shew you the misery of want of Government they being every one without a Ruler so as the lesser are still devoured of the greater Hab. 1. Why hast thou made mâ—n like the Fishes of the Sea c. XX. When you are to go to wait an God in the use of his Ordinance think what a mercy it is to have the Doors of God's Sanctuary open when they are shut to others to see Souls flock to the Ordinances as the Doves to the Windows that some Souls might still be added to the Church and brought into Christ and built up further in Grace and gracious practices When you are to hear the Word remember you are not only to hear a Man but God who speaks in and by Man who hath said His Word shall not return in vain but surely prosper to the end he sends it Isa 55. last And if it be not the savour of Life it will of Death 2 Cor. 1. end When the Sermon is ended remember though the Minister have done the Sermon is not done until you have done and practised it if it be not practised it will be preached over with more terror another day when you will not be able to hear it XXI When you are walking abroad and meet with any Christian Friend think if it be sweet with a dear Christian Friend upon Earth Oh how sweet will it be to meet with all in Heaven When you hear of any good news from them then think Oh what good news hath Christ brought from Heaven and did the Angel sing at the time of his Birth and hath the Spirit of God brought home and spoken unto my heart if it be bad news that you have heard yet think and comfort your hearts with this However you have sad expectations from Earth yet you have comfortable expectations from Heaven God and Christ and the Spirit is yours and will be for ever yours 1 Cor. 3. last Psal 112.7 When you hear of any Prodigies or dreadful appearances of God in the Heaven or the Earth or the Sea then think and say How terrible O Lord art thou in all thy wayes Who knows the power of thy anger what mean these dreadful tokens of thy displeasure make me and all to fear and tremble before thee When you see or hear the corruption of men to break out into Drunkenness Uncleanness Blasphemy Persecution c. then think and say as Bradford the Martyr Lord what a wicked heart have I what cause have I to give glory to Grace that keeps under corruption in me that does not break out in me as in others When any cross or affliction befals you on the day in Body Soul Name Estate think say Lord what sin is it that thou correctest shew me my sin sanctifie this affliction and do me good by it When any mercy is renewed upon you and yours think and say Oh how great is that goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou workest daily for the Children of men Psal 31. XXII When the day draweth towards an end remember you are nearer to your end by one day then you were in the morning as the night approacheth towards you so do you to the Grave and for ought you know may be your last day When you look up and see the Stars appear in the Heaven think thus Though your life here be hid with Christ in God yet when he shall appear you shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 and then your bodies shall shine as the Stars Dan. 12. When you see the dark night to come upon you and you begin to light Candles then think if outward darkness be so uncomfortable how much more is the inward darkness of the Soul and utter darkness in Hell if the light of a Candle be so comfortable how comfortable is the Life of Grace here and will be the Life of Glory hereafter When you are about to put off your Cloaths think thus It will not be long ere I must be uncloathed of this body of Sin and Death and if I be so willing to the one why not to the other that I might be cloathed with my House from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 And if I be so willing to go into Bed to take my rest that I may have renewed strength for Body and Spirit to fit me for the service of the next day why should I not be as willing and more willing at God's call to lay down my body in the Grave there to rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and to be raised up at the last day with renewed and perfect strength both in Soul and Body to be still serving and glorifying God to all Eternity Remember still O my Soul thy sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Image of thy Grave and the Sheets of thy Winding Sheets the biting of the Fleas but the gnawing of the Worms on the Body the crowing of the Cock in the morning the sounding of the Trump of God at the last day by the Voice of the Arch-Angel Awake ye dead and come to Judgment Isa 57.2 1 Thess 4.16 Lastly When you are about to sleep labour to sleep with precious thoughts of God for such as your thoughts are when you are about to sleep such will your thoughts be when you awake When we rake up fire in the Ashes at night so we usually find it in the morning and such I say as our thoughts are of God when we sleep will be when we awake In a word Think of your sleeping in Jesus and your awaking and appearing with him in glory in the morning of the Resurrection And thus I have as briefly as I could with any profit to you directed you how to make a Spiritual use of whatsoever presents it self to your senses from morning to evening at home and abroad What remains but that we put in practice what we see to be our duty motives to iâ— and directions for it you have had before I need not add any more onely this consideration there 's a double use God expects we should make of every Creature a natural and a spiritual and if we should content our selves only with the natural use without the Spiritual we should lose the one half and the best half of that comfort in the Creature which God gave it for and we shall do no more then natural carnal sensual men yea the very Beasts do and therefore if we will evidence our selves to be Christians indeed that mind the wellfare of our Souls as well as our Bodies then to apply our selves more then ever we have done to the practice of this sweet weighty and profitable duty of Meditation both Solemn and Occasional Which that we may blessed Lord thou who hast put it into the heart of thy weak and unworthy Servant to study and write these things for the good and comfort of thy People be thou graciously pleased by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit to make them useful to all into whose hands they shall come for the promoting and carrying on the Work of Grace in their hearts and lives and the furthering of their everlasting Salvation Oh Lord I pray thee let it not be in vain that this or any other help is afforded them but do thou give success to the weak endeavours of thy unworthy Servant so as there may be glory to thee profit to them and comfort to him who hath found that grace in thy sight to be accepted and enabled to be any way instrumental for their help and comfort in the way homeward to everlasting life This is and shall be the Prayer of Your Affectionate and Antient Pastor J. B. FINIS
affected with what we hear or read out of the Word Deutr. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and it cannot be in the heart if we do not meditate on it Thirdly Without meditation it will not stay or abide on the heart it is meditation that keeps it and fastens it and makes it like letters Engraven on Gold and Marble to abide long Fourthly Because Not to meditate on the Word is to offer contempt to the Word as a Man doth to that Person and thing which he never regards to mind and think on and Prov. 13 13. He that despiseth the Word shall be destroyed Fifthly Because without meditation when Men come to lie on their sick and Death-beds their Eyes will be opened to see and bewail their folly for a Man to walk in a way and never consider where he is going and what mischief may befall him in it How will he befool himself How will he wish he had hearkned to God's counsels Deut. 32. Oh that men were wise understood this consider their latter end Many have lamented when it was too late let us take warning by others harming Prov. 5.12 13. 1. It is an Angelical service the only and the chief Service that we know of that the Angels are exercised in sc the meditation of God's glorious excellencies will and ways and works and therefore if we would attain to the Height of Angels it must be by Meditation Dr. Holdsworth on Psal 119.48 2dly A second motive is the transcendent Excellency of this duty First It is a duty most pleasing and acceptable unto God above all other duties above all Ear-service Tongue-service and Hand-service if there be not Head and Heart-service he abhors all Isaiah 29.13 But now meditation that makes all acceptable whatsoever defects and failings there be in the rest the reasons are First Because meditation comes immediately from the heart which is that God principally looks to and delights in Secondly Because the secresie of it is accompanied with more humility and sincerity which are the graces God so much prizeth Thirdly Because it is a duty ordinarily more full of spiritualness and heavenliness than other duties are Fourthly The excellency of it appears in that nothing is able to hinder us from it no Time nor Tyrant though they may from speaking and acting yet not from meditating and thinking on God and the things of God the mind of the greatest Slave is still free to think on what he will Fifthly It is that which will transform us more into the Image of God from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. ult As a Pearl by the frequent beating of the Sun-beams upon it becomes more lightsome and radiant like the Sun so Meditation not only makes the faces of Christians to shine but their lives in the Eys of all God Angels and Men good and bad Sixthly In that it is an Anticipation of glory a perspective to shew us the glory of Heaven Jacob's Ladder to carry us up to Heaven a taking possession of Heaven in our minds before we come there in our bodies by this we may with Stephen see Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive us and with Moses talk with God face to face and with the Apostle be rapt up to Heaven and see that happiness we are loath to leave and cannot utter what it is 2 Cor. 12. The Third Motive is the great Utility of this duty no duty more profitable for Humiliation Consolation Edification and Salvation First For Humiliation Meditation makes men look into and seriously consider the lives of their ways the multitude and greatness of their sins the Circumstances that do aggravate them the sad fruits and effects of them and so humble themselves the more thorowly under them As Peter after he had denied his Lord and Master when he reflected and consider'd whom he had denied and who he was that denied him and how often he had denied him it made him go out and weep bitterly whereas on the contrary if men never set apart any time to meditate of the sinfulness of their nature the evil of their ways and the circumstances by which they are aggravated they can never be humbled under them as they ought Jerem. 8 6. No man repents of his wickedness Why because no man said What have I done c. Secondly Most profitable for Consolation First Because it makes men to look after the Remedy the grace of God hath vouchsafed to free them from sin and misery and labour to know Jesus Christ who he is and what he hath done and suffer'd for them and what they must do to get an interest in his Merits Graces Benefits Secondly It makes them to acquaint themselves with the Covenant of Grace which he hath made and seal'd in the blood of his Son to get an interest in it and those many and precious promises of pardon and peace salvation and deliverance all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus as you may see in David Psalm 94.19 Whereas without meditation men are careless of these things and so deprive themselves of that support and comfort which otherwise they might have in time of trouble Thirdly That which will clear up a work of grace evidence them to be truly gracious Souls according to that of the wise man Prov. 23.7 As he thinketh in his heart so is he As a Man's thoughts are such is the man Meditation as one well saith is the Touch-stone of a Christian it shews what Metal he is made of it 's a spiritual Index to shew what is within as the Index shews what is in the Book so Meditation shews what is in the heart The godly Man thinks on God's Name Malachi 3.17 but for the wicked man God is not in all his thoughts Psalm 10. Thirdly Profitable for Edification and building up the whole man in grace and gracious practises it betters the Head the Heart the Tongue the Life First It betters the Head keeps out evil thoughts and furnisheth them with good thoughts it makes men look into the nature of things to search the Scriptures whether things be so or no to examine their own ways whether they be good or evil and so to make the greater progress in ways of well-doing as David Psal 119.99 whereas without Meditation all that men read and hear is but rudis indigestaque moles a kind of confused knowledge As it betters the Understanding so the Memory for it recalls things forgotten and imprints them the more deeply in the memory rivets them there and turns them into blood and spirit juice and marrow whereas the neglect of it spoils the memory and makes them lose the benefit of all they have heard and read and seen Secondly It betters the Heart for it makes men apply general truths to themselves in particular turns Brain-knowledge into Heart knowledge Contemplative-knowledge into Practical knowledge And needs must it better the Heart seeing it excites and
that have this Book because your Memory is weak to take it in your hands and begin with the first Head of Meditation and then go on Day after Day until you have gone thorow and if there be any special subject you desire to meditate on to look into the Contents Thirdly For the Egress or Conclusion of your Meditation First so reflect and look back how we have perform'd it If not with profit and comfort then to take notice wherein we are defective and faulty and humble our selves under it and mend it the next time If we have reaped benefit and comfort by it to bless God for it and conclude all with praise for his gracious presence with us and pray he would make all effectual for the bettering of our heads and hearts and tongues and lives And thus of Meditation in general Next because most complain of scarcity or want of matter others of distraction through want of Method I have therefore thought fit to select the choisest things for Meditation through the Body of Divinity and reduce them to their several Heads that so however you cannot remember them all yet you may have them still before your eye and go on in the Meditation of them Day after Day CHAP. II. AND first I shall begin with solemn and deliberate Meditation and after give you some heads for sudden and occasional Meditation For solemn and deliberate Meditation the matter of your Meditation may be reduced to these 6 or 7 Heads God and Christ the Holy Spirit Man the World and the good and evil Angels by which God governs the World First I shall shew you what special things you are to meditate on in GOD to begin with him who is the beginning of all things and to be often and much in meditation on him for the more we meditate on him the more we shall know him and the more we know him the more we shall love him and the more we love him the more we shall desire him and the more we desire him the more shall we labour after communion with him not only in grace here but in glory hereafter but here in meditating on God take with you these three Cautions First To meditate on him in a way of faith and not reason because reason cannot comprehend the Unity in Trinity or Trinity in Unity Secondly Not to conceive of God out of Christ because God out of Christ is a consuming Fire Hebr. 12. last Thirdly Take heed of framing any Image of God in your minds he being a Spirit and an Infinite Spirit in all and through all and above all but to conceive of him I say in Christ who is the express Image of the Father the Ladder by which we are to clime up to Heaven to see and know God One well expresseth it thus when I see the body of a living man I know his Soul is there also and therefore when I speak to his body I speak to his understanding also because they are together so in viewing with the eye of my mind the humane nature of Christ glorious in Heaven I do at the same time look upon the God-head that being personally united unto it for in him dwelleth the God-head bodily or Personally Q. What are those things we are to meditate on in GOD A. His Nature Attributes Word Works Worship 1. His Nature and here take notice what he is in his Beeing and that he only is Jehovah 1. What he is in his Beeing This cannot be conceived much less defined by finite Creatures yet may be described so far as he hath revealed himself in the Scripture which is this An Eternal Infinite Perfect Incomprehensible Spirit distinguished into three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost every one Co-essential and Co-equal To open this briefly mind well I say he is a Spirit John 4.24 Now what a Spirit is our Saviour tells you Luke 24.31 Iohn 1.18 sc a Substance or Beeing that cannot be seen or felt 2. I say he is an Eternal Infinite Perfect Incomprehensible Spirit these Attributes distinguish him from all other Spirits as Angels and the Souls of men 1. He is an Eternal Spirit i. e. One that had no beginning nor can have any end 1 Tim. 1.17 To the King Eternal c. and Revel 1.8 But now Angels and the Souls of men though they shall have no end yet had a beginning were Created by God Gen. 12.1 2. God he is an Infinite Spirit i. e. Such a Beeing as cannot be contained within any place 1 Kings 8.27 Behold The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him and Isa 66.1 But for Angels and the Souls of men they are contained within their proper places 3. God he is a perfect Spirit unto whom no degree of goodness or excellency can be added 1 Iohn 1.5 Gen. 17.1 I am God All-sufficient But for Angels and the Souls of men they are capable of more degrees of goodness and excellency 4. God is an incomprehensible Spirit Psal 145.3 His greatness is incomprehensible 1 Timothy 1.16 He dwells in light unapproachable we may more easily comprehend what God is not than what he is but now for Angels and the Souls of Men we may in some measure comprehend what they are so far forth as God hath revealed it 3. I add distinguished into three Persons Here to take notice 1. What a Person is sc a distinct Subsistence or beeing having in it the whole God-head and distinguished from another by his incommunicable properties as 1. Of the Father to beget Psal 2.7 the Son to be begotten John 18. and of the Holy Ghost to proceed from both John 15.26 2. To take notice why we say Distinguished and not divided sc because the God-head being one pure simple unchangeable Beeing it cannot be divided or separated one from the other but are in one the other as you may see cleerly John 14.9 Lastly I add Co-essential and Co-equal i. e. Every one true and very God and not one before the other or greater than the other being every one God as appears in that the same names of God and properties of God and actions of God are given to every Person in the Trinity The Father God Eph. 13. John 17.3 The Son God Isai 9.6 Heb. 1.8 The Holy Ghost God Acts 5.3 4. 1 Cor. 3.16 To take notice and meditate seriously on these things in the Nature of God because the ignorance and want of the serious consideration of it is the cause of so many misapprehensions of God and aberrations from God 2. That you may the better know what God is to take notice that he only is Jehovah Psal 83.18 Thy Name only is Jehovah Q. What is the meaning of that Ans This word Jehovah it imports three things 1. That he hath his Beeing in and of and from Himself being deemed Hava or Hajah that signifieth To be and be of himself and from himself 2. It is he that gave a beeing to all that have any beeing as Isa 44.24
under Heaven by which we can be saved Joh. 8.24 If you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins and therefore it 's a gross Error A man may be saved in any Religion so he walk according to the Rules of it and as he is the only remedy so he is an All-sufficient remedy hath thorowly trode the Wine-press of God's wrath fulfilled and brought in everlasting righteousness and so able to save to the uttermost all such as come to God by him Heb. 7.26 Thirdly To meditate on the infinite love of God to Man-kind in vouchsafing such a Remedy to us and none to the fallen Angels Heb. 2.16 and John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave c. with such a Sic as has no Sicut such a So as has no Like so as cannot be conceiv'd much less expressed Fourthly On the infinite love of Christ in the voluntary undertaking this great Work for us and standing between the wrath of God and out Souls when the whole Creation trembled at it Psal 40.8 This is such a love as passeth love and passeth knowledge Men and Angels not able to comprehend what the bredth and length and depth and heighth is of this love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners Eph. 3.18 19. Fifthly To meditate on the amiableness or loveliness of Christ in himself that your hearts may be drawn out the more after him Cant. 5. last He is altogether lovely all desirable in his Names Nature Offices Graces Actions Passions and Benefits purchased by him for us First In his Names His name is as an Ointment poured out Cant. 1.3 God hath given him a name above every name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow Phil. 2.9 And this Name JESUS so full of sweetness that as Bernard hath it it is Mel in ore melos in aure Jubilus in corde Honey in the mouth Musick in the Ear and a Jubilee in the Heart so sweet that Austin after his Conversion delighted not to read any Book wherein was not the Name Jesus And for his Name Christ how full of sweetness is this so called because he was Anointed to be the Mediator King Priest and Prophet of his Church You may read more of his precious names Isai 9.6 Secondly Altogether lovely in his Natures both Divine and Humane First For His Divine Nature He is God Co-essential Co-eternal and every way coequal with his Father and therefore stiled God's-fellow Zach. 13.7 Secondly For His Humane Nature as He was Man so He was a Just and Innocent Man Mat. 27.19 A good man that always went about doing good to the Souls and Bodies of others Acts 10.38 An eminent Man above all Men fairer than all the Children of Men Isai 45.2 and that both in Soul and Body And needs must as being without all sin from which all deformities come especially in his state of Exaltation as the Apostle tells you when he met with him in the way of his Persecution Act. 26.13 At mid-day O King I saw in the way a light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun shining round about me c. Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Offices oâ— Mediatorship Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office First His Office of Mediatorship for first he hath reconcil'd by this God and Man Law and Gospel Mercy and Justice Secondly Hereby He hath opened a way for us into the Presence oâ— God whom we could no more draw nigh to without Him than the Stubble to the consuming Fire Heb. 12. last Secondly For His Priestly Office He is altogether lovely in that First Because He is a Priest not after the Order of Aaron but the Order of Melchisedeck Psal 110.4 Aaron was a temporary Priest but Christ an Eternal Priest Secondly In that He was not only a Priest but Altar and Sacrifice all which never any before Him was Isaiah 56.67 and 60.7 Thirdly A Priest that sprinkles Persons and Services with his precious Blood so as to take away the iniquity of our holy things and render all acceptable to his Father Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 Fourthly A merciful High Priest that cannot but have a fellow-feeling of all our infirmities Heb. 11.15 and knows how to succour them under their temptations Heb. 2. end Fifthly A Priest that is holy harmless separate from sinners and so able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him seeing He ever lives to make Intercession for them Heb. 7.25 Thirdly Altogether lovely in his Prophetical Office A Prophet that excels all other Prophets First In that all other Prophets were but Types of this Prophet even Moses himself Mat. 10.27 Heb. 3. Secondly Other Prophets could speak only to the Ear but Christ to the hearts of men other Prophets could only instruct but not convert Christ doth both Revel 3.7 Christ in speaking makes his to live Joh. 5.25 Thirdly Other Prophets could reveal but a part of God's will Christ he makes known the whole will of God John 15.15 Heb. 1.1 2. Fourthly All other Prophets had their Authority and Commission from Him He his from Himself Mat. last the last Eph. 4.11 In a word such a Prophet as he is the Angel's Surety Mediator of the Covenant the Angel as he goes from God to us and us to God the Surety as he undertakes for us and the Mediator he goes between God and us Fourthly Altogether lovely in his Kingly Office for He is King of kings a King that excels all other Kings in His wisdom power righteousness mercy Secondly A Universal King over all Nations and all Creatures in the World Math. 28. All Power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth and Eph 1 22. Thirdly He is a spiritual King a King that sets up his Throne in the Hearts and Consciences of Men which other Kings cannot however the Pope and his Pope lings will usurp it Revel 18.13 Fourthly He is an everlasting King whâ—â—e Kingdom can never be shaken Heb. 12.27 Of whose Kingdom there is no end Daniel 2.44 Fifthly Altogether lovely in his Graces and that both inherent in him and diffusive from him First Inherent in him therefore do the Virgins love him and run after him Cant. 1.2 and the Angels worship Him Heb 1. And he must needs be so because in Him is the fulness of grace and truth John 1.14 and he hath the Spirit without measure John 3 34 and is anointed with the Oil of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 Secondly In his diffusive graces for from his fulness it is we all receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16 that is grace like to that in Christ and one degree and measure of grace after another 2 Cor. 3. last Fifthly He is altogether lovely in his actions for never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.40 and never man did as he did Joh. 9.39 Sixthly A together lovely in his Passions never any man suffer'd what he did or as he did nor suffer'd so willingly patiently constantly aâ—
Lord under the consideration of it Secondly As there followed guilt so filth or the defilement of the whole Man with sin original and actual and here to meditate what these are and what special things in them are to be meditated on for the humbling of our Souls and the keeping us from closing with Temptations to them First What sin is viz. The transgression of the Law of God either revealed in the Word 1 Ep. Joh. 3.4 or written in the heart Rom. 2.14 15. and here about sin to take notice and meditate on the ugly filthy hurtful hateful nature of it 1. For the ugly nature of sin it is not only evil but the worst of all evils and the cause of all other evils that it is most contrary to God's most Holy Nature that which made the Devil a Devil and Hell to be Hell without which the Devil would be a blessed Angel and Hell would be Heaven that also that could not be expiated and done away by the death and blood-shed of all the Creatures but only by the precious heart-blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Secondly Meditate on the filthy nature of it as it is compar'd to the Excrements of Man Isai 4.4 and called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Excrement of Excrements or superfluity of naughtiness James 1.21 yea not only filthy in the concrete but filthiness it self in the abstract 2 Cor. 7.1 Q. But how doth this appear A. In that it defiles a man in all and all to him 1. It defiles him in all every faculty of Soul every power of Body Mat. 15.19 20. whence Solomon calls the sinner a loathsome Person Prov. 15.3 because sin is that which makes him loathsome to all to God and Man and Himself 1. To God Zach. 11.8 my Soul loatheth them 2. Loathsome to Men especially good Men Psal 15.4 Prov. 29. last Isai 66.24 3dly That which makes men loathsome to themselves when God once opens their Eyes to see it and brings them home to himself by Repentance Ezek. 36.31 Job 42.6 Rom. 6.21 Secondly As it defiles a Man in all so all to him all his Relations all his Enjoyments all his Actions natural civil religious Titus 1.15 To the impure all things are impure the Word is a killing Letter the Sacraments Seal up Damnation in short of so defiling a nature as all the Water of the old World could not wash away the stain of it nor all the Fire of the last Judgment and of Hell will be able to burn up the dross of it Thirdly Meditate on the hateful nature of sin how hateful it is to God and good men 1. To God it is the only object of his hatred he hates nothing but as it is sinful not the Devil but only as sin made him a Devil 2. That it is so hateful to God appears in that he hates it where-ever he sees it Even in his own Son who knew no sin yet because he took our sin upon him he so manifested his hatred of it as he would not spare the severe punishment of it in him because the Creatures could not strike a stroke hard enough he was pleas'd to bruise him Isai 53.16 and to lay upon him the fierceness of his wrath Lament 1.12 Secondly As hateful to God so to all good men Psal 139.21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee search me and try me c. Psal 119.128 I hate every false way the Martyrs so hated sin as they chose rather to burn at the Stake and undergo any torment than give way to any sin Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was wont to say that if he saw Hell on one side and sin on the other and he must of necessity choose one he would rather choose Hell without sin and no wonder for where there is no Sin there is no Hell Fourthly On the hurtful nature of sin this appears 1. In that it is the greatest Enemy to God to Christ to the Spirit to Us 1. To God it 's that which seeks to un-Throne Him and un-God Him and there is no true and loyal Subject but will endeavour the death of him that seeks the death of his Soveraign Lord and King Secondly The greatest Enemy to Christ that which brought him from Heaven to the Cross made Him sweat Blood under the apprehension of his Father's wrath due to him and to cry out on the Cross to the amazement of Heaven and Earth My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thirdly The greatest Enemy to the Spirit of God that which quencheth and grieveth and vexeth and resists him makes him to leave his Habitation and when he goes out the Devil comes in with seven worse Spirits than ever Mat. 12.45 Fourthly The greatest Enemy to Us that which deprives us of all good Isai 59.2 and exposeth us to all evil Rom. 2.8 9 10. pulls down all manner of Judgments on Persons Families Towns Cities Kingdoms Countreys Prov. 8. last Rom. 1.16 Eph. 5.5 That which makes every man to come in with a Cry and go out of the World with a Groan So much of Sin in general Secondly For Original sin that you may be effectually humbled under it to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. What it is 2. The several Titles given to it with the Reasons of them 3. The Parts of it 4 The extent of it And 5. The fruits of it First What it is for the understanding of this you are to Note that Original sin is taken either actively or passively First Actively for the sin of Adam in eating the forbidden fruit and is call'd by Divines Peccatum Originans the beginning-sin or the sin giving a beginning to all other sins Secondly Passively for the corruption of nature flowing from that first sin of Adam and is call'd Peccatum Originatum or sin taking a beginning from that first sin of Adam and this is that which we are to speak unto and may be described thus A privation of Original righteousness and a depravation of the whole Man with unrighteousness Justly deriv'd from the loins of our first Parents unto all their Posterity by reason whereof every Man and Woman is conceiv'd and born in sin brings into the World with them the Seeds of all sin is inclin'd to all evil and averse to all that is good 1. There is a deprivation of Original righteousness wherein Man was created Rom. 3.10 There 's none righteous no not one Secondly A depravation of the whole man with unrighteousness Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Men but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things in man for the word is in the Neuter Gender and it is further evident by the Apostle's Prayer for Universal Sanctification 1 Thes 5.23 Implying an Universal Corruption Thirdly I say justly deriv'd from the Loins of our first Parents to all their Posterity as you may see Gen. 5.3 Adam begot a Son in his own likeness that is
all pains and miseries and calamities and all sin which is the cause of them as sin brought Death into our bodies so Death carries sin out of the body and however these vile bodies be dissolved into dust yet they shall be raised up again at the last day and be made like unto Christ's Glorious Body Phil. 3. last 2. For the Soul It shall be no loser but a great gainer by Death and that three wayes 1. In the place it goes unto viz. from Earth unto Heaven 2. In the excellent qualities it shall be endowed withall viz. perfection in all the faculties of it as it goes to the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 3. In the excellent company it goes to enjoy leaving the company of sinners here and going to enjoy the company of Saints and Angels and the ever blessed Unity in Trinity 2dly In that it cannot hurt us appears in that it can never dissolve the Union between Christ and a believing Soul but brings it to a nearer sweeter and fuller Union of a Gracious makes it a Glorious Union however it separates Soul and Body one from the other yet it cannot separate either from Jesus Christ the Soul upon Death goes immediately unto Christ in Paradise and Christ goes down with the Body into the Grave where it sweetly rests as in its Bed in the Arms of Jesus Christ until the morning of the Resurrection of the Just Isa 57.2 1. It can never break the Covenant of Grace between God and the Soul for it 's an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17. And he hath not only promised to be their God unto Death but after Death and to all eternity 2. It can never untie the Marriage-Knot between Christ and his Spouse for he hath betrothed her unto himself for ever Hos 2. And whom he loves he loves to the end John 13.1 even with an everlasting love Jeremiah 31.3 3. It can never reverse those grants of Grace that God hath vouchsafed his as the grants of Reconciliation Justification Adoption Sanctification Salvation for the Gifts and Callings of God are without repentance Rev. 11.29 3dly As it is no way able to hurt you so it will every way do you good Though it be the last enemy that shall be destroyed yet of an enemy it shall be made a friend and the best friend that ever you had How so Why because Jesus Christ by undergoing Death and lying in the Grave he hath altered the nature both of Death and the Grave Death of a King of Terrors it made a Prince of Peace of a passage to eternal Death made a passage to eternal Life unto all that do believe the Grave that is a loathsome Dungeon to the wicked is made a sweet resting-place to the Saints That you may the more clearly and fully see the good will come to you by Death and so be made the more willing to it and chearfully resign your Spirit into the hands of God when he calls for it take serious notice of these ten following Particulars 1. Death is no Death to a true Believer It 's not his last day but the beginning of an everlasting day 2. Your dying day will not be your worst day but your best day better is the day of a mans Death then the day of his Birth saith Solomon Eccles 7.1 it being the egress of all misery and the ingress of eternal felicity 3. A Christians dying day it will be his enlarging day when he shall be set at liberty out of the Prison of the Body and brought home to his Fathers House 2 Cor. 5.8 It is but as Christ stiles it His departing and going to the Father John 13.1 4. A Christians dying day will be his resting day wherein he shall rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering from all temptations corruptions vexations Job 3.17 And who desires not rest 5. His dying day will be his reaping day having sown here in Tears he shall reap in Joy reap the fruit of all the Sermons they have heard all the Prayers they have made all the Tears they have shed all the Sighs and Groans they have uttered all the good Thoughts they have had all the good Words they have spoken all the good Works they have done all the Evils they have suffered and all they have forgotten to do and suffer Mat. 25.34 When saw we thee an hungry and fed thee not c. Then Christ will remember them and say In that you did it unto them ye did it unto me Yea there is not the least good work that any have done for any of his but it shall be remembred and rewarded even to a cup of cold Water Mat. 10. last 6. A Christians dying day will be his conquering and tryumphing day over all his Enemies Sin Satan and the World Death and Hell here we are in a continual warfare there 's not a day hour or moment wherein we can rest either from corruption within or temptation without but then there shall be an end of all then we shall tryumph over all in the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where 's now thy sting c. 7. A Christians dying day will be his transplanting day from Earth to Heaven from Misery to Glory from a Valley of Tears to a Valley of blessed Visions from a howling Wilderness to a heavenly Paradise It is no other then a straight Gate to a Pallace of Glory a dark Entry to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light And oh Who would not be willing to exchange a Sodom for Sion an Egypt for Canaan Misery for Glory 8. A Christians dying day it 's his uncloathing day of a body of Sin and Death and the cloathing him with his House from Heaven his putting off his old Rags of Sin and Corruption and his putting on of the White Robe of Christ's Righteousness and with it the Robe of Glory 9. A Christians dying day it 's his marriage day with the Lamb the King of Saints and if the day of a Believers espousals be so sweet how sweet will the marriage day be Rev. 19.7 10. A Christians dying day will be his corronation day wherein Christ will crown all those that love his appearance with the Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 where they shall be still following the Lamb with Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their Hands and tryumphant Songs in their Mouths Rev. 5.11 12 13. Mix these Meditations with Faith and Prayer and you will find them mighty through God not only to make you willing but even long with the Apostle to be dissolv'd and be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 1.23 Amen and Amen Secondly That which follows DEATH is JUDGMENT Sect. 6. In and about the Judgment Day to take notice of and meditate seriously on these things 1. The Certainty 2. The Uncertainty 3. The near approach of it 4. The great solemnity of it 5. The universality of the Persons to be judged 6. The impartiality of it
7. The strictness of the account 8. The terror of it to the Wicked 9. The comfort of it to the Godly 10. What we are to do to escape the terror and enjoy the comfort of it 1. Meditate on the Certainty of it However wicked men and atheistical wretches scoff and say Where 's the promise of his coming yet he will most certainly come to Judgment for he hath appointed a day that he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man Christ Jesus Acts 17.31 2. On the Uncertainty of that day He will come to Judgment in a day and hour that knoweth no man no nor the Angels in Heaven Mat. 24.36 He will come as a Thief in the night 2 Pet. 3.10 and in an hour when men think not of Mat. 24.44 As the Lightning out of the East Matth. 25. and as Travel upon a Woman with Child 1 Thes 5.3 3. To think on the near approach of that day Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known in all things for the Lord 's at hand sayes the Apostle And James 5.8 The coming of the Lord draweth nigh and vers 9. Behold the Judge stands before the door If he were so near then doubtless he cannot be far off now now he is ready to come to Judgment if not the general yet remember your particular Judgment may be before the next morrow 4. Meditate on the great solemnity of that day Then the Trumpet will sound to summon all the World before the Judge of all the World 1 Thes 4.16 Mat. 25.31 5. On the universality of that Judgement 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ high and low rich and poor young and old none to be exempted not the greatest Potentate Rev. 6. to the end I have read of a wicked King that on his death-bed fell a weeping and being askt by his Brother why he so wept Answered Oh saith he to think that I who have judged others must stand forth to be judged my self 6. The impartiality of that Judgment He will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 17.31 There will be no respect of Persons no Advocate to plead the cause of wicked Men no Bribes to be taken in that Court 7. Of the strict account that is to be made in that day of all mens most secret Thoughts Words and Works First Their Thoughts Rom. 2.16 Secondly Their Words Mat. 12.36 Thirdly Their works Eccles 12.14 And the Books wherein all these are written Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead c. Q. What are these Books A. There are five the Book of the Creatures the Book of the Scriptures the Book of God's Remembrance the Book of Conscience and the Book of Life 8. The terror of that day unto all found out of Christ and enemies to him and of all other dayes the most terrible to the wicked and ungodly of the World and that 1. in respect of him that is to be their Judge the Lord Jesus Christ whose Name they have blasphemed whose Creatures they have abused who Sabbaths they have prophaned whose Gospel they have disobeyed whose Grace they have despised whose Spirit they have despighted whose Ministers they have contemned whose Children they have persecuted He to be their Judge who is infinite in Knowledge to find out every sin and sinner infinite in Justice to render to every man according to his work infinite in Power to â—â—row Soul and Body into Hell If in the time of his humiliation he struck so many Souldiers to the ground with his Voice when they came to apprehend him Quid faciet judicaturus qui haec fecit judicandus saith one If he did this when he was to be judged what shall he do when he comes to judge his presence will be so terrible as the greatest will call to the Rocks and to the Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from this presence of the Judge Râ—â— 6. about the latter end 2. The terror will be the more in respect of the dreadful manner of his coming in that he will come suddenly in an hour that men think not of in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15. as Travail upon a Woman with Child 1 Thes 5. as a snare upon all the sons of Men Luke 21.35 And as suddenly so most gloriously will he come with thousand thousands of his glorious Angels and glorified Saints Dan. 7.10 And in flaming fire rendering vengeance to all that know not God and obey not his Gospel 2 Thes 1.7 8.3 It will yet be more dreadful in respect of the separation that will be then made of them from all the Godly those wicked ones that upon the Earth scorn'd to take the left hand or sit in the lowest place shall then be forced whether they will or no to take the left hand and stand below amongst the Goats and with the Devil and his Angels when the Godly shall be taken up into the Clouds and shall be Accessors with Jesus Christ in Judgement upon the wicked World 4. The terror will yet be greater in respect of that most just and dreadful sentence that is to be passed upon them Depart ye cursed c. Wherein every word is a Hell before they come to Hell breatheth out nothing but Fire and Brimstone is enough to break the heart of a sinner and add a new degree of misery To depart from so Glorious and Gracious a Presence were Hell enough but they must depart with a Curse and not only so but into Fire and that everlasting Fire and that with no other Companions but the Devil and his angels insulting over them with hellish â—espight and stinging exprobations of their folly and madness in neglecting so great a Salvation as was tendred so often to them and lâ—sing Heaven for a base Lust 9. Meditate on the exceeding great joy and comfort to all true Believers and gracious Souls the most joyfullest and comfortablest day that ever they knew and that in many respects mind them well 1. In respect of the Judge Quia idem erit Judex qui patronus qui mediator et pontifex saith Ambrose He to be our Judge who is our Advocate our Mediator our merciful high Priest our dear Head and Husband and who will be afraid to appear before such a Judge 2. In respect of their enemies it will be a day of Revelation Vindication Exultation First A day of Revelation Rom. 8.19 when those who were censured to have been Hypocrites shall be found to have been true Nathaniels those that were censured to have been Factious and Rebellious against their Governors shall be found and acknowledged to be the onely true and loyal Subjects the best Friends to Church and State when those that were censured to have been but precise Fools shall be acknowledged even by the wicked themselves to have been the onely wise Men and themselves the very Fools as he brings them in the 5th of Wisdom We Fools c. Secondly A day of Vindication
God Let all the Angels of God worship him and were all along at his command and service attended on him in his Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascention and shall at the last day in his comming to Judgement as you may see clearly in reading the Gospel Luke 1.13 22.43 24.5 6. Acts 1.10 11. Mat. 8.38 13.49 3. They minister to the Church and People of God in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life They Minister both to the well-fare of their Bodies and Souls in watching over them and protecting them from evil Psal 34.7 Psal 91.10 11. instructing and directing quickning incouraging and comforting them in that which is good Dan. 8.16 17. Dan. 9.12 Gen. 24.7 Gen. 32.1 Isa 6.6 7. Rev. 22.9 2. In Death They are about their Beds refresh them in their Sufferings as they did Christ in his Agonies stand ready to receive their Souls and to carry them as they did the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom Luke 16.22 3. After Death They watch over their Bodies as Michael the Arch-Angel did over the Body of Moses Jude 9. And at the last day they shall open their Graves and bring out their Bodies and secure them from the fire that it shall not hurt them as in 〈…〉 these three Children in the Fiery Furnace Dan. 3. And whereas the Devil will then be most raging the good Angels will restrain them and stop their mouths as they did stop the mouths of the Lyons when Daniel was cast into the Den after this they will gather together all the Elect from the four quarters of the Earth Mat. 24.31 and separate them from the Reprobates Mat. 13.40 Take them up into the Clouds to be Accessors with Christ in Judgment on the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 and joyn with them 〈◊〉 praising God Rev. 4.9 10. Rev. 5.11 12. 7.9 10. Q. 2. What are our duties in respect of the good Angels A. These are many and weighty though little known and less practised by the most and therefore mind them well 1. To admire the wonderful love of God in honouring us with such glorious and blessed Guardians not only vouchsafing his own protection and the protection of his Son and Spirit but also of his blessed Angels Is not this matter of admiration what are the Angels but the most glorious Creatures in the World the glorious Courtiers of Heaven No Prince on Earth hath so glorious a Guard as every Saint even the poorest hath every day and night and therefore to be still admiring and adoring this wonderful love of God and say Lord what is Man and I among the Sons of Men that thou shouldest honour me so far as to give thy Angels a charge to minister to me and watch over me every day and night 2. To glory in this priviledge above all other priviledges in the World that we have such high and excellent Creatures to minister to us and to be our Guardians If men have a great and long Train at theit heels of great and Noble Persons in Silk and Sattin and Golden Chains how do they run after them and gaze upon them whereas alas all this bravery is but beggery to the Glory of those that wait upon the Saints they have higher and more glorious attendance those noble and glorious Courtiers of Heaven men need a fair day and a clear Sun-shine to discover their bravery or half the shew of it is lost but now nothing can darken the glory of the Saints attendance Mat. 28.2 3. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it his countenance was like Lightning and his Raiment white as Snow 3. Take heed you do not injure any the least of God's Saints the poorest meanest most contemptible of them Why Because they have the glorious Angels to wait upon them and minister unto them Mat. 18.10 See that thou despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you the Angels behold the Face of my Father Why should any think them unworthy of their company and countenance when the greatest Angels think them worthy of their attendance and service if any wrong them the Angels will certainly right them When the Sodomites rose up against Lot the Angel smote them with blindness and rescued Lot out of their hands If Balaam go about to curse God's Israel an Angel stands in the way with a drawn Sword to withstand him If proud Sennacherib threaten to destroy Hezekiah and his People an Angel goes forth and slayes in one night a hundred eighty and five thousand in his Army And therefore take heed of wronging any of them any way 4. Be quickned hence to honour and serve that God more chearfully that hath so highly honoured and incouraged you in the service of him as to appoint the Glorious Angels to attend upon you in it shall they that are so high and holy above us stoop so low as to attend upon us and Minister to us at God's command and shall not we who are so inferior to him readily do service to him who is so high above us and hath no need of our service and whose service cannot any way reach to him but only to our selves And when our honour and happiness is wrapt up in it what a shame were this and what an aggravation will this be upon all idle Servants at the last day 5th Duty To carry our selves so as we may injoy the benefit sweet and comfort of this glorious and blessed Priviledge the Ministration and Service of the Angels Q. How is that A. Mind well it consists in these Particulars 1. To take more notice of this glorious Priviledge then ever you have done If you have been ignorant and heedless of it heretofore take the shame of it and labour to get a more distinct knowledge of it and get your Faith confirmed and established in it for is it not a foul shame that such glorious Spirits should take notice of us and minister to us and we take no notice of them 2. To see that you be such Persons as God hath given his Angels a charge over Who are they 1st Such as fear the Lord Psalm 34.7 2ly Such as keep in God's Wayes the wayes of his Commandments Psalm 91.1 3ly Such as continually pray to God for their direction and protection as Abraham's Servant did Gen. 24.7 and the Israelites Numb 20.16 4ly Such as are Heirs of Salvation for they minister only unto such Heb. 1. last 3. To carry your selves reverently in their presence and take heed you do nothing that should offend and grieve them whence that 1 Cor. 10.11 12. A Woman ought to cover her Head because of the Angels that is as Mr. Perkins sayes not onely in respect of God's Ministers but the Angels and not without great reason 1. Because they are present to observe our carriage in all the Service of God
2. Because they are Holy Spirits and cannot indure to see any unholy or unclean behaviour 4thly To imitate the Blessed Angels especially in these four things 1. their Humility 2. Piety 3. Charity 4. Alacrity 1. Their Humility Though they be glorious Spirits yet they are content to stoop to the meanest Servants of God at God's Command they came down from Heaven to bring glad tydings of Salvation to poor Shepherds are willing to wait on those that are despised of men Mat. 18.10 how much more should we stoop to one another and serve one another in love see the command Rom. 12.3.16 2. To imitate them in their Piety They are God-like Holy as he is Holy therefore called 〈◊〉 Holy Angels Mark 8.38 And we are commandâ—◠〈◊〉 be Holy as God is Holy 1 Tim. 1.15 They seek nor their own Glory but the Lords Isa 〈…〉 so we are commanded 1 Cor. 〈…〉 They stand ready prest to know and do the Will of God Psal 103.21 And we are commanded Tuâ—â— 3. â— Be ready to every good work They do it also zealously Dan. 9.21 He make 〈◊〉 Angels a flame of Fire and this we are commâ—nded Rev. 3.19 Be zealous and amend And they do it constantly Matth. 18.10 And we are commanded 1 Cor. 15. last Be stedfast uâ—â—oveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord c. Gal. 6.10 Be not weary of well doing And all this is no other then what we are taught to pray for in the Lords Prayer in these words Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven That is universally sincerely chearfully constantly 3. In their Charity They not only love one another but they love us and in love to us they are content to stoop to any Service wherein they may express their love to us how much more should we love one the other and as the Apostle exhorts serve one another in love and the rather because it is the express command of Christ and he hath given himself an Example of it and made it the chief character of a Disciple of his John 13.35 4. To imitate them in their Joy They rejoyce continually in the Glory of God the Exaltation of Christ the Conversation of Sinners the Salvation of Souls the Glorification of the Saints together with themselves how much more should we rejoyce in these things seeing the benefit redounds not so much to them as to us 6th Duty Not to fear the malice and rage of the Evil Angels for however the Evil Angels endeavour to do all the mischief they can to the Godly and God permits them to do it to wicked men Psal 78.49 50. and sometimes to afflict the Godly Job 1.6 yet here 's our comfort All the Godly have the Good Angels to protect them that they cannot hurt them as they would however Evil Angels may have a permission from God to do them evil yet the Good Angels have alwayes a Commission from God to do them good Psal 103. to the end And the power of Good Angels is more and greater then of the Evil they having lost much of it by their fall and therefore not so much to fear them A King that hath his Guard about him fears no danger how much less should we who have though not of men yet a Guard of Angels 2 Kings 6.16 7th Duty Not slavishly to fear Death but to wellcome it whensoever it comes seeing it is the last Office the Angels do for the Saints here to attend on their Death-beds and take the care of their Souls and carry them after Death to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Luke 16.22 Heb. 12.22 Lastly Remember still to return God the Glory of this Glorious Priviledge the enjoyment of the Ministry of Angels and all the good and comfort you have reapt by it The Shepherds Luk. 2.20 having heard of the glad tydings brought by the Ministry of Angels they returned glorifying and praysing God but not the Angels the Angels ought to have their due reverence and respect for their Ministry but we are to give the honour and glory of it only to God Thus Daniel 6.22 and Peter Acts 12.11 they did not ascribe the deliverance to the Angels but unto God that sent his Angels And great cause have we to glorifie God in and for their Ministry 1. In respect of the great honour God conferreth on us in vouchsafing such honourable Guardians to us 2. In respect of the great good that comes to us by them not only in protecting us from those evil spirits which rule in the Air but the quickning and leadings to the following and guidance of his ever blessed Spirit of Grace 3. Because they are only instruments in God's Hand it 's God alone is the Author of all the good we receive by them Make these uses of the Ministry of Angels and you will be sure to reap much benefit and comfort by it and to have them still to attend upon you and minister to you in Life and Death and after Death 1. In Life to preserve you from evil and to incourage you in that which is good to comfort you in and deliver you out of trouble 2. In Death to stand about your Beds and keep off the evil Spirits and chear up your own Spirits arm you against the terrors of Death and as soon as your Soul shall be separate from the Body to carry it to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect And 3. after Death at the last and great Day to open your Graves and bring out your Bodies and take them up into the Air to the Accessors with Jesus Christ in judgment on the wicked World and after that to conduct you into Heaven there to be for ever with the Lord and with them still glorifying God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity Amen Secondly For the Evil Angels and Devils Sect. 2. In and about them to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. That there are such 2. What they are 3. How they became such 4. What their punishment 5. What their Office or Work is 6. What their Properties or Qualities are Lastly What our duties are in respect of them 1. That there are such evil Spirits or Devils is abundantly manifest by the testimony of the Scripture and their frequent Temptations Apparitions Possessions and Dispossessions the Scripture often mentions in the Old New Testament In the Old we read that the Devil was a lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets 1 Kings 22. and that Satan stir'd up David to number the People 1 Chron. 21.1 and how he afflicted Job cap. 1. and that he stood at the right hand of Joshua to resist him Zach. 3.1 In the New Testament we read how he tempted Christ Mat. 4. and how Christ cast him out of many possest by him as for those Atheists and Epicures that question it they have some of them been forced to acknowledge it here to their horror
David Psal 148. Where you may finde he calls upon all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth to do so Thirdly After our solemn Thanksgiving to be especially careful of expressing it in a suitable life it is only this is the life of thanksgiving and finds acceptance with God Psal 50. last Without this all outward gratulation is but dissimulation and a further provocation And that you are really thankful in your lives to manifest it thus First By a greater hatred of sin especially this sin of Unthankfulness Psal 130.4 Secondly Greater care of discharging the duties of piety to God Psal 116.16 17. and charity unto men Nehem. 8.10 11. not only to their bodies but their souls Psal 51.12 13. Thirdly By a suitable walking before God and serving him chearfully for the abundance of all his Goodness Deut. 28.47 Deut. 6.10 Deut. 10.12 The Ninth Duty is Holy Conference First Before it to set up resolutions of declining conference about other Mens Persons and other Mens Affairs 1 Thes 4.11 Study to be quiet and medle with your own business To decline also all controverted points and apply your selves only to practical to discourse of the things of God and Christ and his Spirit and the graces of the Spirit what they are and what evidences you have of them the four-fold state of Man the four last things what experiences you and others have had of God's providences over you and yours how he deliver'd you at such a time from such a danger and did help you in such a strait how you got power over such a temptation and such a corruption how you were enabled to and carried through such a duty Secondly To consider of some special spiritual Subject that may be most seasonable and suitable to the Persons you conferr withall their disposition and condition either inward or outward Thirdly To look up and entreat the Lord so to direct your hearts and tongues as you may speak to his glory and others edification Eph. 4.29 Secondly In the time of Conference to take heed of some things and practise others First To take heed of rash speaking Pro 8.13 Secondly Too much speaking Prov. 10.19 Prov. 29.17 Thirdly Disorderly speaking those to begin first who are first in place and gifts Job 32.4 5. Fourthly Vain-glorious speaking Prov. 27.2 Fifthly Censorious-speaking Mat. 7.1 Sixthly Contentious speaking more for Victory than for Truth James 3.16 Where envy and strife is there 's Confusion and every Evil Work And Secondly Other things to be practised as these To see your speech be wise deliberate humble meek gracious and profitable Thirdly After Conference to observe what you and others have profited by it give him the glory of his grace to you in it and by the sweetness you have found in it to long after that place where you shall all be perfected in love Thus much of the manner of worshipping God that so you may worship Him in such a right manner Sect. 5. Fifth-Circumstance in and about the worship of God is Reasons why every one is to give God the Worship due to him 1. Because not only our duty that we owe to him and he commands Math. 4.10 Revel 22.9 but our Priviledge Deut. 4.6 7. 2. The greatest honour the Creature is capable of not only Men and Angels but Christ himself accounted it so Isa 43.1 Lastly Because Ordinances wherein and whereby God is worshipped are the Meeting places between God and his Saints wherein they hold sweet communion one with the other and what we must do to get preserve and increase this communion First To get communion with God to this end First See you have union with God because without union no communion and to clear up your union with God to see that Christ be yours because he is a God to none out of Christ Eph. 2.14 and that Christ is yours to see that his Spirit be yours Rom. 8.9 and that the Spirit is yours to see that you have the sanctifying work of the Spirit 1 Thes 5.23 Secondly That you may have communion with God you are to make this the main end of your drawing neer to God in the use of his Ordinances for the sincerity and hypocrisie of a Man's Spirit is seen in the end he proposes to himself in duty Now there are two ends every one should propose to himself in drawing nigh to God in duty First That God may be more honour'd by them Secondly That we may enjoy more of God more discoveries of his love and further influences of his grace more enlightning enlivening mortifying sanctifying quickning strengthning and establishing Grace Secondly To preserve communion with God First To see you have no communion with sin and sinners 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 1 Joh. 1.6 7. Secondly To keep close to God in duty for there is no such way to keep God close to us as to keep close to Him 2 Chro. 15.2 I am with you whilst you are with me Thirdly To increase communion with God to come with an Appetite to it to carry our selves humbly in it and after it to hold forth the life and power of it in your conversations and by the sweetness you find in it to long the more after immediate perfect and everlasting communion with Him in Glory Amen Thus of the things to be meditated on in and about GOD. CHAP. III. The Second Head of Meditation is Our Lord Jesus Christ THe things to be meditated on in and about Him I shall reduce to these Twelve Heads First Who He is Secondly What He is Thirdly The Infinite love of God in giving such a Redeemer to Man and only to Man Fourthly The infinite love of Christ in undertaking the great Work of Redemption for Man Fifthly The amiableness and loveliness of this Redeemer Sixthly The greatness of this Work of our Redemption Seventhly The ways and means of his effecting our Redemption Eighthly The priviledge that come by an Interest in Him Ninthly The evidences of it Tenthly The Means to procure it Eleventhly The Motives to it And Twelfthly How to walk worthy of and suitable to this Redeemer Sect. 1. First To take notice Who Jesus Christ is viz. the Eternal Son of God who in the fulness of time took to his Divine Nature our humane Nature and so became God and Man in one Person that he might be a fit Mediator to go between God and Man to reconcile God to man and man to God Gal. 4.4 5. 1 Colos 20.21 Man because man had finned and Justice requir'd that nature which had offended should make satisfaction and God that he might be able to undergo the wrath of God due to our fins and his suffering might be of infinite value to purchase salvation for us his sufferings for a time being more than if all men and Angels had suffered to all Eternity Secondly What Christ is to His viz. that He is the only remedy which God hath vouchsafed against Man's misery Acts 4.12 No other Name given