His care is for his child and perhaps God takes it away or if it lives it proves a cross Another meditates how to satisfy his ambition Honour me before the people 1 Sam. 15.30 alas what is honour but a meteor in the aire a torch lighted by the breath of people * Honor uihi solidi est sed res imaginaria hominum arbitrio positae Mâ—â—cel with the least puff blown out how many live to see their names buried before them * Miseram est alinram incumbeâ—e famae Satyr When this Sun is in the meridian it doth soon set in a cloud Et stult us labor est ineptiarum Martial Thus fruitless are those meditations which do not center upon God 'T is but portare pulverem contra ventum as Hierome speaks But especially at death then a man sees all those thoughts which were not spent upon God to be fruitless Psalm 146.4 In that very day his thoughts perish I may allude to it in this sence all worldly vain thoughts in that day of death perish and come to nothing What good will the whole globe of the world do at such a time Those who have ravelled out their thoughts in impertinencies will but be the more disquieted it will cut them to the heart to think how they have spun a fools thread A Scythian Captain having for a Draught of water yielded up the City cryed out quid perdidi quid prodidi What have I lost What have I betrayed So will it be with that man when he comes to dye who hath spent all his meditations upon the world he will say what have I lost what have I betrayed I have lost heaven I have betrayed my soul And should not the consideration of this fix our minds upon the thoughts of God and glory All other meditations are fruitless like a piece of ground which hath much cost laid out upon it but it yields no crop Motive 5 Holy meditation is not lost God hath a pen to write down all our good thoughts Mal. 3.5 a book of remembrance was written for them that thought upon his name As God hath all our members so all our meditations written in his book God pens our closet devotion Motive 6 The sixth motive is in the text viz. the blessednesse affixed to the meditating Christian Blessed is the man c. verse 1. say not it is hard to meditate What think you of blessednes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodor. in Psa 1. Lycurgus could draw the Lacedemonians to any thing by rewards If men can meditate with delight on that which will make them cursed shal not we meditate on that which will make us blessed nay in the hebrew t is in the plural 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blessednesses we shall have one blessedness upon another Motive 7 Lastly delightful meditation in Gods law is the best way for a man to prosper in his estate Iosh 1.8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous I leave this to their consideration who are desirous to thrive in the world and let this serve for motive to meditation The next thing remaining is to lay down some rules about meditation CHAP. XVIII Prescribing rules about meditation SECT I. Rule 1 WHen thou goest to meditate be very serious in the work Let there be a deep impression upon thy soul and that thou mayest be serious in meditation do these two things 1. get thy self into a posture of holy reverence Overaw thy heart with the thoughts of God and the incomprehensibleness of his majesty When thou art at the work of meditation remeÌ„ber thou art now to deal with God If an Angel from heaven did appoint to meet thee at such an hour wouldest thou not address thy self with all seriousness and solemness to meet him Behold a greater then an angel is here The God of glory is present He hath an eye upon thee he sees the carriage of thy heart when thou art alone Think with thy self O Christian when thou art going to meditate thou art now to deal with him in private before whom the Angels adore and the Divels tremble Think with thy self thou art now in his presence before whom thou must shortly stand and all the world with thee to receive their doom Thou must be removed and how soon thou knowest not from the closet to the tribunal 2. That thy heart may be serious in meditation labour to possess thy thoughts with the solemnity and greatness of the work thou art now going about As David said concerning his building a house for God the work is great 1 Chron. 29.1 so it may be said of meditation the work is great and we had need gather and rally together all the powers of the soul to the work If thou wert to set about a business wherein thy life were concerned how serious wouldest thou be in the thoughts of it in the business of meditation thy soul is concerned eternity depends upon it if thou neglectest or art slight in it thou runnest an hazzard of thy salvation If Archimedes was so serious in drawing his mathematical line that he minded not the sacking of the city O how serious should a Christian be when he is drawing a line for eternity When thou art going to meditate thou art going about the greatest work in the world SECT II. Rule 2 2. Read before you meditate Josh 1.8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it The law must be in Joshuas mouth He was first to read and then meditate Give attendance to reading 1. Tim. 4.13 Then it follows meditate on these things verse 15. reading doth furnish with matter Lectio primò occurrit et data materia mittit nos ad meditationem Bernard it is the oyl that feeds the lamp of meditation reading helps to rectifie meditation Austin saith well that meditation without reading will be erroneous * Meditatio sine lectione erronea Aug. naturally the mind is defiled as well as the conscience Titus 1.15 the mind will be minting thoughts and how many untruths doth it mint Therefore first read in the book of the law and then meditate be sure your meditations be grounded upon Scripture There is a strange Vtopia in the fancies of some men they take those for true principles which are false and if they mistake their principles they must needs be wrong in their meditations He that is of the Saduces opinion that there is no resurrection he mistakes a principle Now while he is meditating on this he is at last carried to direct atheism He that is of the Antinomians opinion that there is no law to a justified person mistakes a principle and while he is meditating on this he at last falls into scandal Thus the mind having laid in wrong principles and taking that for a truth which is not the meditation must
an egresse and expansion of heart is there to that which we love Bonaventure cals love the wing of the soul on this wing did David flie to Heaven I am still with thee Love hath this property it unites at a distance * Amor est veluti junctura duas personas conglutinans Suar. l. 12. de Trii Aquinas li. 1. sentendist 15. Qu. 5. art 3. it fixeth the heart upon the object Thus the love-sick spouse when she could not see Christ yet she imbraced him in her affections when her eye was not upon him yet her love was Saw ye him whom my soul loves Cant. 3.3 Christ my love is crucified said Ignatius * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Ep. 12. ad Ro. As Christ was fastned to the Crosse so he is to a Christians heart A true Saint is like the Tribe of Manasseh half of the Tribe was on this side Jordan and half on the other side in the holy Land * Josh 1.14 So it is with a Saint half of him is on this side and half in the holy Land his flesh is on earth his heart in heaven as it was said of Paul 2 Cor. 12.2 Whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell So it may be said of a good Christian t is hard to tell whether he be in the body or out of the body his love is in heaven * Animam meam odio haberem si alibi quam in Christo invenirem Austin he is lodged in the Tree of life The fire of love boils the heart as high as heaven 4. The Soul is still with God by faith unbelief is called a drawing back from God Heb. 10.39 and faith a drawing near to God Heb. 10.22 by an eye of faith through the perspective glass of a promise we look into heaven The people of Israel stood in the outer Court of the Temple but the High-priest entred within the vail into the holy of holies thus the senses stand in the outward Court of the body but faith enters within the vail it sees Christ cloth'd with the Robe of our humane nature and sitting down in glory above the Angels faith imbraceth Christ Austin moves the Question how shall I put out a long arm to reach Christ in heaven * Quomodo in Caelum manum mittam Aug. crede et tenuisti believe saith he and thou hast laid hold on him Faith is aureum vinculum the golden clasp that knits us to Christ by faith we put on Christ as a garment Rom. 13.14 By faith we receive and concoct him as food Col. 2.6 by faith we are ingrafted into him as the ciens into the stock John 15.5 indeed a believers life is out of himself he lives more in Christ then he lives in himself Bernard tanquam radius in Sole as the beam lives in the sun as the branch in the root Col. 3.3 even as Juda said concerning Jacob his life is bound up in the lads life Gen. 44.30 so is a believers life bound up in Christ And thus is the Gracious soul ever with God by faith 5. Conversatione A Christian is still with God in the whole course and tennour of his life Not onely his heart is in heaven but his conversation too Phil. 3.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our deportment and carriage is in heaven wee walk as Burgesses of that city It is said of Christ his face was as though he would go to Hierusalem Luke 9.53 a good Christian should be known by his face his outward carriage and demeanour should show that he is going to the Hierusalem above Socrates being asked of what countrey he was answered he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a citizen of the world a true saint is a citizen of heaven he is known what place he belongs to by his speech habit gesture There is a kind of angelical brightness on him he shines in holiness as Moses face did shine when he had been with God in the mount He is still doing Angels work his life is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrysostom speaks a very heaven upon earth Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 * It a pie sancte vixit quasi deum semper prae oculis haheret Aug. Tom. 10. Hom. 27. and in this sense the pious soul is still with God he walks unweariably with God though he meets with some rubs and difficulties in the way yet still he keeps his walk and thus we have seen in what sence a gracious soul is still with God the eagle may sometimes sit upon a low bough but her nest is built high Job 39.27 A Christian walks upon the surface of the earth but his nest is built high upon the rock Christ The moon is seen in the water yet it is seated in the firmament So a Christian is seen here below but he is above he is still with God 3. The third thing is why a Gracious heart is still with God There are five reasons why it is so 1. from the nature of grace grace carries the soul up towards God Grace is like fire est mollis flamma medullis T is the nature of fire to ascend You that ly groveling on the earth feeding like the serpent on dust or like eels wrapping your selves in the mud and slime of the world had you that new and holy principle of grace infused your souls would sparkle upwards you would mount up to heaven as Eagles Isa 40.31 had you the sharp eye of faith to see Christ you would soon have the swift wing of desire to fly to him 2. From that magnetical power of Gods spirit The spirit hath not only a soul-purifying but a soul-elevating power as the sun exhales and draws up the vapors from the Earth So the Spirit draws up the heart to God The Spirit lifted me up Ezek. 3.14 Though there be grace in the heart which would be still mounting upward yet there is much corruption to pull us down a Christian in this life is both check'd and spur'd Grace spurs him forward in his way to heaven and then corruption checks him now here the spirit comes in and draws up the heart to God * Spiritu sancto accenditur renatorum voluntas Austin which is a mighty power as if you should see a milstone drawn up into the Sun 3. A gracious heart is still with God because he is the center of the Soul and where should it ever be but in its Center while the heart is on the earth it shakes and trembles like the needle in the compass till it turnes to God * Irrequietum est cor nostrum do nec requiescit in te God is the proper Orb where the soul doth fix he is centrum quietativum as the Schoolmen speak A Christian rests in God as the Bee in the Hive as the Bird in the nest Return to thy rest O my soul Psalm 116.7 Noahs Dove was never well till it
of grace is call'd a free Spirit Psal 51. not only because it works freely but because it makes the heart free and cheerful in obedience a gracious heart doth not act by pure constraint but free consent Considerat 4 4. Delight in Religion will make the businesse of Religion more facil to us Delectatio conservat operantem in opere suo A quinas Arist Eth. lib. 10. Delight makes every thing easie there 's nothing hard to a willing minde Trahit sua quemque voluptas delight turnes Religion into recreation 't is like fire to the sacrifice like oyle to the wheeles like winde to the sailes it carries us full saile in duty he that delights in Gods way will never complaine of the ruggednesse of the way a childe that is going to his fathers house doth not complain of bad way A Christian is going to heaven in the way of duty every prayer every Sacrament he is a step nearer his Fathers house sure he is so full of joy he is going home that he will not complain of bad way Get then this holy delight Beloved we have not many miles to go death will shorten our way let delight sweeten it Considerat 5 5. All the duties in Religion are for our good We shall have the benefit If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self Prov. 9.12 God hath twisted his glory and our good together I gave them my statutes which if a man do he shall even live in them Ezek. 20.11 There is nothing the Lord requires but it tends to self-preservation God bids us read his Word and why this Word is his Will and Testament wherein he makes over a fair estate to be settled upon us Col. 1.12 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life he bids us pray and this duty carries meat in the mouth of it 1 John 5.14 This is the confidence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Ask what you will he will signe your petitions if you had a friend that should say come to me when you will I will furnish you with money would you not delight to visit that friend God will give to more than half the kingdom and shall we not delight in prayer God bids us beleeve and there is 〈◊〉 a honey-comb to be found in this precept Beleeve you shal be saved Salvation is the crown that is set upon the head of faith Well may the Apostle say his Commandments are not grievous O then if Religion be so beneficial if there be such gold to be digg'd out of this mine it may make us delight in the wayes of God What wil tempt if not self-interest Considerat 6 6. How did Christ delight in the work of our redemption Lo I come I delight to do thy will O my God Ps 40.7 8. 'T is by Expositors agreed that it is spoken mystically of Christ * Ecce venio videl Ego Messias ad sum promissus salvator qui tanquam vadis se sistit ad solvendum dobitum me tibi offero tau quam sacrificium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mollerus when he came into the world to sacrifice his life for us it was a free will-offering I have a baptisme to be baptised with Luke 12.50 Christ was to be as it were baptiz'd in his own blood and how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till it be accomplished Did Christ so delight in the work of our redemption and shall not we delight in his service Did he suffer willingly and do we pray unwillingly Did he so cheerfully lay down his life for us and shall nor we give up our lives to him Certainly if any thing could make Christ repent of shedding his blood it would be this to see Christians come off so hardly in duty bringing it rather as a pennance then a sacrifice Considerat 7 7. Delight in Gods service makes us resemble the Angels in heaven They serve God with chearfulnesse as soon as God speaks the Word they are ambitious to obey How are they ravish'd with delight while they are praising God in heaven we shall be as the Angels spiritual delight would make us like them here to serve God by constraint is to be like the devil all the devils in hell obey God but it is against their will they yeeld a passive obedience * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil but service which comes off with delight is angelical This is that we pray for that Gods will may be done on earth as it is in heaven is it not done with delight there Considerat 8 8. This delight in Gods Law will not breed surfeit Carnal objects do oft cause a loathing and nauseating we soone grow weary of our delights * Rerum juvenilium velox transmutatio Thom. Aqu. Eth. hence it is we change from one sense to another from colours to musick from musick to smell c. Too much pleasure is a paine but spiritual objects do not cloy or tyre the soul the more we study in the Law of God still the more delight we finde And in this regard David might say the Words of Gods mouth were sweeter to his taste than honey Psal 119.103 because one may soon surfeit upon honey but he can never surfeit with the Word of God He that hath once with Jeremy found the Word and ate it Jer. 15.16 will not be cloyd with it * Augent spirituales delitiae desiderium in mente dum satiant Greg. hom There 's that savourinesse in the Word that a Christian cries out Lord evermore give me this bread * Joh. 6.34 There is that sweetnesse in communion with God that the soul saith with Saint Bernard O si duraret O that it might be always thus O that what I now feel I might ever feel He that delights in God doth not complaine he hath too much of God but rather too little he opens and spreads the sailes of his soul to take in more of those heavenly gales he longs for that time when he shall be ever delighting himself in the sweet and blessed vision of God Consider 9 9. Without this holy delight we weary our selves and we weary God too Isa 7.13 Will ye weary my God also our delighting in God would make him delight in us but when we begin to say what a wearinesse is it to serve the Lord Mal. 1.13 God is as weary as we are he is even sick of such services When duties are a burden to us they are a burden to God and what should he do with them when a man is weary of a burden he will cast it off Let all this quicken delight in Gods service CHAP. VIII Shewing how a Christian may arive at this delight in Gods Law Use 4 Direct FOr the attaining this blessed delight in the Law of God three things are requisite 1. Set
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
that is elevated by holy meditation will not set his heart there where his feet should be upon the earth 7. Holy meditation banisheth vain and sinful thoughts it purgeth the Phancy * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost How long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee Jer. 4.14 The mind is the shop or work house where sin is first framed Sin begins at the thoughts The thoughts are the first plotters and contrivers of evil The mind fancy is a stage where sin is first acted the malicious man acts over sin in his thoughts he contemplates revenge The impure person acts over concupicence in his thoughts he contemplates lust The Lord humble us for our contemplative wickedness Pr. 30.32 If thou hast thought evil lay thy hand upon thy mouth How much sin do men commit in the chamber of their imagination now meditating in Gods law would be a good means to banish these sinful thoughts If David had carried the book of the law about him and meditated in it he had not looked on Bathsheba with a lascivious eye 2. Sam. 11.2 Holy meditation would have quenched that wild-fire of lust The word of God is pure Psalm 119.140 not onely subjective but effective T is not onely pure in it self but it makes them pure that meditate in it Christ whip't the buyers and sellers out of the temple John 2.15 Holy meditation would whip out idle and vagrant thoughts and not suffer them to lodg in the mind what is the reason the Angels in heaven have not a vain thought they have a sight of God their eye is never off him If the eye of the soul were fixed on God by meditation how would vain impure thoughts vanish As when that woman Judg. 9.52 was in the tower and Abimelek came near to the tower to have entered she threw a milstone out of the tower upon him and killed him so when we are gotten into the high tower of meditation and sinful thoughts would come near to enter we may from this tower throw a milstone upon them and destroy them And thus you have seen the benefit of meditation CHAP. XVI Setting forth the excellency of meditation ARistotle placeth Felicity in the contemplation of the mind Meditation is highly commended by Austin Chrysostome Cyprian as the nursery of piety Hierom calls it his Paradise * Dixit Hieronimus oppida urbes videri sibi tetros carceres solitudinem Paradisum Epist 72. with what words shall I set it forth other duties have done excellently but Thou excellest them all Meditation is a friend to the graces it helps to water the plantation I may call it in Basils expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil the treasury where all the graces are locked up And with Theophylact the very gate portal by which we enter into glory By meditation the Spirits are raised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and heightned to a kind of angelical frame meditation doth sweetly anticipate happiness it puts us in heaven before our time Meditation brings God and the Soul together 1 Joh. 3.2 Meditation is the Saints perspective Glass by which they see things invisible It is the golden ladder by which they ascend Paradise it is the spy they send abroad to serch the land of promise it brings a bunch of grapes with it it is the dove they send out and it brings an Olive branchof peace in its mouth but who can tell how sweet hony is save they that tast it The excellency of meditation I leave to experienced Christians who will say the comfort of it may be better felt then expressed To excite all to this Pancreston to this so useful excellent I had almost said Angelical duty let me lay down some divine motives to meditation and how glad should I be if I might revive this duty among Christians CHAP. XVII Containing divine motives to meditation Motive 1 MEditation doth discriminate and characterize a man by this he may take a measure of his heart whether it be good or bad let me allude to that Prov. 23.7 for as he thinketh in his heart so is he as the meditation is such is the man Meditation is the Touchstone of a Christian it shews what mettle he is made of It is a Spiritual Index the Index shows what is in the book so meditation shows what is in the heart If all a mans meditations are how he may get power against sin how he may grow in grace how he may have more communion with God This shows what is in his heart the frame of his heart is spiritual by the beating of this pulse judge of the health of thy soul 'T is made the character of a godly man he fears God and thinks of his Name Mal. 3.17 Whereas if the thoughts are taken up with pride and lust as are the Thoughts such is the heart Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity Isa 59.7 When vain sinfull thoughts come men make much of them they make room for them they shall diet and lodge with them if a good thought chance to come into their minde it is soon turned out of doors as an unwelcome Guest What need we further witness This argues much unsoundness of heart let this provoke to holy meditation Motive 2 The thoughts of God as they bring delight with them so they leave peace behind those are the best houres which are spent with God Conscience as the Bee gives honey it will not grieve us when we come to dye that we have spent our time in holy Soliloquies and ejaculations But what horror will the sinner have when he shall ask Conscience the question as Joram did Jehu * 2 Kings 9.22 is it peace Conscience is it peace and conscience shall say as Jehu What peace as long as the Whoredomes of thy mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many O how sad will it be with a man at such a time Christians as you tender your peace meditate in Gods Law day and night Motive 3 This duty of meditation being neglected the heart will run wilde it will not be a vineyard but a Wilderness * Neglectis urenda filix innascitur agris Meditation keeps the heart in a good decorum It plucks up the weeds of sin Plantae nobiliores sine cultu siluescunt Albertus Magnus it prunes the luxuriant branches it waters the flowers of grace it sweeps all the walks in the heart that Christ may walk there with delight For want of holy meditation the heart lies like the sluggards field Prov. 24.31 all overgrown with thorns and briars unclean earthly thoughts It is rather the divels hogsty then Christs garden T is like a house fallen to ruine fit onely for unclean spirits to inhabit Motive 4 The fruitlessness of all other meditations one man laies out his thoughts about laying up his meditations are how to raise himself in the world and when he hath arrived at an estate often God blows upon it * Hag. 1.9
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
the rednesse of our guilt How lovely are those wounds which wounded the red Dragon When this blessed rock was smitten water came out of it to cleanse us and blood to cheare us 1 John 5.6 When Christ was on the Crosse saith Bernard jam fuit vitis amputata Now the Vine was cut and salvation came to us in the blood of the Vine Oh how lovely is this bleeding Vine Christs Crucifixion is our Coronation * Haec une medela corrofit illas quae in immensum exereverant cicatrices vim suam concupiscentiarum perdidit corruptela deleta damnationis conscriptione novis literis assignata est restituta libertas privilegio dato charta indulgentiae figillo plaga lateralis firmata Cyprian de Pass Christi 4. Christ is lovely in his Graces * Christus Candidus quia multifaria virtute dealbatus Hierom Anselm Rupertus Abbas his graces as a divine embroydery did bespangle and set him off in the eyes of the world Grace was not in Christ as a quality but essence as light is intrinsecal to the Sun and is of the essence of it Christ did open a box of precious perfume and because of the savors of his oyntments the Virgins love him * Cant. 1.2 In Christ there was a constellation of all the graces * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in Pâ— 45. how did he shine in Wisdom * Isaiah 11.7 Humility Zeal heavenly mindednesse and which did not a little adorne him HIS MEEKNESSE * Matth. 11.29 How lovely was Christ in this grace 1. He came into the world Meek Mat. 21.5 Behold thy King cometh meek He came not with a Sword or Scepter in his hand but with an Olive-branch of peace in his mouth He preached tydings of peace Though he was the Lion of Judah yet he was the Lamb of God 2. When he was in the world he was a patterne of meeknesse 1 Pet. 2.23 When he was reviled he reviled not againe He left his Fathers bosome that hive of sweetnesse to come and live here and truely he exchanged his pallace for a dung-hill how oft was he called a friend of sinners nay he was charged to have a devil but see how mildly he answers This Dove had no gall John 8.49 I have not a Devil but I honour my Father All his words were steept is honey 3. When be was going out of the world he shewed unparallel'd meeknesse He prays for his enemies Father forgive them Luke 23.34 When the souldiers came to take him by force one would have thought hâ— should have called for fire from heaven as the man of God did 2 Kings 1.10 but behold Grace was oured into his lips * Psal 45.2 see what a mill answer he gives enough to have mde the hardest heart relent Matt. 26.55 Are ye come out as againsta thief with swords and staves to tke me What wrong I pray hae I done you What have I stolen from the world but their sinnes What have I robb'd them of but the wrath of God Oh the mildnesse of this Saviour surely had not the souldiers hearts been very hard * O duri indurati quos non emollit tanta flamma mansuetudinis Bern. in Cant. Ser. 20. for in the whole story of Christs passion I do not reade of one souldier converted there was a thief indeed converted but no souldier Christs meeknese would have melted them into teares of repentance When he was led away to be crucified he went as a Lamb to the slaughter * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c He opened no his mouth Isa 53.7 He opened he sides but not his mouth in repinins and was not Christ lovely in his meeknesse No wonder the holy Ghist descended upon him in the likenesse of a Dove not a Lion or Eale but a Dove Vita Christi in terris disciplina morum Aug. de vera rel which is the emblen of meeknesse 5. Christ is lovely in hâ— conversation What was said of Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1.23 They were lovely in their lives is much more true of Christ His life saith Chrysostome was purer than the Sunne-beames All the Ethicks of Aristotle all the wisdome of Greece could never so describe vertue as it was lively pourtrayed out in Christs holy example His life was a faire copy never did any one write without blotting besides Christ he is call'd a Lamb without spot 1 Pet. 1.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His lips did never speak a word amisse Luke 4.22 All bare him witnesse and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Thus were his lips like Lilies dropping pure myrrh Cant. 5.13 His foot did never tread a step awry He who was a way to others did never go out of the way himself He was so pure that no tentation could fasten upon him Tentation to Christ was like the throwing a bur upon a chrystal glasse which will not stick but glides off The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me John 14.30 There was no powder for the devils fire to take What was Christs whole life but a pattern of good works He went about doing good Act. 10.38 He was either anointing the blinde or healing the sick or raising the dead either preaching or working miracles Thus he was altogether lovelie 2. Estimative Christ is lovely in the account of others Three wayes He is lovely 1. To God his Father 2. To the Saints 3. To the Angels 1. Christ is lovely to God his Father God is infinitely taken with him Christ is called the Rose of Sharon and how doth God delight to smell to this Rose * Mat. 3. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signif vel In illo bene sentire queÌ„ sensum sectatur Iraeneus Vel refert ad propensum in Deo patre affectum Grot. Isa 42.1 My elect in whom my soul delights Surely if there be lovelinesse enough in Christ to delight the heart of God there may well be enough in him to delight us Christ is the centre where all the lines of his Fathers love do meet 2. Christ is love in the account and esteem of his Saints 2 Thes 1.10 He shall be admired of all them that beleeve He is admired now and he shall be more admired of them Well may the Saints admire to see Christ sitting in the bright Robe of their flesh above the Angels in glory Well may they admire to see their nature united with the Deity O how lovely and beautiful is this sight Well may Christ be admired of his Saints 3. Christ is lovely in the esteeme of the Angels * Ipse candi-ruber quia Angelos quosque ad sui excitat desiderium Caâ—â—iodore They adore him Heb. 1.6 And let all the Angels of God worship him The Cherubims which did represent the Angels are painted with their faces looking upwards to shew that the Angels in heaven all are still looking upward as admiring and
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