from Christ but also for Christ from Heaven 47 God will give a Saint better Content without Heaven than Heaven without God 48 God's Faithfulness does more for us than our Faith is able 49 A Saint would not give that which he gains by his Sins for a World yet he would not commit one Sin willingly for all the World 50 Scarlet Sinners may by Grace be made Milk-white Saints Saul and Manassah 51 The vilest Sinners once converted become the strictest Saints Mary Magdalen 52 Grace makes a Man more a Man and more than a Man 53 God expects that Saints should do more for him than others because he has done more for them than all the World 54 We should use that for God's Glory which God gives us to use for our Good 55 Though a Saint is sad he is not better yet he is glad he is not worse 56 All worldly Troubles cannot overcome a true Heavenly Peace 57 It 's a Mercy to have a Portion in the World but to have the World for our Portion is a Misery 58 Grace is Glory begun here and Glory is Grace perfected hereafter 59 In Prayer when Men are on the Knee then the mind ought to be on the Wing 60 Nature teacheth a Man to Value his Life above the World and Grace teacheth him to Value his Soul above his Natural Life 61 The best of Men are but Men at the best and they find it so 62 A Prayerless Man is a Token of a Godless Man 63 He that Reproves other Mens Faults and not his own is a Hypocrite 64 When a Saint comes to Die his greatest Grief is that he 's done no more for God and his greatest Joy is that God has done so much for him 65 The Sin of Man filleth the Creature with Vanity and the Vanity of the Creature filleth the Man with Vexation of Spirit 66 There are many Poor in this World Rich in Faith and many Rich in this World Poor in Faith 67 Christ by drawing near to the Saints draws them nearer to himself 68 To be Sick of Love for God is Soul-saving Health but to be Sick of Love for the Creatures doth often destroy the Health both of Body and Soul 69 Saints should labour to please God in all they do and to be pleased with God in all he doth 70 The World seeth not a Saint though they look him in the Face for the Saints the hidden Man of the Heart or the Man in the Spirit 71 Success is the Blessing of God in a good Cause and his Curse on a bad 72 The Wicked in the fulness of their Plenty are in Straights but the Godly in the fulness of their Straights has Sufficiency 73 The Joy of the Holy Ghost is so that there is Want in Words and of Words to express it for it's Joy unspeakable and full of Glory 74 There are many Convictions without Conversion but there is no Conversion without Convictions 75 Men that make gain their Godliness will never gain Godliness unless they make Godliness their greatest Gain 76 God made Man his own Image and Man should not rest till he be holy or partake of the divine Nature 77 A Saint hath the Law of God in his Heart and a hearty Willingness to obey the Law of God 78 It 's an unspeakable Mercy to be one of Christ's though of his little ones 79 Man turns natural Food into his Nature but spiritual Food turns Man into its Nature 80 In the World the Body was made first and then the Soul but in Heaven the Soul is first and then the Body 81 Some Men instead of acting godlity in this World acts rather like the God of this World 82 Though we may pray God to glorifie himself in our Deliverance from Trouble yet we should be very Submissive unless he get Glory by it but rather beg Grace to bear it 83 God in this World hath glorified Faith above all other Graces and above all other Graces Faith glorifies God in this World 84 Let us not love any earthly thing too much for too much affection causes too much affliction at parting 85 None feel more Experience of God's-Providence than those that are resolute in their Obedience 86 To have a thankful Heart for all God's Blessings is a great Blessing 87 The worst of Men have the best earthly Things and yet miserable the best of Men may want them and yet happy 88 Many use to frequent the Ordinances that makes not good use of them for all the Gain and Sweetness is in using them aright 89 It 's a good part of the Comfort of our Lives to be much amongst the Society of the Godly and good Friends 90 Hell being such a Night that shall never see Day is a double Torment to the damned 91 In things that we cannot understand let us adore God's unsearchable Wisdom for his Paths are in the deep Waters 92 One that labours by Faith and Patience to bear his Cross hath the height of Affection and the deep of Submission to Christ 93 We see it commonly the Character of a wicked Man to be a troubler of the People and Place where he lives 94 The only Way to have our Will is to bring it to God's Will 95 If we would learn of Patient bearing trouble let us keep closs to our Duty and Calling and commit the Success to God 96 A good Christian under Trouble hath a God a Promise a former Experience to run to for Support of Relief 97 There will be no end of a Christian's Desires till he come to the end of his Desire and that 's Heaven 98 None should despair because God can help none should presume because he can cross 99 When the Godly Dies he leaves all his Bad behind him when the Wicked Dies he leaves all his Good behind him 100 He doth not enjoy much of God who walks not much with God nor can he walk much with God who doth not enjoy much of him CHAP. II. 1 THE Groans of an humble and contrite Heart are more Love-forceable in the Eyes of the Lord than all the shoutings of Baal's Priests tho' gathered in one 2 It 's Wisdome and Prudence to prepare for Adversity in time of Prosperity for Showers may come after Sun Blinks 3 Rejoice Believers God is your Father Christ your Head Husband and Brother Heaven your Inheritance Angels your Guard to minister to the Heirs of Salvation 4 We must not mingle our Passions with our Crosses like foolish Patients shewing the Pill when they should swallow it whole 5 It 's much better to have Crosses and Grace to bear them than to be without both which is the Fate of many Worldlings 6 For a Believer in the State of Grace for all his Crosses is in a fafer Condition than Adam was in Innocency for he fell or the unconfirmed Angels was in Heaven for they fell but he stands on the Foundation of God being confirmed by the Blood of Christ which the
Divine Meditations OR A Honey-comb To Refresh Weary Travellers BEING A Collection of Divine Sayings out of the Holy Scriptures of Truth Gathered by G. L. The Second Edition Corrected Psal 19.10 11. Thy Statutes are more to be desired than much fine Gold and sweeter also than Honey from the Honey-comb and in keeping of them there is a great Reward LONDON Printed for Iohn Marshall at the Bible in Grace-Church-Street 1700. Where you may be supplied with most of Dr. Owen's Mr. Mead's and Mr. Bunyan's Work and Effigies Books Newly Printed and Sold by John Marshall at the Bible in Grace-Church-Street GOod Company or Sudden Thoughts on Things past present and to come Price 2 d. A Funeral Sermon Preached at the Merchants Lecture at Pinners-Hall Broad-street upon the Death of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Gouge who Deceased Jan. 8. 1699. By John Nesbitt Price 6 d. The Young Man's Remembrancer and Youth's Best Choice in Two Anniversary Discourses By M. M. Price bound 1 s. An Elegiack Essay on the Pious Memory of Mr. Matthew Mead Minister at Stepney c. also most of his Works and his Effigies Engraved c. The Regular Architect or The general Rule of the Five Orders with a New Addition by John Leake for the Benefit of Free Masons Carpenters Joiners Carvers Painters Bricklayers and Plaisterers in general for all Ingenious Persons in the Art of Building The Art of Defence in which the Guards Passes Enclosures and Disarms are Represented by proper Figures The Pens Dexterity or Mr. Rich's Short-hand Improved or the Readiest Way to attain the Art of Short-writing as also Mr. Rich's Testament and Psalms in the same Character England's Golden Treasure or The Compleat Miner or A Discovery of Rich Mines laying on of Hands proved a Gospel Ordinance The Bands of Love and Peace or The Duties of Christians one to another together with their Duty to their Pastor or Minister and his Duty to them A Honey-comb c. CHAP. I. 1 O That great and glorious Work of God in Conversion of a Sinner Angels and Saints Rejoices to have the number of their Heavenly Company increase 2 The Enjoyment of God experimentally is the Life of all our Joys whatever our Condition be that 's our good Chear and Welfare 3 For no less will satisfie a Gracious Heart than that either God may be with him on Earth or he may be with God in Heaven 4 O then let us Labour to see and enjoy God in all things and all things in God! 5 It 's no Sin to show our Righteousness but it 's a Sin to have nothing but a show of Righteousness 6 Though God hath promised to give to them that ask him yet many ask and miss because they ask amiss 7 Wicked Men are Dead while they Live but the Godly Live while they are Dead 8 The Tie of the Covenant is sure where Christ is the Surety of the Covenant 9 They who Glory in their shame without Repentance will be ashamed of their Glory hereafter 10 To be very Great and very Good is a very great Goodness 11 Men we Try before we Trust but God we may Trust before we Try 12 Nothing engages a Saint to love God so much as this that God loves him so much 13 The Saints shall not be tempted above what they are able or at most not above what God will enable them to 14 The Saints fare better yea are far better for one anothers Prayers 15 If Men did consider that the Milk of the Word is the Food of the Soul they would rather their Bodies be without Soul 's than their Churches without faithful Preachers 16 No Man is more hated of God than the Hypocrite for a counterfeit Religion shall find a real Hell 17 The greatest earthly Pleasures are but Pains in their Loss 18 some Men find the Want of Comforts and some find Comforts in Wants 19 The means of Grace is but a mean thing in Comparison of Grace which is the main thing 20 The great Good and Means which God affords his People here is but little to what he minds to give them hereafter 21 Sathan knows not the Thoughts of a Maâ— Heart for it's God's peculiar Treasure 22 Afflictions are the Touch stone and great Discoverer of Sincerity David 23 It fills the Soul with unspeakable Joy to Remember whilst it suffers the Will of God is a doing 24 Men are not happy in having more Good than others but in doing more Good than others 25 Some go a Fishing with Holiness and when they have their Ends there is an end of their Profession 26 When Religion and Profession goes together it 's hard to say which a Man follows but when separate the true Professor's Mettle is shown 27 It 's not always a Token of God's Love to have one's desires granted for we may ask amiss 28 Sathan nor none of his Instruments can meddle with the Person or the Estates of Men without God's Permission Job 29 It 's the Part of a good Man to Reprove Vice though his Reproof should not be taken in good Part. 30 God may as soon cease to be God as cease to be Good Assoon cease to Live as cease to Love 31 By Reason of our Sins we have Cause to be Sorrowful in the midst of our Prayers but by Reason of God's Mercy we have Reason to Rejoice in the midst of our Sorrow 32 Carnal Men love the God's they make and forsakes the God that made them 33 It 's a Christian's Comfort though he have a fearful and unruly Heart yet he hath a faithful God to flee to to rule it 34 They that have no true Grace in their Life can have no true Peace in their Death 35 The things of this Life have not the Promise of Godliness but Godliness hath the Promise of the things of this Life 36 What we are afraid to do before Men we should be afraid to think before God 37 Riches Honours and Pleasures cannot give one Christ but Christ can give one Riches Honours and Pleasures 38 Death hath nothing Terrible in it but what our Lives hath made so by Sin 39 They who have no Trâ—asures in Heaven cannot but be enraged when the Hope of their Gain is gone on Earth 40 A Christian that has his Faith awake cannot Sin without a Check in his Conscience 41 There is more of the Power of God seen in bringing us into the World than in bringing us out of any Trouble in the World 42 The Study of the Vanity of the Creatures is of an excellent use to bring us to the Knowledge of the Creator 43 Wicked Men thrive often but seldom blessed their Prosperity proves often their Curse 44 Men may put their Riches in the Grave with them but their Riches cannot keep them one Moment out of it 45 The Favour of God goes out for nothing in Man but the Wrath of God goes out for some Rebellion in Man 46 A Saint does not only look for Heaven
61 They that follow Sin and Wickedness serves hard Masters and bad Wages Death and Damnation without Repentance 62 It 's a great deal better for one to be prepared and expect Death when it cometh not than to have Death come when we expect it not 63 Labour to fit a Promise to every Condition thou art in and Milk forth and be satisfied with the Breasts of its Consolation for thou can be in no Condition but there is a Promise suitable in the Bible 64 No Banishment is Sweet but that of a Righteous Soul from the Prison of a Worldly VVearied Body 65 A Saint should deny himself to be little at all that Christ may be all to him and in all 66 There may be Grace where is no Assurance but there cannot be Assurance where there is no Grace 67 In this Life the Glory of Heaven is revealed to us but in the Life to come it shall be revealâ—â— in us 68 The best Policy is to preferr Duty before Liberty or any earthly Joy for the Peace of Conscience and a good Issue as Daniel and the three Children found 69 God is the Father of all Mercies and mercifully sent the Son of his Bosom to Redeem his Elect makes Heaven and Earth Rejoice 70 Take heed of Passion for doing any thing in it lest in calm Blood you be put to the Trouble to Repent wishing it had not been done 71 It 's to be our Prayer and Care not only to receive Mercy from God but to improve them for him for what is got by Prayer is commonly worn by Praise 72 If we belong to God and be not thankful for great Mercies it 's a Means to take them away from us to make us value and be thankful for the least of his Mercies 73 It 's as clear by Scripture-Light that Christ is God as it 's by Natures Light there is a God 74 We should be very careful to behave our selves so as to give all Persons Occasion to Love us at least to give them no Occasion to Hate us 75 The Work of Creation is call'd the VVork of God's Fingers but the VVork of Redemption the Work of his Arm. 76 The proud Man hath not God the implacable Man hath no Neighbour the distrustful Man hath no Friend the discontented Man hath not himself 77 It 's an evil Sign not to be Chastened for Sin it 's a worse not to bear Chastisements a Token of Bastards not Sons 78 There be three great Helps to make a powerful Minister Grace Learning and Temptations 79 It 's a heavy Burthen and requires great Faith to bear when God's Promises and Providences seem to be against us yet Abraham went through with it 80 Say under Trouble God in very Faithfulness does afflict me here for my Sins that he may spare me out of Hell and this will ease thy Burthen and make thee fear Sin more 81 Let Salvation be never so plentiful yet under God if we Labour not to make it our own by Faith we are rather worse than better for it 82 It 's to God chiefly we must pour out our Hearts under Trouble who can make our Bitter Water Sweet 83 A Saint had rather Live at God's Determination than at his own Choice his Prayer is Lord Chuse my Heritage for me 84 As Riches are the Mother of Pleasure and Delight to the Worldly so Poverty is the Nurse of Sorrow and Calamity 85 Prayer is like Jonathan's Bow which sent out the Arrows but Faith is like the Boy which fetcht them back again 86 Faith Hope and Patience are great Supports to a perplexed Mind 87 None but holy Ones shall see the Holy One for without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. 88 Troubles in the Flesh though Sanctified are Troubles even sweet Briars and holy Thistles have their prickles Paul 89 Reason cannot shew it self more reasonable than to leave off Reasoning about matter above our Reason 90 I look upon that Man that sayeth he never err'd to be in a great Errour for if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth of God is not in us 91 Saints ought to look to God not only for supplying their Wants but for chastising their Wantonness for his Rod is in the Covenant and his Rebukes from his Love in Faithfulness he afflicts them 92 Woes makes short Time seem long and Joys makes long Time seem short O Eternity Eternity is that which makes Woes Woes and Joys Joys indeed 93 They that would have their Affliction short and easie must submit their Will unto God's Will and that 's better than if they had their own 94 Christ is the Saint's Crown and Glory and will reprove Kings for their sakes for he keeps them as the Apple of his Eye 95 The breathing of God's Spirit glads the Souls of the Saints and lets them see the Heavens clear and the Bosom of God in Christ ready to receive them 96 All our Grace is from God who is the God of all Grace and the Author Preserver and Finisher of it 97 There is but one Way to go to Heaven but as many Ways to go Hell as we have Sins and it 's all one to the Devil if we come thither either in the Road of Profaneness or the Walk of Hypocrisie 98 One would wonder to see the Folly â—f worldly wise Men Achitophel or Human to unde themselves but no better can be expected till Men feat God for that 's the Beginning of Wisdom 99 It 's as great a Mercy to want that patiently which God denies us as to use that cheerfully which God gives us 100 The Blood of Christ is precious in the Sight of Saints and his Saints Blood is precious in his Sight CHAP. III. 1 GOd's Love to his own will not suffer him to depart from them and their Fear and Love to him will not suffer them to depart from him so nothing shall separate them from the Love of God in Christ 2 All Saints are Excellent though some excel others yet the highest is not so far above the lowest as the lowest Saint is above the highest natural Man 3 VVhen others are Passionate towards Saints they should be Compassionate towards them for who made thee differ O Man 4 God is lovely in his Creatures more lovely in his Ordinances but most in Christ who is altogether lovely 5 No Man is safe amongst his Friends without God and with God he is safe amongst his Enemies Elisha 6 God made Man to serve him and he that serves God is a made Man for Godliness is the Making Exalting and Enriching of a Man and he is made for ever that 's born again 7 If the VVord of God slay not the Sin in Man yet it will slay the Man of Sin and the Man that goes on in Sin without Repentance 8 There is a great many that hates both the Doctor and the Doctrine foretelling them their Faults as Achab said to Micaiah I hate him for he