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
1. It shall be an incorruptible body freed from all possibility of dying and suffering Luke 20.35 Rev. 17.16 2. It shall be full of beauty shining not onely as the Stars but as the Sun Mat. 13.41 made like to Christs glorious Body Phil. 3. last 3. It shall be a most vigorous Body able to do any thing Etiamsi velit terram movere saith Anselm able to encounter legions of Devils and Reprobates by the almighty power of God dwelling in it 4. A Spiritual Body Not that it shall be turned into a Spirit but endowed with such spiritual qualities as it shall be agile active and nimble in the Service of God like a Spirit 3. To meditate on the glorious employments of Soul and Body both shall be continually exercised in the highest services viz. the singing of the Songs of Moses and the Lamb the singing of continual Hallelujahs to God our Father for Christ our Redeemer by the ever blessed Spirit our Sanctifier and Comforter 4. To meditate on the glorious priviledges of Soul and Body there which are either Primitive or Positive 1. Primitive in a freedom of all evil both of Sin and Punishment 1. Of Sin not only from the power of it but the very being of it not only from sin but from all temptations to it and occasions of it Rev. 21. last 2. Of punishment Bevel 21.4 Rev. 22.3 tryumphing over all 1 Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting c. 2. For the Positive priviledges they are these 1. The continual presence of God 1 Thes 4. last there we shall ever be with the Lord. 2. The beatifical Vision of God 1 John 3.2 O beata visio videre Deum in nobis nos in Deo Deum in se ipso saith Bernard What a blessed sight will this be to see God in us our selves in God and God in himself so far as our finite natures are capable of 3. The nearest Union that can be not only of a Gracious but a Glorious 4. Immediate perfect and everlasting communion with God where there will be no need of Magistrates Ministers Ordinances but God will be all in all Rev. 21.21 22. 5. Perfection of Holiness both in Nature and Life Ephes 5.23 Pure as he is pure 1 John 3.2 And Perfect as he is perfect Mat. 5. last Not onely in parts but in degrees 6. Fulness of Joy and Rivers of Pleasure which are at Gods right hand for evermore Psal 16. last 7. An everlasting Sabbath here we have but a weekly Sabbath there an eternal everlasting Sabbath here we keep a Sabbath with much weatiness there we shall keep it with infinite delight Heb. 4.9 There remains a rest for the People of God and this is a transcendent Rest an uninterrupted Rest an universal Rest a perpetual Rest where we shall rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and with the whole Quire of Heaven shall be still singing Hallelujahs to God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity and still following the Lamb with Crowns on our Heads and Palmes in our Hands and tryumphant Songs in our Mouths 2. Meditate on the properties of this Glory 1. It 's a revealed Glory Rom. 8.18 Here it is hid from the eyes of the World and often from the eyes of Christians themselves but there it shall be revealed at the last day before all the World and the wicked World be made to acknowledge it to their shame and confusion of face Col. 3.3 4. 2. A full Glory Psal 16. last so full as the Apostle is not able to express it 2 Cor. 4.17 so full of Glory that if the Saints themselves were not upheld by the almighty power of God they could not stand under it so full of glory that because it cannot enter into them they shall enter into it Well done good and faithful Servant enter into thy Masters joy Mat. 25. 3ly An eternal glory such as they shall not only enjoy for millions of years but to all eternity Mat. 25. last 2 Cor. 4.17 3. To meditate on the certainty of this Glory That it is most certain there is such a glorious state for the People of God is evident upon these infallible grounds 1. Because it was prepared for them from before the foundation of the World Mat. 25.34 Heb. 11.16 2. Because they are prepared for it they are said to be Vessels prepared unto Glory Rom. 9.23 3. Because God predestinated his unto it from all eternity Rom. 8.29 2 Thes 2.13 14. 4. That which they are called unto 2 Pet. 1.3 1 Pet. 5.10 5. That which Christ hath purchased with his precious Blood Ephes 1.14 Rev. 5.9 10. 6. That which he made intercession for whilst he was here upon earth John 17.24 and still doth now in Heaven Heb. 7.25 7. That which he hath made many promises of and seconded them with his Oath Heb. 6.17 18. 8. He hath given his Spirit as the earnest of it 9. He hath given the beginnings of it in Grace here which is but glory begun 10thly and lastly He is gone into Heaven to take possession of it in our Name and Nature and hath promised he will come again and take us to himself John 14.3 and accounts not himself fully glorified until his Body and every member of it be in the same glory Ephes 1. the end And Lastly Consider who they are that have a right and title to this Glory what evidences the Scripture holds forth of it As 1. an effectual Vocation 1 Thes 2.12 2. Justification Rom. 5.3 Rom. 8.29 3. Sanctification Matth. 19.28 More particularly the having and exercising these Graces 1. Sanctified Knowledge John 17.3 2. A Justifying Faith John 3.16 3. An Evangelical Repentance Acts 3.19 4. A Gospel Obedience Heb. 5.9 5. An unfeigned love to the Saints 1 John 3.14 Lastly A loving looking and longing for the appearance of Jesus Christ in Glory by all which the Saints are described in the Gospel 2 Tim. 14.8 Titus 2.14 Heb. 9. last Rev. 22. last So much of the fourfold state of Man The Second Head of Meditation about Man is the four last Things or Ends of Man DEATH JUDGEMENT HELL and HEAVEN WE are to meditate on every one of these and that on these grounds 1. On Death because Death were no Death if Judgment did not follow in comparison and Judgement no Judgment or nothing so dreadful if Hell did not follow and Hell no Hell in comparison if it did not deprive men of Heaven 2. Therefore to meditate on these last Ends of Man because it is the Lord himself adviseth his unto and that in a very pathetical manner Deut. 32.29 Oh that men were wise that they understood this that they considered their latter end and the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 5. last he puts this question What will you do in the latter end He would have them know there is an end and to think seriously what will become of them in the end 3. Therefore to meditate on each
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
buying the Truth that will save your souls Prov. 23.23 And whilst you look after the gain of the World think on that of Isa 55.1 Wherefore do you lay out your money for that which cannot satisfie c. And that of our Saviour What will it profit a man to win the whole World and lose his Soul c. And that of Christ to Martha Luke 10.42 Martha Martha thou art cum bered about many things but there 's one thing necessary c. XII When you are about to take a Journey as you are trevelling in the way think on this Your life is but a Journey you are in a constant motion to Eternity every action is but a step every day and hour brings you nearer to Heaven or Hell and therefore you had need look to this that you be in the right way that you may not miscarry for ever and to this end to pray to the Lord that he would remember his promise Psal 32.8 He would instruct in the way wherein you should go and guide you by his eye that he would be your God for ever and guide you unto Death guiding you by his counsel until he hath received you into Glory XIII When you are about to use the Creatures in the Morning at Noon and Evening think thus Oh what a great House-keeper is the Lord that provides for the whole Family of Heaven and Earth What a bountiful Master do I serve that provides so liberally for me and me above many and not only gives the Creature but an appetite to it when many of his want both When you are eating Bread think on the Bread which came down from Heaven to feed your Souls and how blessed they are that eat of this Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven Luke 14.15 Think also on that of our Saviour Man lives not by bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God Though Bread is the Staff of our Life it is the Blessing of God is the strength of that Staff and he that maintains our natural Life by dead Creatures is as able to nourish our Souls in Spiritual Life to Eternal Life by dead Ordinances how weak and contemptible soever they seeâ— in the eye of Carnal Reason XIV When you walk abroad and view the World think what a great and mighty a God is he that made so great and mighty a Fabrick out of nothing by his very Word think what a precious Soul you have that is of more worth then all the World and what cause you have therefore to value it above all the World and not to hazzard it for the gaining of the World XV. When you look up and behold the glory of the Heavens the Sun the Moon and the Stars think and say with David Lord what is Man that thou shouldst make all this for Man the greater Light to rule the Day and the lesser to rule the Night Psal 8.3 If the Light of Heaven be so sweet how sweet is the Light of thy Countenance If there be so much glory and influence in the Sun of the World what is there in the Son of Righteousness And how great will the glory of the Saints be at the last day when their glorified Bodies shall outshine the glory of the Sun Oh how glorious is the Church that is cloathed with the Sun and hath the Moon under her feet Revel 12. When you take notice of the Moon borrowing of her Light from the Sun and losing her light at the rising of the Sun every month changing her appearance increasing or decreasing her Light think how like our life is to the Moon full of changes and variety of conditions And from whom is it we must receive any light of comfort under them and be directed in them but from the Son of Righteousness XVI When you look up and behold the Clouds and see how they are supported without any outward means and carried up and down like Feathers in the Air God can as easily support his under all clouds of temptation when you see those Clouds dispersed by the Beams of the Sun then think how easily one Beam of the Son of Righteousness can scatter all the clouds of temptation when you see the Clouds think upon Jesus Christ who as he went up to Heaven in the Clouds so he will come again in the Clouds to Judgment XVII When you look downward and behold the Earth think from whence you came and where you must return Dust thou art and to dust thou must that it is the Mother of us all and the place appointed for all the living your bodies must descend first into the Earth before they can ascend up into Heaven and therefore as the Grave waits for us we should wait for it When you behold the fruitfulness of the Trees and the Plants of the Earth how every one brings forth its Fruit in due season such are or ought to be every Godly Man and Woman Trees of Righteousness bringing forth Fruit to God otherwise it will be a foul shame for Christians to remain barren and unfruitful under such plentiful dews and droppings from Heaven XVIII When you feel the powerful operation and working of the Air and of the Winds though you do not see them think thus If I believe there is Air and Wind though I do not see them then I should much more believe there is a God that made them though I do not see him and if there be so much power and vertue in them to preserve and take away life how much more in God that puts this power and vertue into them XIX When you walk abroad and view the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Earth and the Fish of the Sea and the rest of the Creatures think thus they were all made for my use and service and therefore are as so many Obligations and should be as so many incouragements to serve God in all and for all and above all see Job 12.7 8 9 10 11 12. There is no Creature but teacheth us something 1. Ask the Beasts and they 'l teach you the Ox and Ass to know and acknowledge their Owner Isa 1. The Horse and the Mule they will shew you the stubborn and refractory nature of Man the Sheep our wandring dispositions and to know hearken too and follow our Shepherd John 10. To be dumb like a Sheep before the Shearer and not open your mouths as Christ was Isa 53. and the Lamb will remember you how Christ was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and that though he was like a Lamb without spot and blemish the Dog and the Swine will mind you of the uncleanness of sinners and the hatefulness of Apostacy in causing men to return with the Dog to the Vomit and the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire the Serpent will teach you wisdom in preserving your selves and the Ant in making provision for the future 2. Ask the Fowls of the Air and they
the Spiritualness of Duty the middle of the Page P. 12. leave out The lives P. 49. after ruder put in the Old Covenant P. 94. for Joel r. Jonah 3.7 8. P. 132. for providing r. propagating the Gospel P. 136. at the bottom after Satan put in That he did not Cause you to abuse him P. 138. after mentioned leave out to sin P. 159. for ruâ— r. run P. 160. for converting r. conquering P. 197. for misericordis r. misericordia P. 274. for conversation r. conversion P. 260. for Scriptures r. Creatures To see the Creatures A SYNOPSIS O. R Body of Practical Divinity In Order To the begetting preserving and increasing of the Life and Power of Godliness in the hearts and lives of Professors c. Psal 104.34 My Meditation of Him shall be sweet CHAP. I. AMongst all Religious Duties there is none more necessary profitable and comfortable to a Christian than Divine Meditation and yet no duty that Christians are less acquainted with more backward to and careless of than that I have therefore made choice of this Subject to speak unto and the more fully that I might thereby quicken my self and you to the more frequent practise of it and the rather because Experience shews it to be the life and soul of Religion Without Meditation a Christian is but the Carkass of a Christian it 's as easie for a Man to live without a Heart as a Christian to live a spiritual life without Meditation And because some complain of scarcity or want of matter others of plenty or too much matter and others of distraction or want of Method I shall endeavour therefore to select the choisest things for Meditation through the body of Divinity and reduce them to their several heads that so how-ever you cannot remember them all yet you may have them still before your Eyes and go on in the meditation of them day after day or choose out such heads as your present Exigencies most call for But first of all before I enter on the particular heads of Meditation I shall open to you the nature of it and press upon you the practise of it For the connexion of the words take it briefly thus The whole Psalm is no other than a Meditation of David's on God's Attributes and Works In the first Verse you have his Meditation on God's Attributes In the 2d Verse to the 26. you have his Meditation on God's Works first of Creation and then of Providence First His works of Creation and here on the work of every day as for Example the first day God made the Light and that you have in the second Verse the second day he made the Heavens Verse the second the third day he made the Earth and the Water and that you have Vers the 5 to the 19 the fourth day he made the Sun the Moon and the Stars and this you have Verse the 19 to the 25 the fifth day he made the Sea and the Fish in it and this you have in the 25th Verse the sixth day he made Man and the Beasts of the Earth and this you have in the midst of the rest Vers 14 15 16. Secondly Having meditated on the works of Creation next he proceeds to the works of his Providence Vers 26. to the 31. And from the consideration of all these glorious Attributes and Works of God breaks out into Gratulation Meditation Affection and Supplication First Gratulation Verse 31 32 33 Meditation and Affection Verse the 34 and Supplication Verse the last That which I have made choice of to treat on is Meditation Verse the 34. Whence the Observation is obvious to all Doct. That It is the property of Saints to meditate on God and the things of God For the more profitable opening of it we shall enquire into these things 1. What Meditation is 2. The Kinds of it 3. Prove the Point 4. Give you the Grounds of it and then 5. Apply it First What Meditation is The word in the original hath a double signification it 's rendered sometimes Meditation and sometimes Speech So some translates it but our last and the most Meditation and so I shall handle it This duty is several ways expressed in the Scripture as for instance First Sometimes Remembring as Psal 63. Vers 6. When I remember thee on my Bed explained by the following words and meditate on thee in the Night Watches Secondly Sometimes it 's call'd A thinking on God Psal 48.9 We have Thought upon thy loving kindness O God Sometimes A musing on God Psal 143. Vers 5. I muse upon the work of thine hands Q. But what is it A. In the general no other than The fixing of our thoughts upon a thing or A serious musing on it that we may the better understand it and be more affected with it So as there are two special Acts in it First One direct upon the thing meditated on and the Second reflect upon the Person meditating The first is an act of the mind or the contemplative part of the understanding the second is an act of the conscience applying the thing unto a man's self The end of the first is to enlighten of the second to better the soul Secondly For the kinds It is either deliberate and solemn or occasional and sudden First Deliberate and Solemn is when we solemnly set apart some time and sequester our selves from all company to think upon some spiritual matter for the better informing of our judgments warming of our affections and reforming our lives as that of David in the 119 Psalm Secondly Occasional and sudden is that which is occasioned by such outward objects as by the providence of God are offer'd unto our senses as that Psal 8. Vers 3 4. When I consider c. First of deliberate and solemn Meditation I shall open it a little further to you and therein shew you a little more clearly What this is and That this is the property of the Saints The grounds of it and then Apply it First It may be described thus A serious fixing of our thoughts upon some thing with a particular application of it to our selves so as to be affected with it and frame our lives according to it First I say it is a serious fixing of our thoughts upon a thing not a slight and transient thought but a fixed and dwelâ—ing thought Psal 119. My meditation shall be of thee all the day Vers 97. Secondly with particular application of into our selves like the good Houswife Proverbs 31. 16. She considereth a Field and buyeth it so gracious Souls consider of this and that spiritual subject and appropriate it that is lay it to their heart as it is expressed Isaiah 57.1 The righteous are taken away from the evil to come and no man lays it to heart And Malachy 2.2 If you will not lay it to heart c. Thirdly so as to be affected with it Psal 39.3 Whilst I was musing the fire burned Psal 119 50. This is
flesh First all sin in general it so dims and dazles the eye of the mind as it can no more behold spiritual Excellencies than the Owl can the light of the Sun Secondly Some sins in special keep men from it as First Those sins we are most inclin'd unto by our constitution and complexion these usually insinuate themselves most and Satan useth most to tempt unto either to hinder us from or distract us in duty Secondly giving way to wandering and roaving Senses vain and wicked thoughts these keep out better whence that Jeremy 14.4 Oh Jerusalem wash thine heart from filthiness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee The Vessel must first be cleansed of the filth in it before it can be capable of sweet and precious Liquor especially the giving way to ambitious covetous voluptuous thoughts or inordinate affection to the honours riches pleasures of the World this you may find our Saviour shews to be that which keeps men from duty or distracts men in it Math. 13.22 Mark 4.19 Luke 8.14 These worldly and fleshly thoughts and affections they are as Bird-lime to the Wings of the Bird so intangle the Soul as it cannot soar aloft on the Wing of Meditation they are as Leaden-weights or Plummets tied at the Leggs to keep men from ascending the Mount of the Lord and therefore to hearken to the counsel of the Apostle Heb. 12.1 and as to keep out all sinful and worldly thoughts so all religious thoughts when they are unseasonable or impertinent to the present business in hand seeing however for the matter they be good yet they are cunningly thrust in by Satan to distract us in our present Meditation that so by thinking on two things at once we should not receive benefit by either therefore to watch against them and keep our hearts close to the subject we have made choice of to meditate on Thus for the Letts Thirdly Follow the Helps to meditations and the First may be this To choose out some special subject to meditate on either concerning God or our selves and not run from one to another Secondly Set about it with affection to it for what we affect that we delight to think on Thirdly Get an inward principle of grace that may elevate your spirits and mount your minds upward heavy things they naturally descend because they have a principle inclining to it light things ascend because they have a principle inclining to it And therefore I say get such an inward principle of grace that may call us upward look as 't is with a worldly-minded man whersoever he is or whatsoever he is doing still the World is in his thoughts when he riseth up and when he lieth down yea and when he sleeps he dreams of the World nay in his best services hearing receiving fasting praying still his heart is on his honours proâ—â— pleasures so it is with a godly man that hath received a Principle of grace wheresoever he is and whatsoever he is doing his heart is still God-ward and Grace-ward and Heaven-ward As soon as he is awak'd he is presently with God and walks all the day after with God as Noah Genes 11.6 and at Night he endeavours to sleep with God Psalm 4. last His whole conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 A fourth help is temperance in the use of the Creature this clears the head from Vapours the Body from humours that would distemper it and unfit it for duty and renders the Body every way serviceable to the Soul Fifthly To keep a narrow watch over our Thoughts within and our Senses without that they do not with-draw our hearts from what we are to meditate on Sixthly Pray unto God so to fit us for it assist us in it and bless it to us as it may be honourable to him and profitable and comfortable to us So much for the Helps The fourth thing I promised was the Rules and directions to be observ'd in and about it and these respect the Person the Gesture the Place the time and the manner First For the Persons that would meditate with profit and comfort they must be thus qualified Holy humble chast and meek First Holy because unholy ones neither will nor can meditate on holy things with any affection or delight Secondly Humble because God resists the proud and gives Grace only to the humble James 4. Thirdly Chast because such as are laden with lust are ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim 3.7 Fourthly Meek because passion blindes the mind and distempers the whole man Secondly For the Gesture to be used in meditation no certain rules can be given but every one to use that which he findes by experience to be most helpful to him in duty only in the general that it be Reverential and such as may most stir up Devotion and keep us most attentive to and intentive on the duty Thirdly For the Place of meditation we may meditate with Isaac in the Field Daniel in the Chamber David in the Bed Peter on the House top Christ in the Mount it is not much material where it be so we observe the counsel a great Master in this Art gives which is to have an eye to three things Secresie Silence and Rest The first excludes company the second noise the third motion all very useful to prevent distraction which we are very subject to in this duty Fourthly For the time of solemn meditation we should make Conscience of it before in or at every Duty of God's Worship we should do well to set apart some time every Day Psal 4.3 A godly man is said to be a man set apart as God sets him apart for himself by Election so he should set himself apart for God by Meditation and when you do to take the best and fittest season for every thing is beautiful in its season now the seasons for performing this duty are either ordinary or extraordinary First For the ordinary seasons they are either the Week-day oâ— the Sabbath-day now here to observe these Rules First It will be profitable to meditate on somâ—thing every Day in the Week but absolutely necessary on the Lord's Day as being in a special manner sanctified and set apart for that purpose therefore call'd the Lord's Day Revel 1.10 Because he that is the only Author of it ought to be the whole subject of it on that Day Secondly For the fittest time of the Day no man can prescribe to others but every one to take that which he can best spare from his particular calling anâ— wherein he findes himself best disposed for iâ— Jacob used it in the Morning Genes 28.16 Isaâ—â— in the Evening Genes 24.63 Peter in the Mid-day Acts 10. David in the Night Psal 63. Thâ— most free and quiet seasons are the Morning anâ— the Evening for the better imprinting things iâ— the memory whence Bishop Hall and Mr. Baxtâ—â— commended these seasons out of their own experience but we cannot prescribe to
any onâ—â— leave every one as he findes the temper of his body and spirit most inclin'd and disposed to Thirdly Though none strictly bound to any part of the Day yet none to leave themselves at random and at large to do it at any time of the Day but appoint some set-time for it either the Morning or Evening either before or after Supper or a little before we compose our selves to rest The reason is because if we should leave our selves at randome we should never be constant in this Exercise but shift it off from one time to another Fourthly When you have set the time then be careful to observe it constantly unless some urgent necessity prevent because otherwise fickleness and unconstancy will keep us from profiting by it and soon make us weary of it Secondly For extraordinary Seasons they are amongst others these First When the spirit of God doth in a more than ordinary manner move and incline to it when the Spirit lifts up the heart to Heaven then to lift up with him to nourish and cherish those motions Secondly When you are under more than ordinary trouble of Spirit then to apply your selves to this duty for Cordials are never more seasonable than in times of fainting Psal 94.19 2 Cor. 4. 2 last verses Thirdly When either Age or sickness do summon us to death then is a fit season to meditate on God and the things of God when all other things in the World begin to leave us then to think on those things will never leave us for it 's observable in the Saints they have been most heavenly in their mediations affections and expressions towards their end as Jacob Genes last Moses Deut. 33. 33. chap. our Saviour in the 14 15 16 17. chap. of John we should follow them in the same practise As the pulling down of one Ballance is the lifting up of another so the drawing down of the body to Earth should be the lifting up of the Soul to Heaven As the Soul here is usually at the worst when the Body is at the best so the Soul should be at the best when the Body is at the worst The fifth Circumstance is the Manner how we are to perform this duty and that is thus Cordially reverently seriously affectionately constantly and orderly First Cordially because it 's not the meditation of the head but the heart God looks unto Prov. 4. My Son give me thy heart Luke 2.19 Mary ponder'd Christ's sayings in her heart Psalm 19. last and 49.3 Secondly To do it reverently remembering and considering he is a great King and his Name is dreadful amongst the Heathen Malachy 1. ult therefore to take heed of any unreverent or careless behaviour in his presence and worship as being a great dishonour to him and that which he sharply reproves in those formal and lazie Priests Mal. 1. about the end Thirdly Seriously so as to keep the mind intent upon the business in hand and not to give way to any other thoughts though they be good thoughts because they are unseasonable at that time and will thrust out the other and so make both useless to keep also a narrow watch over our hearts and senses that they be not avocated or drawn aside by other objects Fourthly Affectionately so as to have our affections stirred and warmed and wrought upon by those things we meditate on as David here in the Text My Meditation of him shall be sweet and I will be glad in the Lord so to think on spiritual and heavenly things as they may leave an impression upon the Soul as the Seal doth on the Wax that so your affections may answer your cogitations as the Wax doth the Seal and the Eccho the voice As for Example when you think on the glorious Majesty of God to make your hearts stand in aw of Him when on his Love Grace Mercy to have your Hearts thereby indear'd to him Secondly When on Christ the amiableness and fulness that is in him and in him for you to have your desires drawn out the more after nearer sweeter fuller communion with him when on the Holy Ghost his sweet motions and invitations to have your Hearts opened to receive Him and obey Him in them Fourthly When on the Word to do it with a particular Application Fifthly When on God's Works of Mercy and Justice to have your Hearts melt with the one and tremble at the other Sixthly When on your selves your sins and corruptions to be humbled under them when on the Evidences of God's love and grace to rejoice in them Seventhly When on the World and the things of it to have your hearts disingag'd from them and hang loose to them Lastly When on Death to live in a continual expectation and a religious preparation for it when on the judgment-Judgment-Day to cast up your accounts sit in judgment on your selves that you may not be condemn'd with the World so think on Hell as your Hearts may tremble at sin that made it and so think on Heaven that your conversation may be there where you hope e're long to have your Habitation to all Eternity Fifthly To do it constantly so as to observe the due and the appointed time or otherwise omission and intermission may soon cause amission and so dead the affection as to become weary of it and cast off the duty and therefore to be constant in it and continue so long in it until our hearts be affected with what we think and we receive some benefit by it Sixthly To do it orderly for God being a God of Order he loves Order in us to this end to have an eye to three things the Ingress the Progress and the Egress As for Example to begin with Hearing or Reading and then go on with Meditation or thinking on it and then end all with Prayer for as Mr. Greenham well said Hearing and reading without Meditation is useless Meditation without reading and hearing fruitless and both without prayer will be successless miss a blessing More distinctly and fully First for the Ingress or Entrance upon it we are to prepare for it by making choice of some particular subject most sutable to your present condition and then lift up an Ejaculation for the Lord direction assistance and blessing on it Secondly For the Progress in it to observe a Method in it either such as Scholars use to do in Meditation on a subject as First The Definition or Description Secondly The Division or kind or parts Thirdly The Causes efficient material formal final Fourthly The fruits and the effects and the like Logical heads all which you may see exemplified in Bishop Hall's and Mr. Roger's Seven Treatises or thus which I conceive a more profitable way for our more ordinary sort of hearers being not acquainted with this art to proceed in your Meditations as you are taught First On the Doctrine then the Proofs then the Reasons then the Uses and in them the signs motives means You
so long as we are willing to see it and leave it Job 15.13 6 The serious meditation on God's Wisdom will be an effectual means to quiet our spirits in and under all cross-providences confusions and commotions that we see and meet with in the World considering he hath a hand in all and knoweth how to order and dispose of all to his own glory and the best good of his chosen Rom. 8.28 Isai 30.6 7 The serious meditation of his Infinite Holiness that he is glorious in holiness Exod. 15. will be a meanâ—â— to keep us from giving way to any unholiness in heart or life considering he is of purer eyes that to behold iniquity with the least approbation Hab. 1.13 and hates all the workers of iniquity Psal 5 8 The serious meditation of his Truth and faithfulness will be a means to keep us from doubting and distrusting what he hath spoken iâ— his Word considering he is faithful that hath saiâ— it and will do iâ— 1 Thes 5.23 He never spakâ— any thing with his Mouth which he hath not fulâ—filled with his Hand Josh 23.14.5 1 King 8 2â— 9 The serious meditation of his Loving-kindness that will be a means to patient your spiriâ— under the want of love from the Creature thâ— changeableness of their love considering whoâ— God loves he loves to the end John 13.1 eveâ— with an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 as it did Dâ—vid Psal 26 3. and Psal 48.9 10 The serious meditation of the infinite goodness of God will quicken you to look up for all that good 〈◊〉 hath purposed and promised and you stand 〈◊〉 need of for you and yours considering he is god to all especially to his There 's no end of 〈◊〉 goodness to them Psal 31.19 How great 〈◊〉 that goodness thou hast laid up for them that sâ—â— thee 11 The serious meditation on his Impâ—â—tial Justice will make you fear to offend him 〈◊〉 any thing the least considering he never diâ— will or can connive at any sin no not in his owâ— Amos 3.2 you only have I known I will sureâ—â— punish you c. Nay he would not spare it 〈◊〉 his own Son that knew no sin yet if He will taâ—â— our sins on him he would make him feel the fierceness of his wrath Lament 1.12 Lastly The serious consideration of his infinite Mercy will make you look up to him for mercy when you can finde none from the Creature considering his Mercy is over all his Works especially the Vessels of Mercy he delights to shew mercy to them Micah 7. end And his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting unto them Ps 103. and therefore to be much in meditation on those And that further for these three Reasons 1. Because for Men to profess God and not to give him the glory of his Attributes not to let them have authority and influence on their hearts â—nd lives is no other than religious Atheism it â—s to deny God for he were no God if not such 〈◊〉 God as he hath reveal'd himself in his Word and Works Titus 1. last They profess they know God but in works they deny him c. And how many of those religious Atheists have there been in those evil days that are past and still are to be found amongst Professors who will speak much of God and more than others of his Attributes Word and Works and yet their Conversation is 〈◊〉 contradiction to their profession pretend the â—â—ory of God but seek their own honour the publick good but intend their own promotion â—â—at they unfeignedly love others when they can â—ll the while undermine the credit and comfort of such as differ from them in any Opinion yea â—nd perswade others to disaffect them that they â—ay the more affect them Take heed of this reliâ—â—ous Atheism God will certainly vindicate his â—â—ory from all such as rob him of the glory of his â—ttributes 2. Therefore to be much and often in meditation on the glorious Attributes of God because there is great Authority Efficacy and Influence in them to restrain from sinning and quicken 〈◊〉 well-doing and support us under sufferings 〈◊〉 you saw in the forenam'd Example And this 〈◊〉 certain you will never evidence a work of grace or make any progress in it unless you suffer the Attributes of God to have authority upon you hearts and ways 3. Therefore to be much and often in the senâ—â—ous meditation of them because this will maâ—â— your Faces to shine like Moses when you comâ— down from the Mount of Meditation and tranâ—form you more and more into the Image of God from glory to glory 2 Cor. 13. last 5ly To meditate on what Evidences you have an interest in the sweet and comfort of these Aâ—tributes because without this you cannot maâ—â— a particular application of them or reap any bâ—nefit or comfort by them Q You will say then How may we know whethâ—â— we have an interest in them Ans Briefly thus Search and see whether Gâ—â— be your God for naturally all men come into 〈◊〉 World without God Eph. 2.12 If God be 〈◊〉 your God God in Covenant then all these Aâ—tributes of God are against you and not for yoâ— but if God be your God in Covenant all his Aâ—tributes are yours his wisdom to direct you 〈◊〉 Power to protect you his Truth and Faithfulnâ—â—â— to be your Shield and Buckler his Mercy 〈◊〉 Goodness to follow you per all your days and 〈◊〉 that is His is yours to comfort you here at Crown you hereafter 1 Cor. 3. last Rom. 2.7 8. Q But how shall we know God is our God in Covenant Ans 1 See if Christ be yours then God is yours 1 Cor. 3. last 2 If you be God-like like to Him in his nature and in your lives desire and endeavour to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 3 If you be such as hearken unto and obey the Call of God out of evil Company separate your selves from communion with sin and sinners 2 Cor. 6. two last 4 If you be such as do not rest in and content your selves with any degree or measure of godliness but labour still after more and more 2 Cor. 7.1 1 John 3.2 Math. 5. last By these to name no more you may know whether God be your God and if so then all his Attributes are yours to meditate on them and make application of them for your supportation and consolation Amen 3. Meditate on the Word of God and first on the Word in general and then the Covenant of Grace in particular 1. On the Word of God in general and in and about the Word to meditate on the transcendent Excellency of it the excellent properties of it the Precepts Promises Threatnings and Examples in it 1. On the transcendent Excellency of it Consider that it is no other than an Epistle of the great God written from Heaven indited by his Spirit conveyed by his Son unto his Church and witnessed sealed by
others have you given them back again for the honouring and serving Him above others if not you will one day repent bitterly as he did that had been more careful to serve his Master on Earth the King of England than the King of Heaven and Earth Woolsey Thirdly See what good you have done to others by these distinguishing Providences Has God's goodness to you wrought more goodness in you to others stirr'd you up to do more good to the Country Church State Place City Family wherein God hath set you Have your Husband Wife Children Servants Friends and Acquaintance been the better for you if so then these Providences have been in Mercy to you but otherwise if God hath been so good to you and you have done no more good for Him and His you have minded only your selves and lived only to your selves you will one day wish you had been among the Number of the poorest and miserablest Beggars than what you are to have so much and do no more good with it yea the very Heathens will rise up in Judgment and condemn you for they could say Non nobis nati they were not born for themselves but their Country Another Mallem mihi male esse quam molliter vivere Seneca I had rather be sick than be idle and do no good And thus you see What those things are you are to meditate on in about God's merciful Providences Secondly Take notice what you are to meditate on in and about the Providences of his Justice and Judgments as these the Equity the Impartiality the Severity the Unsupportableness and the Unavoidableness of his Judgments and our Duties in respect of them First The Equity of his Judgments that God is most righteous in all and can do none wrong and punishes all less than they deserve Ezra 9. Ignorant Persons and wicked Men would make him a God made all of mercy but you must know and consider He is as just as he is merciful and Infinite in both as Infinite in Mercy to Pardon the Penitent so Infinite in Justice to Punish the Impenitent Whence you shal find that where his Nature is laid down He is described by his Justice as well as his Mercy Exo. 34.6 7 8. and Nah. 1.2 3 4. Secondly The Impaâ—tiality of his Justice and Judgments He never did nor will connive at any sin or sinner He did not in his own Son who knew no sin yet because He took upon Him our sin therefore He laid upon Him the fierceness of His Wrath Lament 1.12 and if He would not spare sin in His own Son certainly he will not in others that go on impenitently and securely in any sin for there is no respect of Persons with God He regards not the Rich more than the Poor the Noble than the Ignoble the Wise than the Simple He will spare neither King nor Subject High nor Low Rich nor Poor Old nor Young no not His own People if they sin against Him Amos 3. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will surely punish you for your Iniquities Thirdly The severity and terribleness of His Judgment in all Ages upon Persons Families Towns Cities Kingdoms Countrys all impenitent and incorrigible sinners you may see it in His Judgments on the old World Sodom and Gomorrah Egypt and Jerusalem You may read more in Levit. 26. Deut. 28. Psal 7.11 12 13. Psal 11.5 6 7. Isaiah 1.33 Mal. 4.1 Zeph. 1. to the end Fourthly Meditate on the unsupportableness of God's Judgment Psal 90.11 Who knows the power of thy anger Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee Isaiah 33.14 The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness hath surpriz'd the Hypocrites Who shall dwell with devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings and Nahum 1.2 3. Jer. 10.10 Fifthly On the unavoidableness of his Wrath Amos 9.1 to the 6. Though they dig to Hell thence shall my hand take them though they clime up to Heaven thence will I bring them down Sixthly To take notice and meditate on thâ— Duties the Scripture frequently calls upon you to perform in respect of the Judgments of God 〈◊〉 shall but name a few because they are obvious to you in reading the Scriptures as these To take notice of them and lay them to heart to searcâ— and try your ways what special sins of yourâ— have had a hand in pulling down and continuing of these Judgments upon you and others Tâ— humble your selves before the Lord under them for your sins that were the cause of them To accept of the punishment of your iniquity and acknowledge the Lord is not only righteous but gracious in punishing you less than you deserve And Lastly To turn every one of you from the evil of his doings and learn righteousness by his Judgments that are on the Earth Isaiah 26.9 Secondly To meditate on the parts of Providence which are three Observation Preservation Gubernation First God He observes and takes notice of all and every Creature Pro. 15.3 His Eys run to and fro thorow the Earth beholding the evil and the good Heb. 4.13 All things are open and naked to him with whom we have to do but especially he observes and takes notice of his Own Psal 33.18 Behold the eye of the Lord iâ— upon them that fear him and hope in his mercy Psal 34.15 His Eyes are upon the righteous and his Ear open unto their Prayer Secondly God preserves all and every Creature Man and Beast Nehem. 9.6 but especially his Children Job 5.19 Isaiah 43.1 2. Thirdly God He governs all and every Creature to those ends and by those means which He hath appointed He Rules in all the Kingdoms of the World but especially in Jacob Isaiah 46.3 He is their God and Guide unto death Psal 48. last All these parts of Providence are full of wonder that God being so High and Holy above the Creature should humble Himself to respect things done in Heaven and Earth that He should not only give a Beeing to the Creatures but uphold them in their Beeing that he should not only vouchsafe the means to bring them to their ends but order and dispose of all those means to those ends Oh the wonderful condescention of the great God to his poor worthless Creatures Psal 31.19 Oh how great is thy goodness c. Then Thirdly To meditate on the extent of this Providence not only to every Creature but to the least act of every Creature so as not a Sparrow falls on the ground or Hair from the Head or a Tyle from the House or a Word from the Mouth or an Answer from the Tongue no nor a Thought from the Heart without the Lord Mat. 10.29 30. Pro. 16.1 Fourthly Meditate on the ends of his Providence viz. His own glory and the good of his Church and People Whatsoever He doth in the World He doth in relation First To his own glory Rom. 11. last
worse soften or harden you will bring you neerer to Heaven or Hell and will be either the savour of life or death to you 2 Cor. 2.16 Secondly As you are entring into the publick Assemblies to think and say with Jacob How dreadful is this place It is no other than the Gate of Heaven to set your selves in the presence of the great God and carry your selves there with all fear and reverence seeing there are not only Men but the Angels and the Great and Holy God to take notice both of your inward and outward behaviour And see you stay and not depart without the Blessing Thirdly After the publick Assemblies as you go home to meditate on what you have heard when you come home search the Scriptures whether things are so to repeat and confer with those in your Family about it to press the remembrance and practise of what you have heard on your selves and them after this to go apart and spend the rest of the day in Examination what you have profited and in meditation on the Word and Works of God and that Eterâ—â—â— Sabbath you are to celebrate hereafter in Heaven where you shall keep a Sabbath not only without weariness but with infinite delight and then conclude the Sabbath with prayer and praise pray for a blessing on the truths made known to you and for the pardon of all those infirmities you have discovered before in and after duty in publick private or secret and that God would accept of your weak endeavours and unfeigned desires to honour him in and for the all-meritorious Intercession's sake of Jesus Christ And then praise God for one Sabbath more liberty of communion with Him his Presence with you assistance of you and blessing of his Ordinances to you and so end the day as you began it As you gave Him the first of your thoughts when you rose so give Him the last of your thoughts when you lie down that so your dreams may savour of your Sabbath-days exercises Thirdly After the Sabbath to hold forth in your lives and conversations all you have heard and prayed for that so the blessing of the Sabbath may bring a blessing on all your labours the Week following Amen The Second Duty is Prayer to God And here First before Prayer to meditate First On the infinite distance between God and you as Creatures especially such finful Creatures Eccles 5.2 Secondly To make your addresses to the Throne of Grace only in the Name Worthiness and Mediation of Jesus Christ Col. 3.17 Thirdly To take notice of the special sins you are to confess the evils you are to â—â—precate or pray against the good things you are to Petition and the Mercies you are to return thanks for Fourthly Because we know not how to pray as we ought To beg the Spirit of Grace and Supplication to help your infirmity and keep your hearts close to Him in duty Fifthly To remember that we pray for all men especially for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 3. and for all Saints Eph. 6.18 Secondly In the time of Prayer remember to do it with humility and reverence Heb. 12. end In sincerity and truth John 4.24 With feeling and servency James 5.16 17. and in faith and love Heb. 11.6 1 Tim. 2.8 Thirdly After Prayer to look-after an Answer Live what you have prayed and labour in the use of the means for that you have prayed as you are commanded Prov. 2.3 4. The Third Duty is Hearing the Word First Before Hearing remember whom you go to hear not only Man but God who speaks in and by Man 2 Cor. 5.20 Secondly Because man can but speak to the Ear beg the Lord to give his Spirit that may speak to the heart Thirdly That the Spirit may make the Word effectual to the end God hath appointed it take heed you come not with prejudice against the Minister or the Word spoken by him James 1.21 1 Peter 2.1 Fourthly That you endeavour to bring humble honest and upright hearts to the hearing of the Word Luke 8.15 Micah 2.7 Doth not my word do good to him that walks uprightly Secondly In the time of Hearing First To set your selves in the special presence of God and remember He observes not only your outward but inward carriages with what hearts every one comes and sits before him 1 Sam. 16.17 Ezek. 33.31 Secondly To attend heedfully to the things that are spoken as Lydia did Acts 16. Thirdly To apply particularly what is spoken not to others but to your selves as John's hearers did Luke 3.10 Because what is spoken to one is intended to all Mark 13. last and unless it be applyed by faith it will not profit Heb. 4.11 Thirdly After Hearing First To discourse of what you have heard and not as the manner of too many is to talk presently of other Persons and Things Secondly To search the Scripture with the noble Beraeans whether things be so or no Acts 17.11 Thirdly To work all into your hearts and lives by Meditation Prayer and Practise because the promise of a blessing runs only to such Psal 103.17 and Luke 11.28 Otherwise without practise every Sermon will be preacht over by God and Conscience again at the last Day with such horror and terror as you will never be able to hear it John 12.48 The Fourth Duty is Reading of the Scriptures First Before it to think what a great blessing it is to enjoy this blessed Book and have liberty to look into it when 't is denied to many others not only amongst the Papists but amongst us through their own and their Parents neglect of learning them to read Secondly To remember that this is a duty that lies upon all Persons private as well as publick People as well as Ministers both to read the Scriptures First In respect of the express command of God Mal. 4.4 John 5.39 Col. 3.16 Secondly In respect of the great benefit and comfort that comes by it 2 Tim. 3. the 3 last Rom. 15 41. Psal 1.2 Revel 1.3 Thirdly In reading First To lift up an Ejaculation for understanding of it praying with David Psal 119.18 Open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Secondly To read with Application as David Psal 40.8 It 's written of me that I should do thy will It was no where written so of David in particular only he applied the general command to his particular Thirdly After reading with David also to hide God's Word in your heart Psal 119.11 And see that you order your conversation according to it Vers 9. The Fifth Duty is Receiving the Lord's Supper First Before it to see whether you can finde your selves in a state of grace and that you have those Sacramental graces of knowledge faith repentance obedience love and an appetite to this Ordinance all which are required to qualifie and fit Souls for communion with Jesus Christ in that Ordinance This duty of Self-examination you may see
Heb. 9.14 Omnisciency 1 Cor. 2.10 Omnipresency Psal 139.17 Omnipotency 2 Tim. 2.7 Isaiah 11.2 Thirdly Because those works are applied to him which are proper to God as Creation Gen. 1.2 and Conservation Job 33.4 Psal 33.6 Regeneration and Sanctification John 3.6 1 Cor. 12.6 Fourthly Because the divine worship is given to him as Mat. 28.19 Go Baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Therefore true and very God Thirdly That he proceeds from the Father and the Son is evident John 15.26 and hence he is call'd the Spirit of God Rom. 8.11 and the Spirit of the Son Rom. 8.9 and so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies because he is spired or breathed from them as you may see further John 16.14 15. Secondly To meditate on the Offices of the Spirit and these either respect Christ his Word or his Church First For those respecting Christ they are these First The Spirit formed Christ's humane nature in the Womb of the Virgin Mary Luke 1.35 36. Secondly The Holy Ghost anointed Jesus Christ as he was Man with gifts and graces and that without measure and having thus consecrated him and furnished him with gifts for the great office and work of a Mediator he with God the Father sent him into the World for the accomplishing that work Isai 61.1 and 11.2 Acts 10.38 John 3.34 John 1.32 Thirdly The Holy Ghost descending from Heaven and resting upon him visibly in the shape of a Dove did publickly shew him and Seal him in his Baptism Mat. 3.16 Fourthly The Holy Ghost witnesseth that Jesus Christ who was crucified was the Son of God the true Messiah Act. 5.31.32 He witnesseth also to the Doctrin of Christ's Resurrection in which he was declared mightily to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 Secondly For the Offices of the Spirit in and about the Word of God take notice first 't was He inspir'd holy Men of God with the mind and will of God infallibly dictated it unto them and guided them in the penning or writing of it 2 Pet. 1.20 Acts 1.16 Mark 12 36. Heb. 9.8 Fourthly He quickens the Word so as to make it effectual to quicken dead Souls without Him 't is but a dead and a killing Letter John 6.63 He makes it quick and lively in operation to the dividing between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow the searching-out and discovering the secrets of the heart Heb. 4.12 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 10.4 5. It is he that speaketh by it to the Churches Revel 2.7 Revel 3.22 Rev 14 13. Thirdly His Offices in respect of the Church and People of God these are either common to all or peculiar to the Elect First For those common to all they are such as these First To give life and preserve life in all Job 33.4 Ps 139.14 15. Secondly To bestow gifts and abilities on men for their particular callings and functions both sacred and civil as 1 Sam. 11.6 Judges 11.29 1 Cor. 12.9 10. Mat. 7.22 Thirdly Restraining-grace whereby they are kept from many evils which they would otherwise run into as Abimelech Gen. 20.6 Fourthly To act and over-act all the gifts and parts and power of men to his own glory and the good of his Church and People Zach. 4.6 Secondly For those that are peculiar to the Elect they are such as these First To unite them unto Christ their head and the mystical Body of Christ the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 6.17 Secondly To inhabit or dwell in them as his House and â—emple Rom 8.11 1 Pet. 4.17 Thirdly To illuminate them with the saving sancâ—iâ—â—ing experimental knowledge of God in Christ John 16.13 Fourthly To convince them of sin righteousness and judgment John 16.8 First Of Sin particularly the sins of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel that This is 〈◊〉 which lays them open to the wrath of God in Life and Death and after Death John 3. last Mark 16.16 Secondly Of righteousness how that there is none in them to make them stand acceptable in the sight of God the Garment of their own righteousness and good works is a Garment too short to cover their nakedness their own righteousness is but as a filthy Rag but the righteousness of Christ that is a perfect righteousness such as God accepts for poor sinners and makes them stand so righteous in God's sight as if they had never sinned this appears in that Christ is gone to the Father which he could not have done if he had not fulfilled all righteousness Thirdly Of Judgment how that he has judged and condemned the Serpent and his Seed the Devil and the wicked World so as they shall never prevail against his Elect Mat. 16.18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and that there is true and sound judgment to be found only in the Christian Religion and not in any Idolatrous and false Religion and that Christ hath the government of his Church upon his own Shoulders and all that subject and submit unto his Government shall by it judg and condemn at last the wicked World 1 Cor. 6.1 Fifthly To humble them under and mortifie in them the deeds of the Flesh Rom. 8.13 Sixthly To quicken them with spiritual Life Rom. 8.11 Regenerate and sanctifie them John 3.5 and Evidence it to them 1 Cor. 6.11 Seventhly To help them in and under all their infirmities in duty Rom. 8.26 John 14.26 Eighthly To direct and guide them in all their ways Rom. 8.14 Psal 143.10 Ninthly To support and comfort them in all their sorrows and sufferings Rom. 5.5 John 4.26 Tenthly To witness to their Spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 Eleventhly To Seal them up to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.13 Twelfthly To be the earnest and first fruits of their Eternal Salvation Eph. 1.14 Rom. 8.23 Lastly To confirm strengthen and establish them in every good word and work to the end Eph. 1.13 Eph. 4.12 13. Again Thirdly To take notice of and meditate on the Evidences you have of the receiving and indwelling of the Spirit of God in you because If any have not the Spirit he is none of Christ's Rom. 8.9 1 Ep. John 4.13 Hereby we know he dwells in us and we in him by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3.24 Q. But how may we know that we have receiv'd the Spirit and that he dwells in us A. Thus 1. By the way and means in and by which he is given and receiv'd and that is the Ministry of the Word Acts 10.44 Whilst Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on those that heard him and hence the Ministry of the Gospel is call'd the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 and Men are said to receive the Spirit by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 Secondly You may know you have the Spirit by this if you can finde the foregoing acts and operations of the Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect If he be
over the Creatures he that was Superiour to all was made inferiour to all Psal 49.20 Isai 1.3 Jer. 8.7 The Prophet puts them to School to all to learn of the Creatures 4. As Man lost his preheminence so his authority over all he that was Lord over all became a Slave to all who instead of serving Man rebels against Man labours to pick out his Eys Pro. 30.17 to eat his Flesh and lap up his Blood 2 King 9.36 Sixthly Man lost his liberty by Creation he was a free Denizen and Citizen of the World all at his command but presently after the Fall became a Slave and was in Bondage to all the Devil the World and the Flesh 1. To the Devil taken and carried Captive by him to do his pleasure 2 Tim. 2 last Eph. 2.2 2. To the World so as to be drawn aside from that which is good and drawn into evil by the baits and allurements of it on the one hand and the menaces and persecutions of it on the other 1 Epist Joh. 4.5 whence that of James 4.4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses c. and 1 John 2.15 3. To the Flesh to do whatsoever it shall suggest for the gaining and retaining of honour and profit and pleasure Rom. 6.16 John 8.34 2 Pet. 2.19 and in this slavery and bondage all Men and Women are by nature and that not unwillingly and grudgingly but readily and cheerfully and with the greatest delight so far from being desirous to be brought out of it as they account those their greatest Enemies that would endeavour to bring them out of it Jer. 18. There is no hope but we will walk every â—ne after the imagination of our own hearts Jer. 43.1 2 3. Jer. 44.16 17. Thus you see the greatness of the punishment of loss Et heu quantum mutatus ab illo How much is Man alter'd from his first estate Tristis Lacrymosa commutatio a most sad and lamentable change you see from favour to wrath from fellowship to banishment instead of the Image of God the image of sin and Satan for glory misery for dignity infamy for dominion subjection for liberty slavery Secondly For the Positive part of punishment or the punishment of Sense that followed the fall upon every Son and Daughter of Adam and that was the curse of God Gal. 3.10 and what is this curse but the infinite and unsupportable wrath of God and all manner of Plagues Judgments and Miseries in Life at Death and after Death 1. In this life in Soul and Body in Name and Estate 1. In Soul blindness of mind hardness of heart Isai 6.9 a reprobate sense Rom. 1.23.26 strong delusions 2 Thes 2.11 horrors of conscience Isai 65.13 seconded with Hellish despair and blasphemy as in Cain Saul Judas 2. In Body all manner of aches sicknesses diseases Deut. 28.21 to the end 3. In name infamy shame reproach Deut. 28. â—â— 37. 4. In Estate losses crosses curses in getting cares in keeping fears in losing sorrows and that many times unto death Deut 28.16 Jer. 12.13 Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings yea I have curst them already Secondly In the end of this life death the King of terrors Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6. last Job 18.14 Thirdly After this life if men die in their sins impenitentâ—â— 1. As soon as the Soul is separated from the Body it is immediately carried by the Devil into Hell Luke 12.20 and there kept in Prison till the Day of Judgment 1 Pet. 3.19 the Body thrown into the Grave where Death gnaws upon it as upon Carrion in a ditch with the mouth full of Earth and the Belly full of Worms and the Carkass full of stinch 2. At the Day of Judgment by the Almighty Power of the Lord Jesus Christ the Supream Judg of Heaven and Earth the Soul is brought out of Hell and the Body out of the Grave out of which as soon as it begins to peep it shall behold the whole World on Fire about its Ears Christ on his Throne of Glory the Saints whom they derided and persecuted taken up into the Clouds to be assessors with Christ in Judgment upon the wicked World whil'st they with the Devils are left below to stand forth before the Tribunal of Christ and hear that dreadful Sentence Depart ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels wherein every word is a Hell before they come to Hell 3. After the Sentence is past all wicked Reprobates shall be thrust away from the Judgment Seat of Christ and thrown into Hell with the Devils there to lie and fry and cry under easless endless and remediless torments And thus much of the cursed state of man by transgression and the things to be meditated on in it That your meditation on them may be the more effectual to cause you speedily to hye out of it 1. Beg the Spirit of God to convince you thorowly of the truth of it it being no other than what God hath spoken in his Word and we find by bitter experience 2. Labour to be truly sensible of and deeply humbled under the fight and sense of it so as to give no rest to your selves until that you are brought out of it for the promises of mercy run only unto such Mat. 9.13 Luke 19.10 Mat. 11.29 And that you may be truly sensible of and effectually humbled under it beg the Spirit of God to prick your hearts with the consideration of it as he did those Converts Acts 2.37 and tremble to stay a moment in your unregenerate estate as the Jaylor Acts 16. when Paul had preacht unto him 4. Be willing to receive Jesus Christ on his own terms not only as your Jesus but your Lord and Christ John 1.12 Rom. 13. end Lastly Hearken to that Counsel of your Lord and Saviour Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel and then his promise is to receive all and cast away no one Soul that comes to him and rests upon him for Conversion and Salvation Joh 6 37. Amen Sect. 3. The third state of Man is his gracious state by Regeneration and here to take notice of and meditate on these things First The free and unsearchable love of God to us in it 2. The nature of it what it is and wherein it consists 3. The differences of true grace from false grace from restraining grace 4. Degrees of true sanctifying grace 5. The signs of it 6. The priviledges of such as have it 7. The motives to it 8. The means for the maintaining encreasing and persevering in it First For the free unsearchable love and grace of God to his in not leaving his Elect in their fallen cursed condition but in his appointed time effectually calling all such as belong unto his Election of grace out of a state of nature into a state of grace God might have for ever passed by fallen Man-kind as well as he did the fallen Angels though he lookt in mercy upon some he might have passed
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
evil spirit be so dreadful to them here what will it be to be still in their company and never suffered to go out of it Consider well but these two things 1. Their ghostly deformity they make Hell look black as one saith 2. Their deadly antipathy they are filled with rage against mankind and therefore having been temptors here they become for ever tormentors there 7. Meditate and consider before it be yet too late how inexpressibly the damned in Hell do and will for ever bewail their folly and madness in hearkening to and following the temptations of the Devil the World and the Flesh and mis-spending their health and strength time and tallents in the service of them and neglecting so great Salvation as was so frequently and affectionately offer'd them from time to time 8. Meditate and consider what those damned Souls in Hell would be willing to do and suffer if they might come out thence and have one offer more of a Christ Life and Salvation doubtless they would be willing in testimony of their thankfulness to spend every moment of time from the beginning of the World to the end could they live so long in the most holy pure strict precise manner they possibly could and would be content also to suffer whatsoever Men or Devils should invent or impose so they might but escape the eternity of those hellish torments but all in vain for out of Hell there 's no redemption Psal 49. Once in Hell and for ever in Hell 9. And Lastly Meditate on the duties you are to perform if you would escape those endless easless and remediless torments of Hell Q. What are they A. I will but name a few 1. Be still blessing God for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ for undertaking the great Work of Redemption from the wrath to come 2. Get and clear up your interest in him and his redemption by the directions I have given you before 3. Be careful speedily to hearken unto and accept the offer of Christ and Life and Salvation in him before it be too late 4. Hasten as fast as you can out of the Suburbs of Hell I mean your natural unregenerate estate an estate of ignorance unbelief impenitency disobedience for this is the broad way to Hell 5. Learn from what you have seen to hate and fear and fly from all and every sin as you would from Hell and the rather because it is worse then Hell it being that which made Hell to be Hell and therefore to hearken to the counsel of our Saviour Mark 9.43 If thy hand offend thee cut it off it 's better for thee to enter into life maimed then having two hands to go into Hell c. 6. Be willing to do and suffer what ever God shall be pleased to call you unto here rather then by refusal to throw Soul and Body into Hell Fire Heb. 12.5 Fear not them which can only kill the Body c. 7. Pitty poor Souls who are every day running and posting in the broad way to Hell and labour by your Counsels Exhortations Admonitions Prayers Tears Examples to turn them back It may be they will be angry with you for it but it 's better they should be angry with you then God should be angry with you for not doing it better you should feel a little of their wrath then they and you lie under the eternal wrath of God that you may not 8. Be perswaded your selves and do you perswade others to look every day into Hell that you may not fall into Hell and that you may look to the purpose think and think again think every day and all your dayes of those things I have laid before you how unconceivably miserable the condition of the Damned is in Hell and yet you of free and rich Grace wonderful patience and long sufferance out of Hell who have deserved it as well as others you yet have a day of Grace when 't is past to others and therefore whilst it is called to day harden not your hearts but turn every one of you from your evil wayes that he may turn away his wrath and you may escape the damnation of Hell Amen Fourthly Of HEAVEN In and about it to meditate on those things I directed you before in and about the Life of Glory that glorious Place and glorious Company and glorious Endowments and glorious Imployments and glorious Injoyments the Saints shall have there add to those these two or three particulars more What Heaven is The excellent Titles given to it The glorious Objects we shall see there And the perfect happiness we shall for ever in joy there First What Heaven is viz. The highest and most excellent of places called the Heaven of Heavens and by the Apostle the Third Heaven This God hath prepared and appointed to be the Habitation of the Glorious Angels and all the Blessed Saints who have liv'd and died here in the Lord to reward all their faithful services here with everlasting bliss and happiness to the praise of the glory of his Grace Mat. 25.34 last 1 Thess 4. last Secondly Take notice of and meditate on the excellent Titles given to it in Scripture as for instance in some 1. In respect of the loving and kind imbracements of it it 's called Abraham's Bosom Luke 16. 2. In regard of the pleasure and delight of it it 's called Paradise Luke 23.48 and the Joy of the Lord Mat. 25. and the Fulness of Joy Psal 16. last 3. In regard of the greatness and spaciousness of it it 's called God the Fathers House John 14.2 The City of the Living God Heb. 12.22 The Kingdom of God Luke 12.32 A Heavenly Kingdom Mat. 7.21 A Kingdom which so far excelleth all earthly Kingdoms as Heaven doth Earth and further The Kingdom of God whose Kingdom infinitely excels all other Kingdoms as he doth all other Kings 4. In regard of the dureableness and continuance of it it 's called an Inheritance Acts 10.32 and a rich and glorious Inheritance Ephes 1.18 The Inheritance of the Saints in Light Colos 1.12 An Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fades not away 1 Pet. 1.4 5. In respect of the Honour and Glory of it it 's called a Crown and that we may not think it to be a Crown gotten by Injustice it 's called a Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 And lest we should think it to be like earthly Crowns subject to change it 's called an Incorruptible Crown Luke 9.25 and a Crown of Life James 1.12 And that we not think it too mean a Crown it 's called a Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 1.4 An eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 which all other Crowns and Jewels do but darkly shaddow out It is as one saith A superlative transcendent Phrase such as is not to be found in all the Rhetorick of the Heathens because they never treated of such a Theam or with such a Spirit as the Apostle did Thirdly Meditate on the Glorious sights we
and Earth entailed to it it gives a Christian much in Possession all the Promises of this Life and infinitely more in Reversion the Life that is to come Godliness will be profitable whilst you live sweeten and sanctifie every state and condition to you and yours Prov. 20.7 and will be much more profitable when you die when you are to leave all other things this better part shall never be taken from you Luke 10. last Thus of the general Rules Secondly For the more particular Rules respecting the right ordering of our Conversation they either respect God or Christ or the Spirit our Selves and others 1st For those respecting God they either concern his Attributes Words Works Worship 1. For the Attributes of God you ought to know them and to walk sutably to them let them have authority and influence on your Hearts and Wayes to keep you from sinning and quicken you to well-doing according to the directions given you before 2. For his Word To do nothing but what you have a warrant for out of the Word Isa 8.20 Psal 119.9 Whereby shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed to thy Word John 5.39 1 John 4.1 Acts 17.12 Rom. 12.2 Prove what is the good and acceptable Will of God God hath appointed it to be a Light to our Feet and a Lanthorn to our Paths Psal 119. He that walks not according to it walks amiss Mat. 22.29 Ye err not knowing the Scriptures As you are to walk according to the Word so every part of it the Precepts to obey them Psalm 119.2 the Promises to trust in them Psal 9.10 and the Threatnings to fear them Hebak 3.16 3. For the Works of God you are to eye God in his wayes of Justice and Mercy and to be humbled under the one and thankful for the other to admire him and adore him in what you cannot comprehend him as the Apostle Rom. 11.33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out 4. For the Worship of God I have given you directions before yet I will add these to have an eye in the Worship of God to a right Person Place Manner Time End 1. The duties of God's Worship must be performed by a right Person as for instance The Preaching of the Word and the Administration of the Sacraments onely by a faithful Minister called and sent by God and his Church because these are publick Duties and therefore to be performed only by a publick Person So Prayer in the Family and instruction of those in it by the head of the Family God having layed the charge of it upon him Deut. 6.6 Heb. 7.7 2. The Religious Duties must be performed in a right place as the Publick in Publick Private in Private Secret in Secret the reason is because though there be no place forbidden yet there be some places more convenient for some Duties then others 3. That there may be order they must be observed and performed in a right time and in due season as works of our general Calling in their season and of our particular in their season Duties of our general Calling especially on the Sabbath Day and every morning and evening Psal 92.2 The duties of our particular Calling only on the week day and the greatest part of the day the reason is Because there is an appointed time for every purpose under Heaven Eccles 3.1 And because what the Wise Man speaks of a word spoken in a season is true of an action done in season it 's very beautiful like an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver 4. For the right manner I gave you directions before at the beginning onely remember still this all be with fear and reverence Heb. 12. end and in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 God abhors those that draw near with their Lips and their hearts are far from him Isa 29.13 5. For the right ends you are to propose in every duty they are That God may be glorified others Edified your Souls Sanctified and Saved 1 Cor. 10.31 Phil. 1.20 John 15.8 2dly There be other Rules respecting Jesus Christ If you would order your Conversations aright you are to do what you do in Knowledge Faith Repentance Obedience Love 1. In Knowledge because this is Life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 And because all Obedience without Knowledge is but blind Obedience 2. In Faith That God will accept of your Persons and Services in him Ephes 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 Because without Faith it 's impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 3. To do it in Repentance Because so long as men live and lie impenitently in sin God will not regard any thing they do Psal 66.18 Psal 50.18 4. In Obedience to his command Because he is the Author of Salvation only to as many as obey him Heb. 5.9 And such as yeeld Universal Obedience their unfeigned desire and earnest endeavour Psal 119.3 Mat. 5. last John 15.14 5. To do all ye do in Love to Jesus Christ as the Apostle 2 Cor. 15.14 The love of Christ constrains me Because without Love all Religious Duties will profit us nothing 1 Cor. 13. That you may be enabled to all this you are to make Christ your Principle your Pattern and your Scope in all 1. Your Principle to fetch Grace and strength from him to do it because we can do nothing without him John 15.5 And it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him that we from that fulness might still be receiving Grace for Grace 2. To make him your Pattern to walk as he walked 1 John 2.6 How that was you may read in the Gospel wisely inoffensively c. as we shewed you before in your Meditations on Christ 3. To make him your Scope and end in all you do that Christ may be magnified in your Bodies in Life and Death Phil. 1.19 20. 3dly Other Rules respect the Spirit of God as these 1. To hearken to and obey his Call unto Faith and Repentance Isa 30.21 2. To nourish and cherish his motions within in the Conscience checking you for evil and exercising you to duty and take heed you do not resist him as they Acts 5.21 nor quench the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 nor grieve the Spirit so as to cause him to depart Ephes 4.30 3. To beg his help and assistance in every duty of your particular and general Calling Ephes 6.10 4thly There are other Rules respecting our selves If you would order your Conversation aright so as to have God's gracious Presence with you Providence over you and Blessing upon you all the day long then to mind and observe well these Rules To begin the day with God and continue it with God and end it with God 1. To begin the day with God by giving him the first of
Pen or Purse and therefore how much more should Christians that have more light to shew them the weightiness of their work and the brevity and preciousness of their time To meditate on the express command Ephes 5.15 Redeem the time because the dayes are evil Here take notice of three things 1 From what you are to redeem the time 2. Unto what 3. Why. 1. From what you are to redeem the time You are to redeem it out of the hands of those who would steal it away from God and your Souls as 1. Idleness and her Daughters viz. vain Imaginations and idle Discourses 2. Worldliness and her Daughters viz. inordinate carking and caring toyling and termoiling about the things of the World 3. Voluptuousness and her Daughters viz. vain sporting rioting feasting proud apparelling immoderate and unseasonable sleeping These we find by sad and general experience to take up and consume the most of the precious time of men and women therefore you should do well to reflect and look back wherein you have been peccant and faulty how much of your precious time hath been stollen away by these time-devourers how much time hath been spent every day in Eating Drinking Sleeping Tricking Triming Fidling Dancing Carding Dicing and the like vain Sports and how little in Hearing Reading Praying Meditation holy Conference c. How much the vanities of the World carnal Pleasures needless Visits unprofitable Discourses and unnecessary Recreations have eaten up and to humble your selves under it and redeem your time out of the hands of these Thiéves for the future more especially to ask your own Consciences and look into your Conversation how you have imployed the time of your Youth the means and seasons of Grace the opportunities you have had of doing and receiving good the times of affliction either Personal Family National what good you have gotten or done in and by all otherwise very Heathens will rise up in judgement against you Take notice 2. What you are to redeem it unto viz. The promoting of the Glory of God the publick Good and your spiritual and everlasting Well-fare Isa 43.3 Ephes 1.6 Psal 137.5 John 6.27 3. For the grounds why you are so to redeem it you have it here in the Text Because the dayes are evil full of the evil of Sin full of the evil of Punishment never did iniquity more abound and never was the wrath of God more revealed from Heaven then in our dayes and therefore to redeem time that we may be fitted for the worst of times and the best of dayes Lastly Meditate how bitterly men have bewailed the loss of their time on their Death-beds and do still in Hell and what they would be willing to do and suffer if they might have further time but all in vain in vain did she cry out Call back Time Oh call back Time Time being past not a moment to be recalled A serious meditation of these things may through the blessing of God be an effectual means to make you prize and improve better your time then ever you have done Sixthly Of Eternity Sect. 14. In and about it to take notice of and meditate on these things 1. What it is 2. The kinds of it 3. How near we are to it 4. How bitterly men will bewail at the last the loss of a Blessed Eternity 1. What Eternity is scilicet An intellâ—ctual Sphear as one observes whose Center 's every where and Circumference no where For the better understanding of it take notice there is a double Eternity one a parte ante and another a parte post one that hath neither beginning nor end another that hath a beginning but no end For the first so God onely is Eternal Isa 43.10 13. Rev. 22.1 8. And the things of God as his Attributes as his Truth Psal 117.2 Mercy Psal 136.1 Righteousness Psal 119.142 c. For the other Eternity which hath a beginning but no end This the Eternity of Angels and Men and this Eternity is that we are to speak of 2. For the kinds of Eternity There is a double Eternity of Woe and Joy Misery and Felicity 1. Of Woe and Misery that shall befal the wicked and of Joy and Felicity which shall be bestowed on the godly Mat. 25. last The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Eternal Life And what folly and madness then is it for a temporary delight to lose eternal happiness Momentanium quod delectat eternum quod Cruciat 3. We should consider that we stand every day before the door of Eternity and we know not how soon we may lanch forth into that Ocean from whence there 's no return 4. How bitterly men will bewail at last when 't is too late their folly and madness in losing a Blessed Eternity and incurring a Cursed Eternity how unconceiveably miserable it will be for men to lose Heaven and lie in Hell so long as God is God He found it by bitter experience that cryed out on his Death-bed Oh Eternity Eternity Eternity in Hell for ever for ever for ever This word ever will break the hearts of men before ever they enter upon the borders of Eternity and therefore think seriously upon it before it be too late and let it be your morning and evening Thoughts The serious meditation of it may through the blessing of God be an effectual means to take off your hearts from these perishing things of the World and the pleasures of sin here which are but for a season keep you from envying the prosperity of the wicked and repining at your own adversity all being momentany in comparison of Eternity and make you look out after an interest in an eternal God and Christ and Spirit and Grace and Glory and do whatsoever you do in your particular and general Calling upon eternal grounds and to eternal ends Amen CHAP. VII The World and the Creatures in it IN and about this to meditate on three things 1. Those things in the Creatures that engage our hearts to love God 2. Those things in the Creatures that disengage our hearts from inordinate love to and pursuit of the Creature 3. Those duties we owe to God for the Creatures and the Creatures teach us to perform to God First To meditate on those things in the Creatures which discover the love of God to us and that engage our hearts again to love him As for instance The Magnitude Multitude Variety Beauty Structures Vertues Sympathy and Antipathy of the Creature 1. For the Magnitude or Greatness of the Creature Who can measure the breadth of the Earth and the depth of the Sea saith the wise man Eccles 13. And if the Earth be so great how great is the whole World The Earth is but a Point in comparison of the Heavens Circumference 2. For the Multitude of the Creatures Who can number the Sand of the Sea and if not the Sand much less all the Creatures that are in and under and above the Earth
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