wax cold for want of communication and the coldest affections are inflamed by conversings Note and intercourse of speech Seventhly Meditation is a gracious means to ease and refresh the mind wearied in worldly businesses It seasoneth our meat sleep labours Psal 139.17 18. Oh how sweet and pleasant a thing it is to come into the presence of God to record his mercies to solace our souls in the remembrance of his love This is the place of rest after a toilsome journey the cool shade to the weary labourer the water-brooks to the panting Hart Psal 42.1 No mirth no melody is to bee matched to it The joy and comfort of the Spouse in the presence of Christ is a matter incredible to the carnal heart Psal 63.52 6. who never tasted of the refined Wines and fat things in the house of God Eighthly Take away Meditation and the duties of Religion lose their life and vigour Prayer is cold reading unprofitable Think daily with thy self what great honour it is to bee the Son of God what unspeakable joy to possess assurance that our sins are pardoned how unvaluable a prerogative to lay open thy cares into the bosome of the Lord perswade thy self of his readiness to hear mercies to forgive and compassions to relieve them that ask in his Sons name These things will stir up intention and fervency in prayer with what sighs and groans will hee confess and bewail his iniquity who with a single eye doth behold the filthiness of sin and look into his own estate But lay aside Meditation and all is turned into form comes to bee of little use For the appetite will decay if it be not sharpened desire will cool if it bee not quickened Meat received into the mouth and spit forth again presently nourisheth not Seed must bee covered as well as cast into the ground Reading benefits little without Meditation which is to the Word what chewing and digestion is to meat that should feed the body 1 Tim. 4.15 Ninthly Frequent and daily repetition and regard of heavenly things brings us to better and more inward acquaintance with God most comfortable fellowship and communion with him The more wee speak and converse with a man the better wee know him the further wee see into his worth faithfulness and excellency So doth communing with God lead us to the sound and comfortable knowledge of his Majesty This is the fruit of holy musing than which what can give more joy and comfort what knowledge so delightful to the mind as the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in whom the Father hath revealed the treasures of his wisdome the riches of his grace long-suffering and mercy Nothing can revive the soul so much as the feeling of his love and the assurance of his fatherly care over us Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us we shal be safe Tenthly To call to remembrance the Lords mercies of old and his free promises that never fail is a singular ease and refreshing in the time of temptation when Satan doth sift and winnow us with temptations Psa 77.5 6 11 12. Psa 145.5 Psal 119.52 Psal 119.93 and terrours within and troubles without I remembred thy judgements O Lord and was comforted I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickened mee Eleventhly As the mind is such is the life for that is the fountain of actions whether good or evil if the mind bee pure the life is holy if the mind bee defiled the actions cannot bee upright Wouldest thou live a Christian life and injoy those great liberties which God affords to his children in this life then thou must scatter the bed of disordered cogitations and nourish godly desires and motions in their room meditating on the Law of God doth bring on the doing of it even as evil thoughts do bring on evil actions for the thought is as the seed and conception of all our actions Now look as after conception there is a travel to bring forth and a birth in due season so when the soul by thought hath conceived presently the affections are tickled and excited the will inclined and stirred which commandeth the inferiour powers to execute what the thought suggested Twelfthly Meditation fitteth for conference hee that hath digested good matter by serious cogitation study and care is able to bring it forth and utter it as occasion requireth As they that have treasured up much gold and silver can easily lay it out when it may bee to their advantage whereas others that after long study can speak excellently being put to it upon the sudden can say little for lack of Meditation herein like unto them that having laid up nothing in store are compelled to borrow of the Usurers before they can make their purchase Thirteenthly and lastly The Word of God appears excellent his works great Psa 8.3 his favour unspeakable when wee ponder them in our hearts By it in our solitariness wee enjoy God and our selves and by conversing with him wee are fitted for and made more profitable in all good company Quest What use is to bee made of this point Answ If formerly thou hast been a stranger to this exercise now learn it begin to practise it entertain not conceits as though it were needless unprofitable impossible burdensome for a Christian life cannot stand without it Thou shalt finde it exceeding beneficial delightsome easie when thou art entred into it it is tedious onely to corruption to the heart renewed it is most sweet and comfortable The neglect of this duty is the very cause why many Christians injoy not the tenth part of those priviledges that God hath provided for them in this their pilgrimage why they are kept under their strong corruptions and break forth offensively in their dealings in the world Moreover how should a man bee assured of Gods love if knowing this to bee a duty required hee never address himself unto it in good earnest It is not sufficient to praise that which is good speak well of the children of God keep our selves pure from the gross stains of the time but we must hate iniquity and love righteousness which they do not who harbour such thoughts as are displeasing to his Majesty How can a purified mind take pleasure in those filthy waters that flow from the stinking puddle of original corruption It is for swine to wallow in the mire and corrupt fountains to send forth muddy streams If the treasure bee in Heaven the heart must be there If the soul bee of an heavenly disposition nothing is more delightful than to walk and commune with God By thy thoughts thou mayest know thy self as evil thoughts will argue an evil heart so good thoughts will argue a good heart for these cannot bee subject to hypocrisie as words and deeds are which sometimes come more from respect of the creature than of the Creator It is the will of God
once weaken and distract the powers of the soul To scatter the thoughts upon many things is to attend nothing as it ought when the mind is distracted betwixt divers things the one is a hinderance to the other and we receive benefit by neither nor bring our thoughts to any good issue Secondly Out of this variety of matter seeing thou must take but some one play the part of a wise man and chuse that whereof thou hast special need As salves are not for every sore nor all meats agreeable to every constitution every part of the Word is holy pure and good but times occasions conditions of men make a difference There is a time to mourn and a time to bee merry to put on sackcloth and to sing for joy and there is matter to bee found in Scripture which doth suit with each disposition and will serve to stir up either affection The occasions diseases comforts of Christians are not the same nor alike at all times out of the treasury of the Word wee may gather instructions which will fit every occasion season and estate Fitness of matter is required as in speaking so in musing * Isa 35.3 4. 40.28 Job 8.8 Deut. 4.32 32.7 Lam. 3.56 Psal 77.11 12. Art thou afflicted in conscience for sin speak with thy heart of the promises of pardon and forgiveness that are freely made in Jesus Christ enquire diligently into Gods mercies of old commune with thy self what former experiences of love and favour thou hast felt call to remembrance how tenderly the Lord hath dealt with others upon their humble submission If thou wouldest stir up thy heart to love or reverence the Lord think of his majesty power goodness free-grace and undeserved mercy Thirdly It is neither unlawful nor unmeet to meditate on our sins past that we might be humbled frailties present that we might prevent them but a discreet course must bee held that wee defile not our selves with delightful remembrance of sin Ezek. 16.63 36 31. nor by thoughts stir up the corruption which wee desire to subdue nor cast our selves into despair and horrour for what hath been done amiss nor give place to doubting of perseverance in respect of the time to come for humiliation must bee joyned with confidence in God and watchfulness that wee fall not into sin again Quest What if the heart bee so barren that wee cannot call to minde any thing that hath been taught nor remember any mercy wee have received Answ These may bee observed as matters meet to have good room in our thoughts our own vileness unworthiness emptiness of grace the goodness of God in sparing our lives bestowing outward blessings forgiving multitude of sins and subduing them more and more the sufferings of Christ in the Garden and upon the Cross the Christian armour that must bee put on and kept about us how wee might carry our selves uprightly in all estates and affairs that our hearts bee not disordered nor our lives blemished It is not amiss to propound to our selves the mercies of the day our special wants of grace and the chastisements that are laid upon us as matters to bee mused on that wee might bee quickened to prayer and thanksgiving First More particularly Hee that desireth to have help by Meditation must weigh how slippery bad fickle and wandring his heart is infinite waies to his exceeding hurt Jer. 17.9 and that hee must of necessity appoint some a Psa 55.17 set time to check reclaim and wean it from the same Secondly Hee must watch over his heart having been so often deceived by it throughout his whole life and have it in suspition that so it may be more fit to bee drawn to such heavenly exercise Prov. 4.21 and be stayed therein and attend upon the same Thirdly This being observed let him draw matter of Meditation and Prayer from his own wants and infirmities from Gods benefits from the change and mortality of this life Also it is good to meditate on the Glory of Gods Kingdome the sweet comfort of a peaceable conscience love of humility meekness but specially that which for the present shall bee most suitable to his state Fourthly If hee cannot thus do let him read some portion of the holy Scripture some part of the Psalms some of the Epistles of the Apostles Christs Sermons or some good book fit to furnish him with good matter and season and affect his mind that so hee may learn how to perform this duty and quicken up himself to it oft and from time to time when hee once knoweth how If hee cannot read hee must desire more help of others and for want of help hee must needs look to go the more slowly forward either in the right and kinde use of Meditation or in any part of sound godliness and Christianity seeing wee cannot bee ignorant of this that the old subtil fowler sets his snares and nets so thick in our way that wee have no shift but to fall into them and light upon them except with the wings of Meditation and Prayer wee mount up on high above them and fly over them which to them that cannot read will for the most part bee found more hard and difficult Quest What particular Meditations concerning duties to be performed or practised may wee finde commended unto us in the writings of godly men Answ They are many and most excellent amongst the rest such as these First No man shall bee fit to govern himself aright before men if hee do not usually acquaint himself with and frame himself after that Christian course first which hee should have before God Yet no man must rest in private exercises of Religion without a well-ordered life before men Secondly Every part of our calling must bee so carried on as wee may have peace thereby and it behooveth us to bee best armed and most circumspect where wee are weakest If a man bee fallen hee must not lye still but return unto the Lord with speed though with much difficulty for sluggishness and deadness will follow if the breach bee not made up in our consciences 1 Sam. 7.7 8 9 10 11 12. but if wee seek to God unfeignedly hee is not far off Thirdly If wee rejoyce onely in prosperity it is a sign that Gods benefits not his favour makes us merry It is a good thing to rejoyce in the Sabbaths Psal 119.57 2 Cor. 5.16 and in the communion of Saints yet wee may not rest there but in this that God is our portion alwaies Fourthly In crosses we must use great sobriety otherwise wee shall be unsettled by them especially if they bee many and great to this end wee must prepare for trouble before it come and in it wee must meditate on the best priviledge that God hath given unto us labouring that our graces and strength increase as our afflictions do increase For affliction is doubled 1 Sam. 30.6 Psal 77.3 if the inward infirmity
this exercise page 11 What the matter or subject of our meditation ought to bee page 17 What the fruits effects and benefits of meditation are page 20 What use wee are to make of this point page 49 What superficial and careless thinking upon some points of Doctrine by fits is page 53 What the lets and Impediments of this duty are page 59 How the first Impediment is removed page 61 What a second let or Impediment is page 65 How it is to bee remedied Ib What a third Impediment is page 68 How it is to bee remedied page 69 What a fourth let is page 71 How it is to bee remedied page 72 What should move us to bee careful to take time for this duty page 73 What things hinder the fruitful performance of this duty page 74 How these abuses are to bee remedied page 75 What the sorts and kinds of meditation are page 77 What occasional Meditation is ib. What Rules are to bee noted touching extemporary Meditation page 78 What the benefits of extemporary meditation are page 80 How a man should fit himself for extemporary meditation page 84 What solemn or setled meditation is page 85 What motives should perswade Christians to set upon this duty page 86 What things must bee looked unto that this exercise might bee taken in hand with good success page 88 What Rules are to bee observed touching the choice of matter Ib. VVhat wee must do if our heart bee so barren that wee cannot call to mind any thing that hath been taught us nor remember any mercy wee receive page 93 VVhat particular meditations concerning Duties to bee performed or practised wee may finde commended unto us in the writings of Godly men page 97 110 VVhat place is fit for meditation page 115 VVhat they must do that have no room to bee alone page 117 VVhat time must bee set apart for meditation lb. VVhat is to bee said to them that pretend multitude of worldly business to excuse the omission and neglect of this excercise page 123 VVhat course must be holden to redeem time out of the world for meditation page 125 How wee must make entrance into this exercise page 127 In what order wee must proceed after the entrance page 130 VVhat must bee observed for the conclusion of this exercise page 137 How wee must meditate on Gods infinite excellency page 139 How wee must proceed in this meditation page 140 How these things are to bee applied upon the heart and pressed upon the soul page 145 How wee are to proceed in meditation of the holy Angells page 154 How these things are to be pressed and urged and applied unto the heart page 156 How wee are to meditate on mans excellency page 161 How it is to bee applied unto the heart for the quickning of the affection page 168 How wee are to meditate on Gods Infinite greatness page 176 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 181 How we are to meditate on the love of God page 185 How it must bee applied unto the heart page 198 How wee are to meditate on the fall of our first parents page 207 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 221 How wee are to meditate on sin page 228 How it is to bee pressed upon the heart page 245 How wee are to meditate on the work of Redemption page 246 How it is to bee applied unto the heart page 267 How wee are to meditate on the Resurrection of Christ page 273 How it is to bee pressed upon the heart page 284 A TREATISE OF Divine Meditation Quest WHat doth the word Meditation signifie Answ Those two words in the Original which our Translators render to Meditate signifie Primarily to meditate commune or discourse with ones self or which is the same to imagine study consider or muse in mind or heart Psal 1.2 In his Law doth hee meditate a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day and night 77.6 I commune b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search Isa 33.18 Thine heart shall meditate terrour 59.13 conceiving c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and uttering from the heart words of falshood And secondarily To pray or express that with the mouth which the heart mindeth either 1 Articulately Gen. 24.63 Isaac went out to meditate d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meditari meditata eloqui in the field i. e. to meditate his evening prayers and pray over his meditations Psal 55.17 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 105.2 Talk yee f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colloquimini of all his wondrous works Or 2 Inarticulately Isa 8.19 And when they shall say unto you seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui mussitant should not a people seek unto their God 38.14 I did mourn h Where are words used coming from the same Hebrew root as a Dove 31.4 Like as the Lion and the young Lion roaring i Where are words used coming from the same Hebrew root on his prey The former of these two significations being the Principal Quest How is Meditation to bee defined as it is taken in the former sense Answ Meditation is a serious earnest and purposed musing upon some point of Christian instruction tending to lead us forward toward the Kingdome of Heaven Psal 119.23 48. and serving for our daily strengthening against the flesh the world and the Devil Or it is a stedfast and earnest bending of the mind upon some spiritual and heavenly matter discoursing thereof with our selves till wee bring the same to some profitable issue both for the setling of our judgements and bettering of our hearts and lives Quest How do Prayer and Meditation differ Answ They are often confounded in name but inseparably linked in nature going hand in hand together and can no more bee severed than two Twins who live and dye together only in Prayer wee confer and commune more directly with God by Petition and Thanksgiving Psa 42.11 in Meditation wee talk and confer more directly and properly with our selves and with our own souls Quest What reasons may shew the necessity of this duty Answ First It is commanded by God who hath supream Authority to command what hee pleaseth is infinite in Wisdome to judge what is most profitable for us and most acceptable to himself is of great Power to punish our contempt and abundant in Goodness to reward our obedience It is his good pleasure that wee should purposely separate our selves from other matters to think seriously upon some good and holy observation that our understandings might bee bettered and our affections stirred to hate evil and love good Secondly How necessary this heavenly exercise is may easily be conceived for that the hearts even of good Christians are too much
to remove the evil or obtain the good proceeding from a broken and contrite heart The sixth is fervent Petition earnestly craving and begging this at the hands of God who is only able to effect it The last is chearful confidence raising and rousing up our souls after such doleful complaining hearty wishing humble confessing unfeigned acknowledging and serious stirring up our selves and earnest craving of what wee want grounded upon the most sweet and sure Promises of God made to them that call upon him in Faith and upon the experience which the Saints of God in all ages have had of the success of their sutes who were never sent empty away but either obtained that thing which they begged or that which was much better for them but these things are specially observed in Meditation upon some grace or sin as will bee made more evident and plain by examples and are not ever necessary that they should bee particularly observed Quest What is to bee observed for conclusion of this exercise A. First We must begin when the heart is fitly disposed or at least labour to bring it into order before wee set upon this duty and break off before the spirits bee dulled and tired otherwise we shall lose the comfort and sweetness of it Secondly It is not good suddenly or abruptly to break off except some unavoidable necessity of company or business do urge us thereunto Thirdly The conclusion of this exercise consists principally in these things 1 Hearty thanksgiving to God that hath vouchsafed in such gracious measure to assist us in the performing of this duty 2 Recommending our selves and our waies to him that our life and carriage and all our thoughts and actions afterwards may bee answerable to those heavenly thoughts and desires which wee have had and express in the performing of this duty 3 Renewing our covenant to live by Faith and to walk with God in all holy conversation Quest Declare this by some example and first how should wee meditate on God his infinite excellency Answ Entrance may be made thus into it Oh Lord my heart desires to commune with thee that I might come into better acquaintance with thy Majesty but of my self I have no ability to conceive what is right or to think a good thought concerning thy highness Teach mee therefore Oh gracious God if not to comprehend thine excellency for that is impossible yet so to confer with thee that I may apprehend in some measure how thou hast revealed thy self and what thou wilt bee unto mee that knowing thee in thy power goodness truth soveraignty and grace I may unfeignedly cleave unto thee all the daies of my life Quest How must wee proceed in this Meditation Answ Wee must consider of his titles properties and works observing how infinitely hee exceedeth what excellency soever is in any or all the creatures in the world a 1 Tim. 6.16 1 Joh. 4.12 Exod. 33.20 Oh Lord thou dwellest in the light unapproachable whom man never saw neither can see and live thou art incomprehensible by reason and unnameable by words thy name is wonderful and thy nature secret I cannot comprehend what thou art I will labour to know what thou hast revealed I am not able to behold thy face let mee see thy back-parts for this is my life and joy of heart to know thee the onely true God which springeth and increaseth daily as I come to the fuller knowledge of thee and shall bee infinite because thou art infinite I beleeve as thou hast taught mee according to my manner and measure that thou art a Spirit without beginning without cause the first and absolute being living in and of thy self giving being and life to all creatures infinite eternal incomprehensible Gen. 17.1 without composition one in essence and three in persons most perfect a meer act blessed and glorious all sufficient in thy self for us a great reward void of all possibility to bee what thou art not great in power infinite in wisdome abundant in goodness everlasting in compassion rich in mercy faithful sincere constant in thy promises unchangeable in thy love gentle easie to bee entreated just and righteous in all thy Commandements and Proceedings the most absolute universal soveraignty of all things both in Heaven and Earth Thy name is wonderful in all the world for thou hast created all things and by thy appointment they continue unto this day Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and it abideth thou hast stretched forth the heavens as a curtain Job 9.7 8 c. and in them or dained a Tabernacle for the Sun Thou stillest the raging of the Sea and the proud waves are quelled by thy command the day is thine the night also is thine the Moon and Stars are the work of thine hands Thou thunderest from Heaven by thy voice and bringest the winds out of their treasure thou breakest up the deep and causest the springs to ascend in the vallies Thou causest the grass to grow upon the mountains and satisfiest with thy goodness every living thing The earth Oh Lord is full of thy goodness but thy glory shines most bright in the assembly of thy Saints Oh what wisdome power grace mercy love long-suffering hast thou manifested in Jesus Christ the brightness of thy glory the image of the invisible God what great admirable things hast thou done for thy people thou hast reconciled them being enemies redeemed them being bond-slaves justified them being sinners of vassals of Satan thou hast adopted them to bee thy sons of unclean and polluted thou hast washed and made them clean Thou guardest them with thy Angels protectest them against dangers feedest them with fatness and marrow and hast reserved for them the Kingdome of Heaven All thy Works praise thee Oh Lord and thy Saints bless thee Great is the power wisdome holiness and glory of the heavenly Angels but they are finite created dependent great immortal glorious by participation only not able to behold the glory of God great is the renown dignity dominion of earthly Monarchs but their persons are mortal their glory fading their Dominion temporary their power limited what they are they have by deputation during pleasure As for our God hee is an infinite eternal absolute independent soveraign His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and his Dominion endureth throughout all ages Psa 90.1 2 Before the foundations of the earth were laid and ere the mountains were formed from everlasting to everlasting thou art God But Lord thine excellency far exceedeth all that I can conceive for what can a finite understanding comprehend of an infinite being I know very little of thy waies much less of thy nature yea what thou hast revealed of thy self in thy Word doth rather make known what thou wilt bee to thy people than what thou art in thy self As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are thy waies higher than our waies and thy thoughts than our thoughts Quest How
perfect gift but sin was not created by him can receive no approbation from him God cannot possibly sin for hee may work besides his rule who may sin But Gods Rule is his most just and wise will which hee cannot but work after no more than hee can deny his own nature God cannot bee the author of sin in and with his creature as hee is of every good word and work for that which the creature doth God being the author and principal worker of it hee must inform the manner of it by his Commandement and work it in him by his Spirit But it is impossible for the creature to sin in working after that which is commanded him of God God cannot so far will sin as to approve it for good in it self it hath no proportion to his nature It is such a thing as hee cannot bee author of in the creature nor yet the creature work while it keepeth communion with him wherefore God cannot allow it as good in it self The Lord perswadeth to obedience threatneth the sinner commandeth the practice of holiness punisheth the disobedient Hee is just and holy in himself in all his waies and cannot bee tainted with the least spot or blemish Jam. 1.13 Thou oh God temptest no man as thou canst not bee tempted of evil and if it bee not of God it cannot bee good for hee is the absolute original goodness from whom cometh every good by participation The cause of sin is some voluntary agent that worketh besides Rule and comes short in goodness required Sin it self is an aberration the subordinate and deficient cause of sin is Satan or man himself revolted from God Satan soliciteth the flesh inticeth the will consenteth and so sin is finished The Devil was made an Angel of light but hee abode not in the truth and being fallen from Heaven ceaseth not to draw others into the same perdition God made man righteous but hee found out many inventions this is the cause but what is the end of sin Of evil there is no end for that is never good No gain to bee gotten by that which is naught and vile the poisoned stalk can bear no wholesome fruit Satan in tempting aimeth at mans perdition Man in sinning intendeth the satisfaction of his lusts The Lord doth by his providence order it to the glory of his name but of sin properly there is no end to the sinner God takes occasion by sin to give the promise of the Mediatour Hee can use sin for a punishment Rom. 1.24 for the exercising of his children No speech from Shimei but sinful reviling speech was Davids exercise but yet the goodness that cometh by sin is not of nor through it by nature but from the infinite wisdome of God who knoweth how to work good out of evil Let us somewhat inquire into the properties of this poison every sin is mortal in its own nature it deserveth and bringeth death endless and easeless of soul and body for it is a turning aside from God who is the life of the soul it is a breach of his Law an offence against his infinite Majesty If a man sin against the Majesty of an earthly Prince hee is punished with temporary death or perpetual imprisonment if hee could bee supposed to live alwaies hee should lye in for ever How much more deservedly am I subject to eternal death who have sinned against an eternal God Every sin in its own nature is accompanied with final impenitency Hee that sinneth once can never cease to sin by any natural power sin is a running leprosie that cannot bee stayed the soul that is once distempered must go amiss for ever if it bee not rectified by supernatural power It is of grace that sin is pardoned it is of supernatural power that any soul is set free from the power and tyranny of it For being once enthralled by voluntary submission wee cannot after draw back and work deliverance Sin is of a soiling nature and defileth all it toucheth Every good work and holy ordinance To the unclean all things are unclean The Word Prayer Sacraments Alms every thing is polluted by that touch Corrupt qualities are more apt to hurt than sound to heal one rotten sheep may infect the whole flock but cannot bee cured by them One filthy ragg stained with the plague may infect a whole pack but the clean garment cannot purifie it If a common garment touch holy flesh the garment is not sanctified but the flesh polluted The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Sin mixed with Gods ordinances is like poison mingled with wholesome meat that corrupteth it for our use and nourishment Mark and consider well the effects of sin O my soul the waters of this fountain are bitter the fruits of this tree unsavoury They that sow iniquity shall reap vanity and they that follow vanity forsake mercy Affliction pursueth sinners and shall overtake them to their cost without question the wages of sin is death Look as it is with men if they turn themselves from this aspectable light they are forthwith environed with darkness So man turning away by his sin from God the Father of lights from whence every good gift cometh hee cannot but bee forthwith in outward and inward darkness By reason of sin the soul is dead in ignorance and lust So that they have in them a seed apt to bring forth every sin Our bodies have mortality as a worm corrupting them our conditions are exposed to a thousand vanities and wearisome courses and these are the beginnings of evil Despair darkness fear horrour and shame are the companions of sin disgrace sickness poverty loss of goods the best fruit it beareth Hast thou lost any blessing sin hath robbed thee of it dost thou want any good thing sin keepeth thee from it art thou annoyed with evil thy perdition is of thy self sin sets man at odds with God the Law his own conscience all creatures and with himself Oh what a drudge is man made to his lusts by sin what confusion vexation bitterness doth lodge in the heart continually Look into the world and see what desolations it hath made How are the mighty slain and glorious Kingdomes laid on heaps Is not sin the cause of all disorders wars confusions bloodsheds famines and pestilences that ever were in the world The sorrows of this life are many and grievous but nothing comparable to spiritual and eternal miseries that sin bringeth with it Oh that thou didst behold how miserably the soul is mangled defaced wounded imprisoned by it the light of nature terrour of conscience power of grace is not able to set forth or comprehend the desert and fruit of sin for the full wrath of God which shall bee executed upon the ungodly exceedeth all that can bee imagined If the wicked prosper for a time sin turneth their blessings into curses The Table and by proportion the wealth strength and honour of the wicked are dangerous