that for twenty years together he had studied nothing but the Bible and his own heart I believe none of those Philosophers and Artists ever acted any seriousness to that height and sweetness that the holy ones of Christ have done But it is time to come now to the next thing CHAP. XI Meditation in a searching and scanning 6. THis Meditation besides Application of the Mind to the Object and intension or seriousness on it includes a searching and scanning or diving deep an extension of thoughts a looking about or endeavour of Comprehensiveness in respect of the Object so far as we can To make as perfect and full a view of it and to see into the Dimensions and Extents of that we think on Thus when a man studies a thing He endeavours an Extensive and a Comprehensive seeing and having the fullest view He sets it not before him to see a little but the most he can The Scripture phrase I cited of Proverbs 4.26 and that of Luke 2.29 of Pondering includes this particular likewise we now are to treat of In pondering there is both first the Minds applying it self to a thing and the intending its acting and then this third of an acting of searching and diving into it or knowing what we can of it Pondering is an Expression taken from Goldsmiths and Tradesmen that desire to know the full weight of a thing and thereby the value or worth for their profit and use Thus the Merchant weighs his Merchandise the Goldsmith weighs his Silver and Gold the Jeweller weighs his rich Pearls Rubies and Diamonds to know them more exactly There is exceeding great weight and worth in Heavenly and Spiritual things Meditation must hold the scales to weigh so well as we can these so rich and precious things these Diamonds and Pearls of Heavenly Treasure yea weigh them as things that unspeakably surmount all other things As Prov. 2.4 Wisdom must have a searching for as for hid Treasures as the searching for and searching in the Gold and Silver Mines in which there is not only great earnestness of search till the Rich Vein is discovered but being once found there is a following it with exactest Industry and utmost Curiosity to find not a part or quantity of the Treasure but all the Riches scattered over the whole Mine part after part A Christian in his Exercise of Meditation must act the part of the Exquisite Miner to dig deep dig over all the Mine and gather up the Riches of it the lesser and greater quantities as they come to view in the Mines of Spiritual Treasure Travellers tell us that in the Persian Gulf at a certain season of the Year great store of a kind of Shell-fish is to be found near the shore in which Shell-fish they find the precious Pearls bred in their Shells But the way of finding them is by Diving there are men that have an Art of Diving down to the bottom of the Sea and bringing up their Baskets fill'd with these Shell-fish the Shells being opened they find and take out the Orient and Rich Pearls of several proportions some of them very great and rich whereby they greatly enrich themselves and those that deal in them Meditation is the Spiritual Merchants Art of Trading for Heavenly Riches Pearls of great price but there must be a Diving deep If we have not this Art of Diving we shall lose the rich Pearls the deepest diving down in the practice of Meditation comes up with the Greatest Returns of Soul Enrichments Solomon in Eccl. 7.25 hath a very emphatical Expression to hold forth this we are upon Our Translation hath it I Applied my heart but the Hebrew hath it I Compassed and my heart that is Compassed to search and seek out Wisdom Or I and my heart Compassed so in the Margin we have it There 's Coming upon a thing and a Compassing a thing the heart in Meditating is to compass in a thing as well as it can They say in Philosophy that wisdom lies in Perspection Introspection and Prospection that is in viewing throughly all over viewing inwardly and viewing what may be eventually what may be the issues of things it prys into a thing and looks round about a thing makes the Mind endeavour an Extensive and Comprehensive knowing as was said Meditation in Spiritual things should be like Nehemiah when he came to Jerusalem and would go view it He went and viewed first one part and then another till he had gone round So Meditation looks largely views what it can take in and consider As God took Moses to the top of Mount Nebo Deut. 34.1 shewed him all the Land of Promise part after part round Thus when we go up this Mount of Meditation we must search view look round take in as large a prospect as we can This is the Sixth thing Meditating includes as to the Object a spreading our Eye looking as largely and seeing so much as we can for the Ability and Opportunity is given us CHAP. XII Meditation is a Dwelling of thoughts 7. MEditation includes a Dwelling or a Commoration of the Thoughts upon the Object drawing out the Golden thread of Holy Thinking to its due length giving the mind its full scope and allowance of Abode on the meditated matter Meditation is in Scripture and oft particularly in the Book of Ecclesiastes exprest by the phrase of Considering In Consideration there is 1. Application of the Mind to an Object 2. Intension upon it 3. Pondering of or searching into it And this 4. thing of Commoration or the Dwelling of the Thoughts for some due space of time for viewing and reviewing For second thoughts bettering of Thoughts and better compleating this great Soul Affair of Meditation This Meditation needs must have that allowance that all Great Musings and Considerings have Such as Rare Artists Exquisite Engineers Deep Philosophers and great Statesmen all Noble and Ingenious ways must have for their times of studyings they must have their due space of time for thinking and lengthen out their mindings in that time to make as we say no more haste than good speed A staying a while will make an end the sooner make the work the surer Meditation is not a hasty hurry of thoughts that 's Precipitation not Meditation It is not gathering half-ripe Fruit that which hath not its time for the Influence of Heaven to come down upon it and its own internal principle and power of its Nature to produce a kindly maturation a kindly ripening We will not have for want of time our Bread dough-baked or meat raw-roasted knowing that which is not rightly prepared for the body may breed Distempers if it bring not Death It is not the way to thrive look well and be strong lively and chearful why should we gather our souls precious fruits half-ripe feed our Souls with dough-baked Bread for want of a little time Some things must have Infusion for taking forth the Spirits and Tinctures of Colours Others
1. Let me first begin with the meritorious cause of it That which Heathens knew not Nature saw not Philosophy and Learning could not find out nor reach only holy Scripture tells me and shews it to be that most black inlet sin Rom. 5.12 Death entred into the world by sin and v. 17. By one mans offence death reigned not only entred but reigned hath mastered and will master all sinners Sin that greatest evil in the world sin the only contrariety to the living God that gave life to man at first and ever since sin that only injury to the blessed God bred and brought death the greatest misery to man here sin that provoked God to pass the sentence sin occasioning the vindictive cause the Justice of God to let in death death with the consequences of it that would follow without a Mediator that Adam knew not of Death so considered is the way of the very deepest revenge a God can take But then this black part of it bodily death without that blacker Train of Hell and Eternity in it is that which must challenge a very great proportion of ponderings 2. Let me look at not only the rise of it and the bare wrath occasioning the inflicting it but that so fixt and irreversible sentence that like the Law of the Medes and Persians cannot be broken Heb. 9.27 It 's appointed for all the universality of sin hath given death an universal sting and the Statute of Heaven hath impowered Death's Extensiveness over all and set a seal of irrevocableness to it as to all men Therefore it is appointed I must think particularly for me whatever I am or do or can in utmost possibility do I must not once think of making an escape from it Yea let me consider as I must die so the very Year Moneth Day Hour and Moment is immutably fixt and can never be altered Job 14.5 the place also where the means whereby the manner how all circumstances about it are unchangeably determined 3. But how material is that particular of the uncertainty of the time and manner to me that 's a reservation and secret kept in the Lord 's own breast not possibly to be exactly known before without it be revealed as Christ of the Great Day of Judgment saith Mat. 24.36 Of that day and hour knoweth no man And Verse 42. Ye know not what hour your Lord will come And 44. In such an hour you think not your Lord comes so the two latter may be applyed to this of death when he calls for an accompt of our Stewardships and Talents and passes particular and personal Judgment 3. Let me pass next to the Meditation serious pondering of the nature of it and that great dreadfulness of that most terrible of terribles that King of terrours Job 18.14 Here that I may duly look on it let me look up for a God to teach me as to number my days Ps 90. so to be wise to consider my latter end to do that hard work overcome that difficulty of looking Death-watd Nature abhors the thinking of it Corruption all it can opposes it but Grace must bring and fix earnestly and often the Eye upon it familiarize death to me let me then Eye my dissolution the parting of the two nearest dearest friends the Soul 's taking its sad farewel of its former dwelling it s going going in an instant out of the Body and then that which Death doth as an Enemy to all former Life concerns and as an entrance upon an Eternal Condition 1. As an Enemy to all enjoyments how sweet soever Pleasures all now quenched Honours now all dasht Riches and Estate now all lost Power now utterly ceast 2. An Enemy to all Relations Friends Acquaintance now must I shake hands with all nearest and dearest the sweetest and most helpful Relations 3. An Enemy to all Imployments necessary or pleasurable no Work no Business no Invention after it 4. An Enemy to all Opportunities and Means of Grace never to read the Bible more never to hear one Sermon more never to receive the Lords Supper more never to make one Prayer the shortest of one of the fewest words more and then also when thou art just launching into the length of vast Eternity But now must be Prayerless and totally helpless yea now thy Souls condition becomes becalmed and thou canst not obtain one gale of the Holy Spirit to blow upon thee and help move thee in any measure 5. It s an Enemy quickly to the curious frame and so exquisite building of thy body with all its parts and members made with such adaptations and sutableness whatever with all the Tempers Qualities Offices Abilities and Actings of it An Enemy likewise to all the senses seeing hearing the two disciplinary with feeling tasting smelling the so likewise necessary 6. It is an Enemy and Destroyer of all comliness and beauty form and shape And all these former by being the Enemy and Destroyer of that thy so sweet and precious life by making that Jewel drop out of the Cabinet of the Body or rather driving forth thy immortal and invaluable soul bringing with it a Writ of forcible entrance coming with an Execution to turn out that old inhabitant of the body securing it from regaining possession making it stand empty and thence exposing the body to rot ruine turn to dust and expose it to Oblivion as if it had never been But then upon thy Souls thus leaving thy Body immediately and instantly it is cast upon a state of Eternity of Misery if thou wert not in Christ or felicity if found and dying in him When Life ends Eternity begins O this all amazing Eternity this so vast and inconceivable Eternity no way to be exprest or set forth no way to be understood or known a Glass that is ever running a Chain that is ever lengthening who can number the Sands of this Glass who can reckon the links of this Chain of Eternity without stop or period bound or end O let me be ever musing of this Ever have it so full in my Eye while I have time this moment of time here that it may wind up and leave me in possession of most happy Eternity But to affect my spirit aright and be wise in the due managing of this Meditation of dreadful Death let me look to and ponder the Scripture Commands for remembring and considering my latter end and the Arguments strongly inducing to it How frequently and earnestly is it urged upon all O let me lay the weight and stress of them close to my heart not suffering it to put by the thoughts of death how awk and averse soever my carnal spirit is towards it Let me therefore not only muse on the sentence the peremptory and irrevocable sentence passed upon all in general and so upon my self in particular but on it as ready to be executed this hour yea this moment for ought I or any in the world can tell Ah let me say to my self the
a manner of Operation that nothing in the World the highest Objects of Sense Phansie or meer Natural Reason can act with that Complacency and Delight Solomon in his Ecclesiastes that rare Record of his so large and infallible Experience of all things for Pleasure and Delight tells us he found nothing so sweet and which he could act upon with that Delight as when he acted up in Meditation Eccl. 12.13 David oft expresses what joy he acted in this soul-engagement yea tells us as he did so he will delight himself in it and the Heavenly Objects of this Heavenly work Heavenly things and a heavenly heart meeting in Meditation will act and make the purest pleasure Meditation therefore must have this Attendant of Delight which like a flame like the Chariot of Elijah carries up the soul in musing into Heaven CHAP. XVII Some other particulars added in some special Scripture expressions BEsides these three Affections of strong Desire ardent Love and holy Delight that like Heat and Spirits conveyed from the Arteries arising in the heart into all the Body to adde to and compleat what we have in some measure exprest there are these Three or Four things I shall a little speak to 1. Meditation should be a work very savoury on the Palate of the Soul 2. It should be sweet and pleasing to it 3. It should be with satiety in it 4. With an Admiration as the Crown on the top of it 1. It should be performed not as a thing that is dis-relishing but savoury to the Spirit in the doing Rom. 8. Those that are after the Spirit savour the things of the Spirit There are some things are unsavoury in themselves others though savoury yet not savoury to some Palates The things of Heaven are none of them in no degree unsavoury in themselves Meditation is not so in it self but to a carnal Spirit it is one of the greatly unsavoury things greatly displeasing and disrellishing But to the Spiritual man it is not so but a work singularly savoury like Isaac's savoury meat like feeding at some noble Feast where a good stomack and a right Palate feed and savour still savour the delicacies and varieties successively every thing is savoury There are some things savoury as Nature yields them others and in great variety as Art reduces and orders them and accordingly there are very admirable diverfities of savoury things which have their degrees of savouriness What great varieties are there made by Art from the meanest food to the highest delicacies yet in the Gospel Feast of Fat things full of Marrow and Wine on the Lees well refined in the Feast of all heavenly varieties Meditation hath more unspeakably rare dainties than all that Nature or Art can yield 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear hath not heard what God hath prepared for them that love him Not the greatest of the greatest Princes not Solomons most Glorious reast not Assuerus his Royal Feast not any of the Persian or Roman Emperours so much spoken of in Histories could occasion a Feeding with such high savouriness as may be had in the rich and precious things Meditation hath to feed the Soul with Therefore O let Meditation be still most savoury let every spiritual thing be very savoury as there are more varieties of Objects and higher degrees of Excellency in them endeavour a sutable an extensive and an enereasing savouring As men at a Feast pass from the first Dishes to the after Dainties with a more eager feeding and better relishing This is the first thing As Meditation should be savoury the soul well relishing of it so likewise 2. It should be sweet This I further adde in that the Spirit of God is pleased to honour this pious expression of the Holy Prophet by recording it for us who after a most heavenly Torrent of Elegancy in expressing the surmounting Excellencies of God in the wonderful ways of his workings and governings says there in the close of Psalm 104.34 His Meditation of God should be sweet How sweet must Meditation be upon infinite sweetness and from whom all other sweetness Creature-sweetness Word and Ordinance-sweetness derives it self Psal 119.103 O how sweet is thy Word to my taste sweeter than Honey to my mouth This must be chiefly by Meditation It is that which presses and sucks out the rare sweetness in the Precepts so Holy and Righteous in the Promises so precious in the incour agements so high and in all the excellent things in the so perfect word of Christ He not only asserts the sweetness he found in Meditation but is transported with high Admiration And when he could not speak of it to the height and fulness then which is our usual manner when we are at a loss for expression in words of comprehensiveness to wrap up our selves in the elegancy and terms of an Interrogation and Admiration yet not contented with this way for fuller representing his experimented sweetness he takes up a comparison says sweeter than Honey which in that pure Air of that blessed Land of Canaan was the most surpassing sweet Honey in the World Yea in Psal 19.10 Sweeter than Honey and the distilling of the Honey-Comb which is the sweetest of all others But this was in holy Meditation that made the Honey melt in his mouth and give down its sweetness Meditation that drives the Hive drains the Honey and drops in the delicious sweetness into the Musing Spirit Lord teach us the way of this Heavenly Art and make this Honey drop and the Heavenly Manna of Divine Truths fall richly into our hearts This is the second particular 3. Meditation may and should be attended with an Heavenly and spiritual satiety Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness when I remember thee on my Bed and meditate on thee in the Night-watches His rare hours introduced and made returns of Heavenly satisfaction The largeness and excellency of it he sets out by a very sutable expression satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness which to the stomack yields the best satisfaction the speediest and sweetest the most large and lasting No food satiates better than Marrow and Fatness So Isa 25.6 7 c. The Gospel Feast is a Feast of Fat things full of Marrow There are the Fat things of a perfect righteousness applyed of a full pardon obtained of Reconciliation and Peace with God made John 1.12 and glorious Adoption conferred through Christ the Feast of the Feast together with the satisfaction of the blessed Image of Christ in the beauteous lineaments of Holiness and righteousness light and life of all Graces and Excellencies and all drawn to the life and wrought up by the Holy Spirits Inhabitation and Operation and arising from Believers happy Union and Communion with Jesus Christ and his fulness And likewise as a glorious superaddition that of Assurance of a most happy condition and of the unchangeable love of God and that blessed Hope of Eternal Life which strews
is to frequently in my thoughts put my self into the condition of a present dying How it must be with me let me look on my self how certainly without flattery I am prepared to dye If I have a Christ in my bosom the Love of God assured and can dye in the Lord 2 Cor. 13.5 dye in Faith and look Death in the face boldly resign up my soul freely into Christs hands these make for this Agony the highest Cordial these furnish me with Armour of proof against this Enemy But let me then look on my self as having no means farther to preserve me all Physick Art and Experiences withdrawing their usual help Friends standing about me pitying lamenting me but not able to evidence more than their kind wishes and I my self perceiving Deaths summons sent me as to King Hezekiah but without expecting any Messenger after to be sent with better News Prayers now and all such means also reversed and proving labours lost I now feeling my decays and hastening away my disquiets and pains encreasing strength failing spirits sinking heat turned into chillness Cramps contractions of Nerves and limbs following breath shortening speech faultring heart pangs and agonies now multiplying the whole frame of the body shaking the Hands snatching Eye-strings as they say breaking and after many deep heavy sighings and groanings the Soul comes forth with gaspings and sitting upon my quivering lips upon the last gasp takes its nimble flight leaves its old habitation to rottenness and corruption and launches forth into an everlasting new condition Lord teach me so to number my days see how frail I am Psal 90.12 Psal 39.1 let me so often realize this dying to my self in most serious Meditation put my self into this condition of Deaths coming and acting his part his utmost on me that I may both familiarize and facilitate this so dreadful and difficult work that I may be greatly desirous to be dissolved and be thereby with Christ which is best of all O that I may perform this last work best which that I may and make that great Enemy my great Friend my Losses greatest Gain let me still mind Christ's healing this bitter water making it sweet making this Deaths-day better than the Births-day let my thoughts be on the Sting's pulling out that it cannot hurt if I am Christ's Death is ours if we are Christ's and for our most high advantages as being the great outlet of all evil and misery I now shall sin no more be tempted and ensnared no more the World shall now be corruptions bait and Satans Hook no more Satan shall never throw at me any fiery dart more God will never desert me hide his face from me more All Miseries Crosses Losses Poverty Shame Pain Sickness Weakness Weariness Faintness Hunger Thirst Cold Nakedness Labour Toil Cares Fears Sorrows and Disquiets and whatsoever of this lifes Evils can be named is at an Eternal end And Death becomes the great inlet of all good to flow in most abundantly a passage to Heaven to be possest of a Crown of Glory to enjoy the innumerable company of Saints and Angels to be with Christ and seeing God face to face and fulness of felicity for evermore CHAP. XIX Of Judgment after death ON the sad parting of those two dearest friends Soul and Body comes instantly the doom and sentence Heb. 9.27 the particular Judgment of the person to pass and be put in execution to an Eternal Estate either of Happiness or Misery immediately as to the immortal Soul and afterward at the General Resurrection of Body and Soul in Conjunction This therefore little foregoing Day of Judgment upon which by the Bodies mortality and necessity of dying and the Souls immortality and necessity of not dying every person comes to be stated in eternal misery or happiness unavoidably is a point of most high consequence to be well considered deeply weighed often dwelt upon in our most prudent improvements of retiredness A very great frequency and repetition of our best thoughts and serious ponderings must be the Tribute of this concern this vertical point this Judgment which casts the scales and makes full weight for misery or felicity for ever For as the tree falls so it lies as Death leaves Judgment this particular Judgment finds us dooms us irreversibly there is no bringing a Writ of Errour no Appeal to be made no pardon now the Judge will give no petition he will receive no stay of proceedings can in the least be granted or lookt for on any ground This to every particulat person in some respect is his great day of Judgment this disposes and dispatches this secures and keeps me for the great general Assize and Judgment this is the Foundation that will be the Superstructure this is secret that is solemn this for a private execution that for one in open view of all But this Judgment particular strikes the first stroke of utter undoing or lends the first hand of help to an eternal saving and without which the great Judgment doth not proceed Ah then well may I afford this Judgment a great frequency largeness seriousness of thoughts which launches the Ship of my Soul into the Ocean of Eternity which lets my Soul either presently to sink into the Bottomless Pit purposely sends it thither casts it into the Lake of Everlasting Fire or sends it into Abrahams bosom into the harbour of eternal happiness and enters this Jewel into the Cabinet of Heaven Ah how unspeakably considerable is this particular Judgment The very moment of my death that is uncertain and the very next moment after death comes certain Judgment irresistably and irrecoverably and determines our state of Eternity CHAP. XX. Of the general Judgment Day BUT then particular Judgment foregoing this is but the foundation and introduction of the following The private and partial execution on the Soul separate from the Body shall have a publick and most solemn both manifestation and consummation with it 1. This day among other ends is reserved for the so great and glorious manifestation of the infinite holiness and righteousness grace and mercy wrath and severity and other Attributes of God never in this world having their so full discovery as now by the intendment and most wise contrivance of a God they shall have before Angels and Saints Devils and wicked men The Judgment-day Rom. 2.5 is called the day of the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God of that righteousness that so great and glorious Attribute so little understood less considered so much questioned and cavil'd at the highest declaration and fullest Revelation that ever was shall be then made and seen by all So the rest of Gods Attributes shall obtain their meridian height and shine forth in their most perfect resplendencies Therefore it needs must be a very great day when it is so intended purposely to be the greatest day that ever was or can be 2. It is also purposely constituted for the highest glory of Jesus
caught up to meet and see the Lord Jesus their Saviour and now the glorious Judge coming to consummate their happiness in soul and body together to die no more and to meet with all the Saints and Angels come from Heaven and to be for ever with the Lord never to be from him again 5. But others that were wicked and now raised with the other black Troop that were in Hell and now have their Souls united to their bodies All shall be brought before Christ the Judge according to the opinion of some sitting on a high Throne in the Air the Saints and Angels all attending about him 9. For the manner of these proceedings alluding to the manner of mens Judicatures as Revelations Chapter 20. 1. All persons small and great are brought and stand before God that is Christ God and man 2. The Books are opened the Book of Gods Omniscience and the Books of mens hearts and consciences not in an imperfect state of ignorance and forgetfulness but fully prepared for their work of answering at the Tribunal and Bar of Christ 3. It is a judging men according to their works for that hath been done in the body good or evil Eccl. 12.16 And a judging every secret thing of mens hearts Rom. 2.16 Some conceive that seeing there will be the Revelation of the righteous judgment of God Rom. 2. therefore it will have a long time to judge the cause of every person in all particulars that so the righteousness of the judgment and sentence of Christ with the Execution of it may fully appear and none to have any least objection against it But others think there will not be so particular a discovery and tryal of all things relating to the Saints but a more general one However Christians must be diligent to be found of Christ without spot and blameless as 2 Pet. 3.14 10. When the cases of all have been tryed and made to appear the Sheep having been separate from the Goats and set at Christs right hand the Goats on the left the sentence then passes that most comfortable sentence for the Sheep the Righteous now so judged by the heart-knowing and most just Judge Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you And that terrible sentence on the Goats now openly convicted Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels To which the Saints and Angels all give their full approbation as also to the doom upon the Devils 11. Upon which the most righteous execution follows of both the sentences for the righteous and against the wicked ones To make all this obtain a more efficacious impression daily on my spirit let me strive to represent this Day as now come that I hear the Trump sound see the dead rise the living all changed in a moment looking up I see Christ coming in the Clouds with great glory Angels and Saints all attending him Christ placed on the Throne of Judgment all persons convented before him and my self among the rest my case tryed my works words thoughts and all my secrets judged and my state for all Etemity determined and now when the World is all on Fire the wicked sent into that everlasting destruction the righteous going with Christ into Heaven and everlasting happiness what my own particular condition is like to be If I can come before Christ the all-knowing Judge with confidence and exceeding joy shall be absolved and hear that joyful sentence Come thou blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee CHAP. XXI Of Meditation of Hell and Death Eternal therein THE very naming of Death is dreadful Death Eternal is much more dreadful but a being in Hell the worst place possible is most dreadful of all Hell though in the meer mentioning it makes such a jarr upon the spirit of any though the least touching on it by a but glancing thought the least touch be like the needles sharp point to the Apple of the Eye so acute a pain and smart yet must the Eye of the soul by Meditation not only touch it but take it close to it but dwell upon it Death natural in the but very thought hath a very high attending regret we cannot endure to look deathward but O how greatly unwilling to look in the least this sad way destruction-ward Hell-ward toward death Eternal The first is tasting Gall but the second is a drinking Poyson The one hath a deep attending reluctancy the other a double died antipathy It 's the harshest task for a sinner it 's a hard for a Saint to fix willingly and dwell in Meditation on so sad and dreadful a subject as Hell is yet is it that which must be done and by a holy wise spirit may be both confidently and advantageously done The best Christian on earth will lose nothing by sometimes looking into Hell and fixing the thoughts there No man ever yet fled from Hell but first fixt his thoughts in some proportion on it No man will flye fast enough from this Pit of perdition this Lake of Fire if he do not oft look towards it and keep his Eye upon it Hell and Death Eternal are set down in Scripture for both evil and good mens flying but this cannot be compast without frequencies of earnest ponderings and meditatings For a right proceeding in this Meditation 1. Let me first look to that which is my infallible rule the testimony of that God who founded Hell and laid the corner stone of it who first threatned and prepared this Prison this Pit of destruction who knows all the large dimensions of it all things in and about it and cannot nor will not in the least deceive us in it He hath given us his Word to tell us and that under his own hand in great numbers and varieties of passages that we cannot rationally conceive he would so do mention and give it so many times under his own hand were there no such thing no local Hell and second Death Eternal My way therefore as a good Christian is to look up gather Scripture passages passage after passage all over the Book of God as I find this asserted in them O shall my lives time ravel out without any redeeming it as to this particular of giving due down weight of thoughts frequent serious thoughts as opportunity can be had of Death Eternal in Hell I must not only say there is a Hell I must not only give it for granted as most persons do but I must be concluded under the Scripture Authority See it and say it upon due perswasion upon clear demonstration demonstration on conclusive argumentation Arguments chosen as so many Arrows taken out of Christs Quiver the Scriptures levell'd right flying round up to the mark and hitting full my unbelieving and recoiling averse spirit making it fall down under this weighty truth reducing it through Christs help to a firm and operative belief yea so to assent to and ponder this so high
concern as to work off all my usual wonted easiness and slightness of thinkings on this particular And to arrive at a contrary habitual seriousness and earnestness of mindings frequent thinkings yea let my spirit not rest till I am reduced to and improve under the powerful and prevailing provocations of it to whatever so great a thing calls for from me That I may daily more answer the intendments of a God in relating this Hell so plainly and plentifully in his Word for my due notice of it My way then must be a course of serious pondering the Scriptures passage after passage wherein the second Death and Hell is set forth in the several Books As in Isa 30.1 Tophet is prepared of old even for the King he hath made it deep and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it An elegant description in an allusion So those many clear passages of Christs own mouth set down so plainly as words can utter Math. 5.22 and 29 30. In that very first Sermon of Christs on the Mount there he mentions Hell-fire and casting into Hell three several times Mat. 11.23 Brought down to Hell Luke 16.23 The Rich man is said to be in Hell Pet. It 's called a Prison Prisons being the wors of places made for securing and punishing Rev. 20.1 A bottomless Pit Luke 16.23 A place of torment Mat Their worm dieth not alluding to that worm that breeds in and feeds on the body is lying gnawing and cannot be cured Their fire goes not out Fire is the most quick and active the most tormenting and torturing Element It 's Brimstone that is the fuel which is a most combustible noisom and suffocating matter It 's call'd utter darkness Darkness is a most dreadful and disconsolating thing as that of Egypt For the company it is only wicked persons perfect in sin and most wretched Devils the worst of Creatures Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels O how hot and scorching must that fire be that purposely is prepared for utmost torment Not like Nebuchadnezzars Furnace seven times hoter but seventy times hoter that which is inconceivable In Scripture Hell or the state of misery is exprest by the terms of second death death one death in any kind is very dreadful above all other things but after dying a first death then to come and dye a second death and this not so easie as dying any bodily death millions of times over If a Malefactor should die the most cruel death and then be made to live again and then die that death a second time yea thousands and thousands of times over O how sad were the case of that person that must be so under the both fears of that death first and then the torments and pains But what is all this to this second death being under the fullness of infinite wrath and that for ever The inflicter of this misery is no less than an infinitely wise holy sin hating and an omnipotent God acting in the purest and fiercest wrath endeavouring the fullest revenge the damned creature is capable of and for which it purposely is made a vessel of wrath and that vessel is preared to receive and hold this wrath 1. Prepared by being widened extended as it were to receive the fulness of wrath As the Saints shall have their spirits elevated and extended to the utmost to be made fit to receive the fulness of glory and happiness so the damned have their spirits widened and enlarged their understandings and hearts in the utmost extensiveness that they be brim-full of wrath 2. Prepared by being purposely strengthened to the utmost as Vessels are made strong to hold the strongest Wine or Liquor to hold and keep in that wrath poured into them Were Hell but to have the least torment in the least member or sensible part as in the Toe Finger or the like for ever or but one torment in a noble part Head Liver Heart or a complication of many sad diseases for ever how intolerably sad were this state but to have all possible trouble and torment both in body and soul set on by a God for ever O how unspeakably sad is this All the forenamed this imprisonment this tormenting this worm this fire the weepings the wailings the gnashing of teeth is not for an hour a day a month a year an age nor a thousand years or ages or what can be reckon'd by millions of millions but for ever no rest for ever no ease for ever no hope of any deliverance or degree of it for ever but sorrow torment and terrour sinking in despair and hopelesness for ever ever ever O then to improve this Meditation and make it operative upon my spirit Let me first look upon Hell begun in that terrour and horrour the wicked instantly upon their raising up from the dead and changed are seized with The hot burning Coals of Hell are thrown into their bosom fill them up and lie burning and scorching as they are both bringing to the judgment seat and are standing before Christ at the Bar all the time of their arraignment Never did any poor guilty prisoner stand in such a fear as this fear and were so amazed 2. The then unspeakable shame Then all the time of their arraignment and especially on the pronouncing of that dreadful sentence which will be passed and executed O what must be the unspeakable shame mixt with the continuing and encreasing sad horrour Dan. 13. O what must be that shame when all things possible concur to load and cover them with shame never was there nor can be such a shame poured upon any A shame in the greatest concourse that ever was or can be all the Saints and Angels yea all the wicked and the Devils every particular ashamed also before all their own company in this so desperate state 3. And especially a transcendent shame in respect of the infinitely glorious Judge the Lord Jesus despised and sinned so against by so many Ah what must be the shame of wicked men to stand uncover'd with open faces to see the so dreadful Judge looking the arraigned person full in the face looking with the most wishly Eye and stern countenance upon I say their uncover'd faces to have all their sins ript up every one adding still to the shame but then when the dreadful sentence passes O what the shame will farther then be And yet far more when the sentence is Executed they driven away and all Devils and men thrust into the Dungeon of darkness what an everlasting shame will that be Now O now to think of all their unexpressible losses of such a Bill of losses as never was seen loss of God himself his face and communion with him Father Son and Spirit loss of the company of all the Saints and Angels lost Heaven and all its glory lost and all that happiness that arises from all
glorified by all his Saints to the highest in Of all imaginable places this this is the place this is Room this is a place so large as the hearts of the Saints can wish 3. As Heaven is the largest for capacity and quantity so is it the best place for quality and excellency 2 Cor. 12. It is called Paradise by that blessed Paul who was taken up thither to tell upon his return what a place it was Paradise mentioned Gen. 2.8 it was the best place that ever was on Earth it was the summary of all necessaries and delicacies for Adam in that perfect state his accommodations recreations and abundant delight fit therefore to resemble the place of glory by And so our Lord Christ thought when he calls it by this name of Paradise Luke 23.43 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The best place it was made because for the best Creature on Earth Luke 16. It is called Abraham's bosom Abraham in his time was the most eminent person living call'd the Father of the faithful No place for a Child can be so proper so desirable pleasing and contenting as the most loving tender Fathers Bosom O how a Child loves the Bosom O how desirous are the Children of Abraham to be in his Bosom In other places it is a place of glory riches of glory a Kingdom a Crown of glory an eternal weight of glory a state where there are Pleasures for evermore Rivers of pleasures joys and fullness of joy For every Saint the highest entertainments in all respects for the Senses 1. The Ear hath such ravishing Musick and melody as that best and greatest Consort of all the innumerable companies of Saints and Angels can make 2. For the Eye the Palace of Heaven is unspeakably beyond all places prospects and objects that Nature and Art could ever yield The persons of the Saints as to the numbers so innumerable must needs make up the rarest Train and shew as to their sorts and differences that ever Eye saw O what a ravishing sight must that be to see Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the Holy Patriarchs Moses Samuel David and all the Holy Prophets Peter Paul John and all the Holy Apostles All the blessed and glorious Martyrs of Jesus Christ All his godly and serviceable painful and laborious Ministers All the precious Saints Kings and Governours and others that are recorded in the Bible And not only Men but holy Women Sarah Hannah Ruth Esther and others in the Old Testament the blessed Virgin and Elizabeth with the Women that followed Christ and ministred unto him Mary Magdalen Johanna Susanna Lydia Dorcas Priscilla among the Apostles helping them all the Disciples of Christ which believed in him with all the eminent godly lights in the Church after the Apostles and all the Saints in all after Ages to the worlds end And then for all this Train in their sorts and ranks as to their bodies to be so all over glorious to shine as the Sun and brightness of the Firmament for ever O what a shew and ravishing entertainment is here for the Eye But that which is the top and height and far surpassing all the other is that sweetest most ravishing sight of the most glorious body of Jesus Christ The highest beauty that ever Eye beheld or saw far out-shining all others as the Sun exceeds the Stars Ah here here will be a sight indeed Ah but then to behold him in his highest discoveries of his sweetest loveliest lookings and smilings on all his Saints with him and upon thee in particular To see his countenance compos'd and ordered purposely to beam forth in fullest Manifestations of surpassing sweetness of most intense affections towards his so dearly beloved Bride now present with him in the glorious Bed-Chamber to behold him and enjoy perfect communion with him 3. O but what entertainments are there as to the soul and spirit for the faculties of Vnderstanding Will and Affections how far transcending those of the Senses as the beatifical vision seeing God face to face with all intellectual satisfaction as to all the truths in the Word of God all Mysteries Prophecies and difficulties and whatsoever may conduce to the glorious happiness of the Saints satisfaction also as to the works and ways of God Creation and Providence all the Riddles and dark things so far made known as is needful Likewise as to the will and heart the beatifical fruition enjoying of God Father Son and Spirit and his infinite sweetness to all possible fullness and perfection Likewise all happy communion with Saints and Angels to all delight and pleasure And for all this both body and Soul are prepared strengthened elevated and enlarged to the utmost extensiveness As all imperfections and sins are utterly remov'd so all grace and holiness light and wisdom heat and flame of heart communicated and in a blessed reciprocation a mutual acting God the infinitely alsufficient communicating himself to the glorified to their utmost capacity and they reacting and putting forth their grace and holiness to their utmost ability O how unspeakably sweet and satiating must this continual intercourse be For the close of all let me think my self after a glorious and blessed Resurrection and absolution by Christ at the Judgment day freed utterly from all evil feeling likewise my compleat happiness coming on so fast in my now passage up to the place of glory and then instantly finding it finisht finisht on the first setting my foot as it were within the Gate of Heaven And now I think what a prepared and furnished place I am in What company of the Saints Angels and Jesus Christ also I have What fruition of the most blessed God what sense of the pleasures joys satisfactions and most ravishing sweetness under all security under that which superadded heightens and sweetens all the rest the Charter of inconceivable eternity Ah then let my frequent and intensest thinkings be not a looking down to Earth but up to Heaven breathing my soul up the Hill to this City of God in contemplating the Glories of it often let me walk this so pleasant walk Who will look and pore on a dark Dungeon that hath the Sun to behold who will that means to hit the mark look quite besides it who is it can go to Heaven that thinks most another way that hath a down-look as we say a Beasts Eye that hath no Muscle of elevation Ah such as look most will long most after labour most for it O therefore let my Eye every day be walking to and in this Paradise solace it self in taking a turn still there be walking in this upper Eye-walk by Meditation till I come to see God face to face till I look my self into this Heaven I look on I have now dispatcht this point of Occasional set Meditation as to the first branch Meditation of such things we our selves single out and set before us and take some special times for which were in these
particulars 1. Meditation on some passage or portion of Scripture 2. Or going over the chief points of Religion in order 3. Meditating of some of the works of God 4. Or something of my own spiritual state to make me more wise or warm or active for God 5. Or how the case of my soul stands 6. Or of my own evil hearts deceitfulness 7. Of my Enemies Satan and the World 8. Of my wants and weakness of Graoe 9. Of the swift passing of time and opportunities 10. Of the shortness of my life 11. Of death of the body 12. Of Judgment after death and of the Last Judgment 13. Of death Eternal and Hell 14. Of Heaven and Eternal happiness These are the heads of this first Branch CHAP. XXIII Meditation on some things providential THere is but this one thing which I will briefly dispatch remaining yet to be spoken of and then I come to the last sort of Meditation that is by a short and more sudden way Ejaculatory Meditation I say there should be Meditation on something providential a matter the hand of providence acts or orders holds forth and offers to our viewing and serious thinkings The great God as he always is guiding and ordering all things in all places in Heaveu Earth and Waters and among all Creatures especially the reasonable and chiefly above all in his Church and for his Saints against his and their Enemies As he is guiding with his hand all the concerns of particular persons to the supream end his own glory and likewise infallibly to the salvation of his Redeemed so there is ever and anon something observable particularly providential something which as the hand of providence holdeth forth so the heart of prudence and godly wisdom will take up that purposely it will set it self to see search and improve as it may be something sometime of the Church of God abroad or something of the People of God at home or in the place particularly we live in It may be there is some dispensation to some of our Relations or Friends or some matter falls out in our Family or yet nearer on our person and personal concerns There is seldom any space of time but the great Governour of the World is doing some remarkable thing it may be some admirable and glorious it may be some amazing and stupendious it may be some terrible and very dreadful work if we have our eyes in exercise and will observe Indeed Gods goings sometimes Psal 77.19 His footsteps cannot be seen but are very secret and unsearchable And there are others of his workings which are more easie for all to behold and understand There are varieties of Providences successively following each others which we should wait and watch for which we should take as they come fresh and warm out of the Lords hand and apply them warm to our hearts for a more kindly operation Meditate we should upon Providences while they are just new and fresh so we shall give them or rather our selves the advantage of a more ready and affectionate pondering a more profitable minding If I could still improve in Meditation of the Promises and in a wise warm lively also Meditating of providences in the one see better daily the riches of free Grace in the other the glorious governings of a God in wisdom righteousness and goodness How would my spirit under the dews of this fruitful Meditation be shooting up how would it prosper They are the highest form Christians that are arrived here at the contemplation of the works and great providences of God in the world In 1 John 2.13 He writes to some he calls Fathers others young men others Children Some by Children understand such as are as to Meditation taken up with the promises and matters of justification pardon and peace young men are such who are gotten farther and exercis'd about sanctification and conquering strong corruptions Fathers that beyond both are taken up and arriv'd at ponderings and contemplations of the works and ways of God and his great actings in the world So it is sometimes needful to Meditate on the Providences that are more obliging and engaging more awakening and inciting such as are as it were the special hand of the Lord touching us taking bold of us framing and ordering things for us And here there is great reason our Meditation should be more serious and curious as wherein we may see Gods so particular goings and workings toward us and for us Psal 18. All that excellent Psalm over David there enumerates and records all Gods goings towards him O then with the Psalmist let my soul meditate on all the works of God list and file up up the dispensations of his observable providences towards others and my self Meditate on his so merciful preservings directings prosperings and all other sorts and ways of Providence that I may admire and exalt him depend and trust and wait upon him and walk so before him that his ways may ever be mercy and truth towards me I have now dispatcht the second branch of Meditation on particular Providences and thereby the second general kind of Meditation which is set and occasional Meditation at particular times of leisure The last sort of Meditation comes now to be handled CHAP. XXIV Of more short and ejaculatory Meditation BEsides solemn and set Meditation there is also that which is sudden and short wherein the soul acts as one breaking out of a Throng or Croud goes aside from disturbances and diversions or breaks off from some present and too pressing business to take breath and respite it self whereby it makes a stand of thoughts turns the stream of former thoughts and like a Bird that was sitting on the ground rises and mounts up aloft to sing and sport it self even so a holy heart in heavenly mindedness will get out of the throng of cares and business will be often breaking off the thread of earthly thoughts and interpose some heavenly dart up to Heaven make a short visit thither refresh it self with some heavenly dainty take and taste of the Manna above look up to God to Christ his Spirit his Grace his Promises his Providences and gracious orderings have a running Banquet of heavenly sweet-meats when it cannot sit down and feed at large by a fuller set Meditation As there are ejaculatory Prayers and wishes when there is not opportunity for more solemn enlargements there should be also sudden and short meditatings quick interposings of good and holy thoughts then when the urgencies of Affairs incumbrances diversions and interruptions by company hindrances in any kind will not admit the opportunity of an abode of serious thoughts then sudden dartings up the soul to Heaven may be had be a refreshment as Jonathans tasting the Honey with the top of his Rod when being in pursuit of the Philistines he could not take a full meal David that meditated so much must needs in respect of his great occasions Civil and Military and Domestick
happiness Christ must be received in the Promises rested upon as sure good and free 4. By earnest often praying for grace faith and other graces a new heart and new principles which will introduce a new power and make godliness in all the duties of it and this of Meditation sweet and easie CHAP. VII An Application to such as are godly and have tasted the sweetness of Meditation 2. Vse of exhortation THE next perswasion and instigation is of all such who from a right principle planted in them by heart-changing grace and their experience from often and usual practice of Meditation have tasted the benefit and sweetness of it to take heed of neglecting it and to endeavour a constancy and improvement in it As there is nothing harder than to hedge in the thoughts and govern them so how hard is it to make them keep and beat this path of Meditation to have the soul go as with Hinds feet most readily and with enlargements of steps in it The holiest heart is too apt to flag and be weary in the best path-way to Heaven Meditation hath a strong and active Enemy in every bosom when any would do this good evil is present in backwardness to it regret and reluctaney rises up puts in a caveat hangs a weight and clog to hinder which watchfulness and resolution must spy out and cast off Cast off every weight saith the Apostle Heb. 12.1 Every weight the flesh casts upon a Duty the spirit must cast off and then run sin at all times can easily beset us and now at this time we may easily find it How easily will sin beset us with excuses how easily with whole Troops of Arguments will it charge us how easily with swarms of diversione diverting thoughts purposes affections will it seek to warp us this thing and the other and a third and a thousand that flye about as thick in the heart as motes in the Sun-shine 1. Meditation is harder than some other Duties of godliness for in other Duties the body comes in as an assistant to the soul and lends a hand of help As in praying there may the voice come in which is a great furtherance keeping better up the minds intention and keeping better off deadness and distraction In reading the eye is exercised and the mind is the better as to attention and heeding if not to heat and intention The eye affects the heart so preaching hath the ear to convey and make the better impression But in Meditation the soul acts single and unassisted without a stirring up or exciting by any sense or any help from the body and so it is the harder as the condition of our Nature now makes it In the state of imperfection we need the bodies help to farther the soul in its workings in some sort 2. Meditation hath least opportunities of coming under observation of others and thereby less provocation and encouragement for doing well by either bad or good before whom in other cases our light should shine and God by them be glorified 3. Meditation is hard in that it is an acting of the quickest faculty and the most slippery piece of the soul nothing is nimbler than the thinking power no act in the world quicker and of more expedite motion than that of a thought and nothing sooner slips off the object or thing acted upon and makes a way faster to a new than the thinking faculty like the Bird put wild into a Cage the door is no sooner open but she is gone Meditation is harder being not bare thinking a flash a sit for an instant a touching but a fixing and stay of thoughts a detaining them which otherwise are as Oyl in a mans right hand that will not be retain'd A carnal heart counts all Ordinances and spiritual engagements but coming into bonds tyings with Cords longs to break them and be free so doth it by this Cord and tye of Meditation it 's harsh work to the flesh O it 's a most high attainment to be able to say O God my heart is fixed Psal 108.1 fixed as to the purpose of heart the choice and intent of the will so to have the head the mind to cease the rowling ranging vanity and slipperiness and to act fixedly in the way of seriousness not be a light-headed but a musing man a person of ponderings and thought-stayings like the Bee that lights on the Flower and stays to have the Honey with her e're she removes 4. Meditation is the harder in that Satan hath greater power upon and more immediate passage to the faculty of imagination than other faculties of the will and affections he works not so immediately on the will and affections as upon the imagination and there he endeavours interruptions by his injections and suggestions there he endeavours diversions to think quite another way from the work in hand and disturbances casting in by-thoughts and sundry objects of different or contrary nature to the duty we are in As Satan fill'd Ananias heart but first by filling the imagination with thought of covetousness so he can cast suddenly into the best heart thoughts and apprehensions when about the best work to disturb and hinder Besides consider his malice is great against Meditation knowing how great advantage comes to us by it and how much disadvantage to him Satan is much prejudiced by ponderings he ever watches when this work is taking in hand and therefore Christian thou hast greater reason of taking the greater heed to watch him that so watches thee to fight him that fights against thee and so envies thee the help of this Ordinance that would not have thee enjoy the freedom of one good one serious thought but is casting the dust of evil thoughts in the eyes of our minds when they are looking up to Heaven but principally he envies and opposes seriousness searchings and dwelling of thoughts upon spiritual things Satan deals with us here as deceitful Courtiers and Councellors have done with their Masters diverting them from minding their affairs and all right seriousness by pleasures and new devices under the pretence of freedom from incumbrances and trouble and enjoying themselves but that hereby they might more securely prosecute compass their own private interests Satan had rather we should do any thing than keep up a seriousness in Meditation or any other holy Duties which may keep us awake and in a watchful posture against his enterprises 5. Meditation is the harder by reason of the exemplary mindlesness of so many we daily meet and converse with who refuse and slight all seriousness as unnecessary niceness or neglect it out of slothfulness and lothness to trouble themselves Bad Examples are very infectious apt to convey a secret poyson into mens hearts when they heed them not by touching this pitch the best are ready to be defiled 6. Meditation is like the road or passage where many things meet us justle us and are ready to turn us out of the way
only in our selves but our own happiness must be aimed at for glorifying God by it We must aim at happiness and being in Heaven thereby to be in a most perfect state that we may attain the most perfect principle for the highest exalting of God Althugh in Heaven seeing more and tasting more and having the vessels of body and soul filled up with glory and happiness makes our state more glorious yet the end of that seeing tasting and all enjoyings there are to put us into a most perfect capacity highest heart-readiness and alacrity upon the most over-powring incentives to lift up to the utmost the glorious praises of God This then is a very considerable particular that besides glorifying God the supreme end aiming at our own salvatition must be more then for our selves We use to speak of several spiritual ends relating to our own spiritual good which we are allowed to set up and seek and strive after yet all these must have this reduction must all have this glory of God for their chief end The last end as hath been said gives the rules to all both subservient ways and ends Therefore in our examination let us take in all the spiritual ends before spoken of for heavenly light and larger knowledge for a spirit of wisdom to be wiser to salvation to be warmer at the heart melt off all incumbrances make up to Heaven better to fix our resolutions firmer strengthen our grand purpose of still walking with God to stablish our course and make straiter steps for our feet and to press harder to the mark Are our spirits acted to these aims and all those other Meditation is so excellently and usefully appointed to 2. Do we meditate in the right way of calling off our thoughts from impertinencies and diversions Do we set a strong guard upon our spirits and watch them diligently Do we act Meditation in bending our minds to it strive to act with all seriousness we can Do we act searching and pondering and keep up constancy of thoughts till we both bring our hearts to the heavenly temper and the duty to the kindly issue it should have and cannot be content with any thing but that a God who sees our actings will approve of CHAP. IX Of the Directions relating to Meditation First for such as would begin AFter some Characters given of a right Meditation I shall next speak of Directions or Rules to be observed about it The Rules must be suited to the several sorts of persons that will set upon this work or proceed in it with success 1. If it be a person who would enter upon this way being sensible of the sin of hitherto neglecting it and is now willing to be advised how to perform it Then consider it is no undertaking it or hope of doing it aright and holding on with constancy and to the spiritual advantages of it unless there be an endeavour after a right principle a living spring within to found and still feed a due performance of this spiritual work To undertake it without thou wilt find it too high and hard arrive at the best at a formal doing a slight and overly doing and in the end grow weary of it and cast it off and so return to it no more Therefore thy great intendment to which thou must bend thy self and whole soul which should not must not be given over until it be effected is to make sure of a new heart this will bring in a new power a new principle introduce a bent and inclination of spirit a love unto it a firm and abiding purpose a rooted resolution for doing it against all difficulty and opposition This will make the duty of Meditation easie and also sweet by the pleasure and advantages found in this heavenly way thou wilt be encouraged to hold on success will encourage thee that will sweeten the way to thee and help to stablish thee in it Though thou canst not change thy own heart and make it new lay in a new principle of Holiness but it must be God who gives the new heart Ezek. 36.26 27. And works the will and the deed of his own good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Yet as he calls thee to convert and in order to thy converting requires thee to consider and bethink thyself so is it thy necessary and important duty to consider and ponder deeply and frequently those things and in that manner order which are most effectual to that end which God uses to set home For by putting thy self into Gods prescribed way of seriously and frequently considering thou mayest meet with a help with God helping at last who helps them that seek him diligently and give not over striving That relation is remarkable of the bad Son whom his father dying calls to him and gets him to make this promise That every day he should for but one quarter of an hour meditate of some one thing or other what he would Accordingly he every day employs a quarter of an hour or some time in serious thinking But this at last most happily issues in serious considering his sinful state and a real converting to God at last Thus often it hath come to pass when persons have set themselves to consider as God in Scripture exhorts it hath ended in a true returning so the Prodigal is described Luke 15. So Ezek. 18. If thou art very desirous more particularly to be here directed what to do to obtain the right principle and thence the right way of acting this duty and others in the holy and spiritual required manner I must not engage far in so large a point yet if I exceed something it will I hope get pardon Only I shall mention some particulars more necessary for this so weighty a concern If really and in good earnest thou wilt engage strive to purpose for obtaining a sure principle of performing this or any duty aright a principle of Grace and Holiness a new heart and a new spirit 1. You must go about it with the greatest seriousness that ever thou canst and endeavour the firmest and strongest purpose for prosecuting it till thou hast attained it But then thou must see thy utter inability without Gods lending a hand to help thee in so high an undertaking It is thou must endeavour but God he must draw thee Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me unless the Father draw him Thou must strive for but God must give repentance 2 Tim. 2.25 If God will give repentance Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you Yet God must see us when he calls for returning to endeavour and strive and wait for his giving who works the will and the deed of his own good pleasure 2. Thou must resolve to sequester thy self at times at fit seasons from all diversions not suffering any thing then to interrupt thee thou must sit alone as Lam. 3.28 3. Do all thou possibly canst to be awakened
of men when God pleases to permit him as we have it most evidently in the 1. 2. of Job yet he hath not such power to work upon the souls of men as to destroy them or to disturb them or to discern and discover their hearts their thinkings affectings aimings or any actings of the reasonable soul Neither can he hurt the soul either to destroy it or to defile it or to force it to think or affect or purpose He can force no man to sin in the least commission of evil or omission of good He cannot perswade terrifie or trouble without first our giving leave and giving way He gets ground by our first giving ground he leads when we let him fasten his chain and draws when we suffer our selves to be drawn Jam. 1.14 Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and is enticed Satan casts forth the bait but we first catch it before he catcheth us he cannot make us take in the bait no more than the Fisher can force the fish to bite and swallow his bait he tenders only and the fish takes it of its own accord Satan can throw his dart but it cannot enter unless we will if we will yield and not encounter with our arms but walk unweaponed and not fight 3. Though Satan hath the greatest gall deepest and most highly improved hatred of an irreversible edge boiled up to the highest Hell-dyed implacableness yet this Serpent is not so formidable as the infinite love of God to thee is comfortable What can his malice weigh against the goodness of thy God that endureth continually 4. Though Satan be unweariedly busie and sedulous yet he is not cannot be so industrious careful wakeful working for thee and disposing all things for thy greatest good Rom. 8.28 as thy God is He never can out-do thy God his doings against thee cannot out-do thy Gods doings for thee No not in any heat or height of any temptation When he tempts thee buffets thee haunts thee he must not be lookt upon as one at full liberty to do what he lists He is not the Ruler of all things governs not the world by himself alone But he is under thy God then when he tempts thee yea thy God governs the very temptation Satan can cast out no more of his serpentine venom than thy God permits He casts not out one drop or the least quantity without thy Gods first giving way 5. As thy God governs by still giving Satan leave and limiting him when he tempts as he limited him in Jobs case so his letting Satan tempt is not for him to have his will but that thy God may have his own holy will both to teach thee and better thee much to support encourage and yet humble much thy spirit that thy God sees is needful for thee Though temptations are like fire to melt the metal yet not to mar but mend it to purge it cast it into a new mould that it may be polisht and brightned and so fitted more for thy Gods praise Though the best Physicians sometimes use severe and sharp remedies yet the trouble pain sickness caused by Evacuations Corrosives Causticks Cuttings and such like are not intended for themselves but for recovery soundness strength and the good of the Patient though at present he may not so like or believe it So is it in thy Gods suffering thee to be tempted sorely and long buffeted and this must be considered and believed Thy Gods suffering thee to be tryed is only for gracious ends which after the temptation is well over will clearly be seen and thankfully acknowledged Ah! thou wilt say I could not have been without this temptation or these tryel in this nature manner me sure so sharp so long so many Never had my experiences been so rich my Faith and trust love and cleaving hope and waiting humility patience courage contentedness and other graces so appeared so improved acted so high to the praises of God and reflected and brought in such peace and joy to my own bosom Ah! how out of this evil God hath wrought my good Out of this roaring Lyon this eater brought meat out of the strong sweetness as Samson of the honey found in the Lyon he vanquisht Judg. 14.8 6. Though Satan be such an enemy and his molestations so great yet Meditation must gather up the reliefs and encouragements the Scripture supplies thee with All discouragement arises much from a single or too much pondering and poring on a present evil without a due looking to the means of relief escaping or enduring Therefore Meditation here must 〈◊〉 Eye God as well as Satan his love faithfulness pity power and all things making for comfort 2. The purchase of Christ buying victory by his blood 3. The presence and help of his Spirit against the evil Spirit and the defence he will be sure to make of his own house and Temple and the things of it to save it from harm 7. Lastly thy Meditation must look up and labour to write after the copies of the Saints that have couragiously combated and gloriously conquered especially upon thy Captain General who overcame not by his meer infinite power but by means at hand and ready always in thy power By the Scripture I have singled out a few things on this occasion whole books some less some very great have been written very learnedly and experimentally of the Doctrine of Temptations wherein large direction and help may be had for such as are tempted but I have rather exceeded already and therefore will add no more in this particular CHAP. XV. Some Directions as to occasional and set Meditation SOme Directions might be next inserted concerning that Meditation used on special occasions and which is more therefore solemn and at larger leisure As in the Law besides the daily Sacrifices there were particular solemn times where the work was much more more Sacrifices offered more Rites observed and time spent in those Services was more This Meditation must be performed according to the nature and scope and such Rules as best godly wisdom can suggest for it 1. As choice of the fittest season and opportunity doing it when we are freest from avocations and fittest as to frame temper and strength of body when we are liveliest and freshest and not sunk tyred dispirited that the good and lively present temper of body may the better help and assist the soul and the soul thereby more orderly and vigorously more intensly and deliberately act 2. Chusing the fittest place is a prudence and great advantage for avoiding disturbance and interruptions and to have the golden thread of Meditation run smoothly on without breaking from any diversions We must in faithfulness to our own spiritual interest wisely watch and strongly resolve to put by every thing that may divert or disquiet us in our now intended Meditation A darksom place or that is purposely made something dark for avoiding distractions from the eye and
relating to those things Meditation is to be upon gather the varieties of Scripture-passages about that particular subject you mean to meditate on The Scripture in the diversities of passages about particular subjects is like a rich banquet where are set before thee great varieties of rarities There are all manner of subjects All the credenda and facienda all things to be believed and practised in order to salvation There are great varieties of heavenly Truths for knowledge and wisdom and right believing Great varieties of Precepts Rules and Directions for due practice Many Promises and many Threatnings to back the Precepts sundry Patterns and Precedents to assist them and make them and thereby the Precepts more effectual on us Oft in Scripture the same things are expressed in a various manner in a different a new mode and fashion in new trimmings as it were and new dressings to both edifie and also please us Variety in expression carries oft variety of Notion holds forth something more to be learnt and affords something that may gratifie our spirits as to pleasure and delight So the lame thing hath it may be varieties of Arguments and Reasons for conviction and demonstration Inducements to perswade and lead Arguments and Inducements with the highest Art of Reasoning with the best improvement of Rhetorick and Perswasion Thus if thou meanest to meditate upon God or Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit upon Faith or Love or any Grace upon any duty any sin any affliction Thy way is to see what the Scripture hath and holds forth in the several passages of it as concerning Faith of the Nature of it of the effects and properties of it priviledges coming by it reasons to perswade to believe to live by Faith in all conditions how great variety of expressions have you for all things relating to Faith so of other particular subjects By this variety taking up one expression after another at such times as you can best how may thy Meditation be carried on with great delight and to great advantage This is one excellent way to order and improve thy Meditation take varieties of Scripture-passages about any particular subject thou wilt meditate on 1. For Scripture expression hath a bottom and foundation of sure and infallible truth which comes from God that cannot lye your Meditation goes on sure ground 2. Scripture-expressions are suited for us by the so infinite wisdom of a God who knows how best to declare his own mind and how best to convey and teach it to our capacity and condition None can speak so to me as God in the Scripture doth 3. Yea Scripture-expressions are sanctified by God to enable us to sanctifie him in this and all other duties This therefore is our best way to feed on these rarities this rich banquet of so great varieties when we are to meditate Hereby we may ever have matter abundantly to meditate never be to seek and for the manner perform it with great delight and pleasure which will otherwise be a weariness This certainly was the way of the highest Artists in Meditation David and other holy persons upon Record in Scripture They could not but see the same things to be repeated yet oft in a various way of expression therefore must conclude that the holy Inditer had his wise intendment in so various expressions Therefore their godly wisdom must teach them when they meditated to go in that way the Spirits condescending intent led them So let it be thy Rule for thy help for to make thy Meditation pleasurable and profitable together I will mention some Instances The Grace of Faith is thus variously exprest By trusting in God Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all thy heart Isa 26.4 Trust in the Lord Jehovah and in other places Psal 37.5 By rowling our way on God By taking hold of Gods strength Isa 27.5 and divers others In reference to Christ by seeing the Son Joh. 6.40 Coming to Christ Matth. 11.28 And believing on and in Christ often Love of God Deut. 30.6 Love thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul Deut. 6.5 Love thy God with all thy heart and soul and a third is added With all thy might Mark 12.10 Christ adds to the three former With all thy mind Certainly these varyings had their intent were that when we meditate of these or other graces we should furnish our Meditation and improve by them Thus things cited in Deuteronomy are variously exprest from those very passages and particulars in the former Books So the Chronicles express differently things in the Kings and the Four Evangelists vary the expressions of the same things both the matters historical and doctrinal and all the Scripture over this is practised Variety of expression calls for observation and holds forth oft some peculiar Notion and Instruction Let this therefore be thy Rule in Meditation 2. Be sure frequently and earnestly to meditate both of thy supreme and chief end and of the proper and proportionate means thereto conducing But do daily something more to purpose in that great Meditation of the supreme end as wisdom teaches and being that in its nature which deserves the highest and first things that also which gives Rules to all thy other actings and endeavours that glorifying exalting God above all Do very much in collecting together spreading before thee well considering acting the most vigorous and intense Meditation of all such things which may reduce thee to higher apprehensions warmer affections firmer resolutions and more earnest and even contendings for glorifying him that is God and there is none beside him for him that only gave thee thy all body soul life and only preserves thy all That gave his only Son to death to save thy souls life His Spirit to draw thee to Christ or thou hadst never come To dwell and work in thee and do all for thee as to applying Christ and all fellowship in Christ and with him and hath so infinitely obliged thee Therefore how sinful how unworthy to not honour and glorifie him how unkindly he takes it and how it grieves him Let Meditation gather up and indusstriously strive to improve all it possibly can Ah! how that holy Apostle was looking and striving this way how near was this glorifying God to his heart how much in his eye and endeavour how oft is he speaking of it How earnestly doth he provoke all he had to do with to it 1 Cor. 10.31 Whatsoever ye do if eat or drink do all to the glory of God acting all to it must imply an always minding of it 3. Lay sound stress likewise in Meditation as to that thy next chief end self-saving to have more serious thoughts and industrious pressings on hard to work it out and make thy calling and election sure To work it out against all difficulties and oppositions look more earnestly up to Heaven and into Heaven And it is good when thou thinkest of Heaven be then so bold with thy self
by affliction Heb. 12.3 5 6 7 8 9. They considered not but were too hasty too forgetful and therefore so discouraged at the Cross Therefore he endeavours to bring them to consideration to extinguish short apprehension and sudden thoughts which occasioned fears and discouragement This is a right way to relieve disquiets from any sudden imaginations and from the subtil quick dartings of Satan Let that which comes suddenly be thought on seriously viewed over and over Creatures apt to start and fright as Horses young and of high metal we bring them close to the things they fright at make them look on them oft and touch them that time and looking may teach them not to start If temptations were entertained not with sudden short thoughts and imagination but with abode and seriousness of thoughts in consideration this would much advantage us in times oftemptation and disappoint Satans designs 2. And this leads us to another effectual way and in part illustrates the former particular namely that help of diverting the mind earnestly striving when suggestions and injections charge thee to think quite another way Take in good thoughts and be as earnest and intent as thou canst that Satan may see thou art not at leisure haft no mind to parley with him there 's no room for such a guest the door is barred against him This is a good Rule in Reason to make a diversion of the thoughts when any thing troubles us and proves a disturbance a diversion is the cure When Satan comes thou hast ways enough for thy thoughts to divert by things of excellency in abundant variety to entertain and detain with the highest pleasure and satisfaction thy most serious thoughts 3. But another help and that our Lord Christ hath taught when Satan would tempt him flye up to Heaven by prayer Mark 14.38 Pray that ye enter not into temptation When Hell rises up arms and charges against thee this is ever a ready help to flye up to heaven to charge him complain of him and call for the help that 's stronger than Satan the mighty Spirit of Christ against that malicious Spirit Prayer is a both rare diversion of thoughts and a piece of Artillery that will do execution most effectually and never fail if in faith and fervency He fears nothing more than prayer and feels nothing more If he can discourage prayer he triumphs But as our Lord when in an agony he prayed more fervently and had an Angel sent from Heaven to strengthen him So if thou art in an agony a sad buffeting of Satan pray more fervently and an Angel from Heaven yea the God that is the strengthner will help against this Angel from Hell Meditation in this case of Temptation must be ordered by Scripture-rules by having such apprehensions of Satan and his temptations as the Scriptures which hold forth the sure Notions and Considerations of things concerning our spiritual state and affairs as that teacheth Ah! when we are guided by our own Notions and conceits Satan will be too hard for us by his subtilties methods depths and deeeits which he hath and practiseth He can out-wit us far out-reason us when we have never such parts and perfections of reason and learning and all humane accomplishments But when we take the Scriptures for our only rule then have we the most sure and supereminent wisdom the infinite wisdom of a God against the narrow wisdom of a creature the infallible wisdom of a God against the falshoods and lyes of a creature Eph. 6.16 The Apostle bids take the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one No shield is proof and large enough to cover us and quench his fiery darts But that of the Doctrine of Faith in the Scriptures held forth by the grace of Faith in the holy heart this will do it This was the way the Captain of our Salvation used when Satan so boldly tempted him He might have dealt divers ways with him and at first sight dasht him He might have told him it would be utterly in vain to tempt him It was impossible for him to prevail chid him for his audaciousness to assault the Son of God Reasoned with him and disputed him quite down Ruled him and commanded him out of his presence so pure and glorious as he so often afterward rebukt him restrained him and dispossest him out of so many But he only lookt to the Scripture used and held forth the Scripture and nothing is recorded else Three darts the Devil throws three different temptations he uses Those three some of the Learned which in 1 Joh. 2.16 are called the All in the world 1. Sensuality in that Make these stones bread to feed thee 2. Pride in that Cast thy self down to presume proudly 3. Covetousness in that All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me He tempts him to covet all the Kingdoms of the world contrary to contentedness with his present poor condition But the three darts of temptation are quencht with the using a threefold Scripture so Satan is disappointed and goes away shamefully beaten Beaten by only using this Weapon of the Word The Word must be thy help in all cases of temptation 1. The Word as thy only sure directive and guide for all right conceiving of Satan and his temptings We must not mis-apprehend mis imagine Satan and his workings As we must not frame any false imaginations of the most blessed God so we should not frame in our minds any false imaginations of Satan and his temptings of us But this we do and must do when imagination goes alone and takes not the Rule of Scripture but takes the fond and feeble principles of a dark and deceitful and of a dastardly and slothful spirit loth and unfit to combat The Notions and discoveries of Scripture are our sure way of help 1. As what the Scripture infallibly manifests Satan to be as to his nature he is a Spirit but not a God He is exceeding wise by nature crafty and very subtil by long improved experience but infinitely O Christian below thy God Though he hath a depth of policy yet he hath not the Master-reach Though he hath a very extensive and an abounding experimental knowledge in many things and knows men and much of particular persons can look far into them yet hath he not the advantages which the Heart-maker and the Heart-scarcher Jer. 17.10 and the Heart-knower 2 Chron. 6.30 the only Heart-knower He cannot see with any direct looking on and into any heart but he sees by an indirect eying guessing and gathering by circumstances and going by consequences and not by infallible arguments Both indirectly and imperfectly also it is he knows any heart and the workings of it 2. As to his power though he be mighty in strength to make impressions upon elementary natures and things belonging to men as houses goods cattel any enjoyments of such a sort and upon bodies and lives