Time Well Spent in Sacred Meditations, Title page – Epigraphs
TIME WELL SPENT IN Sacred Meditations, Divine Obſervations, Heavenly Exhortations.
SERVING TO Confirme the Penitent. Informe the Ignorant. Reforme the Obſtinate. Convince the Hypocrite: Encourage the Fearefull. Reſolve the Doubtfull. Comfort the Afflicted. Uphold the Tempted. And, Cheriſh the true-hearted Chriſtian.
By that late able, painfull, and worthy Man of God, Mr. EZECHIEL CULVERVVEL Miniſter of the Word.
LONDON, Printed by M. Fleſher for H. Skelton in Little-Britaine: 1634.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL and truly religious Mrs. MORE.
Right Worſhipfull and worthy Miſtreſſe More:
THe Church of God hath not only benefit by exact and juſt treatiſes knit together in a Methodicall dependancy of one part from another, but likewiſe of ſententious independent ſpeeches, that have a generall luſtre of themſelves as ſo many flowers in a garden, or Jewels in a casket, wherof every one hath a diſtinct worth of themſelves; and this maketh them the more acceptable, that being ſhort they are fitter for the heart to carie, as having much in a little.
This moved this reverend man of God, to ſpend what ſpare houres his ſickneſſe would afford him about thoughts in this kinde. He was many yeares Gods priſoner under the gout and ſtone, ſuch diſeaſes, as will allow but little liberty to thoſe that are arreſted and tortured by them. So fruitfull an expence of time, in ſo weak and worne a body is ſeldome ſeene, ſcarce any came to him but went away better than they came; God gave much ſtrength of ſpirit to uphold his ſpirit from ſinking under the ſtrength of ſuch diſeaſes. It were a happy thing if we that are Miniſters of Chriſt, would in all conditions and times thinke of our calling, that our office is not tyed to one day in a week, and one houre or two in that day, but that upon all fit occaſions we are to quicken our ſelves and others in the way homeward, as guides to heaven. We read not of the opening of heaven but to ſome great purpoſe. So it ſhould bee with the man of God, he ſhould not open his mouth and let any thing fall (ſo far as frailty and the neceſſary occurrences of humane life will permit) but what might miniſter ſome grace to the hearers.
The reaſon why I made choiſe of you to dedicate them unto, is not that I might diſcharge mine own debt unto you with another mans coine, but that I could not thinke of any fitter than your ſelf, whom this ancient miniſter of Chriſt eſteemed alwayes very much for eminency of parts and grace, and you him as a man faithfull and one that maintained his miniſteriall authority with good ſucceſſe in his place; God allotting your habitation in your younger yeares in that part of the countrey where he lived, and where you firſt learned to know God and your ſelſe. In thoſe times though thoſe parts were in regard of the aire unhealthfull, yet The hundreds in Eſſex.that aire was ſo ſweetned with the ſavory breath of the Goſpell, that they were termed the holy land. Hereupon I thought meet to commend theſe ſententious ſpeeches by your name, to others. Which though (divers of them) may ſeeme plaine, yet what they want in ſhew they have in weight, as comming from a man very well experienced in all the wayes of God. The Lord follow you with his beſt bleſſings, that you may continue ſtill to adorne the Goſpell of Chriſt in your place.
Yours in all Chriſtian ſervice. R. SIBBS.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, THE PUBLISHER HERE OF wiſheth, Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour.
CHriſtian Reader, Thou haſt here offered unto thee (a rare boxe of precious pearles) on moſt ſubjects, many ſweet, grave, acurate, wholeſome, fit, and choiſe paſſages. What the Author was, what his care for Gods glory, his delight in Gods worſhip, his deſire of the good of others, his hatred of ſinne, his griefe for ſinne, his zeale and fervencie in prayer, his knowledge of the word, his contempt of the world, his experience of Satans ſubtil. ties, his compaſsion towards the afflicted members of Ieſus Chriſt, his skill in exhorting, dehorting, reproving, comforting; his joyfulneſſe in the ſociety and company of Gods children, his uſuall endeavours and employments, his daily meditations, his ordinary ſpeeches, his grouth in grace, and meaſure of ſanctification, &c. may be eaſily perceived, and plainly diſcerned by this his enſuing Treatiſe. Well knew he the worth of time, well knew he in like manner how to employ the ſame to his beſt advantage. Apparent it is, that he thought that time to be ill ſpent, wherein he was not doing ſome good to himſelfe or others, and therefore endeavoured alwayes to bee thus employed. Was he alone? then was he either occupied in prayer, reading, meditation, or ſuch like Chriſtian exerciſe. Was he in company? then were not his words idle, vaine, worldly, unprofitable, but gracious, poudered with ſalt, tending to edification. Was he at dinner or ſupper? then would he take occaſion to ſpeake of the uſe of Gods creatures, the thankfulneſſe we owe unto God for the plenty we enjoy, together with the uſuall abuſe of Gods mercies by moſt men and women. Was there a queſtion propounded unto him? in the reſolution thereof would he take occaſion to dehort from ſome one or other vice, exhort to ſome one or other vertue. Did he obſerve in himſelfe any thing defective? how did he labour for humiliation; for a ſupply? Did he obſerve ſinnes in others, which were not in himſelfe? how did he pitty and pray for them, bleſſe God for himſelfe, yea be hereby perſwaded that the Lord loved him, as through whoſe goodneſſe he was made ſee and hate ſuch things as are ſo highly eſteemed in the world, and purſued by men of this world, whence he became deſirous This Book (being of M. Culverwel's owne hand writing) doe I finde to have beene begun about 40. years agoe, and to have beene written at ſeverall times, and upon ſeverall occaſions, ſome paſſages, being night-meditations, ſome uttered at dinner or ſupper, ſome upon occaſion of a queſtion propounded, as others upon occaſion of ſome one or other trouble. &c.the more to love the Lord with all his heart, and to be ſo delighted in him, that he might eſteeme nothing without him, nor bee carryed away by any thing from him, in whoſe favour is all fulneſſe of joy for evermore. A faithfull Steward he was of the myſteries of God, and who well knew, how to divide the word aright, and give every man his due portion. Thus much no doubt and much more might be ſaid by any of thoſe which entirely knew him, my ſelfe having at no time otherwiſe ſeene him than in his workes, this eſpecially, warranting all that I have affirmed of him. Whatſoever thou art, whatſoever thy condition, thou maieſt here have ſutable matter which concerneth thy good. Here may parents learne their duty, children theirs. Here may Paſtors learne their duty; people, theirs. Here may all learne, both young and old, rich and poore. This will informe thy judgement, this in like manner ſtirre up thy affections. Thou then who wouldſt learn to performe thy duty towards God, thy duty towards thy neighbour: Thou who wouldeſt learne at all times to employ thy time well: Thou who wouldeſt know with whom thou ſhouldſt converſe, and what uſe to make of good company, &c. come here, and enjoy thy hearts deſire: What is here offered thee, deſpiſe not, but bleſſe God for the ſame, accordingly making uſe thereof to his glory and thine owne good. Farewell.
A. SYMSON.
THE AVTHOVRS PRAYER AT the writing of this Booke.
MOſt gratious God, and loving Father, pardon & forgive all my ſinnes, and write thoſe things in my heart by thine holy Spirit, which ſhall be written in this booke, that as this booke ſhall through thy grace helpe my memorie, ſo thy Spirit may ſanctifie my meditatious, that thorow this grace I may heare to underſtand, underſtand to be moved in my affections, and not for a time, but for ever to remember, meditate and practiſe thy word, with an holy and humble perſeverance, thorow thy deare Sonne, and our only Lord and Saviour, Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
Time vvel ſpent.THe lips of the righteous feed many. Prov. 10. 21.
Hee that winneth ſoules is wiſe. Prov. 11. 30.
The Preacher was wiſe, hee ſtill taught the people knowledg, yea hee gave good heed, and ſought out and ſet in order many proverbs. Eccleſ. 12. 9.
Meditation.I will meditate alſo of all thy workes and talke of all thy doings. Pſal. 77. 12.
O how love I thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. Pſal. 119 97.
Obſervation.Who ſo is wiſe and will obſerve thoſe th…ngs, even they ſhal underſtand the loving kindneſſe of the Lord. Pſal. 107. 43.
Exhortation.Preach the word, bee inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort, 2 Tim. 4. 2.