A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 36
CAP. XXXVI.
Of thoſe Chriſtian duties which are to be performed in the Euening and Night.
§. Sect. 1 That the Euening muſt not bee ſpent in ſloth and idleneſſe.
HAuing intreated of thoſe Chriſtian duties belonging to the day; it now followeth that wee ſet downe ſome directions how wee are to behaue our ſelues when the day is ended. And theſe are ſuch as concerne our carriage in the Euening, before wee goe to reſt; or afterwards, when wee are laid in our beds. In the Euening, if we be not taken vp with the duties of our callings, wherein in the day wee were imployed (as it is the caſe of many, whoſe ſtates, trades, and neceſſary occaſions require the continuance of their labours) we muſt not vponupon the ceſſation of our paines, thinke our ſelues at full liberty to thinke, ſpeake, and doe what we liſt (as it is the practice of many, who when they cannot worke any longer in their callings, ſpend their long Euenings in the winter ſeaſon, either in ſloth and idleneſſe, or in vnlawfull gaming, or in vaine, fruitleſſe, and oftentimes hurtfull and vnſauoury communication, by traducing their abſent neighbours, and blemiſhing their credits with ſlanders or vncharitable truths, or corrupting thoſe that are preſent, by light and wanton diſcourſes) but we muſt be carefull of ſpending our precious time in ſome meditations, ſpeeches, and actions which are profitable for our ſelues, and for the edification of thoſe that are in our company and ſociety. For though it may bee very lawfull, and ſometime neceſſary, after our weariſome buſineſſes are diſpatched, to take ſome liberty, and to ſpend ſome conuenient time in reſting of our bodies, or refreſhing our minds with ſome honeſt recreations; yet me thinkes it is too much, that ſo great a part of our time ſhould be ſo imployed; ſeeing our liues are ſo ſhort and vncertaine, and our affaires of much greater waight and importance, which tend mainely to the aduancement of Gods glory and our owne ſaluation, being ſo many, might with much more profit and true comfort challenge vntounto them a great part of this time. In which regard, though I would not preſcribe lawes to bind the conſciences of my brethren, but leaue vntounto them their liberty to bee guided with Chriſtian prudence, yet I would, as in other things, ſo herein alſo giuegive my aduice; namely, that they would improoue this time to the beſt, as becommeth wiſe redeemers of it, ſo as they may giuegive ſome good account of it vntounto God when he calleth them vntounto it; and not thinke that he hath giuen vntounto them the comfortable warmth of the fire, to make them freeze harder in the dregs of ſinne, nor the light of their candles, that they ſhould act by them the workes of darkeneſſe, but that he beſtoweth vponupon theſe corporall comforts, that they might be furtherances vntounto their ſoules in the ſpirituall growth, vſing ſuch good exerciſes as may tend to the inlightening of their mindes in the knowledge of God and his will, and may warme their hearts with true and feruent zeale in the louing and imbracing of them.
§. Sect. 2 Of the Euening exerciſes, as Meditation, reading, and Chriſtian conferences.
And firſt, it were fit that ſome little part of this time, after the ſurceaſing of our labours were ſpent in ſome ſhort meditation, wherein wee are to recount and recall to our remembrance the ſpeciall fauours and mercies of God, which in the day paſt hee hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus, either in deliuering vsus from dangers corporall or ſpirituall, of ſinne or of puniſhment, or in beſtowing vponupon vsus reall and poſitiue benefits, as his bleſſing vponupon our labours, whereby they hauehave proſpered vnderunder our hands, the comfort of his creatures, the louelove and aſſiſtance of our friends, and ſuch like: lifting vp our hearts vntounto God in the acknowledgement of theſe benefits, and rendring vntounto him ſuch thankes and praiſe as is due vntounto him. Secondly, as wee hauehave beſt opportunity, both in reſpect of our leaſure and our company, it were good to ſpend ſome part of this time in reading of the Scriptures, or other holy and religious writings, the Hiſtories of the Church, or ſome ſuch Ciuill and Morall Bookes and Stories, as may make vsus grow in grace and ſpirituall wiſedome, or at leaſt, in honeſt prudence, whereby we may be directed for the better carriage of our ſelues in the affaires of this life, by adding vntounto our owne knowledge the wiſedome of others, and the experience of former times. Thirdly, as occaſion ſerueth, it is good to ſpend ſome part of this time in Chriſtian conferences, either with our friends and familiars that accompany vsus, or with thoſe of our owne family, husbands, wiues, children, ſeruants, labouring in our ſpeeches to build vp one another in all ſauing grace, and to bee mutually bettered in the more cleare vnderſtanding of the truth, more hearty imbracing it in our hearts and affections, and the more zealous and fruitfull practice of it in our liues. But though I chiefly commend theſe Chriſtian and religious conferences, yet would I not be ſo taken, as though I meant hereby to exclude all others, for it is lawfull alſo to ſpend ſome of our time in ciuill diſcourſes, and about the affaires of this life, the duties of our callings, our worldly eſtates, the diſpoſing and ordering of our buſineſſe, or any other ſubiect not idle, vnprofitable, or ſinfull, which preſent occaſion ſhall offer vntounto vsus as moſt ſeaſonable. OnelyOnly I would aduiſe, that wee doe not (as it is the common cuſtome amongſt the moſt) ſpend our time ſo wholly about theſe, as that wee doe thereby exclude the other, which in their nature are much more excellent, and for our vſe farre more profitable and neceſſary. Laſtly, wee muſt ſpend ſome part of this time in prayſing God by ſinging of Pſalmes, as our company and occaſions will giuegive vsus opportunity; but aboue all other exerciſes, wee muſt conſtantly, either before or after Supper (as in our diſcretion wee ſee beſt and fitteſt for the aſſembling of our company) pray with our families, as before wee gaue direction for the like exerciſe in the Morning; Of both which, my purpoſe is (God aſſiſting) to ſet downe ſome formes in the end of this Worke, for the direction and benefit of weaker Chriſtians.
§. Sect. 3 Duties to be done at our going to bed.
And theſe are the duties which are to be performed in the euening. In the night we are alſo to watch ouer our thoughts and actions, that they may in ſome ſort bee ſutable to thoſe in the day, and that in all of them wee may carry our ſelues ſo as becommeth Chriſtians. And in this regard there are ſome duties to be performed at our going to bed, and ſome in the reſt of the night. At our going to bed we are generally to cōſider, that wee are ſtill in the ſight and preſence of God, who ſeeth our downe-lying and our vpriſing, and ſearcheth our moſt ſecret actions, yea euen our hearts and reines. And that there is alſo a guard of holy Angels, who are appointed by our great Lord, to pitch their tents about vsus, and to watch ouer vsus, that they may preſerue vsus from all perils and dangers, vntounto which wee are, waking and ſleeping, continually ſubiect. In regard of which glorious and holy preſence, we are as carefully and conſcionably to behaue our ſelues in all Chriſtian duties, as if all the world ſhould looke vponupon vsus. The firſt whereof is, that at our lying down, when all things being quiet about vsus, and wee freed from all worldly diſtractions, wee ſpend ſome little time in holy meditations, calling to our remembrance, and examining our conuerſation, how wee hauehave behaued our ſelues in the performance of all Chriſtian duties required of vsus in the day paſt, of which we hauehave before ſpoken. As firſt, how wee hauehave performed thoſe generall duties which belong to eueryevery day and all parts of it. Whether and in what manner wee hauehave renewed our couenant with God, by renewing of our faith and repentance. How wee hauehave ſought the Lord our God, by conſecrating our ſelues wholy both in our ſoules and bodies vntounto his worſhip and ſeruice; and hauehave laboured to make him our owne in and through Chriſt, and to recouer our right in him, which we had loſt in Adam. How wee hauehave profited in the ſauing knowledge of him, and in our adhering vntounto him with our hearts and affections, how our ſweete communion with him hath bin increaſed, and the comfortable fellowſhip of his holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts ſealed and aſſured in vsus; and how we hauehave indeuoured to hauehave and hold his face and fauour in Ieſus Chriſt. Whether wee hauehave kept the whole Armour of God faſt buckled vntounto vsus; and if wee hauehave failed herein, then in what graces wee hauehave found greateſt defect. How wee hauehave indeuoured to arme our ſelues againſt all ſinne, and what new ſtrength wee hauehave gathered to withſtand and mortifie our corruptions, eſpecially thoſe vntounto which wee are naturally moſt inclined; and with what deſire and reſolution wee hauehave imbraced all vertue, and laboured to performe all Chriſtian duties vntounto God, our neighbours and our ſelues. Whether wee hauehave rightly diſpoſed our hearts, tongues and actions, ſo as they might in all things bee conformable to the Law of God. How we hauehave ſubmitted our ſelues in all things to Gods will and pleaſure, and reſigned our ſoules, bodies, and ſtates to be gouerned and guided by his wiſe prouidence, without murmuring and repining. Finally, whether wee hauehave beene frequent and feruent in powring forth our ſoules in prayer vponupon all good occaſions, deſiring the things wee neede, and prayſing him for thoſe benefits which we hauehave receiued.
§. Sect. 4 That we muſt examine our ſelues, how we hauehave ſpent the day paſt.
So likewiſe we may examine our ſelues, how we hauehave performed thoſe duties which belong to the particular parts of the day; As whether wee did awake with God, and offred vntounto him our morning ſacrifice of prayer and meditation; with what faithfulneſſe wee hauehave walked in the duties of our callings, and how therein we hauehave ioyntly aymed at Gods glory, and the good of our neighbours, together with our owne profit; whether we hauehave done the duties of them in the obedience and louelove of God, and hauehave performed our earthly duties, with heauenly minds and affections. Whether we hauehave rightly vſed our recreations, refreſhing our bodies and mindes with lawfull ſports, in a good manner, to right ends, with obſeruation of the rules and cautions required in them, eſpecially in reſpect of their time, that we hauehave not beene ouer-lauiſh to the thruſting out, but rather fitting our ſelues for better exerciſes. How wee hauehave carried our ſelues in receiuing of our food, bleſſing it by prayer and thanksgiuing, and vſing it with temperance and ſobriety, ſo as wee hauehave thereby beene better fitted for Gods ſeruice. Whether wee hauehave rightly vſed our ſolitarineſſe, ſpending our time neither idly nor vnprofitably: and how we hauehave behaued our ſelues in our ſociety, both in our choyſe of good company, and in performing with them all Chriſtian duties of piety, Iuſtice, and ciuill honeſty, for the mutuall good of one another. How we hauehave performed duties belonging to the family, and what care wee hauehave had, that not onelyonly our ſelues, but alſo thoſe who are vnderunder our charge ſhould ſerue the Lord. How we hauehave carried our ſelues in our proſperity, by praiſing God for it, and by ſo vſing it, as that wee might be the better inabled to glorify him, and to performe all good duties to our neighbours; and how alſo we hauehave profited by our afflictions and chaſtizements, for the drawing of vsus neerer vntounto God in all holy and righteous duties, and the weaning of our hearts and affections from the louelove of the world. The which examination wee ſhould not thinke too tedious and laborious, if at leaſt wee be in our health and ſtrength, and not diſabled thereunto by our weakeneſſe, infirmities, and vnaptneſſe to take our reſt, if at the firſt it be but a little diſturbed; in which caſe if our imployments will affoord vntounto vsus any fit leyſure and opportunity, it were good to allot ſome ſhort time vntounto this exerciſe before our going to bed, ſeeing if wee bee once accuſtomed vntounto it, wee ſhall performe it, at leaſt in thoſe points which are moſt neceſſary for our owne particular, with great facility and in a little time. Yea in truth if wee would but conſider how farre ſome of the Heathens themſelues hauehave proceeded in this dutie, and what ſingular fruits and benefits ariſe from it, we might well be aſhamed who profeſſe Chriſtianity, of our great neglect, and bee moued to ſpare ſome little time from our ſleepe, when as wee may improue it to ſo much ſpirituall profit and aduantage. I vſe (ſaith Seneca) this authority, Ʋtor hac poteſtate, & quotidie apud me cauſam dico, &c. Senec▪ de ira, lib▪ 3. cap. 36and daily pleade my cauſe with my ſelfe. When the light is taken away, and my wife being acquainted with my cuſtome, holdeth her peace, I examine vvith my ſelfe the vvhole day paſt, and reuievv all that I hauehave ſaid or done. I hide nothing from mine ovvne ſcrutiny, I paſſe by nothing; for vvhy ſhould I feare any thing, by reaſon of my errours, vvhen as I can ſay; See that thou doeſt it no more, and for this time I vvil pardon thee. And the ſame counſaile hee giueth to his friend Lucilius: Conuince Quantum potes, teipſum coargue, &c.thy ſelfe (ſaith hee) as much as thou canſt, ſearch into thy ſelfe. Firſt, execute the office of an accuſer, then, of a Iudge, and laſtly, of a mediatour to craue pardon; and ſometime find out thy ſelfe. For hee willingly erreth, who knoweth not his errour, and too much loueth himſelfe, who will hauehave others erre, that his errour may lye hid. By which exerciſe wee ſhould receiue ſingular profit: For hereby wee ſhould preſerue our ſoules and hearts in a thriuing eſtate, when wee doe like wiſe Merchants and ſhopkeepers, examine them and ſearch ouer our conſciences (as it were) our bookes of accounts, to ſee whether wee hauehave gayned or loſt in our ſpirituall trading, by examining what wee hauehave receiued, and what we hauehave layd out: which if we would doe, we ſhould not eaſily be caſt behind hand, when as we preuent our errours, and vſe meanes to repaire our loſſes in their firſt beginnings, nor (as many are) be bankrupted in our eſtates at vnawares for want of care to examine them. Wee ſhould ſleepe much more ſweetely and ſecurely, when as we hauehave ſo compoſed and ſet ſtraight our reckonings, as that wee neede not to feare though the great Iudge ſhould before morning call vsus to an account. In which regard, the ſame Author commendeth this exercize. The minde (ſaith he) is daily to be called to an account. Sextius vſed at the end of the day, and when he retired himſelfe to reſt; to examine his minde. What euill of thine haſt thou cured? What vice haſt thou withſtood? in what art thou better, that anger will ceaſe or be more moderate; which knoweth that it ſhall not eſcape the cenſure of an vnpartiall Iudge? What therefore is more excellent Quid pulchrius hac conſuc…udine excutiendi totam diem, &c? S…ne…. de ira. lib. 3. cap. 36.then this cuſtome of examining eueryevery day? How ſweete is that ſleepe which followeth the reuiew of our ſelues? How quiet, ſound and free; when the minde is commended or admoniſhed, and as a watchman and ſecret cenſurer of it ſelfe, doth iudge of it owne manners? We ſhould alſo preſerue our hearts in their purity and ſoundneſſe, if not from all infirmities and corruptions, yet at leaſt from deepe putrifaction and the feſtering ſores of ſinne, when as we cure the wounds being yet greene, and caſt out ſinne by repeetance, as ſoone as it is firſt entred, not ſuffering it to lodge and ſleep with vsus, no not one night. We ſhould hereby keepe our ſpirituall ſtate well ſettled, ſo as it would not eaſily be ſhaken, or at leaſt ouerthrowne with the aſſaults of the enemies of our ſaluation, when as we conſtantly looke to our Chriſtian Armour, and watching ouer our hearts, as our chiefe forts, repaire the breaches as ſoone as they are made. Finally, wee ſhall preuent carnall ſecurity and hardneſſe of heart, when wee examine our ſelues daily; and bee better fitted and prepared for the day of death and Iudgement, when as wee keepe our accounts euen, and hauehave our bookes of reckonings betweene God and our conſciences made vp and in continuall readineſſe. For he may ſoone cleare his accounts with his Maſter at the yeeres end, who like a faithfull and diligent Factor, doth make all reckonings ſtraight at the end of eueryevery day.
§. Sect. 5 Meditations at our firſt lying downe.
Beſides this examination, there are alſo other Meditations very profitable; as to call to our remembrance Gods manifold bleſſings and benefits beſtowed vponupon vsus the day paſt, reſpecting our ſoules, bodies, and ſtates; in that he hath preſeru'd vsus from innumerable euils, with which many others hauehave beene ouertaken; for continuing vntounto vsus ſtill the acceptable time and day of ſaluation, and ſuffering vsus with ſo much patience to continue in this life, that we may make our calling and election ſure, notwithſtanding our manifold and grieuous ſinnes; for giuing vntounto vsus ſome poore deſires and indeuours to doe him ſeruice, and to accept of it in Chriſt, though in it ſelfe full of wants and imperfections. Eſpecially, if we hauehave in any meaſure performed the former duties of the daily exerciſe, we muſt not forget to render vntounto God the praiſe and glory due vntounto him for it, by the gracious aſſiſtance of whoſe holy Spirit, we, who of our ſelues, are not able ſo much as to thinke a good thought, hauehave beene inabled vntounto them. So likewiſe it is requiſite, that at our lying downe we call our ſinnes to our remembrance, the duties which wee hauehave omitted, or corruptly performed, and the vices which we hauehave committed, and though through Gods mercy wee hauehave beene preſerued from groſſer ſinnes, yet wee muſt not thinke our ſelues ſo excuſed, but call to minde our frailties and infirmities, for which, God in his righteous iudgement might condemne vsus. Our ſloth and backwardneſſe to good duties, our coldneſſe, wearineſſe, and many diſtractions in Gods ſeruice, our exceſſe in mirth or ſorrow, the neglect of our Chriſtian watch ouer our thoughts, ſenſes, words and workes; our idleneſſe or vnprofitableneſſe, pride, ſelfe-louelove, vniuſt anger, ſiniſter conceits, and vniuſt cenſures of our neighbours, and ſuch like. In the ſight and ſenſe whereof, we muſt truely humble our ſoules before God by vnfained repentance, and earneſtly begge in Chriſts Name mercy and forgiueneſſe. Finally, it is profitable then to remember our mortality and mutability, death and Iudgement; that we who now goe well to bed, may ſhortly bee caſt vponupon the bed of ſickeneſſe, and we that now liue, may within a while be impriſoned vnderunder the arreſt of death; yea, let vsus not looke vponupon it as a thing farre off, but approching at the threſhold, and ready to knocke at Luk. 12. 19, 20.the doore, and thinke that this very night, as well as another, may bee the time when God by ſickneſſe and death will ſummon vsus to appeare before his Tribunall. And if in reſpect of thy health and ſtrength this ſeemeth vnlikely, Cuiuis poteſt accidere quod cuiquam poteſt. Sen.conſider that it hath beene the caſe of many before thee; and that which befalleth any, may happen to all. In which regard, let vsus not dare to ſleepe, till through Chriſt we are at peace with God, hauehave made our accounts euen by pleading Chriſts ſatisfaction and full payment, and hauehave our pardon in our hands to ſhew, ſealed to all the faithfull with his blood, and to vsus in particular, by his holy Spirit and a liuely faith, applying the fruit and benefit of his death vntounto vsus. And then reſigning our ſoules and bodies into the hands of him who is a faithfull Sauiour, and able to keepe ſafe whatſoeuer is intruſted vntounto him, we may with Dauid, lying downe in 2. Tim. 1. 12. Pſal. 4. 8.peace, take our reſt; becauſe it is he onelyonly that maketh vsus dwell in ſafety.
§. Sect. 6 Duties to bee done in the night. And firſt, Prayer and Thankſgiuing.
In the night alſo there are other duties to bee performed; for euen then we muſt ſeeke the Lord, according to the example of the Church, which Eſa. 26. 9. Cant. 3. 1. Pſal. 119. 55.profeſſeth, that with her ſoule ſhee deſired the Lord in the night, and that with her Spirit within her ſhee would ſeeke him early. So the Spouſe in the Canticles; By night on my bed I ſought him whom my ſoule loueth. And the Prophet Dauid was careful euen in the night to approoue himſelfe vntounto God, by performing theſe religious exerciſes; I hauehave (ſaith he) remembred thy Name, O Lord, in the night, and hauehave kept thy Law. And this the Lord requireth of vsus, as being Lord both of night and day, according to that of the Pſalmiſt; The day is thine, and the night alſo is thine. And will be ſerued as Pſal. 74. 16. Infoelix tota quicunque quieſcere nocte ſuſtinet: & ſomnos praemia magna vocat. Ouid. Amor. El. 9.with our whole hearts, ſo with our whole time, ſeeing he is the God of our ſaluation, who day and night preſerueth vsus, and multiplyeth his bleſſings vponupon vsus, whereby he incourageth vsus to doe him ſeruice. Yea, euen in the night the Lord goeth in his viſitation to ſee how wee carry our ſelues, and will call vsus to account, either to reward vsus if we doe well, or to puniſh vsus if wee neglect our dutie; as Dauid ſheweth by his owne experience; Thou haſt prooued my heart (ſaith he) thou hast viſited mee in the night; thou haſt Pſal. 17. 3.tryed me, and ſhalt finde nothing. And therefore wee muſt in the night approoue our hearts and actions vntounto him; and not thinke that the darkeneſſe giueth vsus any priuiledge to doe the workes of darkeneſſe; ſeeing, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh; The darkeneſſe hideth not from him, but the night ſhineth as the day, the darkeneſſe and the light are both alike to him. Now the Pſal. 139. 12.duties of the night doe conſiſt chiefly in Prayer and Meditation. For when wee awake out of ſleepe, we muſt not ſuffer our mindes to roue after worldly vanities, nor our hearts to be fixed vponupon them, but as wee are to eſteeme the Lord, and ſpirituall and heauenly things our chiefe treaſure, ſo our hearts and minds at our firſt awaking muſt be exerciſed about them, as their chiefe ioy and comfort. And firſt, we muſt lift them vp vntounto God in prayer, according to the example of holy Dauid, who profeſſeth, that in the night his ſong ſhould be with him, and his prayer vntounto the God of his life. Pſal. 42. 8.And againe; O Lord God of my ſaluation, I hauehave cried day and night before Pſal. 88. 1.thee. The which is chiefly to be done, when the hand of God is heauy vponupon vsus by ſome grieuous affliction, becauſe then being freed from all worldly diſtractions, we may with greateſt zeale and feruency of Spirit, powre foorth our ſoules before God for helpe and deliuerance. And thus Dauid in his great extremity calleth vponupon God day and night; O my God (ſaith he) I cry in the day time, but thou heareſt not, and in the night ſeaſon I am not ſilent. Pſal. 22. 2.So the afflicted Church and people of God, in their heart cryed vntounto the Lord; O wall of the daughter of Sion, let teares runne downe like a riuer day Lam. 2. 18, 19.and night; giuegive thy ſelfe no rest, let not the apple of thine eyes ceaſe. Ariſe, cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches, powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord; lift vp thine hands towards him, for the life of the yong children that faint for hunger in the top of eueryevery ſtreete. And our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe in his bitter agonie, made choyce of the night, as Luk. 22. 44.the fitteſt time for thoſe powerfull and effectuall prayers which hee made for himſelfe and his Church vntounto God his Father. Whereby wee learne, that when we hauehave ſuits of great importance, which wee would ſollicite with all earneſtneſſe and importunity, the night is a fit time to commend them vntounto God in our feruent prayers. Yea euen at ordinary times, if there be any ſpeciall ſuite which we would make vntounto God, either for the aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, for the mortifying of ſome ſtrong corruption which cleaueth vntounto vsus, or the pardon of any ſinne, which hath lately wounded our conſciences, or for the obtaining of ſome ſpeciall grace, wherein we finde our ſelues moſt defectiue, or for deliuerance from ſome imminent danger; it is moſt profitable that at our firſt waking we preſently pitch vponupon them, and in ſome ſhort Prayer and earneſt deſire of the heart, offer vp our ſuites vntounto God in the mediation of Ieſus Chriſt. And as we are thus in the night to pray for the things we want, ſo alſo ought we to praiſe and giuegive thankes vntounto God for his gifts and bleſſings already receiued; according to the example of Dauid, who did not content himſelfe to ſhew foorth Gods louing kindneſſe in the morning, but alſo his faithfulneſſe Pſal. 92. 2.in the night. The which duty, vponupon extraordinary occaſions, muſt be extraordinarily performed, and in ſome ſet and ſolemne manner; as when our hearts are rauiſhed with the apprehenſion of Gods mercy and bounty, after the receiuing of ſome ſpeciall and ſingular benefit; as we ſee alſo in Dauids practice, who at midnight did riſe to giuegive thankes vntounto the Lord, as Pſal. 119. 62.he profeſſeth. The which his night-ſongs as they were his ſolace in the time of his flouriſhing proſperity, ſo the remembrance of them were his chiefe comfort in his deepeſt diſtreſſe, as being infallible ſignes of Gods louelove, and his owne integrity. For when his afflictions both of body and mind were ſo great, that he had no manner of conſolation in his preſent ſenſe and feeling, he calleth to remembrance his ſongs in the night, and the ſweet viſitations of Gods holy Spirit in theſe ſpirituall exerciſes. Pſal. 77. 6.Which example let vsus learne to imitate; and if no other occaſion come preſently to our minds, yet at leaſt let vsus when we awake, lift vp our ſoules vntounto God, praiſing him for his gracious preſeruation hitherto, and our quiet reſt, and commending our ſoules and bodies into his gracious protection for the reſt of the night, deſiring the continuance of his fauour for our preſeruation, and of our quiet ſleepe, for the refreſhing and ſtrengthening of our fraile and weake bodies.
§. Sect. 7 Meditations fit for the night.
The other duty is meditation, in which we are to exerciſe our mindes after an holy and religious manner, when wee cannot, or liſt not to ſleepe, and not ſuffer them to range and roue after idle or hurtfull vanities, which will not bring vntounto vsus any profit. The ſubiect matter of which our meditation may be diuers, according to our ſeueral occaſions and eſtates. As firſt and principally we muſt call God to our remembrance, and meditate on his ſauing attributes, his infinite louelove, mercy, goodneſſe and bounty towards vsus, wherein holy Dauid tooke ſingular comfort and delight: My ſoule (ſaith he) ſhall be ſatisfied as with marrow and fatneſſe; and my Pſal. 63. 6.mouth ſhall praiſe thee with ioyfull lips: when I remember thee vponupon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night-watches. Secondly, we may make ſome part of the Word of God, the ſubiect of our meditation, as Dauid alſo did, whoſe Pſal. 119. 148.eyes preuented the night-watches, that hee might meditate in Gods Word. The which he maketh a ſpeciall note of a bleſſed man, that hee taketh ſuch delight in the Law of God, that he meditateth therein day and night. And thus Pſal. 1. 2.we may take occaſion to thinke of the purity and perfection of the Law, what exact righteouſneſſe it requireth, and how farre wee come ſhort of this perfection, that ſo we may be humbled in the ſight of our owne corruptions and imperfections; or of the excellency of the Goſpell, and of the gracious promiſes therein contained, applying them by a liuely faith vntounto our ſelues, that our hearts thereby may be repleniſhed, and euen rauiſhed with the ſweet comforts of Gods holy Spirit, or of Gods manifold bleſſings beſtowed vponupon vsus, eſpecially the day paſt, and the ſingular priuiledges which we hauehave through Ieſus Chriſt; of which we ſhall hauehave occaſion to ſpeake more hereafter. Or finally, we may thinke of ſome texts of Scripture, which hauehave ſome ſimilitude with our preſent eſtate. As that Rom. 13. 11, 12, 13.it is now high time to awake out of ſleepe, for now is our ſaluation neerer then when we beleeued. The night is farre ſpent, the day is at hand; let vsus therefore cast off the workes of darkneſſe, and let vsus put on the armour of light: let vsus walke honeſtly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſſe, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, not in ſtrife and enuying, &c. And againe, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and Eph. 5. 14.ſtand vp from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall giuegive thee light. But ye brethren are not 1. Theſ. 5. 4, 5.in darkeneſſe, that the day of the Lord ſhould ouertake you as a thiefe. Yee are all children of light, and the children of the day: wee are not of the night, nor of darkneſſe; therefore let vsus not ſleepe as doe others, but let vsus watch and bee ſober, &c. Finally, we may from preſent occaſions hauehave good matter miniſtred vntounto vsus for our meditations; as from the terrour of darkneſſe, wee may thinke how much more fearefull is the ſpirituall darkneſſe of ſinne, from which the Lord hath graciouſly deliuered vsus, leauing innumerable others to liue and dye in it; and that horrible eſtate of the wicked, who are caſt into vtter darkneſſe, vntounto whom the light ſhall neuer appeare, nor the Sun of righteouſneſſe euer ſhine, to bring vntounto them any ioy and comfort; and ſo take occaſion of praiſing the Lord for freeing vsus from theſe feares; and notwithſtanding our vnworthineſſe, for cauſing the light of truth and ſaluation to ſhine vntounto vsus rather then to them. So from our awaking out of ſleepe, we may take occaſion to thinke of our awaking out of the ſleepe of death at the day of Iudgement; and from the crowing of the Cocke, of the lowd and ſhrill ſound of the laſt Trumpet, whereby being raiſed from the dead, we ſhall be ſummoned to appeare before Gods Tribunall, to giuegive an account of all that we hauehave done in the fleſh, either good or euill; that ſo night and day we may prepare our ſelues for Chriſts comming, and be ſtill in readineſſe to giuegive vp our reckonings. Finally, as we are not much to regard our dreames, in reſpect of any gheſſe to bee made thereby of any future things; ſo are we not vtterly to neglect them in regard of other vſes. For we may not onelyonly by them gheſſe at the temperature of our bodies, and our naturall diſpoſition in reſpect thereof, and vntounto what ſins we are moſt inclined; but alſo we may take occaſion from them of good meditations; as to thinke of our owne frailty and corruption, when wee finde and feele that carnall concupiſcence, euen in our ſleepe, hath wrought in vsus, and cauſed either ſuch dreames as are wanton and laſciuious, or cholericke, prouoking vsus to reuenge: and on the other ſide, to meditate on Gods mercy and goodneſſe, if wee hauehave had any dreames that ſauour of vertue and Religion, who by his Spirit hath ſanctified our minds and hearts, which of themſelues are not able naturally to thinke a good thought, or to conceiue a good deſire.
§. Sect. 8 That the profit of theſe duties will farre exceede the paines.
Now if any obiect, that though theſe duties are good and commendable, yet they are hard and difficult, and that it bringeth great wearineſſe Mal. 1. 13.thus to ſerue God both day and night in theſe ſpirituall and religious exerciſes: vntounto ſuch I dare promiſe, that their profit will farre exceed their paines; and their ſpirituall ioy and comfort, will abundantly recompence that carnall diſtaſte which our corrupt fleſh cauſeth in them. For if our minds and hearts be thus continually night and day taken vp for Gods vſe in theſe religious exerciſes, it will bee a notable meanes to keepe out Satan and his ſuggeſtions from entring and taking poſſeſſion; as they eaſily will, if they be ſwept cleane and empty of good meditations and deſires. For they who are idle and doe nothing, are at the next ſtep to doing ill; and if we be not imployed in the ſeruice of God, the diuell will take vsus vp like maſterleſſe men, and hire vsus with the wages of ſinfull pleaſures, to ſpend our time and ſtrength in the workes of darkeneſſe. Secondly, if they bee thus repleniſhed with good meditations at our lying downe, it will bee a notable meanes to preſerue vsus from vaine, idle and ſinfull dreames, and contrariwiſe diſpoſe vsus euen in our ſleepe to good thoughts and cogitations. Thirdly, if we thus keepe them well-ordered at our going to bed, and throughout the whole night, wee ſhall with much more eaſe and pleaſure keepe them in this ſtate the day following, and hauehave them apt and ready vntounto the well-performance of all good duties. For as thoſe Ouens are eaſily heat in the morning, in which we baked in the night; and the fire ſoone kindled when wee riſe, which wee well raked vp and couered when wee went to bed; ſo if wee bee thus exerciſed ouer night, we ſhall finde the ſpirituall warmth thereof, making vsus able and actiue for all good duties in the morning, and by adding ſome new fuell vntounto this holy fire, we ſhall with much facility and comfort cauſe it to burne and blaze out in all Chriſtian and religious duties. Finally, if with the fiue wiſe virgins we thus keepe our lamps trimmed night & day, being alwaies in readines, we ſhall not need to feare the ſuddaine approching of the Bridegroome; but at the leaſt noyſe of his comming wee ſhall riſe to meet him, and ſo entring with him into the marriage Chamber of heauenly happineſſe, we ſhal there eternally ſolace our ſelues in the fruition of his louelove, and thoſe rauiſhing ioyes which he hath prepared for vsus.