A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 12
CAP. XII.
Of the duties of the daily exerciſe, in eueryevery ſeuerall part of the day. And firſt of waking with God, by Prayer and Meditation.
§. Sect. 1 Of lifting vp our hearts vntounto God, aſſoone as we awake, that we may offer vntounto him our firſt ſeruice.
HAuing ſpoken of thoſe Chriſtian duties which are neceſſarily to bee performed thorowout the whole day; we are now come to ſhew how the day is to bee ſpent in the particular parts of it, and what ſpeciall duties are to be performed in them ſeuerally, as God ſhall giuegive vsus conueniency and opportunity. The which we will diuide, as the naturall day conſiſting of foure and twenty houres is diuided, into ſuch duties as reſpect either the day or night. The duties of the day, are either thoſe which ordinarily and conſtantly are to be done in certaine parts of the day, without omiſſion or alteration, vnleſſe vponupon ſome vrgent cauſe; or thoſe which reſpect circumſtances, perſons, ſtates, occurrents, not limited vntounto any certaine time of the day, but wayting vponupon the moſt opportune and fit occaſions. Of the former ſort are duties meerely religious, and belonging to all Chriſtians generally and indifferently; or ciuill duties, which notwithſtanding ought to be performed of all the faithfull, after an holy and religious manner. The firſt religious duty wherewith wee are to beginne the day, is, that aſſoone as we awake out of our ſleepe, wee offer vntounto God a morning ſacrifice, and (as it were) the firſt fruits of all our thoughts, affections, and indeuours, ſequeſtring them from the world and earthly vanities, that they may bee fixed vponupon God, and things heauenly and ſpirituall. And euen whilſt our bodies lye ſtill on our beds, and before we hauehave vnbarred the dore of our lips, to giuegive paſſage vntounto our words, in this ſtill ſilence, we muſt lift vp our hearts vntounto God to commune with him, and (as it were) to ſalute him, by conſecrating vntounto him their firſt and beſt ſeruice. Of which duty we hauehave Dauid an example for our imitation, who no ſooner awaked, but he was preſently with God, as he profeſſeth, and ſought him Pſal. 139. 18. Pſal. 63. 1.earely, thirsting in his ſoule after him, like a dry and thirſty land. Yea, ſo diligent and feruent was he in doing this duty, that he preuented the dawning Pſal. 119. 147.of the morning; and before he was thorowly awakened, and had all his ſenſes ſet fully at liberty from the bands of ſleepe, his heart is rowzed vp, and fixed vponupon God to giuegive him praiſe; and then that being awaked, Pſal. 57. 7, 8.doth alſo awaken his tongue, and inſtruments of muſicke, and his whole man to ioyne together in glorifying God. So the Church in Eſayas ſong ſaith, that ſhee longed after God in the night, and reſolueth, that with her Spirit Eſa. 26. 9.within her, ſhe would ſeeke him earely. Which that wee may likewiſe practiſe, let vsus conſider that the Lord our God is our chiefe treaſure, and our ſoules ſole delight, and therefore let our hearts bee firſt there where our treaſure is, and ſeeing he is the onelyonly true cauſe of all comfort and reioycing; let vsus ſolace our ſelues in our fruition of him by this ſweete communion. For if worldly men who hauehave fixed their hearts on earthly vanities, doe meditate on them in the night without wearineſſe, and no ſooner awake in the morning, but preſently they conſecrate vntounto them their firſt thoughts and deſires, as the couetous man, to his riches; the ambitious man, his honours; the voluptuous man, his pleaſures; let vsus be aſhamed if wee cannot be as feruent and diligent in dedicating vntounto God the firſt ſeruice of our hearts, who is infinitely more worthy of our louelove. Againe, there is no buſineſſe in the world of like waight and worth vntounto this, as bringing ſingular comfort to our hearts, & ſaluation to our ſoules, & therfore let vsus giuegive it the priority, and precedencie, and not ſuffer eueryevery pedling and pelting trifle take vp our hearts firſt, and make it to watch at the doores, and ſometimes to depart away for want of admittance. And ſeeing God is the moſt worthy perſon, and offereth to conferre with vsus about the waightieſt occaſions, let vsus not after an vnmannerly and fooliſh faſhion, ſuffer him to attend our leiſure, till we hauehave done conferring with the contemptible and worthleſſe world, about earthly occaſions, which are ſlight and of no value. Finally, the morning is the beſt and fitteſt time for the vndertaking and atchieuing of any imployment, becauſe of the freeneſſe of our minds from all incumbrances, the viuacity and cheerefulneſſe of the ſpirits, and the vigour and abilities of all our parts, by reaſon of our late reſt, and therefore let vsus conſecrate the very prime of it vntounto our gracious God, who beſt deſerueth our beſt ſeruice.
§. Sect. 2 Of lifting vp our hearts by ſome ſhort prayer.
Now this firſt ſeruice which we are to offer vntounto God, conſiſteth in prayer and meditation, which are the two wings of our ſoules, whereby they ſoare aloft into heauen, and there inioy the preſence of God. The firſt duty is prayer, whereby lifting vp our hearts vntounto God with more feruency then prolixity, wee doe in ſome ſhort manner, render vntounto God praiſe and thankſgiuing for our quiet reſt, whereby our bodies are refreſhed; for preſeruing vsus from all dangers of the night, both in our ſoules and bodies, eſpecially from ſinfull dreames, and the tentations and aſſaults of Satan, who would eaſily hauehave ouercome and vtterly deſtroyed vsus, had not God watched ouer and defended vsus by his power and prouidence. For letting vsus againe inioy the light, and granting vsus another day wherein we may doe him further ſeruice, and ſo make our owne calling and election ſure. VntoUnto which, with like breuity wee are to adioyne the confeſſion of our ſinnes, eſpecially of that night, if any ſuch come to our knowledge and remembrance, and by reaſon of them, our great vnworthineſſe of theſe fauours and teſtimonies of Gods louelove, deſiring the pardon of them, and the ſanctification of the Spirit, whereby wee may be more and more freed from them. And finally, wee are to caſt our ſelues into the armes of his prouidence, commending our ſoules and bodies vntounto his protection and direction, and deſiring to bee ſo aſſiſted with his grace and holy Spirit, that all the thoughts of our hearts, and words of our mouthes, and the workes of our hands, may the day following, and for euer be acceptable in his ſight. And eſpecially that he will ſo illighten, rule, and aſſiſt vsus in our following meditations, that they may tend to his glory, and to our owne comfort and ſaluation.
§. Sect. 2 Of the ſubiect matter of our Morning meditations.
And ſo we muſt from prayer proceed to meditation, the which may bee longer or ſhorter, according to our opportunity, occaſions, and leaſure; and the meaſure and feruency of our zeale and deuotion. In which, our maine ſcope muſt bee to glorifie God, to increaſe our communion with him, by theſe familiar conferences of our ſoules; to ſtrengthen our faith, inlarge our hearts with louelove and thankfulneſſe, and to repleniſh them with ioy and comfort in the ſweet fruition of God, and tokens of his louelove. To which purpoſe we muſt fit the ſubiect matter of our meditations; and becauſe preſent occaſions are ready at hand, and not onelyonly more familiar and eaſie to be remembred, but fit to affect our hearts, which are more apprehenſiue of preſent then paſt benefits, we are to make vſe of ſuch by meditating on them. But yet principally we muſt begin with the fountaine, and raiſe our thoughts from the ground and foundation of all bleſſings, which is Gods infinite louelove, teſtified chiefly, in giuing vntounto vsus that ſingular pledge thereof, his onelyonly Sonne to die for vsus, that we might be freed from euerlaſting death, and attaine vntounto eternall life and happineſſe. For whoſe ſake hee hath freely forgiuen vsus all our ſinnes, and beſtowed vponupon vsus, together with him, all things needfull for our ſoules and bodies, and whatſoeuer is neceſſary to life and godlineſſe. From which, we may deſcend to the particular teſtimonies of Gods louelove lately receiued, as that hee hath by his power and prouidence watching ouer vsus the night paſt, preſerued vsus from all dangers, and out of the hands of our ſpirituall enemies, who otherwiſe wanted neither will nor power to hauehave brought vsus to deſtruction. That he hath kept vsus from all terrours of the night, with which others hauehave beene affrighted, and hath graciouſly preſerued our liues from ſudden death, with which others lying downe in health and ſecurity, hauehave been attached before the morning; adding vntounto our dayes, and giuing vsus ſtill time of repentance, with ability to ſerue him, and to bee inſtruments of his glory. After which meditation on Gods mercies, we may take ſuch occaſions as are preſently offred, to furniſh our mindes with holy thoughts, and to worke in our hearts good affections and deſires. As our awakning out of ſleepe may put vsus in mind, of our awakening out of the ſleepe, or rather Eph. 2. 1.death, of ſinne, to the life of righteouſneſſe, by the quickning power of Gods holy Spirit in our regeneration, and of the daily renewing of this our Eph. 5. 14.quickning and awakning by continuall ſanctification. The light of the Sun may put vsus in minde of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe; who firſt in his Kingdome of grace hath ſhined vntounto vsus by the light of the Goſpel, who before Luk. 1. 79.ſate in darkeneſſe and the ſhaddow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace. With which light we are to deſire our mindes may be more and more inlightened, and freed powerfully and effectually from their naturall ignorance, without which ſpirituall illightning, the outward light of the Sun and ſight of our eyes wil bring vntounto our hearts no ſound comfort. Secondly, of the light of glory, which ſhall infinitely exceed the light of the Sun, and much more then it exceedeth a Gloworme or the ſmalleſt ſpark of fire. For if eueryevery one of the innumerable numbers of the glorified Saints, ſhalbe more glorious then the Sun in his chiefeſt brightneſſe, then how infinite is the glory of the (now) vnacceſſable light, which we ſhal then ſee face to face, who giueth both vntounto the Sun and them their beauty and brightneſſe? our riſing out of our beds may put vsus in mind of the riſing of our bodies out of our graues, when as at the laſt day, by the ſound of the Trumpet we ſhalbe ſummoned before Gods Tribunall ſeate, to giuegive an account of all that we hauehave done in the fleſh; the which ſhould make vsus to reſolue of preparing our ſelues daily to meet our Iudge, becauſe the time is vncertaine when he will call vsus to Iudgement. When we ſee our nakednes, let it put vsus in mind of our ſin, which cauſed vsus firſt to ſee and be aſhamed of it, whereas when we were couered with innocency, and had the Image of God ſhining in vsus, we no more needed garments to couer vsus, then the Sun a cloud. And let this make vsus to long after the garment of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, with which, when we are perfectly clothed, we ſhal be without ſin or ſhame, & appeare glorious in the ſight of God; yea, let vsus earneſtly deſire to put on Chriſt, not Rom. 13. 14.only for iuſtification, but alſo for ſanctification, wherby that clothing of innocency before the fall, will be preſently in part renewed & repaired, till at laſt it come to more perfection then it had in our firſt creation. When we put on our apparell, let vsus remember that they were firſt giuen vsus to couer our ſhame, not as ornaments to be proud of, but as couerings to hide our nakedneſſe, & to preſerue vsus from the iniuries of the weather. And as we are carefull, not only to prouide fit clothes for thoſe ends, but alſo to put them on, and apply them to our vſe, ſo let vsus be no leſſe carefull to prouide fit clothing for our ſoules, whereby their ſpirituall deformities may be couered, and they beautified in the eyes of God with his Saints & Angels, as the perfect garment of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, already thorowly finiſhed by his death and reſurrection, and thoſe rich ornaments of his ſpirituall graces, which are now inchoate and begun, and ſhall be perfected in the life to come; and not ſtay here, but alſo as carefully apply and put them on by the hand of faith, as we doe our apparell with the hands of our bodies, which otherwiſe will doe vsus no more good, then the beſt garments lying in our Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 14. Eph. 4. 23, 24.cheſts, and neuer applied to the vſe of our bodies. And finally, ſeeing wee content not our ſelues to clothe ſome parts of our bodies that need clothing, and leaue others naked, but to hauehave them all couered with fit ornaments for eueryevery ſeuerall part; ſo let vsus not reſt contented to hauehave our ſoules in part clothed, and in part left naked, in their naturall deformities; but to hauehave all ornaments of ſanctifying and ſauing graces put on, taking daily moſt care to ſupply that, wherein we finde our ſelues moſt defectiue.
§. Sect. 4 That in our firſt meditations, we muſt renew our faith and repentance.
Now as we are thus to take theſe, & all other ſuch like good occaſions of holy and heauenly meditations; ſo our chiefe care muſt bee, that wee doe daily renew our repentance and faith in Chriſt, vſing to this purpoſe all thoſe helpes and meanes which I hauehave formerly preſcribed. For the better performance of which dutie, we muſt ſet a ſure watch before the doores of our hearts, to keepe out all wandring thoughts and earthly deſires from entring into them, which would diſtract vsus in this holy exerciſe; or if any through heedeleſneſſe hauehave crept in at vnawares, our ſecond care muſt bee to ſtrangle and choake them as ſoone as they are entred, and to checke our ſelues, in that we hauehave beene ſo negligent in keeping our watch. But aboue all things we muſt take heede, that wee doe not countenance and defend our infirmities and ſlips in this kinde, by obiecting againſt this exerciſe, that it will take vp too much time, and our leiſure will not ſerue in reſpect of the workes of our callings which we muſt not neglect, and our many and waighty occaſions and affaires, which are ſufficient to take vp our whole time, and exerciſe all our thoughts for the right ordering and managing of them. For there is no man ſo much imployed in worldly buſineſſe, who doth not waſte more time idlely, and vponupon vnneceſſary things which bring no profit to his ſoule, body nor ſtate, then is required for theſe ſpirituall meditations, which being ſhort in themſelues, may yet be more contracted into ſuch a narrow roome, that leſſe then one quarter of an howre may be ſufficient for them. The which wee may reaſonably thinke will be no hinderance to our profitable proceedings in our worldly affaires and duties of our callings, ſeeing a good beginning is a great furtherance to a good ending, and an ill concluſion in matters that concerne our earthly eſtate, cannot ariſe from ſuch holy and heauenly premiſes. Yea rather we may with faith and a good conſcience aſſure our ſelues, that ſeeing the Lord only buildeth the houſe, and without his bleſſing Pſal. 127. 1, 2.all our labours and endeuours are ſpent in vaine, he will ſo order all our affaires with his prouidence, that the harueſt which we are to reape of our labours in the whole day following, will not be the worſe, becauſe we hauehave offered vntounto him the firſt fruits of the morning; nor that he will abate vsus of our wages, becauſe we hauehave beene carefull to doe him better ſeruice. Or though hereby we ſhould be ſomewhat ſcanted in earthly things, yet is there no reaſon why we ſhould be diſcouraged frō performing theſe religious duties, ſeeing they are as much more excellent, waighty, and neceſſary, then all earthly affaires, and the profits and pleaſures that do accompanie thē, as the ſoule excelleth the body; ſpiritual graces, worldly trifles; and heauenly happineſſe the momentany and mutable vanities of the earth.
§. Sect. 5 The manifold benefits which will ariſe from theſe religious morning exerciſes.
Neither can our time be more profitably imployed then in theſe holy exerciſes, as will appeare, if we conſider the manifold fruits and benefits which we ſhall reape by them. For we ſhall hereby preſerue and increaſe the ſincerity and vprightneſſe of our hearts, and ſtrengthen our reſolutions in going on cheerfully and faithfully in the duties of Gods ſeruice the day following, with greater care and vigilancy then we did the day before; we ſhall keepe our hearts wel ſeaſoned with the louelove & feare of God throughout the whole day when as we fill them with this precious liquor betimes in the morning, before they be taken vp and tainted with carnall luſts and worldly vanities. We ſhall moue the Lord to ſow in our hearts the ſeedes of his graces, when as like good grounds they are thus wel prepared to receiue them; and when they ſpring vp in vsus, they will grow the better and faſter, being well watered in the morning, and indure without withering when the ſun of perſecution ariſeth, and euen ſcorcheth with the heate of afflictions. We ſhall preſerue our ſoules from the poyſonous contagion of the ſinfull times, when as before we goe abroad into the infectious ayre, we hauehave betimes in the morning taken our ſpirituall cordials and antidotes. We ſhall keepe the fort of our hearts from any danger of ſacking and ſurprizing by Satans tentations, when as betimes in the morning we hauehave ſtrengthened all our fortifications, and ſtopped the chiefe paſſages which leade vntounto them. Our liues will be the better ordred throughout the whole day, when we hauehave thus well begun to order them in the morning, and wee ſhall performe all duties of holineſſe and righteouſnes with much more eaſe and facility, pleaſure and delight, when as by theſe meditations wee hauehave acquainted our hearts with them, and hauehave made them familiar with vsus by this ſweete ſociety. We ſhall not neede to feare the encounters of our ſpirituall enemies, when as we hauehave betimes betaken vsus to our weapons, and put on our Chriſtian armour, before wee hauehave put on our clothes. Our hearts wil be filled with ioy and comfort in God, when as we do thus often reaſſure our ſelues of his louelove; and we ſhall be ſafe vnderunder his gracious protection, ſeeing if we thus wake with God; and ſeeke him Iob 8. 5, 6.betimes, he will awake for vsus, and make the habitation of our righteouſneſſe proſperous, as Bildad ſpeaketh. Finally, if our hearts be thus timely taken vp with theſe holy meditations, they will keepe the roome for ſuch as are of their own nature & quality, not ſuffring thoſe which are ſinfull, carnall, & meerly worldly to enter; and ſo ſhall we be fitted for the next following duty of prayer, when our hearts are prepared, and lifted vp from the earth in theſe religious thoughts, and are not diſtracted with worldly incumbrances. Whereas contrariwiſe, if in the morning we keep no watch ouer our ſelues, but ſuffer our hearts to take their liberty, and to giuegive entertainment vntounto wicked and worldly thoughts, and the carnall and ſenſuall luſts of our corrupt fleſh; they will ſo wholly ſeaze vponupon them & hold their poſſeſſion, that we ſhall hardly admit, or at leaſt retaine any good meditations the whole day following; & if we ſet our ſelues to prayer or other religious duties, we ſhall be ſo diſtracted with worldly cogitations and fleſhly luſts, that they will become cold and formall, and quite without any vigour and efficacie.