The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, Part 2 · Meditation 9
MED. IX. Iacob's Ladder.
Gen. xxviii. 12.
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached unto heaven; and behold, the Angels of God ascending and descending on it.
THE Patriarch Iacob had no sooner fixed upon a Stone for his Pillow, but a splendid Vision accosts his sight: That filial Obedience which attended him from his Father, on a Journey to Syria, became a nobler Conduct, and directed him the Way to Heaven: Those Angelical Travellers ascending and descending before him: Happy Solitariness, and glorious Entertainment with such Celestial Company! The Uneasiness of his Lodging was highly recompenc'd by this Beatifical. Prospect; when the God of Heaven, the Lord and Governour of the World, appeared unto him, refreshing him with the graciousness of his Promises and Providence.
II. WHEN I view the Figure of this humble Sleeper, I cannot forbear wondring at the folly of those, that expect Visions from Above upon their soft Beds, and seek for Revelation in the plenitude of their Pleasures: Their wanton Spirits would wax sick, and be out of humour with Piety, should it molest or oppose their Quiet: How apt would their Devotion be to contract an Ague, should they, with the Psalmist, rise up at Midnight to invoke the Almighty? God distills not his Miracles into the Lap of the Wanton; nor communicats the Excellency of his Glory, but to those who resign themselves to Him.
III. St. IOHN must be exil'd to Patmos, before he can be admitted a Divine; and have converse with none but Angels, if he would be a fit Penman for Heaven. Those devout Men, who were retir'd from all Company, but Solitude, and their Devotions, could not have merchandized so unspotted with Heaven, had they not renounc'd all Correspondence with the World; and unvesting themselves of all Temporal Felicities, obtained an higher degree of Grace, and became living Monuments of Celestial Grandeur.
IV. OUR devout Patriarch enjoyed here no-Canopy but the serene Air; no other Tapers to illuminate his Apartment, but the Lamps celestial; and the vigilant Angels move to and fro, as it were, to guard and preserve him. Oh, how securely doth he rest, that lays down his Head in the Bosom of Providence, and makes that his Soul's Receptacle! Repose thus Beatifical, denotes a Sanctuary: Nor need he fear any Disturbance in his Rest, that has the Almighty for his Keeper; or that his pious nocturnal Thoughts shall be molested with frightful Dreams.
V. IACOB had no sooner prepared to sleep, but those holy Messengers unlock the Heavens, and invite him to ascend. But 'tis by a Ladder. Heaven is not to be clim'd up to in a moment: The Path to Happiness is trod by degrees; and, as our Saviour informs us, 'tis very narrow. Every Vertue is a step to Eternity; and he is so much onward of his Journey, that daily tramples upon his Vices. We cannot prove too good Proficients in a Life of Sanctity, or imagine that in the least Acts of Piety we have enough to conduct us to Happiness. 'Tis not a few Paces, but a constant Progress, that conveys us thither. Oh, how bad then is he, that thinks himself too good to be made better!
VI. O LORD, the Promises of Thy Glory are immensible; and yet how negligently do we embrace'em! Thou hast directed us the Way unto Thy Self, and yet we are not only reluctant, but even weary of walking to Thee! Alas, Is the Magnificence of Thy Kingdom not worth approaching to? Can we propose to ascend Thy Throne by a feeble and dronish Devotion? How actively do we run after the Vanities of the World, but in Thy Service pretend faintness? We can chase after the fading Pleasures of this Temporal Life, but neglect our progress in the Way Thou prescribest us to walk in.
VII. QUICKEN us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and make us more ardous and zealous in Thy Service; and as Thou hast sent Thy dearly beloved Son, and our Redeemer, to summon us to Thy Self, so do Thou likewise send Thy Holy Spirit to sanctifie us for Thy Self, that we may, by Thy heavenly Grace, become a peculiar People, zealous of Good Works: And we, who of our selves are unworthy to approach Thy Altar, will, by Thy Divine Assistance, run the ways of Thy Commandments; so that at last we may attain our End, even the Saivation of our own Souls, and appear with Joy and Gladness in the Day of the Lord Jesus.