The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, Part 2 · Meditation 14
MED. XIV. The Soul's Delight.
Psal. xciv. 19.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.
GOD, the bountiful Provider of all the World, hath prepared a great Feast, Mat. 22. 4. And those which hunger and thirst after Righteousness, are freely invited. He that tasteth not, is not sensible of the Sweetness of this Divine Banquet; and he that has lost his Appetite, is not expected a Guest at this Table. If thou believest on the Lord Jesus, obey the first Summons, and approach with chearfulness to this Royal Repast. None can acquire a Credulity, unless with Contrition he confess his Sins, and repent of the same in Dust and Ashes. And as Contrition is the spiritual Hunger of a Soul surrounded with Sin, so Faith is the spiritual Food that revives and nourishes it to Everlasting Life.
II. GOD gave the Israelites in the Wilderness, Manna, the Food of Angels, Exod. 16. 15. And in this Entertainment of the New-Testament, the Almighty exhibits to us the Celestial Manna; yea, he is there present himself, who is that spiritual bread which came down from heaven to give life unto the world, Joh. 6. 51. He which had a desire to see his Field, refused to come, Luk. 14. 18. From whence we may inferr, That they which set their Affections on the Pleasures of this Life, cannot approach to this Holy Table. When the rich Gallant, in the Gospel, heard that he must forsake all his Goods of Fortune, for Eternal Life, he went away sorrowful, Mat. 19. 22.
III. CHRIST, the Celestial Elisha, infuses not the Oyl of his Loving-kindness but into Vessels which are empty, 2 King. 4. 4. And his Divine Love never inspires any Soul, except the Love of the World be extracted from it, whereby it may become a fit Receptacle for so Divine a Guest: For, where our treasure is, there will our heart be also, Mat. 6. 21. Temporal Enjoyments hath its attrrctive Allurements; but Divine Love hath that Energy to unite us to the Deity. Terrestrial Treasures consists in the Goods of Fortune; but in these the Soul can acquire no Satisfaction, for it is beyond what this World can afford, and therefore seeks for far greater Excellencies than transitory things.
IV. DID we but seriously consider the Duration of all Temporalities, we would not fix our Hearts so fervently upon them: For upon our Bed of Mortality no Relief can be expected from 'em; and what an absurdity is it for us to place our Affections on those things which are so frail and inconstant! Our First Parents, when they rebelled against the Most High, would have attempted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; but before they could accomplish their Designs, were driven out of Paradise, Gen. 3. 6. So may we expect, it that Immortal Part, our Souls, should forsake him who hath so dearly purchas'd 'em, and cleave unto the World; but that we must undergo the same, if not a worse Punishment.
V. THEY which neglect our Saviour's candid Invitation of, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, shall not avoid hearing of him pronounce that Sentence of, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, Mat. 25. 41. The Sodomites were consumed with fire, Gen. 19. 24. for refusing to hear Lot's Doctrine. and without a speedy Repentance, the Fire of God's Anger will consume them which have despised his Gospel, and rejected all Reproof. The five Foolish Virgins who neglected trimming their Lamps, were excluded the Bridegrooms Presence; so those whose Hearts are not inspired with Celestial Oyl, must expect to be debarr'd the Participation of Eternal Joy and Comfort.
VI. CHRIST internally calls to us, by his Holy Spirit, and secretly affords us Motives to holy Desires, devout Affections, and pious Cogitations; and happy is he whose Soul is invested with these Ornaments. When thou perceivest the least spark of the Divine Goodness in thee, which doth excite thee to the performance of any good Duty, then labour to cherish it, that it may break out into a flame; and take heed that thou quench not the Spirit, and by that means extinguish the Operation: And the Apostle affirms, If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy, 1 Cor. 3. 17.
VII. THE Heart of a Man, is the living Temple of the Lord; and he is guilty of the Destruction of it, who refuseth to give place to his Holy Spirit. The Prophets, in the Old Testament, diligently hearkned unto the Word of the Lord; and were prophetically inspired, as a Reward for their-Obedience. And in the New-Testament, the Disciples and Apostles were punctual in preaching the Gospel, and they were inspired by the Holy Ghost; and were at last Crown'd by the Merits of Christ, as a Recompence for their Labours; and to those which shall imitate such good Examples, blessed are they which shall hear and persevere in such good Performances.