Heart Treasure, Appendix
An APPENDIX Concerning Meditation, with ſome helps to furniſh the thoughts with ſuitable and profitable Subjects.
THat the vacant pages may be ſupplyed, it wil not be impertinent here to annex a Specimen or Example, to help the working thoughts, in the great duty of Meditation, yet here I ſhal not undertake to handle the common-place of Meditation, which you may finde inſiſted upon, purpoſely by Mr. Fenner, Mr. Ball, Mr. Baxter, in his Saints Reſt, and many others, and abundant examples thereof in thoſe incomparable works of that reverend contemplative Divine, Dr. Hall; But what I ſhal do on this behalf, is only to purſue the deſign of the foregoing Treatiſe, in preſenting ſome conſiderations, to help the Chriſtian to a treaſure of good thoughts, that he may not want any matter of Meditation, whereever he is: before I proceed to the examples, I ſhal ſpeak a few words concerning thoughts, and good thoughts, and deliberate good thoughts in the duty of Meditation.
Thoughts in general (according to Scripture) are the internal acts of the ſoul, of what faculty ſoever, minde, wil, memory,Gen. 40.14 1 Sam. 9.5. Judg. 5.15. affections, to remember is to think on a man or thing, to take care is to take thought, to be troubled is expreſſed by thoughts of heart, and ſo thoughts denote any internal workings of reaſonings, ends, deſires, deſigns, and reſolutions, as oppoſed to external words or works, ſo Iſai 66.18. I know their works and their thoughts, but thoughts are alſo taken more ſtrictly, as being the proper products of the underſtanding faculty, the immediate muſings of the ſpeculative part, and ſo not only oppoſed to words and works, but alſo to the motions of the ſoul of another …ure,foreign. and thus Criticks diſtinguiſh (as the word it ſelf acts the critick) betwixt the thoughts of the heart, and the intents of the heart, in Heb. 4.12. The thoughts then are the ſouls ſelf-conferences, diſcourſes, parleys, interviews, hence there's mention in Scripture of ſpeaking in the heart, Deut. 9.4. Communing with our own hearts, Pſal. 4.4. Applied both to the godlie and the wicked,Pſal. 77.6. Pſal. 14.1. the ſubjects of theſe diſcourſes within, are either from without, or from within,; ſometimes the ſubjects are fetcht from abroad, as if good, the thoughts are furniſhed from the word of God, or otherwaies, Pro. 6.22.— When thou awakeſt, it ſhal talk with thee, i. e. Thou ſhalt finde the word as a ſweet companion affording thee matter of ſelf conference;Gen. 6.5. foreign omne figmentum. ſo alſo the matter of thoughts may ariſe from within, but they are ordinarily evil, and ſo every imagination of the thoughts of Mans duplicate page duplicate page heart is evil, the word ſignifies every Figment, Creature, or workmanſhip that the mind hammers within it ſelf, as in a Forge, Mint, or on an Anvil; for thoughts are as it were ſpun out of our own bowels, they are Eggs of our own laying, Webs of our own weaving, for thoughts can work of themſelves when there's no outward objects preſented.
Now my deſign is to furniſh and rectifie theſe internal operations of the heart, and to help the ſoul with ſuch ſubjects and objects as may finde it profitable work when it hath no creature to converſe with, that the thoughts may be holy, ſweet, ſavoury, and heavenly; Now there are four qualifications eſſentially requiſite to the conſtitution of good thoughts. 1. They muſt be materially good, not employed about ſinful or trifling things, that do either prejudice, or not at all profit the ſoul, but exerciſed in ſome ſpiritual, ſuitable meditations about God, Chriſt, the Word, o… what may tend to edification. 2. They muſt be formally good, i. e. regulated by the Word of God, as the Rule thereof, to ſquare and order the thoughts, both for Principle, Manner, and End. 3. They muſt be ſeaſonably good every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon: a thing may be good in its own nature, yet not good as to thoſe circumſtances of time and other reſpects wherwith it may be cloathed. 4. They muſt be eventually good, as to the fruit, effect, impreſſion of theſe thoughts, he that thinks, ſhould aim at Gods glory and his own ſouls good; and the fruit of the thought muſt be good, tending to quicken or ſtrengthen ſome grace, kill and crucifie ſome luſt, …large or encourage the ſtraitened or ſadened …eart: Alaſs, this is not a meer exerciſe of the mind and memory about good things, but a working them upon the heart, the ſinking of theſe things into the will and affections: 'tis not meerly ſpeculative, but practical and experimental, it muſt be a ſet and ſolemn acting all the powers of the ſoul upon divine things in order to ſpiritual advantage, or raiſing the heart Heaven-wards.
And now I ſhal preſent to your thoughts …o. uſefull Subjects to meditate upon, which may by the Lords aſſiſtance, become in your ſouls a ſacred Treaſure of heavenlie thoughts.
1. Let your thoughts inſiſt upon the infinite, eternal and incomprehenſible Majeſty of God, here you may ſoon loſe your ſelves in the vaſt Ocean of his bleſſed eſſence, yet lanch not too far, but bound your thoughts by the ſure Card of Scripture-diſcovery; thus think, 1. Oh what an holy omniſcient, omni preſent Spirit is the Almighty maker and poſſeſſor of heaven and earth! What tranſcendent myſteries are lockt up in the Trinitie of Perſons in the unitie of Eſſence! how impoſſible is it for a mortal eye to approach that inacceſſible Light! none can ſee God and live, yet have poor ſinners a glorious reflection of the Godhead in the Perſon of our dear Redeemer, and in his ſweet proclaiming his bleſſed Name, and diſplaying his glorious Attributes of Wiſdome, Power, Holineſſe, Juſtice, Goodneſſe and Truth to the Sons of men: by theſe we taſte and ſee what a One the Lord is: Oh how great is this Jehovah whom we worſhip? the heaven of Heavens cannot contain him, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He ſitteth upon the Circle of the earth, and the Inhabitants thereof are as Graſhoppers, He is cloathed with honour and Majeſtie, thouſand thouſands miniſter unto him, ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtand before him, He is the God in whoſe hands my breath is, the ſearcher of hearts, the hearer of Prayers, the Lord of Hoſts, and King of Saints: O my ſoul admire him for his greatneſſe, fear him for his Juſtice, love him for his Goodneſſe, truſt him for his Faithfulneſſe, worſhip him in the beauty of holineſſe, and delight thy ſelf in his tranſcendent Perfections:
2. Fix your thoughts upon the works of Creation, ſtudy this large voluminous Book, every page thereof will finde you freſh matter of meditation and admiration: every creature hath a tongue to tell us of the power and wiſdome of its Maker: and thus let your thoughts be working; ſurely this goodly Fabrick of Heaven and Earth ſpeaks aloud the glory of the great Creator; if this vaſt Globe of the Earth be above twenty thouſand miles in compaſſe, then what a vaſt extent are the Heavens of? which are ſtretched out as a Curtain; how admirably hath God laid the beams of his Chambers in the waters, and hanged the earth upon nothing? how firmly hath God builded his ſtories in the Heaven, and fixed the glorious Conſtellations as fountains of Light? oh what beauty is there in the Father of Lights that hath ſet up reſplendent Luminaries? theſe great bodies were created of nothing by the word of Gods power, and yet there is deep myſteries in the leaſt and loweſt creature, every Herb, Flower, Plant, ſpire of graſs, Twig and Leaf, Worm or Fly, Scale or Feather, Billow or Meteor, hath enough in it to puzzle the moſt profound Philoſopher, and ſpeaks the power and wiſdome of our great Creator: how much more the curious piece of mans Bodie? I am fearfully and wonderfully made, but much more may I ſtand admiring the ſtrange nature of my immortal ſoul: and ſtill reflect with thankfulneſs and admiration upon the power and goodneſſe of my omnipotent Creator.
3. Think on the capacity, excellency, and immortalitie of the precious Soul, you cannot think without it, and ſhould you not ſpend ſome thoughts upon it, this diſtinguiſheth you from beaſts, thus then meditate, what divine ſpark is this that God hath breathed into this lump of clay? this immortal ſoul which God immediately created is greater and better than the world, and cannot be ſatisfied with the world, 'tis of a ſpiritual being, and of the ſame nature with the Angels: 'tis of an active nature, and can make quick excurſions to the creatures, and ſallies thorough this vaſt Univerſe, and muſt return with Noahs Dove, that there's no place to reſt her weary foot of affections upon, God alone, is the anchor and center of this toſſed Wanderer: this ſoul is capable of communion with God in ſpiritual Ordinances and eternal happineſſe, it muſt return at laſt to God that gave it, to receive from him a ſentence of abſolution or condemnation; Oh my ſoul, thou art in conſtant motion, whether art thou moving? what art thou doing? what condition art thou in? and what muſt become of thee when thy body ſhall be left a ſtinking carcaſs? Soar aloft my ſoul, and mind things above, debaſe not thy noble nature with purſuit of things that are below thy ſelf: get well adorned with the graces of the Spirit, and enriched with an intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, make God thy portion, lay up laſting treaſures in Heaven, and then return unto thy Reſt, and God will deal bountifully with thee.
4. Think much upon the ſacred Word of God, meditate of it day and night, let the Word of God dwell richly in you, and let your thoughts be furniſhed with, and dwell much upon it what is in your Bibles is Gods, but what is in your hearts is your own; thus then let your thoughts be working: Oh the infinite condeſcention of the great Jehovah! What … worthleſs man that God himſelf ſhould write ſo large an Epiſtle from Heaven to him with the hand of his bleſſed Spirit! What care hath God taken to direct, move, incite, encourage fallen ſinning man to the attaining of eternal happineſſe? What Precepts, Promiſes Threatnings, Examples are ſprinkled up and down in this bleſſed Book! Oh the Antiquity, Authority, Excellency and Efficacy, Power and Purity, Perfection and ſufficiency, verity and perpetuity of the ſacred Bible! Methinks when I take up this holie Book, I take wonders into my hands, and when I look within it I meet with Myſteries, that the wiſdome of the greateſt Clarks can never reach, and yet the meaneſt capacity by the help of that Spirit which indited them, may wade this deep foard of divine ſecrets: how plainly held forth therein are neceſſary truths and duties that lead the ſoul to God and eternal happineſs! How familiarly and affectionately doth God converſe with man therein? how pat and proper to my ſtate are the precious Promiſes in theſe bleſſed pages? every word hath its weight, and comes as pertinently as if the Lord had named me; methinks, there's no ſuch vertue or ſavour in any other Writings, what reviving doth it bring into my heart! O bleſſed be God for the holy Scriptures.
5. Let your thoughts be employed about the glorious works of Providence: oh how ſweet are they? who ſo is wiſe will conſider them: pauſe after this manner, O my ſoul, take a view of this beautiful Checker-work of divine Providence; conſider the days of old, and the years of many generations, recollect what the Scripture records, of drying up the Sea, driving back Jordan, the ſtanding still, and going back of the Sun in the Firmament, reflect upon the miracles of MercieMercy for the Church, and of judgment upon the Enemies: nay, conſider O my ſoul what wonders God hath wrought in thy daies, in thine eies: Oh what national, domeſtical, perſonal deliverances haſt thou ſeen? even ſuch as may aſtoniſh the Atheiſt, and ſilence Unbelief for ever: thou needeſt not want matter of holy muſing, if thou take a ſtrict ſurvey of the courſe of thy life, and particular providences about thy Soul, Body, Eſtate, Name, Relations, and all thy Concernments, which may afford a vaſt Field of devout Meditation: thoſe waies of Providence that ſeemed uncouth and unlovely whilſt ſeen but in their birth and parts, how comely now are they in their mature product and perfection? I ſaw not then, but I have fully ſeen ſince what the Lord aimed at in his ſtrange Diſpenſations: Oh the happy compoſure, ſymmetrie, and contexture of all things, conſpiring together by the concurrence of Providence to accompliſh, and to center in the grand end of all things, viz. the glory of God. How wonderful are his Judgments, and his wayes paſt finding out?
6. Think ſadly upon mans Apoſtacy: let your thoughts be ſometimes taking a view of the original of all our preſent ſinfulneſs and wretchedneſs in ſuch thoughts as theſe: Wo is me, whence and whether are wee fallen! God made man upright, but he ſought out many inventions, once man was created after the Image of God, now is he defaced after the Image of the Devil: once was man intire and ſtraight, now deformed and crooked in all his faculties, once was he holy and happy, now filthy and ſubject to all ſin and miſery: once he was the darling of God, Lord of the world, and a fit companion for the bleſſed Angels now he is Gods enemie, the Devils ſlave, and the baſeſt part of the whole Creation: Oh mutable free-will that choſe to fall, that might have choſen to ſtand! ſurely man in his beſt eſtate was ſubject to vanity: Oh how little was the pleaſure, and how laſting is the pain! But O my ſoul, finde not fault with Adam, if thou hadſt been in his ſtead, thou wouldſ… have done as he did, yea, thou doſt the ſame every day, too too voluntarily, and of choice, ſin is a tranſgreſſion of the Law, and this holy Law thou breakeſt every moment, Oh my ſoul, what miſerable caſe art thou in! what enmity to God, antipathy to good, and conſtant tendency to all evil is in thy depraved nature! Wo is me, wheres the light in my underſtanding, the rectitude of my will, the regularity of my affections: where is the tenderneſſe of my conſcience, the tenacity of my memory, and the victory over my lower unruly paſſions! Lord, where am I, and what will become of me, except Free-grace interpoſe for my deliverance?
7. Think, Oh think much upon the ſtupendious work of mans Redemption: here the ranſomed of the Lord may and muſt expatiate in the heart-melting meditations of the way of their recovery. Thus, here ſtand and pauſe, my ſoul, upon the ſweet tranſcendent contrivance of ſaving loſt man: Oh why, wherefore was it, that the heart of God was working for men, and not for devils? they were as near and dear to God (when ſtanding) and as perfect in their natures, was it becauſe man had a Tempter, and they had none? no certainly, though that may be a truth, yet no reaſon of chuſing man, and leaving devils to be reſerved in chains of darkneſs to the judgment of the great Day; no, no, Free-grace alone made the difference: But, what was the way of mans Redemption? why ſurely, the Son of God, the ſecond Perſon of the glorious Trinitie muſt become man, and put himſelf into the ſinners ſtead, to do and endure, be, and bear what man muſt have gone through and under-gone: Oh ſtupendious myſterie, oh tranſcendent Mercy? who could have deviſed ſuch a way? who durſt have deſired ſuch a thing, that God ſhould part with his only and beloved Son for ſuch an end? Oh the manifold wiſdome of God! O… the inconceivable love of the Father to ſend his Son, and of his Son to come upon ſuch an Errand … Great is the merciemercy of God great is the myſterie of godlineſſe, God manifest in the fleſh &c. O the wonders in the ſtrange hypoſtatical union! the compleatneſſe of his Perſon, the uſefulneſs of his Offices! Oh the bitterneſs of his temptations, travels, trials, reproaches, agonies, deſertions, death, ſharp to him, ſweet to us: theſe will be the ſubject of Saints thoughts and praiſes in Heaven, to all Eternity.
8. Think upon the termes and tenour of the Goſpel, how and upon what conditions Chriſt and all his benefits may be made over to you, and that is a Cordial accepting of Chriſt in his mediatorie latitude, as be is tendered in the Goſpel, to juſtifie, ſanctifie, and to ſave, thus then conceive thereof. Oh ſtrange merciemercy, boundleſs love, God might have appointed the conditions of ſalvation to have been travelling tedious journeys, conquering Kingdomes, or lying ſo manie years in miſerie; he might have ſaid, thou muſt either keep the moral Law exactlie or die eternallie; but he ſaith, believe in the Lord Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, nor hath he left thee, O my ſoul, to do this by thine own ſtrength, (which had been as impoſſible as the forme) but he that requires faith of thee, promiſeth to give faith to thee; faith is in the Covenant as wel as forgiveneſs, Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed ſtrength to believe, as wel as ſalvation for believers. Oh bleſſed contrivance, all is laid upon the back of our ſweet and ſolid ſurety, he is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, he is the way, the truth, and the life, the Author and finiſher of our faith, he ſaves to the utmoſt, all the Elect ſhal have faith, and none of them ſhal miſcarry; this, this is the kernel and marrow of the Goſpel, that Chriſt is the ſuretie for all the Elect, and hath undertaken to bear them all to Heaven by the power of his ſpirit, and by the vertue of his merit, and he wants neither abilitie nor fidelitie to bring about this glorious enterprize for poor ſouls.
9. Think and think again what intereſt you have in this Redeemer and redemption, for all are not ſharers in it, all ſhal not be ſaved by it, nay, but few of thoſe that hear the tidings of it: think thus, oh my ſoul, what is thy ſtate? where is thy ſtanding? what intereſt haſt thou in Chriſt? what title to the promiſes of the Covenant? haſt thou a ſound and ſaving faith, a through heart-ſhaking, heart-breaking repentance? I hear in the word that Chriſt becomes the Author of eternal ſalvation to all them that obey him, oh my ſoul, haſt thou given up thy ſelf to him in the obedience of faith? what operations of the ſpirit haſt thou felt for thy effectual vocation? what regenerating work, hath paſſed upon thee? art thou tranſlated from death to life, from darkneſs to light? art thou indeed traſplanted out of the old ſtock, into the new and living Vine? what particular application haſt thou made of this general redemption? haſt thou viewed a bleeding Chriſt with a bleeding heart? and looked on him whom thy ſins have pierced with a repenting believing frame of ſpirit? haſt thou accepted of Jeſus Chriſt in his mediatory latitude, as Prophet, Prieſt, and King, to ſubdue thy luſts, to guide thee by his Scepter, and ſave thee in his own way? oh my ſoul, be ſerious in this inquiry, it's no trifling matter, it's as much as thy ſoul is worth, it's of great concernment to all eternity, the way is ſtrait and narrow, thouſands are deceived and ſpend no thoughts upon it, til they be paſt hopes or remedie: the ſtroke of death wil ſuddenlie determine the buſineſs, oh look to it before that blow be given, leſt it be too late.
10. When thou haſt cleared thy ſtate, then think with comfort; oh the rich priviledges of believers! here thou maiſt have a ſpacious field of contemplation, God allows thee to ſolace thy ſoul in ſuch thoughts as theſe, oh the ineſtimable, incomparable, invaluable advantages of the Saints! what ſaiſt thou, oh my guilty weary ſoul, is it nothing to have ſin pardoned, thy debts paid, the Bond cancelled? certainlie to a ſoul heavie laden under the ſenſe of guilt, the ſenſe of pardon is the moſt joyful tidings in the World: and ſhal my filthy naked ſoul be cloathed with this bleſſed robe of Chriſts perfect righteouſneſs? oh the riches of free grace? ſhal ſuch a baſe and bank-rupt beggar become the beautiful ſpouſe of the King of Heaven? it was infinite mercy that kept me thus long out of Hel, but wil the Lord alſo make this ſinful ſoul an heir of Heaven? ſhal Jeſus Chriſt be my elder Brother, the ſpirit my Comforter, and God himſelf my Father… oh boundleſs and bottomleſs riches of free grace! moreover, oh my ſoul, thou haſt intereſt in all the promiſes, the aſſiſtance of the ſpirit in prayer, and free acceſs to the Throne of Grace: the providences of God are working for thy good, the protection of Heaven ſhal be on thy perſon, and the bleſſing of the Al-mighty ſhal be upon thy undertakings; thou haſt, oh my ſoul, ſweet fellowſhip with God, the benefit of communion of Saints, and the preſence and ſervice of the holy Angels: he wil guide thee with his counſel, and at laſt receive thee to glorie: and is not this a ne plus-ultra of preferment? can thy covetous or ambitious thoughts reach any further, oh my ſoul? no, no, God hath done for thee beyond thy expectation, even to admiration.
11. Now then, my ſoul, let thy thoughts be working upon ſome returns; what doth God require of thee in lieu of all theſe rich and royal favours? oh ſet thy heart to ſtudie dutie, lie under the ſenſe of the Law of thankfulneſs, deſire the Lord to write that bleſſed Law upon the Tables of thy heart, conſider what thou haſt to do, but here my ſoul is non-pluſt, alas, what returns can I make unto my God for all theſe benefits? what can a poor worthleſs worm do, in requiting infinite kindneſs? my ſelf, and all I am, or can do, are the Lords due, and here I offer up all, to thee, oh Lord, as a whole burnt ſacrifice, which is moſt reaſonable, oh that it may be acceptable through Jeſus Chriſt; my heart, my lips, my life ſhal praiſe thee, b…eſs the Lord, oh my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſs his holy name: oh that my heart were wel tuned to ſing the ſong of Moſes, and of the Lamb, alas my ſoul, how low and dul art thou? how ſhort and ſhallow in thy poor returns for theſe rich receits, ſurely my ſoul wil ſing a new, and another kinde of ſong amongſt the heavenly Quite of bleſſed Saints and Angels in eternal Manſions; in the mean time, oh my ſoul, be winding up thy heart, skruing up thy faint affections, be much in the work of thankfulneſs, lay out thy ſelf for the glory of thy Redeemer, ſin no more, ſerve him better, walk with God, wait upon him, worſhip him with all thy heart, do all the good thou canſt in thy place, hie apace towards Heaven, and lift up thy head with expectation, deſire, and exultation, til the day of Redemption draw neer,
12. Think much and ſeriouſly of the evil of ſin, how offenſive it is to God, how deſtructive to the ſoul, that ſo you may eſchew and abhor the very riſings and appearance thereof, thus let your thoughts be employed, what a monſtrous, prodigious, venemous thing is ſin! it is the very Epitome of all evil, worſe than the Devil himſelf, the moſt loathſome Creature that crawls is very good, if compared with ſin, 'tis a heart-Plague, more evil than all the Plagues and diſeaſes that are incident to the body of man, 'tis worſe than Hell it ſelf: oh ſin, what haſt thou done? was it not ſin that caſt the Angels out of Heaven, Adam out of Paradice, and thouſands, yea, thouſands of millions of ſouls headlong into Hel? was it not ſin that drowned the old World, burned Sodome, and wil ſet the whole World in a flame at the laſt day? is it not ſin only that provoketh the eyes of Gods glory, grieveth his ſpirit, breaketh his Laws, and bringeth ſwift deſtruction on impenitent ſinners? nay, oh my ſoul, conſider, was it ſin that betrayed, arraigned, accuſed, condemned, crucified and buried the Lord of life and glory? oh then who would have any thing to do with theſe unprofitable, pernicious works of darkneſs, what fruit haſt thou poor ſoul of ſin, but ſhame, and grief, and death? oh what hurt hath it done thee? what griefs, and tears, and ſorrows, and dolours hath it coſt thee? and all theſe better than the proper product of it, even eternal damnation: Oh my ſoul, hate ſin with a perfect hatred, God only hates it, or with reſpect unto it, ſin no more, leſt thou offend a good God, gratifie Sathan, and damn thy ſoul for ever.
13. Think much upon the vanity of the World, and uncertainty of all things here below, read to your ſelves ſometimes Lectures of the inſtability of all worldly excellencies, and knock off your own fingers from playing with them, leſt God uſe ſome ſeverer courſe to looſen your hearts from things below, thus think, oh my ſenſual ſoul, what is it that thou ſeeſt in this gariſh ſtrumpet to allure and intangle thy affections? how comeſt thou to doat upon her painted beauty? what real good, what ſolid comfort haſt thou ever found therein? what are the profits of it, but a little white and red earth, of the ſame nature and original, with thy vile and periſhing body, and far inferiour to thy noble ſoul? what are the ſorry honours of the World, but froth and ſome, hanging on the ſlipperie tongues and eares of mutable men, that can kiſs and kil with a breath and beck? and what are the ſordid pleaſures here below, but ſwiniſh epicuriſme, that debaſe the beſt part of man, transform Men into Beaſts, and leave a ſtinging guilt behinde them? Alas, my ſoul, why wilt thou ſet thine eyes upon that which is not? what wil riches avail thee in the day of wrath? where is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained the whole World, when God taketh away his ſoul? what was Cain better for all his fair Cities, or Nimrod for his large Dominions, or Abſalon for his beauty, or Achitophel for his policy, or Judas for his bags, or Dives for his delicate fare? Hell-fire burns up all theſe, and Heaven cannot be purchaſed with them: alas, the faſhion of the World paſſeth away, and when its gone, what's a Man better for being a Gentleman, a Knight, a Lord, a Prince? Mors ſceptra ligonibus aequat.
14. Let your thoughts be exerciſed about the preſent, and final ſtate of all the Children of Men, the vaſt difference betwixt the good and bad, the godlie and the wicked, in this World, and the World to come, and thus let your hearts be muſing, what though the wicked flouriſh like a green bay-tree, and do injoy the World at wil? they are not in trouble as other Men, but eat and drink, and laugh and play, and change their ſports for more delight, and waſh their ſteps in butter, and have more than heart can wiſh: in the mean time, the godly are daily afflicted by God, tempted by Sathan, perſecuted by the world, they are chaſtened every morning, and lie down with ſorrow every evening, they eat their bread, and water their beds with tears: Oh the bitter heart-breaking griefs, by reaſon of the with-drawings of God, the unkindneſs of men, but eſpecially from corruptions within! Well now, my ſoul, wilt thou call this the onelyonly wretched man, and the former the only happy perſon? God forbid, ſo ſhouldſt thou offend againſt the generation of Gods Children, thou muſt not acquit the wicked or condemn the Righteous: No, my ſoul, look not with carnal, but with ſpiritual eyes, judge righteous judgement, hee is not happy that hath the world at will, but he is onelyonly happy whoſe God is the Lord, ſearch the Scriptures, and ſee there who is called and accounted happy: Mark the perfect man, the end of that man is peace, whatever be his trouble in the way, obſerve the wicked, it cannot be well with him in the end: Craſſus at laſt found Solons words true, there's no man happy before death; O my ſoul, wiſely conſider the ſtare of the godly and the wicked, and it will beget ſtrange effects upthee for thy encouragement and aſtoniſhment:
15. Sometimes let your thoughts run out upon the ſtate of the Church and people of God, that you may joy or ſorrow, pray or praiſe God, with or for Zion, and the Saints: upon bleſſed Paul's heart lay the care of all the Churches, and ſhall wee caſt away the thoughts thereof? Well then, my ſoul, art thou a member of the Church, and wilt thou not ſpend ſome thoughts of it and for it? let mee feel the pulſe of Chriſts myſtical bodie, how fares it with her? is ſhe in health, or is ſhe ſick? what diſeaſes is ſhe labouring under? Do her ſacred lungs move faſt in prayer to God? Doth ſhe flouriſh in her pure and powerfull adminiſtration of divine Inſtitutions? Is ſhe fair as the Moon in the holineſſe of her members? clear as the Sun in the ſoundneſſe of her doctrine, eſpecially in that fundamental point of Juſtification by Chriſts Righteouſneſſe imputed? (hence the Woman, the Church, is to be cloathed with the Sun) and is ſhe terrible as an Army with banners, in the due adminiſtration of wholeſome diſcipline, and execution of the Cenſures; Do the lights ſhine clear in the Candle-ſticks? Are Miniſters in their places burning and ſhining Lights, and do the Faithful walk in the light of the Lord? Have the Saints communion in all Ordinances, walking together in mutual edification? Or, are they broken in pieces by perſecutions or ſeparations? How is it with this militant Church? O my ſoul, take a full view thereof, that thou maiſt rejoice with her, or mourn for her.
16. Think, O think often upon Death, your own death, O that you were wiſe to conſider your latter end, amongſt all your thoughts, ſpend ſome upon your dying day, ſet a Deaths-head before your eyes, and think to this purpoſe, oh what a dying, fading creature am I? I dwell in a tottering Tabernacle, in a Houſe of clay, that's readie to bee cruſhed every moment like a moth, this vile body of mine is made of periſhing ingredients, and my life is like a vapour; O my ſoul, thou lodgeſt in a brittle caſe, how certainly ſhal, how ſuddenly may it be broken? and then thou lancheſt forth into the vaſt Ocean of Eternitie: Death will ſhortly looſe the knot betwixt theſe old companions ſoul and body, Nature abhors a diſſolution, but what ſaith Grace? is the ſting of death pluckt out by the death of Chriſt? Hath the Lord of Life warmed and perfumed the Grave for thee? Canſt thou, O my ſoul, look thorough death at Glory? and own it as thy Fathers Porter that takes thee by the hand to lead thee into his Palace and Preſence-Chamber? ſurely if thou have a grounded ſenſe of Gods love, thou wilt with the wearied Traveller long to be at home, and go to bed to take thy reſt, thou wilt deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all: onelyonly be ſure, poor ſoul, that thy work bee not to do when thy time is done; get readie for that fatal ſtroak, it is a ſolemn buſineſſe to dye, it is but once to be done, and it muſt be well done, or thou art undone for ever: look upon every day as the laſt day, defer not another day to repent and make thy peace with God, that thou maiſt be found of him in peace.
17. Paſs on a little further in thy meditations, and let thy thoughts thus be acted about the great things of the Reſurrection of the dead, and the ſolemn day of Judgment; O my ſoul, conſider what an illuſtrious day will that be, when the great Trumpet ſhall ſound, the Graves ſhall be opened, the dead ſhal be raiſed, and the living ſhall bee changed, the holy Angels ſhall gather from the ends of the earth the ſcattered bodies and bones of all the Saints, from righteous Abel to the laſt Convert on earth, & again marry the the bleſſed pair of ſoul and body together, and hoyſe them up to meet their bleſſed Saviour in the ayr, that they may with him judge the world of ungodly ſinners: methinks I hear on the contrary the wretched howlings of deſpairing ſouls, whoſe bodies, wil they, nill they, are dragged out of their curſed holes, and are forced to come trembling before the juſt Judge; fain would they skulk in holes and not appear, being convicted of their conſciences, and not able to ſtand in judgement, but appear they muſt, and yet they dare not: Methinks I ſee the Judge ſet, the Books opened, and myriads of rational creatures ſet before the righteous Judge to receive their final Sentence: on the right hand ſtand the bleſſed Saints in white Raiment, lifting up their heads to their beloved Husband, who abſolves them, ſaying, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you; welcome home from a weary world, here's manſions ready for you; ſit upon theſe Thrones; take theſe victorious Palmes into your hands, I ſet theſe Crowns upon your heads, and you ſhall be with me for ever: On the left hand lye the filthie Goats, deſpairing wicked wretches expecting the dreadful ſentence of, go yee curſed, wiſhing they had never been, or that now they might not be, calling to the ſenſleſs Rocks to fall upon them, but all in vain; appear they muſt, and yet they dare not; the deſpiſed Saviour is their angry Judge, Devils are attending the pronouncing of the Sentence, ready to hurry them to the execution of the Sentence.
18. Let this then carry thy thoughts, O my ſoul, a little further to the ſerious meditation upon the intollerable torments of Hell, as ſoon as that ſentence is out, then take them Devil, ſurely the puniſhment of loſſe is inconceivable; Oh how bitter is it to a poor Childe of God in this World to endure the ſhort with-drawings of Gods pleaſant Face from their ſouls: what bitter lamentations and expoſtulations hath it wrung from them? and yet what is that in compariſon of being baniſhed from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power? Cains mark of trembling proceeded from the dreadfull ſenſe of this formidable expulſion: though wicked men care not for Gods preſence here, yet they ſhall feel to their coſt what it is to want his preſence hereafter: together with God they loſe all that is comfortable, they ſhall never have good day hereafter, they loſe Ordinances, mercies, hopes of Heaven, they ſhall never hear Sermon more, nor enjoy a day of grace again; above them is the wrath of the Lamb, whoſe melting bowels are turned into a conſuming fire to them; under them is the devouring Lake of fire and Brimſtone gaping to receive them; on their right hand are the bleſſed Saints whom they deſpiſed, triumphing in the execution of Juſtice on them, and entring into their Maſters joy; on the left hand ſtands that curſed Fiend who drew them into ſin, now as ready to draw them into Hell to be tormented with himſelf for ever; behind them are their ſhort and ſorry pleaſures in this World, and multitudes of abominations in wicked life; before them is a ſad Eternity of never-ceaſing torments; within them is a gnawing conſcience; without them the ſaddeſt objects that ever eyes beheld; old Companions in ſin roaring under wrath, legions of Devils blaſpeming God, and ſcourging their fellow priſoners, their beloved Minion the World all in a flame, and themſelves fire-brands therein for ever: O my ſoul, think on theſe dolorous ſubjects ſometimes, and let it work kindly on thy heart, to make thee eſchew the way to Hell, and to walk in the way to Heaven:
19. On the contrary, O my ſoul, mount up to Heaven in thy contemplations, ſoar above the Clouds, and take a view of Paradiſe, as ſoon as the Bridegroom of his Church hath admitted his beloved Spouſe into his Preſence-chamber; O the raviſhing joys, and ſweet embraces at this bleſſed meeting; Heaven ecchoes again at the triumphant Hallelujahs of all the Redeemed ones: how ſhall ſorrow and ſighing flee away? Sin and ſickneſſe ſhall be known no more, Sathan with his fiery darts, and wicked men with their drawn ſwords cannot reach thither; there ſhall be no more complaints of ignorant and erroneous heads, of dead and hard, unbelieving and diſtracted hearts, of lame decrepit feet, there ſhall not be a tear upon a Saints cheek, for God will wipe away teares from all Faces, not one complaint heard, nothing but joy and triumph, ſolace and ſatisfaction, the bleſſed preſence of the eternal God ſhal be all in all to theſe happie ſouls: Oh what is a ſight of God worth! but what will it be above, where it is immediate, conſtant and un-interrupted? no need there of Ordinances, God himſelf will be inſtead of all, it wil be another kind of enjoying of God then poor ſouls felt in this World, though that was ſweet, yet this ſhall be infinitely ſweeter: now at the beſt wee ſee but through a glaſs darkly, then face to face; communion with God is the Heaven of that Heaven, yet ſhal there be every thing beautiful and deſirable: there my ſoul ſhal be filled with all perfections, and Grace ſhal be compleat, the mind ſhal in an inſtant have as large a comprehenſion, as Salomon, or Adam in innocency, my will ſhal bee conformed to the divine Wil in a perfect rectitude and integrity, my affections ſhal be ſpirituallie and regularlie fixed on the Lord my God with fulneſſe of delight and joy, my body ſhal ſhine as the brightneſſe of the Firmament, yea, it ſhal be made like unto the glorious body of Jeſus Chriſt, my whole man ſhal be fit for the high emploiment in Heaven, and enjoiment of God: there ſhall I meet with Abraham, and all the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and all my Chriſtian Friends that died in the Faith; and oh the ſpritful joies that wil ariſe from ſuch a bleſſed ſight! There wee ſhal meet, and part no more, agree, and fall out no more, rejoice together, and be ſad no more: Oh bleſſed Day! my ſoul, be thou revived in the fore-thoughts and fore-taſts thereof.
20. Once more, then, O my ſoul, and but this once, fix thy thoughts upon Eternity; how canſt thou forget it? What is this ſorry point of time in compariſon of the vaſt Ocean of Eternitie? Alas poor mortals, act a part upon this Stage a while, and then are gone into another VVorld, that muſt endure for ever; this little inch of time is a ſeed-plot for Eternitie, upon the wel or ill improving of this time depends an everlaſting ſtate in weal or woe: Oh what wretched folly is it to loſe eternal happineſſe for a tranſient draught of ſenſual delight! Oh what would not any endure here a ſhort moment, to eſcape eternal torments! Methinks nothing hath weight in it, but as it relates to Eternity; Eternitie is the onelyonly accent and emphaſis of joy and ſorrow; this is that which makes the joyes of Heaven joyes indeed, and the torments of Hell torments with a witneſſe: Oh for a poor damned ſoul that hath been, as it were, a thouſand yeares, thouſand thouſands of Ages roaring in Hell, to think that it is not one moment nearer an end than at firſt inſtant when it was caſt into that devouring fire: This cuts to the heart, this adds new terrours to the deſpairing ſoul: here muſt I abide for ever. Oh that I might be conſumed ſo as not to be, cannot, may not I poor wretch bee once at laſt annihilated, and be as if I never had been? No no, once in Hel and for over in Hel, the great Gulf of Gods Decree once fixt is irrevocable: ſo on the contrary, Eternitie encreaſeth every moment the joy of the glorified, here I am, and here I ſhal bee for ever, ſaith the happy ſoul, my eſtate is better than Adams in the earthly, or the fallen Angels in the Heavenly Paradiſe, I ſhal never loſe theſe joyes: Oh what a durarable reward have I for a little temporary ſervice, my ſorrow is paſt, my joy remains: how comes it to paſſe that thoſe light afflictions that were but for a moment have wrought out for me this exceeding and eternal weight of Glorie? Surely becauſe it was my Fathers good pleaſure to give me this Kingdome, this Eternal Life is the gift of God: Oh, who would not do or endure any thing for this eternity of joys? Thus the ſoul wil bathe it ſelf in theſe Rivers of pleaſures at Gods right hand for evermore.
I have now diſpatcht theſe ſet and ſolemn ſubjects for your thoughts to work upon; I ſhal but briefly add ſome occaſional grounds for holy thoughts, which (if you have a right frame of ſpirit) you may gather much from, to be a ſufficient Treaſure for heavenly Thoughts. Take ſome inſtances in ſuch as theſe:
1. VVhen you awake in the morning, think the great Jehovah can, and wil as eaſily raiſe our mortal bodies at the general Reſurrection, as my frail body now; this ſleep is the Image of death, Death is but a ſleep, the Grave my Bed, the Reſurrection the Morning; Oh that when I awake, I might be ſtil with God, and then at my laſt awaking, I ſhall be ſatisfied with his likeneſſe, and the upright ſhal have dominion in that bleſſed Morning.
2. VVhen you have had a good night, think, bleſſed be the keeper of Iſrael, that neither ſlumbers, nor ſleeps, the Lord onelyonly makes me dwell in ſafety, even thus hee gives his beloved ſleep; and if natural ſleep be ſo refreſhing, Oh, what is it to lye in the armes of my beſt Beloved Chriſt? what ſoft and ſweet embraces have thoſe ſouls that walk all the day in the Light of his Countenance? and ſleep all the night of affliction upon the lap of his Love!
3. VVhen you are putting on your Apparrel, Think, how came I to the neceſſitie of covering my nakedneſſe? By Adams fall, ſin uſhered in ſhame, and theſe garments hide our ſhame, ſhal I then glory in my ſhame, or be proud of that for which I ſhould be humbled? O rather let me be truly ſenſible of my ſpiritual nakedneſs, and look after the Robes of Chriſts Righteouſneſs to cover my ſouls deformity, that the ſhame thereof may not appear:
4. VVhen you ſee the Morning sky, or riſing Sun, then think, truly Light is ſweet, and it's a pleaſant thing for the eyes to behold this Sun; bleſſed be God that hath ſet up this Candle by which poor mortals may ſee to walk or work, what a dark Dungeon, and confuſed Chaos would this World be without it! But oh the bleſſed MercieMercy wee have in the light of the glorious Goſpel! without which wee ſhould be in the darkneſſe of ignorance, and go to utter darkneſs:
5. When you pray in your Chambers, think now my Father in Heaven ſees me in ſecret, darkneſs or cloſeneſs hides not from him, my God ſees the motions of my body, and imaginations of my heart, Oh for an upright frame of ſpirit! Oh that my heart were now ſeaſoned for God all this day? the ſearcher of hearts wil have his eye upon me whether ſoever I go, oh that I could ſet the Lord in my ſight in all places, companies, occaſions.
6. When your Families are together, think how ſadly and ſuddenly might a breach ha… been made! Oh that God ſhould make this Image of death, a meanes of life! we are alive, that's rich mercy, we are in health, that's more, we are called together, ſo wil God gather his Saints together, how many of this Family ſhal be of that number! Lord, that none under my charge may be an Iſmael, an Eſau, Oh that we may all meet in Heaven.
7. When you are to read the word, or go to prayer in your Families, think, oh what mercy is it, that I may read this bleſſed book! Lord open mine eyes, that I may underſtand the wonders of the Word: what an infinite, glorious, gracious God is this, to whom I am to pray, oh for a ſuitable frame of heart! oh the mercy of a throne of grace, of a bleſſed Advocate! who knows but ſome ſoul may be toucht now, if I pray aright?
8. When you go out of your houſes to work or travel, think, the World is full of ſnares and temptations, and my heart as full of ſin and treachery, little, ah little do I know what corruptions may break out, or afflictions break in upon me before my return, the leaſt occaſion of ſin wil overturn me, the leaſt accident wil overthrow me, the Lord bleſs and preſerve my going out, and my coming in from this time forth and for ever more.
9. When you are travelling by the way, think, my life is a journey, I am in conſtant motion towards eternity, every action is a ſtep, Heaven is my home, I cannot get thither without diligent travel; Lord let me not miſs my way, or miſcarry in the end, take me by the hand, ſupport me by thy ſpirit, keep me from fainting, give me ſome good baits, and bring me to the end of my faith at laſt, even the Salvation of my Soul.
10. VVhen you ſee various objects before your eyes, deduct ſome holy matter therefrom, as thus, what a vaſt World is this? and yet what is this to the Heavens? and what are both Earth and Heavens to the immenſe and infinite God? what multitudes of people are there in this City? but oh what aſſemblie wil meet at the great day? oh my ſoul, art not thou too like yonder hard Rock, or fruitleſs Tree, or barren Mountain? look about thee, make ſomething of theſe objects.
11. When you are diſcourſing with others think, of every idle word I muſt give an account, and in multitude of words there wanteth not ſin; Oh my ſoul, think twice before thou ſpeak once, wil this be to the glory of God and others edification? let no corrupt communication proceed from thee, what if Jeſus Chriſt ſtood by in his humane nature? ſpeak here as thou muſt ſpeak in Heaven, or would'ſt be ſound ſpeaking at death.
12. When you are alone, oh think, I am now in the preſence of the omni-preſent God, theſe are precious hours that go over my head, why ſhould I ſquander away my time and thoughts about trifles? oh my ſoul, thou haſt a noble faculty of reflection, finde work at home, buſie thy ſelf about thy ſoul, thou may'ſt finde work enough, oh that I might be never leſs alone than when alone: when thou haſt no Creature to converſe with, my ſoul, converſe with God.
13. VVhen you eat, think, oh how officious are the Creatures to us living, and how ſerviceable, being dead? they accompliſh the end of their Creation and appointment; oh my ſoul, ſit thou as Queen-regent over thy ſenſual appetite, take heed of exceſs, put a Knife to the throat of intemperate deſires, be not bruitiſh in a ſinful abuſe, be Saint-like in a ſanctified uſe of the Creature, look up to God for a bleſſing, elſe theſe dead things cannot preſerve life.
14. VVhen you riſe up wel fed, think, if the Creatures be ſo nouriſhing and refreſhing, what is the Creator! oh the ſweetneſs of the bleſſed Feaſt of fat things in the Goſpel? oh the delicacy of the VVine in my Fathers Kingdome? why ſhould I abuſe the gifts, forget the donor, eat and drink, and riſe up to play? many better than I want theſe refreſhments: Oh for a thankful heart! what a bountiful Maſter do I ſerve! what a great houſe-keeper is the Lord? that provides for ſo great a Family in Heaven and Earth!
15. VVhen you go to publick Ordinances, think, oh how glad am I when people ſay, Come let us go up to the Houſe of the Lord! what a mercy is the Sabbath, this ſweet day of reſt? what a bleſſed thing to have the benefit of theſe publick places, and ſolemn Aſſemblies! 'tis a comely ſight to ſee people flock to Ordinances, as Doves to the Windowes: Lord, that ſome Soul may be catcht this day in the Net of the Goſpel: oh for a prepared and profiting heart? this may be the laſt day of grace.
16. VVhen you are to hear a Sermon, think, the Preacher comes as an Embaſſador, from God to me, 'tis God that ſpeaks, the great Jehovah that can command audience and attendance, and with a word can command us into Hel-torments; the truths, oh my ſoul, thou art to hear, are words of eternal life, and do nearly concern thy everlaſting peace: prepare thy ſelf for the receit of them, ſlight them not, for ought thou knoweſt, life or death may depend upon this Sermon: Heaven and Hell is now before thee.
17. VVhen you are to partake of the Lords Supper, think, I am this day to ſup with Chriſt, and have I on my ſoul a Wedding Garment? have I an intereſt in Chriſt the maker and matter of this bleſſed Feaſt? where's thy ſtomack, oh my ſoul? doſt thou rightly diſcern the Lords body? rouſe up thy faith, and love, thy hope and deſire, his fleſh is meat indeed, his blood is drink indeed, his love is better than VVine, Lord fil and fatten my famiſhing ſoul with ſpiritual repaſts.
18. VVhen you depart from publick VVorſhip, think thus, oh my ſoul, thy, work is not done when publick work is over; when that is ended, thou muſt now begin, ruminate upon the VVord, what haſt thou got? VVhat light to thy underſtanding? VVhat conviction to thy wil, what direction unto thy affections? Oh my ſoul look to it, thou art either a ſtep neerer to Heaven or to Hell this night for this day; get good, be good, do good, or all theſe helps wil render thee inexcuſable.
19. VVhen you meet with, or part from your acquaintance, think, if it be ſo ſweet a thing to meet with my dear and ancient friends, how much better is it to meet with God, my beſt beloved, moſt loving friend, God is a friend that's nearer than any brother or neighbour, I meet now with friends, oh that I knew how to improve them, to get good by them; or do good to them, we muſt part once for all, on that we may meet in Heaven at the Reſurrection of the juſt?
20. When you are buſie in your particular callings, think, who ſets me a work? is it not God? whom do I work for? is it not for God? do I ſeek my ſelf, or ſtrive to grow rich? then I am carnal: oh my ſoul, be moderate in the purſuit of the World, let not the cares of the World drown thee: drive on evenly, both thy general and particular calling: let nothing interpoſe betwixt thy God and thee, or hinder thee in ſpiritual worſhip, abide with God in thy calling.
21. When you reflect upon the nature of your callings, gather ſomething in your Meditations there-from; as thus, am I Magiſtrate? I judge not for Man but for God, who wil judge the unrighteous Judge, and now ſits among the Gods: am I a Miniſter? the charge of ſouls is upon me, that crie out we are periſhing, ſtudy, travel, pray for us: oh what account ſhal I give? if I be a Merchant, Tradeſ-man, Husband-man, Weaver, Lawyer, Souldier, Schollar, oh the ſpiritual improvement I may make of all theſe?
22. VVhen you conſider your relation, think, am I am husband? I muſt dwel with my VVife, as a Man of knowledge: am I a Wife? I muſt be an help to my Husband in all things: am I a Parent? I muſt not provoke, but profit my Childe, and train it up for God: am I a Childe? I muſt yield all reverence and obedience to my Parents, as unto God, in whoſe ſtead they are; am I a Maſter or Superiour? my Maſter in Heaven, ſees how I carry and reſpects no perſons; am I a Servant? oh for a ſubmiſſive ſpirit.
23. When you hear any news, good or bad, oh what bleſſed tidings is the Goſpel? good news from Heaven, glory to God in the higheſt, on Earth peace, good wil towards Men, the beſt meſſage that ever Angel brought, or Man received: Let God ſay, I am thy ſalvation, I am fortified againſt bad news, the righteous is not afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, truſting in God: let Chriſt be advanced, Anti-chriſt deſtroyed, and I am ſatisfied.
24. When you ſee or hear of any Prodigies, think, who knoweth the power of Gods anger? oh the dreadful Majeſty of the Lord of Hoſts, who made the Sea and dry Land, who commands all the Elements, and works his wonders in the Fire, Water, Earth, and Aire; they that dwel in the uttermoſt parts of the Earth are afraid at his tokens, Lord, what mean theſe things? what wilt thou do with us? our ſins cry for vengeance, prevent it, or hide thy Saints til thy wrath be paſt.
25. When you hear or ſee the ſinful acts of Men, think, oh, what are the beſt of us by nature? who makes me to differ? free grace ſtops my courſe, elſe I had been reeling with the Drunkard, blaſpheming with the ſwearer, revelling with the wanton, Lord, let me not bleſs my ſelf in morality, but arive at ſincerity, never leave me to wayes of mine own heart: ah, how is God diſhonoured? what long-ſuffering doth he exerciſe? but juſtice wil awake.
26. VVhen your own corruptions break out, think, oh the vileneſs of this naughtie heart, oh wretched Creature that I am, Who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? little did I think to have been thus beguiled, and ſurprized, God is juſt, and I am vile, I grow ſecure, and God hath left me, oh how might he have taken me in the act of ſin and caſt me headlong into Hell! my ſoul, defer not to humble thy ſelf, and make thy peace with God.
27. VVhen any ſad croſſes befal you in body, eſtate, name, relations, think, oh, what ſin is it that God now whips me for? Lord, bore mine eares, to hear the voice of the rod, bow my heart in obedience to thy wil; oh that inſtruction might come along with correction, my ſoul, ſearch thy heart and wayes, this hand of God is either a token of Gods love, or the beginnings of his wrath: oh that I may ſee a Fathers heart, and feel a Fathers hand, and attain my Fathers end therein.
28. VVhen you are delivered out of apparent danger of death by ſickneſs or ſad accidents, conſider, oh my ſoul, what if thou hadſt now been ſnatcht away, and thy bodie left a ſtinking Carcaſs! where hadſt thou been? waſt thou readie for glorie? what aſſurance hadſt thou of a better ſtate? didſt thou not then wiſh thy ſoul had been in a better poſture: mend the matter now, give God the glorie of thy deliverance, ſerve him better, be more prepared againſt another time.
29. VVhen night approacheth Candles are brought in, and the bright Skie is ful of Stars, think there's one day more of my life n…w paſt and gone, I am thus far nearer Eternity; Lord, ſet up the Candle of thy Grace in my ſoul in this night of darkneſs, errour and terrour, ſhew me the light of Life, let the bleſſed Day ſtar ariſe in my heart, Oh when ſhal my ſoul be tranſlated above yonder twinkling Stars, to ſhine as a Star in the Firmament of glory.
30. VVhen you put off your Cloaths, and go to bed, think thus, even thus, muſt thou my ſoul, put off thy body at death, thou muſt be uncloathed, that thou maiſt be cloathed upon with a Houſe from Heaven; O my ſoul, be daily undreſſing thee of the body of ſin, and lay thy ſelf in the Grave of Chriſt, be buried with him in ſpiritual Baptiſm, give up thy ſelf into his hands, and lay thy ſelf to ſleep as thou wouldeſt be found at Death, or be raiſed at the great day of Reſurrection.
Theſe, and ſuch like Occurrences muſt put you in mind of ſuch meditations, and thus may your thoughts both have, and be a bleſſed Treaſure.
I ſhal now conclude all with a few conſiderations to move us all, thus to employ our thoughts upon profitable Subjects:
1. Conſider the ſtrictneſs of Gods Command, Joſh. 1.8. Thou ſhalt meditate therein, (i.e. in the Book of the Law) day and night, Col. 3.1. Set your affections on things above: how dare you neglect a poſitive Dutie: the ſame God that commands thee to pray and believe, forbids thee to ſteal, murder, doth enjoin thee to meditate: it's not a thing indifferent.
2. Remember Gods Omniſcience and Omni-preſence, when David had du…y conſidered that God did ſearch and know him, ſitting down, riſing up, underſtand his thoughts afar off, and was acquainted with all his wayes, &c. He tels God that his thoughts were precious, Pſalm 139.17. and verſ. 18. When I awake I am still with thee: Let Gods Omni-preſence produce in you the like meditations:
3. The Saints of God have thus employed their thoughts, and the better the Saints, the more holy have been their thoughts: Iſaac went into the fields to meditate, Gen. 24.63.Pſal. 119.15, 23, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148. David meditated in the Night-watches, Pſalm 63.6. on the Word, on the works of God, Pſalm 143.5. Oh be not unlike the Saints, reſemble your Brethren, follow them to Heaven.
4. This is a true Character of a Childe of God,Mat. 6.21. all Saints are deſcribed to be ſuch as have thought upon his Name, Mal. 3.17. for indeed they that are of the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit, Rom. 8.5. Holie thoughts are proper fruits of a ſanctified mind: none ſees the thoughts but God, a good heart approves it ſelf to the ſearcher of hearts.
5. Holy thoughts help againſt Satans temptations: theſe are as cool water to quench Satans fiery Darts: theſe are a precious Antidote againſt the poyſonous allurements of the world; for theſe finde the ſoul ſomething elſe to do than to mind toys, the beſt way to ſilence ſcolding Women,Non vacat exiguis rebus addeſſe mihi. and barking dogs, is to mind our work and way, and let them alone; will a Judge go off the Bench to play with boys? Give them Nehemiah's anſwer, Chap. 6.3.
6. This exerciſe of the thoughts wil help againſt corruptions,See Pſalm 119.11. thereby you'l ſee more of the evil of ſin, and in vain is the Net ſpread before any Bird, Prov. 1.17. and it lifts the ſoul Heaven-wards, a Bird in the the ayr is not taken by a Net on the ground: yea, when the heart is taken up with divine Dainties, it cannot relliſh the husks of ſin: the childe will not part with the apple, while the taſte of it is in his mouth.
7. This is the higheſt excellency and improvement of our Spirits: it is the nobleſt employment of the ſoul, and advancement of its faculties: the ſoul is of an high birth, its a debaſing of it to mind low things: the Saints are of an high and generous extract by their ſecond birth, muſt and wil mind the things of Heaven, in all things beſides excelling others, in this excelling themſelves, as 'tis ſaid of Bucholzer.
8. This is the beſt way for the exerciſe and encreaſe of grace; gifts are promoted by verbal, but grace by mental diſcourſes: If the thoughts feed on Chriſt, the ſoul becomes comes ſpiritual, like its food; the Ayr, Food and Climate hath great influence upon bodies, converſing with wiſe and Learned Men makes perſons ſuch, Exerciſe encreaſeth Habits, h…ly thoughts encreaſe Faith, Love, Joy, ſorrow for ſin, &c.
9. Holy thoughts excite heavenly affections; While I was muſing the … burned, Pſalm 39.3. Thoughts are the bellows of the ſoul, and ſtir up ſuitable motions in the heart: VVould a Chriſtian have an humble, tender, melting heart? let his thoughts bee acted upon the Law and love of God, or on ſuch ſubjects as are proper to beget ſuch affections, and try what impreſſion they wil make.
10. Holy thoughts are a good preparative to holy duties, and help in performances,Pſa. 19.14. Pſal. 49.3. Divid joins prayer and meditation together, Pſalm 5.1, Give ear to my words, conſider my meditation: when the heart is meditating a good matter, the tongue is as the Pen of a ready Writer, Pſalm 45.1. Meditation fixeth the heart, and tun…th the Inſtrument for Prayer, Hearing, Reading: oh how it compoſeth the Spirit!
11. Yea, holy thoughts are a great piece of a Chriſtians devotion, and ſuch a part of it, when publick Ordinances are obſtructed, private Societies interrupted, yet the holy ſoul may ſally out to its God, upon the wings of holy thoughts, in the preſence of the moſt ſpiteful adverſaries, thoughts are free from men, no bolts can hinder this acceſs to God.
12. This is an excellent part of Time-redemption, when we are walking or riding by the way, working in our Callings, ſhut up in priſon, deprived of Pen, Ink and Paper, ſtil our thoughts may be buſie, we may have good thoughts where-ever we are, though we can do nothing elſe, yet we may think of God and good Subjects: and that's the way to obey that excellent Precept, To redeem our time.
13. This exerciſe of the thoughts is indeed a Chriſtians walking with God, as Enoch and Noah are ſaid to do: 'tis the way to have our converſations in Heaven: 'tis a Communion with God; a walking in Paradiſe, an enjoying of God; 'tis indeed an Angelical Life, the life of Heaven, an anticipation of Glory, and a taking poſſeſſion of Heaven in our thoughts: Oh bleſſed Frame!
14. This helps the Chriſtian in ſad preſſures, Soul confl…cts, good thoughts counter-work bad. David could out-argue his diſ-quieting thoughts, Pſalm 42.5. ſo may the Chriſtian; Thoughts fed and furniſhed from the Word, wil encounter and conquer the ſaddeſt trials, Pſalm 119 92. Ʋnleſſe thy Law had been my delights, I ſhould have periſhed in mine affliction; Theſe Thoughts are an Antid…te that keep ſufferings from the vital ſpirits.
15. Holy thoughts help the Chriſtian to rivet and retain divine Truths in the Memorie, ruminating on Truths, turns them into blood and Spirits, juice and nouriſhment: our heads and hearts are like riven Veſſels, all runs out, unleſs the Veſſels be wel ſoaked by heavenly Meditation. Oh, what a tenacious memory, large underſtanding, and vaſt abilities have ſome attained to by this means?
16. Holy thoughts prepare the tongue for profitable diſcourſe, and render Chriſtians uſeful: He that hath his thoughts beſt employed when alone, wil have his tongue beſt exerciſed in Company: if you converſe with ſuch a one in your Houſes, in Trading, on a Journey, upon any occaſion, ſtil his thoughts wil prompt his tongue to profitable conference; and oh the good that ſuch a One may do!
17. Holy thoughts anſwer Gods thoughts, I know the thoughts, ſaith God, that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil,—Jer. 29.11. and can we approve our heart to God, that he knows the thoughts we have towards him, not evil, but good thoughts, how acceptable wil it be to God? On the contrary, what groſſe ingratitude wil it bee if our thoughts be not Godwards?
18. Divine things are only worth thinking of; other matters are not worth a glance of our eye, or a thought of our mind, what ever relates not to the ſoul and to Eternity is not worth minding; Wee look not, ſaith the Apoſtle, at things that are ſeen, but at things which are not ſeen, 2 Cor. 4.18. Theſe latter are things of great moment, and neareſt concernment to our immortal ſouls.
19. Thinking upon theſe heavenly Subjects helps the ſoul to the end of its Creation and Redemption, the ſupream and ultimate end is Gods glory, the ſubordinate End, (yet involved in the former) the ſouls ſalvation; the God of Heaven takes himſelf to be highly honoured by the heavenly-minded Chriſtian, this is a ſanctifying, (and ſo a glorifying) God in our thoughts or hearts, 1 Pet. 3.15.
20. Laſtly, This is an actual preparing the ſoul for Heaven, the heart is there already, and this is a part of making meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1.12. Bleſſed is the ſoul, whom its Lord, when he comes ſhall find thus thinking and wel-doing: Oh the bleſſed change they ſhal make! They may ſay, as ſweet Dr. Sibs, Going to dye, I ſhall change my place, but not my Company; and when the poor ſoul arrives at Glory, the thoughts ſhall be fixed, grace compleated, and the ſoul raviſhed with thoſe everlaſting Embraces.
I have been the ſhorter in hinting onelyonly theſe Motives, becauſe Mr. Baxter hath fully driven this Nail to the head in ſuch like Arguments to Heavenly-mindedneſs in his Book of Saints Reſt, part. 4. page 51. to page 96. Read them ſeriouſly.
I have done with this Subject alſo. Oh▪ that God would undertake to write all theſe things with Power upon the tables of your Hearts, and elevate your thoughts to Heavenly Subjects, and bring ſuitable things to your minds to meditate upon, and work them upon your ſouls, and keep alive thoſe impreſſions upon your hearts, that you may not loſe the divine Savour of the things of God, after your working and awakening Meditations, but pray with holy David, in 1 Chron. 29.18. O Lord God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iſrael our Fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.
I ſhall conclude all with a Poem of divine Herbert's in his Temple, called, The Temper.
How ſhould I praiſe thee Lord, how ſhould my Rhymes
Gladly ingrave thy loves in ſteel,
If what my ſoul doth feel ſometimes
My ſoul might ever feel!
Although there were ſome f…rty Heavens, or more,
Sometimes I peer above them all,
Sometimes, I hardly reach a ſcore
Sometimes to Hell I fall.
O rack me not to ſuch a vaſt extent,
Thoſe diſtances belong to thee,
The World's too little for thy Tent,
A Grave too big for me.
Wilt thou mete Armes with Man, that thou doſt ſtretch,
A crumb of dust from Heaven to Hell?
Will great God meaſure with a wretch?
Shall be thy ſtature ſpell?
O let me, when thy roof my ſoul hath hid,
O let me rooſt and neſtle there,
Then of a ſinner thou are rid,
And I of hope and fear.
Yet take thy way for ſure thy way is beſt,
Stretch or contract me, thy poor debter,
This is but tuning of my breſt,
To make the Muſick better.
Whether I flie with Angels, fall with duſt,
Thy hands made both, and I am there,
Thy power and love, my love and truſt,
Make one place every where.
FINIS.