The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 45
CHAP. LXV.
IT hath ever beene the practice of godly and good men,Gen 5.22 Gen. 6.9. Gen. 17.1. Gen. 24.63. His meditation to exerciſe themſelves unto godlineſſe by holy and heavenly meditation. So did Enoch and Noah, Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, David and Hezekiah, Paul, and many others, ever walke with God, keepe their hearts in Gods preſence, ſeeke his face and the light of his countenance, ſtudy his word, and conſider his workes. And ſo did this Gentleman ſet his head and heart a worke every day more or leſſe, by ſerious Meditation, to draw nearer unto God, ſo to grow in knowledge, and in grace, and to increaſe in ſpirituall ſtrength; the better to encounter all ſad, and ſharpe occurrents which either in doing, or in ſuffering the will of God, he might meet withall.
This hee knew, was the ſpeciall meanes preſcribed by God himſelfe unto Joſhua, Joſh. 1.78 The neceſſity and excellency of M…ditation.that hee might make his way proſperous, and have good ſucceſſe, namely to meditate in the word of God day and night, and not to turne aſide from it, neither to the right hand nor to the left.
This hee knew was the mark and character of a bleſſed man,Pſal. 1.2 Da mihi magistrum. Gen. 24.63. to delight in the law of the Lord, an in that law to meditate day and night.
And therefore for the better practice of this holy duty, he did uſually carry about him ſome part of the Bible,Means and helpes which hee uſed. or his Sermon Note booke, if he went abroad into the field to meditate, as Iſaac did in the evening, or were upon a journey, as the Eunuch was, when he was reading and meditating in his chariot, on the prophecy of Iſaiah, concerning Chriſt Jeſus. Acts 8.28.Or if he were within doores, he gave himſelfe much to the reading of the Word, and to make collections of promiſes,Reading of the word. precepts, comforts, prohibitions, mercies, judgements, marks of Gods children, brands of wicked men, and many other good things, as he found them in the way. And theſe he made the matter, or ground of his meditation, and the means to inlarge himſelf in this exerciſe.
And of godly mens writings. His Cammon-place book.To which end alſo he did very diligently reade, and peruſe the workes of divers learned, and godly men, and drew unto certaine heads and Common-places, what he thought moſt worthy obſervation, and of beſt uſe in them. Amongſt the reſt hee was much delighted, and refreſhed, with D. Hals Contemplations and Meditations, M. Greenhams workes, M. Rogers his Seven Treatiſes, which for his better helpe and greater comfort, he had abridged, and drawn into an Epitome, almoſt all, untill he was informed that another godly man, a worthy Divine had already done it to his hand.M. Baine. His following of the rules of direction.
Afterwards, when M. Egertons practice of Chriſtianity (containing the ſumme and ſubſtance of that booke) came forth, he addreſſed himſelf to make his beſt uſe of that part of it, touching the art, and exerciſe of this divine Meditation, wherein he profitted ſo well, that he was very able, according to thoſe places and rules of direction, to enlarge his meditations upon any ſubject, that did uſually fall within his reach and compaſſe. So that now hee might ſay after a ſort with holy David, Pſal. 119.97.54.O how love I thy law, O Lord! It is my meditation all the day. I have made thy ſtatutes my ſong and my meditation, in the dayes of my pilgrimage. The gaine of godlines. 1 Tim. 6.6.The gain which he got by this exerciſe of holy meditation was an increaſe of godlines, and godlineſſe, we know, is great gaine, having all ſufficiency in it ſelf for true comfort, and contentment. The fruits which he reaped of this his planting,Many benefits and fruits of it. and watering were very gracious and precious.
As 1. the killing or quelling of many noyſome luſts,1 Killing of luſts. which like caterpillars, or cancker-worms are wont to breed in the beſt trees.
2. The diſlodging and driving out many unſavoury and worldly cares and thought,2 Driving out evill thoughts. which bring nothing but vanity and vexation of ſpirit with them.
3. This bred in him a godly watchfulnes over his words,3. Watchfulneſſe. and works, heart, and life.
4. It wrought in him a gracious aptneſſe,4. Aptneſſe to good duties. and chearefulneſſe unto all good duties, wherin he might be either ſerviceable unto God, or profitable unto men.
5. It miniſtered unto him counſell and ſtrength for the ſpirituall war,5 Counſel & ſtrength that he might ſtand faſt in the evill day, againſt all his, and Gods enemies.
6. It brought him to a heaven upon earth,6 Converſation in heaven. teaching him ſo to have his converſation in heaven, that he might go about earthly affaires with a heavenly mind, as he ſaw hee had calling thereunto.
7. It kept his heart in poſſeſſion of his integrity and ſincerity,7 Poſſeſing of his integrity. ever calling upon him to keep faith and a good conſcience alwayes, and in all things.
8. It wrought his ſoul to a gracious tendernes, lowlines, and meeknes,8 Senſibleneſſe of ſins and ſorrowes. to be very ſenſible of other mens ſins, and ſorrows, as wel as of his own.
9. It was unto him as a ſweet perfume compoſed of many delicate and coſtly ſpices,9 A perfume to all his actions. which made all his thoughts, words, and works, more ſweet and ſavoury, ſo that where ever he came, he left no ill ſent, but a ſweet ſavour of his graces, and vertues behind him.
10. And laſtly,10 A preſervative againſt ſecret and open ſins. this exerciſe of meditation, was unto him a ſoveraign preſervative, not only againſt ſecret and open, leſſer and groſſer ſins, but againſt all the inticements and allurements, of the pleaſures and profits, honors, and favors of this preſent evil world, ſo that he was neither intangled in them, nor inveagled by them.
O how great is the difference betwixt this Gent,Great difference. and many others of his rancke, and of greater and meaner eſtate alſo I which profeſſing themſelves to be Chriſtians,Many enemies to it Pſal. 2.1.2. Pſal. 36.4. Zac 8.17. Ge. 27.41. 1 Sam. 18.1.23.25. 2 Sam. 17.23. 2 Sam. 16.3. Pſ. 52.1, 2 Ioh. 13.2. Acts 5.1, 2, 3. Many of the better ſort fail in it. are yet either enemies, or ſtrangers to this Chriſtian duty required at their hands.
Some there be ſo empty of grace and goodneſſe, and ſo full of malice, luſt, pride, covetouſnes, and voluptuouſnes, that they cannot fix their minds nor ſettle their hearts upon any good thing, to any good end: but if they meditate, it is but upon vaine or vile things, deviſing miſchief upon their beds, and imagiving evill in their hearts againſt their brethren. Such were Eſau, Saul, Achitophel, Ziba, Doeg, Indas Ananias and Saphira, all of which had their muſings, and meditations their ſeverall imaginations and conſultations, but never a good man, nor any good matter of meditation amongſt them all.
Some other there are of better minds and hearts, who yet for want of good acquaintance with this holy and heavenly exerciſe of meditation, for the nature and manner, helps and meanes, end and uſe of it, have little experience of the benefit which comes by it, and ſo deprive themſelvs of many ſweet comforts, and refreſhings; which otherwiſe they migh enjoy by the practiſe of it.
Who is wiſe, and he ſhall underſtand theſe things,Hoſ. 14 9. prudent and he ſhall know them, for the wayes of the Lord are right, and the juſt ſhall walke in them, but the tranſgreſſors ſhall fall therein.
Thus much of his firſt dayly duty, namely his holy and religious Meditation.