Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Meditation reſpecting our ſelves.
2. AS there ſhould be ſuch aims relating to the great God, ſo Meditation muſt have its advantageous aims reſpecting our ſelves.
1. The Grand Scope and End of our own happineſs.
2. All other Subſervient and Excellent Ends.
1. The grand End of our own happineſs, and working out our own ſalvation, is the next ſpiritual end, that Meditation as a mighty Engine ſhould ſet on going to effect. It ſhould be ſure to be ordered up, and duly aimed at, acted according to the aptitude and fitneſs of any way in it, to further this important end: Muſing and right Meditation hath a moſt rare tendency and helpfullneſs, as to the working out ſalvation. As it is a ſanctified means on Gods part: ſo it muſt be an earneſtly employed help on our part: We muſt Meditate ever ſo that it may help on ſalvation; we muſt mean it and level it ſure, not any way deceive our ſelves, but take the beſt and ſureſt aim. Salvation challenges the beſt eying, the fulleſt, ſteadieſt, ſtrongeſt aiming of every way and help. Soul happineſs muſt not have ſlender aims, we cannot have aimings too ſerious and intenſe.
Let my aimings here have the keeneſt edge of ſeriouſneſs, be elevated the higheſt, made the firmeſt and the moſt extenſive: Let them take in univerſally, whatſoever may moſt inſtigate to, and quicken in this high operation, proportionate it to this working out ſalvation, the ſo great Goſpel Salvation.
Thus did the prodigal (who repreſents the Returning ſinner) when ſenſible firſt of his unſpeakable miſery; and thence apprehenſive of the great obtainable Felicity, the ſo glorious Goſpel ſalvation; never did he ſo act any thinking, made ſuch warm work of it as now. In like manner the Jaylor, Acts 16. having ſuch a dreadful awakening from ſenſe of a loſt condition: O what a pondering of Salvation was that, from a heart ſo warm'd and edg'd? when Extremity of Miſery hath the deepeſt ſenſe, Meditation of Salvation and Recovery hath the higheſt ſeriouſneſs What can have ſuch a thinking, as when one thinks for life, and that eternal? Let Meditation take in 1. Thoſe Conſiderations that are moſt awakening, that unſpeakable miſery comes upon us by ſins ſo innumerable: As contracting on the perſon ſuch horrid guilt, and conveying into the heart ſuch helliſh filth. Every ſin with the aggravations contracting a debt to Divine Juſtice, and that entered into God debt Book, which we never can pay or get pai… without a ſurety, but muſt bring deſtruction in Eternal fire.
3. Then weigh the great uncertainty of life, and how certain death caſts every one upon an Eternal ſtate unavoidably, upon inconceivable Eternity.
4. Then muſt be weighed the Mighty Enemies and multitudes of hinderances lying in the way of eſcaping.
2. Next come the Conſiderations that are the moſt highly encouraging to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, ſuch as the Scriptures fullneſs ſupplies. O how great and prevalent are thoſe in the Goſpel, to wiſe and warm us, to ſtrengthen and heighten Meditation. As Eternal life, which in the believing heart is already begun, with ſure promiſe of carrying it on to perfection, by our yet co-working with the holy Spirit of Chriſt, working in all his, which we muſt do continually: Phil. 2.12. Work out your own ſalvation, &c. What may I ſay of conjunction with God, by union with Chriſt, by Faith of Communion with Chriſt, in juſtification and pardon of ſin, a moſt glorious righteouſneſs, reconciliation, adoption, with a ſure title to Heaven, and the glorious graces of Chriſt, his image, holineſs, wiſdom, life, power, peace paſſing underſtanding, joy unſpeakable, with eſtabliſhment, growth in grace, victory over all Enemies.
Ah what wiſhly lookings ſhould we exerciſe daily at this ſo great ſalvation, and the tranſcendencies and perfections of it; and at laſt ſuch an outlet of all evils, ſuch an inlet of all good, ſuch a Crown of Glory, with all the inconceivable Excellencies of it, and the perfect fruition and viſion of God for ever.
I have been longer on this than was my purpoſe, yet ſhall crave leave for one thing more, and that which is (after all momentous couſiderations beſides) the greateſt, of ſtrongeſt influence and efficacy, that is the vaſtneſs, inconceivable vaſtneſs of Eternity: Not Eternity meerly in the abſtract, only conſidered in it ſelf, but in reference to miſery or felicity. I ſay, to all other inducements adde Eternity; hang on this great weight of Eternity of Miſery and Felicity. Endeavour with thy utmoſt Art and Induſtry, by all reſemblances, to have che livelieſt and moſt operative repreſentations of it.
Breathe thy ſoul often by healthful exerciſe here, breathe thy ſoul frequently up this Hill of Eternity. whatſoever thou meditateſt on, let ſtill this be one Object, entertained in thy ſerious thoughts, this vaſt Eternity: Let this have its due time.
2. Holy Meditation hath, beſides the former, ſeveral other excellent ends to be aimed at and improved to. As Artificers do with their Gold, beat it out ſometimes to its utmoſt ductility and extenſiveneſs: Improve this Gold of precious heavenly Objects, beat them out to the utmoſt by this Hammer, this art of Divine Meditation.
The Art of Medtiation will, like Solomons Temple overlaid with Gold, overlay thy heart with Chriſts pure Gold, and make it rich and glorious.
Ah therefore Chriſtian, act up thy Meditation to theſe precious ends, and chiefly lay a mighty ſtreſs upon that ſo momentous thing, Eternity of Son. Miſery or Felicity.
So I have at laſt diſpatcht theſe firſt things.