Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 6 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VI. Meditation of the Holy Spirit, the Applier of Chriſt and his Redemption.
2. SOme due proportion of Thoughts-ſeriouſneſs is proper to be daily acted, in reference to the mighty, and only applyer of the work of Chriſts Redemption, the holy Spirit, and our great daily helper. The Holy Spirit firſt comes to the Soul and perſon of a Chriſtian, applies Chriſt to him, brings Chriſt into him, makes him his Temple, and an Habitation of God and Chriſt to dwell in the heart: The Spirit comes, inhabits, ſweeps and cleanſes; furniſhes the heart with light, that was darkneſs; with truth, that was errour and deceitfulneſs; with power, that was weakneſs; life-warmth and qualifications of heavenly Graces, that was cold, dead, and altogether ſinful, and draws the glorious image of Chriſt upon the Soul: He enlivens, eſtabliſhes, enlarges, and encourages, and fills the Spirit with peace and joy unſpeakable. We act from his blowings on the Gardens of our hearts, then the ſpices of Graces flow. Cant. 4.16.
The Wheels, Ezek. 10.17. moved from the ſpirit in them; ſo a Chriſtian moves or not, as the Spirit moves or not. Every day, and for every Duty in the day, there is need of a new blowing of the Spirit, that the Spices may flow: new moving, that the Wheels may move us.
We muſt neither grieve, quench, or reſiſt the Holy Spirit, Eph. 4.30. 1 Theſ. 5.19. Act. 7.51. The Spirit who is our Helper and Applyer farther of Chriſt, and receiving of his fulneſs.
If we will act wiſely, the Eye of the Soul by Meditation muſt daily be pondering the neceſſity of the Holy Spirits Influences, ſtirrings up, ſtrengthenings, and enlargements: when we neglect and ſlight the Spirit, and ſo want juſtly his help, we muſt needs drive on heavily: But when we mind him and have his aſſiſtance, this wings the Soul and makes it to move ſtrongly and nimbly to the main mark.
If the Queſtion were askt, what were the higheſt thoughts the mind can poſſibly think, they would be ſuch as theſe three following.
1. That thought of the ſo infinite and all admired love of God the Father, in giving freely his Son for Sinners.
2. That thought of that infinite and all amazing love of God the Son, in giving ſo freely himſelf for his Fathers Enemies.
3. That thought of God the Holy Spirit's infinite love, aſtoniſhing love, in ſo freely giving himſelf into ſuch dunghill helliſh hearts, to make them his glorious Habitation, his Palace and Solace, to be the mighty heart-helper and Comforter. This Spirit then muſt not be grieved by the leaſt neglect, but highly and conſtantly both honoured and cheriſhed, with our utmoſt thought-preciouſneſs and earneſtneſs, that ſo thinkings may work up to livelieſt lookings for him, lookings to liſtenings for his knockings at the door of our Hearts, liſtenings for ready lettings of him in; and being let in we may give him the higheſt and freeſt Entertainments, with yieldings of the fulleſt obedience unto him.
It is reported, that formerly, ſometimes Travellers Sailing by the Coaſts of Arabia the happy, have had by the Winds blowing off the Land, ſuch rare rich ſmells, and perfumes of the precious ſpices, that (without the Experience of it) it is hardly credible. Sometimes the Holy Spirit ſo blows on the Garden of a Chriſtians heart, that the Spices in ſuch ſort perfume it, with Raviſhments of Peace and Joy, that are inexpreſſible, and then it runs apace to the main mark.
Ah then it muſt be beſt to enter on the work of the day, by an early and earneſt eying of this glorious Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is ſooner ready to lend us his helping hand, then we are ready for it.
CHAP. VII. Of the next particulars, the incumbent Duties of the day.
3. THE Ordinances of Chriſt are the next general things Meditation may fix on: The Ordinances are our ways of communion with God, the ways whereby God conveighs himſelf to us, the King of Heavens high-ways of ſpiritual Commerce and Trade. The Roads and Paths wherein the Holy Spirit walks, and comes to apply himſelf to us; and our ways in which we are to go forth and meet him, apply our ſelves to him, fix an heavenly intercourſe and acquaintance with him.
The Winds blow from all the Quarters of Heaven, and the Holy Spirit breaths and blows from all his heavenly Ordinances: We may therein look for the breathings of the Spirit, but we muſt not look for the Holy Spirit out of his own ways.
The Prerogative of the Spirit is, not to be abſolutely tied to Ordinances; but our liberty, is not to be looſed from them: We are tied to the ways of Chriſt, which are our warrantable ways for communion, and waiting his Spirits comings and aſſiſtings.
The Eye of Meditation ſhould act daily in ſuch freſh and vigorous lookings on the Ordinances, as may more highly commeid them, raiſe their price, repreſent them more lovely, reduce us to more evenneſs in performance, by finding them more eaſie and ſweet in continued uſe, and exerciſing our ſelves in them; and induce ſtill higher admirations, by experiencing their help and efficacies. The Ordinances of Chriſt have their high ratification in the Holy Scriptures for their power and efficacy. The Saints in all Ages, have given their great confirmation, ſet their probatum eſt to every of them, by millions of encouraging experiences.
When that Ordinances are more precious, they are the more efficacious: O let our Meditations daily ſcope be, to make them more precious, that they may prove more efficacious.
Like that eminent pattern, that great Meditater David; that high progreſs he made in Meditating of the ways of God, ſet the Price higher, made his heart warmer.
He Meditated and he valued more, admired more, and he acted more eminently, and arrived at laſt at that pitch, which hath left him on Record in the higheſt rank of Saints that ever lived. The Ordinances therefore are moſt worthy our daily muſing on, as for their own excellency, as the King of Heavens high Inſtitutions; ſo, as the Holy Spirits walks, wherein he comes to meet us, and have communion with us, and apply Chriſt more unto us.
CHAP. VIII. Of Meditation on the Word of God, and the Promiſes, whereby the Spirit firſt is given, and after works.
THE Word of God is that ſure wiſdom revealed unto us by God, to lead us by his Counſel to Glory: That only infallible Rule given us to walk by: It is the Golden Scepter of Chriſt, for the Subjects of his Kingdom to come and touch the top of: The dear purchaſe of Jeſus Chriſt for the only Rule of his Redeemed; the breathing and dictate of the Holy Spirit; the high product, and that cleareſt ſhining forth of the brighteſt beams of Infinite Wiſdom, Truth, Holineſs, Righteouſneſs, Mercy, Free-Grace, Love, Power, and all Glories and Perfections of the Author, for the bleſſed Ends it is beſtowed.
It is the excellent Inſtrument in the hand of the Spirit, whereby he effects his great Soul-ſaving work; whereby he brings about that work of wonder, the applying of loſt ſinners to an All-ſufficient Saviour firſt, by effectual calling, and then applies Chriſt more and more, building them up more in him unto perfection. If I look for the Spirits operation, I muſt look for, and apply my ſelf to the help of that rare Tool and Inſtrument he operates by. Think what an Engine it is, what moſt admired glorious work he hath effected by it; upon millions of blind Eyes, hard Hearts, Perſons impotent, Crippled in their Souls, Dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, at the dreadful diſtance from God, of Haters and Enemies of him, and all things leading to him; enlightening them, healing them, and reconciling them to himſelf, and his Word and Ways.