Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of the next thing Meditation may beſt take in, which is that on my part I am to perform.
5. IF I would perform in the Day what is incumbent on me to be rightly done, I muſt Meditate of the way where the Holy Spirit may meet and help me; Meditate I muſt of my neceſſary putting my hand to the work of Chriſt, and bearing his burden, and the need I have of the Spirits lending his hand to help me, who helps our infirmities: I muſt eye the Rule of the Word, by which the Spirit teaches me, and the precious promiſes whereby he encourages me.
And in that all my converſation in the Day muſt be holy and heavenly, comfortable and fruitful, I muſt meditate of ſtirring up the grace given me, to act by the help of the Spirit, upon Chriſt, and to him, for working out my own ſalvation, and the glorifying of God thereby.
This muſt be (if I conſider) the living the life of Faith more peculiarly, and exerciſing of, likewiſe; every Holy Grace the work of the day requires: Therefore next, my Meditation may be upon the Graces, that in the Duties of the day, are to be exerciſed for to be improved.
Without the exerciſing of theſe Graces all the converſation is carnal, not ſpiritual, all Duties are but dead carcaſses, and loathſom to God. I muſt think how my daily courſe muſt be a living to the living God; a living peculiarly to him, that dyed for me, and roſe again; and a living to the bleſſed Spirit, that dwells and works in me, and is my mighty helper.
Likewiſe, I muſt conſider, it muſt be a living very exemplarily, towards all men, eſpecially the godly, that my light may ſhine before them, to provoke and profit them all I can.
1. Particularly, I muſt Meditate of living the life of precious and glorious Faith, the Grace of Graces; Faith as to the whole word of God, all the precepts, promiſes, threats, and Recorded Examples; acting more peculiarly Faith in the promiſes, and by the promiſes on Jeſus Chriſt, acting more on his All-ſufficiency to ſave, and for receiving freſh ſtrength and ſupplies for the Duties and Occaſions of the day enſuing. Likewiſe through Chriſt I ſhould think of my acceſs to the Father, of truſting to Gods All-ſufficiency, his Wiſdom, Truth, Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Goodneſs, Mercy, Love, Free Grace, and all his infinite perfections; with his providence, preſerving and governing all things, to the leaſt; and toward my own ſelf in particular, in a moſt excellent, wiſe, holy, and righteous manner, to the ſalvation of his people, deſtruction of his Enemies, and his own Glory.
2. I may Meditate (at leaſt ſometimes) of the other ſoul-beauties, of heavenly Graces; as of that grand rare grace of Love, holy Love; that which is the fullfilling of the Law, the great Breeder and Feeder of all Obedience.
Love; which daily as a Fire muſt be blown up, and made to burn afreſh in the heart, and enliven the daily courſe: Ah what a Chriſtian may do, by keeping his heart hot and burning in Love!
3. Joy. Meditating of living the life of heavenly peace and joy, rejoycing in the Lord alway: Not living the life of ſadneſs and penſiveneſs, moſt unbecoming an Heir of Eternal Glory.
4. Hope. Meditate alſo I may of heavenly Hope, which makes not aſhamed, Rom. 5.5. Heb. 6.19. An Anchor ſure and firm to ride out all ſtorms: And of all the Graces, as of holy Fear, Humility, Meekneſs, Patience, Contentedneſs, Zeal, Courage, Conſtancy, all the Chain of Graces, mentioned in 2 Pet. 1.5. and other places.
The whole days actings ſhould be conſidered ſo, as not to be a complication of vanities, follies, and careleſs walkings, but a ſhewing forth, and ſhining in the glorious beams of heavenly Graces and Excellencies.
5. Meditate daily I ſhould of the ſpiritual dangers I am ſurrounded with by ſpiritual Enemies: That principal and Arch-Enemy the Fleſh, that ſin which is connatural to me, dwells in me, Rom. 7. and ſo eaſily beſets me, Heb. 12.1. that is alway preſent and too prevalent; the Fountain and Forge of all other ſins; the Heart Touch-wood and Tinder for temptation: The ground out of which all the ſtinking and poyſonous weeds of Luſt grow up; and that ground and foundation of the deepeſt tincture and grain Colour of all ſoul-defiling Habits, and cuſtomary ſins, that ſo enſlave and lead a ſinner captive.
2. Of that ſo potent Adverſary Satan, his ſubtlety and depths, vigilancy, and unwearied diligence, whetted by implacable and improving malice. 1 Pet. 5.8.
3. The World, that Bait for Satans Hook, and great Engine whereby he acts, by the many ſweet Allurements on the one hand, and Determents on the other hand.
Theſe I muſt every day watch and war with.
Therefore, I muſt daily conſider my helpers, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 2 Cor. 8.9. Eph. 6.13. The Armour of God I muſt put on for every part, and my fighting in the ſtrength of Chriſt, by whom I may be made more than Conquerour, Rom. 8.37.
And for the laſt general, there muſt be Meditation of the unſpeakable preciouſneſs of time, running on without poſſibility of a ſtand, or leaſt ſtay: With the Frailty of life, Pſal. 39.4. with the uncertainty of it, and the certainty of death, and unavoidableneſs of that which will caſt me upon Eternity.
Theſe are the more general things, among which my Meditation may take its walks, and upon which my ſeriouſneſs may daily ſit down to make its ſpiritual advantage by: I muſt adde now things more particular.