Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Of ſome Particulars to be added to the former Generals.
THere are ſome things in particular I may adde, which may help to direct and quicken a Chriſtian in his daily courſe.
1. For the Scripture I daily read, or hear, to endeavour ſome thoughts which may help to higher quickenings, and heart-enlargings, by farther freſh ponderings of the ſurpaſſing Excellencies and mighty Efficacies of the Scripture; to think of a required higher riſing eſtimation, more inflamed affections of Love, Joy, Hope, Longing, and the reſt, ſeen and ſo obſervably conſpicuous in the Saints in Scripture; to light our Candle by their flame: And the more rooted reſolution I ſhould take up and engage in, to be more (by my looking into the Glaſs of the Word) tranſformed into the image of it, 1 Cor. 3.18.
Of Faith in the Word. I ſhould farther think of that Faith I am neceſſarily to act, in the truth and certainty, and uſefulneſs of the Word, I now am to be exerciſed in; and of my mixing of Faith more abundantly with it, Heb. 4.2. As to any Doctrine, Precept, Promiſe, Threatning, or Examples, and whatever is there related for my uſe.
Of Wiſdom. I ſhould think alſo of the Wiſdom which that I read requires, in ſelecting that out is moſt conducible, is my proper portion, and beſt fitting my ſouls condition. As Samuel at his Feaſt, ſet forth ſomething peculiar for Saul, 1 Sam. 9.23, 24. Joſeph cauſed to be prepared for his Brother Benjamin, Gen. 43.34. God will now be ſeen, if wiſdom be uſed to hold forth a peculiar prepared portion. Some Eye-ſalve to annoint mine Eyes, Rev. 3.18. ſome rich Balm to heal ſome ſore, ſome corroſive to eat out ſome proud fleſh, ſome Cordial for a ſtrengthener and chearer, ſome piece of ſpiritual treaſure to enrich me, ſome rare Jewel for ornament wanting to me; ſomething there is now in my hand, for my now ſpiritual advantage, if I can ſee it; and ſee it I may, by that which muſt be the Auxiliary and conſtant Aſſiſtant of my reading, if I would meet with a due profiting, which is my conſcientious and careful pondering, weighing, and weighing this pure Gold, ſtored up in Chriſts rich Treaſury to make me rich.
Reading brings me Meat, Meditation brings forth the ſweetneſs.
Reading brings the Coals to the Wood, Meditation makes the flame.
Reading brings me the Sword of the Word, Meditation whets it.
Reading barely, proves pouring water into a Sieve; Meditation is putting Gold into a Treaſury, the former lets the Water out, the latter locks the Gold up.
O let me read much, but let me alſo Meditate much, that Meditation and Reading may be commenſurate; my Souls digeſtion proportioned to its Reception, its taking in by Reading; let me Read and Meditate, that I may not have a meagre, lean ſoul, like them that have an eager appetite, and a weak digeſtion; but that it may be fat and well-liking, by this good digeſtion of due Meditation.
2. Some lively and vigorous Meditation ſhould be daily performed, in reference to private Prayer; I ſay for aſſiſtance and furtherance of ſecret Cloſet-Prayer, that ſo important and ſweet Soul-Exerciſe.
1. Of that importancy and concernment, that the main ſtreſs both of the whole work, and likewiſe of the hearts after warmth and life in the day, lies greatly on it.
2. Of that heavenly ſweetneſs, that it is the chief way of our private familiarity with God.
3. Of that excellency, that it is our only way of private ſpeaking unto the great God, of having the high honour and favour of whiſpering in his ear, acceſs in private to his boſom and bowels, and the chief way of procuring his private Signet and Seal of bleſſed aſſurance of happineſs. The way it is of the ſouls freſheſt, freeſt, and moſt elevated actings; ſuch as oft-times praying in company muſt not, cannot bear, and the way of ſtrong high Exerciſe of ſundry Graces.
1. It ſends private Embaſſies daily to the King of Heaven by Faith.
2. It carries up daily the ſoul to Heaven in a Chariot of fire by love; and
3. It leaves continually an Agent in the Court of Heaven by Hope.
Its the great heart-warmer by privacy, giving the greater advantage of importunity, without any check from the preſence of others.
The great heart-humbler, Melter down and Refiner, inſtrumentally, by actings of ſound and kindly Repentance: Making the droſs and embaſing mixtures of Corruptions and Luſts to paſs away, and the heart become purer.
Its the peculiar advantage to learn and act the rare art and ſecret of wreſtling with God, and returning with the high encouragements of holy overcomings of him.
It is the way of the rareſt hours, higheſt ſoul-Raptures, richeſt pourings in of comforts, and moſt happy experiencings of the deſcendings down of Heaven in pureſt, ſweeteſt, largeſt ſoul-ſatieties.
Therefore for richeſt furniſhing us with fitteſt matter for a beſt heart frame to perform this daily duty, performing it in the moſt ſpiritual and effectual manner, for doing it, as to out-do former, all former doings, we muſt look to lay the Foundation deeper and larger in better and more ſuited Thinkings and Meditatings, think to the utmoſt, to pray to the beſt. The ſame word in the Hebrew ſignifies, as divers of the Learned ſay, both Meditation and Prayer. Firſt it ſignifies Meditation, and then by a Metonymy of the Cauſe for the Effect, it ſignifies Prayer. To ſhew what Prayers ſhould be ſtill preſented to the great God, ſuch as have ſome due weight of Meditation, which are made out and made up of Meditation, or have at leaſt the beſt ſeriouſneſs we can. That great man of Prayer, the Pſalmiſt David, ordinarily calls his Prayer his Meditation; and peculiarly his Prayer in the morning (the foundation of the following days work) his Meditation, Pſal. 5.1, 2. in that excellent and warm beginning of that Pſalm: Prayer and Meditation, like Hippocrates Twins, born, lived, and died together; ſo Meditation and Prayer riſe, and warm, and grow ſervent; or cool, fall, and decay together: Prayer cheriſhes Meditation, Meditation feeds Prayer.
O let my Spirit be ſtill warmed, inflamed, and melted down in Meditation, that it may run and flow and flame in this heavenly devotion, and both iſſue in my daily wiſer and warmer working out ſalvation.
3. My ſerious and curious Mindings muſt make ſure to ſingle out, and ſet in full view that or thoſe things I particularly want, and are moſt proper and neceſſary for the now, for my ſouls preſent ſtate.
There is no godly man, but hath ever ſomething which concerns him moſt.
Some corruption ſtirring that muſt be ſubdued, ſome Temptation to be encountred, ſome Grace to be endeavoured, ſome comfort or help ſupplyed.
It may be many things may be the preſent, if not urgent concerns.