Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Meditation on ſome things providential.
THere is but this one thing (which I will briefly diſpatch) remaining yet to be ſpoken of; and then I come to the laſt ſort of Meditation, that is by a ſhort and more ſudden way, Ejaculatory Meditation. I ſay there ſhould be Meditation on ſomething providential, a matter the hand of providence acts or orders, holds forth and offers to our viewing and ſerious thinkings. The great God, as he always is guiding and ordering all things in all places, in Heaveu, Earth, and Waters, and among all Creatures, eſpecially the reaſonable, and chiefly above all in his Church, and for his Saints, againſt his and their Enemies. As he is guiding with his hand, all the concerns of particular perſons to the ſupream end, his own glory, and likewiſe infallibly to the ſalvation of his Redeemed: ſo there is ever and anon ſomething obſervable, particularly providential; ſomething which as the hand of providence holdeth forth, ſo the heart of prudence and godly wiſdom will take up; that purpoſely it will ſet it ſelf to ſee, ſearch, and improve; as it may be ſomething ſometime of the Church of God abroad, or ſomething of the People of God at home, or in the place particularly we live in: It may be there is ſome diſpenſation, to ſome of our Relations or Friends, or ſome matter falls out in our Family, or yet nearer on our perſon and perſonal concerns.
There is ſeldom any ſpace of time, but the great Governour of the World is doing ſome remarkable thing, it may be ſome admirable and glorious, it may be ſome amazing and ſtupendious, it may be ſome terrible and very dreadful work, if we have our eyes in exerciſe, and will obſerve.
Indeed Gods goings ſometimes, Pſal. 77.19. His footſteps cannot be ſeen, but are very ſecret and unſearchable. And there are others of his workings, which are more eaſie for all to behold and underſtand.
There are varieties of Providences, ſucceſſively following each others; which we ſhould wait and watch for, which we ſhould take, as they come, freſh and warm out of the Lords hand, and apply them warm to our hearts for a more kindly operation.
Meditate we ſhould upon Providences, while they are juſt new and freſh, ſo we ſhall give them, or rather our ſelves, the advantage of a more ready and affectionate pondering, a more profitable minding. If I could ſtill improve in Meditation of the Promiſes, and in a wiſe, warm, lively alſo Meditating of providences; in the one ſee better daily the riches of free Grace, in the other the glorious governings of a God in wiſdom, righteouſneſs, and goodneſs: How would my ſpirit, under the dews of this fruitful Meditation, be ſhooting up? how would it proſper? They are the higheſt form Chriſtians, that are arrived here, at the contemplation of the works and great providences of God in the world.
In 1 John 2.13. He writes to ſome he calls Fathers, others young men, others Children. Some by Children underſtand, ſuch as are (as to Meditation) taken up with the promiſes, and matters of juſtification, pardon, and peace; young men, are ſuch who are gotten farther, and exercis'd about ſanctification, and conquering ſtrong corruptions.
Fathers, that beyond both, are taken up, and arriv'd at ponderings, and contemplations of the works and ways of God, and his great actings in the world.
So it is ſometimes needful to Meditate on the Providences that are more obliging and engaging, more awakening and inciting, ſuch as are as it were the ſpecial hand of the Lord touching us, taking bold of us, framing and ordering things for us. And here there is great reaſon, our Meditation ſhould be more ſerious and curious: as wherein we may ſee Gods ſo particular goings and workings toward us, and for us.
Pſal. 18. All that excellent Pſalm over, David there enumerates and records all Gods goings towards him. O then with the Pſalmiſt, let my ſoul meditate on all the works of God; liſt and file up up the diſpenſations of his obſervable providences towards others and my ſelf: Meditate on his ſo merciful preſervings, directings, proſperings, and all other ſorts and ways of Providence; that I may admire and exalt him, depend, and truſt, and wait upon him, and walk ſo before him, that his ways may ever be mercy and truth towards me.
I have now diſpatcht the ſecond branch of Meditation on particular Providences; and thereby the ſecond general kind of Meditation; which is, ſet and occaſional Meditation at particular times of leiſure.
The laſt ſort of Meditation comes now to be handled.