The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 23 – Meditation 24
Meditation XXIII. VponUpon a Multiplying Glaſs.
WHat a vain and fictitious happineſs would that be, if a poor man, who had only a ſmall piece of money, ſhould, by the looking upon it through a multiplying Glaſs, pleaſe himſelf in believing that he is now ſecure from the fears of preſſing wants, his ſingle piece being ſuddenly minted into many pounds, with which he can readily furniſh himſelf with fuell to warm him, cloaths to cover him, and food to ſatisfie him? But alas! when he puts forth his hand to take a ſupply from what he beholds, he can feel nothing of what he ſees; and when the Glaſs is gone that preſented him with ſo much Treaſure, he can then ſee nothing but his firſt pittance, which alſo becomes the leſs deſirable becauſe of the diſappointment of his hopes. Upon what better foundation doth the felicity of the greateſt part of men ſtand, which is not fixed upon any true and ſpiritual good, as its proper Baſis, but upon the ſpecious ſemblances of a corrupt and mutable fancy? What is it that rich men do not promiſe themſelves, who conceive riches to be a ſtrong Tower? They think they can laugh at Famine, and when others, like the poor Egyptians, whoſe Subſtance is exhauſted, ſell themſelves and their children for food, they can buy their bread at any rate. If Enemies riſe up againſt them, they queſtion not, but they can purchaſe a peace or a victory. If Sickneſs come, oh how can they pleaſe themſelves in thinking that their Purſe can command the Phyſicians skill, and the Drugſters ſhops. Elixars, Cordials, Magiſterial powders, they conceive beforehand will be preſcribed both as their dyet and Phyſick: And every avenue of the body, at which the diſeaſe or death may threaten to enter, ſhall be ſo fortified, as that both of them ſhall receive an eaſie and quick repulſe. Now what are all theſe repreſentations but the impoſtures of the glaſs of fancy, which, like the colours in the Rainbow, have more of ſhew tha… of Entity. Doth not Solomon counſel men not to labour …o be rich? And expoſtulate with them, Wilt thou ſet thine eyes upon that which is not? Doth not our Saviour call them, deceitful Riches? And Paul, uncertain Riches? What then can they contribute to the real happineſs of any man? Surely the tranſient ſparks that with much difficulty are forced from the flint, may as ſoon add light to the body of the Sun, as Riches can yield any ſolid comfort to the ſoul, or keep it from lying down in the bed of darkneſs and ſorrow. Away then from me ye flattering vanities and gilded nothings of the world, get you to the Bats, and to the Moles, and try what beauteous rayes you can dart into their eyes. I will hence no more behold you in the Glaſs of Fancy, but in the Glaſs of the Word, which diſcovers that ye are alwaies vanity and vexation, no objects of truſt in the times of ſtrait, or price of deliverance in the day of wrath. It is methinks obſervable that four times in Scripture this ſaying is repeated, That Riches and Treaſures profit nothing in the day of wrath, twice in the Book of Proverbs, and then again by two Prophets, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. Doubtleſs theſe holy men knew what an univerſal proneſs there is in the minds of moſt to exalt Riches above Righteouſneſs, and to think, that by them Heaven might be purchaſed, and the flames of Hell bribed. How elſe could ſuch words ever drop from the mouths of any, that they had made a Covenant with Death, and were at an agreement with Hell to paſs from them? But, Lord, keep me from imagining to ſave my ſoul by Merchandize, or of entituling my ſelf any other way to the Inheritance of Heaven, than by the Bloud of Chriſt, who is my Life, my Riches, my Rejoycing, and ſure Confidence.
Meditation XXIV. Ʋpon Gravity and Levity.
THe Stoick Philoſophy was famous for Paradoxes, ſtrange Opinions, improbable, and beſides common conceit, for which it was much admired by ſome, and as greatly controuled, and taxed by others. Howbeit, not Stoiciſme only, but every Art, and courſe of life and learning hath ſome Paradoxes or other, but Chriſtianity hath many more, which ſeem like nothing leſs than truth, and yet are as true as ſtrange. What can be more contrary to the Principles and Maxims of Philoſophers, than to hold that there is a regreſs from a total privation to an habit? It was that which the Epicureans and Stoicks derided in Paul, when he preached the Reſurrection from the dead; and yet Chriſtians build all their happineſs and confidence upon it. What can ſeem to carry more of a contradiction in it than that ſaying of our Saviour, He that will loſe his life ſhall find it? And yet it is a truth of that importance, that whoſoever follows not Chriſts counſell will certainly miſs of life. What will happily appear more novel and ſtrange, than that which I ſhall now adde by inverting the common Axiom, and affirming this as a truth, Levia tendunt deorſum, & gravia ſurſum, Light things fall downwards, and heavy aſcend upwards: The lighter they are the lower they ſink, and the heavier they are the higher they riſe; and yet this Riddle hath a truth in it. In Scripture the wicked that muſt fall as low as hell are reſembled to things of the greateſt Levity as well as vileneſs, Duſt, Chaff, Smoke, Fume, Scum: and the Saints that muſt aſcend as high as Heaven, are likened to things of weight as well as worth: To Wheat, the heavieſt of which is the beſt; to Gold, which is of Metals the weightieſt, as well as the richeſt; to Gems and precious Stones. that are valued by the number of the Carrats which they weigh, as well as by their luſtre with which they ſparkle. Yea, God hath his Ballance to weigh men and their actions, as well as his Touchſtone to try them. He is a God of knowledge, by whom actions are weighed, ſaith Hannah in her Song: And if he find great men a lye and vanity upon the Ballance he will not ſpare them. What a ſevere Judgment did God execute upon Belſhazzar, who being weighed and found wanting, was in the ſame night caſt out both from his Kingdom, and from the Land of the living? And what a dreadful Sentence hath Chriſt foretold ſhall come from his mouth in the great day againſt thoſe who have made a vain and empty profeſſion of his Name, who are bid to depart from him, and go accurſed into everlaſting fire, not for doing evil againſt his, but for not doing of good unto them? A form of Godlineſs without the power will condemn, as well as real and open wickedneſs: To be found too light in Gods Scale may be a bar to heaven, as well as the load of many ſins. O remember who hath ſaid it, Except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of heaven. How gladly then would I perſwade Chriſtians, that the beſt way to climbe the Jacobs Ladder, which hath its foot on Earth, and its top in glory, is to be fully laden with all fruits of holineſs. Chriſti ſarcina pennas habet non pondus, the burden of Chriſt is not a preſſing weight, but a winged thing which carries the Soul upwards, and helps it to ſoar aloft towards God himſelf. None are crowned with greater glory, or ſet upon higher Thrones, than they who have their fruit unto true holineſs above others.