The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 35
Meditation XXXV. VponUpon a Priſon.
SEneca hath this ſaying, Precogitati mali mollis ictus, that the ſtroke of a fore-thought evil is more gentle and ſoft than if it were wholly unexpected; which ſuits well with Saint Peters counſel to the ſcattered Believers, not to think of the fiery trial, as if ſome ſtrange and new thing had hapned unto them. A Wiſe Sufferer therefore muſt do as a wiſe builder, ſit down firſt and count his coſt, left afterwards he expoſe himſelf to ſhame and ſcorn. He muſt firſt view a Priſon in his mind before heenter into it with his body, and throughly weigh what it is he muſt forgo, and what he muſt undergo, or elſe he will ſoon, like Iſſachar, couch under his burden, and faint in the day of adverſity, his ſtrength being ſmall. For the change which a Priſon makes is the greateſt that can befall any, next to the Grave, and is but a little ſhort of it, if not equal unto it. Who can ſet down the ſeveral ſad evils which attend it in diſtinct particulars? And who can ſum them up into a total, that will not amount unto a death? Is not Liberty, which every being naturally affects, turned into Bondage? Is not the Society of friends, which is the ſauce, if not the food, of life, changed into Solitude? Is not Light, whoſe approaches were anciently ſaluted with welcome light, induſtriouſly ſhut out, to make both Bonds and Solitude the more irkſome? Is not every Senſe offended with objects that are diſpleaſing unto them? What doth the Eye behold but the face of a grim Jayler? What doth the Touch feel unleſs it be hard Fetters and cold walls? What is the Smell affected with, unleſs it be a loathſome ſtench? What doth the Ear hear, but the ratling of Chains, or the groans of ſome who are breathing out their laſt? And what is the food that is taſted, unleſs it be the bread of adverſity, and the water of aſfliction? And is it not then wonderful, that ſuch a condition as this, which is as the very valley and ſhadow of death, ſhould ever be paſſed thorough without any diſtracting fears, without heart breaking ſorrows, yea, with great rejoycings in ſuch tribulations? It is true, that ſome there be who, like ſullen Hawks, live upon the frets, and bear many of theſe things out of the ſtoutneſs of their ſtomack and their natural courage. But alas! this is not to ſuffer as a Chriſtian, who doth not ſuffer out of obſtinacy, but out of Conſcience; who is not ſupported by his own inherent ſtrength, but by the power of God, which puts forth its ſelf in ſuch glorious effects oft times, as that it makes a greater change in the Priſon for the better, than ever the vileſt Priſon can make in the Priſoner for the worſe. Is it not the preſence of the King that makes the Court, let the Houſe be never ſo mean where he reſides? What then can that place be leſs than a Pallace where the Preſence of God dwells in a ſpecial manner? He that ſhall read in the Book of the Revelations of a City or place that had no Temple in it, nor had no Sun or Moon to ſhine in it, and then break off, would ſooner conjecture that he was beginning the deſcription of ſome forlorn place under the Northern Pole, than of the heavenly Jeruſalem: But when he ſhall underſtand that God and the Lamb are the Temple of it, and the glory of God and the Lamb are the Eternal Light ſhining in it, he will then ſay, as an awaked Jacob, Surely this is none other but the houſe of God, and the place where himſelf dwelleth. Such like thoughts muſt that man have of a Priſon who knows no more of it, than what it is in appearance, a place of bondage, ſolitude, darkneſs, and ſore wants; but he who hath in this condition once experienced the preſence of God in it, how differently will he ſpeak of it? Have not many of the Saints, when ſhut up in a Dungeon, dated their Letters to their Friends from their Pallace, from their delectable Orchard, from their delicious Paradiſe? Have they not gloried in their bonds, as being Gods Freemen, though mans Priſoners? Have they not in their ſolitude been raviſhed with the ſweetneſs of that Communion they have had with God, who alone hath been better than a thouſand Friends? Have they not been filled with hidden Manna in their ſouls, when their bodies have been pinched with the ſharpneſs of Famine? Have they not in the midſt of their Conflicts cried out, If it be thus ſweet to ſuffer for Chriſt, how full of Joy unſpeakable will it be to reign with him? May I not then ſay to this timorous Chriſtian, as God did once to Iſrael, Fear not to go down into Egypt, For I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will ſurely bring thee up again. Fear not to go into a Priſon, in which God will be with you, and out of which he will deliver you with joy and triumph. It matters not what your preſſures be if God put under his Everlaſting Arms, or who your Enemies be if he be your Friend; or what your ſorrows be, if he be your Comforter. And this I may adde, that commonly in the greateſt ſtraits, he ſheweth the greateſt love, as waters run ſtrongeſt in the narroweſt paſſages. As the ſufferings of Chriſt (ſaith Paul) abound in us, ſo our Conſolation aboundeth by Chriſt. O therefore ſay as David did, Though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death I will fear none evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaff they comfort me.