The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 36 – Meditation 37
Meditation XXXVI. VponUpon the motion of the Sun on the Dyall.
IT was the ſaying of one, who was none of the leaſt of the Philoſophers, to him that asked him what he was born for? That it was to contemplate the Sun: But though it be not the end of mans breath, yet it may well be the object of his thoughts, in regard both of its beauty and motion. Holy David takes notice of them both in the ſame Pſalm, in which he compared the Sun for its Luſtre to a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber cloathed in ſuch ſhining Array, as may draw the eyes of Spectators towards him: And for its ſwiftneſs to a ſtrong Champion, who runs his preſcribed courſe, both ſpeedily and unweariedly. Tully, in his Academicall Queſtions, ſaith, Tanta incitatione fertur ut ejus celeritas quanta ſit ne cogitari quidem poſſet. It is whirled about with that vehemency that the greatneſs of the Suns ſpeed cannot eaſily be imagined. Is it not then a Riddle, that at the ſame time when it travels thouſands of miles in the Heavens it ſhould make ſo ſlow a motion and progreſs on the Dyall, as not to move above the breadth of an inch or two? To the quickeſt eye its motion is imperceptible, and it ſo moves, as we can only ſay it hath moved, not that it doth. Now from whence comes this inequality, but from the vaſt diſproportion between the Heavens and the Earth, the one being but as a Center or ſmall prick to an immenſe Circumference. O how happy and regular alſo would the lives and actions of men be if after the ſame manner they were moved to heavenly and earthly objects? To the one with a ſwiftneſs like to that of the Sun in the Firmament: To the other with an inſenſibleneſs, like to that of the Sun upon the Dyall. Surely ſuch a diſproportion doth the differing worth and excellency between the one and the other juſtly challenge in our purſuit of them. Is it not meet that he who caſts a ſingle glance of his eye to the Creature, ſhould beſtow a thouſand looks on his Saviour? And when he creeps to one as a Snail, to fly to the other as the Eagle to the Carkaſs? He alone moves to God as much as he ought, who moves to him as much as he can, and ſtrives to repair the imperfection of that motion, with a real diſlike and regret of the ſlowneſs of his own heart to the beſt of goods. But alaſs, if the rule by which men walk muſt be thus bounded, or dilated according to the object to which they move, where ſhall we find that perſon that thus proportions the out-goings of his ſoul in his care, deſires, or induſtry? If the ſtandard and meaſure of goodneſs ſhould be taken, from the unweariedneſs of mens travels, from the ſtrength of their affections, or from the fixed bent of their reſolutions to obtain what they deſign to themſelves as their end: Who muſt not then put the Crown of bleſſedneſs upon the he…d of the Creature which ought to be ſet at the foot of the Creator? Who muſt not then conclude, that it is better building Tabernacles here, than ſeeking a Country which is above? Do not men contract their hearts to the things of Heaven, and dilate them to what is below? Do they not run and pant, to the very breathing out of their ſouls, after periſhing vanities, when they cannot be drawn to ſet one foot towards ſpiritual and divine Excellencies? Do they not take the Wings of the Morning, and fly to the utmoſt end of the Earth in their muſings and thoughts to find out riches that will not profit in the day of wrath? when their Eſſaies to Heaven are as weak as the Graſhoppers, who give only a ſmall ſlirt upwards and then falls down to the Earth again. O that I could with plenty of tears bemoan that monſtrous Ataxie and perverſeneſs which ſin hath wrought in the moſt noble parts of man. Was not that agility of mind given unto him by God, that he might have his Converſation in Heaven, though his abode was on Earth? And that he might enter into the holy of holies, not like the High Prieſt, once in a year, but in every prayer and duty, like a winged Angel, behold the face of God, and look into thoſe things that are within the Veil? But now alas! he can only, like that lapſed Angel, compaſs the earth to and fro in his thoughts, and deſcend as low as hell in his luſts, but cannot raiſe himſelf above the world to the performance of the leaſt good. I feel, O my God, continually the ſad change which ſin hath made in me, not ſo much deſtroying my Faculties, as perverting them; I have not loſt the uſe of them, but the rectitude of them. I am no more weary of ſinning, than a ſwift ſtream of running; the ſame weight of ſin that hinders me from running the race which is ſet before me, hurries me to evil, and makes me, through the impulſions of Satan, to gather ſtrength by an acceſſory impreſſion. In the births of ſin I am, like the Hebrew women, lively and quick of delivery; but in the bringing forth of whatever is good, like a ſlow Egyptian that needs the aide of a Midwife. l therefore beg of thee holy Lord to heal my diſtempers by thy grace, and to renew me in the ſpirit of my mind that I may run the way of thy Commandments when thou haſt enlarged my heart.
Meditation XXXVII. VponUpon a Sun-Dyal and a Clock.
THeſe two Artificial meaſures of time give one and the ſame account of its motions, but in a very differing, if not contrary, manner. The Clock doth it by a motion of its own; but the Sun-Dyall, while it ſelf is fixed, by an extrinſick motion of the Sun upon thoſe Lines drawn upon it effects the ſame thing. And this occaſioned me to think in what a differing way the ſame ſervices and duties of Religion are done by thoſe that profeſs it. Some, like Clocks, have a Spring of motions in themſelves, and the weight that quickens and actuates it is love: They pray, confer, exerciſe holineſs in their Converſation in a progreſſive manner, Salvation being nearer to them than when they firſt believed. Others again are like Sun-Dyals, that are as uſeleſs poſts in a gloomy day, and are deſtitute of all principles of motion. The Sun moveth upon them, but they ſtand ſtill. The Spirit comes upon them, as it did on Saul, but themſelves are not in the leaſt moved by thoſe duties that others may think they profit by. There is a light and ſhine which paſſeth upon their gifts and abilities that may render them uſeful as well as viſible unto others, but it effecteth no alteration in their hearts to the bettering of themſelves. What divine Viſions and Propheſies did Balaam both ſee and utter concerning Iſrael? And how remarkable is the Preface which he ſets before them? The man whoſe eyes are open hath ſaid, yet his heart is fixed to his luſt of Covetouſneſs, and he is ſo far from taking the leaſt ſtep towards their Tents, which with admiration he beholds to be goodly, as that he gives Balack counſel how to deſtroy them. Let not then any reſt in a bare illumination or tranſient work of the Spirit upon them, as if that ſuch things would be ſufficient evidences of the goodneſs of their con…ition. Light may make a good head, but it is heat and motion that muſt make a good heart, without which all profeſſion of Religion is but an unſavoury Carkaſs. Be wiſe therefore O Chriſtians, and build not the foundation of your eternal happineſs upon ſuch uncertain principles. May not the Spirit aſſiſt where it never inhabits? May it not move upon him, whom it never quickens? Were not many workers of iniquity, who were workers of miracles? Were not many famous for their Propheſies, who were infamous for their Profaneneſs? Are not ſuch things made by Chriſt, the plea of many in the laſt day for their admittance into heaven, whom he will not know? Why then ſhould any be ſo fooliſh to make that a Plea to the Judge which he knows beforehand will be rejected? The beſt way to diſcern our condition, is not to argue the goodneſs of it from the light which the Spirit darts in upon us, but by the motions which it produceth in us. As many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, in a conſtant way of progreſſion, from grace to grace, from vertue to vertue. Such light, as it is ſudden in its Eruptions, ſo it is alſo in its Interruptions; the one oft times are as ſpeedy and momentary as the other. Look therefore to the attractions of the Spirit by which you are moved, & drawn to walk in holy waies, rather than to ſuch motions of the Spirit, which paſs only upon you, but do not beget any motion or ſtirring in you.