The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 54
Meditation LIV. VponUpon health of body, & peace of conſcience.
IT was an high and Eminent teſtimony given by S…. John to the Elder Gaius, in the Prayer that he made for him, with an earneſt wiſh that he might proſper, and be in health, even as his Soul proſpereth. It is a Crown that I could heartily deſire might be deſervedly ſet upon the head of every one, that is called by that honourable Name of Chriſtian; and then I doubt not, but thoſe reproaches, which are dayly caſt upon them, would fall as far ſhort of them, as ſtones that are thrown at the Sun; and thoſe Scandals, at which thoſe who are without do ſtumble, would be removed, and they alſo won, by their Converſation to the obedience of the Faith. But alaſs … I muſt invert the Apoſtles wiſh, and if I will wiſh true Proſpe…ity to the Saints themſelves, Pray that their Soules may proſper, and be in health, as their Bodies proſper: So unequal is the welfare, for the moſt part, that is between the one and the other. Where may I find the Man? or who can tell me what is his Name, whoſe care and obſervance hath ſo far prevailed, as to make his Soul in an equal Plight with his Body? and to keep the one as free from Luſts, as the other from Diſeaſes? Who ever thought it neceſſary, that Penſions ſhould be given to Oratours to diſſwade Men from runing into Infected Houſes? or to be out of love with Mortal Poyſons? Is not the leaſt jealouſie and ſuſpition of ſuch things Argument enough to ſecure themſelves againſt dangers that may fall out? But is there not need to admoniſh and warn the beſt and holieſt of Men, that they abſtain from Fleſhly Luſts which war againſt the Soul? Is it not requiſite to bid the moſt watchful to take heed of a Lethargie, when the Wiſe Virgins are fallen aſleep? Did not Chriſt himſelf Caution his Diſciples againſt having their hearts at any time over-charged with ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, and the Cares of this life? And yet the meaneſt of their Condition might ſeem to exempt them from ſuch Snares? From whence then is it that the welfare and health of the Body ſhould be more ſtudiouſly endeavoured by all, then the well-being of the Soul in its Peace and Serenity is almoſt by any? Is it not from the ſtrength of fleſhly Principles which abide in the beſt, and darken oft times the eye of the underſtanding, that it cannot rightly apprehend its own concernments? If there were but a clear inſight into that Bleſſedneſs, into which Peace of Conſcience doth Eſtate a Believer, it could not be but that it being laid in the Ballance with the health of the Body, it ſhould as far over-weigh it, as a full Bucket a ſingle drop; or as the Vintage of Wine a particular Cluſter: True it is, that health of Body is the Salt of all outward bleſſings, which without it have no reliſh or ſavour; neither Riches nor Honours, nor Delights for the Belly or Back, can yield the leaſt Pleaſure where this is wanting; So that the enjoyment of it alone may well be ſet againſt many other Wants. And better it is to enjoy health without other additional-comforts, then to poſſeſs them under a load of Infirmities. And yet I may ſtill ſay, Quid Palea ad Triticum? What is the Chaff to the Wheat? Though it be the greateſt outward good that God beſtowes in this Life, it is nothing to that Peace which paſſeth all underſtanding? Sickneſs deſtroyes it, Age enfeebles it, and Extremities imbitter it. But it is the Excellency of this divine Peace that it worketh joy in Tribulation, that it ſupports in Bodily languiſhments, and creates confidence in death. Who is it that can throw forth the Gauntler, and bid defiance to Armies of Trialls, to perſecution, diſtreſs, famine, nakedneſs, peril and ſword; But he whoſe heart is eſtabliſhed with this Peace? the ground of which is Gods free love; the Price of which is Chriſts ſatisfaction; the Worker of which is the Holy Spirit; and the Subject of which is a Good Conſcience. This was it that filled old Simeons heart with joy, and made him to beg a Dimiſſion of his Saviour, whom his eyes had ſeen, his armes embraced, and his Soul truſted in. What a ſtrange thing is it then, that there ſhould be ſo few Marchant-men that ſeek this goodly Pearl, which is far above all the Treaſures of the Earth, that are either hid in it, or extracted from it? Many ſay, Who will ſhew us any good? but it is David onelyonly that Prayes, Lord lift up the light of thy Countenance upon us. Others like the ſcattered Iſraelites in Egypt, go up and down gathering of Straw and Stubble; when he, like an Iſraelite indeed, in the Wilderneſs of this World, ſeeks Manna, which his Spirit gathers up and feeds upon with delight; and then cries out, Thou haſt put gladneſs in my heart, more then in the time, that their Corn and their Wine increaſed. It is the love of God ſhed abroad in the heart, that doubleth the ſweetneſs of proſperity, and ſweetens alſo the bitterneſs of aſfliction: A wonder onelyonly therefore it is, not that few ſhould ſeek, but a much greater, that any in this World ſhould live without it. Can any live well without the Kings Favour, either in his Court, or Kingdom? And yet there are many places wherein ſuch Perſons may lie hid in his Dominions, when the utmoſt ends of the Earth cannot ſecure them againſt Gods frownes. But if any be ſo profligate as Cleopatria-like to diſſolve this Jewel of Peace in his Luſts, and to drink down, in one prodigious draught, that which exceeds the World, in its price, and yet think they can live well enough without it; let them conſider how they will do to die without it. Sweet it is in life, but it will be more ſweet in death; …t is not then the Sun-ſhine of Creatures, but Saviourſhine that will refreſh them. It is not then Wine that can cheere the heart, but the Blood of Sprinkling that will pacifie it. The more Perpendicular Death comes to be over our head, the leſſer will the ſhadow of all Earthly comforts grow, and prove uſeleſs, either to aſſwage the paines of it, or to mitigate the feares of it. What is a fragrant poſie put into the hands of a Malefactor, who is in ſight of the Place of Execution, and his Friends bidding him to ſmell on it? or what is the delivering to him a Sealed Conveyance, that Intitles him to great Revenues, who hath a few minutes onelyonly to live? But O what exceſs of joy doth fill and overflow ſuch a poor Mans heart, when a Pardon from his Prince comes happily in to prevent the Stroak of death, and to aſſure him both of Life and Eſtate? This is indeed as health and marrow to the bones. And is it not thus with a dying Sinner? who expects in a few moments to be ſwallowed up in thoſe flames of wrath? the heat of which already ſcorch his Conſcience, and cauſe Agonies and Terrors which imbitter all the comforts of life, and extract cries from him that are like the yellings of the damned; I am undone, without hope of recovery: Eternity it ſelf will as ſoon end as my miſery: God will for ever hold me as his enemy, and with his own breath will enliven thoſe Coles that muſt be heaped upon me. Of what value now would one ſmile of Gods Face be to ſuch a perſon? how joyfull would the ſofteſt whiſper of the Spirit be, that ſpeakes any hope of Pardon, or Peace? would not one drop of this Soveraign Balm of Gods favour let fall upon the Conſcience, heal and eaſe more then a River of all other delights whatſoever? Think therefore upon it, O Chriſtians, ſo as not any longer through your own default, to be without the ſenſe of this Bleſſing in your hearts; that ſo in life, as well as in death, you may be filled with this Peace of God, which paſſeth all underſtanding. If Prayer will ob…ain it, beg every day a good look from him, the light of whoſe Countenance is the onelyonly health of yours. If an holy and humble Walking will preſerve it, be more carefull of doing any thing to loſe your Peace, then to endanger your health; remember that Peace is ſo much better than health, as the Soul is better then the Body.
But Grant, Holy Father, however others may neglect, or defer to ſeek Peace with thee, and from thee, yet I may now find thy Peace in me by thy Pardoning all my iniquities, and may be found of thee in Peace without Spot, and blameleſs in the great day.