Works, Chapter 5 · Section 5
SECT. V.
3Mind solemn and set meditations.THirdly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness in solitude; Mind solemn and set meditation. In the former head I advised thee to Occasional, in this, to Deliberate meditation. Hereby thou wilt not onelyonly prevent those covetous, ambitious, lascivious thoughts, which otherwise might crowd in upon thee, and pollute thee, but also exceedingly further thy soul in holiness. Occasional meditations do some good, but these much more, as making a greater impression upon the soul, and abiding longer with it. They differ as a taste and a full meal, as a sip and a good draught. Occasional meditations are like loving strangers, that afford us a visit, but are quickly gone. Deliberate meditations are as inhabitants that dwell with us, and are longer helpful to us. The former as the morning dew, do somewhat moysten and refresh the earth, but quickly passeth away; The latter as a good showre, soaks deep, and continueth long. Because this is of great weight, I shall acquaint thee what solemn meditation is, and then give thee a pattern of it.
Solemn meditation is a serious applying the mind to some sacred subject, till the affections be warmed and quickened, and the resolution heightned and strengthned thereby, against what is evil, and for that which is good.
There are five things in this description.
1. It is an application of the mind; The understanding must be awake about this duty, it is not a work to be done sleeping. If the mind be not stirring, the affections will be nodding. The understanding in this, is (as it were) the Master-workman, if that be out of the way, or missing, the servants of the affections will be idle, and stand still. Tis by this Sun that heat is conveyed to the lower world Darkness like the night is accompanied with damps and cold. The Chariot of light is attended with warming and quickening beams.
2. It is a serious applying the mind. Too quick digestion breeds crudities in the mind as well as in the body, and doth often more distemper then nourish. There must be a retentive faculty to hold fast that which nature receiveth, until a through concoction be wrought, or little strength will be gotten by it. Hereby it differeth from occasional meditation, which is sudden and soon vanisheth; this calls at the door, salutes us, and takes its leave; that comes in and stays some time with us. Occasional meditation is transient, like the dogs of Nilus, that lap and are gone; set meditation is permanent, it (as the Spouse beg'd of Christ) lodgeth all night between the breasts. This duty cannot be done unless the mind be kept close to it; the person that is negligent, cannot do this work of the Lord. Things of importance are not to be hudled up in haste. Loose thoughts, as loose garments, hinder us in our business. We need as much our hearts united to think of God, as to fear God. Short glances do little good, it is the abiding influence of the sun that turns the earth into silver and golden mettal. It is not once dipping the stuff into the Dy-fat, but frequent doing it, that giveth the pure scarlet colour. The true Mithridate, which is so cordial and opening, is long a making. The yellow wax lyeth long in the beams of th… Sun before it changeth its colour, and attaineth a virgin-like whitness and purity. He that rides post, though he wearies himself in travelling from place to place, is less able to give an account of the Country through which he passeth, then he that is more slow in his course but more constant in his abode; Omnis festinatio caeca est, saith Seneca. Tis much blowing that makes the green wood to flame.
3. It is about some sacred subject. As good meat and drink breed good blood, so good subjects will breed good thoughts. There is abundant matter for our meditation; as the Nature or Attributes of God, the States and Offices of Christ, the three-fold state of man, the four last things, the vanity of the creature, the sinfulness of sin, and the love and fulness of the blessed Saviour, the Divine Word and Works; out of these we may chuse somtimes one thing, sometimes another to be the particular subject of our thoughts, Exo. 15.11. Ps. 1.1. and 119.148. Pro. 6.22. 1 Tim. 4. 13. To undertake more then one at a time, will deprive us of the benefit of all. Too much food will rather destroy then encrease the natural heat: A little wood may help that fire to burn, which a great quaintity would smother. Whilst the Dog runs after two Hares, now after one, and presently after the other, he loseth both. Many subjects, as a press or crowd of people do but hinder one another. Those streams are strongest which are most united. Greediness of appetite, and receiving too much food weakeneth digestion. Simples are most operative, mixtures and compositions are often used to allay their force. When thou hast fixt upon the subject, meditate (if it may be) on its causes, properties, effects, titles, comparisons, testimonies, contraries, all will help to illustrate the subject, and to quicken and advantage thee; they do all as so many several windows let in those beams which both enlighten the mind and warm the affections: but they must be considered in their places and methodically. The parts of a Watch jumbled together serve for no use, but each in their order make a rare and useful peice.
4. It is that the affections may be warmed and quickned: Our hearts and affections should answer out thoughts, as the eccho the voyce, and the wax the character in the seal. If our meditations do not better our hearts, they do nothing: Whilst they swim in the mind, as light things floating on the waters, they are unprofitable, but when they sink down into the affections, as heavy and weighty things, making sutable and real impressions there, then they attain their end. Our design in meditation must be rather to cleanse our hearts, then to clear our heads. Whilst I was musing the fire burned. We strike fire by meditation to kindle our affections. This application of the thoughts to the heart is like the natural heat which digesteth the food, and turneth it into good nourishment. When we are meditating on the sinfulness of sin. In its nature, its contrariety to God, his being, his law, his honour; its opposition to our own souls, their present purity and peace, their future glory and bliss. In its causes, Satan the wicked one its Father, the corrupt heart of man its Mother. In its properties; how defiling it is, filthiness it self; how infectious it is, overspreading the whole man, polluting all his natural, civil, spiritual actions, making his praying, hearing, singing an abomination; how deceiving it is, pretending meat, and intending murder. In its effects; the curse of God on all the creatures evident by the vanity in them, the vexation they bring with them, in the anger of God on sinners, apparent in those temporal punishments, spiritual judgements, and eternal …orments which he inflicteth on them; I say, when we meditate on this we should endeavour to get our hearts broken for sin, ashamed of sin, and fired with indignation against sin. O what a wretch am I (should the soul think) to harbour such a Traytor against my Soveraign! What a fool am I to hug such a serpent in my bosom! What sorrow for it can be sufficient! What hatred of it is enough! What watchfulness against it, what self abhorrency, because I have loved it, and lived in it, can equal its desert! O that I could weep bitterly for the commission of it, and watch narrowly for the prevention of it, and pray-fervently …or pardon of it, and power against it! How much am I bound to God for his patience towards so great a sinner! How infinitely am I engaged to Christ for taking upon him my sins! Twas infinite condescention in him to take upon him my nature; but O what humiliation was it to take upon him my sins! What life can answer such love? what thankefulness should I render for such, grace such goodness! The close applying of our meditations to our hearts, is like the applying and rubbing in oyl on a benummed joynt, which recovers it to its due sense. He that omits it, doth as a chapman that praiseth ware and cheapens it, but doth not buy it, and so is never the better for it. David proceeds from meditation of Gods works, to application of his thoughts, Psal. 8.2,3,4. When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, &c. What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost thus visit him?
5. It is a serious applying of some sacred subject that his resolutions may be strengthned against evill, and …or good. The Christian must not onelyonly pray his good thoughts, but practice them; he must not lock them up in his mind, but lay them out in his life. A Council of war or of State is wholly useless if there be none to execute what they determine. That Kingdom flourisheth best where faithful execution followeth sound advisements: Therefore the Heathen pronounced that City …afe which had the heads of old men for consideration, and the …ands of young men for execution. Action without consideration, is usually lame and defective, consideration without action is lost and abortive. Though meditation, like Rachel, be more fair; execution, like Leah, is most fruitful. The beasts under the law were unclean which did not both chew the cud, and divide the hoof. Ruminatio ad sapientiam, fissa ungula pertinet ad mores; Chewing the cud signifieth meditation, dividing the hoof an holy conversation, without which the former will be unprofitable, saith Austin.
Reader, Hast thou thought of the beauty and excellency of holiness, in its nature, its conformity to the pure nature, and holy commands of the blessed God, in its causes, the Spirit of God its principal efficient, the holy Scriptures its instrumental; In its names, its the image of God, the divine nature, light, life, the travel of Christs soul, grace, glory, the Kingdom of heaven: In its effects or fruits; how it renders thee amiable in Gods eye, hath the promise of his ear, is entituled to pardon, peace, joy, adoption, growth in grace, perseverance to the end, and the exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and hast applied this so close to thy heart, that thou hast been really affected with its worth, and wished thy self enriched with that jewel, though thou wert a beggar all thy life; and resolved with thy self, Well, I will watch, and weep, and hear, and pray, both fervently and frequently for holiness; I will follow God up and down, and never leave him till he sanctifieth my soul! Now I say to thee, as Nathan to David, when he told him of his thoughts and resolution of building a temple; Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee, 2 Chron. 17.2. or as God to Moses, concerning the Jews; They have well spoken all that they have said; O that there were an heart in them to keep my commandments! Its well thou art brought to any good purposes; but it will be ill if they be not followed with performances. Good intentions without suitable actions, is but a false conception; or like a piece charged without a bullet, which may make a noise, but doth no good, no execution. Indeed there is no way better to evidence the sincerity of thy intentions, then by answerable actions. David was good at this, I thought on my wayes, there was his serious consideration; and turned my feet to thy testimonies, there is his holy conversation. So again, I will meditate on thy precepts, and will have respect to thy testimonies. Tis in vain to pretend, that like Moses, we go into the mount of contemplation, and converse with God, unless we come down as he did with our faces shining, our conversations more splendent with holiness. This, saith the cheif of the Philosophers, will a man to perfect happiness, if to his contemplation he joyn a constant imitation of God in wisdom, justice and holiness.
Thus I have dispatched those five particulars in meditations; The first three are but one (though for methods sake to help the Reader, I spake to them severally) and are usually called Cogitation, the other two Application and Resolution; Cogitation provides food, Application eats it, Resolution digests it, and gets strength from it; Cogitation cuts out the sute, Application makes it up; Resolution puts it on and wears it; Cogitation betters the judgement, Application the affections, and Resolution the life. Its confest, this duty of set meditation is as hard as rare, and as uneasie as extraordinary, but experience teacheth that the profit makes ab…nd…nt recompence for our pains in the performance of it. Besides, as Milstones grind hard at first, but being used to it, they grind easily, and make good flower; so the Christian wholly disused to this duty, at first may find it some what difficult, but afterwards both facile and fruitful.
Reader, to help thee herein, I shall give thee an example, though I would desire thee to remember that the advantage of meditation is rather to be fel… then read; He that can paint Spikenard, or Musk, or Roses, in their proper colours, cannot with all his Art, draw their pleasant savo…r, that is beyond the skill of his pencil.
Let us, O my soul, a little retire out of the worlds company,The Subject matter of meditation; The word of God. to converse with the word of thy God. I cannot but hope the malefactour hath an high esteem for that Psalm of mercy, without which he had lost his life. I have reason to believe that thou hast no mean value for that Gospel of grace, and the graece of that Gospel, without which thou hadst lost thy soul, thy God, thy joy, thy delight, thine all, and that for ever; yet sure I am, the price thou sets on it, is far inferiour, to the worth of this Pearl, and besides, I have observed of late (whe…her partly because of its constancy with thee, things common, though never so necessary and excellent, being less valued then meaner things that are rare, or cheifly because of thy old seeming friend, or rather real enemy, thy flesh within thee, that never speaks well of it, because of its contrariety to the word, from which it hath received its deaths-wound, and therefore would die as the Thies on the Cross, spitting out its venome and malice at it, or what ever be the cause, I perceive too much) thou beginnest to decline in thy respect to it, what else doth thy backwardness to read it, thy carelesness in minding what thou dost read, and thy neglegence in practicing it signifie; Therefore let us take a turn or two together, and argue the case, lest it be argued against thee in an higher Court, to thy cost, and I charge thee before the dreadful God, at whose judgement seat thou art to stand or fall for ever, that thou attend to me seriously, and not dare to give me the slip, till the whole be debated, for it is not a vain thing, but i… for thy life.
The first part of meditation; Cogitation of the word. First, In it; C…uses.What is this Word which thou art so prone to despise? Consider it, O my soul, First, in its Causes, and then tell me whether the child be not worthy of love and esteem in the superlative degree for his parents sake.
1Its principal efficient Cause; The Spirit of God.1. Its Principal Efficient cause, is the glorious and supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth, the Spring and Fountain of all excellency and perfection; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. Its the Word of the Lord, the Breath of his Mouth, the Law of his Lips; whoever were the Pens or Scribes, his Mind indicted, and his Hand wrot every sentence in it. What a word must that be, which is the result of infinite… wisdom? How precious are those Tables which are the writing of God himself? How glorious is that beam of light which was darted from this Sun to whom a whole Firmament of Suns were worse then perfect darkness? If the breath of a man be so sweet that his doctrine drop as the rain, and his speech distil as the dew; If the heart of a man can indict a good matter, and his tongue resemble the pen of a ready writer; O what is the speech of the tongue of a God! Never man spake as he spake, his enemies themselves being judges. John 7. 46.The Queen of Sheba came from the utmost parts of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and blessed those Servants that waited at his Table and heard his wisdom; But loe, O my soul! A greater then Solomon is here; How blessed are they that wait at his Gates, and that watch at the Posts of his doors!
2Its instrumental Cause; Eminent Saints.2. The Pen-men and Scribes of it were men of choice gifts and graces. Some of them were like Saul, higher by the head and Shoulders then their brethren in the fear and favour of God; As Moses the meekest man upon the face of the earth; David the sweet singer of Israel, a man after Gods own heart; Solomon, who excelled in wisdom all that were before him, or came after him; Isaiah of the Blood-Royal, an Evangelical Prophet, or Prophetical Evangelist, whose prophesie is clean and clear, and curiously garnished with all kind of Rhetorick; Iohn the beloved Disciple that leaned on the bosome of Iesus; Paul who was wrapt up into the third Heavens, and as famous for active and passive obedience, as any in the world in his days; All of them were men extraordinarily inspired, and assisted by the Spirit of God. Not onelyonly the notions, but the very phrases and words were imprinted on them, and infused into them by God himself. The writings of some Naturalists have been bought at a great price, and thought worthy to be presented to great Princes; but the best of them, (though the Prophesie of the Sybills, which the Heathen so highly esteemed, be included) is but a bundle of folly and vanity to this book; Prophesie came not of old time by the will of men, but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. O how excellent must that Scripture be, of which such incomparable persons were the Pen-men or Aman…enses, and to whom the infinite wisdom of God, did dictate every word?
3. The matter of them is heavenly and divine, 3The Material Cause.the epitome of all equity and righteousness, the compendium of whatsoever is fit to be beleived or practiced. The Scripture is a perfect rule, both for faith and manners; It informeth us fully in our carriage towards God, and towards men; how we ought to walk in all relations and conditions; it forbiddeth evil, all evil, in the very thoughts; it commandeth good, whatsoever is good, in the whole course of our lives; It speaketh of such things as are far above reason, and yet nothing that is contrary to reason. The truths delivered in it, are many of them such as no humane or created capacity could have possibly invented, yet such as are all agreeable to a rational understanding. It would have exceeded the wisdom of an Angel … to have thought of such a sweet mixture of justice and mercy, as is discovered in the Gospel, about the redemption of fallen man; It teacheth the nature and excellency of God, the trinity of persons, the unity of essence, the immensity of all his attributes, how he is infinite in his being, wisdom, knowledge, holiness, mercy, and faithfulness; how he is a pure act, without the least passion; a perfect being, uncapable of any addition; eternal, without either beginning or ending; immutable, without the least alteration; incomprehensible, beyond all co…ceptions; omnipresent, without any circumscription; It instructeth us in the person, and offices, and states of the blessed Redeemer, how he being the Son of God, was partaker of the humane nature, that the Sons of men might be partakers of the divine nature. How God and Man were united in one person, that Man and God might be united in one Covenant; How the eternal God married our natures, that he might exalt his boundless grace in marrying our persons; How man was the debtor, God-man the surety, who made satisfaction to God the Creditour. How he was born of a mean woman, that we might be born of the most high God; he was tempted, that he might conquer Satan for us, and succour us when tempted by him; what a life he led, filled with miracles and miseries; what a death he died, embittered with shame and pain, and all that we might be exalted to eternal honour and pleasure. How he triumphed over Death, the Grave, the Curse of the Law, Satan and Hell, in his Resurrection, and ascended into Heaven, leading Captivity Captive; appears in his Fathers presence, pleading his death, as the prise of his Chosens fafety and life, sitteth at his right hand, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. Its precepts excel all the commands, and Statutes, and Laws, that ever were in the World, in purity and justice, and goodness, much more then the Firmament of Stars, doth a Wisp of Straws; Its promises are exceeding great and precious, of special efficacy, superlative excellency, and unquestionable certainty. In a word, the Scripture hath all in it, requisite either for counsel or comfort, for necessity or delight, for knowledge or action, for direction in life, or consolation in death.
3. The form of the Scripture renders it worthy my highest esteem,3The formal cause of it. and hottest affection.
1. Its inward form is, 1Inward.That perfect correspondence and agreement between the commands and promises laid down in the word, and that infallible and certain truth of Gods own understanding. The books of men are sutable to their minds, and their minds being but in part sanctified, their works must be answerably imperfect; but the Lords understanding being infinitely pure and true, his word must bear some proportion to it. God is truth, without the least shadow of error; holy, without the least tittle of mixture; hence his word is certain, without the smallest colour for doubts; Thy law is the truth; pure, not admitting of the least sin or darkness; Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy servant love it. Because of its exact conformity to the eternal will of God, its called his word. As a man maketh known his mind by his words, so doth God; hence its called the mind of God, Pro. 1. 23. The Word of God, 1 Pet. 1. 15. The counsel of God, Act. 20. 27. The Oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2. The Law of God, Psalm 1. 2. Not onelyonly in regard of its Author, which is the divine wisdom, but also in regard of its matter, which is the divine will.
2Outward.2. Its outward form is both plain and difficult; according to Gregory, so shallow that lambs may wade in it, and so deep that Elephants may swim in it. Its stile is so plain as to encourage the most unlearned, and yet so difficult as to exercise the greatest Scholars, and most profound Rabbies. To those that are babes in understanding, the Scripture is milk; to them that are men in knowledge, the word is strong meat; Its therefore called light, the nature of which, is both to discover it self and other things also. Thy word is a light to my feet, and a lanthorn to my paths; Its a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts, Psa. 119. 105. 1 Pet. 1. 19.
It is plain in regard of fundamentals and things necessary to be known and done. What we are to believe concerning God, the mediatour, our own estate of innocency, apostacy, recovery; what we are to practise in order to salvation, are all perspicuous and clear to ordinary capacities. Though there be some whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine upon them; yet all wisdomes ways are plain to him that understandeth, 2 Cor. 4.4. Pro. 8. 9. The Scripture sheweth the greatest simplicity, both in words and phrases and figures, that the weakest need not be afraid of searching into it. There is such obscurity also in things not absolutely necessary to salvation, that the deepest understandings need not be ashamed of reading and studying it. Peter affirmes that in the Epistles of Paul, there are foreign, some things hard to be understood. There are such abstruse texts in the word of God, that no man can make a certain comment on them. The Jews themselves confessed that in the latter end of Ezekiel, there are many things mentioned which are beyond all their apprehensions, against which, and all other difficulties in the Old Testament, they comfort themselves according to the expression of the woman of Samaria, Messias venturus est qui nobis annunciabit omnia; The Messias will come and tell us all things; Now the wise God seeth fit to let some truths in Scripture be dark.
1. To shame us for our ignorance, which is the fruit of our fall from him. The pride and height of man is laid low, by the profound and hard places in the Word of God.
2. To quicken us to diligence, in reading and meditating, and comparing Scripture with Scripture. The deeper a mine of gold lyeth in the earth, the harder we must labour to dig it out.
3. To raise our price of the Word of God; We are apt to slight things that are easie and ordinary, and to value things at the highest, that cost us dearest.
4. To provoke us to pray to God, that he would give us his key, whereby we may unlock this cabinet of precious Jewels. He onelyonly that made the Scripture can best acquaint us with his mind in the Scripture; therefore David intreated divine light, that he might understand the divine Law, Psa. 119. 18. Open mine eyes, that I may see the wonder…ful things of thy Law.
4The final cause. Joh. 7. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 6.4. The final cause of the word, will speak it full of value and worth. Namely, the glory of the great God, and the salvation of lost man. The honour of God shines more brightly then the Meridian Sun, through the whole Heaven of the Scripture. The Scripture exalteth God in regard of his infinite nature and being, his transcendent excellencies and perfections, his eternal decree, his works of creation and providence. It advanceth God in all his attributes, declaring to us,
1. His wisdom, how he is the onelyonly wise God; the foolishness of God, is wiser then the wisdom of men; yea, that Angels themselves are fools to him. His understanding is infinite.
2. His Power, how he is mighty in strength, the Almighty God, to him nothing is impossible, doth what ever he pleaseth, can do more then he will do.
3. His mercy, how he is full of mercy, rich in mercy, the Father of mercys, hath multitudes of tender mercies, his mercy endureth for ever, hath an heighth, and depth, and length, and breadth in it which none can reach.
4. His Iustice, how he fails not the least in the performance of his promises, and accomplishment of his threatnings; how he will by no means clear the guilty, not the greatest of his favourites, not for the least of their offences; how he hath manifested his justice in the deluge brought on the old world, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in his carriage towards Apostate Angels, rebellious Israelites, his own chosen people, and the Med…atour his own Son, when he took upon him mans sin; in the instruments of eternal death, which he hath prepared in Hell for sinners, and the solemn triumph which justice shall have at the great day, and to all eternity in the other world.
5. His holiness, how he loaths sin with the greatest abhorrency, cannot behold the least iniquity, shoots the arrows of his vengeance against its actours and authors; will be sanctified in (or upon) all that approach him, is terrible in his holy places, forbiddeth the least complyance with sin, though but in a sudden thought, and makes it his end in his providences, ordinances, the gift of his Son, his Spirit, to make men holy. I might shew how it exalteth him in all his properties, but I pass on. It glorifieth him in every part of it. Its precepts and commands speak his purity and dominion, its promises and covenant speak his boundless mercy and compassion, its threatnings and comminations speak his justice and jealousie, its prophesies and predictions speak his wisdom and omniscience.
The Scripture tendeth also to the eternal good of men. It is helpful to beget a soul to Christ; Of his own will begat he us again by the Word of truth. The Word of grace is instrumental for the conveyance of grace, Act. 2.37. Rom. 10. 14. It is helpful to build the soul up in Christ; as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Grace is increased by the same means, by which it is generated; as the same Sun that begets some living creatures is helpful for their growth. The Word of God, of stones raiseth up children to Abraham, and of Children maketh Young men and Fathers. It is so penned, that all sorts of persons, all ranks of Christians may be directed into the way of truth, and guided by it in the way of life. It is able to make us wise to salvation: To shew the path of life, 2 Tim. 3. 15. Psa. 16. 11. As Ioshua, it leads the Israelites into Canaan. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.
1. For Doctrine, Where Scripture hath not a tongue to speak, I must not have an ear to hear. Scriptura est regula fidei, Scripture is the rule of faith; Hence the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is called a foundation, Ephes. 2. 20.
2. For reproof. It is the hammer of Heresies; Ignorance of Scripture, is one main cause of error; Ye err not knowing the Scripture. By this sword of the Spirit Christ vanquished Satan, Mat. 4. 4. and the Jews, Ioh. 5.45. and Sadduces, Mat. 22.29. Lapidandi sunt haeretici sacrarum literarum argumentis; Hereticks are to be stoned with Scripture arguments, saith Athanasius. The Word of God hi…s that unclean bird in the eye, and wounds it mortally.
3. For correction of manners; The sword of the Word pierceth the sinners conscience; like Christ to the woman of Samaria, It tells him all that ever he did, and makes him smite upon his thigh, and say, What have I done? Scripture is a glass which sheweth him the spots that are in the face of his heart and life.
4. For instruction in righteousness. It is the way in which we should walk, the rule of our spiritual race: What is written on some Psalms, may be written on every Psalm and Chapter in the whole Bible, Maschil, or Psalm for instruction. Its precepts teach us what to follow, its prohibitions tell us what to forsake; Its promises are to allure us to sanctity, its threatnings to affright us from sin; the good example of the Saints speaketh as Christ to Peter, Follow thou me; the wicked actions and ends of sinners cry aloud, as Abner to Ioab, Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the end?
5. For comfort: There is no such cordial for a fainting spirit, as a promise in the Word. The Gospel in the Greek, is glad tidings, and not without cause; This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickned me. When souls have been ready to despair under the sense of their wickedness, and to sink in deep waters, the Word of God hath held them up by the chin, and preserved them from drowning; Vnless thy law had been my delight, I had perished in mine affliction.
6. For salvation; the Word is called the Kingdom of heaven; partly because it revealeth Gods thoughts of such an inestimable happiness to the children of men. The celestial Canaan was terra incognita till that discovered it;2 Ti…. 1. 9. He hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel; partly because it prepares the soul for heaven; the Word sanctifieth and so saveth precious souls. By filling us with grace, it fitteth us for glory, Rom. 1.16. Ioh. 17.17. Partly because it is the seed of heaven. As the Harvest is potentially in the seed, and a tall Oke potentially in an acorn; so heaven and eternal life is potentially in the Word of life. It is called The grace of God that bringeth salvation. It bringeth salvation to men, and it bringeth men to salvation.
2In its properties.Secondly, Consider it, O my soul, in its properties, they will also speak its preciousness.
1. It is pure and holy, there are some dregs that will appear in the exactest writings of the best men, when they have been shaken by a critical hand; but none could ever justly fasten the least filth upon the holy Scriptures. The Word of Christ is like the Spouse of Christ; There is no spot in it. The Alcoran of Mahomet, alloweth Polygamy, promiseth sensual pleasures as the reward of his servants; but the Scripture winketh not at the least sin, no not so much as in a motion of the heart, or a glance of the eye, and its promises are also pure and spiritual. The Doctrine of the wisest Heathen, and Philosophers, were a mixture of good and bad; Theft was no fault amongst Lycurgus Laws, but if done slily commended highly; Aristotle permitted revenge, and obscene jesting, which Scripture expresly forbids; Thy word is very pure; The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times; There is not the least dross of evil or error in it;
1. Its principal Author is the original and exemplar of all holiness, his nature is the pattern, and his will the rule of purity, Exod. 15. 4. Isa. 6. 3.
2. The Scribes of it were holy men, moved and actuated by the Holy Ghost.
3. Its effect is to sanctifie and make holy, Ye are clean, through the word that I have given you.
4. The matter of it is holy; Its commanding part is holy; The Law is holy, just, and good, Rom. 7. 12. Its assertory part is holy, what it affirmes to be, is; what it denyeth to be, is not, Psa. 19. 7. Its promissory part is holy, both formaliter in its own nature, and effective in its end and fruit; Its Historical part is holy; other books are properly called prophane Histories, in distinction from this. The Scriptures expressions are pure, of the most impure actions; He knew her no more, men with men doing what is unseemly, Gen. 38. 26. Rom. 1. 27.
2. It is powerful; As fire it can melt the hardest mettal; As an Hammer, it can break the most stony heart, Ier. 23. 29.
1. It is powerful for Conviction; It sets mens sins before their eyes, and makes them behold their ugliness and deformity, whether they will or no; It tells the sinner as Elisha concerning the Syrian King, to the King of Israel, what he doth and saith in his bed-…hamber, in the retiring room of his heart; It makes the spirit of the stoutest sinner to tre…ble, as the leaves with the wind, and though he strives to put off his quaking fits by some humane cordials, yet he finds his soul-Ague still continuing upon him. Sturdy Murderers of Christ spring in trembling, and an earthly Felix quakes under the power of this word; This voice of the Lord is powerful, it …hakes the Cedars of Lebanon. The batteries of the word have shaken the sensless conscience, and shattered the flinty h…art in peices.
2. It is powerful for conversion; It is able to change the nature, and turn an heart of stone, into an heart of flesh; It hath many a time inlightned dark minds to see the things which they never saw, enlivened dead souls, and enabled them to stand up from the dead. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul; It hath dispossessed the strong man, cast him out of his strong holds, wherein he had raigned many years, and subdued the soul to another Lord and Soveraign. What hath been said of God, may be said of the Word in the hand of the Spirit; Who ever resisted its will? How powerful is that word which can make the proudest creature that scorned former reproofs and precepts, threatnings and judgements, to cry and weep bitterly like a child under the rod; that can create the new creature, the choicest of Gods works! By the word of the Lord are the (new) Heavens (wherein dwelleth righteousness) made, and all the (glorious) host thereof, (of sparkling graces) by the breath of his mouth.
3. Its powerful for conquering spiritual enemies; The noble victories atchieved by the Lords Worthies, are most of them obtained by this sword of the Spirit; Whole armies of sins have been discomfited and forced to flie before the face of this weapon. God hews these by his Prophets, and slays them by the word of his mouth. This word like the rod in the hand of Moses, worketh wonderfully for the destruction of such Egyptian enemies. Satan is another enemy of the Christians, but as powerful and as politique as he is, he falls down like lightening from heaven before the preaching of the word. This sword hath so wounded that Leviathan, that destroyer of souls, that he can never recover himself; They overcame him (i. e. the Devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, Rev. 12. 11. In a word, it must needs be strong, for it is the power of God to salvation; The rod of his strength, Rom. 1. 16. Psa. 110. 2.
3. It is perfect, It contains in it all that is necessary and sufficient for our eternal salvation. It is a full and compleat rule and measure both of things to be believed and practised; it will admit no addition, because it is defective in nothing; it will suffer no diminution, for it is redundant in nothing; If any man shall add unto it, God shall add anto his plagues; If any man shall take away from the words of this book, God shall take away his part out of the book of life. Jesus Christ, who was the great Teacher sent from God, was faithful in his office, and gave his Church whatsoever Precepts or Doctrines were needful for her, in order to her endless good. He tells us, Whatsoever I have heard of the Father, I have made known unto you, Joh. 15. 15. And his Apostle speaks to the same purpose, Act. 20. 21. I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. Besides, it is able to make the man of God perfect, and throughly furnished unto every good word, which it could never do, if it were not perfect it self. Nil dat quod non habet, Nothing can give that which it hath not in it self, either formally or virtually. Traditions are no way necessary to compleat the Canon of Scripture; Since God did reveal his will in writing, every age had that revealed to it which was sufficient for that age, to make such as then lived wise to salvation; but as God was pleased to reveal more, the latter did assist us in the understanding of the former; …herefore so long as any truth was necessary to be more fully known, he inspi…ed holy men to do it, and the compleating of the divine Canon, was reserved for Christ and his Apostles, Ioh. 15. 15. and 7. 8. and 6. 13. Act. 20. 27. Gal. 1. 6, 7, 8.
4. It is true and certain. Not a tittle of it shall fail; It is cal…ed truth, the truth, thy truth, the Scripture of truth, the word of truth, the Gospel of truth, a more sure word, the comparative for the superlative, the most sure word; Christ prefers it before information from the dead, the Apostle before Revelation from Angels, or auy other way whatsoever.Psa. 119. 142. Joh. 17. 17 Dan. 10. ult. Eccles. 12. 10. Col. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 19 Gal. 1. 8 2 Pet. 1. 19 Luk. 16. 31
1. The Precepts of it are true, they are perfectly agreeable to the mind of the speaker, Thou art near O Lord, and all thy commandments are truth, Psa. 119. 5. The words of men may be true, but the word of God onelyonly is truth; There is no error, no mixture in it, tis therefore called sincere milk, 1 Pet. 2. 2.
2. The Promises of it are true. They are accomplished to the least particle of them. Hence they are called the sure mercies of David. The Promises of God are unquestionable, because their speaker is unchangeable, and one for whom it is impossible to lie; They are sure hold, and will eat their way through all the Alpes of opposition; Not one good thing ha…h failed, of all that the Lord our God hath promised, Joshua 21. 45.
3. The Histories of it are true; Whatsoever is written in it of the first or second Adam, of any persons, or nations, is exactly true; …here never was fuch an impartial historian as the inditer of the word. This is the Book which hath no Errata's in it.
4. The threatnings are true. The sinner shall as certainly feel them, as he reads or hears them. He shall as surely be damned, as if he were already damned, therefore he is said to be condemned already, John 3. …lt.to speak its certainty. He shall find the gnawing worm, and the eternal fire as unquestionably as if he felt them at this hour; hence God appeals to the consciences of the Jews whether though the Prophets died, his threatnings (which were denounced by those Prophets) did not live, and take hold of them, Zach. 1.5.
5 Its true in the Predictions and Prophesies. The predictions of the Israelties distress in Egypt four hundred years, and deliverance thence; of their possessing Canaan, of Cyrus birth, of the Jews redemption out of the Babylonish captivity, of the four Monarchies, and of Christs coming in the flesh, his mean birth, afflicted life, death, buriall, ascention, are all already accomplished: Those Prophesies in Daniel and Revelation concerning the future estate of the Church, the ruine of Pope and Turk, the vocation of the Jews, and the glorious and pure condition of the people of God in the latter days, shall all to a tittle be fulfilled. Its observable therefore that some predictions that were or are future are set down in the present tense, To us a son is born; Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen; to assure us that they shall be as certainly fulfilled as if they were fulfilled already, Isa. 9. 6. Rev. 18.
6. It is the rule of all truth. Other Books are true no farther then they are agreeable and commensurable to this. All other sayings and writings are to be tried by this touchstone; It is not what sense saith, or what reason saith, or what Fathers say, or what General Councils say, or what Traditions say, or what Customs say, but what Scripture saith that is to be the rule of faith and life. Whatsoever is contrary to Scripture, or beside Scripture, or not rationally deducible from Scripture is to be rejected as spurious and adulterate; To the Law and to the Testimonies, if they speak not according to this it is because there is no light (no truth) in… them. Isa. 8.20.
3. Consider it, O my soul, in its names, 3In its names and titles.and they will speak much to the excellency of its nature. What is this Word which thy thoughts are now upon? It is called aJohn 10. 35.Scripture, or bMatth. 22.29Scriptures by an Antonomasie or excellency of phrase, as the most worthy writings that ever saw the light; It is called the c1 Pet. 1.15.Word of God, both in regard of its efficient cause, which is the d2 Tim. 3.15.Spirit of God; the eEphes. 1.9.material cause, which is the mind of God; the fEphes. 3.9.final cause, which is the glory of God; It is called gProv. 20.17.the Law of the Lord, hJames 1 25.the law of liberty, iRom. 3.27.the law of saith, kPsal. 19.7.a perfect law … lJames 1. 8.a royal law, mJosh. 1.8.the book of the law, nIsa. 34. 16.the book of the Lord, o2 King. 22.8.the book of life, pEphes. 1.16.the Gospel of peace, qRom. 1. 1.the Gospel of God, rActs 20.24.the Gospel of Gods grace, sActs 20: 27.the counsel of God, t1 Kings 2. 3.the charge of God, the uJob 37. 10.breath of God, xJer. 9. 12the mouth of God, yDeut. 29. 12.the oath of God, zActs 7.38.the Oracles of God, aMicah 6. 9.the paths of God, bProv: 8.14.the wisdom of God; cRom: 10.14It is called a good thing … dLuke 10. ult.the good part, eMatth: 16.19the key of knowledge, fLuke. 11. 52.the key of Heaven, gLuke 2.10.tidings of salvation, hIsa: 52.7.glad tidings of peace, i1 Sam. 13. 23a good way, kPsalm 101.2.a perfect way, lMatth: 7. 13.a narrow way. Many other tit…es it hath which shew the excellency of this Word of truth.
4. Consider it, O my soul, in its comparisons, 4In it… comparisons.which will shew thee somewhat of its perfections; Whereunto is this Word resembled? it is resembled to light, to a lamp. Solomon tells us, The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Tis likely he learned it of his father; Thy word is a light to my feet and a lanthorn to my paths, saith David, Prov. 6 23. Psal. 119. 105.
1. It is light for its clarity and beauty; Light is the ornament of the world, which is most incorporeal of all corporeal beings, therefore termed spiritual. Though it discovers all the pollutions of the earth, yet it is not polluted therewith. The word is the glory of this lower world; The law is spiritual, and its beauty is not faided, nor its purity stained by all the filth of false doctrines and heresies which have been cast into the face of it, from the beginning of the world to this day; The word of the Lord abideth for ever.
2. Light is pleasant and delightful; darkness is affrighting and dreadful, but light is refreshing and reviving; Light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun, Eccles. 11.7. The word of God is sweet, and its a pleasant thing with the eyes of faith to behold the glorious sun of divine truths. The eye is not more affected with curious sights, nor the ear with ravishing musick, nor the pallate with rare meats, then a spiritualized understanding with spiritual truths. David found not onelyonly delight in the singular, but delights in the plural number, all sorts and degrees of delights in the word of God; Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, but thy commandments are my delights. His delights in the Law of God were so rare and ravishing, that they quite extinguished all sensual delights, as the light of the day the light of a candle, and drowned the noise of all his crosses and troubles by their loud and amazing melody. Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a pleasant Garden, wherein every flower yeilds a fragrant savour. Ambrose to a feast, wherein every book is a dainty dish, affording food both pleasant and wholsom.
3. Light discovereth and maketh things manifest. The night conceals things, and the day reveals them; That which maketh manifest is light, Ephes. 5. 13. Light discovers things in their proper shapes and colours, whether beauties or deformities; When the Sun appeareth, we see the dust in corners, and dirt in Ditches, which before lay hid. The word of God maketh a discovery of an unknown world of sin in the heart of man, and the great mystery of iniquity which lay hid there. I was alive without the Law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I dyed, Rom. 7. 9. The faults, and spots, and defects of his duties, were visible by the light of the word; All things are naked and open before it; It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb. 4. 12. The word sheweth the beauty of holiness, the love and loveliness of the Redeemer.
4. Light directs us how and where to walk. In the night we wander and go out of the way, we stumble and fall, but the day helpeth us both to see our way, and to walk in it without stumbling. If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world, Iohn 11. 9. The word of God doth preserve us from sin, and guide our feet in the way of peace, Luk. 1. 73. It is our Pole…st…r as we are Mariners; our Pillar of fire, as we are travellers; The Law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide, Psa. 37. 31. Our feet by the light of the word are preserved from falling, and our steps from sliding, Psalm 119. 105.
5. Light scattereth darkness; As the Sun where it ariseth, and displayeth its beames, dispelleth mists and clounds, causeth an alteration in the face of the Air, and makes the shadows to flie before it, that they cry like Iacob to the Angel, Let me go, for the day breaketh; so the light of the word scattereth that darkness which was before upon the minds of men.
1. It dispelleth the darkness of error, Mat. 22.29. Naked Truth, conquereth Armed Error; and Little David with his small stones out of the silver streams of the Sanctuary, the great Goliah of Heresie; With this, silly women have confuted and conquered profound Doctors, notwithstanding their deep and intricate arguments, and have wounded them as mortally as that woman without weapons, did Abimilech, that great Captain, with a Milstone.
2. It dispelleth the darkness of ignorance. The word is the key of knowledge, and openeth the door that lets us into the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is that precious eye-salve, with which our blind eyes being anointed see. It is sent to open the eyes of the blind, and to turn men from darkness to light; When the word comes, the people that sat in darkness see a great light, Act. 26. 18. Mat. 4. 16.
3. It dispelleth the darkness of prophaness; this weapon of the word stabbeth lust under its fifth rib, and letteth out the very heart blood of it. The Devil puts off his rotten wares in the dark shops of Heathen and unbelieving and unchristian Christians; but where the word hath arisen upon any soul, it discerneth his cheat, and is too wise to be cozened by him. By what means may a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word, Psa. 119.9.
The word is resembled to Rain, to Water, to Dew. Moses tells the Israelites, My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain, and my speech distil as the Dew. Christ calls it the water of life, Joh. 6. 35.
1. Rain is from above. God keeps that key under his own girdle; Can any of the vanities of the Heathen cause Rain? Art not thou he? Jer. 14. 22. Man may speak long enough to the clo…ds before they will distil one drop; but if God command those bottles, they are presently unstopped and poure down in abundance; He covereth the Heavens with Clouds, and prepareth Rain for the earth, Psa. 147. 8. Thus the Word of God came down from above; Every of the Pen-men of it, might have spoken as David, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, 2. Sam. 23. 2. It did immediately inspire me what particulars to utter, and in what phrases to deliver them. That which is said of some of the Prophesies, may be said of every Book, and of every Chapter and Verse in every Book; Thus saith the Lord; The word of the Lord, which came to Amos; The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It is all one to say, The Scripture saith, and God saith. Compare Rom. 4. 3. and 10. 11. with Rom. 9. 25. and Heb. 4.3. and Gal. 3. 21. with Rom. 11. 32. Some observe that the word which Moses useth for Doctrine dropping like Rain, signifieth received Doctrine, because the Doctrine in the word, is received from God, not devised by men, Deut. 32. 2. I received from the Lord, that which I also delivered unto you, 1 Cor. 11. 32.
2. Rain is mollifying and softning; When the earth hath been like Brass and Iron under our feet, by long drought, or hard frosts, a few good showres supple it, and make it tender; Therefore David speaking of the earth, saith, Thou makest it soft with showres, Psa. 65. 10. So the heart of man is compared to a stone, to a rock, to a flint, to an adamant, the hardest of stones, for its hardness hath been suppled and softned by the word. The Jews that had imbrued their hands in the blood of Christ, had certainly very hard hearts. The thought of such a murder would have made a deep impression upon any conscience, that were not seared with a red hot Iron, yet this word preached, melted them as hard mettal as they were; When they heard these things, they were pricked to the heart; Peters Sermon, like Moses rod, fetcht water out of the Rock, Act. 2. 37. David upon the disorder and intemperance of his soul, in the matter of Vriah, had an hard swelling, which continued and increased upon him several moneths; yet when Nathan comes and gently baths it with this Oyl of the Word, it groweth soft and tender, as appeareth by the title of Psa. 51. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
3. Rain maketh the earth fruitful, therefore some call it the earths Husband, because it helps the earth to bring forth; He watereth the hills from his chambers, the earth is satisfied with his works; he causeth the grass to grow for the earth, and hearbs for the service of man, Psal. 104. 13,14. so Psal. 65.9,10,11,12. So the Word of God turns that heart which was as a barren wilderness into a fruitful meadow, 1 Pet. 2. 2.
4. Rain reviveth and refresheth the earth; when the earth is chopt and faint, when it gaspeth and is weary, a showre of rain recovers and refresheth it; the Psalmist tells us that upon such droppings from above the pastures and valleys shout for joy, they also sing, Psa. 65.13. Thus the Christian scorc… ed with the apprehension of Gods wrath due to him for sin, draweth all his comfort and refreshment out of those wells of salvation, the promises of the word. When conscience is sore and raw through the wounds sin hath made in it, and the weight of guilt that lieth continually grating upon it; He sendeth his word and health them, Psal. 107.20. David had experience what an healing medicine the Word was; In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul. When Philip had preached the word to the Eunuch, he went away rejoycing. That milk which runs from the breasts of the two Testaments is never sucked with the mouth of faith without abundant satisfaction; that wine which which is drawn from the pipes of the promises, rejoyceth the heart of man indeed: These things are written that your joy may be full. The Saint never sits at a fuller table of joy, then when he is feasting on the dainties of the Gospel.
O my soul, how many thoughts mightst thou spend about those several things to which the word is aptly and excellently resembled! It is compared to Armour, to a tree of life, to a portion, to milk, to strong meat, to pastures, to seed, to an ornament of grace, to rest, to a Crown of glory, to hidden treasures, to gold tried in the fire, to a glass, to oyl and oyntment, all which as so many curious colours well laid, may help thee to admire and prize more the beauty of that face which they resemble and represent.
Application.Glorious things are spoken of thee, O thou Word of God: Many books have done vertuously, have acted famously for the overthrow of sin and Satan, for the advancement of Christ and holiness, but thou hast excelled them all. Thou hast changed Lions into Lambs, Ravens into Doves, Beasts into Men, and Men into Angels; thou hast subdued head-strong passions, mortified natural and riveted corruptions, tore up old and sturdy lusts by the roots, conquered Principalities and Powers, led captivity captive; and turned the world upside down. By thee wonders are wrought, the blind restored to their sight, the dead raised, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the Lepers are cleansed, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them, and are changed into the nature of it; where thou ridest conquering and to conquer, the whole world runneth after thee; Thy neck is like the Tower of David, builded for an Armoury, wherein there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy weapons are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. By thee, poor, weak and contemptible men have subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of roaring lions, quenched the violence of hellish fire, escaped the edge of Hereticks and persecutors sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in sight, turned to flight Armies of the Aliens. Thou hast not onelyonly like Saul, slain thy thousands, but with David thy ten thousands; thou hast broken the serpents head, destroyed the great Leviathan. tramplest on Scorpions and Vipers, and nothing can hurt thee. Thou bringeth heaven down to earth, and carriest earth up to heaven. Thou are the joyful message from a far country, the river whose streams make glad the City of God. Infinite Wisdom contrived thee, Infinite Truth proclaimed thee, and infinite Goodness discovered thee; The Father indited thee, the Son confirmed thee, and the Spirit revealed thee to the children of men. The Countries and Kingdoms of the earth were overwhelmed with worse then Egyptian darkness, till thou didst arise upon them, and with thy glorious beams enlighten and enliven them; by thee fools have been made wise, sinners made Saints, ignorant men have been instructed, wandring men reduced, weak ones confirmed, and lost ones saved. By thee the heavens were established, the foundations of the earth formed, the sorrowful are comforted, the scandalous reformed, the needy relieved, and the righteousness of God revealed: Thou art eyes to the blind, and …eet to the lame, and food to the hungry, and rest to the weary, and physick to the sick, and life to the dying. The ablest Historian will infinitely fall short in describing thy heroick deeds; None can declare thy noble acts, or display half thy praise. Angels may well pry into thee with admiration and astonishment, and make the contents of thy Chapters, the subject of their songs, and substance of their Halelujah… to all eternity. When that heavenly host preached on earth, thou wert their Text, be thou their triumph in heaven for ever.
O thou savour of life, thou living water, thou well of salvation, thou tidings of great joy to all Nations, thou ministration of righteousness, thou mystery of godliness, thou mine of unsearchable riches, thou way of holiness, thou word of the kingdom, that thou wert written on the tables of my heart, and graven with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond on that rock for ever! Thou wast once written on tables of stone with the hand of God himself; how precious was that book wherein every leaf was immediately of Gods making, and every line in it of Gods writing! My heart is an heart of stone (I find it by too much experience) but if thou wert engraven on it 'twould be a precious stone; its price would be far above Rubies, the Onyx, and the Saphire should not be valued with it; the Gold and the Chrystal should not equal it, neither should it be exchanged for Coral or Pearls. O that I were manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, known and read of all men. O that my soul were the house, and thou the inhabitant for ever. O that the word of Christ might dwell richly within me, that I were able to say with holy David, I delight to do thy will O God, thy law is within my heart, or in the midst of my bowels. Thou art the Oracles of God, all thy sayings are faithful and true, and worthy of all acceptation; when, O when shall I give it them! Thou art worthy of the eye; Blessed is he that readeth the words of this Prophesie, Rev. 1. 3. Thou art worthy of the ear; Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it; Thou art worthy of the heart; O that I could hide thee in mine heart that I might not sin against the Lord; Thou art a counsellor to the doubting, a comforter to the distressed; Thou art health to the navel, and marrow to the bones, an ornament of grace unto the head, and a chain of gold about the neck; They that walk in thy ways are safe, and their feet do not stumble; Thou teachest in the ways of wisdom, and thou leadest in right paths; O that my ways were directed to keep all thy commandements, for thy steps tend to holiness, and thy Paths take hold of Heaven.
O my soul, is it possible for thee to hear the excellency of Scripture, thus opened to thee, and not to burn in love to it! Hast thou been all this while in such an hot bath, and still cold and shivering! Hast thou felt its power, tasted its savour, seen its beauty, often heard its awakening voice, and known its universal vertue, and dost thou yet doubt its divinity, or question its excellency! Surely, if ever thou shouldst again through unbelief belief ask it the same question, which the Scribes did Christ, when they beheld his miraculous actions; By what authority dost thou these things, or who gave thee this authority? thou mayst answer thy self in the words of the man born blind (and then seeing) to the Jews; Is it not strange, or, This is a marvellous thing, that thou knowest not whence it is, yet it hath opened thine eyes, Joh. 9. 30. Was there not a night of dread and horror with thee, when thou didst sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, till this sun did arise, with light and life under its wings. O cry out with the Psalmist, I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickened me. I was wallowing in my filth, weltring in my blood, rotting in the grave of corruption, till thou didst say unto me, Live; yea, till thou didst say unto me, Live: Thy voice is powerful, overcoming all opposition. The love revealed in thee is wonderful, far surpassing the love of woman. Thy promises are exceeding great and precious, more to be desired then gold, yea, then much fine gold. Thy Maker may well prevail for thine acceptance. Who would not reverence the issue for the Authors sake; Surely, that coin deserves esteem, which hath that Kings Image and Superscription on it. The matter in thee merits respect; Thou art a Love-letter from God to his creature, revealing his eternal thoughts of good will, publishing his acts of grace and oblivion to all traytors and rebels in arms against his Majesty, upon condition they will throw down their weapons, and become Loyal Subjects for the future; Thou art the Churches Charter, containing all the priviledges which the blessed Jesus purchased for her. What wise man would not value the deeds and evidences which speak and give a right to pardon, love, grace, joy, peace, and the undefiled inheritance for ever! When thou comest to a soul, salvation comes to that soul; Thou art always attended with a rich train of all sorts of comforts; The good tidings thou bringest, and great blessings thou conveyest where ever thou comest, may well make thee welcome. I may well say un…o thee, beholding the bracelets and ear-rings, wherewith thou adornest the Spouse of the true Isaac, as Laban to Abrahams servant; Come in thou blessed of the Lord, why standest thou without, I have prepared lodging for thee?
If I am bound to bless my God for the natural lights which he hath made, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night, because thereby it appears that his mercy endureth for ever, Psa. 136. 7, 8, 9. How much am I bound to bless him for the spiritual light of his word, that true, that marvellous light which shineth in a dark place, till the eternal day dawn! O what mercy, what mercy enduring for ever is there in every leaf, in every verse, in every line of that sacred Book! If Regeneration be a mercy, to be partaker of the divine nature, the stamping the lovely Image of the glorious God upon thee, then the word is a mercy, for that is the seal in the hand of the Spirit, which imprinte…h it on thee, Iames 1. 18. Is faith a mercy, that shield of the soul, whereby it quencheth the fiery darts of the Devil, that Ladder by which the soul mounteth to Heaven, and converseth daily with its Lord and Master? then the word is a mercy, for faith comes by hearing, the word is the door of faith, Rom. 10. 14. Act. 14. 27. If repentance be a mercy, those second and best thoughts of the soul, that recovery of the man to his wits and right mind, then the word is a mercy, for tis the voice of Christ in the word, that casteth the Devil of impenitency and sensuality out of the heart, (where it raigned and raged, sending out fire and flames, like AEtna, for many years) and makes the man like him in the Gospel (out of whom the Devil was cast) to sit at Iesus his feet in his right mind, bitterly weeping and mourning for his former folly and madness; Tis the hot beams of love that shine in the Gospel, that thaw the frozen spirits. Is hope a mercy, …hat Helmet of salvation which defendeth the head of Christians from Swords and Musquets, the souls of Saints from the darts and dangers of temptations, those Bladders of the soul, which keep it from sinking in deep waters? then the word is a mercy, for we through patience and comfort of the Scripture, have hope, Rom. 15. 4. Hope had never lookt out at the window, longing for the coming of its beloved, if the word had not come before as a faithful Messenger, and brought certain news that he was upon the way. Are pardon, reconciliation with God, adoption, growth in grace, yea, Heaven it self a mercy? then the word is a mercy; All those Jewels are lockt up in that Cabinet. Man durst not have presumed, he could not have conceived that the glorious jealous God should ever have such infinite respect for such wretches and rebels, if he had not found it written with his own hand in the word. Tis on the waters of the sanctuary, that the Saint saileth safely through the Sea of this world to the Port of salvation. There was no visible bridge laid over the Gulf of Gods wrath, for sinners to pass into the Kingdom of grace here, and glory hereafter, till the Gospel erected one.
O my soul, what honour can be high enough, what love hot enough, for the holy Scriptures!
1. Consider the preciousness of them in the eyes of good men, and the love they had for them. Iob preferred them before food, before his necessary food; Solomon before ornaments of gold, crowns of glory; Paul before all other Doctrines, though Preached by Angels; David before the honey, and the honey comb, great spoils, thousands of gold and silver, all riches; And when he ceaseth to compare, beginneth to admire i…s worth, Wonderful are thy testimonies; And his own fervent affection to it, O how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day.
2. The price paid for it. It cost the blood of thy beloved; well may the Scriptures be called Testaments, they were both sprinkled with blood, and made valid by the death of the Testatour, Heb. 9. 15, 16, 17. And for this cause he is the mediatour of the New Testament, that by means of death for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first Testament; they which were called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance; For where a Testament is, there must of necessity also be the death of the Testator; For a Testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth.
3. The pearl hid in it. The Lord Jesus Christ is the matter as well as the Author of it. Well may it be called the Word of Christ. Search the Scripture for they are they that testifie of me. He was the substance of the Law, and he is the sum of the Gospel: Thou hadst not known sin but for the Law, nor the Saviour, but for the Gospel.
Resolution.When David considered the kindness he had rece…ved from Ionathan, he said to his servants, Is there none left of the house of Saul that I may shew kindness to, for Jonathans sake. He could not but in gratitude study some return suitable to that good will of his dear friend. Great is the kindness I have received from the Scripture; What wilt thou say, what wilt thou do, O my soul, for this Word of thy God! O swear unto the Lord, and vow unto the mighty God of Jacob; surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, I will not go up into my bed, I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eye…lids, until I …inde out a place for the law of the Lord, and an habitation for the Gospel of the God of Jacob. Wilt thou not willingly, O my soul, rather then this worthy guest should lie without doors, take it into thy heart! O that thou wert the ark wherein the two Tables, the two Testaments might be laid up for ever. Lord I will through thy strength ponder all thy sayings in my heart, and make them the rule of my life; I will delight in…thy law, and meditate therein day and night. I will give diligence to reading, be frequent in hearing, and uniform and coustant in obedience to it. I will teach it diligently my children, and talk of it when I sit in mine house, and when I walk by the way, when I lye down, and when I rise up, I will bind it for a sign upon my hand, it shall be as a frontlet between mine eyes; I will make thy statutes my songs in the house of my pilgrimage, I will rejoyce in thy testimonies more then they that find great spoils; I will chuse thy statutes as my heritage for ever, for they are the joy of my heart; I will delight in the law of God after the inner man. I will incline my heart to keep thy statutes always unto the end; I have sworn and I will perform, that I will keep thy righteous judgements. But ah Lord, what do I say! I have even cast thy law behind my back, I have broken thy bands asunder, and cast thy cords from me: My carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; I can of my self break thy law, but onelyonly through thy strength keep it; I have gone astray like a lost sheep, O seek thy servant and I will keep thy statutes. Be surety for thy servant for good, that I may observe thy precepts: I am a stranger in this earth, hide not thy commandments from me. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not unto covetousness. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes, and I will keep it unto the end. Gi…e me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea I shall keep it with my whole heart. Thou art good, and dost good; O teach me thy statutes. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; O give me understanding that I may keep thy commandments. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt inlarge my heart. O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy hill, unto thy heavenly habitation. Then will I go into the presence of God, even of God my exceeding joy: Yea upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God for ever.
Fourthly, If thou woulst exercise thy self to godliness in Solitude, Accustom thy self to soliloquies, I mean to conference with thy self. He needs never be idle that hath so much business to do with his own soul. It was a famous answer which Antistenes gave when he was asked what fruit he reaped by all his studies; By them, saith he, I have learned both to live and talk with my self. Soliloquies are the best disputes; every good man is best company for himself of all the creatures. Holy David enjoyneth this to others; Commune with your own hearts upon your bed and be still, Selah, Psal. 4.4. Commune with your own hearts; when ye have none to speak with, talk to your selves. Ask your selves for what end ye were made, what lives ye have lead, what times ye have lost, what love ye have abused, what wrath ye have deserved? Call your selves to a reckoning, how ye have improved your talents, how true or false ye have been to your …rust, what provision ye have laid in for an hour of death, what preparation ye have made for a great day of account. VponUpon your beds: Secresie is the best opportunity for this duty. The silent night is a good time for this speech. When we have no outward objects to disturb us, and to call our eyes (as the fools eyes are always) to the ends of the earth; then our eyes, as the eyes of the wise may be in our heads; and then our minds, like the windows in Solomons Temple, may be broad inwards. The most successful searches have been made in the night season; the soul is then wholly shut up in the earthly house of the body, and hath no visits from strangers to disquiet its thoughts. Physicians have judged dreams a probable sign whereby they might find out the distempers of the body. Surely then the bed is no bad place …o examine and search into the state of the soul. And be still: Self-communion will much help to curb your head-strong, ungodly passions. Serious consideration, like the casting up of earth amongst Bees, will allay inordinate affections, when they are full of fury, and make such an hideous noise. Though sensual appetites and unruly desires, are as the people of Ephesus, in an uproar, pleading for their former priviledge, and expecting their wonted provision, as in the days of their predominancy, if conscience use its authority, commanding them in Gods name, whose officer it is, to keep the Kings peace, and argue it with them, as the Town-Clark of Ephesus, We are in danger to be called in question for this days uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this days concourse, all is frequently by this means husht, and the tumult appeased without any further mischief. Selah: This signifieth elevation, or lifting up either the mind or voyce or both. For the matter of it, it importeth,
1. An Asseveration of a thing so to be.A…nsw. on Psa. 3. 2. Hence the Chaldee Paraphrast, and some other Hebrews have turned it For ever; The foregoing assertions are true, and shall be so for ever.
2. An Admiration at it; Such truths call both for our assent and wonder. Selah is affixed by way of Emphasis, to note the excellency of the thing asserted, and the impression it should make upon our spirits.
As David enjoyned this duty to others, so he practised it himself, Psa. 77. 6. I call to remembrance my song in the night, I commune with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. He communed with his own heart, was not a stranger at home. Indeed, an Hypocrite, as the Philosopher speaks of a vicious person, is not friends with himself, but endeavours more to avoid himself then any others, and is never in so bad company, as when he is alone, for then he is forced to keep company with himself. Where conscience is an abused and incensed Judge, tis no wonder that a guilty malefactour would flie from its presence. The servant that hath rioted all day, is unwilling his Master should reckon with him at night; The Heathen (persecutors) would not hear the Christians, because their cause would have appeared so just that nature it self would have justified them. The ungodly will not for a contrary reason hear the indictments which conscience prefers against them, because their cause will appear so bad, that they cannot avoid condemning themselves. It may be said of whorish hearts, as of the Harlot, Her feet abide not within her house. But the sincere Christian, that allows himself in no sin, delights to commune with his own soul, and when he is debating things with his own conscience, esteems himself in good company. He had rather (Gods deputy) conscience, should admonish him to contrition, then that God himself should do it to his confusion.
According to the Apostles Doctrine, Every one of us must give account of himself to God; therefore every one of us, must take account of himself befare-hand. It will be but a sad account which some will give at the great Audit-day, when conscience shall confess against them, They made me keeper of others vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept; And it is but a poor trade that they drive at present, who make little use of their Shop-books. The greatest Merchants, and the most thriving, are much in their Counting-house.
5. In solitude, accustom thy self to secret ejaculations and converses with God. Lovers cast many a glance at each other, when they are at a distance, and are deprived of set meetings. A little Boat may do us some considerable service, when we have not time to make ready a great Vessel. The casting of our eyes and hearts up to Heaven, will bring Heaven down to us; My meditations of him shall be sweet, Psa. 104. 34. Secret ejaculations have meat in their mouths, and will abundantly requite such as entertain them. If they be much in our bosomes, as Abishag in Davids, they will cherish us, and put warmth into us. They are sweet, in the day, like the Black-bird, cheering us with their pleasant noats, and do also afford us wi…h the Nightingale, songs in the night. A true Israelite may enjoy more of his God in a Wilderness, then in an earthly Canaan. Christians are nearest their heaven, when farthest from the Earth. What care I how much I am in solitude, so I may but enjoy his desirable society. Ah how foolish are those persons that neglect the improvement of this glorious priviledge! They that like swine, can look every way but upward, may well lie rooting in the earth, desiring no more then fleshly pleasures, because they know no better. Surely, the company of my God is of such weighty consequence and universal influence, that I need no other, I can have none to equal it. The society of my best friends, for all their love to me, and tenderness of me, is but as the company of Snakes and Serpents, to the company of my God. They have not pity enough for the thousandth part of my misery, nor power enough to answer in any degree my necessities; Their hearts are infinitely short of my Gods (his love to me, like his being, is boundless) but their hands come far short of their hearts; though they are not unwilling, they are unable to relieve me. How often have I told them of my doleful case, and distressed condition in vain, when thereby I have rather added to their afflictions, then lessened my own? But my God is all-sufficient, both for pity and power, he hath bowels and mercy enough for my greatest sufferings and sorrows; and strength and might enough for my support and succour; My best friends are waspish, and upon a small cause are ready to snap asunder their friendship, when my Gods good will everlasting, and thongh he scourge me, he will is never remove his loving kindness from me; What need I those puddle streams, whilst I have this Well of living water? O let me enjoy him more, though I never enjoy fr…end more. Because I shall have opportunity to speak more to soul conferences, and also to converse with God in secret duties, in other parts of this Treatise, I shall speak no more in this place.