The True Touchstone Which Shows Grace and Nature, Meditations
Meditations ON THE LORDS SUPPER.
MEDITATIONS. I.
WHerefore do I ſpend my money for that which is not Bread? And my labour for that which can never ſatisfie? Many a time have I made trial of the things that are viſible, but the higher my expectations have been raiſed, the greater has been my diſappointment. I have ſought that among the Creatures which is not to be found. Sin has turned this World into a Country, far from God; and truly Husks are the beſt fare that ever this World hath yeilded me. 'Tis high time to come out from the World and to be ſeparate, left my Soul periſh for hunger there. Meat that periſhes is improper for a Soul that is of an immortal nature, and of an Everlaſting duration. I will ariſe and go unto my God and Father: He has promiſed to ſatiate and repleniſh the weary and ſorrowful Soul. In his Houſe I am ſure there is Bread enough and to ſpare.
MEDITATION. II.
Boaſt not O Mammon of thy Treaſures! Unleſs thou haſt that which is of ſufficient value to be a ranſom for me. Can all the Wealth of both the Indies pay the debt which by ſin I have contracted? Can Riches ſatisfie for the wrong I have done to the juſtice of God by my Tranſgreſſion? Oh no I was not Redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Chriſt as of a Lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot. Pardon, Grace, and Glory are ſuch gifts of God as are not to be purchaſed with money; for if they were ſo many Rich men would not be loſt for ever. Wealth cannot buy any out of the Devils poſſeſſion, but rather brings them more under his power, it cannot ſave any from Hell, but rather proves a means to ſend them thither: For they that will be Rich fall into Tempttaion, and a Snare, and into many fooliſh and hurtful luſts, which drown men in Destruction and Perdition.
MEDITATION. III.
O my Soul ſtrive not to load thy ſelf with the thick clay of this preſent World, this will debaſe thee exceedingly, and defile and burthen thee. Thou needeſt that which is of more value then Gold that periſhes to enrich thee, and that is precious Faith. Thou needeſt a garment to cover thy nakedneſs, which no Shop on Earth can furniſh thee withal, and that is the Robe of Chriſts Righteouſneſs: Thou needeſt Food to ſatisfie thy hunger, which cannot be got for money or price, but may be had without it, and that is the Bread of God which came down from Heaven to give Life unto the World. Thou art of Heavenly original, and therefore mind not Earthly things, for it can never be well with thee, untill thou return to that All-ſufficient Lord, who is the Father of Spirits and alone can fill them out of his own fulneſs.
MEDITATION. IV.
Lord! Thou who art full of Love, nay love it ſelf, and art jealous of my love leſt it ſhould be miſplaced; Turn away my Eyes that they may not be ſet upon that which is not, If Riches take to themſelves wings and fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven; let my Heart be ſo wiſe, as to get the ſtart of them, and fly away firſt from ſuch tranſitory and fading vanities, and fly towards the higheſt Heaven of all. How great a gain will it be to loſe my love to the World! And though it be no gain at all to thee for me to love thee, who art ſo ſelf-ſufficient from Everlaſting to Everlaſting; yet I ſhall hereby be an Eternal gainer, and ſhall be intereſted in that love which is Everlaſting and unchangeable. Oh! Love me freely in the Son of thy love; and inflame my Heart with love to Thee! 'Tis my Honour that I have leave to love thee who art ſo high and glorious, and 'tis thy firſt and great Command that I ſhould love thee with my whole Heart, and Soul and Strength. Let this Command be kept, and let not the biggeſt offer the World can make me, ever tempt me to break it, ſo as to prevail with me!
MEDITATION. V.
Pleaſures of ſin and ſence have often charmed and deceived me. Thoſe things which have gratified the Eye, the Ear, the Touch, the Taſte, have had a kind of an inchanting Force and Power. Senſual Delights have been ſome of the fineſt and ſtrongeſt cords of vanity, to draw me a way from God and Duty. But now I ſee what madneſs 'tis, to pleaſe my ſelf, and diſpleaſe my Lord, whoſe favour affords the fulleſt joy, and whoſe frowns can cauſe an Hell on Earth.
Carnal Pleaſures are but bruitiſh! The Beaſts enjoy thoſe as well as men, and ſeveral of them excelling us in ſenſe, their pleaſures alſo may be greater; They are worſe then Beaſts who can be contented with ſuch delights, becauſe they are capable of delights much higher, which capacity the Beaſts have not. How unfit is he for Chriſt and for the Kingdom of God, who eſteems Earthly pleaſure as the moſt deſirable paradiſe: He wofully forgets both Himſelf and Eternity, who admires thoſe delights and joys which can laſt but for a moment.
MEDITATION. VI.
O my Soul! Art thou indeed fond of Pleaſure? The higheſt of all are not grudged thee. Oh taſte and ſee that the Lord is Gracious. What is pleaſing to the Fleſh cannot reach thee, but God is a Spirit, has enough, is enough for thee. The Angels have no Fleſh and yet enjoy the greateſt delight; and God himſelf, who is the moſt ſpiritual is the moſt bleſſed and happy Being of all.
Solomon enjoyed as much as the moſt voluptuous can wiſh for. He ſays whatever his Eyes deſired he kept not from them, neither did he withhold from his Heart any joy. Though ſenſual delight was in its higheſt Exaltation, yet it was wofully mixed; the ſting was much ſharper then the Honey was ſweet: Therefore he cryes out, all was vanity and vexation of Spirit. Be not eager, O my Soul, after that which will prove a vexation to thee. Return unto God, look unto Jeſus, here thou maiſt find exceeding joy, here a Soul may find reſt. And being once intereſted in that meat which endures to Everlaſting Life, and in the unſearchable Riches of chriſt, thou maiſt ſpeak to thy ſelf upon good ground, Soul take thine eaſe, Eat, Drink, and after an holy manner be Merry, for thou haſt Goods laid up which will never be ſpent, but laſt unto Eternity.
MEDITATION. VII.
Lord! How far is that Man from knowing Thee, who is a Lover of Pleaſure more then a Lover of God! How excellent is thy Loving kindneſs! How ſweet the Meditation of Thee! When my heart is enlarged, and my Affections for Thee are vehement and ſtrong, here is a joy indeed which the World is a ſtranger to, and cannot equal. David called Thee the gladneſs of his Joy, no other joy can make me truly glad beſides. How All-ſufficient is thy fulneſs! How Rich is thy Mercy! How ſuperabundant is thy Grace! And even thy juſtice which is ſo affrighting unto guilty man is fully ſatisfied by the Obedience and Sufferings of Jeſus Chriſt. Thou art juſt when thou juſtifieſt him that Believeth in Jeſus. Unbeleiving Doubts and Fears are groundleſs; but joy and peace are highly reaſonable.
The Saints which are now Triumphant, who ſee thee face to face, and are in the Lambs Preſence and Throne, are far from admiring the pleaſures of ſin and ſenſe.
Away, away, thou deceitful Tempter! Offer ſuch poor, ſuch low things no more; I am to preferre Affliction with the People of God before ſuch Pleaſures; and certainly then Heaven and the foretaſtes of it, are of infinitly greater value. From henceforth Lord it ſhall be my pleaſure to ſtudy thee and thy will, to love thee, to ſerve thee, to pleaſe thee, to praiſe thee, and to enjoy thee will be my higheſt Happineſs.
MEDITATION. VIII.
What is the Applauſe and eſteem of Men! How vain and poor a thing is Worldly Honour! Why ſhould I Envy this to others, or be eager after it, or proud of it my ſelf? Man does judge according to outward appearance. and therefore may more eaſily miſtake. When man commends, Conſcience may condemn, and God much more. That which is highly eſteemed among men, is an Abomination in the ſight of God.
To be ſpoken well of by ſinners is rather a bad ſign; they were falſe Prophets who had the good word of all men. And the good Word of Saints, is rather an argument of their Charity, then of our ſincerity. The Jew that is one inwardly, his Heart is Circumciſed, and his praiſe not of men but of God.
How poor a thing is it to be praiſed for Beauty, which is ſo great a ſnare to them that have it, and to others alſo; and which Death may ſo quickly turn into paleneſs and rottenneſs!
And to be praiſed for Worldly Greatneſs, does yield but a ſorry ſatisfaction for Death is a ſure and terrible Leveller, and the Worms will make as bold with the Catkaſs of the Prince as of the Peaſant.
What will it advantage one to be commended for Gifts, or Parts, or Grace, if Conſcience at the ſame time do juſtly Reproach, and call one Proud and Hypocritical!
How little did Chriſt value Honour in the days of his Humiliation, he was deſpiſed, rejected, reproached and at laſt moſt ignominiouſly Crucified. Lord! They are truly Honourable, that Honour Thee, and are honoured by thee, and to whom thou wilt ſay at laſt, Well done good and faithful Servants.
MEDITATION. IX.
When I look into my ſelf, my Sins appear by great multitudes! But a Righteouſneſs of my own I cannot find, which does deſerve to be called by the name of Righteouſneſs. If the Elect Angels do cover their faces in the preſence of a God glorious in Holineſs, how ſhall ſinful man appear without a Mediatour! They that are ignorant may be Proud and Self-conceited, and may truſt to themſelves that they are Righteous, but one view of Gods unſpotted purity and exact juſtice, is enough to cauſe in any mortal man ſelf-diſtruſt, nay ſelf-abhorrency. The Sun is confounded, and the Moon aſhamed, the Heavens are not clean in the ſight of Him that made them; the Angels themſelves are charged with folly, what is man that he ſhould be Righteous!
MEDITATION. X.
My evill deeds do far exceed my good ones, how great is the number of thoſe, how ſmall comparatively the number of theſe! How many more are the vain words which I ſpeak, then thoſe that are ſerious! And when I keep the ſtricteſt watch over my Heart, the bad thoughts (though intruders) will be ten, for one that is pure and holy, if the odds be not farr greater. And can I ſtand then if the Lord ſhould be extream to mark what is done amiſs? Who in the World has more reaſon then I to cry out, Lord enter not into judgment with thy Servant. That little good which I do what mixtures of evil are there with it. The Fleſh is ſtill luſting againſt the Spirit and makes every duty I perform imperfect, and upon its own account impoſſible to be accepted. The beſt of my works cannot merit the acceptation of themſelves, how then can they make ſatisfaction for my iniquities. I ſee plainly when I have done all, I muſt call my ſelf unprofitable, and look unto Chriſt who became obedient unto Death, and deſire that both I and my works the moſt perfect of them all may be found in him.
MEDITATION. XI.
To whom can I look but unto Jeſus! Here the Angels look and wonder at the manifold wiſdom, and amazing kindneſs and love of God. The Father himſelf looks here, and is delighted in the Obedience and Sufferings of his Son, through whom without any prejudice to his Juſtice and Holineſs, his Grace and Mercy have a full vent, and a free courſe, to be glorified among the Sons of men.
The Beleivers under the Old Teſtament looked unto Jeſus, though he was more darkly repreſented to them, Moſes and the Prophets ſpake of him, and Abraham himſelf rejoyced to ſee his day. And under the New Teſtament he is more fully revealed. Here therefore I will fix my eye. and living and dying, Behold this Lamb of God which taketh away the ſins of the World.
MEDITATION. XII.
I am in my ſelf a loſt Creature. My ſins, my ſins have ruin'd me, the ſins which I have lov'd and pleaded for, and taken ſo much pleaſure in have done me the greateſt harm. Wo, wo is me, that I have ſinned. I have broken the beſt Law, and rebelled againſt the beſt Lord. I have ſided with the Enemies of my Salvation to deſtroy my ſelf. 'Tis an endleſs task to number the Stars in the Firmament, or the Sand upon the Sea ſhore or the days of Eternity; and I may as well do all this, as number my iniquities, Innumerable Evils have compaſſed me about, my iniquities have taken hold upon me ſo that I am not able to look up, they are more then the hairs of my Head, therefore my heart faileth me. And if the wages of the leaſt ſin be Death and Hell, what large wages, and what a low place in Hell have I deſerved? Gods anger is juſt, his power is terrible, his patience is wonderful, his mercy is utterly undeſerved; I ſhould be all deſpair, were it not for the Grace of God, and the Blood of God, but theſe are ſufficient grounds of hope and Everlaſting Conſolation.
MEDITATION. XIII.
I plainly perceive that all mankind have ſuffered ſhipwrack. The firſt man Adam had the ſteering of the Veſſel, and he run it upon the Rocks, and loſt himſelf and his whole progeny. All have ſinned and come, ſhort of the Glory of God. The calamity is general, the whole World is become guilty before God, there is none that underſtandeth or ſeeketh after God, there is none that doeth good no not one. 'Tis truly lamentable that the humane nature ſhould be ſo infected, ſo corrupted, as that every mind ſhould be carnal and enmity againſt God, that every Heart ſhould be like an adamant ſtone, that every neck ſhould be like an iron ſinew. All are born the Children of wrath, and with ſtrong inclinations to be the Children of Diſobedience. So that when the Son of God came into the World to dye and ſave it: He found the World lying in wickedneſs, ſecure in ſin, and haſtning towards Everlaſting miſery.
MEDITATION. XIV.
Whence is this to Man that a Saviour ſhould be provided for him! Were there no Creatures fell beſides? Yes an innumerable Hoſt of Angels kept not their firſt eſtate but left their own Habitation.
The Angels that ſinned were excellent and glorious in their firſt Creation, but they grew proud and Enemies to Truth; and voluntarily departed, and were juſtly baniſhed from the Lord that made them. And when theſe Angels ſinned, no mercy that we read of was extended to them. The Scripture expreſſely ſays, that God ſpared not the Angels that ſinned, but caſt them down to Hell. That was a dreadful fall indeed from the higheſt Heaven to the loweſt Hell, thoſe mighty Spirits are fettered in Chains of darkneſs, and are reſerved unto the judgement of the great day, they never that we find, had a Redeemer provided, nor a pardon offered, nor after they had made themſelves miſerable, were they ever brought within the reach and poſſibility of Mercy. The Son of God took not on him the nature of Angels, or, he took not hold of the Angels, but he took on him the ſeed of Abraham.
MEDITATION. XV.
Lord! What was man that thou wert thus mindful of him! Or the Son of man, that the Son of God ſhould come and viſit him! Admirable condeſcenſion! That thou whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, ſhouldſt rejoyce in the habitable parts of the Earth, and that thy delights ſhould be with the Sons of men. Can man be profitable unto God? Is it any gain to the Almighty that any make their ways perfect? Lord! Man has the benefit of Salvation, 'tis but reaſon that thou ſhouldſt have intirely all the Glory. Man is therefore ſubſervient to thine honour becauſe his meanneſs makes thy condeſcenſion, and his guilt and vileneſs does render thy Grace the more wonderful. When … Creature ſo undeſerving, nay that deſerves ſo ill, is ſo highly advanced, as to be ſaved; the power and grace which does advance and ſave him is matter of the greater admiration.
MEDITATION. XVI.
Who is this Lord Jeſus that undertakes the work of mans Redemption? He is the expreſs Image of his Fathers Perſon, the Brightneſs of his Glory; He is to be Worſhipped with the ſame Worſhip, and has the ſame Eternal Power and Godhead, with the Father and the Spirit. He it is who created all things in Heaven and Earth, viſible and inviſible, whether they be Thrones, Dominions, Principalities and Powers; all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things conſiſt.
The Elect Angels adore him, the Reprobate ones he has ſpoyled and triumphed over, he has all power in Heaven and Earth, and Commands the Keys of Hell and Death. He is Wonderful in Counſel, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. How ſafe is it then to truſt in this Lord Jeſus, 'tis the higheſt reaſon to believe in him, that is ſo mighty, that is Almighty, for the muſt needs be able to ſave to the uttermost them that come unto God by him. Whoſoever Believeth in him ſhall not be confounded.
MEDITATION. XVII.
O my Soul let thy Faith be fixed and ſettled on the Godhead of thy Lord and Saviour, were he not God 'twere both ſin and folly to rely upon him, Faith in him would be altogether vain; but ſince he is the true God and Eternal Life: They ſhall not periſh but have Everlaſting Life that do indeed beleive in him. Chriſt thy Righteouſneſs is the Lord Jehovah, in him therefore thou mayſt confidently expect to be juſtified, and thou mayſt Glory and rejoyce for ever. The Blood of Chriſt is called Gods own Blood, becauſe 'tis the Blood of him that is truly God and over all God bleſſed forever, as well as truly man. And ſurely the ſufferings of him that was God, can make ſatisfaction for the ſins that thou haſt been guilty of againſt God.
Thou art amazed to ſee thy iniquities increaſed, and thy Treſpaſſe grown up to the Heavens: Thou art aſtoniſhed and deſolate and horribly afraid to ſee how high thy ſin ſtrikes, even at God himſelf. But withal take notice how Chriſt who is God does ſtoop and humble himſelf. He that thought it no Robbery to be equal with God the Father, takes upon him the form of a Servant and becomes obedient to death even the Death of the Croſſe, and he is ſufficient to make peace.
MEDITATION. XVIII.
Chriſt as he was God could not die, but he took mans nature upon him, that he might be in a capacity to dye for ſinful and loſt Man. He ſuffered in the ſame Nature that had ſinned, that he might make Atonement.
Sacrifices and Burnt-offerings could never take away the guilt of ſin, nor quiet the Conſcience of the ſinner, nor cleanſe and ſanctifie a defiled ſoul, therefore Chriſt had a Body prepared for him, that by one Offering he might perfect his Church for ever.
Wonderful myſtery of Godlineſs! That God ſhould be manifeſted in the Fleſh, and ſuffer upon the Croſs to make peace! Here is a wonderful contrivance, Chriſt is the Sacrifice, Chriſt is the Altar, and Chriſt is the Prieſt. Through the Eternal Spirit he offered up himſelf without ſpot to God, to purge our Conſciences from dead works that we might ſerve the Living God.
MEDITATION. XXI.
Chriſt is God, and has ſo effectually don the work of a Mediator, that God is forward to be at Peace, and entreats ſinners to be reconciled. Chriſt is Man, and therefore Man may go with boldneſs to him. O my Soul! Thy Lord is near a kin to thee, he bears good will to thy whole kind. He is the Saviour of all men eſpecially of them that Believe.
Being ſo nearly related to thee, he has a right to Redeem thee, nay, he has actually paid the price of thy Redemption already; ſo that nothing remains but that thou come to him and be made free indeed. His Arms were not folded or hanging down, but ſtretched out upon the Croſs. And oh! How forward is this Saviour who died to embrace all that come to him.
When he ſays he will in No wiſe caſt them out, methinks it ſpeaks the greateſt readineſs and gladneſs imaginable to entertain them.
Venture, O venture to look to Jeſus, to come to Jeſus, and venture thy all with him: Never any miſcarried in this bottom, and all muſt needs miſcarry in any other. He knows thy Sins, thy Wants, thy Foes, thy Fears, he knows how to Pity, Protect, and Succour thee. He was in all things made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a Merciful and Faithful High Prieſt in things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation for the ſins of the People, for in that he himſelf hath ſuffered being tempted, he knows how to ſuccour them that are tempted.
MEDITATION. XX.
How excellent is the Knowledge of Chriſt Crucified? Look, O my Soul upon thy Lord, who loved thee at ſuch a rate as to dye for thee! Behold him Arreſted, Arraigned, and Condemned. Thou waſt guilty of the crime, and thy Lord did bear the puniſhment. Behold him going to execution, going unto Golgotha, and if he had not gone thither, whither, Oh! Whither muſt thou needs have gone for ever!
The Law had condemned Thee, not only the firſt but alſo the ſecond Death, was the juſt deſert of thy Tranſgreſſions. But here thy Surety ſtept in, and Redeemed thee from the Curſe of the Law being made a Curſe for thee. Look upon the Wrath of God revealed againſt thee becauſe of thy ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs, look upon the glittering Sword of Juſtice drawn, look upon devouring Fire and Everlaſting Burnings prepared for thee, and thy ſelf juſt ready to be thrown into thoſe unquenchable Flames. And then behold and wonder at the kindneſs and love of Jeſus, who was willing to be made ſin for thee, and to bear the Wrath of God himſelf, that he might appeaſe it, which was too heavy for thee to bear, and which would have ſunk thee into the loweſt Hell, and have kept thee there unto Eternity!
In what a deplorable and deſperate caſe had the Sheep been, if this good Shepherd had not ſtood in their room and layed down his Life for them.
MEDITATION. XXI.
Hiſtory tells us of Codrus the laſt Athenian King, who was a great Lover of his People, as appears by the manner of his Dying. When the Grecians of Doris ſought Counſel from the Oracle, concerning the ſucceſs of their Wars which they waged with the Athenians: It was anſwered, that undoubtedly they ſhould prevail and become Lords of that State, when they could obtain any victory againſt the Nation, and yet preſerve the Athenian King himſelf alive.
Codrus the King by ſome intelligence being informed of this anſwer withdrew himſelf from his own Forces, and putting on the habit of a common Souldier, he entred alone, the Camp of the Dorians his Enemies; and killing the firſt he met with, was himſelf forthwith cut in pieces. Thus he was willing to loſe his own life rather then his Country ſhould be ruined. The Lord Jeſus the Prince of Life and Glory did vail his Majeſty, appeared in the form of a Servant, was contented to be counted a deceiver, and to be numbred among Tranſgreſſours, that his Life might be taken away and hereby Eternal Redemption be procured.
Codrus was deſervedly honoured among the Athenians; and certainly the Lord Jeſus ſhould be the higher in our eſteem and love, the lower he humbled and abaſed himſelf for our ſakes: The offence of the Croſſe ſhould ceaſe, ſince his Crucifixion was ſo neceſſary to our Eternal Salvation.
MEDITATION. XXII.
Greater Love hath no man then this that a man lay down his Life for his Friends. But Lord! Thou didſt dye for Rebels and for Enemies, thou didſt dye unſought to, undeſired, therefore thy love is greater then the greateſt love beſides. Thy love was ſtronger then Death no Water could quench it, no Floods could drown it. Hell it ſelf could not diſcourage it. 'Twas a bitter Cup the Father put into thy hand, but thou didſt drink it, and drink it off too; the very dreggs of the Cup are gone; Oh what a load did lye upon thee! All the ſins of all that ever were or ſhall be ſaved did meet on thee together.
How many ſtings had thy Death, and yet thy Godhead and thy love did carry thee through all thy ſufferings. Oh! That I could comprehend with all Saints what is the heighth, and length, and depth, and breadth, and know the Love of Chriſt which paſſeth Knowledge that I may be filled with all the fulneſs of God!
MEDITATION. XXIII.
My Lord did know what was to come upon him. Mans ſin had been ſhamefull, Chriſts Death was moſt Reproachful and Accurſed; Man had taken Pleaſure in ſin, Chriſts Death was painful. Man had been wilful in Tranſgreſſion, and Chriſts Death was voluntary, though 'twas violent. Man had ſinned againſt knowledge and with great contrivance and deliberation, and Chriſt perfectly underſtood all that he was to endure. He was well aware what he was to feel from Earth, from Hell, and from his heavenly Father, and yet he makes no demur, but endures the Croſs, and deſpiſes the ſhame, and gives his Life a Ranſom for many.
How was he ſtraitned till his bloody Baptiſm was accompliſhed. And when his Diſciple Peter through an ignorant and carnal Affection would have hindred him from dying for his Church; how ſharply does he rebuke him, Get thee behind me Satan, for thou art an offence to me, thou ſavourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
MEDITATION. XXIV.
Deareſt Lord! Wert thou thus forward to dye, and art thou not forward to reap the fruit of thy Death, and to receive and ſave the Souls that come to thee? If a Woman in Travel be willing to be delivered; I need not queſtion, but thou art willing to ſee of the Travel of thy Soul, ſince 'tis ſo much for thy own ſatisfaction, ſo much for thy Fathers Glory. Certainly thou will not reject ſinners that come to thee, ſince thou haſt done and ſuffered ſo much for their Salvation.
If thou hadſt been really unwilling to ſave, (as ſometimes Satan miſrepreſents thee) that unwillingneſs would have ſhew'd it ſelf when thou waſt in thy terrible Agony, when thy Soul was amazed and full of heavineſs, and exceeding ſorrowful unto Death; when the Heaven was black over thee, and thy Fathers Face hid from thee; and thou didſt cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me. But all this thou didſt willingly undergo to ſave loſt Man, and therefore thy willingneſs to beſtow the Salvation thou haſt purchaſed, is not to be queſtioned: For ſurely thou art not willing that ſuch a Death as thine, ſo ſharp, ſo bitter, and of ſo great value ſhould be in vain.
MEDITATION. XXV.
I do not wonder that the Apoſtle Paul does magnifie the knowledge of Chriſt Crucified above all other knowledge, compared with this, all the Philoſophy of the Greeks was but vain, legal prerogatives, and indeed all the Ceremonies of the Law were but inſignificant. Chriſt Crucified! Though he be a ſtumbling block to the Jews and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs, yet he is the Power of God and the Wiſdom of God, and the greateſt demonſtration of his love.
I do not wonder that the Lords Supper ſhould be inſtituted on purpoſe, that the Crucifixion of Chriſt ſhould be remembred, for the Death of Chriſt is the ſinners life; the Foundation of his hope, and his ſecurity againſt Eternal Death. The Goſpel is ſtyled the Preaching of the Croſs, and the Apoſtle is reſolved to Glory in nothing elſe, the Truth is we can take comfort in no other knowledge, unleſs we have ſome reſpect and relation to Chriſt and him Crucified.
The Papiſts fooliſhly adore the ſign of the Croſs, but true Beleivers do prize the Doctrine, the Blood, and the Vertue of Chriſt Crucified.
MEDITATION. XXVI.
What ſights may I ſee in my Lord Crucified? Peace is made by the Blood of the Croſs and all things Reconciled both in Heaven and Earth. The Saints who lived and dyed before Chriſt was born, were reconciled to God by the Blood of his Son which was to be ſhed in time; as well as Believers ſince his being manifeſted in the Fleſh.
In Chriſt Crucified, the Anger of God is appeaſed, his Juſtice fully ſatisfied, and though the Chriſtians debt amounts unto millions of Talents; yet juſtice acknowledgeth that Chriſt his ſurety has paid it all. Look upon God in Chriſt, and you will ſee that Fury is not in him, through the Lord Jeſus you may ſee his very Bowels, he does earneſtly remember ſinners, his Bowels are troubled for them, and he will ſurely have mercy upon them.
Oh certain and comfortable Truths! That the Lord is the God of Love and Peace, that he waits to be Gracious, that he delights in ſhewing mercy, and takes pleaſure in them that hope in his mercy, if that hope be accompanied with a fear and careful eſchewing of what is evil in his ſight.
MEDITATION. XXVII.
In Chriſt Crucified I may ſee a New Covenant of Grace and Life and Peace, eſtabliſhed, ſo that it is moſt ſure and Everlaſting. Jeſus is the Mediatour of this Covenant, and every time I come to the Table this Covenant is ſealed and confirmed to me, that I may with the greater confidence expect the accompliſhment of the promiſes which are contained in it. Theſe Promiſes are exceeding great and precious. Temporal bleſſings in ſuch a meaſure as the Wiſe God ſees convenient are here made over to me, for he that is a Son and Heir of God, is the Heir of the World, the Heir of all things.
Spiritual bleſſings which are of greater value, are more abſolutely promiſed, and may with greater vehemency be deſired, and with greater confidence expected. And as the Lord has engaged to give me Grace, ſo to give me Glory, he has ſaid he will give me himſelf and be my God and Guide, my Shield, and my exceeding great Reward. And truly the Ordinances of Heaven are not ſo immutable and unchangeable, as the Covenant of Redemption and Reconciliation; Heaven and Earth ſhall paſſe away but one joy or tittle ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the Covenant till all be fulfilled.
MEDITATION. XXVIII.
In Chriſt Crucified I may ſee the Curſe of the Law removed, the ſentence of condemnation reverſed, the ſting of Death taken out, the Principallities and Powers of darkneſs triumphed over. I may ſee Hell faſt lockt and ſhut up for ever, and Heaven opened, a way made plain in to the Holieſt of all, an abundant entrance adminiſtred into the Everlaſting Kingdom. Who would not ſtudy the Croſs of Chriſt? Who would not Glory and rejoyce in it? Who would not deſire conformity to it, and to feel the power and vertue of it. They that are Enmies to the Croſs of Chriſt, are Enemies to their own Souls. They that are offended at the Croſs, 'tis a ſign they are blind and do no underſtand the benefits which comes by it.
MEDITATION. XXIX.
Do this in remembrance of me, ſaid my dying Lord and Redeemer. Lord! Can I put my memory to a better uſe then to remember Thee? Thy Tears, thy ſtrong Cryes, thy being cruelly Mockt and Scourged, thy dreadful Agonies and Deſertion, the peircing of thy Hands and Feet, and Side, thy Wounds and Bruiſes, and giving up the Ghoſt, and making thy Soul an Offering for ſin and ſinners! Shall all or any this be forgotten?
The ſufferings of ſuch an One, ſuch ſufferings, ſo great, ſo beneficial to me, ſhould always be kept in moſt affectionate remembrance. Thy Death and Burial ſhould never be buried in oblivion. A dying Lord ſhould always live in a Chriſtians memory. If the poor Captives in Babylon, could not forget Jeruſalem, ſhall I ever forget Jeſus? Or my obligation to him, or the Love and ſervice which I owe him? I deſire to grieve for ſin which made thee ſorrowful, and to be prickt at the Heart for my iniquities, whereby thy Heart was pierced. And as I wiſh that ſin may be more my grief, ſo I would prefer Jeſus before my chief Joy.
MEDITATION. XXX.
My Lord at the Table ſays, Take and eat this is my Body. This is infinitely more and better then if a Rich man ſhould ſay to me, take my eſtate, or then if an Emperour ſhould bid me take his Crown and Diadem, or then if all the Kingdoms of the World, and all the Glory of them were offered me. When Chriſt offered up himſelf a Sacrifice unto God, that he might put ſin away; how great was the Offering? If all the Beaſts in Earth, the Fowls of the Air, had been offered this offering could not have made Atonement for the ſinner or for one ſin. Nay if all the Angels in Heaven, had proffered themſelves to be annihilated in caſe fallen man might be pardoned. Neither would this have been ſufficient ſatisfaction. So that when Chriſt offered himſelf to God, he offered more, then all the World, then millions of Worlds would amount unto. And when the Lord Jeſus bids me take him, and feed upon this meat indeed, this Bread of Life; ſhall I refuſe? He that receives Chriſt how much does he recieve? He does indeed receive all: For Chriſt is all in all, and filleth all in all.
MEDITATION. XXXI.
Lift up your Heads O ye Gates, and be ye lift up ye Everlaſting Doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord Jeſus is the Prince of Life, the King and Lord of Glory. Behold he ſtands at the door and knocks, if any man hear his voice and open the door, he will come into him and ſup with him. And when he comes and is admitted, what entertainment does he bring! Meat that periſhes is contemptible in compariſon. Chriſt will give that Meat which endures to Everlaſting Life. His Love is better then Wine, Nay, his favour is better then life it ſelf. The Manna in the Wilderneſs was excellent food, but many that Eat it periſhed. But whoever by Faith do feed upon our Lord Jeſus in reference to the ſecond Death they become immortal; This is the Bread which commeth down from Heaven, that a Man may Eat thereof and not dy. I am the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven, if any man Eat of this Bread he ſhall live for ever, and the Bread that I wil give is my Fleſh, which I will give for the Life of the World.
MEDITATION. XXXII.
When an inheritance is conveyed to me by a ſealed Deed, the Nature of the wax is not changed, but the uſe of it. The Bread and Wine after the Sacramental bleſſing of them remain Bread and Wine ſtill, and ſo in Scripture they are called; but their uſe is very much altered, and they become Chriſts broad ſeal to convey to me, and to aſſure me of the Remiſſion of ſin, of the Renewing of my Nature, and of Life and Immortality. Let the Papiſts contend for a groſs and carnal preſence of the Body of Chriſt at his Table. I am perſwaded that as Circumciſion is called the Covenant, and the Lamb the Lords Paſſeover. So the bread and wine are called the Body and Blood of the Lord Jeſus. And yet I am alſo fully perſwaded, that though the Body of Chriſt is in Heaven, yet he is moſt really preſent at the Table with them that do believe, and ſuch are nouriſhed and ſtrengthened in this Ordinance. I learn from Scripture that Spiritual things are moſt firm, moſt real, moſt ſubſtantial, moſt durable; and if ſo, then Chriſts ſpiritual preſence is the moſt real preſence. Chriſt is abſent where Tranſſubſtantiation is believed, and Romiſh Devotion and Adoration of the Hoſt is turned into abominable Idolatry.
MEDITATION. XXXIII.
Lord! Thou art my Hope, my Help, my Saviour, my Life, my All; Thou wouldſt have me put thee on to cover my nakedneſs. Thou wouldſt have me take ſanctuary under thy wings in all my dangers, thou wouldſt have me uſe thee as a Phyſician to cure all my ſpiritual maladies; and when I am hungry and thirſty, and my Soul faints within me, thou haſt enough to ſatisfie and fill me. What one ſaid concerning the Scripture I may apply to my bleſſed Lord. Adoro Chriſti plenitudinem. I adore the fulneſs that is in Chriſt Jeſus. Draw neerer, neerer O thou only Saviour, thou deſerveſt the higheſt, the beſt, nay, all the room in my Heart; thou oughteſt to be the moſt welcom gueſt. Let me have a clearer ſight of thy tranſcendent lovelineſs, a larger taſte of thy incomparable ſweetneſs, let me claſp about thee and hold thee in more ſtrict embraces. Why ſhould I be empty ſince in thee there is a fulneſs of the Spirit without ſtint or meaſure? I would be poor in Spirit, but why ſhould I be poor in Grace, ſince in thee there are unſearchable Riches!
MEDITATION. XXXIV.
Bread is the staff of Life, Lord I come to thy Table for ſupport and ſtrength. Oh! Let the Bread of God ſtrengthen me with ſtrength in my Soul. Let me find and feel the admirable vertue of the Broken Body, that I may ſay from plentiful experience, I, this is meat indeed. Let ſin grow weaker and weaker, and Mammons intereſt in me decline and languiſh, but make me strong in Spirit, and carry on the work of Faith with Power. I have need of ſtrength who have ſuch a way to go, and all up Hill, who have ſo much work to do, and ſuch mighty Enemies to encounter and overcome. My Life lies in believing in thee, I ſtand no longer then Thou upholdeſt me. Without thee I can do nothing or what is worſe then nothing, I can do nothing but ſin and fall; but if thou doſt ſtrengthen me I ſhall be able to do all things. If thou withdraw from me, I ſhall be weak as a Child, unſtable as the very Water, but if thou doſt confirm me by thy Grace, I ſhall be like David, nay, like unto an Angel. I ſhall fight the good fight of Faith, and go on conquering, and to conquer till I get the Crown.
MEDITATION. XXXV.
How great was the breach which ſin had made between God and Man, that my Lord muſt be broken to make it up. Could not ſomething leſs have ſerved the turn? If Chriſt muſt die or ſin muſt not be pardoned, judg of the greatneſs of the fault, by the greatneſs of the Sacrifice and Satisfaction. What hath ſin done? It has filled Earth with troubles, it has filled Hell with Souls, it has turned Angels into Devils; it has provoked the God of Heaven to great and Righteous indignation, add unto all this, It has killed Chriſt the Lord of Life. He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſion, he was bruiſed for our iniquities. Who would love who would like ſuch an evil! If my Father had been ſtabbed, ſhould I embrace the Murtherer, or like the Dagger beſmeared with his blood? Oh hateful ſin! i'le be revenged upon thee. I will make no proviſion for thee, I will lament becauſe of thee, I will deteſt and abhor thee, I will be dead to thee, and endeavour to mortifie and kill thee. My Lord was not ſpared for thy ſake, and thou ſhalt not be ſpared. Lord! Away with theſe luſts, all of them; Crucifie them, Crucifie them, ſince Chriſt himſelf did bear my ſins in his own Body on the Tree, Oh let me be dead to ſin and live to Righteouſneſs!
MEDITATION. XXXVI.
Is the Cup of bleſſing at the Table the Communion of the Blood of Chriſt indeed? How ſhould my Soul and all that is within me bleſs the Lords Name when I take it into my hand? My Lord does in effect ſay to me, Here is the New Teſtament ſealed, and confirmed, there is remiſſion of all thy ſins, Here is ſanctifying Grace, here is an aſſurance of mine and my Fathers love, here is a pledge and earneſt of Glory and Immortality. This Blood of Jeſus is deſervedly ſtyled precious, 'tis the Blood of the Lamb without ſpot, nay, 'tis the Blood of the Lord Jehovah. To make light of this Blood as if it were an unholy or common thing, is to deny the Lord that bought us, and to bring upon our ſelves certain and ſwift deſtruction. But whoſoever by Faith applyes this Blood of Jeſus, ſhall find it ſufficient to cleanſe them from all unrighteouſneſs.
MEDITATION. XXXVII.
Deareſt Lord! How great is the vertue of that blood of thine which was ſhed upon the Croſs without the gates of Jeruſalem! It can appeaſe thy Fathers anger though provoked unto great fierceneſs; it can remove the greateſt guilt, it can cure and cleanſe the moſt leprous and defiled Soul, it can heal the moſt wounded and enraged Conſcience. Oh bleſſed Laver! where I may waſh and be clean, where I may bath and be eaſed. Effectual medicine! which heals every ſpiritual malady. How wonderful was thy love which made thee ſhed thy blood, how happy is thy Church for whom thy blood is ſhed. Lord I love thee, I reſt upon thee, I rejoyce in thee, who haſt loved thy People and waſhed them from their ſins in thy own Blood, and haſt made them Kings and Prieſts unto God and thy Father; who gaveſt thy ſelf for thy Church, that thou mighteſt ſanctifie and cleanſe it, and preſent it to thy ſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, but that it ſhould be holy and without blemiſh.
MEDITATION. XXXVIII.
Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? It is God that juſtifieth. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that dyed. This is my Anſwer unto the Accuſer of the Brethren, when he tells me of my manifold Tranſgreſſions. All that he can truly lay to my charge, I am ready to lay to my own; nay I ſubſcribe guilty to all that is down in the book of the Omniſcient Gods remembrance, but then I add, Chriſt dyed, Chriſt ſhed his Blood, that ſin might be pardoned and purged, and I am willing to be cleanſed as well as pardoned. And if the Blood of Chriſt be enough to ſatisfie divine juſtice, ſurely 'tis ſufficient to ſatisfie and quiet the moſt awakened Conſcience. I have indeed like a Sheep gon aſtray, and turned to my own way, but the Lord has laid on Chriſt all my iniquities, he endured the chaſtiſement of my peace, he felt the ſtripes that I might be healed. Hereby Satan is ſilenced, my own deſponding Spirit revived and encouraged, and in the Name and Mediation of Jeſus, I can go unto God himſelf, though he is ſo glorious in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, as a Child unto a Father.
MEDITATION. XXXIX.
The Blood of Chriſt does ſpeak, and ſpeaks better things then the Blood of Abel. No voice more loud then that of Blood, no blood does cry like that of God. This blood does ſpeak both to God and Me; it ſpeaks to God, and what ever I pray for which I really need, this blood cryes that I may obtain. Bleſſings of all ſorts were purchaſed by the ſhedding of it, and it is continually pleading that what it purchaſed may be beſtowed. Hence is the efficacy of Prayer, becauſe what the belieuer prays for, the blood of Chriſt ſpeaks for. How loud does it cry in Gods ears, Lord pity and pardon the humbled and Believing Soul! Heal and Comfort the Contrite and Broken hearted! Oh give converting and Renewing Grace to all that do deſire it! Thoſe that fear thy Wrath let them eſcape it! Thoſe that prize thy love, love them freely and for ever! Receive all returning ſinners and take away all their iniquities! Give Grace, give Glory, and no good thing withhold from them that ſeek thee in ſincerity. Thus the blood of Chriſt does intercede with God. And the Lord having contrived the ſhedding of it on purpoſe, that without any derogation from his Righteouſneſs, he might ſhew mercy to the Children of men, certainly its interceſſion for mercy ſhall not be in vain.
MEDITATIONS. XL.
The blood of Chriſt does ſpeak alſo to Me. And how good and comfortable are the words of it! Soul be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee, thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelf but in me is thy help and Salvation found. God was angry with thee, but I have appeaſed his Wrath. He whom thou waſt ready to find a conſuming Fire, is become a God in Covenant, nay a Father to thee. That blood which was ſhed upon the Croſs has made thy Peace, though heretofore never ſo much a ſtranger, never ſo great an Enemy. Behold Hell lockt up, thou ſhalt never fall into that place of Wo; behold the way into the Holieſt of all is open. Thou hast liberty to come with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace, and within a little while thou ſhalt have an abundant entrance into Glory! Dear Lord! What am I, that blood, and ſuch blood as thine, ſhould be ſhed for me! Why waſt thou at ſuch expence and coſt for the Redemption, and Salvation of ſuch a Wretch, ſuch a Rebel! Thou haſt mercy becauſe thou wilt have mercy, thy exceeding rich and glorious Grace muſt be matter of a delightful tranſport and ſweet aſtoniſhment to Eternity.
MEDITATION. XLI.
My Lords love and kindneſs ſhould thaw and melt my heart! That God, whom for ſo long a time I neither lov'd nor fear'd, nor cared to be acquainted with, but diſhonoured and ſinn'd againſt with ſo high an hand, had he indeed purpoſes of Grace towards me from Eternity! That Jeſus, whom I ſhut and barr'd the door of my Heart ſo faſt againſt, whoſe word I was deaf unto, and whoſe Spirit I reſiſted for ſo long a time, has He indeed born my ſins and carried my ſorrows! Oh that my head were Waters, and my eyes Fountains of Tears! Oh ſtony Heart for ſhame now, become like wax and be melted in the midſt of my Bowels! I am a prodigy of unkindneſs, wo is me that I have ſinned! Wo is me that I who have ſinn'd ſo much do grieve no more! Surely all my days I will walk ſoftly in the bitterneſs of my Soul. I will be vile in my own eyes and wonder that the Lord ſhould have reſpect to ſuch an one as I, My own ſin and my Lords Love ſhall be my Study, I will compare them together, that ſin may be lamented and loathed according to the deſert of it and that my Repentance may be indeed Evangelical and after a godly manner.
MEDITATION. XLII.
O my Soul, if thy ſin deſerves thy hatred, does not thy Lord deſerve thy love? What and where hadſt thou been if he had not loved thee and given himſelf for thee! Thy Lord is every way excellent, the chiefeſt among ten thouſand, altogether lovely, the moſt admired among the viſible Creatures, the fineſt Gold, the richeſt Jewels; nay, the ſhining Sun in the Firmament, are but poor ſimilitudes, and faint ſhaddows to ſet forth his incomparable perfections. The Heavens are not clean, Angels themſelves are black when compared with Jeſus who is the image of the inviſible God! This high this glorious and beautiful One, became fleſh and ſin, and a Curſe for thee, ſo that his love is incomparable as well as his lovelineſs! O my ſoul ſet open all the floodgates, let thy love even all of it run in a ſtrong and undivided ſtream towards him. Love this Lord Jeſus in ſincerity, love him with greater ardency, love him with the greateſt conſtancy! Here is no danger of exceſs, no danger of defilement or a ſnare in thy loving Chriſt, as there is in loving of the Creatures. Study him better and thou wilt ſee new beauties in him daily, grow in knowledge that thou mayſt grow in grace and love. Let thy deſires grow ſtronger and ſtronger, his fulneſs can eaſily ſatisfie them. Rejoyce in Him with Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, and cry out with an affectionate and holy impatiency, Come Lord Jeſus come quickly. Appear the ſecond time without ſin unto Salvation.
MEDITATION. XLIII.
How much is mine, if Chriſt my beloved is mine! What unſearchable riches have I an intereſt in! No match comparable to that with Chriſt either for the excellencies of the perſon, or the largeneſs of the eſtate. What poor offers doth the World, and the God of the World make me. They talk much of honour and wealth, and mirth and pleaſure, but theſe afford no true contentment for that ſhort time they are enjoy'd; and they periſh in the very uſing. Death does quickly come with a convincing demonſtration, and proves the richeſt man a meer beggar, the greateſt Prince a contemptible clod of the Earth, the faireſt and moſt admired beauty a skinful of dirt. Can Satan offer any thing that is Everlaſting? No good thing I am ſure that is ſo. Indeed Everlaſting pains, Eververlaſting burnings, Everlaſting wrath, he will bring all unto that are led Captive by him at his pleaſure, but theſe Eternal evils he does moſt ſtudiouſly conceal and hide. But this is the commendation of My Lords Benefits that they are permanent and durable. The Treaſures wax not old, the one thing needful cannot be taken away, the inheritance is incorruptible, and the Kingdom he will give his followers cannot be moved.
MEDITATION. XLIV.
If Chriſt is mine, the Father is mine. How ſweet were thoſe words which come out of my Lords mouth quickly after he came out of the Grave. Go tell my Brethren I aſcend to my Father and your Father, unto my God and your God. All the Attributes of God are engaged on my ſide. His wiſdom will be my guide, his power and truth my guard and ſhield. His preſence will be with me wherever I am, and his Grace ſufficient for me in all my troubles and Temptations. All my deſire will be before him, and my groaning will not be hid from him, and he can eaſily furniſh me with the good things I deſire, and deliver me from thoſe evils which make me groan before him. I ſhall not want while the Allſufficient God is my Shepherd, my ſtate is ſecure and ſafe, for my God is unchangeable, He will never turn away from me to do me good, and his Grace will eſtabliſh me, and hinder my departing, he will uphold me with the right hand of his Righteouſneſs, and guide me with his Counſel, and afterwards receive me to his Glory. Be not thou caſt down or diſcouraged, O my Soul, be not diſquieted within me. Hope thou in God, and continually praiſe Him who is the health of my countenance and my God.
MEDITATION. XLV.
If Chriſt is mine, the Spirit is mine. The ſame ſoul does animate, and Act the Head and the Body; the ſame Spirit is in Chriſt and in all his true and living Members. The Spirit of Wiſdom and Illumination will enlighten me, and make me able to judge all things after a right manner. The Spirit of truth will lead me into all neceſſary truth, ſo that I ſhall be ignorant or miſtaken in nothing which is needful to be underſtood and known in order unto Salvation. This Spirit will make me hold the Head, and from him I ſhall derive not only a directing light, but a vital influx, which will quicken me, and make me alive more and more abundantly. Glorious Spirit! Thou art the Lord and Giver of Life, without thee the Word of Life is dead, and proves a ſavour of Death unto Death. Without thee Ordinances are without efficacy, without thee my Heart is cold and comfortleſs. I grieve that I have grieved thee. Oh let me be thy Habitation and thy Temple! let me ſee thy bleſſed light, let me feel thy glorious power, and know by more abundant experience what thy peace and joy means. The luſts of the fleſh which defile thy Temple let them be deſtroyed, mortifie the deeds of the Body, fill me with Grace and make me fit for Glory. Let the leaſt check of thine reſtrain me, every motion of thine let it be obeyed. Let me perpetually have an ear to Hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches.
MEDITATION. XLVI.
If Chriſt is mine, the Creatures are alſo mine. The Sun was created to give me light, and to make me admire the God that made it: The Stars obſerve their courſes for my good, The Ordinances of the Heavens which alter not at mans pleaſure, may ſerve as an inſtruction to me, that Gods Covenant, when Earth and Hell have done their worſt, ſhall be kept and ſtand faſt for ever; the Earth is Fruitful, the Sea does Ebb and Flow, the Rain deſcends, the Beaſts and Fiſh and Fowl do multiply, to do me a kindneſs. The Ground was made for me to tread on, the Air for me to breath in; and though ſuch mercies as theſe are vouchſafed to wicked men, yet they are given to me in another way. My Lord has bought them for me with his blood, for with him they are given to me, they are not a trap, a ſnare to me as they are to others, but they are truly bleſſed to me as well as given. The higher Creatures are alſo mine, Paul and Apollo and Cephas, nay, the very Angels are ſaid to be miniſtring Spirits, and are ready to Miniſter to me, and to guard me. Thoſe loving humble Spirits have a charge given them concerning the Members of Chriſt, and willingly look after them that are the Heirs of Salvation.
MEDITATION. XLVII.
If Chriſt be mine Death is alſo mine as well as Life. Death is terrible indeed to Nature, and cauſes the frame thereof to be diſſolved; but my Lord has reconciled this laſt Enemy. 'Tis really mine to ſerve me, too much mine to do me any real harm. Chriſt by dying has taken out the ſting of Death, ſo that I need not any longer be under bondage through the Fear of Death. O Death! Thou haſt left thy ſting in the ſide of Chriſt, and there haſt loſt it. O Grave! My Lord has broke thy gates open, and becauſe he is riſen, I may joyfully conclude my own Reſurrection. My body muſt lye in darkneſs for a while, but it ſhall not always be Death's Priſoner. This corruptible ſhall put on incorruption, this mortal ſhall put on immortality, and as the Corn caſt into the ground does riſe with advantage, every ſingle grain yeilding ſometimes an hundred fold, ſo my fleſh ſhall come up out of the Earth with an hundred fold better qualities then now it has. 'Tis ſown in weakneſs, 'tis raiſed in power, 'tis ſown in diſhonour 'tis raiſed in glory. But O my Soul! Death will not be able at all to ſeize on thee. Thou wilt be delivered out of a dungeon when thou leaveſt thine Earthly Tabernacle, and go unto a glorious Palace, aſſoon as ever thou art abſent from the Body thou wilt be preſent with the Lord, aſſoon as thou art departed, thou will be with Chriſt, and how much better that is thou wilt find to thy full and Everlaſting joy.
MEDITATION. XLVIII.
If my Beloved is mine, and all things, mine is there not reaſon I ſhould be His? His I am and His I will be to eternity. Lord! I am Thine for thou haſt made me and not I my ſelf. I am thine by the right of purchaſe as well as Creation, for thou haſt bought me with a price. Nay, thou haſt new made me on purpoſe for thine own uſe, and that I ſhould ſhew forth thy praiſes. And I do willingly reſign and yeild my ſelf to thee; if I am thy Servant make uſe of me, if I am thy Treaſure, keep me; if I am a child, let me be imployed in my Fathers buſineſs; if I am Betrothed to thee, let thy love and jealouſie ſecure me from other Lovers. Oh let me be wholly, only, always Thine! Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity! Let my tongue be like an Angels, continually ſounding forth thy Name, Let my hands be holy, the path of my feet pondered; let all my members be yeilded as inſtruments of Righteouſneſs, and let my ſoul with all its powers love and ſerve thee. Lord ſanctifie and ſatisfie, and ſave me, and honour me, by employing me; for I lift up my ſoul, and give my very heart to thee.
MEDITATION. XLIX.
Ten thouſand times ten thouſand praiſes to the God of love and peace! Who would not worſhip thee and give thee glory, O thou King of Saints! Let thy Church on Earth, as well as Heaven, ring aloud with Hallelujah's! Who is God ſave the Lord, who is a Rock ſave our God! Who in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is to be compared to Thee, a God glorious in holineſs, terrible in Majeſty rich in mercy, abounding in Grace, wonderful in working, and keeping truth for ever! Who can by ſearching find out God! who can find out the Almighty to perfection! It is high as Heaven what can we do? Deeper then Hell what can we know? Who is a God like unto thee, abundant in loving kindneſs, goodneſs and truth! Delighting in mercy! Forgiving iniquity Tranſgreſſion and ſin, and reconciling the world to himſelf in Chriſt! Glory be to God in the higheſt for ſuch good will towards men! Let the Heavens rejoyce, and let the Earth be glad, let the Sea roar and the fulneſs thereof. Let the floods clap their hands, and the hills be joyful together. Let all the creatures joyn in magnifying that God which made them! And let all Saints ſhout aloud for joy unto Him who has viſited and redeemed them!
MEDITATION. L.
Lord! How much art thou above thy Creatures reach! Who, beſides thy ſelf, can conceive thy excellency! Who can ſhew forth all thy praiſe! Thou art exalted above the bleſſing and the thoughts of Angels, above the ſongs of Seraphims. Everlaſting thankſgivings are thy due; Oh let me live with thee to Eternity, that I may ever be paying this debt of praiſes! Bleſs the Lord ye innumerable company of Angels, which excell in ſtrength who ſee the Glory of your Maker and Lord! Praiſe him O ye Thrones, Dominions, Principallities and Powers. Exalt that mighty and gracious God, who elected and confirmed you, when ſo many other Angels ſinn'd, and are eternally left, and miſerable, in their Apoſtacy! O all ye Triumphant Saints that are with the Lamb upon the heavenly Mount Sion. Strike up with your Harps, and if it be poſſible let your ſtrains be ſtill higher and higher! Aſcribe bleſſing and honour and glory, and power unto Him that ſits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever! O thou Militant Church! Begin this heavenly work of praiſing here on Earth. Thy Redemption and deliverance is begun, and will moſt certainly be compleated. The Captain of thy Salvation will ſtand by thee in thy ſpiritual warfare, and having made thee more then victorious over all thy Enemies will beſtow upon thee the promiſed Crown of life and glory!
MEDITATION. LI.
Bleſs the Lord O my Soul, and all that is within me, bleſs his holy Name! What haſt thou breath for, but that it ſhould be ſpent in his praiſes! Wherefore haſt thou a tongue at command, but that it ſhould be employed in glorifying thy Lord, and hereby become thy glory. Should not a ſlave that has been in very hard and cruel bondage, be thankful to him that redeemed him? Should not a Malefactor condemned to dye be thankful unto Him that pardoned him? Should not the patient that has laboured under a Death threatning diſtemper, be thankful to the Phyſician that has cured him? And how much greater reaſon is there O my Soul, that thou ſhouldſt abound in thankſgivings unto thy God and Saviour! Thou waſt in the worſt ſenſe enſlaved, and he has made thee free indeed! Thou waſt condemned to the ſecond Death, to be ſeparated for ever from the Lord, and to be thrown into the lake which burns with fire and brimſtone, and he by dying himſelf has purchaſed a pardon for thee. Thou waſt ſick of ſpiritual, which are the worſt kind of plagues, and He is the Lord that heals thee, Awake! Awake! Oh my ſoul, Awake! Awake! And utter a ſong of praiſe! Rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus! Glory in the Father of mercies! Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy Diſeaſes, who redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindneſs, and tender mercies!
MEDITATION. LII.
Shall I not magnifie and advance my Lord who am ſo highly advanced my ſelf? I was once in darkneſs and ſecurely went on towards the blackneſs of darkneſs forever, but I am called out of darkneſs into marvellous light …. I was once a ſtranger and a forreiner, but now I am a fellow Citizen with the Saints, and of the houſhold of God. I am become a child of God, who was once a Child of Wrath and Diſobedience. I am become an Heir of God and a Joint-Heir with Christ, unto that inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and which fadeth not away. Nay, my Lord who has loved me, and waſhed me from my ſins in his own blood, hath made me a King and a Prieſt unto God and his Father, and I muſt reign for ever, for of this Kingdom which I have now a Title to, and a ſure promiſe of, there ſhall be no end! Oh rich! Oh free! Oh glorious Grace! I am at a loſs for an expreſſion high enough to ſet forth the thouſandth part … my Lords incomparable kindneſs; my ſhallow Conceptions cannot reach what is incomprehenſible: Therefore I muſt be ſilent in a joyful admiration!
MEDITATION. LIII.
What ſhall I render unto the Lord? My All is due, my All is too little, and by rendring my All, I ſecure my All, and ſo am ſtill more benefited, and I become more my Lords debter! I find my ſelf moſt happily puzzled with my Lords goodneſs. He gives himſelf to me, and requires that I ſhould give my ſelf to him, but in ſo doing not He but I receive the benefit. All the retributions thou requireſt, O my God and Father, are but to do my ſelf more kindneſſes. Duties are my priviledges! All thy precepts are for my profit and my peace and pleaſure to obey them. Thou art beyond all compare the very beſt Maſter! Oh let my ear be boared, for I will ſerve thee for ever; let my Heart be circumciſed that I may love thee Eternally! There is a ſweetneſs in the acting of every Grace. There is great peace in keeping of thy law, there is an amiableneſs in thy Tabernacles, thy power and thy glory are ſeen in thy ſanctuary! and though that word Suffering may ſound harſh, yet upon experience, ſuffering will be found the moſt delightful pa… of Chriſtian obedience.
MEDITATION. LIV.
My Lord did not ſtick at ſuffering and why ſhould I? Why ſhould the Croſs daunt me? If I will be indeed Godly, Perſecution is to be expected. The old Serpent is full of hatred, and ſo are his ſeed, and their hatred is implacable. But when I conſider my Lords love, and power, and preſence. Hells Malice and the Worlds Rage become contemptible; times of ſuffering are times of the ſweeteſt ſolace. Thoſe are not unreaſonable injunctions, Count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations, and Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſly for my ſake, rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven. The Spirit of glory and of God does reſt upon his ſuffering Saints, ſo that they glory in tribulation, they rejoyce in it as a dignity when they ſuffer ſhame for the name of Jeſus, they are gainers by their loſſes, they gain an hundred fold in this World, beſides the Kingdom in the other World.
MEDITATION. LV.
O my ſoul follow thy Lord, though he lead thee in rough ways and paths of great affliction. If ſufferings abound, conſolation ſhall abound, and grace ſhall be ſufficient. The Croſs of Chriſt though the outſide of it be affrighting, yet it is lined with love, and eaſily born. And if it ſhould come to paſs that Life muſt be taken away; What better uſe can Life be put to then to lay it down for the Teſtimony of Jeſus? The painfulleſt deaths have proved many times moſt pleaſant. What raptures of joy have the Martyrs had, at the ſtake and in the flames! Prudentius of old obſerved, Mors Chriſtianis ludus eſt; That Death was but a ſport unto the Chriſtians! Remarkable is that paſſage of Bainham the Martyr, when his arms and legs were half conſumed by the fire, he ſpake theſe words, O ye Papiſts you look for miracles, and here now you may ſee a miracle, for in this fire I feel no more pain, then if I were in a bed of Down, it is to me a bed of Roſes! Reſolve therefore O my ſoul, undauntedly to undergo whatever tribulaon thou meeteſt for the ſake of Righteouſneſs. Rely upon thy faithful God who will not ſuffer thee to be tempted above what his Grace ſhall enable thee to bear, with joy as well as patience!
MEDITATION. LVI.
Thy death O Lord, is to be ſhewn forth till thou comeſt, 'tis proper for me to think of thy coming, and to rejoyce at the thoughts of it. My Lord and Redeemer, will certainly appear the ſecond time without ſin to Salvation. And when he ſhall appear I ſhall be like him, and appear with him in glory. Time and days do fly away apace, and the comming of my Lord draweth nigh. That will be the day of my open abſolution, of my full and compleat Redemption, of my joyful and triumphant Coronation. How full of glory and of love, will be the face of Jeſus then! Ah! where ſhall the ungodly and ſinners then appear! How will the greateſt and the ſtouteſt of them, even the Kings and Cheif Captains, and mighty men, tremble; and call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and cover them, from the face of him that ſits upon the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb! But though moſt of mankind be full of horror, I if I am a true Believer ſhall be full of joy, and after I have been openly acquitted, own'd and crown'd, before Men and Angels: Whither, Oh whither will my Lord carry me! Into thoſe Manſions he is gone to prepare; into the preſence Chamber of the King of Glory. Where God himſelf will be All in All.
MEDITATION. LVII.
I find ſome ſweetneſs in the way and means of grace, what ſhall I find in the end! if in vale of Tears ſuch joy be found, what will be enjoyed in a paradiſe of delight! if in the midſt of labours and fightings, and temptations I find ſo much ſatisfaction, what contentment will an Everlasting reſt afford me! Auguſtine ſpeaks excellently, Soliloq. cap. 35. Intra in gaudium ſine triſtitia; ubi erit omne bonum, et non erit aliquod malum; ubi erit quicquid voles, et non erit quicquid noles: O gaudium vincens omne gaudium! laetitia ſine dolore, lux ſine tenebris, vita ſine morte, ubi juventus nunquam ſeneſcit, ubi decor nunquam palleſcit, ubi amor nunquam tepeſcit, gaudium nunquam decreſcit, ubi dolor nunquam ſentitur, gemitus nunquam auditur, ubi triſte nihil videtur, ubi malum nullum timetur, quia ſummum bonum poſſidetur. Enter O my ſoul into joy without ſadneſs! Where there ſhall be a preſence of all good an abſence of all evil, where there ſhall be every thing which thou deſireſt, nothing at all that thou diſlikeſt. O joy ſurpaſſing all other joys! Gladneſs without Grief, Light without Darkneſs, Life without Death! There Youth ſhall never grow old, Beauty ſhall never fade, Love ſhall never wax cold, and Joy ſhall never be diminiſhed; there ſorrow ſhall never be felt, one ſigh ſhall never be heard; nothing ſad ſhall be ſeen, nothing evil ſhall be feared, becauſe the cheifeſt good ſhall be poſſeſſed.
MEDITATION. LVIII.
Lord! I am thine ſave me, ſave me or I ſhall ſurely periſh, bring me ſafe to the Haven, preſerve me to thy heavenly Kingdom, that neither Faith nor Conſcience, nor my ſoul may ſuffer ſhipwrack. Thou haſt made an Everlaſting Covenant with me, and at thy Table this Covenant has been ſealed, Oh never turn away from me to do me good, and let thy power and love, and the fear of thy name ſecure me from Apoſtacy! I am not ſufficient to be my own keeper, but who ſhall be able to pluck me out of the hand of Chriſt and of the Father who is greater then all? Thou art of power to eſtabliſh me, and canſt eaſily keep me from falling, and preſent me faultleſs before the preſence of thy glory with exceeding great joy. Oh let not my faith fail, nor my love cool, nor my watchfulneſs abate; let Satans wiles and devices be unſucceſsful, help me to ſlight the worlds frowns, and to be deaf and dead, to the flatteries and ſmiles of it. Let me obtain mercy to be faithful in thy Covenant, let my ſpirit be cured of its natural fickleneſs and treachery, let reſolutions to be the Lords, and to ſerve the Lord be peremptory, being made and kept with a ſtrength beyond my own! And let me at laſt be able to ſay. O God my Heart is fixed, my Heart is fixed, I will ſing and give praiſe.
Herbert. pag. 140.
KIng of Glory, King of Peace,
I will love thee:
And that love may never ceaſe,
I will move thee.
Thou haſt granted my requeſt,
Thou haſt heard me:
Thou didſt note my working breaſt,
Thou haſt ſpar'd me.
Wherefore with my utmoſt art
I will ſing thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my ſins againſt me cry'd,
Thou didſt clear me;
And alone, when they reply'd,
Thou didst hear me.
Seven whole days, not one in ſeven,
I will praiſe thee:
In my Heart though not in Heaven,
I can raiſe thee.
Thou grew'ſt ſoft and moiſt with Tears,
Thou relentedſt:
And when Juſtice call'd for fears,
Thou diſſentedſt.
Small it is in this poor ſort
To enroll thee:
Even Eternity is too ſhort
To extoll thee.
FINIS.