The Practical Christian, Tract · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of Occaſional and Sudden Meditation.
There's nothing we ſee or do, from our riſing up to our lying down, but giveth us ſome occaſion of Spiritual and Divine Meditation; and therefore it ſhould be our endeavour, to take notice of it, and improve it to the Glory of God, and our own and others ſpiritual advantage in the way homeward to Eternal Life, becauſe the moſt are ignorant, or not ſo well acquainted as they ſhould with this Divine Art of Extracting Spiritual out of Temporal things. For your help and furtherance herein, I ſhall briefly direct you in a few Particulars, from the beginning of the day to the end, and ſo conclude this Subject: Pray mark them well.
I.
WHen you awake, to give God the firſt of your thoughts, As David, Pſalm 139. When I awake, I am preſently with thee; How precious are the thoughts of thee unto me! To think alſo of our duty of awaking out of Sin unto Righteouſneſs, Epheſ. 5.14. and of our awaking at the laſt day out of the Grave, by the ſound of the Trumpet, 1 Theſſ. 4.16. This you may find was David's thought, Pſalm 17. laſt. When I awake, I ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſs. Remember, ſleep is but the Image of Death, the Bed the Grave, and the Morning of the Reſurrection at the laſt Day.
II.
When you have had a ſweet nights reſt, think thus, If natural reſt be ſo ſweet, refreſhing and reviving, how much more is Spiritual Reſt, and will be Eternal Reſt? Oh what cauſe have you to bleſs him that hath given his Beloved Reſt, when others have been altogether reſtleſs, and others, it may be, ſlept their laſt ſleep? Think and ſay to thy Soul, Oh how juſtly mighteſt thou have been awakened out of thy ſleep at midnight (as the Egyptians were) with a cry, or elſe have ſlept the ſleep of Death; whereas we have layen down in peace and ſlept, becauſe the Lord ſuſtained us.
III.
When you ſee the light of the day ſhining into your eyes, think and ſay, If the light be ſweet, and it be a pleaſant thing to behold the Sun, Eccleſ. 11.7. Oh how excellent is thy loving kindneſs, in cauſing the Son of Righteouſneſs to ariſe with healing in his Wings upon us, Mal. 4.2. Oh what great cauſe have we to bleſs God for the Light of Life, eſpecially for the Light of the Goſpel, the Light of Grace here, and the hope of the Light of Glory hereafter; to beg alſo of God to lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us, and help us to walk in the Light of his Countenance all the day long.
IV.
When you are about to riſe, think upon the firſt Reſurrection to Grace here, and the ſecond Reſurrection to Glory at the laſt day, becauſe without an intereſt in the firſt Reſurrection, you can never expect an intereſt in the ſecond; and therefore to be careful, as you riſe out of your beds, ſo to look to this, that you ariſe out of ſin unto newneſs of Life.
V.
When you put on your cloaths, think on ſin, which was the cauſe both of your nakedneſs and your need of Apparel; to be humbled under the one, and keep you from priding your ſelves in the other; think alſo what infinite cauſe you have alſo to bleſs God for Jeſus Chriſt, that he hath fulfilled and brought in everlaſting Righteouſneſs, whereby your nakedneſs might be covered, and you might ſtand amiable in his ſight, without ſpot or wrinkle, Epheſ. 5. end. And therefore when you put on your Apparel, remember to put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 13. end. and put him on wholly for Juſtification, Sanctification, Conſolation, Salvation; and take heed of ſpending too much time in apparelling your ſelves. It is reported of one Pambo, that ſeeing a Gentlewoman dreſſing her ſelf all the morning by the Glaſs, he fell a weeping; and being asked Why? He anſwered, Becauſe this Woman had ſpent all the morning in dreſſing her Body, and I ſcarce one hour in dreſſing my Soul.
VI.
When you look into the Glaſs to ſee what is amiſs about you, remember to look into the Glaſs of the Word, to ſee what is amiſs in your hearts and lives, and to order your Converſation according to it, Pſalm 119.9. Where withall ſhall a young man cleanſe his wayes, but by taking heed to thy Word?
VII.
When you begin to waſh your hands and face, think of that Fountain which God hath opened to waſh in, from ſin and from uncleanneſs, Zach. 13. What infinite cauſe have you to bleſs Jeſus Chriſt, that was willing to ſhed his precious heartblood for you to waſh in; and the love of the Spirit to you, in opening your eyes, and revealing this Fountain to you, begging of him, That he would put you in and waſh you, and rinſe your Souls and Bodies more and more from your remaining filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit, 2 Corin. 7.1.
VIII.
When you are about to go apart into your Chamber or Cloſet, to read the Word, and pray unto God in ſecret: Think thus, What a mercy is it to have this liberty which is denied unto many. What a mercy is it to look into that bleſſed Book of the Scriptures! Lord open mine eyes that I may ſee the wondrous things contained in it. What a mercy alſo is it, to have acceſs with boldneſs and confidence to the Throne of God, when we cannot to the throne of Men, to go to him alſo as my Father, and a Father not onelyonly able, but as willing as able to ſupply all my wants; that ſees in ſecret, and hath promiſed to reward me openly, Matth. 6.6.
IX.
When you are to pray with the Family, think thus, What a mercy is this that I have a Family to pray with and for, and that we have all health and liberty to pray together, and that any have hearts to joyn with us in Prayer, and are not as too many are in other Families, ſcoffing Iſhmaelites, and prophane Eſaues.
X.
When you are about to imploy your ſelves about the duties of your particular Calling, Remember that as God requires every one ſhould live in a Calling, ſo that every one be diligent in it, becauſe it's the diligent hand makes rich; yet not to labour ſo much after the meat that periſhes, as that which endures to eternal Life, John 6.27.
1. So to labour in your particular Callings, as that you may be more ſerviceable to God, and helpful to others in the duties of your general Calling.
2. That you be faithful and juſt, 1 Theſſ. 4.6, 11, 12.
3. That you be uſeful and fruitful, not ſeeking only your own profit, but the weal and benefit of others, Phil. 2.4. 1 Cor. 10. about the end.
4. That you be Spiritual and Heavenly, careful to trade for Heaven as well as for Earth, and lay up a ſtock of Grace that will ſtand by you, when all other things will fail you and forſake you.
XI.
When you are trading and trafficking, buying and ſelling, and making any bargain, think on the beſt Bargain, that which will make you rich for ever; that of the wiſe Merchant, who ſold all he had to purchaſe the Pearl, Matth. 13.44. Think of buying the Gold tryed in the fire, Rev. 3.18. and buying the Truth that will ſave your ſouls, Prov. 23.23. And whilſt you look after the gain of the World, think on that of Iſa. 55.1. Wherefore do you lay out your money for that which cannot ſatisfie? &c. And that of our Saviour, What will it profit a man to win the whole World, and loſe his Soul? &c. And that of Chriſt to Martha, Luke 10.42. Martha, Martha, thou art cum bered about many things, but there's one thing neceſſary, &c.
XII.
When you are about to take a Journey, as you are trevelling in the way, think on this, Your life is but a Journey, you are in a conſtant motion to Eternity, every action is but a ſtep, every day and hour brings you nearer to Heaven or Hell, and therefore you had need look to this, that you be in the right way, that you may not miſcarry for ever; and to this end, to pray to the Lord that he would remember his promiſe, Pſal. 32.8. He would inſtruct in the way wherein you ſhould go, and guide you by his eye; that he would be your God for ever, and guide you unto Death, guiding you by his counſel, until he hath received you into Glory.
XIII.
When you are about to uſe the Creatures in the Morning, at Noon, and Evening, think thus; Oh what a great Houſe-keeper is the Lord that provides for the whole Family of Heaven and Earth; What a bountiful Maſter do I ſerve, that provides ſo liberally for me, and me above many; and not only gives the Creature, but an appetite to it, when many of his want both. When you are eating Bread, think on the Bread which came down from Heaven to feed your Souls, and how bleſſed they are that eat of this Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven, Luke 14.15. Think alſo on that of our Saviour, Man lives not by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God: Though Bread is the Staff of our Life, it is the Bleſſing of God is the ſtrength of that Staff; and he that maintains our natural Life by dead Creatures, is as able to nouriſh our Souls in Spiritual Life, to Eternal Life by dead Ordinances, how weak and contemptible ſoever they ſee… in the eye of Carnal Reaſon.
XIV.
When you walk abroad and view the World, think what a great and mighty a God is he that made ſo great and mighty a Fabrick out of nothing, by his very Word; think what a precious Soul you have, that is of more worth then all the World; and what cauſe you have therefore to value it above all the World, and not to hazzard it for the gaining of the World.
XV.
When you look up, and behold the glory of the Heavens, the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars; think and ſay with David, Lord, what is Man, that thou ſhouldst make all this for Man? the greater Light to rule the Day, and the leſſer to rule the Night, Pſal. 8.3. If the Light of Heaven be ſo ſweet, how ſweet is the Light of thy Countenance? If there be ſo much glory and influence in the Sun of the World, what is there in the Son of Righteouſneſs? And how great will the glory of the Saints be at the laſt day, when their glorified Bodies ſhall outſhine the glory of the Sun? Oh how glorious is the Church that is cloathed with the Sun, and hath the Moon under her feet! Revel. 12. When you take notice of the Moon borrowing of her Light from the Sun, and loſing her light at the riſing of the Sun, every month changing her appearance, increaſing or decreaſing her Light; think how like our life is to the Moon, full of changes, and variety of conditions: And from whom is it we muſt receive any light of comfort under them, and be directed in them, but from the Son of Righteouſneſs?
XVI.
When you look up and behold the Clouds, and ſee how they are ſupported without any outward means, and carried up and down like Feathers in the Air, God can as eaſily ſupport his under all clouds of temptation; when you ſee thoſe Clouds diſperſed by the Beams of the Sun, then think how eaſily one Beam of the Son of Righteouſneſs can ſcatter all the clouds of temptation; when you ſee the Clouds, think upon Jeſus Chriſt, who as he went up to Heaven in the Clouds, ſo he will come again in the Clouds to Judgment.
XVII.
When you look downward and behold the Earth, think from whence you came, and where you muſt return; Duſt thou art, and to duſt thou muſt; that it is the Mother of us all, and the place appointed for all the living; your bodies muſt deſcend firſt into the Earth, before they can aſcend up into Heaven; and therefore as the Grave waits for us, we ſhould wait for it. When you behold the fruitfulneſs of the Trees and the Plants of the Earth, how every one brings forth its Fruit in due ſeaſon; ſuch are or ought to be every Godly Man and Woman, Trees of Righteouſneſs, bringing forth Fruit to God; otherwiſe it will be a foul ſhame for Chriſtians to remain barren and unfruitful under ſuch plentiful dews and droppings from Heaven.
XVIII.
When you feel the powerful operation and working of the Air, and of the Winds, though you do not ſee them; think thus, If I believe there is Air and Wind, though I do not ſee them, then I ſhould much more believe there is a God that made them, though I do not ſee him; and if there be ſo much power and vertue in them to preſerve and take away life, how much more in God that puts this power and vertue into them.
XIX.
When you walk abroad and view the Fowls of the Air, and the Beaſts of the Earth, and the Fiſh of the Sea, and the reſt of the Creatures; think thus, they were all made for my uſe and ſervice, and therefore are as ſo many Obligations, and ſhould be as ſo many incouragements to ſerve God in all, and for all, and above all, ſee Job 12.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. There is no Creature but teacheth us ſomething.
1. Ask the Beaſts, and they'l teach you, the Ox and Aſs to know and acknowledge their Owner, Iſa. 1. The Horſe and the Mule, they will ſhew you the ſtubborn and refractory nature of Man, the Sheep our wandring diſpoſitions, and to know, hearken too, and follow our Shepherd, John 10. To be dumb like a Sheep before the Shearer, and not open your mouths as Chriſt was, Iſa. 53. and the Lamb will remember you, how Chriſt was brought as a Lamb to the ſlaughter; and that though he was like a Lamb without ſpot and blemiſh; the Dog and the Swine will mind you of the uncleanneſs of ſinners, and the hatefulneſs of Apoſtacy, in cauſing men to return with the Dog to the Vomit, and the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire; the Serpent will teach you wiſdom, in preſerving your ſelves, and the Ant in making proviſion for the future.
2. Ask the Fowls of the Air, and they will teach you, ſayes Job; to truſt in God for a livelyhood, Mat. 6.26. and to know your times and ſeaſons for every work, Jer. 8.7. The Dove will teach you Innocency and Sympathy; the little Birds to ſound forth praiſes to God every morning and evening.
Cantat a lauda Deo, laudes gratiſſima ſummo, Hinc vos in grat…s gratu laceſſit avis.
3. Ask the Fiſhes of the Sea, and they will teach you, ſayes Job. The Sea, by her continual fluctuating and foaming, will mind you of the continual unquietneſs and reſ…leſneſs of wicked men, Iſa. 5….20. They are like the troubled Sea, &c. The Fiſh of the Sea, they will ſhew you the miſery of want of Government, they being every one without a Ruler, ſo as the leſſer are ſtill devoured of the greater, Hab. 1. Why hast thou made m…n like the Fiſhes of the Sea? &c.
XX.
When you are to go to wait an God in the uſe of his Ordinance, think what a mercy it is to have the Doors of God's Sanctuary open, when they are ſhut to others; to ſee Souls flock to the Ordinances, as the Doves to the Windows; that ſome Souls might ſtill be added to the Church, and brought into Chriſt; and built up further in Grace and gracious practices: When you are to hear the Word, remember you are not only to hear a Man but God, who ſpeaks in and by Man, who hath ſaid, His Word ſhall not return in vain, but ſurely proſper to the end he ſends it, Iſa. 55. last. And if it be not the ſavour of Life, it will of Death, 2 Cor. 1. end. When the Sermon is ended, remember, though the Miniſter have done, the Sermon is not done, until you have done and practiſed it; if it be not practiſed, it will be preached over with more terror another day, when you will not be able to hear it.
XXI.
When you are walking abroad, and meet with any Chriſtian Friend, think if it be ſweet with a dear Chriſtian Friend upon Earth, Oh how ſweet will it be to meet with all in Heaven? When you hear of any good news from them, then think, Oh what good news hath Chriſt brought from Heaven, and did the Angel ſing at the time of his Birth, and hath the Spirit of God brought home and ſpoken unto my heart; if it be bad news that you have heard, yet think and comfort your hearts with this, However you have ſad expectations from Earth, yet you have comfortable expectations from Heaven, God, and Chriſt, and the Spirit is yours, and will be for ever yours, 1 Cor. 3. laſt. Pſal. 112.7. When you hear of any Prodigies or dreadful appearances of God in the Heaven, or the Earth, or the Sea, then think and ſay, How terrible, O Lord, art thou in all thy wayes! Who knows the power of thy anger! what mean theſe dreadful tokens of thy diſpleaſure make me and all to fear and tremble before thee! When you ſee or hear the corruption of men to break out into Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, Blaſphemy, Perſecution, &c. then think and ſay as Bradford the Martyr, Lord, what a wicked heart have I, what cauſe have I to give glory to Grace that keeps under corruption in me, that does not break out in me as in others. When any croſs or affliction befals you on the day, in Body, Soul, Name, Eſtate, think & ſay, Lord what ſin is it that thou correcteſt? ſhew me my ſin, ſanctifie this affliction, and do me good by it: When any mercy is renewed upon you and yours, think and ſay, Oh how great is that goodneſs thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, and that thou workeſt daily for the Children of men, Pſal. 31.
XXII.
When the day draweth towards an end, remember you are nearer to your end by one day, then you were in the morning; as the night approacheth towards you, ſo do you to the Grave, and for ought you know may be your laſt day: When you look up and ſee the Stars appear in the Heaven, think thus, Though your life here be hid with Chriſt in God, yet when he ſhall appear, you ſhall appear with him in glory, Col. 3.4. and then your bodies ſhall ſhine as the Stars, Dan. 12. When you ſee the dark night to come upon you, and you begin to light Candles, then think if outward darkneſs be ſo uncomfortable, how much more is the inward darkneſs of the Soul, and utter darkneſs in Hell! if the light of a Candle be ſo comfortable, how comfortable is the Life of Grace here, and will be the Life of Glory hereafter: When you are about to put off your Cloaths, think thus, It will not be long ere I muſt be uncloathed of this body of Sin and Death; and if I be ſo willing to the one, why not to the other, that I might be cloathed with my Houſe from Heaven, 2 Cor. 5.2. And if I be ſo willing to go into Bed to take my reſt, that I may have renewed ſtrength for Body and Spirit to fit me for the ſervice of the next day, why ſhould I not be as willing, and more willing, at God's call, to lay down my body in the Grave, there to reſt from all ſinning, ſorrowing, ſuffering, and to be raiſed up at the laſt day with renewed and perfect ſtrength both in Soul and Body, to be ſtill ſerving and glorifying God to all Eternity. Remember ſtill, O my Soul, thy ſleep is but the Image of Death; the Bed, the Image of thy Grave; and the Sheets, of thy Winding Sheets; the biting of the Fleas, but the gnawing of the Worms on the Body; the crowing of the Cock in the morning, the ſounding of the Trump of God at the laſt day by the Voice of the Arch-Angel; Awake ye dead, and come to Judgment, Iſa. 57.2. 1 Theſſ. 4.16.
Laſtly, When you are about to ſleep, labour to ſleep with precious thoughts of God, for ſuch as your thoughts are, when you are about to ſleep, ſuch will your thoughts be when you awake. When we rake up fire in the Aſhes at night, ſo we uſually find it in the morning; and ſuch, I ſay, as our thoughts are of God when we ſleep, will be when we awake. In a word, Think of your ſleeping in Jeſus, and your awaking and appearing with him in glory in the morning of the Reſurrection. And thus I have, as briefly as I could, with any profit to you, directed you how to make a Spiritual uſe of whatſoever preſents it ſelf to your ſenſes, from morning to evening, at home and abroad: What remains, but that we put in practice what we ſee to be our duty; motives to i…, and directions for it, you have had before. I need not add any more, onelyonly this conſideration, there's a double uſe God expects we ſhould make of every Creature, a natural and a ſpiritual; and if we ſhould content our ſelves only with the natural uſe, without the Spiritual, we ſhould loſe the one half, and the beſt half of that comfort in the Creature which God gave it for; and we ſhall do no more then natural carnal ſenſual men, yea the very Beaſts do; and therefore if we will evidence our ſelves to be Chriſtians indeed, that mind the wellfare of our Souls as well as our Bodies, then to apply our ſelves more then ever we have done to the practice of this ſweet, weighty, and profitable duty of Meditation, both Solemn and Occaſional. Which that we may, bleſſed Lord, thou who haſt put it into the heart of thy weak and unworthy Servant, to ſtudy and write theſe things, for the good and comfort of thy People; be thou graciouſly pleaſed, by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit, to make them uſeful to all, into whoſe hands they ſhall come, for the promoting and carrying on the Work of Grace in their hearts and lives, and the furthering of their everlaſting Salvation.
Oh Lord, I pray thee let it not be in vain that this or any other help is afforded them, but do thou give ſucceſs to the weak endeavours of thy unworthy Servant, ſo as there may be glory to thee, profit to them, and comfort to him who hath found that grace in thy ſight, to be accepted and enabled to be any way inſtrumental for their help and comfort in the way homeward to everlaſting life. This is, and ſhall be, the Prayer of
Your Affectionate and Antient Paſtor, J. B.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Bartlet, The Practical Christian (1670)