being ravished with the amazing beauties of Jesus Christ Use 1 Use 1. Information And it hath three Branches 1. Bran. 1. Behold here as in a Scripture-glasse the transcendent excellencies of the Lord Jesus He is altogether lovely * Si de placenta mellea aut saccharea si de fructu sapidissimo v. g. de ficu quae nulles habet acinos sed tota est edilis delicata dicimus haec placenta tota irritat orexin si de vino suavissimo falerno cretico moscatellato dicimus hoc vinum summe est desiderabile quid dicemus de Christo qui omne desiderium non tantum satiat sed longe superat Corn. d. Lap. here is a faire prospect set before us I wonder not that Paul that Seraphique Saint defired to know nothing save Jesus Christ* 1 Cor. 2.2 What would he know more He is altogether lovely No wonder the Apostles left all and followed him Mat. 19.27 had I the tongue of Angels I could never set forth Christ in all his lively and lovely colours Besides what hath been said take a further view of Christs lovely excellencies in three particulars 1. He is our light Light is a glorious creature Eccles 11.7 Truly the light is sweet The light puls off the vaile and draws aside the dark curtaines of the night making every thing appear in its fresh colours Thus Jesus Christ is lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is call'd that true light John 1.9 and the bright morning star Rev. 22.16 when the soul is benighted with ignorance Christ is the morning-star that enlightens it He is the Sunne of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 * i. e. tanquamradiis justitiae suae perfundens electos Tremel This Sun of righteousnesse is more glorious than that in the Firmament 1. The Sunne in the firmament riseth and sets but the Sun of righteousnesse when it once riseth upon the soule in conversion never sets finally upon him it may pull in its beames when the clouds of our sin come between but it comes out of the cloud again as it did to David it never sets finally 2. The Sunne in the Firmament only shines upon us but the Sunne of righteousnesse shines within us Gal. 1.16 but when it pleased God to reveale his Sonne in me The Sunne in the Firmament shines only upon our faces but the Sunne of righteousnesse shines in our hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts How sweet are these beames 3. The Sunne in the Firmament shines only in the day-time but the Sun of righteousnesse shines in the night In the night of desertion and affliction this Sunne shines Psalme 112.4 Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse Oh how lovely is this Sun of righteousnesse by the bright beames of this Sunne we see God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. in secund Ep. ad Cor. 2. Christ is our food He is not only lovely to the eye but to the taste Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed This is Princely fare Accedis ad Christum non carne sed corde edis Christum non dente sed fide Aust it was never prepared for the Angels but for us 'T is lovely feeding here Al the rarities of heaven are serv'd in in this dish And my blood is drink indeed This blood is better than wine 1. Wine may be taken in excesse Noah took too much of the Grape but it is otherwise with the wine of Christs blood there is no feare of excesse here Though a drop be sweet yet the more we drink the better the deeper the sweeter Drink yea drink abundantly Obeloved Cant. 5.1 Excesse here makes us sober * Hac ebrietas sobrios reddit 2. Wine though it cheares the heart yet at some times if it be taken it may be hurtful give wine in a Feaver and it is as bad as poison But this wine of Christs blood is best in a Feaver When the heart burns as hot as hell in the sense of Gods wrath and is as it were in a spiritual Agony and Feaver now a drop of Christs blood doth allay the inflammation and sweetly refresheth the soul 't is lovely drinking at this fountaine 3. Christ is our life Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appeare Life is sweet life makes every thing comfortable In this the Devil said true Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2.3 A man will cast the plate and jewels overboard to save his life he will lose a legge or an arme to preserve the vital parts Vt serves vitam ferrum patieris ignem Is life lovely and is not Christ who is our life lovely He was typified by the the tree of life in the Garden Gen. 2.9 That tree was Symbolical as Austin saith it was a pledg and signe of life if man had continued in obedience It was certainly a lovely tree but it was only a type of Christ who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The tree of life Rev. 2.7 This tree of life the Lord Jesus is a better tree than that which grew in Paradise Adams tree in Paradise might preserve life but it could not prevent death there was dying for all that but this tree of life Jesus Christ prevents death John 11.26 Whosoever beleeveth in me shall never die that is not die the second death Rev. 2.14 This blessed tree is an antidote against death If there were a tree to be found in the world that could preserve men from dying how farre would they go on pilgrimage What vast sums of money would they give for one leaf of that tree such a tree is Christ he will keep you from dying and is not this tree very lovely In particular there is a threefold life flows from Jesus Christ 1. The life of grace Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace This life is gemma aeternitatis a bud of eternity t is a life purchased for us by Christs death 2. The life of comfort which is the creame of life John 16.22 Your heart shall rejoyce This is an holy jubilation of Spirit so sweet and ravishing is this joy that if David when he had lost his joy had lost also his crown and God had put the question to him which of these two he would have restored David would have said Lord restore unto me the joy of thy salvation Psal 51.12 Rather my comfort than my Crown 'T is Hilary Tearm with a Christian while these joys last 3. The life of glory John 17.22 This is the most noble life this is to live the life of Angels nay to live the life of God 'T is the highest elevation and perfection of the reasonable creature and may we not cry out with Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What more lovely than Christ from whom these golden streams of life flow Oh that all this might make him amiable in our eyes What should we admire
is possible he may have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a taste of the heavenly gift he may taste but not concoct * Potest summis labris delibare Estius as one saith a Cook may taste the meat he dresseth but not be nourished by it * M. Perkins This taste may not only illuminare but reficere * Thom. Aquin. it may carry some sweetnesse in it there may be a kinde of delight in spiritual things Thus farre a man may go and yet penitus recidere fall away finally Now this will be very sad it being such a God-affronting and Christ-reproaching sinne Know therefore it is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord Jerem. 2.19 Meditate upon final relapses The meditation of this would make us earnest in prayer to God 1. For soundnesse of heart make my heart sound in thy statutes Psal Ps 119.80 119.80 Lord let me not be an Alchimy Christian work a thorough work of grace upon me Though I am not washed perfectly let me be wash'd throughly Psalme 51.2 That which begins in hypocrisie ends in apostasie 2. The meditation of hypocrites final falling away would make us earnest in prayer for perseverance Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps stip not Psalme 17.5 Lord hold me up that I may hold out Thou hast set the crown at the end of the race let me run the race that I may wear the crown it was Beza's prayer Domine quod coepisti perfice ne in portu naufragium accidat Beza and let it be ours Lord perfect what thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer shipwrack when I am almost at Haven SECT 10. THe tenth subject of meditation is meditate of death * Vera Philosophia est mortis contemplatio Plato in dial de sap We say we must all die but who is he that meditates seriously upon it Meditate 1. Of the certainty of death statutum est 'T is appointed for all once to die Heb. 9.27 There 's a statute out 2. Meditate upon the proximity of death it is near to us Et mors atra caput fuscis circumvolat alis We are almost setting our feet upon the dark entry of death The Poets painted time with wings it not only rides Post but flies and carries us upon its wings The race is short between the cradle and the grave the sentence of death is already passed Gen. 3.19 To dust thou shalt returne so that our life is but a short reprieval from death which is granted to a condemned man Mine age is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as nothing Psal 39.5 nay if it were possible to take something out of nothing our life is lesse than nothing reckon'd with eternity 3. Meditate upon the uncertainty of the time We have no Lease but may be turned out the next houre there are so many casualties that it is a wonder if life be not cut off by untimely death * Quis scit an adjiciant hodiernae crastina vitae tempora dii superi Horat. How soon may God seale us a lease of ejectment Our grave may be digging before night To day we lie upon a pillow of downe to morrow we may be laid upon a pillow of dust To day the Sermon-bell goes to morrow our passing-bell may go 4. Think seriously that to die is to be but once done and after death there 's nothing to be done If thou diest in thy impenitency there 's no repenting in the grave If thou leavest thy work at death half done there is no finishing it in the grave Eccles 9.10 There 's no work nor devise nor wisdome in the grave whether thou goest If a garison surrender at the first summons there is mercy but if it stay til the red flag be hung out and the garison is storm'd there 's no mercy then Now 't is a day of grace and God holds forth the white flag of mercy to the penitent if we stay till God hold forth the red flag and storme us by death now there 's no mercy There is nothing to be done for our souls after death Oh meditate of death 'T is reported of Zeleucus that the first piece of houshold-stuff he brought into Babylon was a tomb-stone think often of your Tomb-stone The meditation of death would work these admirable effects 1. The meditation of death would pull down the plumes of pride Cum sis humi limus cur non humilimus thou art but pulvis animatus shall dust and ashes be proud Thou hast a grassy body Is 40.6 Agnoscat homose esse mortalem franget elationem Aug. and shalt shortly be mowen down I have said ye are gods Ps 82 but lest they should grow proud he adds a corrective ye shal die like men v. 7. ye are dying gods 2. The meditation of death would be a means to give a deaths wound to sinne nihil sic revocat a peccato c. No stronger antidote against sinne saith Austin than the frequent meditation of death am I now sinning and to morrow may be dying What if death should take me doing the devils work would it not send me to him to receive double pay carry the thoughts of death as a table-book alwayes about thee and when sinne tempts pull out this table-book and read in it and you shall see sinne will vanish We should look upon sin in two glasses the glasse of Christs blood and the glasse of death 3. The meditation of death would be a bridle for intemperancy shall I pamper that body which must lie down in the house of rottennesse Our Saviour at a feast breaks forth into mention of his burial Mat. 26.12 Matth. 26.12 feeding upon the thoughts of death would be an excellent preservative against a surfeit 4. The meditation of death would make us husband time better and croud up much work in a a little room Many meet in Taverns to drive away time the Apostle bids us redeeme it Eph. 5.15 Redeeming the time Our lives should be like jewels though little in bulk yet great in worth Some die young yet with gray haires upon them we must be like grasse of the field useful not like grasse of the house-top Psalme 129.6 which withers before it be grown up To live and not be serviceable is not vita but tempus * Seneca 5. The meditation of death would make us lay in provision against such a time It would spur us on in the pursuit after holinesse Death is the great plunderer it will shortly plunder us of all our outward comforts our feathers of beauty and honour must be laid in the dust but death cannot plunder us of our graces The Common-Wealth of Venice in their armoury have this inscription happy is he that in time of peace thinks of warre * Id etiam depictuon aurcis literis in porta aquaria civitatis Embrincensis he that often meditates of death will make preparation against
bottom ver 9. For with thee is the fountain of life Dulcius ex ipso fonte c. and is not this most satisfactory It is a witty observation of Picus Mirandula That in the Creation of the World God gave the water to the fish the earth to the beasts the ayr to the fowls afterward made man in his own image that man might say Lord there is nothing upon earth to be desired besides Thee what can satiate my soul but to be still with thee 3. To be still with God is the most comfortable life what sweet harmony and musick is in that soul The Bird the higher it takes its flight the sweeter it sings so the higher the soul is raised above the World the sweeter joy it hath How is the heart inflamed in Prayer How is it ravished in Holy Meditation What joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 and these joys are those mellea flumina those honey-streams which flow out of the Rock Christ Tell me is it not comfortable being in Heaven He that is still with God carries Heaven about him he hath those praelibations and tasts of Gods love which are the beginnings of Heaven * Rom. 8.23 So sweet is this kinde of Life that it can drop sweetness into the troubles and disquiets of the World that we shall be scarce sensible of them * Nihil sentit crus in nervo quando animus est in coelo Tertullian It can turn the Prison into a Paradise the Furnace into a Festival it can sweeten death A soul elevated by grace can rejoyce to think of dying Death will but cut the string and the Soul that Bird of Paradise shall flie away and be at rest 4. To be still with God is the most durable life nunquam deficit semper resicit Diuturniora sunt praestantio ra the life of sense will fail we must shortly bid farewell to all our outward Comforts these blossoms will drop off We read of a Sea of glass mingled with fire Rev. 12.2 Bullinger and other learned Expositors understand by that Sea of glass the World Indeed it is a fit embleme of it the World is a Sea and it is seldome calm and 't is a Sea of glass slippery and this glass is mingled with fire to shew it is of a perishable and consuming nature Riches take wings and relations take wings but you that by the wings of grace are still soaring aloft This life shall never have an end it is the beginning of an eternal life happiness is but the cream of holiness you that are still with God shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 You shall see God in all his embroidered Robes of majesty * In Coelesti beatitudine sine alique taedio manens aeternitas inspectio sola divinitatis efficit ut beatius nihilesse possit Cassidor lib. 2. Ireneus lib. 4. contra haeres cap. 37. Greg. Nyssen lib. de beatitud Damascen lib. 4. de fide 1 Joh. 3. We shall see him as he is and this sight vvill be ravishing and full of glory Oh then is not this the best kinde of life He who when he awakes is still with God when he goes to sleep at death shall be ever with the Lord. Quest Quest But how shall I arrive at this blessed frame of heart to be still with God Answ Answ 1. Get a right Judgement 'T is a great matter to have the Judgement set right Get a right judgement of sin and you will be never with it get a right Judgement of God and you will be still with him In God are all combined excellencies How sweet is his love how satisfying is his presence But as the Painter drew a vail over Agamemnons face because the greatness of his grief for his daughter Iphigenia could not be expressed So when I speak of the glorious perfections in God I must draw a vail neither pen nor pensil can set them forth in their orientlustre the angels here must be silent 2. If you would be still with God watch over your hearts every day Lock up your hearts with God every morning and give him the key The heart will be stealing out to vanity * Nihil corde meo fugacius Bern. Lord saith Bernard there 's nothing more flitting then my heart Keep watch and ward there especially Christians look to your hearts after an Ordinance when you have been with God in duty now expect a temptation Physitians say The body must be more carefully looked to when it comes out of an hot Bath for the pores being open it is more in danger of catching cold After your spiritual Bathing in an Ordinance when you have been at a Sermon or Sacrament now take heed that you do not catch cold 3. Beware of remisness in duty * Sic putamus orâsse Jonam sic Danielem inter leones Sic latronem in Cruce Hierom. when you begin to slacken the reins and abate your former heat and vigour in Religion there steals insensibly a deadness upon the heart and by degrees there ariseth a sad estrangement between God and the Soul And Brethren how hard a Work will you finde it to get your hearts up again when they are once down A weighty stone that hath been rowled up to the top of a steep hill and then falls down to the bottom how hard is it to get it up again Oh take heed of a dull lazy temper in Gods service we are bid to be fervent in spirit Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lecto neglecto mollem discute somnum Sarisburiensis in Policrat lib. 1. The Athenians enquiring at the Oracle of Apollo why their plagues did continue so long the Oracle answered them they must duplare aram double their Sacrifices * Plutarch those who would hold constant communion with God must double their devotion they must be much in praier and mighty in prayer we read that the coals were to be put to the incense Lev. 16.13 incense was a Type of prayer and the coals put to the incense was to shew That the heart of a Christian ought to be inflamed in holy services nothing more dangerous then a plodding formality 4. If you would be still with God be much in the Communion of Saints many Christians live as if this Article were blotted out of their Creed how doth one Saint whet and Sharpen another As vain company cools good affections so by being in the communion of Saints we are warmed and quickned Be often among the Spices and you will smell of them These directions observed we shall be able to keep our acquaintance with God and may arrive at this blessed frame as here David had When I awake I am still with thee FINIS CHRISTS LOVELINES OR A Discourse setting forth the Rare Beauties of the Lord Jesus which may both amaze the eye and draw the heart of a sinner to him By THOMAS WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of
disparagement to him to joyne our Duties in equipage with his Merits O sinner cast away thy beggars rags that thou mayest put on Christs lovely robes I would not take thee off from duty but from confidence in duty Noahs Dove might make use of her wings to flie but she did not trust to her wings but to the Ark. A man makes use of his feet to go over a bridge but he trusts to the bridge for safety Christians while they walk with the feet of obedience must trust to Christ as the bridge to lead them over the devouring sea of hell in short if thou wouldst get an interest in Christ rely on Christ by faith and resigne up thy self to Christ by service A beleever with one hand receives Christ with the other hand gives up himself to Christ Christ saith to a beleever with my body yea with my blood I thee endow and a beleever saith to Christ with my soule I thee worship Oh Christian part with all for a part in this lovely Saviour 2. Branch 2. Bran. If Christ be thus full of sparkling beauties then fall in love with this lovely object and with the Spouse be sick of love to Christ Beauty doth draw love Ministers are Paranymphi friends of the bride groom This day I come a wooing for your love Love him who is so lovely Let Christ lie as a bundle of myrrhe alwayes between your breasts If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Mara-natha 1 Cor. 16.22 Love saith Chrysostome is the diamond that only the Queen weares viz. The gracious soul Oh that all these surpassing beauties of Christ might kindle a flame of divine love in Christians hearts Christ is maxime diligibilis as the Schoolmen speak he is the very extract and quintescence of beauty he is a whole Paradise of delight * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar hom 31. He is the flower of Sharon enriched with orient colours and persum'd with the sweetest savour Oh wear this flower not in your bosome but in your heart and be alwayes smelling to it and shew your love to this lovely Saviour 1. By the degrees of it 2. By the effects of it 1. By the degrees of it Love him above all other things * Minus te amat qui aliquid tecum amat Aug. let him carry away the crown and the glory from the creature 1. Love him plusquam tuos more than thy relations Matth. 10.37 He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me Nay our love to relations must be hatred in iin comparison of our love to Christ Luke 14.26 Great is our love to relations The creatures void of reason teach naturall affection the young stork feeds the damme and helps to carry her when she is old and can hardly flie * Ciconiae parentes senio confectos nutriunt volando fessos juvant Pliny Aristot Unde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Children should exceed and out-flie the stork in affection There is a story in the French Academy of a daughter who when her father was condemned to die by famine she made meanes to get to him and gave him suck with her own breasts which being made known she obtained his pardon But Christ must be dearer to us than all He must weigh heavier than relations in the ballance of our affections for He is altogether lovely If parents lie as a stumbling-block in our way to Christ if they either come in competition with Christ or stand in opposition against Christ here odium in suos is pietas in Deum * Hierom. We must either leap over them or tread upon them 2. Love Christ plusquam tua more than thy Estate Gold is but shining dust though it may be lovely yet it is not altogether lovely 1. Gold is worse than thy selfe it is of an earthly extract If thou lovest any thing love something which is better than thy selfe and that onely is Christ who is altogether lovely 2. Riches availe not in the day of wrath Proverbs 11.4 Riches are no life guard to defend us from divine fury but how lovely is Christ who can screene off the fire of Gods wrath from thee Oh then love him more than these perishable things * Non satis magni à nobis fit Christus nisi tanti aestimemus ut reliqua omnia quae homines reddere solent bonorabiles prae hoc uihili putemus Davenant Christs gleanings are better than the worlds Vintage Be not like Noahs Raven which when it had found a carrion to feed on cared not for returning home to the Ark. He that loseth all for Christ shall finde all in * Qui omnia propter Christum dimiserit omnia inveniat in Christo Hierom. ad Paulin. Christ 3. Love Christ plusquam te more than thy Life Revel 12.11 They loved not their lives to the death They carried their sufferings as ensignes of their glory They had pangs of love stronger than the pangs of death Did the Curtii die for the Romans the Codri for the Athenians and shall not we be willing to lay downe our lives for Christ who is so infinitly lovely 2. Shew your love to this lovely Saviour by the Effects of love 1. 1. Fruit of love The first of love is desire of converse * Ps 42.2 Love is a transporting of the affections Lovers desire to be often talking and conversing together before the Marriage day Christ converseth with the soule by his Spirit and the soul converseth with him by prayer and meditation The soule that loves Christ desires to be much in his presence He loves the Ordinances he thinks it is good lying in the way where Christ passeth by Ordinances are vehicula salutis The chariots of salvation Christ rides into the Beleevers heart in these chariots Ordinances are convivium pinguium the feast of fat things Isa 25.6 The soule feasts with Christ here Cant. 2.4 He brought me to the banquetting house c. In the Hebrew it is ad domum vini * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He brought me to the house of wine Word Prayer Sacraments are to a Christian The house of wine Here often Christ turnes the water of teares into of wine How lovely is this house wine The Ordinances are the lattice where Christ looks forth and shewes his smiling face to his Saints Christs parents found him in the Temple Luke 2 46. The soul that loves Christ desires conference with him in the Temple 2. 2. Fruit of love Where there is love to Christ there is sympathy Friends that love do grieve and rejoyce together They have sympathizing spirits Homer describing Agamemnons griefe when he was forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia brings in all his friends weeping with him and accompanying him to the sacrifice in mourning And I remember Aristotle in his Rhetorique spends almost a whole chapter upon this proving a sympathy among friends * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
them as some speak prefer the shining of the glo-worm before the Sun 3. The Law of God is a spiritual glasse to dresse our souls by David oft looked himselfe in this glasse and got much wisdome Psal 119.104 through thy precepts I get understanding This glasse both shews us our spots and takes them away it may be compar'd to the Lavor which was made of the womens looking-glasses Exod. 38.8 it was both a glasse and a Lavor a glasse to look in and a Lavor to wash in so the Law of God is a glasse to shew us our faces and a Lavor to wash away our spots 4. This Law of God contains in it our evidences for heaven would we know whether we are heires of the promise whether our names are written in heaven we must find it in this Law-book 2 Thes 2.13 He hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification 1 John 2.14 We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren and is it not comfortable reading over our evidences 5. The Law of God is a place of ammunition out of which we must fetch our spiritual artillery to fight against Satan * Sanctus Paulus in omnire tentatione Scriptura se armabat Hierom. in ejus epitaph It may be compar'd to the Tower of David builded for an armory whereon there bang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men Cant. 4.4 It is called the sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.16 'T is observable when the devil tempted our Saviour he runnes to Scripture for armour 't is written * Mat. 4.4 three times Christ wounds the Serpent with this sword Mat. 4. ver 4 7 10. Is it not good having our armour about us when the enemy is in the field 6. The Law of God is our spiritual physick-book or book of receits Basil compares the Word of God to an Apothecaries shop which hath its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Basil epist prima ad Gregor Nazian when there is any disease growing in the soul here is a recipe to take if we find our selvs dead in duty here is a recipe Ps 119 50. Thy Word hath quickned me If our hearts be hard here is a recipe Is not my Word as fire Jer. 23.29 This is able to melt the rock into tendernesse If we grow proud here is a recipe 1 Pet. 5.5 God resists the proud if there be any fresh guilt contracted here we have a sovereign medicine to take John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth The Law of God is like a Physick-garden where we may walk and gather any herb to expel the poisor of sin 7. The Law of God is a divine treasury to enrich us here are the riches of knowledge and the riches of assurance to be found Col. 2.2 in this Law of God are scattered many truths as precious diamonds to adorn the hidden man of the heart David took the Law of God as his heritage Psalme 119.111 in this blessed Mine is hid the true pearle * In uno salvatore omnes florent gemmae ad salutem Here we digge till we finde heaven 8. The Law of God is our cordial in fainting times and it is a strong cordial Heb. 6.18 That we might have a strong consolation * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are strong consolations indeed that can sweeten affliction that can turn water into wine that can stand against the firy trial This is my comfort in affliction for thy Word hath quickned me Psal 119.50 The comforts of the world are weak consolations A man hath comfort in health but let sicknesse come where is his comfort then He hath comfort in an estate but let poverty come where is his comfort then these are weak consolations they cannot beare up against trouble but the comforts of the Word are strong Consolations they can sweeten the waters of Marah Let sickness come the comforts of the Word can alay and stupifie it The inhabitant of the land shall not say I am sick Isa 33.24 Let death come a Christian can out-brave it O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 and is it not comfortable to have such a julip lying by as can expel the venome of death 9. The Law of God is Manna cujuslibet saporis * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in Mat. an heavenly Manna that suits it self to every Christians pallat What doth the soul desire is it quickning strengthning he may finde all in this Manna But I refer the Reader to the learned Origen who hath written fully to this * Si tu verbum Dei tota fide devotione suceperis fiet tibi ipsum verbum quaecunque desideras si tribularis consolatur te dicens cor contritum humiliatum Deus non despicies si laetaris pro spe futura cumulat tibi gaudium dicent laetamini in domino exultate justi Si iracundus es mitigat te dicens desine ab ira derelinque furorem Si in doloribus es sanat te dicens dominus sanat omnes languores tuos si in paupertate erigit te dicens dominus allevat de terra inopem Sic ergo Manna Dei reddit in ore tuo saporem quemcunque volueris c. Origen hom 7. in Exod. And this is the first weighty consideration to make us delight in the Law of the Lord there is that in it may render it delightful I will shut up this with that divine saying of Austin Tanta est Christianarum litcrarum profunditas ut in cis quotidie proficerem si cas solas ab incunte pueritià usque ad decrepitam senectutem maximo otio summo studio meliore ingenio conarcr addiscere Aug. Epist 3. ad volusianum Considerat 2 2. Delight in Religion crowns all our services * Delectatio perficit operationem Thom. 1. ae quest 4. art 2. Therefore David counsels his son Solomon not only to serve God but to serve him with a willing minde 1 Chron. 28.9 * Illud Deo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod ex viva cordic radice proficiscitur Calvin Delight in duty is better than duty it self as it is worse for a man to delight in sinne than to commit it because there is more of the will in the sinne * Gravius est peceatū diligere quā perpetrare Hier. so delight in duty is to be preferred before duty O how love I thy Law Psalme 119.97 it is not how much we do but how much we love hypocrites may obey Gods Law but the Saints love his Law This carries away the garland * Juvenal Satyr 12. Considerat 3 3. Delight in spiritual things evidenceth grace 'T is a signe we have received the Spirit of adoption An ingenuous childe delights to obey his father he that is born of God is enobled by grace and acts from a principle of ingenuity grace alters the byas of the heart and makes it of unwilling willing The Spirit
his bottle with my teares but I have filled his book with my debts Well but meditate on this promise I am he that blotteth out c. The word there in the original to blot out * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Metaphor alludes to a Merchant who when his debtor hath paid him he blots out the debt and gives him an acquittance So saith God I will blot out your sinne I will crosse the debt-book Ah but may the poore soul say it may be a great while first I may be a long time under the convulsions of conscience I may even pine away and my life draw nigh to the grave * Psal 88.9 No in the Hebrew it is in the participle of the present 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am blotting out thy transgressions I have taken my penne and am crossing out thy score Oh but may the sinner say there 's no reason God should do this for me Well but acts of grace do not go by reason I will blot out thy sinnes for my name sake Ah but saith the sinner will not the Lord call my sins again to remembrance no he promiseth an Act of Oblivion I will not upbraid thee with thy sinnes or sue thee with a bond that is cancell'd I will remember thy sinnes no more Here is a sweet promise to meditate upon 't is an Hive full of the honey of the Gospel 2. Meditate upon promises of Sanctification The earth is not so apt to be over-grown with weeds and thornes as the heart is to be over-grown with lusts now God hath made many promises of healing Hos 14.4 and purging Jerem. 33.8 Esay 4◠3 promises of sending his Spirit * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophy act which for its sanctifying nature is compar'd sometimes to water which cleanseth the vessel sometimes to winde which is the fan to winnow and purifie the aire sometimes to fire which doth refine the mettals Meditate often on that promise Isa 1.18 Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow Scarlet is so deep a die that all the art of man cannot take it out but behold here a promise God will lay the soul a whitening he will make of a scarlet sinner a milk-white Saint By vertue of this refining and consecrating work a Christian is made partaker of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 he hath an idoneity and fitnesse to have communion with God for ever Meditate much on this promise 3. Meditate upon promises of remuneration The Haven of rest Heb. 4.9 The beatifical sight of God Matth. 5.8 The glorious Mansions John 14.2 The meditation of these promises will be as bezar-stone to keep us from fainting under our sinnes and sorrows SECT 3. THe third subject of meditation is * Meditate on the love of Christ meditate upon the love of Christ * Rev. 1.5 Christ is as full of love as he is of merit What was it but love that he should save us and not not the Angels Among the rarities of the Load-stone this is not the least that leaving the gold and pearl it should draw iron to it which is a baser kinde of mettal so that Christ should leave the Angels those more noble spirits the gold and pearl and draw mankinde to him how doth this proclaime his love Love was the wing on which he did flie into the Virgins womb 1. How transcendent is Christs love to the Saints The Apostle calls it a love that passeth knowledge * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 3.19 'T is such a love as God the Father bears to Christ the same for quality though not equality Joh. 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you A beleevers heart is the garden where Christ hath planted this sweet flower of his love 'T is the channel through which the golden stream of his affection runnes 2. How distinguishing is Christ love 1 Corinth 1.26 Not many wise not many noble are called In the old Law God passed by the Lion and the Eagle and took the Dove for sacrifice that God should passe by so many of birth and parts and that the lot of free-grace should fall upon thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of divine love 3. How invinsible is the love of Christ It is strong as death Cant. 8 6. Death might take away his life not his love * Absorbeat igitur mentem meam ab omnibus quae sub caelo sunt ignita melliflua vis tui amoris ut totus tibi inhaeream solaque suavitatis tuae dulcedine pascar inchrier and as death so neither sinne could wholly quench that divine flame of love the Church had her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her infirmities her sleepy fits Cant. 5.2 but though black'd and sullied yet still a Dove Christ could see the faith wink at the failing He who drew Alexander while there was a scarre upon his face drew him with his finger upon the scar Christ puts the finger of mercy upon the scars of the Saints he will not throw away his pearls for every speck of durt And which makes this love of Christ the more stupendious There was nothing in us to excite or draw forth his love * Non dilexit dignos sed diligendo efficit dignos Aug. He did not love us because we were worthy but by loving us made us worthy 4 How immutable is Christs love Having loved his own he loved them to the end * Joh. 13.1 The Saints are like letters of gold engraven upon Christs heart which cannot be raced out Meditate much upon the love of Christ The serious meditation of the love of Christ 1. Would make us love him again Can one go upon bot coales and his feet not be burnt Prov. 6.28 who can tread by meditation upon these hot coals of Christs love and his heart not burne in love to him 2. The Meditation of Christs love would set our eyes abroach with tears for our Gospel-unkindnesses O that we should sinne against so sweet a Saviour had we none to abuse but our friend had we nothing to kick against but bowels of love did not Christ suffer enough upon the Crosse but must we needs make him suffer more do we give him more gall and vinegar to drink O if any thing can dissolve the heart in mourning it is disingenuity and unkindness offered to Christ When Peter thought of Christs love to him Christ could deny Peter nothing yet that he should deny Christ this made his eyes to water Peter went out and wept bitterly * Mat. 26.75 3. The meditation of Christs love would make us love our enemies Jesus Christ shewed love to his enemies We read of the fire licking up the water 1 King 18.38 'T is usual for water to quench the fire but for fire to dry up and consume the water which was not capable of burning this was miraculous such a miracle did Christ shew his
are two reasons why so few meditate upon the state of their souls 1. Self-guiltinesse Men are loth to look into their hearts by meditation lest they should finde that which would trouble them The cup is in their sack Most are herein like trades-men who being ready to sink in their estates are loth to look into their books of account lest they should finde their estate low but hadst thou not better enter into thy heart by meditation than God should in a sad manner enter into judgement with thee 2. Presumption men hope all is well men will not take their land upon trust but will have it surveyed yet they will take their spiritual estate upon trust without any surveying They are confident their case is good * Prov. 14.16 'T is a thing not to be disputed on and this confidence is but conceit The foolish Virgins though they had no oyle in their lamps yet how confident were they They came knocking 't was a peremptory knock they doubted not of admittance so many are not sure of their salvation but secure they presume all is well never seriously meditating whether they have oyle or no. Oh Christian meditate about thy soul See how the case stands between God and thee do as Merchants cast up thy estate that thou mayest see what thou art worth see if thou art rich towards God Luke 12.21 Meditate about three things 1. About thy debts see if thy debts be paid or no that is thy sinnes pardoned see if there be no arrearagies no sinne in thy soul unrepented of 2. Meditate about thy Will see if thy Will be made yet Hast thou resigned up all the interest in thy self Hast thou given up thy love to God Hast thou given up thy will This is to make thy Will Meditate about the Will make thy spiritual Will in the time of health if thou puttest off the making of thy Will till death it may be invalid perhaps God will not accept of thy soule then 3. Meditate about thy evidences These evidences are the graces of the Spirit see whether thou hast any evidences What desires hast thou after Christ what faith see whether there be no flaw in thy evidences are thy desires true dost thou as well desire heavenly principles as heavenly priviledges Oh meditate seriously upon your evidences To sift our hearts thus by meditation is very necessary if we finde our estate is not sound the mistake is discovered and the danger prevented if it be sound we shall have the comfort of it What gladnesse was it to Hezekiah when he could say Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight Isa 38.3 so what unspeakable comfort will it be when a Christian upon a serious meditation and review of his spiritual condition can say I have something to shew for heaven I know I am passed from death to life * 1 John 3.14 and as an holy man once said I am Christs and the devil hath nothing to do with me * Bucer SECT 8. THe eighth subject of meditation is Meditate on the paucity of them that shall be saved meditate upon the paucity of them that shall be saved but few are chosen Matth. 20.16 among the millions in Rome but few Senatours and among the swarmes of people in the world but few beleevers One said all the names of the good Emperours might be engraven in a little Ring * Flavus Vopiscus there are not many names in the book of life We read of foure sorts of ground in the Parable and but one good ground Matth. 13. How few in the world know Christ how few that believe in him quis credidit Who hath beleeved our report * Is 53.1 how few that strike saile to Christs Scepter Luke 19.14 The Heathen Idolaters and Mahometans possesse almost all Asia Africa America in many parts of the world the devil is worshipped as among the Parthians and Pilapians Satan takes up most climates and hearts How many formalists are there in the world 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having a forme of godlinesse like wool that receives a slight tincture not a deep die whose Religion is a paint which a storm of persecution will wash off not an engraving These look like Christs Doves but are the Serpents brood * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius They hate Gods image like the Panthar that hates the picture of a man Oh often meditate on the paucity of them that shall be saved The meditation of this would 1. Keep us from marching along with the multitude Thou shalt not follow a multitude Exod. 23.2 The multitude usually goes wrong most men walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the course of the world * Non qua eundum sed qua itur Sen. Ephes 2.2 That is the lusts of their hearts and the fashions of the times They march after the Prince of the aire The meditation of this would make us turne out of the common roade 2. The meditation of the fewnesse of them that shall be saved would make us walk tremblingly few that finde the way and when they have found it few that walk in the way The thoughts of this would work holy fear Heb. 4.1 not a despairing fear but a jealous and cautious fear This feare the eminent Saints of God have had Austin saith of himselfe he knocked at heaven-gate with a trembling hand This fear is joyned with hope Psalme 147.11 The Lord takes pleasure in them that feare him in those that hope in his mercy A childe of God fears because the gate is streight but hopes because the gate is open 3. The meditation of the paucity of them that shall be saved would be a whet-stone to industry It would put us upon working out our salvation If there are so few that shall be crown'd it would make us the swifter in the race This meditation would be an allarme to sleepy Christians SECT 9. THe ninth subject of meditation is Meditate upon final apostasie meditate upon final Apostasie Think what a sad thing it is to begin in Religion to build and not be able to finish * Luke 14 30 Joash was good while his uncle Jehoiada lived but after he died Joash grew wicked and all his Religion was buried in his uncles grave We live in the fall of the leaf how many are fallen to damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 Meditate seriously on that Scripture Heb. 6.4 5 6. It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renue them again unto repentance A man may be enlightned and that from a double lamp the Word and Spirit but these beams though they are irradiating yet not penetrating 'T
dwellings Another infected thou art free Behold the golden feathers of protection covering thee 2. What spiritual dangers hath God prevented when others have been poyson'd with errour thou hast been preserved God hath sounded a retreat to thee thou hast heard a voice behinde thee saying this is the way walk in it * Isa 30 21 When thou hast listed thy self and taken pay on the devils side that God should pluck thee as a brand out of the fire that he should turne thy heart and now thou espousest Christs quarrel against sinne Behold preventing grace here 's an experience to meditate upon 3. Hath not God spared you a long time Whence is it that others are struck dead in the act of sinne as Ananias and Saphira * and you are preserv'd as a monument of patience Here is an experience God hath done more for you than for the Angels he never waited for their repentance but he hath waited for you year after yeare Isa 30.18 Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious He hath not only knockt at your heart in the Ministry of the Word but he hath waited at the doore How long hath his Spirit striven with you like an importunate suitor that after many denials yet will not give over the suit My thinks I see justice with a sword in its hand ready to strike and mercy steps in for the sinner Lord have patience with him a while longer My thinks I hear the Angels say to God as the King of Israel once said to the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.22 Shall I smite them shall I smite them So my thinks I heare the Angels say shall we take off the head of such a drunkard swearer blasphemer and mercy seems to answer as the Vinedresser Luk. 13.8 let him alone this year See if he will repent Is not here an experience worth meditating upon Mercy turns Justice into a rain-bow the rain-bowe is a bowe indeed but hath no arrow in it that justice hath been like the rainbowe without an arrow that it hath not shot thee to death Here is a receit of patience to read over and meditate upon 4. Hath not God often come in with assisting grace when he hath bid thee mortifie such a lust and thou hast said as Iehoshaphat 2 Chr. 20 12. I have no might against this great army Then God hath come in with auxiliary forces his grace hath been sufficient When God hath bid thee pray for such a mercy and thou hast found thy self very unfit thy heart was at first dead and flat all on a sudden thou art carried above thy own strength thy tears drop thy love flames God hath come in with assisting grace If the heart burn in prayer God hath struck fire The Spirit hath been tuning thy soul and now thou makest sweet melody in prayer Here is an experience to meditate upon 5. Hath not God vanquished Satan for you * Satan nihil non molitur contra Sanctos scutum fidei aggreditur his tentationum arie tibus sic porest copium obsi dere in tantas dubitationes praâ—pitareout deum expauescat ei irascatur aliquando blasphemet Nâ—que turâ—a neque Caesar unquam tanto impetu pessunt civitatem aliquam oppugnare quam Satan aliquando conscientias piorum Luthâ—r in Ps 118. When the Devill hath tempted to infidelity to self-murder when he would make you beleeve either that your graces were but a fiction or Gods promise but a counterfeit bond now that you have not been foil'd by the Tempter it is God who hath kept the garrison of your heart else his fiery darts would have entred Here 's an experience to meditate upon 6. Have you not had many signal deliverances When you have been even at the gates of death God hath miraculously recovered you and renued your strength as the Eagle may not you write that writing which Hezekiah did Isa 38 6. The writing of Hezekiah King of Judah when he had been sick and was recovered of his sicknesse you thought the Sunne of your life was quite setting but God made this Sunne returne back many degrees Here 's an experience for meditation to feed upon When you have been imprisoned your foot taken in the snare and the Lord hath broken the snare nay hath made those to break it who were the instruments of laying it Behold an experience Oh let us often revolve in minde our experiences If a man had physick receits by him he would be often looking over his receits You that have rare receits of mercy by you be often by meditation looking over your receits The meditation of our experiences would 1. Raise us to thankfulnesse Considering that God hath set an hedge of providence about us he hath strewed our way with roses this would make us take the Harp and Vial and praise the Lord and not only praise but record * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato 1 Chr. 16.4 The meditating Christian keeps a Register or Chronicle of Gods mercies that the memory of them doth not decay God would have the Manna kept in the Ark many hundred years that the remembrance of that miracle might be preserved a meditating soul takes care that the spiritual Manna of an experience be kept safe 2. The meditation of our experiences would engage our hearts to God in obedience Mercy would be a needle to sowe us to him We would cry out as Bernard * Duas babeo minutias domine c. Bern. I have Lord two mites a soule and a body and I give them both to thee 3. The Meditation of our experiences would serve to convince us that God is no hard master we might bring in our experiences as a sufficient confutation of that slander When we have been falling hath not God taken us by the hand When I said my foot slippeth thy goodnesse O Lord held me up Psalme 94.18 How often hath God held our head and heart when we have been fainting * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripides and is he a hard Master is there any master besides God who will wait upon his servants Christians summon in your experiences What vailes have you had * Ps 19.11 What inward serenity and peace which neither the world can give nor death take away a Christians own experiences may plead for God against such as desire rather to censure his ways than to try them and to cavil at them than to walk in them 4. The meditation of our experiences would make us communicative to others We would be telling our children and acquaintance what God hath done for our souls * Psal 44.1 at such a time we were brought low and God raised us at such a time in desertion and God brought a promise to remembrance which dropt in comfort The meditation of Gods gracious dealing with us would make us transmit and propagate our experience to others that the mercies of God shewn to us may bear a plentiful crop of