my self What a miserable Wretch am I A thousand yea ten thousand times unhappy that have so fondly deceived my self Oh it had been well if I had never been Born SECT XXXIX A Meditation in putting off our Clothes to go to Bed 1. HEre consider that Clothes do not make nor mar a Man The Body ceaseth not to be a Body when the Clothes are put off that the Body may take its rest in a warm Bed So it is not the Body that makes a Man Animus cujusque quisque it is the Mind or Soul of Man that is the Man When the Body is laid aside in the Grave a Man doth not then cease to be but his Soul is then taking its rest in Heaven or tormented in Hell Death is not an Annihilation of a Man but only a Dissolution 2. Consider That as a Man unclothes himself before he goes to take his rest in his Bed so Death to a Godly Man is but an unclothing of him for Sleep and Rest And here meditate on the resemblances between Death and the unclothing of our selves for Sleep and Rest 1. Before a Man lays off his Clothes he doth ungirt himself he unbuttons and untieth his Garments that he may put them off Thus ordinarily before the Soul is unclothed of the Body God sendeth Sickness one Disease or other to ungirt and let loose the Body so nearly united to the Soul of Man Therefore St. Paul calls it a Dissolution I desire saith he to be dissolved Nisi se vinctum putaverat non optaverat dissolvi If he had not thought his Soul bound and girt to his Body he would not have desired to been dissolved Every Ach Pain and Sickness that God lays upon the Body is and ought to be a forewarning to thee that it is almost Bed-time It is death's Harbinger and God's Servant sent it may be to fetch and carry thee to thy Bed to thy place of Rest 2. A Man cannot take such sweet refreshment in his Clothes as when he is Unclothed So a Godly Man can never rest from his Labours whilst he is in the Body but he will be always burdened wearied and groaning in this Earthly Tabernacle he is born to Labour as the Sparks flie upward There is no hope of resting from Sin from Temptation from Trouble from Labours without and from Fears within till a Christian lays aside his Body the Garment of the Soul Death makes him to rest from all his Labours While the Soul is in the Body it is absent from the Lord the proper Rest of the Soul the Saints everlasting Habitation But Death carries Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom 3. When a Man puts off all his Clothes to go to his Bed he lies not down naked and uncovered but takes a Covering upon him Thus when the Soul leaves the Body it lays aside his Clothes yet lies not he without a Covering Man's Bed is his Grave and the Earth is his Covering A Pious Man may think upon his Burial in a Grave as a Chest or Coffer wherein his Body the Apparel of his Soul is laid up till the Morning of the Resurrection But a Wicked Man may think on it as a dark Prison reserving his Body as his Soul is reserved in Hell in chains of darkness until the Judgment of the great Day 4. When a Man puts off his Clothes he lays aside all his rich Ornaments with them Thus when the Soul lays aside the Body it lays aside also all a Man's Honours Preferments Riches Pleasures and whatsoever the vain Heart of Man prides himself in We came forth naked into the World and naked we shall return out of the World We came forth Naked which sheweth Men were not born to great Matters and Naked we shall return to shew the vanity of Men in looking after great Matters for when the Rich and the Honourable Man die they shall carry nothing away with them and their Glory shall not descend after them Psal 49.17 Oh consider what a lamentable thing it is for Men to lay aside these things at Death and to have no Ornament but the ugliness of Sin to appear before God in 5. Men put off their Clothes in hope after they have refreshed themselves with Sleep to put them on again So when the Soul lays aside her Body it is in hope of rising again of a Re-union of the Soul with the same Body which a Man did lay aside so to put off the Body as one that shall put it on again in a more glorious manner and never lay it aside more SECT XL. When you lie down in your Beds at Night HAving recounted the Mercies of the Day think on the dangers of the Night It is said of Thieves and Robbers that in the dark they dig through Houses which they have marked for themselves in the Day-time Job 24.16 The Word in the Original signifies to mark with a Seal as if they did put their Seal upon other Mens Houses for their own use Thieves set their Mark upon such Houses in the Day-time which they intend to Rob at Night Or as some expound it they observe the strength of the House the ways to it what Company is in the House and where they may with most facility and advantage break into it Houses are marked out in the Day and broken open in the Night many Houses also are fired in the Night and how helpless is Man amidst these Casualties and Dangers If he be asleep the Thief finds him bound to his hand and if Fire take his Chamber how ready is the Fire to consume him in his Bed At midnight the Lord smote all the First-born in the Land of Egypt from the First-born of Pharaoh c. unto the First-born of the Captive that was in the Dungeon and all the First-born of Cattel Exod. 12.29 It was in the Night that the Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand 2 Kings 19.35 Ishbosheth was slain at Noon upon his Bed but the Night hath been fatal unto many Acknowledg it a mercy that God affordeth you rest after Labour Man goeth forth unto his Work and to his Labour until the Evening Psal 104.23 for so or rightly he giveth his Beloved sleep Life and Strength would fail for want of Rest as for want of Food A good Christian may go to Bed without fear You shall find many Promises in Scripture about this Blessing Prov. 3.24 When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet Job 11.18 Thou shalt take thy rest in safety thou shalt lie down and none shall make thee afraid David saith Psal 3.5 I laid me down and slept I awaked for the Lord sustained me Psal 4.8 I will both lay me down in peace and sleep for thou Lord makest me dwell in safety Every Member of Jesus Christ is secure through Faith in him The Shepherd wakes when others are
the Emperour's rewards had been far greater than his Merits and that his Service to the Emperour was far below those Riches and Preferments he had received and told him withal That whilst he had Life and continued in that Bishoprick he should neither have the chief Church nor any other in that City wherein to blaspheme his Lord and Master Jesus Christ and to deny his eternal Godhead consubstantial with the Father Courage in a Christian taketh its rise and wing from Faith Witness Gideon Barak Sampson Jephtab Samuel David Heb. 11.33 34. Who through Faith subdued Kingdoms stopped the Mouths of Lions out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in Fight turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens Much Faith and much Courage and Men of little Faith ever shake hands with the Pusillanimous Courage is a goodly Grace wherein God greatly delighteth and whom can it so well become as a Believer who hath more reason and better ground to be Valiant than the greatest Spirit in the World that wanteth Faith Those falshearted Spies and cowardly Israelites at the sight or news of Giants in Canaan notwithstanding God's Promise and Presence counted themselves but Grashoppers in comparison of the Anakims Numb 13.33 And all the Congregation fell a howling as if God and Moses had betrayed them Whereas Joshua and Caleb Numb 14.9 looked on the Giants but as Bread for one Breakfast for the People of God So great is the odds between Faith and Infidelity in cases of difficulty IV. Quickness and Liveliness is another gift of the Mind wherein there is much difference between Men and Men. Some are even naturally of lively stirring Dispositions whereas others are more slow by Nature more heavy and not so ready and present for any thing they go about Now if God hath given thee this quickness of Spirit thou must use it to his Glory As John was more nimble than Peter so he used this Agility of Body and came sooner to our Saviour's Sepulchre than Peter did So if thou hast a more quick and active Spirit thou must use it in out-running others in the Ways of God's Commandments If a Master have a Servant whom he knoweth to be quick and can travel well he looketh that he should make more haste when he sendeth him in Business than one that is Lame or Sickly So if thou art of a quick and lively Disposition the Lord requireth thou shouldst every Day shew it in his Service and be more forward and affectionate than those which are of slower Spirits But we see that many who boast of the quickness of their Wits and Spirits and do despise others Dulness are themselves Dull yea altogether dead in the Service of God Many that go most nimbly about their Profits and Pleasures that are full of Mettle as they say bring them to the Service of God and put them upon any thing tending to the Glory of God set them in a course of Holiness and how slow-paced are they They are as if they had no Life in them the Services of God are a deadning to their Spirits Natural quickness is of good use when it is seasoned by the quickning Grace of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of a Man becometh fervent serving God when the Heart is lively and full of feeling in Prayer Meditation Reading Hearing c. otherwise it will be a means to encrease such a Man's Condemnation if being naturally quick and stirring he remain spiritually Dull and Dead But where activeness of Spirit is put forth in God's Service such a Man will not let the Fire go out but blows up the Coals it makes a Man put on Zeal as a Cloak and not only to wear this Livery of Christ and go in his Errand but to mend his pace and not only do his Work but do it with all his might Of the improvement of External Gifts Means c. Not onely in regard of inward Abilities but also in respect of outward gifts of Body or Estate Men ought to serve the Lord. 1. First of all Health is a great Blessing and a special means to enable you for the Service of God and accordingly as the Lord hath given you Health so he requireth Health to be given up to his Service Assure your selves the more Health ye have the more Work ye are to do for God and God requireth more of you that are Healthy than of those that are sickly and Diseased When a Master knows his Servant to be in Health he suffers him not to lie long in Bed in a Morning but calls him up to his Business whereas he that is Sick sitteth or lieth still without a Check though his Master looketh upon him Ye that are Healthy be wise and careful for the preservation of your Health do not throw away your Health upon your Lusts do not expose your selves to lasting Pains and pining Sicknesses for the satisfying a wanton sensual Appetite The health of the whole Body is more worth than thousands of those vanishing Delights Yet how many are there that run themselves to the Graves Mouth and into the thickest throngs of destroying Diseases for the taking up of such poor and perishing Pleasures Who to please their Flesh for a few moments in Surfeiting and Drunkenness in Chambering and Wantonness bring many Days yea Months and Years pain and torment upon their Flesh and shorten the number of their Days as to what they might probably have had by the course of Nature There are many others who make their Health even a priviledg unto them to neglect the Service of God thinking the thorow performance of God's Service never in Season till they are on their Sick-beds and see Death at hand Such are all those without exception who put off their serious and sound Repentance until the time of Sickness Health is one of the best outward Abilities for the Service of God now when this is bestowed on the service of Sin it is not without much robbery against God To give unto God only the services of our Sick-beds when he requireth the best performances of our Health is as if Abraham should have offered the worst Lamb in his Fold when God called for his beloved Son Isaac Ye have no assurance if ye neglect God in your Health that he will accept your sickly Devotions But on the other side if whilst ye have Health ye dedicate that to God then when Sickness shall come ye may be assured that the Lord will accept your weak because sincere endeavours God will then say such a Man served me in his best Health when there were no apparent signs of Death near him he remembred me his Creator before the evil Days came therefore now I receive him as mine own and I will make his Bed in his sickness I will support and strengthen him I will cherish him now in his Sickness as well as I accepted him heretofore in his Health They also that are Sick must think of the Service of God
Condition of those that want the Means of Knowledge is plainly expressed by the Apostle Eph. 4.17 18. where he sheweth that the Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their minds having the Vnderstanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their Heart Where you may consider that they are so far from having such knowledge as doth guide them unto Life and Salvation that they are alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them 1 Cor. 1.21 It is said that the World by wisdom knew not God They had a kind of Wisdom wherein many of them excelled whereby they knew many Secrets of Nature many Affairs of State and Government c. But all their Wisdom for want of the Word did not teach them the right Knowledg of God in a saving way Consider also that as the Heathens that wanted the Word so the Unregenerate that live under the Ministery of the Word do remain in darkness the Day doth not dawn unto them nor doth the Day-Star arise in their Hearts or elss if the Day do dawn in their Brains it is dark Night in their Hearts if they do get some knowledg of the Gospel and Mysteries of Salvation yet this Light doth not pierce so as to win them to the Love of that Truth and Light which appeareth unto them and to subject their Hearts unto the Power of it Now in the Regenerate the Gospel being revealed to them by the Spirit is as the dawning of the Day and the rising of the Day-Star in their Hearts in comparison of that Night of Blindness which was in themselves before Regeneration and is yet in others that are unregenerate for first the Day dawns in their Understandings and then the Day-Star ariseth in their Hearts then the Night begins to wear away and the Day breaks and dawns upon them then they begin to see what they could not see before and to see that far more clearly and effectually which they saw in some imperfect measure before Now the Spirit having caused the Day to dawn in their Understandings he proceedeth also to enlighten the lower Region and to cause the Day-Star to arise in their Hearts as in the Night time when the Sun is on the other side of the Earth it shineth brightly and enlightneth the Stars as we see yet the Body of the Earth being between the Sun and us maketh it dark here below so when the Spirit enlightens the Understanding of an unregenerate Man with the knowledge of the Gospel even at the same time there is a Body of Death in his heart and a Mass of sinful Corruptions which casts a Shadow and keeps the Heart and Affections in miserable darkness Now as every Coruption is a degree of Darkness so every Grace is a Beam of heavenly Light for God is Light and every Grace is a Part of the Image and Likeness of God and so is Lumen de Lumine Light issuing from the Fountain of Light Consider what St. Paul saith to the faithful Ephesians Ephes 3.8 Ye were sometimes Darkness but now ye are Light in the Lord their present Condition Ye were Darkness dark all over dark Understandings dark Judgments dark Hearts and Affections they had a dark Vail of natural Blindness upon their Judgments a dark Cloud of worldly and fleshly Lusts and Corruptions upon their Hearts but now they are Light in the Lord lightfom Understandings and lightsom Hearts and Affections SECT V. At the Breaking forth of the Light COnsider with thy self that there is a fourfold Light spoken of in Scripture and that God is called Pater Luminum the Father of Lights James 1.17 1. There is Lux materialis a material Light that which God created in the beginning and of which he made the Sun and Moon to be as Fountains and Vessels that with the Beams proceeding from them the World might be illuminated Consider how God was the Father of this in the first place Gen. 1.3 God said let there be Light and there was Light He commanded Light to shine out of Darkness saith the Apostle And it is said Gen. 1.15 He set two Lights in the Firmament of Heaven a greater Light to rule the Day and a lesser Light to rule the Night 2. There is Lux naturalis that which we commonly call the Light of Nature and it is that same knowledg and Conscience that was at first planted in the Mind of Man by which he was made able to distinguish between Good and Evil. Of this also God is the Father it is he that hath created in us Understanding to discern and Conscience to bear witness of Good and Evil. 3. There is Lux supernaturalis or spiritualis that which we commonly call the Light of Grace and from this there arise two Beams 1. That which shines into our Hearts to dispel the darkness of Sin in us of which I have spoken before It is in this sence that the Children of God are called the Children of Light and the holy Conversation that they lead is said to be a walking in the Light Now of this also God is the Father it is he that by his Spirit enlightens our Hearts with Grace as I spake before 2. There is a Light that shineth in our hearts to chear us with the assurance of God's Love and Favour Light is sown to the Righteous and joy to the upright in Heart Psal 27.11 Light and Joy are sown together in the same Furrow Of this also God is the Father it is he only that can make us to hear the voice of Joy and Gladness So David prayeth Lord do thou lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me The light of his Countenance is the light of his Favour where the light of his Favour shineth no clouds of Affliction can darken our Joy it will make our Hearts merrier than Corn and Wine 4. There is Lux immortalis or Coelestis we may call it the Light of Glory It is that same Light which God dwells in the Light inaccessible the Light that none can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 Yet that Light that God's Children shall one day dwell in also Light we may call it for it is where Darkness never made his Pavilion a Light more glorious than the Sun or Moon For it is where though no Sun shall be yet where no Night shall be The Glory of God lightens that place and the Lamb is the Light of it Rev. 21.23 Now of this Light likewise God is the Father He that Inhabits it he Created it and he hath prepared it to be an Habitation for his Saints that as many as shall be Citizens of the New Jerusalem may rest under the Glory of it The Sun shall be no more thy Light by Day saith the Prophet nor for brightness shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee the everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Isa
the greatest things in the World How shall this Day set forth all secrets in the clear Light How shall all Sins not washt away by true Repentance be set before the eye of the World How then shall the Righteousness of the Upright be brought forth after it hath been many years hidden by Slanders and false Accusations How shall all their works of Faith all their labours of Love and all the fruits of the Spirit be laid open and manifested There are no false lights that can have any place at that Day to make bad Wares seem better every thing shall then appear as it is O my Soul how shouldst thou labour in thy most secret places and in thy most secret thoughts to bear in mind the light of that great Day when Christ shall appear as a Day-spring unto the World Will these thoughts which I cherish in my Heart these Affections these Words these Deeds be able to abide the great light of that Day when Christ shall come Are they such as may be presented with boldness before the Face of Christ and offered to the view of the holiest Angels and Saints in Heaven and be brought to the open Light when the Son of Righteousness shall shine in his Strength 3. Consider That Christ's second coming shall be in Power and great Glory Matth. 24.30 The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thess 4.16 He shall sit on the right Hand of Power and come in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26.63 He shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels Mat. 16.27 The glory of the Sun Moon and Stars when they shine most gloriously is nothing to this Glory of Christ which at that Day he shall shew forth to the World O my Soul labour now to behold his Beauty and Glory in the Spirit by Faith and by that glimpse raise thy thoughts to consider of that height and brightness of Glory wherein Christ shall shew himself at that Day and how thine Eye and thy Soul shall be filled with a most sweet delight in his perfect Beauty and Glory Could our Hearts be throughly taken up with Christ's Glory at that great Day it would be a means to mortifie our fond desires towards these things wherewith our fleshly Eyes or Hearts are apt to be ensnared It would greatly support us under Afflictions What should not I suffer with patience who look to see the Beauty and Glory of Christ at the last Day Yea to see the glorious Face of Christ turned to me in love might I not pass through Troubles Prisons Famine Nakedness Banishment Fire Sword any thing in hope to behold the Beauty and Glory of Christ and to enjoy the light of his Countenance for ever when he shall come as a Day-spring from on High 4. Consider how Christ at his second coming shall most sweetly refresh all those which â—â—roughout the World belong unto him he shall give them everlasting rest from all their Labours which here they have undergone everlasting peace from all Cares and Conflicts with the World the Flesh and the Devil freedom from all Troubles deliverance from all Persecutions when many millions of Souls shall throng about him and appear in his sight being such as have believed him and cleaved to him in sincerity Some of them having been sawn asunder burnt to ashes some slain with the Sword some kept in Bonds and Irons some mocked some scourged some driven out of House and Home and spoiled of their Goods tossed to and fro persecuted from City to City some destitute afflicted tormented for his Name-sake he shall sweetly ease and refresh them as a Day-spring when they shall appear before him And for those of his Saints that have been burdened with much Sickness painful Diseases with Poverty and outward Wants not having whereon to lay their Heads nor wherewith to fill their Bellies to them shall he give to drink of the full River of his Pleasures yea he himself shall be their Refreshment and they shall so fully enjoy him that they shall need nothing which may make them truly and perfectly happy 5. Consider That Christ as a Day-spring at his second coming shall Cure all the Sicknesses both of the Souls and Bodies of his He shall deliver the very brute Creatures from the Bondage of Corruption Rom. 8.19 For the earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God for the Creature it self was made subject unto Vanity c. Ver. 21. The Creature it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain until now Where you see that the whole World is sick and diseased by reason of the Sin of Man it is pained and groaneth as a Woman in Travel longing for the time of Deliverance and that is the time of Christ's coming when this Day-spring shall appear from on high An universal Corruption and as it were Contagion hath overspread and seized upon the whole body of Nature and all the Limbs the whole World and all its parts and all the Creatures in it and that by reason of the Sin of Man Now Christ's coming shall refine all the Creation and shall set up a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness The Beasts Birds Fishes the Corn the Fruit of the Vine c. shall no longer be abused to Gluttony Drunkenness and Epicurism and to be as Fuel to cherish the flame of unclean Lusts The wedg of Gold or bag of Silver shall no longer be defiled so as to be made an Idol to the dishonour of its Maker to carry away the Heart from him Other Metals and Minerals shall be no longer defiled so as to be turned into Instruments of Death and Cruelty and to be stained with Innocent Blood Other Creatures shall not be abused so as to set forth the Pride of Vain Men and Women Christ shall heal the Sickness and Corruptions of the World and free it from the bondage of Corruption his coming shall heal the World much more shall it heal all the Infirmities of his Members At the last Day the Lord at his coming will heal the Sick and Diseased give sight to the Blind strength to the Lame and Weak hearing to the Deaf beauty to the Deformed yea he shall cure them of Death and Mortality it self Death shall no more hang about them nor have to do with them Much more shall his second coming bring perfect and perpetual health to their Souls Sin shall then be fully Cured and the Soul shall be made altogether sound and no Sin shall pain the Soul with the remembrance of it nor afflict it with fear of Punishment And sence of Guiltiness shall be taken away as if Man had continued as holy as the Angels and had always kept his first Estate 6. Consider That
this Day-spring at his second coming shall awaken all that sleep in the Graves and in the Sea and in all places whatsoever all the Dead from Adam to the last Day all that lie sleeping in their Graves from one end of the World to the other shall be awakned All Kings and Princes and other great Men who shall be found sleeping in their sumptuous Tombs and Monuments and all that are buried any where The Trump shall sound and the Dead of all sorts degrees Ages Nations shall awake live arise and come before the Son of God coming in his Glory O the wonderful Change that shall be at that Day-spring When those Eyes that have been shut up so many hundred Years shall be opened and those Bodies that have been long buried in a silent Grave and covered with the darkness of death shall be brought forth into the Light of the great and glorious Day O my Soul awake thou beforehand that then I may awake full of Joy and Comfort and be satisfied with the Image of my dearest Saviour and lift up my Head to behold my most glorious Redeemer and the bright and blessed Day of my full Redemption The Angels Trumpet shall then awaken the most secure Conscience that ever composed it self to sleep in Sin yea then all their sins will awake with their awakened Conscience and rage fiercely against their Souls Awake then O Sinner to Repentance awake to Holiness and Righteousness that thy Conscience may be at peace with him and thy sins may be abolished for ever that Christ may not find thee sleeping at his coming 7. As the Sun at his rising causeth harmful Creatures to hide their Heads so this last coming of Christ is grievous to the Wicked it will make them to call to the Mountains to fall upon them and upon the Hills to cover them from the Wrath of the Lamb and from the Presence of him that sitteth upon the Throne then they would be glad to hide their Heads in the center of the Earth when the Light of this Day-spring shall appear O my Soul do thou now cast off the works of darkness and then the Light of that Glorious day shall not be grievous unto thee which none of the Children of darkness can behold without confusion of Face 8. Consider how welcome the second coming of Christ will be to the Godly The Faithful are described by this Property that they love his Appearing It is said That every one is a Friend to him that giveth Gifts Oh! how welcome shall Christ be to all the Faithful when he cometh with both his Hands full of rich and precious Gifts such as surpass the thoughts and understanding of Man When Christ cometh to bestow a Crown of Immortal Glory an everlasting Kingdom Oh! what Heir of the Kingdom would not with a glad Heart bid him welcome But chiefly Christ shall be welcome to them in respect of himself for then they shall see him as he is Consider what a blessed sight will this be O my Soul to see thy dear Saviour who hath died for thee loved thee and washed thee with his own Blood to see him now so Glorious To see him on the Throne who was nailed to the Cross to see him Reigning and Judging who was Judged and Condemned to see him most Blessed who was made a Curse to see his Righteousness shine forth to all the World who was numbred among Transgressors to see him in such excellent Majesty and fulness of Glory this will be most welcome Oh! how blessed is the condition of that Soul who being fitted for Christ hath a longing desire of his coming and can from his Heart say Come Lord Jesus come quickly 9. As the Day-spring sheweth Man his work and his way so the glorious coming of Christ shall shew unto the World which way they have gone and to what issue their way and works are come Many now do imagine that they go the way of Salvation and the way of Life and that they shall have Peace and will not be convinced otherwise by the Word But this Day shall declare it it shall shew that many such have trodden the Path of destruction and have been going down to the Chambers of death yea now the end and issue of all will appear to be Death and Condemnation on this Day the Lord will shew who is Righteous and who is Wicked he will shew by the Light of that Day who are Wheat and who are Tares which are for the Fire and which are for the Gardner which are for the right Hand and which for the left SECT VII Whilst thou art yet lying in thy Bed REmember that Almighty God is about thy Bed and that he observes all the secret thoughts and workings of thy Heart Commune with thy Heart upon thy Bed Psal 4.4 Consider That we lie in our Beds as it were within our Graves and the Sheets between which we lie may put us in mind of our Winding-sheet It is good to remember God upon our Beds as David's practice was and the Law of God was his Meditation by night as well as by day When he meditated on God in the night Watches he was as one satisfied with Marrow and Fatness Psal 63.5 Meditation and Prayer may best be practised Chrysost in Gen. Hom. 3. when we are freest from disturbance in the Night or upon our Beds after we awake no Body then is troublesome to us then we have a greater freedom and tranquillity of our Thoughts when we are not molested with Business when there is none that can hinder us from having access to God when our mind knitting it self together is able diligently to make reference of all to the Physician of Souls At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang Praises unto God being thrust into an inner Prison having their Feet made fast in the Stocks Acts 16.24 25. Behold the Doctor of the World saith Chrysostom fast in Prison praying notwithstanding at midnight with Silas Neither the renting of their Clothes nor their Stripes and Bonds could hinder them from it nay they did so much the more shew their fervency toward the Lord. I have remembred thy Name O Lord in the night saith David Psal 119.55 The Night presents us with many opportunities of deeper Meditation Ambros de bono Mortis p. 245. We more sincerely in the Night-time and upon our Beds do bethink our selves saith St. Ambrose Beware of plotting ill designs upon your Beds It is said of the Wicked man that he deviseth mischief upon his Bed Psal 36.4 he there employs his time of rest and freedom from business to devise wicked acts to execute the next day Take heed of abusing your Beds to satisfie your Lusts and to draw others unto Adultery and Wantonness Remember that the Bed undefiled is honourable but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg SECT VIII When thou risest out of thy Bed in the Morning THink then how Almighty God can as easily raise
thee out of the Grave in the morning of the Resurrection from the sleep and bed of death as he hath awakened thee in thy Bed and raised thee up in health and safety this Morning When the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God the sound of this Trumpet shall be heard over all parts of the World and with this Trumpet shall he summon all Nations to come to the general Judgement This is that fearful Voice whereof Saint Hierom speaketh saying Whether I eat or drink or whatsoever I do I seem always to hear that Voice sounding in mine Ears Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment Oh! Who shall appeal from this Summons Who shall be able to avoid this Judgment Whose Heart shall not quake and tremble at the sound of this terrible Voice This Voice shall take from death all her Spoils and cause her to restore again all that she hath taken from the World The Sea shall give up the Dead which are in it and Death and Hell deliver up the Dead which are in them Rev. 20.13 Think with thy self O Christian when thou art rising out of thy Bed what a wonderful sight that shall be to see the Sea and the Earth bring forth in all parts such variety of Bodies and to behold so many huge Armies rising out of their Beds of death and darkness and so many sorts of diversities of Nations and People gathered and assembled together To see the most mighty Princes and most puissant Potentates of the Earth raised out of their Tombs and appearing with another manner of habit and behaviour and with other kind of thoughts much differing from those that they had in this Life Think then with thy self that all the Children of Adam shall meet together every one to give up an account of his own Life and to be judged according to his Works yet shall there be a great difference between the Just and the Unjust at the day of Resurrection Some shall rise to everlasting Life and Glory and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt Dan. 12.2 Consider what a joyful meeting there will be of the Souls and Bodies of the Just at the general Resurrection With what joy shall the Soul then embrace the Body And as it were say thus unto it O my Body and faithful Companion that hast holden me in obtaining this glorious Crown that hast so often Fasted Watched and Prayed that hast suffered with me the necessities of Poverty the cross of Afflictions the reproaches and contradictions of reviling Tongues How often hast thou stript thy self of thine own Raiment to cloth the Naked How often hast thou denied thy self renounced thine own right and title being unwilling to break Peace and be at Variance with thy Neighbour Wherefore it is meet that thou shouldst now be partaker with me of this my Glory as thou hast been my companion in all my Labours and Sufferings Think also with thy self of the grievous and woful meeting of the Souls and Bodies of the Wicked at the day of their Resurrection The Soul of such an one shall then say to his vile Body O cursed Body the cause of my woe and misery Now I take thee no more for my Companion but mine Enemy Now art thou no more my Helper but my Persecutor O cursed Taste how dearly now do I pay for thy delicates and delights O stinking Flesh how have I by yielding to thy Lusts and Pleasures plunged my self into these endless Torments Is this the Body that scarce must touch the Ground that would not endure the Wind to blow upon it that Body which I spent so much time in Dressing and Adorning it Is this the Flesh which I so often glutted and pampered Were these the delights of this Body for which I cast away my self Was it for this stinking Dung-hill that I have lost for ever the Kingdom of Heaven O ye infernal Furies rise up now against me and tear me in pieces Cursed be the day of my unfortunate Birth seeing for a few short Pleasures I must suffer everlasting Torments These and other more desperate words thou mayst think Christian Reader shall the miserable Soul speak unto that Body which she loved so exceedingly in this Transitory Life I will set down the words of a Devout Man in this kind Tell me O miserable Soul why dost thou now so much abhor that thing which heretofore thou lovedst so well Is not this Flesh thy dearly beloved Is not this thy Belly which thou madest thy God Is not this the Face which thou didst keep so charily from Wind and Sun Is not this the Visage which thou didst paint with so many Artificial Colours Are not these the Arms and Fingers which glistered with Rings of Gold Bracelets and Diamonds Is not this the Body for whose sake search was made both by Sea and Land to furnish a Table for it with all dilicate and dainty Dishes To have a soft and stately Bed to procure curious and sumptuous Garments Who hath now so changed thine Affections who hath now made thy Body to appear so horrible and deformed which before seemed so amiable and beautiful Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power Rev. 20.6 SECT IX When thou art sluggish and loth to rise out of thy Bed in the Morning THink then with thy self O Christian that thou hearest the Voice of Christ calling to thee as sometimes to his Spoufe Cant. 2.10 Rise up my Love my fair One and come away Consider what Saint Paul saith to the Romans Rom. 13.11 It is high time to awake out of sleep Awake unto Righteousness and sin not 1 Cor. 15.34 It is not enough that ye affect Righteousness and to have the Heart bent toward it in some sort but you must awake to it as Mens Spirits are fresh and renewed and made more quick and active when they awake out of sleep awaken and quicken your Souls to Righteousness and Holiness as if you were to begin the work again that so your Spirits may be fresh and your Hearts active and lively in the Service of God See how David stirreth up himself Awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early Awake Psaltery and Harp Doth David speak to these dead Instruments Doth he not rather speak to his own Affections that they might be awakned and quickned to make Melody to the Lord in his Heart whilst he played with his Hand upon the Psaltery and Harp He knew the Harp though never so well tuned and managed would make but dull and flat Musick in the Ears of the Living God if the Heart were not tuned and the Affections stirred up and quickned Raise up thy Heart to God and the love of the World will little prevail with it the more able shalt thou be to discern the excellency of Heavenly Things This is a special Help against Temptation
the Gut And although eminent Danger and deadly Diseases be ready to seize upon them Edunt ut vomunt vomunt ut edant they Eat that they may Vomit and Vomit that they may Eat again Eating till they are ready to burst asunder Temperance must continually be practised no Time never a day in the Year is allowed for Intemperance Surfeiting or Drunkenness It must not only be shunned when Men are full of Business or the like but at all Times even at Feasts at Weddings at Fairs at the meeting of old Friends and Acquaintance or the like at such times when many make account they may take liberty Our Saviour alloweth thee not one hour in thy whole Life for Surfeiting or Drunkenness Luke 21.34 Take heed saith he lest at any time your Heart be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness Now this Temperance in Meats and Drinks is such a sober use of the Creatures as doth not hinder but further us in the Service of God and in the necessary Duties of our Calling Which agreeth with that general Rule of Saint Paul 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God These things therefore must be so used as that they may fit you to glorifie God in your general and particular Callings God's Glory must be the end of all and all must be referred to it Now if this Rule were both rightly understood and duly observed how would it guide you in the use of the Creatures that you should not abuse them nor defile your selves in the use of them How shamefully do Men cast off all due consideration of this Rule when partly by stupifying their Senses and clouding their Understandings by letting loose their Hearts to Carnal Contentments they make themselves unfit both for the Service of God and for the Business of their lawful Callings Such Men aim not at the Glory of God but the pleasing of other Mens vain humours with whom they converse the satisfying of their own carnal and sinful Appetites or the like to the great Dishonour of God and taking his Name in vain Labour therefore to shun and abhor Intemperance and Drunkenness as that which will abase you below the Beasts that perish and which as one who in his time was eminent above the most in his Kingdom for Wit and Parts saith will make a Man Contemptible and despised of all Wise and Worthy Men. Take heed therefore saith he that such a cureless Canker possess not thy Youth nor such a beastly infection thy old Age for then shall all thy Life be but as the life of a Beast and after thy Death thou shalt only leave a shameful Infamy to thy Posterity who shall study to forget that such an one was their Father Thus he and much more for the disgracing of that Sin Abridg your selves therefore of some of your lawful Delights For suppose it be lawful to desire after the most pleasant Food and to feed on variety of Dishes at your Tables yet may ye do better to deny your selves some lawful Contentments than always to go to the utmost bounds of your lawful Liberty or to do all that is not simply unlawful You shall not readily fall in things unlawful if you warily restrain your selves sometimes in things lawful If one be addicted to Intemperance in Eating he shall with more facility overcome this Vice if he abstain from those Meats that are most pleasing to his Palat even such as are lawful for him to feed upon and if he abstain from them at such times as he may lawfully use them This is one of the most forcible remedies to overcome this Vice that any Man can use Begin all your Refections with Prayer and feed your Minds with holy Meditations whilst ye are eating and drinking As of eating Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven of labouring for the Meat that endureth to everlasting Life of feeding on God by his promises by Faith then doth God prepare a Table for you when ye thus Eat and Drink to his Glory To this purpose some of the Ancients used to have a Chapter read out of the Bible whilst they were Feasting and feeding at their Tables Tertullian tells us what were the Banquets of the Primitive Christians Our Feasts saith he express what they are in their Names They are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Charities because they are Instituted for relief of the Poor Our Table resembleth an Altar and our Supper a Sacrifice We mind not the Expence Tertul. in Apolog. to spend in the name of Piety is gain Our Table hath nothing savouring of Baseness Sensuality or Immodesty we feed by Measure we drink according to the rules of Temperance we satiate our selves as much as is necessary for those who must rise at Midnight to offer up their Prayers unto God We speak and converse as in the Presence of God our Hands being washed and Candles lighted every one repeateth what he knoweth out of holy Scripture and from his own invention to the Praise of God Prayer as it began the Banquet so it concludes it From the Table we go unto the exercise of Modesty and Decency you would say if you beheld us that we were not at a Supper but at a Lecture of Holiness SECT XXVI Of Recreations and how to use them COncerning Recreations it is the judgment of many Grave and Learned Divines that it is an unchristian and unwarrantable Course to spend a great part of a Man's time in Recreation as if it were one half of a Man's Business or perhaps more It is only so far allowable as it carrieth a respect to the Glory of God and no more so far as it is serviceable to a Man's Calling and maketh him the more fit to discharge the Duties thereof to his Glory I confess it is necessary that sometimes we recreate our selves both our Bodies and Spirits and it is too rigorous a thing not to give our selves any Recreation nor to suffer others that are under our Charge to take any To walk Abroad to take the Air to entertain the company with pleasant Discourses to Ring to Shoot to play on some Instrument or the like these are Recreations so honest that to use them well needs nothing but Discretion that gives to every thing its Order Time Place and Measure Many use the Tennis Batoon Palmally running of the Ring Chess Bowls and Tables which are Recreations commendable enough in themselves but therein ye must beware of Excess be it either in the time employed or in the Money hazarded for if we employ too much Time therein it is no more a Recreation but an Occupation that neither recreates the Body nor the Spirits but rather dulls and distracts them Besides if much Money be hazarded it disorders the Affections of the Gamesters and it is an unjust thing to lay great Wagers upon the industry and abilities of so small Importance as is the hazard of all Games But above all take
There if it will be let it be like a Gibeonite to an Israelite a Drudg a Slave not a Sarah but an Hagar a Servant not a Mistress let not Sin lose ground in one place and gain in another Mortifie your earthly Members Col. 3.5 or Affections Draw mortifying Vertue daily from the Death of Christ and that will have its influence upon the whole Old Man within you although perhaps ye employ it more especially against some particular members of the body of Sin As when Christ cursed the Fig-tree in more special reference to the Branches that bear no Fruit the whole Tree immediately withered This mortifying Vertue will not only tame and bring under all Sin in you that it cannot domineer and rage as formerly it did but it will receive its mortal Wound languish and consume away more and more Nullis medicabilis herbis as being past all recovery and hasten not only to a Dissolution but also as it were to a total Annihilation SECT XXXIII Of growing in the Knowledg of Christ and in Grace LAbour every Day to grow more and more in the Knowledg of Christ Now there are two degrees of the Knowledg of Christ 1. Historical or Doctrinal 2. Experimental and Effectual 1. As to the former it is the knowledg of the Person Natures Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascension Kingdom Offices of Christ Priestly Kingly and Prophetical as these things are laid down in the History and Doctrine of the Gospel And these contain abundance of glorious Mysteries and wonderful Revelations which all the Wisest Men under Heaven could never have found out no nor the holy Angels of Heaven if the Lord himself had not revealed them by his Spirit Christians must grow in the Knowledg of these But an Historical Knowledg or a bare Understanding of these things is not enough 1 Cor. 13. though a Man had all Knowledg that is of this degree or kind But 2. Labour for an inward experimental knowledg of Christ and to encrease therein With St. Paul count all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledg of Christ Jesus labour daily to know Him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings and to be made conformable to his Death Our Understandings are very weak and it is but little that we can discern at one view we have but weak and childish Capacities in respect of Heavenly Things therefore we must endeavour to grow more and more in the Knowledg of Christ Moreover there is an admirable Depth in the Mystery of Christ and you can never come to the bottom of it although ye should be diving into it all your life long Look over all the objects of Knowledg and can ye find a more pleasing a more joyous a more comfortable Object to study than the Knowledg of Christ and his Love towards Sinners What St. Augustine said of the Joys of Heaven Tanta est dulcedo so great is the sweetness of it that if God should let fall one drop of Heaven's Joy into Hell it would turn Hell into Heaven it would turn the Lakes of Brimstone into Rivers of Joy we may say as much of the Knowledg of Christ and of his Love towards us So great is the sweetness of it that it can turn an Heart full of the sorrows of Hell into an Heart full of the Joys of Heaven The more inwardly ye grow acquainted with Christ the more shall ye delight in Him and admire Him The Queen of Sheba knew Solomon by report and she admired him so far that she took a long Journey to visit him but when she was an Eye-witness and an Ear-witness of his Glory and Wisdom she admired him much more So when a Christian hath some acquaintance with Christ he admireth and loveth him but when he groweth more inwardly acquainted with him he seeth much more cause to admire and love him Such is the inward Excellency Sweetness and Perfection of Christ that the nearer any one approacheth to Him the more Admirable and Lovely he appeareth The more ye grow in the Knowledg of Christ the more will your love of the World of your Selves of your Sins wear away and die in you If ye find your Souls to increase in the Knowledg of Christ ye will find your Beloved so far to surpass all other Lovers that ye will grow more and more out of love with them Labour ye daily more and more to partake of the comforts of his Spirit for Christ will shine forth brightly in these to your Souls This Comfort is called The Light of his Countenance Psal 4. and therefore as the Light of the Sun sheweth the Sun unto us so that we see it by its own Light So the Joys and Comforts of Christ's Spirit which are the Light of his Countenance do discover Christ in a clear and excellent manner to Believers These shew Christ in his Beauty and make the Soul to admire him and cleave unto him The darkness of Hell it self cannot hide Christ from you when he doth thus discover himself unto you by his own immediate Light Labour also daily to grow in Grace Creseens is a fit name for a Christian because he ever is or ought to be in a growing state Grace having the same efficacy upon the Soul as the Soul hath upon the Body Whilst the Body is in a growing condition the Soul enlargeth the Body in all the parts and dimensions that the Members may not only fill more Clothes but take in more Nourishment and so become stronger and more serviceable In like manner labour ye that your inner Man may truly grow up in Christ in all things by the working of the Spirit of Christ as the soul of that new Life that is within you that ye may be meet Instruments of Righteousness to bring forth Fruit unto God Be still advancing still ascending always going forward unto Perfection not only in Knowledg but growing in solid Grace not in external Profession and Formalities but in all good Works which are more and better at the latter end than at the first Endeasour to be still on the thriving hand that ye may bring forth more fruit in old Age than at the beginning that ye wither not nor decay but still be fat and flourishing And this may be your comfort although the outward Man decay yet your inner Man is renewed day by day And when ye cannot perform so much outward service as when younger and stronger in Body yet your thriving Soul will glory more and more in your God even to see others to stand up in your stead whom by holy Counsel and fervent Prayers ye may further in the Work of the Lord. Labour every Day to grow more Spiritual see that your Knowledg become more judicious your Zeal more discreet your Love more active and substantial grow more to God and less to your Selves and the World settle your selves more and more in a good Course and although ye seem not so fair
like the Flower of the Field The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth c. What is the Grass but the Earth's Summer Garment which is put off before Winter cometh To Day thou mayst see a young Gallant in the flower of his Age strong and lively jetting up and down in rich Attire and with a lofty Countenance and to Morrow a violent Disease surprizing may strangely disfigure and alter him Some are sore broken with Adversities others are pinched with Penury and Poverty Some are distempered with delicate Meats and sweet Wines others are debilitated with Age. Some mar their Complexions with Artificial Paintings and Riotous Behaviour so that their Flesh withereth like Grass and the Flower thereof fadeth away May ye not to Day see some descended of Noble Parentage of a very Ancient House and Family well Friended and keeping a great House attended with a great Train of Tenants and Servants and Commanding the whole Country where they live and within a few Days after ye may see the same Men forsaken of all their Friends despised by their Equals and little reguarded of all the World utterly disgraced and thrust into that Prison where perhaps they not long before had Imprisoned others and there to end their wretched and miserable Life O sinful Man thou that drinkest down Iniquity like Water that wallowest daily in sinful Delights and Pleasures dost thou not plainly see that whensoever the Thred of this frail and short Life of thine breaketh in sunder that if thou continuest still in this thy wicked Course thou shalt fall into the bottomless Pit of Destruction How then canst thou Sing Laugh Play or Sleep and take any Rest How is it that thou art so senseless of thy Peril and Danger who art ready every moment to drop into the Pit of Hell IV. Meditate on the variableness of this Life The Camelion changeth himself often into divers colours and the Moon into divers shapes But who is able to reckon up the alterations that are in Man Now he smiles anon he frowns now he is pleased but by and by displeased now he is merry anon he is sad and pensive now he is well by and by he is sick sometimes contented sometimes discontented sometimes full of Hope sometimes in Dispair sometimes pleased sometimes angry That which is past is irksome to him that which is present is troublesome and that which is to come disquiets him He is careful in getting Goods fearful of losing and sorrowful in parting with them And how doth Man's Life continually move and waste away for every minute he is going a step further towards his Death Job saith that his Days were swifter than a Post Job 9.25 He that rides Post though his Message require never so much haste yet sometimes necessity causeth him to stay but our Life never stayeth one moment St. Hierom saith Whatsoever I take in Hand whatsoever I write whatsoever I reade over again and correct each thing takes from me some part of my Life And look how many points and minims the Notary writeth so many are the losses and decreasings of my Life Insomuch that like as they that sail in a Ship whether they stand or sit are always going and sailing and do ever approach nearer to the end of their Navigation Even so all the time that we live here we walk and pass on forward still approaching nearer and nearer to Death the common Haven at which we must all Arrive V. Meditate on the Treacherousness of this Life it is full of Deceit and Guile O Man dost thou perceive saith the forementioned Father when thou wast made an Infant Canst thou tell when thou wast made a Stripling Or when thou camest to Man's Estate Or when thou didst begin to be Old We Die every day we are in Deaths often and yet vain Man would perswade himself he shall Live for ever This made the Megarenses raise such stately and sumptuous Buildings of whom a certain Philosopher saith That they builded as though they should live for ever and they lived as though they should die the next day Wherefore do Men labour so much in gathering Riches and in purchasing of Lands and make so little preparation for Death is it not because that they do perswade themselves that their Life shall long endure This false Conceit makes them believe that they shall have time enough for all things That they shall have time for their Pleasures Lusts Vanities and Worldly Businesses and that after all this they shall have time enough also before they Die to make their Account ready and to make their Atonement with God This vain perswasion is not grounded upon any Reason or true Foundation but only upon Self-love which as it naturally hateth the thoughts of Death so will it not believe that it will come soon to his House as to another Man's most Men are loth to believe a thing that may be an occasion of so great Pain and Grief unto them as the same would be VI. Meditate on the manifold Miseries of this Life So many are the Calamities and Miseries of Man's Body and Mind as that it deserves rather the name of Death than Life Were your Eyes opened to see your own case you would always lament and bewail your Estate as Men condemned by God Almighty to endure such Miseries Consider first the External Miseries of the Body Who is able to count them What pains and toil do Men take to get Food whereby to sustain their Lives either by the sweat of their Brows or the sweat of their Brains The Beasts of the Earth and Birds of the Air are fed without any Labour or Pain But Man is constrained to labour Day and Night and to turmoil by Sea and Land to get his Living And as the Spider laboureth Day and Night in spinning her Web wasting even her own Bowels and consuming her self to bring it to an end which serves only for a Net to catch Flies in even so all Man's Travel serves to no other end but only to catch Flies to procure Trifles and things of little Value Who is able to reckon up the infinite diversities of Diseases to which the Body of Man is subject Physicians in their Books write of abundance of Diseases and Remedies for the same and yet their Science is enlarged every Day by the eruption of new and strange Diseases which the Physicians of old were altogether ignorant of And even those Complexions that have been free from these Miseries yet are they not exempt from other Calamities and Mischances How many thousand Men hath the Sea swallowed up How many hath the Sword devoured How many hath the Fire consumed How many have been killed by the falling down of Houses Walls Towers How many with the strokes and stings of Venemous Beasts How many Women die in Travel of their Children and dearly purchase their Childrens Lives with their own painful Deaths The very brute Beasts that were made to serve us do rebel against us