also appeare with him in Glory Philippians 3.20 For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ Verse 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himselfe 1 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not unto me only but unto them also which love his appearing Titus 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made heires according to the hope of eternall life 1 Pet. 5.1 The elders which are amongst you I exhort who am also an elder and a witnesse of the sufferings of CHRIST and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed 2. Feed the flock of God 4. And when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare yee shall receive a crowne of glory that fadeth not a way 10. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternall glory by CHRIST IESUS make you perfect 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine unto life and godlin sse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glorie and vertue 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost 4. Jn whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospell of CHRIST who is the image of God should shine unto them 5. For we preach not our selves but CHRIST IESUS the Lord 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of IESUS CHRIST 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie of the power may be of God and not of us The sixth Meditation NOw my soul are we by Gods mercy come to the sixth and uppermost step propounded to us in these our meditations namely to â—onsider how rich and stately a thing it is to be an heire of glory And this indeed must needs be the most high and transcendent priviledge of all that can bee bestowed upon the children of men who being by nature children of wrath and in bondage to sinne death and damnation are by grace brought to this most blessed estate of changing sinne into righteousnesse death into life and hell and damnation into heaven and glory And how comes this blessed worke to bee effected for us most unworthy wretches but onely by that most blessed Saviour and redeemer of ours God in the flesh manifested who brought us up the first step of these our meditations and so from steppe to step all along to this the highest of heavenly glory For hee is the onely naturall sonne of GOD and thereby the onely proper and immediate heire to that blessed inheritance whereunto hee hath a twofold right one by his eternall generation and so hee is the heire of his Fathers Kingdome in a manner proper and peculiar to himselfe alone The other right hee hath by purchase for by the merit of his precious death and passion hee hath purchased eternall liâ—e for all the members of his Churcâ— whom having espoused unto himselfe by grace wee also by that â—lessed union with him became heires annexed with him of the same glory In the first right he can admit no companion in the second all the members of his mysticall body are made partakers with him O my soul what shall we say to this transcendent dignitie of all truly penitent believers but as the Psalmist saith Psalme 87.3 glorious things are spoken of thee ô thou Citie of God so may we say of every citizen of the holy City new Ierusalem the Lambs wife Rev. 21.3 For God will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee with them and be their God 4. and God shall wipe away all their teares from their eyes and there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there bee any more paine For Psalme 144.15 Blessed are those people whose God is the Lord and are called to this happie fellowship and union with him who is the king of Saints O my soul come let us with all humble reverence heartily love and adore the Lord who hath of his free grace made us partakers of this unspeakable mercy let us rejoyce and bee glad in the Lord and let my heart and mouth be filled with his praises for ever For Esay 1.9 except the Lord had reserved mercy for us wee had beene made like unto Sodome and Gomorah whereas by this blessed Saviour of ours our most gracious Lord and husband the lots are fallen unto us in pleasant places and we have a faire heritage Blessed be the God of our salvation for ever and ever And although all the adopted children of God members of Christ are heires of this glorious inheritance yet is not the same diminished to any one of them for the rich portion of one shall bee no prejudice to another but every one shall bee filled with the fulnesse of the glory of God But withall we are to observe that howsoever in earthly inheritances the father must first die before the sonne come to the full possession thereof yet for this heavenly inheritance wee our selves must first die that wee may possesse the same For our Father is the ancient of dayes the heavens are the worke of his hands they shall perish but hee doth remaine we all shall wax old as doth a garment but he is the same and his yeares shall not faile for he is the Father of eternitie in whom there cannot fall so much as a shadow of change But as for us our condition is such that by suffering death we must enter into the kingdome we cannot see him so long as wee live nor bee satisfied with his image till we awake in the resurrection Therefore should the day of death be a ioyfull day unto us because it is the day of our glorious inheritance Dies mortis aeternae vitae natalis est and as this serves unto us for a speciall comfort in the houre of temptation and day of death so it should provoke us to answer this our heavenly vocation by the holy and heavenly disposition of our minds and affections whiles we live and a gracious and Christian preparation from day to day for the time of our dissolution waiting for it with cheerfulnesse and joy Seeing we are the sonnes of God shall wee not make it our studie and care to use all blessed meanes for renewing his image in us which our former sins have defaced and to serve him in holines and righteousnes all the
by tyrants rage tempted by Sathan made of men a scorne Sold by thy servant arraigned and condemned grievously scourged then crowned with thorne Naild to the crosse twixt two thieves crucified Pierc'd through the heart opprest in soul beside Most blessed Iesu why shouldst thou endure thy precious body peerlesly innocent Yea sacred and holy by the cruell hands of sinfull wretches to be torne and rent Was there no way to expiate my sins but all these torments must be laid on thee O wretched caytive I that did offend most gracious Saviour thou thus pitying me O let my heart weep teares of blood within For these thy sufferings and my grievous sin And thou deare Lord whose love unutterable hath made thee undergo all this for me Inflame my heart with holy fire that I with awfull love againe may worship thee With true repentâ—nt teares and contrite heart prostrate thy precious bleeding wounds before My Lord my God thus crucified for me with humble faith and reverence to adore Hating my selfe for all my grievous sins Which caused those thy grievous sufferings O let mine eyes powre forth whole streames of tears my heart dissolv'd to sighs of true contrition So to bewaile my sins and wickednes and that most miserable and forlorn condition Which guilt of sin sight of the wrath of God desert of hell and utter condemnation Might threaten me but that my hope is fixt on thee my Iesus God of my salvation Thou only blessed Lord canst succour me O save my soule which only trusts in thee For when the people were in Moses time by fiery serpents wounded mortally The brasen serpent was lift up by him that such as looke up to it might not die If such great vertue in that figure were the type of this thy crosse and reall elevation How much more vertue shall thy precious blood afford my sin-sick soule for my curation Then let my humble faith cleave fast to thee Sweet Saviour let us never parted be For when I look up to this crosse of thine five glorious victories my meditation Observes thereon to be atchiev d by thee for making sure the worke of my salvation The law of grace against the law of workes prevailing so to work my liberty Against my sin thy selfe deere Lord made sin that it might righteousnesse become to me Thy death O Saviour mine abolishing My soule unto eternall life to bring And thou the Prince of darknesse conquering that I might still the child of God remaine And lastly overcomming hell it selfe that I might heavens blessednesse obtaine Thus by thy precious death and passion my soules maine enemies are vanquisht quite And I set free now under th' law no more but under grace by thy rich grace and might O let thy spirit of grace still governe me That I may die to sin and live to thee That whiles I live I may divide my time betweene true godly sorrow for my sinnes And faithfull praising of thy holy name from whence alone my hope of comfort springs And so by lively faith being knit to thee thou by thy spirit dwelling in my heart Soule of my soule mayst day by day to me thy spirituall life and quickning grace impart And I by mysticall injunction be Truly though spiritually made one with thee Of which sweet union thou hast made me sure by those maine seales of thine eternall love Thy word of truth thy Sacraments of grace thy spirit of peace inspired from above And so by matchlesse mercy on thy part most blessed Lord and humble faith on mine Thou hast betroth'd thy glorious selfe unto my poore believing soule and made it thine One of thine owne to be disjoyned neâ—eâ— But live in thee to thee with thee for ever Why then should any mortall thing detaine me longer in this vaile of teares and sin Whose whole desire with blessed Simeon is to contemne the world and all therein To lay aside this robe of earth I weare that my redeemed soule may come to thee Whose blessed will is so declar'd that where Thou art thine owne shall also be Call then sweet Iesu as it shall thee please Into thy hands receive my soule in peace When my appointed time of change shall be For which my soule shall daily wait on thee A Contemplative Meditation of the new Ierusalem and the triumphant Church celebrating an everlasting Sabbath in the kingdome of Heaven entitled by mee Halelujah to Heavens King LEâ—ve O my soule this restlesse vaile below Which sin and sorrow by turnes still overflow Raise up thy thoughts to that supernall rest Which maketh all the Saints and Angels blest Who altogether do for ever sing Halelujah's to Heavens King There is erect the Godheads glorious throne More bright than many thousand suns in one Where thy deare Saviours body glorified That body which for thee was crucified Now raigneth with the Dietie In soveraigne blisse and Majestie That sacred head which here was crownd with thorns A crown of heavenly glory now adornes That hand which here did hold the scornful reed Now weilds the Scepter of al power and dread Those feet once naild unto the tree Trample on death and hel in victorie â—he holy citie new Ierusalem Is there prepar'd for just and perfect men With great high wals of Iasper built foure square Whereof the length breadth depth all equall are Of twelve foundations precious stone The twelve Apostles names thereon In twelve gates of pearles a peece on each side three At which twelve Angels the attendants be The st eets pure gold all shining like the Sun Through which the crystal stream of life doth run From out the throne of glory flowing The Tree of life on both sides growing Within those gates of glorious habitation None enter may but heires of salvation The Lambs redeemed his espoused wife Whose names are written in his booke of life The Church triumphant there set free Forever from mortality There live those blessed troopes of purest spirits In such excesse of joyes and true delights As neither eare can heare nor eye perceive Nor can the heart of mortall man conceive Prepared by the Lord of blisse Before all worlds for all of his Who living here the blessed life of grace Are hence translated to that glorious place Where thy deare Saviour keepes a roome for thee Then looke and long for immortalitie Waite his good houre and in waiting sin Halelujahs to heavens King A Meditation of Mans mortality MAn unto whom each houre in changes preacheth That all this Globe earths glory shall decay Believs that doome to mightier creatures reacheth Yet dreames it cannot hold in brittle clay So dull and heavie is his heart in ease To think of ought that may the flesh displease Then neerer come to his dull senses cry All flesh is grasse worm-eaten flowers mans pride It 's true saith he but tell him that himselfe shall die He rather thinks it true in all beside So reason traind to be self-pleasures thrall He thinks that
without this wisdome to salvation which wee are here exhorted unto The feare of God is the beginning of wisdome for this wisdome dwells not with wicked men This is not every mans wish or desire The most affect worser things some worldly honour some earthly riches some sensuall pleasure but few that look after this heavenly Kingdome all for the body none for the soule as if we had no soules to save and therefore the Holy Ghost stirres us up to bee wise that wee may understand which is the next part of the matter propounded understanding What do we not understand already yes but wee understand not what belongs to our peace and as wee should understand unto salvation It were a great steppe to grace that wee had so much understanding of GOD as the honest Heathen had who by their understanding and reason kept themselves from grosse sinnes intemperance injustice anger distempered passions and kept themselves in just dealing with others and a tranquillitie of minde to themselves But wee come short of the fowles for the Stork knowes her appointed times and of the beasts for the Oxe knowes his Master but wee know not our maker and even in the least of creeping things the Ant provides in Summer what must keepe her in Winter and wee should bee likewise to gather here what should be needful for us at our going hence In every man and woman God hath infused a reasonable soule and in every soule hath set up a Candle the light of reason to guide the understanding and when we commit sinne this candle is for the time smothered betweene Sathan and our owne corruption or else wee should not sinn with the greedines we doe How can yee say that the man hath reason that drinkes himselfe into a beast when no beast will be so intemperate How doth the Gallant understand himselfe when he layes his life to pawne nay his soule with his life in a triviall quarrell What reason hath the blasphemer for his swearing or the adulterer for hunting the houses of death Surely if our understanding were cleare as God made it we should never sinne and therefore it is not without a cause that Gods children are wished here to bee wise and to understand that so wee may consider our later end which is the object aime and end of all our wisdome and understanding and so we come to the last part Is there then so great wisdome and understanding to know that we must all die we all know that well enough Oh but to consider this that is so well known as we should is a point of highest wisdome and deepest understanding to know it so as to consider it as it ought to bee considered is a point of absolute necessity to him that will have any care of his salvation To consider our later end is so to judge of earthly things that they may helpe us to a blessed end for finis coronat opus and hee that remembers his later end as hee should doe shall never sinne as the wise man saith It will be a scar-crow to him to keepe him from sinne when he considers of it and himselfe as he should doe Who is he amongst us all that doth consider of Gods blessings heaped upon us as he ought to doe He might have made us insensible creatures as stones in the wall onely vegetative creatures as trees or herbes sensible creatures as Todes or the like But he hath made us reasonable creatures and that not Indians and Turkes to worship the Divell and the murtherer Mahomet instead of GOD but Christians and amongst them not Idolaters and Schismaticks but bred up with the sincere milke of the Word of GOD in the purest Church that God hath now in the whole world O who is then a wise and understanding man that will not consider this to advance and magnifie the goodnesse of the Lord unto him who by so many steps of mercy and goodnesse hath advanced him above all the creatures of the world And as this consideration should moove us to thankfulnesse to GOD so it would keepe us in obedience towards him for to what end have wee all these preferments from God but that we should remember to glorifie him that hath bestowed them and to fit our selves for that future glory which hee hath reserved for us at our later end Oh then that they would be wise and understand and consider their later end their later end that is their death that they must die consider it as wel as know it and so wisely provide for that which cannot be avoided Death shall gnaw them as sheepe saith the Prophet David as sheep doth the grasse some now some anone the whole pasture over in a while and then as the fresh grass springs up so death comes over againe and crops it yet still the root remaines there is a root of eternitie which death cannot take from us but how soone we shall be cropt off by death no man knowes we may reckon of years and perhaps not live a weeke or a day nay this night the sheet that covers thee may be thy winding sheet before to morrow What manner of men should we be in holines and righteousnes of life if wee did thus consider of death and how much doth it concerne us to consider and prepare for our later end which is so uncertaine unto us All worldly things honour riches pleasures nay life it selfe hath an end but that end is not the end of us there is something else to bee considered in that word namely what followeth that end and that is judgement for the same day wee dye are wee brought to judgement and called to the strictest accompt that can possibly bee imagined not to answer for our owne sinnes alone but for Adams and for our corruption which came from him and for the sinnes of those that shall come after us whom our ill example or neglect of instruction hath corrupted and not for deeds alone but for words also and not for wicked and sinfull words but for idle words even for every idle word and for our very thoughts O Lord what shall wee sinfull wretches doe when we come to this accompt who let us take as much care as wee can of our words even in our prayers and best devotions yet we shall shew our imperfections and weaknesses even then how great then is the numberlesse number of our iniquities when they shall bee gathered together into one totall how should wee answer for one of a thousand let us then consider seriously of this great and strict accompt and provide our selves of a Saviour that may cover our misdeeds and the errours of our words and thoughts that they may not bee imputed unto us in that judgement From which consideration of a judgement there may be also further considered that there is a Hell a place of torment where the wicked shall have their particular being with the Divell and his Angels whom they served in this
am most bounden and to assure mine owne conscience of the truth of mine adoption by the syncerity of my heart and thorough sanctification that so by the sweet beams of thy grace shining into my dull and feeble soule I may with cheerfulnesse and comfort wait the good houre when my blessed Saviour IESUS shall call me from hence home to himselfe peace in and I shall leave mortality and imperfection behind me for ever Amen The Fourth MEDITATION of Mount TABOR How happie a condition it is for thee upon thy perseverance in grace to be assured of thy salvation Places of Scripture shewing how this benefit and priviledge belongs to us EXod 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song he is become my salvation Esay 45.17 Jsrael shall bee saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation yee shall not be confounded nor ashamed world without end Jeremy 31.3 The Lord hath appeared unto me saying yea J have loved thee with an everlasting love therfore have I extended loving kindnesse unto thee Ioh. 4.42 And know that this is indeed the CHRIST the Saviour of the world Ioh. 14.1 IESUS having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end Ioh 15.16 You have not chosen me but J have chosen you and ordained you that you should goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine that whatsoever yee shall aske of the Father in my name hee may give it you 9 As my Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love 11 These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remaine in you and that your joy might be full Romans 1.16 J am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth Romans 11.29 The gifts and calling of God are without repentance 1 Corinth 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord 8. Who will also confirme you unto the end that yee may bee blamelesse in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ Galatians 2.20 Christ liveth 〈◊〉 me and the life which I now live iâ— the flesh J live by the faith of the son of God Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it untill the day of Iesus Christ Acts 4.10 Bee it knowne unto you all that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead doth this man stand before you whole 11 This is the stone which was set at nought by you builders which is become the head of the corner 12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there in no other name given under heaven amongst men whereby we must be saved Acts 13.26 Whosoever among you feareth God to you is the word of this salvation sent 1 Tim. 1.5 Christ came into the world to save sinners Heb. 7 22. By so much was Iesus made a surety of a better testament 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him The fourth MEDITATION of Mount TABOR NOw my soule hath the Lord in mercy brought us to a fourth step of these our meditations which is a blessed consequent of the three former For being redeemed from our sinnes which was our first step and in the second received to our heavenly Father and in the third made his children by grace and adoption we are thereby become sure upon our perseverance in grace of finall salvation which brings us to this fourth step making our condition even in this earthly pilgrimage most happy and safe notwithstanding any inward or outward afflictions temptations terrors torments we shall or may be exercised withall in our way to heaven For hee that is sure of grace here and glory hereafter what can possibly trouble him seeing Romans 8.18 the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall bee revealed in us and 2 Cor. 4.17 our light afflictions which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding waight of glory And how is it O my soule that we are brought to this blessed condition of safety and happinesse even by the same our most blessed Saviour only with whom we began in the first step of these meditations For hee is Alpha and Omega the first and the last Heb. 12.2 the author and finisher of our faith neither is there salvation in any other as is before quoted and recited Oh then my soul here are we to renew our daily repentance for our offences past and our humble faith in our almighty Saviour who hath acquitted us from them all and is thus graciously pleased to goe along with us and will confirme us unto the end that wee may bee blamelesse in the day of the Lord IESUS O most gracious Lord and Saviour who hast begun thine owne good worke in me thy poore weake and unworthy servant finish the same for thine owne glorious names sake and by thy holy spirit dwell in my heart for ever that for being both in soule and body throughly purified and sanctified unto all holy duties of true humiliation and godly sorrow for my sins and corruptions and of new universal obedience in the remaining houres of this transitory life J may with cheerfulnesse and comfort passe over the same and not with patience only but with joy and thankefulnesse waite for the time of my change and dissolution when thou shalt be pleased to call me home to thy blessed selfe in glory Amen Amen The Fifth MEDITATION OF MOUNT TABOR How pleasant a state it is to live without feare of death and hell Places of Scripture shewing this comfort to belong to the fa thfull HOsca 13.14 I will ransome them from the power of the grave J will redeeme them from death O death J will be thy plagues O grave J will be thy destruction Esay 25.8 He will swallow up death in victorie and the Lord God will wipe away teares from all faces Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke viz. the faith of Christ will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death 25. I thanke God â—hrough Iesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus for the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death 1 Cor. 15.54 Death is swallowed up in victorie 55. O death where is thy sting O grave or ô hel where is thy victory 56. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law 37. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. 2 Timoth. 1.10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Loâ—â— IESUS CHRIST who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospell Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch thâ—â— as tâ—â— children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe â—ook parâ—â—y the same that through death â—eâ— might destroy him that had the power of death that is the divell 1â— and deliver them who through 〈◊〉 were all their lifetime subject to bondage Revel 1.18 I am hee that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for ever more Amen and have the keyes of hell and death Revel 2.11 He that overcommeth shall not be hurt of the second death Ioh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my words and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Ioh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my sayings he shall never see death Revel 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power The Fifth MEDITATION NOw my soul are we by Gods goodnesse come to the fifth step of these our meditations to consider how full of sweet comfort and contentment the life of him is or ought to bee that lives without feare of death and hell Death being in its owne nature the extreamest of evils in this life the king of terrors to every living thing and hell the most horrible dungeon of everlasting torments to the just feare of both which the wicked of the world are every minute subject None but those children of grace here that are sure of their salvation hereafter can live this pleasant and fearelesse life There is a first and a second death the death of the soule saith Saint Augustine went before in the soules departure from God and the death of the body followed by the soules departing from the body the soule first left God willingly yea wilfully and therefore is compelled unwillingly to leave the body Now from both these deaths are we delivered by the Lord Jesus For our soules being by him freed from sinne are reconciled unto God and so exempt from that wrath to come and from the power of the second death for ever And from the first death we are so delivered from it that albeit in the owne nature it be the center of all miseries and a fearefull effect of Gods curse on man for sinne yet to the godly the nature of it is also changed so as now it is not the death of the man but the death of sinne in the man Death saith Ambrose is the buriall of all vices for it is the progresse and accomplishment of the full mortification of all our earthly members wherein that filthie flux of sinne is dryed up in an instant it as a voluntary sacrificing of the whole man soule and body to the Lord the greatest and the highest service wee can doe to him on earth For where in the course of our life wee are continually fighting against our inordinate lusts and affections to bring them in subjection to Christ by death as it were by one stroke they are all smitten and slaine and the soule is offered up unto God in a sacrifice of full and perfect obedience And though this mortall tabernacle must bee laid to sleepe for a time in the grave which is Gods mâ—â—ld wherein it shall bee new moâ—ldâ—d and f amed fit for heaven yet my blessed Saviour who Romans 4.24 was delivered to death for our offences and was raised againe for our justification hath by his most glorious resurrection blessed be his most holy name not onely already made mee partaker of the first resurrection in this life from the death of sinne by grace and on such the second death â—â—â—h no power but hath also by my blessed union with him as one of the sanctified members of that mysticall body whereof himselfe is the glorious head assured mee of my bodies resurrection unto glory and peace for ever and that death shall restore it againe in better plight than ever it was before to bee againe reunited unto thee my immortall soule in joynt glory and immortality for ever And what is this fraile body to mee but my closet or inmost garment which I shall no sooner put off but it shall be sure of repose and thou mine enfranchised soule of joy and when I arise neither of you shall faile of glory O then my soule in this confidence and assurance of our finall peace come let us joyne together in this last earthly dutie wee have to performe of offering up unto our most glorious and mercifull heavenly father in the name and mediation of our most blessed Saviour IESUS CHRIST by the gracious assistance of God the Holy Ghost my selfe the whole man soule and body in an humble faithfull voluntary and most obedient and free sacrifice that hee mercifully accepting the same at our hands I may securely quietly patiently nay joyfully and thankfully depart hence in peace unto the God of my salvation Amen Amen The Sixth MEDITATION OF MOUNT TABOR How rich and stately a thing it is to be heire of glory Places of Scripture shewing how this transcendent priviledge belongs unto the faithfull ESay 43.6 Bring my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the earth 7. Even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory Luk. 12.32 Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Iohn 12.32 Hee appointed us a Kingdome Psalme 84.11 For the Lord is the sunne and sheild the Lord will give grace and glory Luke 22.29 Therefore I appoint unto you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed unto me 30. that ye may eat and drinke at my table in my kingdome Romans 8.16 The spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirit that wee are the children of GOD. Vers 17. And if Children then heires heires of God and joynt heires with CHRIST if so bee that wee suffer with him that wee may also be glorified together Vers 18. For J reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to bee compared with the glory that shall bee revealed in us 21 Because the creature it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the gloriouâ— liberty of the children of God 30 moreover whom hee did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory Gal. 4.7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a sonne then an heire of God through Christ Eph. 3.6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heires and of the same body and partakers of his promise in CHRIST by the Gospell Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee
failes in one which holds in al Thus he whose life should be deaths meditation Waiting for future immortality Forgets the end of his divine creation And faine would finde on earth eternitie O man look up thou must this mortall leave Before thou canst th' immortall robe receive 1 Due thought of death and hell Would sinfull thoughts expell Who so with carefull thought Would ponder as he ought How fearefull 't is to flâ—t From bed to loathsome pit From pit to easelesse paine For ever to remaine Among the damned sprights Whose mercy never lights Would not commit one sin Though it the world might win 2 As certaine as it now is day so sure it will be night anon For time stands never at a stay but now is here and now is gone Such is our life whose minutes spend and every minute wasts the store Till all be out and then an end we cannot live one minute more 3 What thing is that each man doth chiefly crave Contentment in his fortune and his mind What thing is that man here can never have Contentment in his thoughts and state to find What 's cause of both That man who heaven minds not May strive to seek that there which here he finds not 4 Take from our life these threefold parts of time First what we idly spend and nothing do Then what we spend in evil and heaven-hâ—ted cryme Last what in things that us belong not to Alas how small remaine how quickly told Is left wel spent in doing what we should Occasionall Meditations Vpon a sad and unseasonable Raine translated out of Latine WHence comes it that this sad untimely showrs Do choak the earth and of our fruits bereave us Fâ—ther to shew in heavens angry lowres That God hath left us as the Sun doth leave us Or for that man his sins nor see nor feares The heavens for us powres out it selfe in teares 2 Vpon a LOOKING GLASSE Translated out of Latine MAke this use of thy Looking-glasse that if thy face seeme faire With vicious manners ô do not the grace thereof impaire Or if thou find thy countenance such gracefulnesse denyed Let that defect with inward grace and vertues be supplyed 3 Concerning an extraordinary veile which covered my body at my comming into the world THere be some things which belong to every child in the infancy whereof the certainty cannot be known but by relation of others as the day or houre of our birth who were our sureties at baptism and the like of which kind ther was one special remarkable thing concerning my self who being my parents first son but their second child they having a daughter before me when I came into the world my head face and fore parts of the body were all covered over with a thin kell or skin wrought like an artificiall veile as also my eldest sonne being likewise my second childe was borne with the like extraordinary covering our Midwives and Gossips holding such children as come so veyled into the world to be very fortunate as they call it there being not one childe amongst many hundreds that are so borne and this to fall out in the same manner both to the father and the sonne being much more rare But whatsoever old wives observations are let us both father and sonne with all humble thankfulnesse look up to our heavenly father who made us and formed us in the wombe and brought us from thence and doth preserve and governe us from the cradle to the grave to blesse and praise his holy name for the priviledge of our birth-right which his favour hath bestowed upon us above the rest of our brothers and to studie and endeavour to walke worthy of that dignitie in our care and endeavour to serve and please him who hath singled us out as fathers of the family in our severall generations to that purpose the first borne of the sonnes amongst the Israelites being to be given or consecrated to the Lord Exod. 22.29 Numbers 3.13 Luke 2.23 And from those veiles wherewithall wee were borne let us learne this Christian lesson to veile our heads and our hearts and all our affections from the witcheries and vanities of this world and to looke up beyond the things here to our Saviour IESUS CHRIST within the veile in heaven to long and wait for those blessed and unchangeable comforts which are there treasured up for us in him Not as wee came into this world hidden of nature but as wee are now born by his holy spirit children of grace and election O mercifull Lord God we bring nothing with us into this world but that which might condemne us in the next blessed be thy most holy name by whose eternall mercies wee are born again of the Holy Ghost and our begun regeneration here shall be consummated in the world to come ô sanctifie and establish us by thy free spirit that being by our new birth made children of grace and adoption in Christ we may mortifie all our old corruptions of nature and serve thee faithfully in new obedience in the short pilgrimage of this life and bee finally received in peace into thine everlasting kingdome as thine own redeemed ones through Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen 4. Vpon an extraordinary accident which befell me in my swadling cloaths WHen we come to years we are commonly told of what befel us in our infancie if the same were more than ordinary Such an accident by relation of others befell me within few daies after my birth whilst my mother lay in of me being her second child when I was taken out of the bed from her side and by my suddain and fierce crying recovered again being found sticking between the beds-head and the wall and if I had not cryed in that manner as I did our gossips had a conceit that I had been quite carried away by the Fairies they know not whither and some elfe or changeling as they call it laid in my room In the 12. Chap. of the Revelation we read of two great signs in heaven A woman cloathed with the Sunne great with child ready to be delivered and a great red dragon with seven heads standing before her ready to devoure the child assoon as it should be born but the child being câ—â—ght up unto God and the dragon disappointed of his prey cast downe into the earth was wroth with the woman and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed which kept the commandements of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ By this woman I conceive the Church militant was prefigured whom the Dragon hath persecuted and doth continually labour to destroy in all her members that Dragon being there vers 9. expresly said to bee that old serpent called the Divell and Sathan which deceiveth the whole world and vers 10. is the accuser of our brethren whom hee accuseth before God day and night But to our comfort it is added in the next verse that they overcame him by the blood
Mount Tabor OR PRIVATE EXERCISES OF A PENITENT SINNER Serving for a daily Practice of the life of Faith Reduced to speciall heads comprehending the chiefe comforts and refreshings of true Christians Also Certain occasionall Observations and Meditations profitably applyed Written in the time of a voluntary retrait from secular affaires By R. W. Esquire Published in the yeare of his age 75. Anno Dom. 1639. The Contents of the booke are prefixed LONDON Printed by R. B. for P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the gilded Lion in S. Paul's Church-yard 1639. TO MY DEERE WIFE AND CHILDREN THese private notes and thoughts of minâ— Not worthy nor so fit for publike view I For last pledges of my love consign My neerest deerest private ones to you Three sons two sons and two daughters-in-Law Gâ—and-children eleven Besideâ— those six and five †Non amissos sed praemissoâ— already gone to Heaven Beseeching God by grace so to prepare us yet surviving here We all may meet together and live for evâ—â— there The Table of this private Booke THe Dedication of it to my wife and children The occasion and motive of these exercises called Meditations of Mount Tabor 1 The introduction to those meditations 7. 1. How excellent a thing it is to have all our debts cancelled 8. 2. How sweet a thing to have God appeased towards thee 20. 3. How glorious a thing to be the child of God 36. 4. How happie and safe a condition for thee to be sure of perseverance in grace and salvation 49. 5. How pleasant a state of life to bee void of the feare of death and hell 56. 6. How rich and stately aâ—â—ng to be heire of glory 63. Two meditations formerly composed applyed for a seventh step or meditation of Mount Tabor 79 A Meditation on the Incarnation and Passion of our most glorious Saviour the Lord Jesus and our blessed union with him alluding to the song of Simeon called Nunc Dimittis 79. A contemplation of the new Ierusalem and the triumphant Church celebrating an everlasting Sabboth in the Kingdome of Heaven 84. A Meditation of mans mortality 86. Foure short meditations of the vanity of mans life 87 88. Occasionall Meditations 1. Vpon a sad and unseasonable shower of raine 88. 2. Vpon a Looking-glasse 89. 3. Concerning an extraordinary veile â—hich covered my body at my comâ—â—â— into the world ibid. 4. Of an extraordinary accident when J was first in my swadling cloaths 92. 5. Vpon my breeding up at Schoole 97. 6. Vpon an accident when I was a School-boy 101. 7. Vpon six verses of the 12. Chapter of S. Luke 105. 8. Vpon a Stage-play which I saw when I was a child 110. 9. Vpon the Diall of Gloucester Colledge Clock 115. 10. Vpon good counsell given by a Countrey Painter in homely verse 117. 11. Vpon a Pedegree found in a private mans house 120. 12. Vpon a pedegree found in a noblemans house 124. 13. Of a felon making a comfortable end at his death 129. 14. Vpon the words used in the embleme of our mortality bodie mihi cras tibi 135. â—5 Vpon observing of a grave-stone in Pauls Church London 138. 16. Of a short inscription upon a greâ—â— mans tombe 14â— 17. Vpon three words written with cole in a great Judges house 14â— 18. Vpon consideration of the fifâ—â— muscle of a mans eye 14â— 19. Vpon the name of God blessed foâ— ever proclaimed 15â— 20Vpon the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 siâ—nifying to breath 15â— 21. Vpon the words of S. Paul So râ—â— that ye may obtaine 15â— 22. Vpon a worthy Divines Letter a case of conscience 16â— 23. Vpon the words revealed to Sainâ— Augustine In te stas non stâ—â— 17â— 24. Vpon the building of S. Paâ—â— Church in London 17â— 25. Vpon the reading of a paper â—sually taken out of an old bundle my first going to Stanwick 17â— 26. Vpon the Turkies comming aâ—â— to their roost before Sun-set 19â— 27. Vpon the remove of houshold frâ—â— one dwelling to another 19â— 28. Vpon the casuall hearing of verse in the new Testament read by a childe 199. 29. Vpon the words of a childe intimating the necessity of my timely preparation for death and heaven 202 30. Vpon a fight betweene two Cocks 206. 31. Vpon a childs asking of blessing in the morning 211. 32. Vpon one word attributed to God thrise in three verses together in one Chapter of the Prophet Ionas 214. 33 Vpon the great Clock in Westminster Palace 218. 34. Vpon our last and best home 219. 35. A Dialogue betweene an old sick-man and his neighbour visiting him 220. 36. A hymn for Christmas day upon the Angels song Gloria in excelsis Deo 222. 37. A prayer or meditation for my wife and my selfe to joyne together in our daily preparation for our dissolution 225. Imprimatur Thomas Wykes October 31. 1639. The occasion and motive of these weake exercises of mine following which I call my Meditations of Mount Tabor UPon my reading over of one of the Sermons of a worthy messenger of God and Batchelour of Divinitie entiâ—eled the Life of Faith reprinted in Anno 1627. wherein I found the duty of daily renewing our faith the Life of our Soules by Prayer and Meditation by many arguments of necessity profit and comfort powerfully and graciously pressed I observed a passage in these very words Hearken unto me O thou of little faith and lesse use of it dost thou desire to have a continuall feast to rejoyce alwayes with the Lord I know that thou desirest it with all thy soule Let me prescribe a diet a daily diet without omission strictly to be kept the Lord give thee and me grace to observe it Looke how duely thou refreshest thy body by use of repast or recreation so often at the least be sure to cheare up thy soule by the use of thy faith Let thy soule have two or three walkes a day up to Mount Tabor that is into some retyred place of Meditation and Prayer such as Isaac's Field Cornelius his Leades David's Closet c. But what is there to be done I answer still make use of thy faith But what is that you call using of faith I now come to the point to the chiefe mysterie of spirituall life Stirre up thy soul in this Mount to converse with CHRIST Look what promises and priviledges thou dost habitually believe now actually think of them roule them under thy tongue chew on them till thou finde some sweetnesse in the palat of thy soule view them joyntly severally sometimes muse of one sometimes of another more deeply and lest thou shouldest still think me obscure think with thy self 1 How excellent a thing it is to have all thy debts cancelled 2 How sweet a thing to have GOD appeased 3 How glorious a thing to be the son of GOD. 4 How happy a condition for thee upon thy perseverance to be assured of thy salvation 5 How pleasant a state of life to be void of
the feare of Death and Hell 6 How rich and stately a thing to be heire of glory Say to thy self as Paul to the Corinths 1 Cor. 5.8 Let us feast and be merrie CHRIST hath made us holy-dayes our Paschall Lamb is slain have any more cause to be merrie With these Soliloquies mingle some Ejaculations to Heaven for â—râ—ce and aid and descend not this 〈…〉 till thou findest and feelest thy soule in some cheerly plight revived and warmed with these spirituall Flaggons of Wine in the strength whereof thou mayest walk all the day following And this in plaine termes I call using of faith and living by faith which if thou wilt duely inure thy self unto thou wilt not marvell why I call it ascending Mount Tabor thou wilt stay thy selfe upon good proof It is good to be here daily to be here often to come hither oh that this did as clearly appeare to the world in this matter of faith as it doth in all other habits graces gifts vertues and good things whatsoever that the principall beautie and benefit of them consists in use fruition and action not the bare profession yea the very increase and perfection of them Vse limbs and have limbs The more thou dost the more thou mayest Vse will bring perfectnesse and thorough disuse things perish and come to nothing As the Plough-share laid up rusts and consumes employed glisters doth good and lasts the longer Let any man diligently and throughly improve the greater will be his faith and great comfort it will bring in And againe after the end of the Sermon in his Epistle to the Reader which he purposely then enters and not before it to leave the better impression he hath a farther passage to this effect Let me minister unto thee an Interrogatory or two and answer me in good serious sooth betweene God and thy soul Hast thou and dost thou thy self letting others alone live by faith Proove and examine thyselfe and take for instance this present week or day past wherin thou readest this little Manual How hast thou or usually dost thou spend the day What thought didst thou awake withal what was the morning draught for thy foule next thy heart What hath cheered and made thee merrie in private and in company whether thy sports or thy meales more then the heavenly ejaculations Deale plainly not with me and this Booke which yet shall witnesse against thee if thou refuse to practise it when thou hast read it but with thy selfe Hast not thou challenged some time more or lesse halfe a quarter of an houre at the least in the day for this exercise of thy faith if not as it is neglected by most men not for dayes or weekes but for moneths and yeares let thy heart smite thee for thy folly and say have I lived or rather not lived by consuming pretious time in vanities How commeth it about that the greatest part of my life is the least part wherein I have lived Oh then recover and recollect thy selfe before thou go hence wilt thou die before thou hast lived as boies slabber their books before they have learned their lessons Oh learn to live this life it is never too late it is never I am sure too soone It is no shame for thee to learne it of what age or condition soever thou be The Introduction to my MEDITATIONS OF MOUNT TABOR My work is done I can no longer toyle under the restles cares of worldly things Come then my soul let 's prove another while what sounder comfort thought of heaven brings For here we see by selfe-experience the fruits of this world wheresoe're they grow In Citie Court high place of eminence in Cottages or Countrey shades below Yeeld but the spirits vexation If not confusion Or vanity at best The spirits illusion Then leaving all below let us ascend the sacred Mount of Tabor where we may With humble quiet thoughts attend our Saviours call from day to day For we should now make every day our last not needing or desiring any more If God another to our life shall cast spend it likewise with thanks to him therefore And so being freed from earthly perturbation Make heavens care our daily meditations Waiting the period of our fraile lifes story Vntill his calling of us to himselfe in glory The first Meditation How excellent a thing it is to have all our debts cancelled Places of Scripture shewing how this benefit belongs to us Daniel 9.24 SEaventie weekes are determined upon thy people to finish transgression to make reconciliation for iniquitie and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse and to annoint the most holy vers 25. Messiah the Prince 26. who after sixty two weeks shall be cut off but not for himself â—sayâ— 3.5 He was woundâ—d for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are we healed Matth â— 2 IESUS seeing their faith said to the sicke of the Palsie sonne be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven thee And undoubtedly saith Bishop Cowper this is a standing sentence spoken not only to this Paralytick but as a generall proclamation to every believer This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many Mat. 26. â—â— for the remission of sins I came not to call the righteous Mark â— 17 but sinners to repentance To give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of their sinnes Luke â— â—7 Through the tender mercy of our GOD â—erâ—e â—8 whereby CHRIST the day spring from an high hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death Verâ—e â—â— to guide our feet in the way of peace That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations Luke â—4 47 Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world Iohn â— 2â— And he is the propitiation for our sinnes Iohn 13. â— To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.43 Acts 13.32 We declare unto you glad tydings how that the promise which was made unto the Fathers Verse 33. God hath fulfilled the same to us their children in that he hath raised up IESUS againe Verse 38. Be it knowne unto you therefore that through this man is preached unto you the forgivenesse of sins Verse 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which yee could not be justified by the Law of Moses Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in IESUS CHIRST Verse 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sins Heb. 9.26 But now hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Verse 27. And
of life and death of salvation and damnation at that Acts 2.20 great and terrible day of the Lord wherein 2 Pet. 3.10 the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt up the dead raised the living changed and all mankinde brought together to give a most strict accompt not for their ill works alone but for their neglect of good duties not for actions alone but for their words and that not for filthy and mischievous words only but for every idle word and the thoughts of the heart And this my soule is that infinite almighty and most glorious and dreadful Majestie against whom we have rebelled in the highest treasons his wisdome power justice being incomprehensible and his wrath insupportable O come let us worship and fall downe prostrate with all aweful reverence trembling and feare and then in the second place consider how infinitely gracious and good this our most blessed God the King of eternall glory hath beene to such a worme and vile wretch as my unworthy selfe For besides those most blessed and extraordinary priviledges which I have with my countrey-men in being borne an Englishman in the time of the most glorious Sun-shine of the Gospell of grace seconded with such Halcyon daies of blessed peace the publike miracles of mercy which God hath wrought even in my life time in the preservation of this Church and Kingdome our gracious Princes our selves and our posterities specially in these two famous deliverances never to be forgotten by any true English heart from the Spanish invincible Armado and the Popish hellish Powder plot O blessed Lord God how infinitely good and gracious hast thou been unto me most unworthy in all the particular passages of my earthly pilgrimage First in spirituall blessings by thy preventing mercy keeping me from some grievous sinnes into which my owne wicked corruptions by Sathans damnable enticements had els drawne me In thy sparing mercies in my acting of other sins wherinto I was faln In thy pardoning mercies that miracle of miracles in translating me out of that damnable estate of mine unregenerate time into rhe glorious liberty of thine owne children of grace and adoption in IESUS CHRIST and for thy renewing mercies by the work of thy holy spirit making me to loath all sinne and to apply my selfe to all duties of holinesse and righteousnesse in universall new obedience to thy most holy will and a constant will and resolution to serve and please thee love feare adore and obey thee in all true repentance and sanctification all the remaining houres of my life and lastly for the assurance thou hast given me of the upshot of all thy finall and crowning mercies in the life to come Then again in temporall blessings by preserving mee from harme in most desperate dangers giving mee the helpe of good education blessing me with a most gracious and comfortable fellowship in marriage and us both with hopefull children and grandchildren especially for our eldest son the true staffe of our age and for thy bountifull providing for us and them in outward necessaries and shewing us mercy in all our occasions yea good Lord for thy fatherly chastisements sent amongst us and therein for that gentle paralyticall infirmity of mine owne aged body whereby I have beene gratiously taken off from worldly cares and employments and have held and still by thy goodnesse have this blessed time and opportunity for heavenly meditations and Christ in preparation of my self for my change and dissolution and my finall translation into those glorious mansions which our most blessed Saviour hath provided for us in his heavenly kingdome O most blessed Lord God how shall I poore weakling do to admire thy providence adore thy Majestie love feare serve and obey thee and glorifie thy most holy name as I am most bounden and heartily desire to do in all sincerity duty and thankfulnes for all thy numberles and incomprehensible mercies blessings comforts and deliverances vouchsafed unto me even in this fraile life and valley of teares and for the glorious upshot of all thy crowning mercies reserved for me in the life to come Oh fill my heart with thy gracious spirit for enabling me to pay my humble vowes unto thy Majestie in all true sanctified obedience and faithfull and serious endeavours of soule and body to walke acceptably before thee from henceforth and for ever Amen And now my soule should wee in the third place consider how wickedly and ungraciously I have misbehaved my self all the days of my flesh towards this most high glorious almighty and most dreadful Majestie and towards this most gracious and mercifull God and Saviour of ours But here alas I am confounded wâ—h shame astonishment of heart and horror of conscience but to think of the manifold frailties prophannes pollutions of my youth and the sinful negligencies rashnesses improvidence unfruitfulnes and unthankfulnes and other sins and transgressions of thought word or deed of my whole mispent life by past Yea O Lord my God in my ungrateful and froward neglect of thy gracious time of visitation graunted mee of thine unspeakable mercie these foure last yeares aswell for my sound humiliation and serious daily repentance for my manifold sins and corruptions as for improving that precious time in those gracious duties and spirituall exercises publike and private which my conscience tels me I should have performed with more fervour of spirit feare and trembling and syncerity and intention of heart then I have done But O Lord I finde that were mine eyes fountaines of teares powred out every moment of my life should my heart fall asunder into drops of blood in my brest for anger and indignation against my selfe for my grievous sins and transgressions yet should I come infinitely short of that sorrow and hearts griefe which mine offences would justly require and exact at my hands And therefore O Lord my God though it bee my most earnest suit and the earnest desire and constant prayer of my humble soule that my hard and dull heart may by thy grace be so softned and quickned as to be truly broken and dissolved into sighs of true contrition and that I may weepe day and night for my sinnes and offences all my life long unto my dying houre yet all could not serve to draw thy mercy upon me for the least of my transgressions for in the point of redemption of mankind and purgation of sinne nothing could serve the turn but the precious blood of IESUS CHRIST God and Man in one person blessed for ever Either the sonne of God must die or else all mankind be eternally damned and their sinnes only are properly said to have pierced him who at length are saved by his blood Come then my soule let us set our humble faith on worke to lay fast hold upon this blessed Saviour of ours who only is become our reconciliation and peace-maker
remaining daies of our life seeing we are called to be heires of an heavenly inheritance shall we any longer minde and affect earthly things nay rather with the holy Apostle Philip. 3.8 9. Let us accompt all things to bee but dung in respect of the excellent knowledge and fellowship of the Lord IESUS Seeing CHRIST must be our comfort in death when all other comforts will forsake us let us make him out joy and pleasure and our portion in this life and so shall he be both in life and death an advantage unto us O most gracious Lord God and our mercifull heavenly father give us grace we most humbly beseech thee seriously to consider of this high calling of ours being by adoption made thy children members of CHRIST and heires annexed with him of glory of rebels and slaves of Sathan made the happie servants of our blessed Redeemer nay more then so his friends Iohn 14.15 Henceforth call I you no more servants but friends yea more then friends for he hath made us his brethren Heb. 2.11 He that sanctifieth and they which are sanctified are all one wherefore hee is not ashamed to call them brethren O transcendent and wonderfull comfort God the Father cries from heaven This is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him The Sonne againe speaking unto us here on earth saith Iohn 20.17 I ascend unto my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God He that is my God and my Father is also your Father and your God Therefore goe ye unto him and with confidence cal upon him as your Father and your God and hee will heare you and helpe you O most glorious and most merciful heavenly Father confirm us more and more in the assurance of thy eternall love free grace and unchangeable mercies towards us in Christ Iesu that in lively sense and inward assurance thereof wee may with comfort and cheerfulnes waite for love and long for his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 for our deliverance from this bondage of corruption and receiving of us to himselfe in glory To whom with thee O Father of mercies and God the Holy Ghost most holy glorious and ever blessed Trinitie in the unity of one only true and everliving God of incomprehensible glorious essence and most adored and coeternall Majestie be all glory praise dominion and thankesgiving ascribed for ever and ever Amen Amen Amen FOR A Seventh MEDITATION OF MOUNT TABOR NOw my soule having by our most gratious GODS fatherly indulgence and mercie had time and beene enabled though with much humane weaknesse to consider distinctly and severally of those sixe maine points of meditation propounded unto us for Mount Tabor the same indeed comprehending all manner of spirituall comforts and refreshings for the Christian soule wee are by course and order come to a seventh stepp which very name puts mee in minde of the seventh day of our weeke the fittest of all the rest for heavenly contemplations Almightie GOD after his six daies worke of wonder in the creation of the visible World consecrating the seventh day for a holy rest to himselfe and for his owne immediate worship and service which was the Iewes Sabbath and the glorious resurrection of God the Sonne manifested in the flesh for the most gracious worke of our redemption being also celebrated in the Church ever the seventh day of the week which is the Christians Sabbath and both of them types of that everlasting Sabbath which the triumphant Church shall celebrate for ever in the kingdome of Heaven The consideration of which particulars might bee a theme large enough and fit enough for a seventh Meditation of Mount Tabor But being sensible of my owne weaknesse I am resolved here to set up my rest and instead and place of this seventh and concluding Meditation of mine to set downe two exercises of this kind heretofore composed by me the one fitting the Christians Sabbath to the worlds end the other a contemplation of the new Ierusalem and heavenly Sabbath world without end recommending the foure other heads of meditation set downe by Master Downâ—m and the twelve priviledges of the faithfull set downe by Master Byfeild as fit arguments for divine contemplations to such as are better able to travell therein no day of the weeke no nor of our whole life being to bee exempted from that most necessary duty of daily renewing our faith and repentance whereof see Downam at large in his Guide to Godlinesse lib. 3. cap. 2. A MEDITATION On the Incarnation and Passion of our most glorious Saviour the Lord Iesus and our blessed union with him alluding to the song of Simeon called Nunc Dimittis SImeon was one of those which waited for the Messiahs comming Israels consolation Whom that himselfe should see before he died was shewed to him from God by revelation And when the Virgin mother brought her Son up to the Temple to present him there Simeon by motion of the Holy Ghost came in and praising God with joyfull cheere The blessed babe with arms he gently claspt about This Swan-like song divinely warbling out O Lord since thou hast let me live to see the Christ thy promised salvation Whom thou hast now prepar'd reveald to be before the face of every nation A saving light unto the Gentiles who in darknesse and in shade of death did dwell The glory and the way of peace unto thine owne beloved people Israel Now lettest thou thy servant blessed Lord Depart in peace according to thy word If Simeon at the sight of Christ a child new come into the world for our salvation That glorious work not then accomplished was yet so wrapt with joy and exultation As disesteeming all the world beside he had no mind of living longer here How then O Lord should I affected be who live in this thy Gospels light so cleare My Saviours acts and sufferings all to see And know the benefit therof belongs to me O thou divine peace-maker how shall I admiâ—e and praise thy mercy infinite That being God our nature wouldst assume and to thy sacred person it unite That so thou being God and man in one 〈◊〉 perfect Mediator might become To God for man who els had perished and without thee beene utterly undone Good Lord how should my soule affected be At this thy wonderfull humility That thou th' almighty maker of the world for by thy word all things at first began Should'st yeeld thy self a creature to become and to be made twise made for sinfull man Made of the blessed Virgin so to take with our fraile nature our infirmities And made under the law to undergo the burthen of our sinnes and miseries How then good Lord should I affected be To this great work of mercy towards me That thou to whom all powers in heaven did bow and thought it their honour to be serviceable Should for us wretched men descend so low as to be born heire in a homely stable Laid in a cratch pursued
abroad and in his anger to doe mee the greatest hurt hâ—e could which then he thought to be to fall under the rod he dealt with all the prompters that none of them should helpe me and so as he thought I must necessarily be beaten When I found my selfe at this strait I gathered all my wits together as we say and listned the more carefully to my fellowes that construed before me and having also some easie word to my lot for parsing I made hard shift to escape for that time And when I observed my adversaries displeasure to continue against me so as I could have no helpe from my prompters I doubled my diligence and attention to our masters construing our next lesson to us and observing carefully how in construction one word followed and depended upon another which with heedfull observing two or three lessons more opened the way to shew me how one word was governed of another in the parsing so as I needed no prompter but became able to bee a prompter my selfe and so the evill intended to mee by my fellow scholler turned to my great good Let all those who have found the like gracious worke towards themselves as many have in matters of more moment if they observe it come joyne with me in praising the Lord for the same whose providence governeth all things and who doth powerfully declare himselfe to bee the only true God by such over ruling the powers of darknesse and the malicious and evill intentions of men bringing light out of darknesse good out of evill life out of death and making all things worke together for the good and comfort of them that feare him O mercifull Lord God who even in my childhood didst shew mee this grace and favour as thou hast often done since in many cases of extremitie give mee grace to magnifie thy blessed name therefore and of thy free grace and unchangeable mercie continue thy goodnesse to mee thy unworthy servant for my support in my last need that death may not be death unto me but a passage from temporall to eternall life and a change of the one for the other as it is to all thine elect according to the mighty working of our Saviour dying for us whereby he hath purchased eternall life for every poore penitent soul that believes in him Blessed be the Lord our strength and our redeemer for ever Amen 7 Vpon six verses of the 12 Chapter of S. Luke IN one of my paper-books which I had when I was a school-boy I find this short note written with mine own hand at that time Lu. 12.35 to the 40. v. whether it was the text of some Sermon I then heard or upon what other occasion I then wrote it is forgotten as all worldly things must shortly be with me But now turning to the place of that Gospel I find it to be a part of our blessed Saviours Sermon to his Disciples not long before his passion and to contain a most waighty and necessary duty enjoyned to us all for our timely preparation for death and our Lords second comming in these words following Vers 35. Let your loynes begirded about and your lights burning Vers 36. And ye your selves like unto men that waite for their Lord when hee will returne from the wedding that when he commeth and knocketh they may open unto him immediately Vers 37. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he commeth shall finde watching verily I say unto you that hee shall gird himselfe and make them to sit downe to meat and will come forth and serve â—hem Vers 38. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so Blessed are those servants Vers 39. And this know that if the good man had known what houre the thiefe would come he would have watched and nâ—t have suffered his house to be broken thorough Verse 40. Be ye therefore ready also for the sonne of man commeth at an houre when you think not In which word our blessed Saviour requires of us for our own good and finall comfort an hourely watchfulnesse and preparation for the time of our change that we may be ready when it commeth telling us plainly that it will come at an houre we thinke not and therefore to be expected and provided for that houre if we will be safe urging this most needfull dutie by two examples or parables the one from the happie reward of so doing twise pronouncing those servants blessed whom the Lord when hee commeth shall find watching the other from the danger of neglecting this watch wherein we wilfully give the thiefe opportunity to breake our house thorough to our utter undoing That if the former reason of reward and blessing will not moove us out of love and dutie to see so gracious a Lord and for our owne finall glory to be ready with our loines girded all carnall and worldly affections suppressed and our lights burning in bumble 〈◊〉 repentance and obedience to open unto him at the first knock yet the very feare of being surprised by that cruell murthering thiefe our ghostly enemy who every houre watcheth to take us at advantage for bringing us to utter confusion should awaken us and make us careful to put this holy duty into serious and conti uall practise for our owne finall safety and peace and the glory of our most graâ—ious God in our salvation reckoning every day and houre to be our last and so graciously imploying our few remaining daies of mortality here as neither desiring nor needing any morrow that so whensoever wee shall be called hence we may be ready and enter into the joy oâ— our blessed Lord and Saviour and remaine with him where he is in glory for ever and ever Here this weake meditation of mine I will conclude with M George Withers prayer and meditation upon the 98. Psalme O Almighty Son of God we blesse and praise thee for the manifestation of thy mercy to the whole world is the miraculous work of our redemption thou didst come unto us in despised weaknesse yet hast thou therein shewen such unresistable power that it prevailed against the wisdome of the worldly wise and magnified thy derided crosse above all the most renowned deities of the Gentiles This thou didst by appearing in a contemptible state oh how glorious and how powerfull wilt thou be in thy second comming It now draweth niâ—h O let it not come upon us as a thief in the night but as the travaile upon a woman who keepeth a just reckoning and joyes in the hopes of her birth more then she feares the paines of her trâ—velling so according to the counsell of thy holy Spirit we may expect and receive thee with praises triumphs and rejoycings Amen Vpon a Stage-play which I saw when I was a child IN the City of Gloucester the manner is as I think it is in other like corporations that when Players of Enterludes come to towne they first attend
by it when the meanest scullion oâ— his kitchin and the poorest cripple at his gates were therby made their Lords Kinsmen being all Adams children as well as himselfe And what pitch of honour had he gotten from that common ancestor of al mankind but what we all his posterity by wofull experience finde to bee pitch indeed the guilt and infection of sin and the fruit of it death Objects proper for shame sorrow and humiliation no way for honour or vain-glory Adam himselfe being made but of red earth and he and his posterity to returne to earth againe O most blessed Lord God blessed and magnified be thy most holy and glorious name who after many generations hast raised up a mighty salvation for us in the Lord Iesus the second Adam sonne of thy servant David according to the flesh as thou didest speake by the mouth of all thy holy Prophets which have beene since the world began by whom we have redemption and deliverance from the guilt and punishment â—f the first Adams rebellion and from all the power and malice of that old wily serpent who overthrew him in the terrestriall paradise and are by the blessed promised seed of the woman the Lord our righteousnesse God manifested in the flesh for our redemption restored to a better inheritance even the Paradise of God his owne heavenly Kingdome Let all the Monarchs and States of the world fall downe before thy glorious foot-stoole O most blessed Lord and Saviour and worship and rejoyce in thee the only God of our salvation and let no man glory in the antiquitie of his noble ancestors for no man can goe higher then the Lord Lumleys Pedegree But let every true Christian how meane soever or wretched here and though by nature in the first Adam a child of wrath and perdition lift up his head with joy unspeakable and glorious being in and by this second Adam our blessed Saviour and his holy Spirit by adoption and grace made the child of the most High the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and thereby become truly noble indeed And let all the Potentates of the earth aspire to this spirituall honour by regeneration in CHRIST then to all the pompe and glories of a thousand worlds with the good Emperour Theodosius who thanked GOD more for his being made a member of CHRIST then the Emberour of the world for the best and noblest nature amongst the children of men brings forth nothing but corruption onely grace makes truly noble and everlastingly happy 13. Of a Felon making of a comfortable end at his Execution AMongst all other charitable deeds of that worthy man of God Master Perkins in the Vniversitie of Cambridgâ— his manner was as I have heard to visit the prisoners condemned at the Goale deliveries there not onely in the prison for their spirituall instruction and preparation before their execution but to accompanie them also at the place where they were to suffer whither divers schollers and others of good â—ancke also usually resorted one of which spectators a fellow of Trinitie Colledge made relation to mee of a comfortable worke upon one of the felons at one of the executions more remarkable then the rest to this eâ—â—ect The prisoner being a strong lustie fellow in the vigour of his youth in his going up the ladder discovered an extraordinary lumpishnesse and dejection of spirit and when he turned himselfe to sit upon an upper round to speake to the people looked with such a ruefull and heavie countenance as if hee had beene halfe dead already where good Master Perkins standing at the foot of the ladder laboured to cheere up his spirits and finding him still in agony and distresse of mind called upon him in words to this purpose what man what is the matter with thee art thou afraid of death Ah no said the prisoner shaking his head but of a worser thing Saist thou so said Master Perkins come downe againe man and thou shalt see what Gods grace will doe to strengthen thee whereupon the prisoner comming downe Master Perkins tooke him by the hand and made him to kneele down with himselfe at the Ladder foot hand in hand when that blessed man of God made such an effâ—â—tuall prayer in confession of sins and aggravating the same in all circumstances with the horrible and eternall punishment due for the same by Gods justice as made the poore prisoner burst out into aboundance of â—â—â—â—es as the fervencie of the prayer gave occasion and when the blessed Preacher found that he had brought him low enough even to hell gates hee proceeding to the second worke of his prayer to shew him being truly humble and unfainedly penitent the Lord Iesus the Saviour of all penitent and believing sinners stretching forth his blessed hand of mercy and power to save him in that distressed estate and to deliver him from all the powers of darknesse did so sweetly presse the same with such heavenly art and powerfull words of grace upon the soule of the poore prisoner as cheered him up againe to looke beyond death with the eyes of faith to see how the blacke lines of all his sinnes and debts owing to Divine Justice were crossed and cancelled with the red lines of his crucified Saviours precious blood so graciously applying it to the prisoners wounded conscience as made him breake out into new showers of teares for joy of the inward consolation which he found and gave such expression thereof to the beholders as made them lift up their hands and praise God to see such a blessed change in him who upon the prayer ended rose up from his knees cheerefully and went up the Ladder againe so cheered and tooke his death with such patience and alacritie of spirit as if he actually saw himselfe delivered from the hell hee feared before and heaven opened for the receiving of his soule to the great rejoycing of the beholders Blessed bee thy most holy and glorious name O Lord our good God for all those gracious endowments and abilities wherewithall thou hast and dost furnish thy Ministers of the Gospell of peace for the converting of sinners unto thee and for bringing home the wandring ones and rescuing their soules out of the Lions mouth not only amongst those many of the meaner sort that suffer in our ordinary Circuits and Goale deliveries but also amongst our great men and Nobles capitall offenders at the Tower some of whom the spectators seeing their Christian and gracious preparative for death and their behaviour in it have adjudged more happie in their ends then in all the glorious pompe of their greatnesse before Good Lord increase the number of thine able servants furnished both with gifts and willing mindes to visit comfort and help those poore children of death in that their greatest and last need that they may then by thy grace feele that which all thy children doe in their greatest distressesâ— that mans extremity is Gods blessed opportunitie for their finall comfort
and penitent sinner for the strengthening of his faith and hope to rely constantly and confidently upon his infinite mercies O blessed Lord God of our Fathers who even in the time of the law under the covenant of workes wert thus good and gracious towards sinners before the manifestation of our blessed Saviour thine eternall sonne in the flesh and salvation in him proclaimed to all nations by the golden trumpet of the Gospell mercifully sanctifie and strengthen us poore sinfull wretches by thy holy spirit to lay fast hold upon those thine eternall mercies exhibited unto us by thy new covenant in Christ Jesus and sealed up unto us in his most precious blood for the full and sure remission of all our sinnes in him our perfect reconciliation with thy Majestie and the assurance of thine unchangeable love and our owne finall peace and salvation in him whom thou of thine incomprehensible mercies towards poore penitent sinners hast sealed and sent into the world to bee relyed upon for salvation that so by humble and lively faith with true and hearty repentance relying and resting upon those mercies of thine which have beene ever of old unto the end and in the end we may receive the end of our faith in the salvation of our soules through the precious merits and blessed mediation of that prince of peace our most gracious Saviour and eternall peacemaker Amen 20. Vpon the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to breath THis little word consisting but of two letters the first and last of the Greeke Alphabet yet makes two syllables and gives a weighty signification the english of it being I live or breath which in my conceit may note unto us the shortnes of the life of man and the neernesse of death to every man breathing when we cannot say I breath but the last letter must conclude it as the first began it the one following the other as close as the shadow doth the body or the night the day without any other letter interposed betweene them or so much as an aspiration to prolong the word but no sooner Alpha begins but Omega concludes and if all the other twenty letters of the Alphabet should bee interposed and reckoned after the greatest computation of mans life not by dayes but by yeares where how many be there that come not to so many moneths or weekes some not to so many houres or minutes yet must we all that read that Alphabet come to Omega at last And if any be so strong as to read it over in the largest extent of yeares there times and a halfe over yet were his life but labour and sorrow so soone passeth it away and we are gone O Lord my God thou hast prolonged my life to the 69. yeare of mine age which brings mee to the confines of Moses his computation of the life of man and therfore howsoever others may reckon the Omega to be far off from them which no man can bee sure of for an houre yet must I continually expect it aâ— at hand O most mercifull Lord Jesus who hast called thy selfe Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the fâ—â—sh and the last who art the author and finisher of our faith the beginner of every good worke of grace in us and 〈◊〉 perfecter of it have mercy upon me and by thy holy spirit perfect that good worke begun in me for preparing my soule in true faith repentance and obedience all the dayes of mine appointed time so to wait till my change commeth that when that happie houre shall come J may be found ready for heaven and hee finally received of thee in peace into thine everlasting kingdome Amen 21. Vpon the words of S. Paul 1 COR. 9.24 So run that ye may obtain IT is the saying of Theophylact that oâ— the children of God Quidam sunâ— in patria quidam in via ad patriam some are at home in their countrie some in their way towards it some have obtained the goale already the rest are running their race towards it some have finished their course have fought the good fight of faith in grace here and are now at rest in glory some in the beginning of their course and others in our apprehension more forward but all tending to the end And as it is with Gods children that they are not yet at home in their country whiles they are in this world but are travelling thitherward so also the wicked whiles they live here are not where they must be hereafter for they are runners too how well soever they think they have setled themselves in this world and must of necessity leave it when their turnes comes For there is one thing to be done by every man and woman living high or low good or bad rich or poore one with another which it concernes every man to be sure to doe well or else hee can never come to heaven it being not possible to do it more tâ—en once and that is to die If thou runne well in the race of thy life thou shalt bee sure to dye well and he that so doth is safely gotten in patriam but if death once surprize thee in an ill case thou canst never come to dye againe in a better Therefore since the life of man is a race to all men and howsoever we runne or walke or play by the way we must all come to the goale at last what an excellent caveat hath the Holy Ghost given us here by the Apostle so to run that wee may obtaine It is not in our choise whether we will runne or no for wee are all runners our life runnes away like the sand in the houreglasse without staying the twinckling of an eye whether wee observe it or no and it is no small matter that lies at stake even no lesse then salvation or damnation a crowne of glory if wee follow this gratious counsell or Commandement of God by the Apostle of so running that wee may obtaine everlasting horrour and confusion if wee obtaine not Men that use to runne a race for a wager walke over that peece of ground often where they are to performe their race at last to observe on whether side the advantage lyeth at this downe with or that rise of the way and what bee the impediments which may hinder them in their speede that they may avoid them and all to win the wager which is but for a Nag or a suit of cloaths or some other like triviall or transitory thing how much more need have wee then that have our soules at stake to take a daily view of our way and of the short race whereupon eternitie depends not to bee taken with the goodly buildings faire flowers sweet valleys or pleasant fields and other delights offered to our senses but to marke seriously what dangerous letches what thornie passages what nets or gâ—â—ns what bogs or false ground lye in our way that wee may avoid them in our race and runne on
hearts of all that professe thy holy name to agree in the truth of thy holy word that wee may all live in Christian unity peace and godly love waiting for the accomplishment of the number of thine elect that these daies of sin and dissension being finished we may bee received into thine everlasting peace through thine owne blessed merits and mediation for us Amen 25. Vpon the reading of a paper casually taken out of an old bundle at my first comming to Stanwick VPon my resolving to make Stanwick the place of my retiring my selfe from the businesse of this world that I might with more freedom prepare my self for a better amongst other necessaries sent thither from Westminster there was certaine bundles of old letters notes and writings sent thither upon my remoove which was in Iune 1632. that I might there peruse them before they were laid aside for wast papers And when I came thither in the first bundle I tooke to looke over I lighted upon a sheet of paper foulded up and endorsed only with the name of a very worthy Preacher of mine old acquaintance and having quite forgotten what it might conâ—erne I opened it and found it to be an abstract of one of his Sermons taken by my selfe about 40. yeares before upon this Text Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they would understand this and would consider that later end wherein I found the necessity of that Christian duty of preparation for the time of our dissolution so powerfully pressed by that man of God as I was glad to light upon it so seasonably for a gracious introduction to my further meditations of that necessary subject O blessed Lord God what just cause have I to condemne mine owne dulnes and corruption that having so long before by mine owne hand taken an abstract of such a pretious instruction did neglect the comfort and use thâ—reof more then for the present for many yeares not remembring that J had any such thing But withall how infinitely bounden am I to thy Majestie O most gracious and mercifull Heavenly Father by whoâ—e speciall providence it was preserâ—â—â— in my many remooves to remote dwellings and severall alterations of 〈◊〉 fortunes and now so season 〈◊〉 brought to my hands in this last 〈◊〉 of my life when I have most 〈◊〉 of holy preparatio◠〈◊〉 to teach me 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 in speedy and serious practise that lesson which I took out so long a goe O Lord my God bury J beloâ—â— thee this neglect of mine with the reâ—â— of the manifold sinnes of my youth in the bottomlesse seas of thy mercies and by thy holy Spirit sanctifiâ— and strengthen me now at last whiles it is yet called to day blessed be thy most blessed name for it and apply my selfe wholly to this blessed learning of being wise to salvation that by thy blessing and mercies J may by humble and stedfast faith fruitfull repentance and new obedience be provideâ— of that Saviour besides whom there is no other against my last â—eed so to cover all my misdoings and sins of all kinds from being imputed unto me and to cloath me with his perfect righteousnesse that when the houre of my change shall come I may be found of thee in peace through his merits and mediation our eternall advocate and most blessed peace-maker Amen And although this paper of mine be but a briefe or abstract of that which was largely delivered by that worthy messenger of God yet as short and imperfect as it is I conceive good use may be made thereof by the humble minded and conscionable reader and therefore being a relique of mine owne hand for so many yeares preserved I have thought fit to annexe the originall it self to this meditation in hope some gracious use may be made thereof for our preparation for our later end which cannot be far from any of us for Jnter breve vitae spatium nihil pâ—â—cul diei potest DEUT. 32.29 O that they were wise that they would understand this and would consider their later end THese words are part of the last song of Moses the man of God which he sung unto the people Swan like at his being readie to leave the world Dying mens words have deepest impression let these as Moses dying words are repuire your attention yea and not as the words of Moses alone but as the words of godly Moses for v. 20 The Lord said I will hide my face from them I will see what their end will be c. and in the first verse Hearken yee heavens and I will speake and let the earth heare the voice of my mouth 2. My doctrine shall dropp as the raine and my speech shall still as the dew and the shower upon the herbes and as the great raine upon the grasse Hearken with your earthly bodies and with your heavenly soules for you have all of you part oâ— heaven within you that both soule and body as herbs watered with Aprill showers may bring forth fruit unto God that waters them and wisheth here the best things unto you wisdome and understanding to provide for your later end for all flesh is grasse and must have an end a withering as well as a growing a harvest as well as a spring happie is the soule that is so watered with grace here that hee shall reape glorie in the Lords great harvest to come This Text hath two parts the things recommended to them and the inducment or introduction therunto The wish O that The matter that they would be 1. Wise 2. Vnderstand 3. Consider their later end Here when the Lord wisheth that all men would bee saved and come to the knowledge of the truth I presume not to enter into the secret cabinet of Gods eternall counsell and election but humbly content my selfe with what hee hath revealed namely that God offereth his grace to all and would have all men to bee saved desiring not the death but the conversion of a sinner Why will yee lie O house of Israel Perditio tua ex te Now when God recommends any thing unto us we may conclude it to bee absolutely good and absolutely necessary for us and therefore the greater shall our sinne bee if wee neglect the counsell of God The matter recommended unto us is wisdome to be wise to salvation and this extends to poore as well as to rich generally to all for all have soules and all are invited to be wise to save them Doth any man want wisdome let him aske of God Iames 5. who giveth to all men liberally and repr â—â—heth no man and it shall be giveâ— unto him As there is a wiâ—domeâ—â— which meâ— in theâ— severall callings doe governe themselves and their worldly occasions so there is a wisdome whereby wee are taught to governe our soules unto eternall life And if wee were as profound in policie as Machiavillians and had all the wisdome of the learned for the managing of earthly things yet all were nothing
life separated from the joyfull presence of our glorified Saviour in whose face is perfect joy for evermore and if there were no further paine of sense in hell but this poena damni only this deprivation of God's presence that were a hell sufficient of it self wherunto there is added paines of sense fire eternall utter darknesse But withall this consideration of the Judgement which shewes such terrible things to the wicked brings the faithfull to another issue the blisse and heaven and everlasting salvation the comforts and joyes wherof it lyeth not in my power to declare nor in the heart of any man to conceive but there will bee the full fruition of what wee hope for here and an absolute deliverance from all those things which trouble or feare us here And yet I have not done one thing more this consderation of our end brings us to namely that wee must not end when we come to our end but there is an eternitie that attends us after-wards whether of life to salvation or of eternal confusion And this is a consideration of weight indeed I read of a good Christian in time of persecution who being condemned to die for his conscience his wife perswaded him to yeeld to the kings will and save his life why saith hee how long thinkest thou I may live if I should doe so shee answered twentie or thirtie yeares perhaps Alas saith hee and if it were so many thousand yeares what were that to eternitie O let us make use of this and consider sadly and seriously of this maine point that this thorâ— lifâ— of ours is but a moment whereupon eternitie depends and therefore it much concernes us all to listen to this wish of th Holy Ghost and to labour to bee wise and understand and consider our later end 26. Vpon the Turkies comming duly to their roost at night SEe how these silly fowles which at their owne libertie wander and feed abroad in Gardens Fields and Orchards all the day long and many times farre off from their usuall roosting places yet notwithstanding the company of other fowles of their owne kinde met abroad discovery of new places of better feeding and other enticements or impediments do ever towards Sunne-set draw themselves homewards before it be darke so to have time and daylight enough to flie up to their perches of roost where only they looke for safety and quiet in the night approaching This providence taught these sillie creatures by instinct of nature as it directly shames and condemnes some of us who when we are got abroad are easily drawne by ill company good-fellowship or other idle vanitie to deferre our comming home till we are not able to come home but must be led home like beasts or lie in a ditch by the way to the hazard of soule and body so it may bee a necessary remembrance usefull to us all that in all our worldly occasions of this life wee bethinke our selves of the Sun-setting with us I meane the houre of death which must as certainly come upon every one of us at one time or other as the Sun-setting closeth up every day that goes over our heads that like the sons and daughters of wisdome we may everyday remember that our last night is at hand and so provide to make our peace with God by Iesus Christ our only peace-maker whiles it is called to day that that night doe not surprise us or take us unprovided for it O mercifull Lord God strengthen my feeble soule by thy holy Spirit of grace that with the humble wings of true repentance and a lively faith J may before hand flie up into the Arke of my Saviours perfect righteousnes that whensoever that night shall come upon me I may bee found there in safetie and so received into thine everlasting peace Amen 27. Vpon the remove of houshold from one dwelling to another THe day appointed for this remoove was set downe many daies agoe and most of the stuffe packed up and made readie for carriage yet see how full of trouble and perplexitie the day it selfe is by taking leave of old friends and neighbours some things forgotten to bee done before some new interruptions falling out in the instant so that many times the carriages are benighted and fall short of getting to the new home in due time Wee are all in this world but sojourners and our home is not here but in Heaven for which wee should bee everyday so wise by preparing our selves that wee might not bee combred upon the day of our remoovall but to have them nothing to doe but to lift up our soules unto our Saviour the Lord Iesus and so depart in peace yet how contrary to this is the practice of many who leave all their busines to the very remoove-day the day of death not having so much as setled their outward estate or made their wils before wherby they grow so perplexed and distracted with thoughts of this world care of wife and children visitations of neighbours pangs and distresses of sicknes fear of death inward horrours and temptations aâ— makes their departure many times very discomfortable O most glorious Lord God I know not how sufficiently as I desire and ought to praise thy most holy name for thy great mercy towards me in this gentle visitation of sicknes which thy most gracious and tender hand hath laid upon me whereby I am taken off from all worldly cares and thoughts and have also of thine infinite goodnesse such gracious times and opportunities to prepare my selfe for my remove and change O let my soule for ever praise and magnifie thy holy name therefore And withall J most humbly beseech thee to stretch thy hand of mercy yet further upon me that as my body shall decay wherein I most humbly submit my selfe to thy blessed good will and pleasure my soule may be strengthened by thy powerfull spirit of grace and the good worke begun in me made more and more perfect that when this earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved my soule united by faith to my blessed Redeemer the Lord Iesus may bee then received of thee in peace through his precious merits and mediation who is our alone Saviour and peace-maker Amen 28. Vpon the casuall hearing of a verse in the new Testament read by a child AS I was to passe through the roome where my little grand-childe was set by her Grandmother to reade her mornings Chapter which fell out to bee the ninth of S. Matthews Gospell just as I came in shee was uttering those words in the second verse Jesus said to the sicke of the palsie sonne bee of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiven thee Which words sorting so fitly with my case whose whol left side is taken with that kinde of disease and whose soule desires nothing so much as such a gracious word from my Saviour I stood at a stand at the uttering of them and could not but conceive some joy and comfort in those blessed words
them to his dominion insomuch as he presumed to set upon the Lord Jesus God blessed for ever finding him cloathed in our flesh though to his owne utter overthrow in the combate our Saviour the second Adam becomming absolute conquerour and that for us also that doe believe in him who are thereby made partakers of his victorie In the young Cock me thinks I see the naturall and unregenerate man overladen with his owne originall corruption who endowed with many gifts of nature and helpes of good education presumes of himselfe to stand against the old cock in fight But the old murtherer who never shewes faire play but workes upon any base or villanous advantage hee can laying hold upon his naturall corruption and by help thereof gives him many a wound and is like to overcome and oppresse him through the treachery of his own flesh by the m ltitude of his sins when behold the Lord Jesus the blessed spectator of all our fights and combats and who is our only supporter and helper in them seeing the poore soule his souldier in this distresse and danger gives order by the work of his sanctifying spirit to cut off that traiterous corruption 〈◊〉 nature and by the supply of grace to renew his strength against the fiery assaults of the tempter who missing his wonted hold of corrupt flesh and finding a new influence of grace from the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which ever overcomes him wheresoever it meets him turnes the backe and flies away and so the man though but in part regenerate becomes more then conquerour through him that loved us Romans 8.37 Most blessed Saviour who seest our manifold weaknesses and the enemies great advantage over us in these spirituall combats strengthen us thy poore weaklings fighting under thy banner that by thy grace we may be enabled to stand fast and couragiously in the evill day and by the power of thy might put all temptations to flight and so finally obtaine the Crowne of victorie to thy glory and our everlasting peace Amen 31. Vpon a childes asking blessing in the morning WHiles I was busie one morning in writing my little grand child came into the roome where I was falling downe upon her knees and desired me to pray to God to blesse her and having so done knowing that I heard her she without expecting any verball answer from me out of the confidence of my fatherly love riseth up assureing her selfe of the blessing shee desired and so betaketh her selfe to the employments of the day O blessed Lord God our most gracious heavenly Father thy love is the only Fountaine of all true fatherly love and affection and the deerest love of the tenderest parent is but as a dropp from that ocean why then should not I with as much or rather much more confidence and assurance relie upon thy paternall love as the childe doth on mine Why should any doubtings interrupt my prayers when I knâ—w I put thâ—m up to so gracious a Father whose love is all infinite and unchangeable like thy selfe why should my sinnes or unworthinesse deterre me from that dutie when J know thy love and grace is free and freely bestowed out of thine owne goodnesse not for any merit of mine nay against my sinfull deservings O blessed Lord God seale up unto my conscience by thy pacifying spirit the assurance of mine adoption and strengthen mee by thy grace in all my poore prayers howsoever accompanied with humane infirmities to come unto thee with true filiall confidence and awfull reverence in the name of thine onely naturall and eternall Sonne my blessed Saviour and onely Mediator and so shall I be sure of thy Fatherly acceptance of me in him O then let my soule for ever rejoyce in this priviledge of thy children and cheerefully thankefully and constantly put my whole trust and affiance both in life and death in thine eternall and free love and mercy towards me in Christ Jesus Amen 32. Vpon one word attributed to God thrice in three verses together in one Chapter IN the last Chapter of Ionah it is said verse 6. that the Lord God prepared a Gourd verse 7. that the Lord prepared a worm vers 8 and the Lord prepared a vehement east-winde three workes of Gods omnipotent power as it were of three new creations from thence to draw a most demonstrative argument for convincing the Prophets erronious zeale and to manifest the glories of his owne infinite mercies above all his workes O most glorious Lord God did the Prophet know indeed verse 2. that thou art a gracious God and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse and should hee now bee angry because thou wert slow to anger and would he needs die of the sullens because thou wouldest not destroy one hundred and twentie thousand infants when their parents repented what strange passions are these in a Prophet had he forgotten so soone his owne case when so late before for his rebellious flying from thee and thy word he was justly even by his own confession thrownover board into the sea and yet of thine infinite mercy by a miraculous deliverance was after three daies and three nights together lying in the deep brought in life and safety to dry land againe was hee glad and thankfull then for thy mercies in sparing of one rebell and hath he now so little pitie upon so many thousand innocents O blessed Lord God how transcendent are thy thoughts Esa 558 above ours and how contrary are our wayes unto thine Thine end in this Prophets employment was for the Ninivites conversion not for their destruction And when by thy blessed summons of prevention thou didst upon their repentance save them greater was thy glory thereby and the successe more pleasing to thy Majestie then it would have beene by their impenitencie and destruction let these two examples of thy mercie upon the fugitive Prophet and the repentant Ninivites teach us to put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercies for blessed are all they that put their trust in thee Psalme 2.12 and 34.8 O Lord strengthen us by thy grace to depend upon thee and thy goodnesse both in life and death through Iesus Christ our Saviour Redeemer and Mediator Amen And againe O Lord God didst thou here immediately prepare both the refreshing Gourd and the smiting worme and fainting heat for thine owne gracious end with the Prophet and doth any matter of comfort or affliction bâ—fall any of thy â—hildren but by the hand of thine al governing providence who in thine unsearchable wisdome knowest what is best for them and in thine unchangeable mercy disposest thereof accordingly O then blessed Lord give us grace withall meeknesse to humble our selves under thy mighty hand in all the occurrents of this mortall life and in all our troubles to depend and rest upon thy mercies for that blessed issue which thou in thy boundlesse goodnesse shalt produce for thine owne glory in our finall peace and salvation Amen 33. Vpon the
great Clock in Westminster Palace THis Clock strikes foure and twentie times a day And every striking shewes one hower is past Thus houre by houre our daies do weare away And one those houres must shortly be our last But which we know not that poore sinners we In faith repentance and obedience From houre to houre by grace prepar'd may be For our last houre and happie going hence When our dear Saviour shall call us home in peace And sin death sorrow shall for ever cease 34. Home LOrd Iesu keepe my heart which by thy grace would faine keep thee excluding all beside O let thy spirit sanctifie the place and by his sacred influence still rule and guide My thoughts words actions studies and desires To heaven-ward whereto my soule aspires For thence it came I have no home but there and thitherward am travelling as I may A sojourner and wearied pilgrim here waiting my calling home from day to day Till mine appointed time of change shall come And thou dear Lord my soul shall welcome home Meane while thy grace increase my faith in thee with true repentance and obedience That these thy graces may abound in me and I may die in them when I go hence And so by grace prepar'd as I should be Sweet Saviour receive my Soule in peace to thee 35. A Dialogue betweene an old sick man and his neighbour visiting him Q. HOw do you Sir A. I praise God never better Because I never was so neere my home Q. What home mean yoâ— nature to death is debtor And old or young we all must thither come A. True deâ—th the common passage is betweene This mortall life and that which lasts for ever The body carries th' immortall soule unseene Along with it so far but their they sever The bodie dies the soule to heaven straight From whence it came and where its dwelling is And that 's the home I meane for which I waite The glorious mansions of eternall blisse Q But ere you can get thither you must die A. My body must indeed but that 's not I. Q. And should the bodies death so slighted be The king of terrour to all living things A. I slight not death Gods messenger is he And therefore welcome and good newes he brings T'uncloath me of this body that I may Be cloath'd upon with immortalitie And so brought home to dwell in heaven for ayâ— In glorious joyes and true felicitie And though death laies my bodie in the dust As if I never should behold it more Yet rise it shall and he restore it must In better plight then ere it was before The sooner I get home the better then Sweet Iesus take me home in peace Q. Amen 36. A Hymne for Christmas-day Gloria in excelsis Deo ALL glory be to God on high and peace on earth good will to men This was the Chore of Angels song at Iesus birth in Bethlehem For then the eternall sonne of God became the blessed virgins sonne God manifested in the flesh to save mankind els quite undone Come let us magnifie his name with Angels and Archangels still And sing All glory be to God and peace on earth to men good-will For by this worke of God made man both th' heavens and earth have cause of joy The heavens new glory have thereby the earth doth heavenly peace enjoy And both from Gods good will to man for loe this blessed heavenly child Hath sinfull Adam and his race redeem'd and to his Father reconcil'd Come let us magnifie his name with Angels and Archangels then And sing all glory be to God and peace on earth good will to man This babe though cradled in a cratch was yet the King of glory borne And came from heaven man to save who otherwise had beene forlorne He is our only peace on earth the conscience pacifier here He is our glory in the heavens our blessed glorifier there Come then above all creatures we should sing this Angels Antheme still All glory be to God on high and peace on earth to men good will But first from men on earth below should glory mount to God on high Then God from heaven would shower downe peace to men on earth abundantly For God being now at peace with man through Christ the Lord both God and man The heavens and earth are likewise friends as 't was when first the world began Come let us magnifie his name with Angels and Archangels then And sing All glory be to God and peace on earth good-will to men O what transcendent love was this of that great God to poore mankinde When men and Angels both were falne God tooke man up left them behinde And that man might be quit from hell and brought to heavens glorious blisse The Prince of heaven man became was ever mercy like to this Come then and let us praise his name with Angels and Archangels still And give God glory in the highest that shâ—wed to man such high good-will To thee O most Almighty Lord most holy gâ—â—â—ious Trinitie The Father Goâ—â—â—d Holy Ghost in ever blessed nâ—â—e From hearts and soules and all our powers all glory prâ—â—â—e â—â—â—nksgiving be As in beginning was is now and shall to all eternitie For Christ the Lord our Iesus borne at time prâ—fixt in Betâ—lehem Let heâ—ven and earth with all their hosts come joyne with us and say Amen A Prayer and Meditation for my wife and my selfe to joyne together she being in the 67. year of her age and I â—n the 74. of mine and both full of bodily infirmities for our daily waiting for the blessed houre of our dissolution 1 HEre at thy foot-stool blessed Lord do we â—calâ— Thy weak unworthy servants wait thy gracious Our work draws to an end and now we come to thee Whose blessed will is so declared we shall Blesse this our waiting time and by thy grace Support us joyfully to end our race 2 For thou already hast of thy good will In truth and mercy us espous'd to thee Although the mariage day must rest untill This mortall puts on immortality Meane while thou hast thy holy spirit us given To guide us all along our way to heaven 3 Whose sacred hand within the first degree Of life eternall hath already brought us â— Vniting us renewed by grace to thee Most glorious Saviour who hast deerly bought us And by this first degree assures the rest To make us finally for ever blest 4. The second step to lifes eternitie Is by deaths passage which we now attend Where laying down all our mortalitie Our soules by Angels conduct shall ascend Members of thy Church thine own espoused wife Into thy palace of eternall life 5. Where we instead of flesh that 's transitory And must be laid to sleep here in the grave Shall have new robes of everlasting glory As all our fellow members there shall have O what a blessed glorious change is this To leave this world for heavens endlesse blisse 6. And yet there rests behind a third degree When these fraile bodies rais'd from death agen Vnto eternall life rejoynd shall be Vnto our soules and glorified with them When all things shall receive their consummation Our soules and bodies both compleat salvation 7. Now whiles we wait in this our pilgrimage When our appointed time of chang shall come Lord Iesu help in this our lifes last stage And our redeemed soules bring safely home To that safe home of thine where al things bee In perfect peace and true securitie 8. For in this life such our corruptions are As hinder when we any good intend But headlong running into every snare To make us our most gracious God offend Vnder this bondage of corruption thus Lye we till thou good Lord deliver us 9. Here then with panting longings after thee Most glorious Saviour for our finall rest With sighs of hope and teares of joy do we Attend thy blessed call to make us blest Call then sweet Iesu when it shall thee please Into thy hands receive our soules in peace Amen Iob 14.14 All the daies of mine appointed time will I waite till my change shall come