into Heaven if thou tread them under thy feet For every sin and vanity trodden down Gen. 28.12 subdued and mortified is one step one scale or round of that celestial Ladder which being set upon the earth reacheth up unto Heaven which the Angels of heaven rejoyce to behold Luc. 15.7 And may the right hand of God assist me to lay aside every weight Heb. 12.1 and the sin that doth so easily beset me and to run with patience the race that is set before me Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith 2. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God Blessed Lord who hast made me after thine own Image to attain the perfection and felicity of my Being in the beatifical vision and fruition of thy Majesty in heaven vouchsafe here to guide me with thy Counsel and after that to receive me with glory through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son and my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ Our Father which art in c. The XXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 THe earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compass of the world and they that dwell therein The heavens are the Lords chief dwelling place the earth and all the nations thereof he hath given to his Son Jesus as he is Redeemer of the world as Ps 2.8 Desire of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession verse 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas and prepared it upon the flouds As God hath so wisely ordered the earth and the water that the one may refresh not overflow the other so he hath founded his Church upon a rock above the flouds of secular cares and turmoils and all the rising waves of this worlds vast sea which is signified by the scituation of his Temple on a hill And verse 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise up or stand in his holy place who is he that shall be qualified to appear and stand in the presence of God and to joyn with his people in that solemn worship which in his holy Temple is exhibited unto him Such a one is also qualified to ascend and raise up his Soul to those mountains of joy in the celestial Sion verse 4 He that hath clean hands The works of whole hands are clean from all injustice and impurity and washed with the tears of true penitence from the filth of all former pollutions And a pure heart to all outward an inward holiness is required which consists in the purity of the heart viz. to be pure from all sordid and vile affections to be sincere and without hypocrisie in all Religious performances that hath not lift up his mind to vanity who follows not those pomps and vanities of this wicked world which he once so solemnly renounced nor sworn to deceive his neighbour that will not say much less swear an untruth nor yet break his word especially when confirmed with an oath Such is the holiness and innocence that entitles a people to the presence of God in his Temple upon earth and in his House in heaven 1 the holiness of the heart 2. of the hands 3. of the tongue or Holiness in thought word and deed verse 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord The blessings of the Lord shall descend upon him when he ascends into the hill of the Lord and righteousness or mercy in the pardon of his sins or the reward of righteousness i. e. Salvation not of or from himself or from any but from the God of his Salvation verse 6 This is the generation of them that seek him these are those holy and happy people who so faithfully seek the Lord that they find him viz. in grace here in glory hereafter which is the double blessing of them that seek thy face O Jacob All that be true Israelites indeed thus make their holy and humble addresses to the God of Jacob for his grace and favour verse 7 Lift up your heads O ye gates or lift up your gates O ye Heads or Princes of the heavenly Hierusalem and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors which open the passages to life everlasting and the King of glory shall come in he who hath vanquished and gloriously triumphed over the gates of everlasting death over all the spirits and powers of darkness is ascended to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven to all Believers verse 8 Who is the King of glory in whose glorious conquests we may glory and in whose righteousness we may make our boast it is the Lord strong and mighty who although he submitted himself to be betray'd apprehended arraigned and condemned to death yet is he even the Lord mighty in battle who naked and unarmed hath vanquished by his sufferings and by his death overcome death and him who hath the power of death the Devil for which victory he rides in Triumph upon the clouds of Heaven and therefore verse 9 Lift up your heads O ye gates of the celestial paradise which have been shut against the sons of men from the fall of the first Adam and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors Raise up your selves ye immortal souls open and be enlarged in your desires and affections unto him who hath opened unto you the everlasting doors of glory and the King of glory shall come in He who is ascended will also descend into you if pure and heavenly minded and thither enwrap and raise you whither himself is gone before if yet for your further satisfaction you desire to know verse 10 Who is the King of glory by whose triumphant ascent into Heaven we believe and hope thither to ascend also It is even the Lord of hosts he who hath the command of all the powers of Heaven Earth and Hell who hath the command especially of all the powers and operations vertues and graces of the Holy Spirit of God and dispenseth them accordingly unto all that love and fear his name He is the King of glory he is glorious indeed above all and God over all blessed for ever and therefore to him as is most meet be all glory ascribed Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The LXXXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 O How amiable are thy dwellings especially in the high and holy place thou Lord of Hosts even of the numerous troops of Angels and Archangels and of all the powers of Heaven verse 2 My soul hath a desire which is more than ordinary 't is a longing even to a separation from its self to enter into the Courts of the Lord to view those several Mansions of glory and the blissful condition wherein all the Courtiers of the King of Heaven do praise him for ever my heart and my flesh when
is a thirst for God 2. even for the living God the fountain of living waters when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Oh my God when will that happy hour come wherein I shall be fatisfied with thy presence wherein I shall praise thee according to my duty and desire wherein thou wilt be all in all to my Soul When I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it till then I must not hope to enjoy any real solid contentment For Whom have I in heaven but thee Ps 73.24 and there is none upon earth that I defire in comparison of thee There is none in heaven or earth that can satisfie the desires of my Soul which being stampt after the image of God and capable of her Creator cannot be filled with the greatest sufficiency of all created Beings My heart and my flesh faileth 25. my flesh will soon wither and fail to be the habit tion of my Soul and my heart will be also swallowed up of sorrow and despair but that God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever II. O God Psal 63.1 thou art my God my God and my All all that I am and all that I have and all that I hope to be and therefore early will I seek thee in the morning of the day in the morning of my life in the morning or light of divine Grace for 't is thereby I am excited both early and late to seek thee My Soul thirsteth for thee 2 my flesh also longeth after thee my flesh that being in subjection to the Spirit both Soul and Body may rejoyce in thee in whom alone true joy and satisfaction is attainable for I am here in a barren and dry land where no water is such is the wilderness of this world it affords no waters of refreshment to satisfie the desires of the immortal Soul Thus have I waited for thee in holiness 3 And O that I could wait for thee and wait upon thee with such separate affections from all sensuality and earthiness that I might behold thy power which is chiefly manifested in shewing mercy and pity and thy glory even the Glory of thy Grace and Favour For thy loving kindness is better than the life it self 4 without thy loving kindness O my God my life of nature is but a living death and my life of Grace with the hopes of the life of Glory are but the glimpses and scattered raies of thy loving kindness and therefore my lips shall praise thee and this also is an effect of thy loving kindness that my heart dictates to my lips to praise thy Name Blessed is the people Ps 89.16 O Lord that can rejoyce in thee they shall walk in the light of thy Countenance Their delight shall be daily in thy Name 17 and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast For thou art the glory of their strength 18 and in thy loving kindness thou shalt lift up our horns For the Lord is our defence 19. the holy one of Israel is our King Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and world without end and let all the people say Amen even so Amen Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. MEDITATIONS Of Fasting and Almsgiving to be practised with holy Prayer and Meditation THat my Prayers and Meditations may ascend into Heaven and be there treasur'd up to my comfort in the day of my account 't is necessary that the Christian duties of Fasting and Almsgiving be frequently intermixed for these are the Two Wings whereupon Holy Prayer is mounted into Heaven and graciously accepted in the presence of God These Three are those spiritual Sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 whereby every sincerely devout Christian as a member of the holy mystical Priesthood sacrificeth all that he is and all that he has unto God from whom he hath received all Heb. 13.15.16 Ro. 12.1 Phil. 4.18 His Soul is poured forth by Prayer his Body is sacrificed by Fasting and his Goods are offered by Almsgiving We have no more to give and not in some considerable proportion to give them unto God is to rob him of that tribute which is due unto him as an acknowledgment that all we are and all we do possess is held from him in Capite as the chief Lord of all To pretend that all these Christian duties are implied and may be supplied through the fulness of Faith in Christ is a false and mistaken notion of the holy and true Christian Faith which both Commends and Commands not the aiery empty notions but the real performance of all these Religious duties Our blessed Lord in his heavenly Sermon on the Mount joyns these together and we may not without danger to our Souls presume to part them or vainly conceive that any one without the other will be accepted of God but being all sincerely practised as our Lord directs Mat. 6.1 5.16 we shall then as he Commands lay up for our selves treasure in Heaven where are neither moth nor rust ver 20. Thus devout Cornelius sent up such a plentiful treasure into Heaven Act. 10.2 3. v. 30. as brought down thence one of those Celestial Spirits for his guidance and direction in the ways of life Holy Prayer is that whip which drives the Devil and all his Temptations out of the Temple of the heart leaving it to the possession of the Holy Jesus and Fasting is as that Scope or Besom which sweeps and keeps clean this spiritual Temple of the Lord Mar. 9.29 by both conjoyned the strongest Devil is master'd and ejected Prayer is as the Chain which tyes up Satan and by Fasting the Chain is strengthned and made to hold But a Three-fold Cord is not easily broken if with your Prayers and Fastings you conjoyn the Christian acts of holy Charity also a Chain of these several links composed will not only tye up the Devil that his temptations shall not reach to hurt your Soul but also secretly bind the hands of the Almighty that they be not stretched out for the punishment of your by-past Transgressions for Charity shall cover a multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4.8 Let not the lust of the flesh or the lust of thine eyes so bewitch thee O my Soul as to rob thy God of what is due unto Him both from thy Body and Estate Whilst thou courtest thy God with Prayers alone thou servest him with what doth cost thee nothing nothing but the labour of thy lips 'T is my self my whole self the Lord requires with my Prayers my Soul in its devoutest affections my Body in the mortification of all its exorbitant Lusts my Goods in the relief of my wanting Brethren otherwise my Prayers will flag and grovel here below when they want these spiritual Wings whereupon to mount to the Throne of Grace to find
temptation he is defective in some exterior acts of obedience 6. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of thy righteous judgments Davine Praise is to be celebrated night and day and our failings of divine Worship in the day may be supplied in the night 7. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and keep thy Commandments The society of holy men is both a great comfort and a great furtherance in the way of godliness 8. The Earth O Lord is full of thy mercy O teach me thy Statutes Gods common blessings are extended unto all but his special favours are reserved for them that keep his Commandments Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer WHat ever my part or portion be upon earth be thou my portion O Lord and the lot of mine inheritance Preserve me in the Unity of the Holy Catholick Church and in the Communion of Saints to the hopes of eternal glory through Jesus Christ The Ninth Part. Verses 1. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy Word Gods gracious promises do move him to be merciful in his dealings with us far beyond our merits 2. O learn me true understanding and knowledge for I have believed thy Commandments In the mysteries of godliness what we cannot believe by Understanding we must understand by Believing 3. Before I was troubled I went wrong but now have I kept thy Word The rod of affliction and good discipline keeps the Soul in humility and obedience 4. Thou art good and gracious O teach me thy Statutes Even in adversity God is no less gracious than in prosperity 5. The proud have imagined a lye against me but I will keep thy Commandments with my whole heart Though the Devil and his instruments invent and suggest lyes to subvert the truth yet by a sincere obedience they are discovered and rejected 6. Their heart is as fat as brawn but my delight hath been in thy Law Through pride and luxury the heart of the wicked is fatted with delight but humility and obedience is the joy of the righteous Soul 7. It is good for me that I have been in trouble that I may learn thy Statutes Temptations and troubles yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby 8. The Law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver Grace excells gold as much as heaven excells earth or the soul the body Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer THou art good and gracious O Lord even in the chastisements of thy servant Let both thy favours and thy frowns be sanctified unto me and all the temptations of my ghostly enemies make me cleave more stedfastly in my obedience to thy most holy Lawes esteeming thy Commandments far above all earthly treasures as being the way to those never-failing treasures of Celestial glory through Jesus Christ The Tenth Part. Verses 1. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me O give me Vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandments To know God and obey his Laws is the End of our Creation after the Image of God and the perfection of our Being is thereby attained 2. They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me because I have put my trust in thy Word Examples of piety rejoyce the hearts of them that truly fear God 3. I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled 'T is most righteous and just that they who fall from God by pride and disobedience be first humbled by afflictions before they be restored to his grace and favour 4. O let thy loving kindness be my comfort according to thy Word unto thy servant Let this be my comfort in all my troubles that they are sent according to thy Word in mercy to humble not in fury to consume and destroy me 5. O let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy Law is my delight Both the life of grace and glory are the issue of God's loving mercy and the soul is qualified for this mercy by love and delight in the Lawes of God 6. Let the proud be confounded for they go wickedly about to destroy me but I will be occupied in thy Commandments A constant regular obedience to God's Commandments confounds all the machinations of the devil and all his instruments 7. Let such as fear Thee and have known thy Testimonies be turned unto me Wherein the Prayers and example of the godly are both strength and consolation 8. O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed The sincerity of the heart in the performance of Religious duties will preserve us from that confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites The Prayer THat I may attain that perfection and felicity whereunto thou hast created me O Lord I humbly beg the spirit of wisdom and understanding both to know and in all things to obey thy most holy will In all my Humiliations for my sins and temptations of the devil let thy loving mercies support me the prayers and examples of thy Saints and Servants assist me O let my heart be sincere and sound in thy service that I may escape that everlasting confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites and my lot may be with thy faithful servants for ever to sing Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c Our Father which art c. CHAP. III. Of Meditations for the Sixth hour of Prayer or twelve a Clock AT Evening and Morning and at Noonday will I pray So resolved holy David Ps 55.18 Dan. 6.10 and so prayed holy Daniel and at this hour prayed S. Peter also a Act. 10.9 And shall not such eminent examples move thee also at this hour to converse with heaven especially remembring I The arrow that flyeth by day and the destruction that wasteth at the noon-day Ps 91.5 6. The Arrows of Temptation fly thick about us and the devil as a roaring Lyon continually goeth about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Fly then to the God of thy refuge upon the sacred wings of devout Prayers and holy Meditations Call to mind II. That 't was at this hour our first Parents for their Pride and disobedience were driven out of Paradise and let this consideration humble thy Soul at this Hour under the mighty hand of God that he may draw thee out of that mass of corruption wherein with the rest of mankind thou art originally involved and exalt thee to the hopes of admittance into the celestial Paradise which being lost by the disobedience of the First Adam was regained by the obedience of the Second Adam who III. As at this hour of the day was listed up on the Cross as was the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness Luk. 23.44
are wonderful therefore doth my Soul keep them The wonderful depth of Wisdom admirable equity and purity of the divine revelations engage all men to observe them 2. When thy word goeth forth it giveth light and understanding to the simple The word of God explained dispels the darkness of ignorance error and sinfulness 3. I opened my mouth and drew in my breath for my delight was in thy Commandments The revelation of divine Truths are the longing and delight of the righteous for the which they pour forth their souls in ardent prayers 4. O look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name And such persons may with a holy confidence beg and also reasonably hope for the mercy and propitious favour of God 5. Order my steps in thy Word and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me Temptations to evil shall not prevail where the steps or affections of the soul are regulated by the laws of God 6. O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men and so shall I keep thy Commandments The injuries of men must not cause us to disobey the Laws of God 7. Shew the light of thy Countenance upon thy servant and teach me thy Statutes 'T is the light of divine grace that teacheth both the knowledge and obedience of Gods holy Will and Commandments 8. Mine eyes gush out with water because men keep not thy Law Not only our own sins but the transgressions of others also are to be lamented Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer LOok upon me O Lord with the eyes of Grace and Mercy and not in the rigor of justice Let not the wrongful dealings of others or any wickedness of mine own get so much dominion over me as that I swerve from those steps which Thou hast commanded me to observe and follow from the which I cannot fall whilest the light of thy Countenance shines upon me and that mercy is extended unto me which thou shewest unto them that love thy Name through Jesus Christ The Eighteenth Part. Verses 1. Righteous art thou O Lord and true is thy Judgment 2. The Testimonies that thou hast commanded are exceeding righteous and true God's Commandments are called his Judgments because they are the Rule by which he will pass judgment upon all And he is most just both in his Laws and in his judgments according thereunto 3. My zeal hath even consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy Words Great therefore is the zeal of the righteous against all transgressors of such just and holy Laws whom he esteems his enemies because the enemies of truth and justice 4. Thy Word is tried to the uttermost and thy servant loveth it But his heart is inflamed with the love of God's Word the truth and equity whereof hath appeared upon trial at all times 5. I am small and of no reputation yet do I not forget thy Commandments The most strictly conscientious persons do in all Humility acknowledge themselves to be the meanest of his servants 6. Thy Righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy Law is the Truth Obedience to the Law of God is truth everlasting or the true way to everlasting blessedness 7. Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me yet is my delight in thy Commandments No troubles whether outward or inward can rob the righteous of that delight which is the issue of their obedience 8. The righteousness of thy Testimonies is everlasting O grant me understanding and I shall live The practical understanding of those holy truths God hath testified or revealed is that righteousness which is immortal Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer MOst Righteous Lord God give me a right Understanding of thy revealed Will as the path that leads to everlasting Righteousness inflame my soul with an ardent love and delight in thy Laws and with a discreet zeal against all the transgressors thereof let a very humble and mean esteem of my self be the foundation of all my righteousness lest it evaporate into vain-glory and lose its reward which thou hast promised through Jesus Christ The Nineteenth Part. Verses 1. I call with my whole heart Hear me O Lord I will keep thy Statutes So prayeth the devout Soul for Grace and obedience not only with the lips but with the whole heart 2. Yea even upon Thee do I call help me and I will keep thy Commandments The discipline of the Law and the devout use of Prayer do support each other the Law commands the use of Prayer and Prayer obtaineth grace to keep the Law 3. Early in the Morning do I cry unto thee for in thy Word is my trust An holy confidence of Gods promises in his Word prefers the duty of Prayer before all other actions or concerns 4. Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I may be occupied in thy Words Holy Meditations and Prayers are both night and day early and late the employment of the Righteous 5. Hear my voice O Lord according to thy loving kindness quicken me according as thou art wont Whom God will vouchsafe to hear and quicken their zeal and holy endeavours whilst they beg it upon the account of God's loving kindness not for their demerits 6. They draw nigh that of malice persecute me and are far from thy Law Our ghostly enemies are ever at hand to disturb our holy resolutions and devotions in opposition to God's Commands 7. Be thou nigh at hand for all thy Commandments are true To disappoint their assaults God's assisting presence is to be implor'd who will not be wanting to his own Truth 8. As concerning thy Testimonies I have known long since that thou hast grounded them for ever The foundation of which Truth which is the Word of God is from everlasting and the true way to that blessedness that shall last for ever Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer NIght and day will I call upon Thee O Lord and that not from the rind of my lips only but from the root of my heart beseeching Thee to be ever nigh at hand to disappoint the subtle practices of the Devil and his Angels who are ever at hand to entrap me in the paths of thy most holy Laws which from everlasting do lead to life everlasting through Jesus Christ The Twentieth Part. Verses 1. O consider mine adversity and deliver me for I do not forget thy Law That we may be delivered from the temptations of our spiritual adversaries we must be mindful both of the precepts and promises of God's Word 2. Avenge thou my cause and deliver me quicken me according to thy Word According to these promises we must pray to have the cause of our contest with the Devil to be vindicated and our endeavours to resist him to be quickned 3. Health is far from the
ungodly for they regard not thy Statutes These endeavours for the health of the Soul are not regarded by such persons as have not God in their thoughts and desires 4. Great is thy mercy O Lord quicken me as thou art wont But the righteous are frequently sensible of God's mercy in quickning them unto their duty And 5. Many there are that trouble me and persecute me yet do I not swerve from thy Testimonies Even in the greatest and most troublesome temptations of their numerous adversaries continue firm and upright in their innocence and obedience 6. It grieveth me when I see the transgressors because they keep not thy Law And are grieved also to see others in the time of temptation to fall away 7. Consider O Lord how I love thy Commandments O quicken me according to thy loving kindness And this their love of obedience unto God moves him the more to quicke and increase their zeal therein 8. Thy Word is true from everlasting all the judgments of thy righteousness endure for evermore All the acts both of Gods mercy and judgment are according to the equitie of his precepts most righteous and immutable Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer COnsider O Lord how adverse to my holy resolves are the continual temptations of my ghostly enemies and withal remember the love I have to thy Law and zeal to thine Honour and deliver me from the one and quicken me in the other that I neither swerve from thy Testimonies or be dull and dead-hearted in my obedience thereunto Give me a heart to lament both my own and the transgressions of others that I may escape that bitter weeping and wailing of the nether hell from the which good Lord deliver me through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ The One and Twentieth Part. Verses 1. Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word Stand in awe and sin not whatever persecutions may arise from any of the powers either of earth or hell 2. I am as glad of thy Word as one that findeth great spoyls The spoils of our ghostly enemies are taken through delight in God's Word 3. As for lies I hate and abhor them but thy Law do I love The love of the Truth and hatred of all falshood whether in opinion or conversation are the inseparable qualifications of a righteous Soul 4. Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of thy righteous judgment The righteousness of God's Laws and of all his judgments according thereunto excite the devout Soul to praise him continually 5. Great is the peace they have who love thy Law and they are not offended at it The fruit of Righteousness is Peace which cannot be disturbed by whatever may befal for Truth and Righteousness sake 6. Lord I have looked for thy saving health and done after thy Commandments He hopes for salvation in vain who lives not in obedience of Gods most holy Laws 7. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and loved them exceedingly 'T is zealous affections to do whatever God Commands which product a sincere and constant obedience thereunto 8. I have kept thy Commandments and thy Testimonies for all my ways are before Thee Both holy affections and holy actions do flow from the serious consideration of Gods omnipresence Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer MOst blessed Lord before whom are all the ways of men let this consideration make me sincere and upright both in all the affections of my heart and the actions of my life standing more in awe of sinning against Thee than to incur the greatest of troubles from all the Princes and Powers of darkness And grant unto thy servant that peace which is the fruit of righteousness even peace and saving health through Jesus Christ The Two and Twentieth Part. Verses 1. Let my complaint come before Thee O Lord give me understanding according to thy Word A right understanding of what God commands and promises in his Word is continually to be beg'd by Prayer 2. Let my supplication come before Thee deliver me according to thy Word As also to be delivered from all ignorance and error whether in opinion or conversation 3. My lips shall speak of thy praise when thou hast taught me thy Statutes As the praises of God do best become the obedient and wise so they misbeseem the lips of sinners 4. Yea my tongue shall sing of thy Word for all thy Commandments are righteous The equity of Gods Law is the exultation of all holy men and the constant burden of divine Songs 5. Let thine hand help me for I have chosen thy Commandments To obey God's Will by the assistance of his Grace is the choice of every wise man 6. I have longed for thy saving health O Lord and in thy Law is my delight He that loves his Souls health and longs for it will also love and delight in the Commandments of God as the way thereunto 7. O let my Soul live and it shall praise Thee and thy judgments shall help me God is praised by the life of grace and obedience and such shall be supported by his righteous judgments 8. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant for I do not forget thy Commandments Though the best men do sometimes err from the sacred paths of God's Commandments yet they are not withal unmindful of that obedience they owe thereunto The Prayer BLessed Jesu who camest into the world to seek and save that which was lost vouchsafe to seek and save me too often wandring like a lost sheep in the by and too much beaten paths of vanity and iniquity Bring me home into thy fold who art the great shepherd and Bishop of our Souls that being saved with the remnant of the true Israelites I may sing thy Praises with the celestial quire of holy Angels and Saints for ever saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Our Father which art in heaven c. CHAP. V. Of Meditations for the Evening THe light of Nature dictates an Evening and a Morning Sacrifice due unto God not only Jews and Christians but Heathens and Turks all men of all perswasions observe it The holy Patriarch Isaac applied himself to holy Meditations in the Evening a Gen. 24.63 At this time prayed holy David also b Ps 55.18 141 2. And so did the Son of David our blessed Lord himself c Luk. 6.12 And he commands us to do so also both by precept d Mar. 13.35 and by that Parable of the labourers sent out into the vineyard by the Lord thereof as at other times so at the last hour of the day and these were as well paid as the former Despair not then O my Soul of the forgiveness of thy sin if thou dost truly repent though it be in
Glory if I go down to hell thou art there also in the nether hell by the execution of thy righteous judgments and in the grave also for that very dust whereinto the dead bodies of men are dissolved is preserved from annihilation by thy essential presence therewithal verse 8 If I take the wings of the morning which even in a moment overspreads and embeams the face of the whole earth and be conveyed as swift as lightning to remain in the utmost parts of the Sea beyond all the habitable parts of this inferior world verse 9 Even there thine hand of powerful influence shall lead me I should not otherwise live and move and have a being And thy right hand which renders to every man according to his works shall hold me to give an account of all my wayes and doings I will not therefore assay to fly from thee though justly displeased for my sins but rather upon the wings of true Repentance I will fly unto thee even into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy through the merits of my dearest Saviour verse 10 If I say through the deceitful imaginations of my darkned heart surely the darkness which hideth all things from the sight of men shall cover me from the sight of God also I shall soon be convinced of the folly of such a gross conceit for then shall my night the most secret of my thoughts and closest deeds of darkness be turned unto day be as clearly seen as in the noon day Sun verse 11 Yea the darkness that which is such to us is no darkness with thee the darkness and light to thee are both alike who seest all things in the brightness of thine own transcendent Essence without the mediation of material light verse 12 For my reins are thine my innate and most secret lusts and pronenesses to evil escape not thy scrutiny and view Thou hast covered me in my mothers womb by the influence of thy Power and Providence I was in the materials of my being preserved from abortion verse 13 I will give thanks unto thee as for my being so also that I am fearfully and wonderfully made my Formation in my mothers womb being a prodigious piece of workmanship and indeed marvellous are all thy works both of Creation Preservation verse 14 My bones though hid from the eyes of men under the covering of flesh and skin are not hid from thee for they are framed by thee though I be made secretly both invisible and inconceivable is the way of my Formation and fashioned like some curious Embroidery or Net-work through the variety of my spreading Veins Arteries Sinews Ligaments beneath in the earth or in my mothers womb than the which the earth affords not a more secret shop or work-house verse 15 Thine eyes of Prescience Power and Providence did see my substance yet being unperfect decree me to be a living man when I was yet but an unshapen Embryo and in thy Book were all my members written every joynt sinew vein were delineated as in a Book by thy hand of power goodness and wisdom verse 16 Which day by day were fashioned grew up by degrees into a perfect shape and proportion of parts when as yet a little space before there was none of them they did not exist in nature or were no other than a deformed Lump of unclean Seed verse 17 How dear and precious yea mysterious and profound are thy counsels unto me O God when I consider with what an unfathomed depth of wisdom mercy and justice thou dost order all things in heaven and earth O how great is the sum of them the number variety use and beauty of them cannot be sum'd up verse 18 If I tell them I undertake an impossible task for they are more in number than the sand upon the Sea shore which cannot be numbred and therefore when I awake up I am present with thee in contemplation of thy marvellous works and of thy good providence over me both sleeping and waking verse 19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked O God who forget thee and the wondrous works which thou hast done Depart from me ye blood-thirsty men I will not communicate with you in your sinful desires and doings which tend to the murder and everlasting destruction of immortal Souls verse 20 For they speak unrighteously against thee If they speak of thee O Lord 't is nor aright and as becometh the honour of thy Name And thine enemies take thy Name in vain And therefore they are thine enemies because thy Name which is great wonderful and holy is profaned by them verse 21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee I should not otherwise love thee O Lord did I not hate all them not in their persons but in their sinful actions whereby they are hateful and offensive to thy Majesty And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee Their rebellion and disobedience is a great grief and a wound unto my spirit verse 22 Yea I hate them right sore as though they were mine enemies even because they are thine enemies through the iniquity of their doings And herin verse 23 Try me O God as the silver is tryed when the dross is purged thence that I may both love mine enemies as they are mine but hate them as thine and seek out the ground of my heart purge out that Core of corruption from whence all unlawful love and hatred issues Prove me and examine my thoughts Purifie my Soul in all her imaginations affections and intentions that no dregs of sinful pollution cleave thereunto verse 24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me Assist me by thy all-seeing Spirit to look into mine heart and diligently to search and try my ways lest in any respect I swerve from thy most holy Laws And lead me in the way everlasting the way that leads to the full enjoyment of thee my God the fountain of everlasting Life and Happiness that without distraction or cessation I may ascribe Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. CHAP. VIII Of Meditations fitted to every Dayes ordinary Actions and several Dispositions of the Soul of men When you go forth out of your House or Chamber Say THe Lord preserve my going out and my coming in Ps 121.8 from this time forth for evermone He shall give his Angels charge over thee Ps 91.11 to keep thee in all thy wayes In their hands they shall bear thee 12. lest at any time thou hurt thy foot against a stone O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Ps 17.5 Hold thou up my goings in thy paths that I may dayly perform my Vows Lead me forth in thy Truth Ps 25.4 and learn me for Thou art the God of my Salvation in Thee hath been my hope all the day long As you walk or travel by the way I am the Way Joh. 14.6 the Truth and
the wilderness of this world to their native home of Heaven shall be received into and rejoyce in their proper and peculiar mansions of peace each differing indeed in the degrees of glory according to their difference in the degrees of grace but all shall enjoy their full proportion of happiness and with common joy shall sing together perpetual Hallelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Rev. 5.13 Happy and for ever happy were I if with a floud of Tears and incessant Prayers if with the devout surrender of all that I am all that I have to the service of God I might be admitted into this celestial Society Heb. 12.22 23 24. To come unto Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Hierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels To the general assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant All this I believe as a Christian but my Hope to be admitted into this blessed Society is too weakly grounded and this because my Charity both towards God and his Saints is too cold and benum'd I do profess to love God and do desire that my heart may be every day more and more inflamed with the same fire of his love but doubtless I must have withal a due regard and veneration for his Saints for as God is praised in his Saints so is he dishonoured in their disrespect Ps 150.1 Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye If the zeal of some persons towards the Saints in Heaven exceed its due bounds and limits I must not therefore throw off that devout respect which is due unto them remembring that 't is the end of my Faith the sum of my Hope to be by divine Charity joyned with them in the same mystical body of Christ our common Lord and Redeemer and with them to love and to praise the Lord yea to praise and love him for ever which is the happiness of the Saints in Heaven Ps 84.4 for blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will always be praising thee But I am unworthy too much unworthy sinful dust and ashes to make one in this heavenly quire But I will not despair since my dear Redeemer hath 1. purchased this happiness for me a Heb. 9.12 15 24. since 2. he hath promised to receive me thereinto b Joh. 14.3 and 3. he hath prayed also for my actual possession thereof saying Father I will Joh. 17.24 that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold the glory which thou hast given me O sweetest Saviour who to save and redeem man vouchsafedst to be made man and to appear in the likeness of sinful flesh O when when will that happy hour come wherein I shall be admitted to behold thy blessed Face which the Angels in Heaven behold with joy and wonder When I shall awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it Ps 17.16 satisfied to the greatest height and fulness of content when I shall behold that glory thou hadst with the Father before the world was Joh. 17.5 even so come Lord Jesus come quickly MEDITAT IV. Of the perpetuity of Heavenly joyes THe most full enjoyment of all the good things this world affords is not to be called or accounted Happiness because they are not only vain and empty of true satisfaction but also not permanent and lasting To every purpose under the Sun tending towards satisfaction and happiness there is time and judgment Eccl. 8.6 a Time limited for its prosecution and enjoyment and Judgment also shall pass upon the actions relating thereunto it must needs follow therefore the misery of man is great upon him But the good things of Heaven are durable permanent and lasting hereunto shall no Time succeed no Judgment follow The Glory of them that dye in Grace is Immortal Eusmirierâ— their Happiness Immutable their Crown immarcessible their Life everlasting and their Raign with God and the Lamb for ever and ever No day does pass with these blessed Souls without its fulness of joy and content This joy shall be ever new and yet ever the same This glory shall never wither or decay but flourish for perpetual eternities And this must needs be joy because celestial joy consists as in the blissful vision of God so in an assimilation to him for just men made perfect are immutable in their perfection and felicity by beholding him who is unchangeable so the Apostle We all as in a Glass beholding the Glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Moon and the Stars receive their light from the Sun and become like unto him by being opposite and in a sort beholding the Suns bright face So the pure Souls in Heaven by seeing God who is the Light of lights are from him enlightened and made like unto him So saith the beloved Apostle Beloved now are we the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3.2 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be made like him for we shall see him as he is And that is not as now in a glass darkly 1 Cor. 13.12 but face to face i.e. as fully as our measure will contain our proportion bear and our degree in Grace require That the inheritance of Heaven is for ever is manifest from the dearness of its purchase it cost no less than the precious blood of the Son of God how then shall that life of Glory ever fail or fade away since the Lord of life himself vouchsafed to dye for its acquisition and purchase The joyes of Heaven saith Gran. Gra. medit shall continue as many Millions of years as there are Stars in the Firmament and many more They shall last as many hundred millions of years as there have been drops of Rain faln from Heaven since the beginning of the world and more much more In a word they shall endure as long as there is a God in Heaven and this God the same which was which is and which is to come from everlasting to everlasting Shall not then my heart be fixed where such lasting joyes are to be found And thither my heart must first be sent by way of Harbinger before my person can arrive there I must now have my conversation in Heaven before I can have my consummation there I must now be heavenly minded or else never hope to be admitted into the joys of Heaven But O the heavy burden of my sins These do depress and weigh down the mind and make her affections grovel in the dust And yet even these shall not hinder thy ascent