so long as we are willing to see it and leave it Job 15.13 6 The serious meditation on God's Wisdom will be an effectual means to quiet our spirits in and under all cross-providences confusions and commotions that we see and meet with in the World considering he hath a hand in all and knoweth how to order and dispose of all to his own glory and the best good of his chosen Rom. 8.28 Isai 30.6 7 The serious meditation of his Infinite Holiness that he is glorious in holiness Exod. 15. will be a meanâ—â— to keep us from giving way to any unholiness in heart or life considering he is of purer eyes that to behold iniquity with the least approbation Hab. 1.13 and hates all the workers of iniquity Psal 5 8 The serious meditation of his Truth and faithfulness will be a means to keep us from doubting and distrusting what he hath spoken iâ— his Word considering he is faithful that hath saiâ— it and will do iâ— 1 Thes 5.23 He never spakâ— any thing with his Mouth which he hath not fulâ—filled with his Hand Josh 23.14.5 1 King 8 2â— 9 The serious meditation of his Loving-kindness that will be a means to patient your spiriâ— under the want of love from the Creature thâ— changeableness of their love considering whoâ— God loves he loves to the end John 13.1 eveâ— with an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 as it did Dâ—vid Psal 26 3. and Psal 48.9 10 The serious meditation of the infinite goodness of God will quicken you to look up for all that good 〈◊〉 hath purposed and promised and you stand 〈◊〉 need of for you and yours considering he is god to all especially to his There 's no end of 〈◊〉 goodness to them Psal 31.19 How great 〈◊〉 that goodness thou hast laid up for them that sâ—â— thee 11 The serious meditation on his Impâ—â—tial Justice will make you fear to offend him 〈◊〉 any thing the least considering he never diâ— will or can connive at any sin no not in his owâ— Amos 3.2 you only have I known I will sureâ—â— punish you c. Nay he would not spare it 〈◊〉 his own Son that knew no sin yet if He will taâ—â— our sins on him he would make him feel the fierceness of his wrath Lament 1.12 Lastly The serious consideration of his infinite Mercy will make you look up to him for mercy when you can finde none from the Creature considering his Mercy is over all his Works especially the Vessels of Mercy he delights to shew mercy to them Micah 7. end And his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting unto them Ps 103. and therefore to be much in meditation on those And that further for these three Reasons 1. Because for Men to profess God and not to give him the glory of his Attributes not to let them have authority and influence on their hearts â—nd lives is no other than religious Atheism it â—s to deny God for he were no God if not such 〈◊〉 God as he hath reveal'd himself in his Word and Works Titus 1. last They profess they know God but in works they deny him c. And how many of those religious Atheists have there been in those evil days that are past and still are to be found amongst Professors who will speak much of God and more than others of his Attributes Word and Works and yet their Conversation is 〈◊〉 contradiction to their profession pretend the â—â—ory of God but seek their own honour the publick good but intend their own promotion â—â—at they unfeignedly love others when they can â—ll the while undermine the credit and comfort of such as differ from them in any Opinion yea â—nd perswade others to disaffect them that they â—ay the more affect them Take heed of this reliâ—â—ous Atheism God will certainly vindicate his â—â—ory from all such as rob him of the glory of his â—ttributes 2. Therefore to be much and often in meditation on the glorious Attributes of God because there is great Authority Efficacy and Influence in them to restrain from sinning and quicken 〈◊〉 well-doing and support us under sufferings 〈◊〉 you saw in the forenam'd Example And this 〈◊〉 certain you will never evidence a work of grace or make any progress in it unless you suffer the Attributes of God to have authority upon you hearts and ways 3. Therefore to be much and often in the senâ—â—ous meditation of them because this will maâ—â— your Faces to shine like Moses when you comâ— down from the Mount of Meditation and tranâ—form you more and more into the Image of God from glory to glory 2 Cor. 13. last 5ly To meditate on what Evidences you have an interest in the sweet and comfort of these Aâ—tributes because without this you cannot maâ—â— a particular application of them or reap any bâ—nefit or comfort by them Q You will say then How may we know whethâ—â— we have an interest in them Ans Briefly thus Search and see whether Gâ—â— be your God for naturally all men come into 〈◊〉 World without God Eph. 2.12 If God be 〈◊〉 your God God in Covenant then all these Aâ—tributes of God are against you and not for yoâ— but if God be your God in Covenant all his Aâ—tributes are yours his wisdom to direct you 〈◊〉 Power to protect you his Truth and Faithfulnâ—â—â— to be your Shield and Buckler his Mercy 〈◊〉 Goodness to follow you per all your days and 〈◊〉 that is His is yours to comfort you here at Crown you hereafter 1 Cor. 3. last Rom. 2.7 8. Q But how shall we know God is our God in Covenant Ans 1 See if Christ be yours then God is yours 1 Cor. 3. last 2 If you be God-like like to Him in his nature and in your lives desire and endeavour to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 3 If you be such as hearken unto and obey the Call of God out of evil Company separate your selves from communion with sin and sinners 2 Cor. 6. two last 4 If you be such as do not rest in and content your selves with any degree or measure of godliness but labour still after more and more 2 Cor. 7.1 1 John 3.2 Math. 5. last By these to name no more you may know whether God be your God and if so then all his Attributes are yours to meditate on them and make application of them for your supportation and consolation Amen 3. Meditate on the Word of God and first on the Word in general and then the Covenant of Grace in particular 1. On the Word of God in general and in and about the Word to meditate on the transcendent Excellency of it the excellent properties of it the Precepts Promises Threatnings and Examples in it 1. On the transcendent Excellency of it Consider that it is no other than an Epistle of the great God written from Heaven indited by his Spirit conveyed by his Son unto his Church and witnessed sealed by
affected with what we hear or read out of the Word Deutr. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and it cannot be in the heart if we do not meditate on it Thirdly Without meditation it will not stay or abide on the heart it is meditation that keeps it and fastens it and makes it like letters Engraven on Gold and Marble to abide long Fourthly Because Not to meditate on the Word is to offer contempt to the Word as a Man doth to that Person and thing which he never regards to mind and think on and Prov. 13 13. He that despiseth the Word shall be destroyed Fifthly Because without meditation when Men come to lie on their sick and Death-beds their Eyes will be opened to see and bewail their folly for a Man to walk in a way and never consider where he is going and what mischief may befall him in it How will he befool himself How will he wish he had hearkned to God's counsels Deut. 32. Oh that men were wise understood this consider their latter end Many have lamented when it was too late let us take warning by others harming Prov. 5.12 13. 1. It is an Angelical service the only and the chief Service that we know of that the Angels are exercised in sc the meditation of God's glorious excellencies will and ways and works and therefore if we would attain to the Height of Angels it must be by Meditation Dr. Holdsworth on Psal 119.48 2dly A second motive is the transcendent Excellency of this duty First It is a duty most pleasing and acceptable unto God above all other duties above all Ear-service Tongue-service and Hand-service if there be not Head and Heart-service he abhors all Isaiah 29.13 But now meditation that makes all acceptable whatsoever defects and failings there be in the rest the reasons are First Because meditation comes immediately from the heart which is that God principally looks to and delights in Secondly Because the secresie of it is accompanied with more humility and sincerity which are the graces God so much prizeth Thirdly Because it is a duty ordinarily more full of spiritualness and heavenliness than other duties are Fourthly The excellency of it appears in that nothing is able to hinder us from it no Time nor Tyrant though they may from speaking and acting yet not from meditating and thinking on God and the things of God the mind of the greatest Slave is still free to think on what he will Fifthly It is that which will transform us more into the Image of God from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. ult As a Pearl by the frequent beating of the Sun-beams upon it becomes more lightsome and radiant like the Sun so Meditation not only makes the faces of Christians to shine but their lives in the Eys of all God Angels and Men good and bad Sixthly In that it is an Anticipation of glory a perspective to shew us the glory of Heaven Jacob's Ladder to carry us up to Heaven a taking possession of Heaven in our minds before we come there in our bodies by this we may with Stephen see Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive us and with Moses talk with God face to face and with the Apostle be rapt up to Heaven and see that happiness we are loath to leave and cannot utter what it is 2 Cor. 12. The Third Motive is the great Utility of this duty no duty more profitable for Humiliation Consolation Edification and Salvation First For Humiliation Meditation makes men look into and seriously consider the lives of their ways the multitude and greatness of their sins the Circumstances that do aggravate them the sad fruits and effects of them and so humble themselves the more thorowly under them As Peter after he had denied his Lord and Master when he reflected and consider'd whom he had denied and who he was that denied him and how often he had denied him it made him go out and weep bitterly whereas on the contrary if men never set apart any time to meditate of the sinfulness of their nature the evil of their ways and the circumstances by which they are aggravated they can never be humbled under them as they ought Jerem. 8 6. No man repents of his wickedness Why because no man said What have I done c. Secondly Most profitable for Consolation First Because it makes men to look after the Remedy the grace of God hath vouchsafed to free them from sin and misery and labour to know Jesus Christ who he is and what he hath done and suffer'd for them and what they must do to get an interest in his Merits Graces Benefits Secondly It makes them to acquaint themselves with the Covenant of Grace which he hath made and seal'd in the blood of his Son to get an interest in it and those many and precious promises of pardon and peace salvation and deliverance all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus as you may see in David Psalm 94.19 Whereas without meditation men are careless of these things and so deprive themselves of that support and comfort which otherwise they might have in time of trouble Thirdly That which will clear up a work of grace evidence them to be truly gracious Souls according to that of the wise man Prov. 23.7 As he thinketh in his heart so is he As a Man's thoughts are such is the man Meditation as one well saith is the Touch-stone of a Christian it shews what Metal he is made of it 's a spiritual Index to shew what is within as the Index shews what is in the Book so Meditation shews what is in the heart The godly Man thinks on God's Name Malachi 3.17 but for the wicked man God is not in all his thoughts Psalm 10. Thirdly Profitable for Edification and building up the whole man in grace and gracious practises it betters the Head the Heart the Tongue the Life First It betters the Head keeps out evil thoughts and furnisheth them with good thoughts it makes men look into the nature of things to search the Scriptures whether things be so or no to examine their own ways whether they be good or evil and so to make the greater progress in ways of well-doing as David Psal 119.99 whereas without Meditation all that men read and hear is but rudis indigestaque moles a kind of confused knowledge As it betters the Understanding so the Memory for it recalls things forgotten and imprints them the more deeply in the memory rivets them there and turns them into blood and spirit juice and marrow whereas the neglect of it spoils the memory and makes them lose the benefit of all they have heard and read and seen Secondly It betters the Heart for it makes men apply general truths to themselves in particular turns Brain-knowledge into Heart knowledge Contemplative-knowledge into Practical knowledge And needs must it better the Heart seeing it excites and
1. It shall be an incorruptible body freed from all possibility of dying and suffering Luke 20.35 Rev. 17.16 2. It shall be full of beauty shining not onely as the Stars but as the Sun Mat. 13.41 made like to Christs glorious Body Phil. 3. last 3. It shall be a most vigorous Body able to do any thing Etiamsi velit terram movere saith Anselm able to encounter legions of Devils and Reprobates by the almighty power of God dwelling in it 4. A Spiritual Body Not that it shall be turned into a Spirit but endowed with such spiritual qualities as it shall be agile active and nimble in the Service of God like a Spirit 3. To meditate on the glorious employments of Soul and Body both shall be continually exercised in the highest services viz. the singing of the Songs of Moses and the Lamb the singing of continual Hallelujahs to God our Father for Christ our Redeemer by the ever blessed Spirit our Sanctifier and Comforter 4. To meditate on the glorious priviledges of Soul and Body there which are either Primitive or Positive 1. Primitive in a freedom of all evil both of Sin and Punishment 1. Of Sin not only from the power of it but the very being of it not only from sin but from all temptations to it and occasions of it Rev. 21. last 2. Of punishment Bevel 21.4 Rev. 22.3 tryumphing over all 1 Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting c. 2. For the Positive priviledges they are these 1. The continual presence of God 1 Thes 4. last there we shall ever be with the Lord. 2. The beatifical Vision of God 1 John 3.2 O beata visio videre Deum in nobis nos in Deo Deum in se ipso saith Bernard What a blessed sight will this be to see God in us our selves in God and God in himself so far as our finite natures are capable of 3. The nearest Union that can be not only of a Gracious but a Glorious 4. Immediate perfect and everlasting communion with God where there will be no need of Magistrates Ministers Ordinances but God will be all in all Rev. 21.21 22. 5. Perfection of Holiness both in Nature and Life Ephes 5.23 Pure as he is pure 1 John 3.2 And Perfect as he is perfect Mat. 5. last Not onely in parts but in degrees 6. Fulness of Joy and Rivers of Pleasure which are at Gods right hand for evermore Psal 16. last 7. An everlasting Sabbath here we have but a weekly Sabbath there an eternal everlasting Sabbath here we keep a Sabbath with much weatiness there we shall keep it with infinite delight Heb. 4.9 There remains a rest for the People of God and this is a transcendent Rest an uninterrupted Rest an universal Rest a perpetual Rest where we shall rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and with the whole Quire of Heaven shall be still singing Hallelujahs to God the Father for God the Son by God the Spirit to all Eternity and still following the Lamb with Crowns on our Heads and Palmes in our Hands and tryumphant Songs in our Mouths 2. Meditate on the properties of this Glory 1. It 's a revealed Glory Rom. 8.18 Here it is hid from the eyes of the World and often from the eyes of Christians themselves but there it shall be revealed at the last day before all the World and the wicked World be made to acknowledge it to their shame and confusion of face Col. 3.3 4. 2. A full Glory Psal 16. last so full as the Apostle is not able to express it 2 Cor. 4.17 so full of Glory that if the Saints themselves were not upheld by the almighty power of God they could not stand under it so full of glory that because it cannot enter into them they shall enter into it Well done good and faithful Servant enter into thy Masters joy Mat. 25. 3ly An eternal glory such as they shall not only enjoy for millions of years but to all eternity Mat. 25. last 2 Cor. 4.17 3. To meditate on the certainty of this Glory That it is most certain there is such a glorious state for the People of God is evident upon these infallible grounds 1. Because it was prepared for them from before the foundation of the World Mat. 25.34 Heb. 11.16 2. Because they are prepared for it they are said to be Vessels prepared unto Glory Rom. 9.23 3. Because God predestinated his unto it from all eternity Rom. 8.29 2 Thes 2.13 14. 4. That which they are called unto 2 Pet. 1.3 1 Pet. 5.10 5. That which Christ hath purchased with his precious Blood Ephes 1.14 Rev. 5.9 10. 6. That which he made intercession for whilst he was here upon earth John 17.24 and still doth now in Heaven Heb. 7.25 7. That which he hath made many promises of and seconded them with his Oath Heb. 6.17 18. 8. He hath given his Spirit as the earnest of it 9. He hath given the beginnings of it in Grace here which is but glory begun 10thly and lastly He is gone into Heaven to take possession of it in our Name and Nature and hath promised he will come again and take us to himself John 14.3 and accounts not himself fully glorified until his Body and every member of it be in the same glory Ephes 1. the end And Lastly Consider who they are that have a right and title to this Glory what evidences the Scripture holds forth of it As 1. an effectual Vocation 1 Thes 2.12 2. Justification Rom. 5.3 Rom. 8.29 3. Sanctification Matth. 19.28 More particularly the having and exercising these Graces 1. Sanctified Knowledge John 17.3 2. A Justifying Faith John 3.16 3. An Evangelical Repentance Acts 3.19 4. A Gospel Obedience Heb. 5.9 5. An unfeigned love to the Saints 1 John 3.14 Lastly A loving looking and longing for the appearance of Jesus Christ in Glory by all which the Saints are described in the Gospel 2 Tim. 14.8 Titus 2.14 Heb. 9. last Rev. 22. last So much of the fourfold state of Man The Second Head of Meditation about Man is the four last Things or Ends of Man DEATH JUDGEMENT HELL and HEAVEN WE are to meditate on every one of these and that on these grounds 1. On Death because Death were no Death if Judgment did not follow in comparison and Judgement no Judgment or nothing so dreadful if Hell did not follow and Hell no Hell in comparison if it did not deprive men of Heaven 2. Therefore to meditate on these last Ends of Man because it is the Lord himself adviseth his unto and that in a very pathetical manner Deut. 32.29 Oh that men were wise that they understood this that they considered their latter end and the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 5. last he puts this question What will you do in the latter end He would have them know there is an end and to think seriously what will become of them in the end 3. Therefore to meditate on each
expresly required 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat c. Because otherwise without grace it will be a Seal to a Blank Secondly To stir up and exercise those graces before you come 2 Tim. 1.6 Otherwise you will receive unworthily as the Corinthians did because they did not renew their repentance before they came 1 Cor. 11.30 31. Thirdly To draw nigh to God in it to those ends he instituted it and appointed it as the commemorating of Christ's love in dying for us the expressing of our thankfulness the strengthning of our faith the weakning of our corruptions and the getting of more grace to walk with God and work for God and live to God Secondly In the time of Receiving First To fix your eyes on the Sacramental actions in and about the Elements Secondly To meditate seriously on those things signified by every action about them Thirdly To get your hearts affected with godly sorrow for your sins which were the principals in the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus and a spiritual rejoycing in his love that was content to die that we might live and to be made a curse that we might have a blessing through him Fourthly To pray unto the Lord that he would bless his Ordinance unto you to all those holy ends he did appoint it and you receive it viz. the Mortification of your lusts the Vivification of your graces your perfect Justification further Sanctification and future Salvation by Jesus Christ Thirdly After the Sacrament to make Conscience of an answerable carriage in the observance of all those religious duties requir'd of you in publick and private as First Thankfulness for Jesus Christ given to you and for you for his instituting this Ordinance to put you and keep you in remembrance of him the liberty and opportunity you have had to partake in it Secondly Examination what benefit we have sound by being at the Table of the Lord. Thirdly A careful endeavour to express and hold forth the Virtue and the Efficacy of it in a more humble holy spiritual and heavenly walking and a more faithful cheerful fruitful service of God in our several places The Sixth Duty is Singing of Psalms First Before it to make a wise choice of such Psalms as may be most seasonable and suitable to the present occasion Secondly In singing remember to sing First with understanding Ps 47.7 1 Cor. 14.14 Secondly With the Spirit Vers 15. that is see that our Spirit go a long with our voice because Non vox sed votum c. It 's not so much the voice as the heart God looks to Thirdly With grace in the heart Col. 3.16 that is from an inward gracious frame of heart and with the actings of our graces in singing as faith fear love joy c. Fourthly To sing unto the Lord Eph. 5.19 that is unto the praise and glory of the Lord Psal 101.1 Isai 5.1 Thirdly After singing to set about the service of the Lord with more cheerfulness for the abundance of all his goodness Deut. 28.47 To discourse together also of the matter you have sung and quicken one the other unto duty as you are required Col. 3.16 The Seventh Duty is Religious Fasting First Before it to lay aside all servile work the Night before that you may mind the weighty service of the Day following Secondly To rise earlier on that day than other days having such an occasion of humbling your selves Secondly On the Day of your Fast the duties required of you are either outward or inward First The outward as the forbearing of those things which at other times are lawful and convenient as First All Worldly imployment and labours of our calling Joel 1.14 Levit. 16.29 31. Levit. 23.32 Secondly The use of all Food unless in case of weakness and hazard of our health for God will have Mercy rather than Sacrifice Hosea 6.6 Mat. 12.7 Otherwise there must be an abstinence from all Meat Joel 3.7 Thirdly Costly Apparel and Ornaments Exod. 33.4 5. Jonah 3.6 Fourthly Matrimonial benevolence 1 Cor. 7.5 Joel 2.16 Fifthly All carnal delights and pleasures Joel 2.16 1 Sam. 12.20 Secondly The inward duties are First Fasting from sin Isaiah 58.4 Secondly Humiliation of Soul under sin Joel 2. Thirdly Earnest Supplication for the pardon of sin Joel 3.8 Fourthly Personal reformation or turning from all sin Joel 3.8 Thirdly After Fasting to conclude all with works of mercy Isai 58.6 Secondly Take heed of resting in the Work done remembring the chief part is yet behind viz. the reformation of our ways Thirdly Be careful to make good your Vows and Covenants of more circumspect walking Fifthly To wait upon God for a gracious answer as David did Psal 85. I will hearken what God will speak The Eighth Duty is Religious Feasting or Thanksgiving First Before it to remember and consider It 's the Homage and Rent we owe to him for all he hath and doth for us and which he expresly commands and we promised to him in the times of our troubles and distress fasting and humiliation Psalm 15.15 Psalm 22.25 1 Thes 5.18 Secondly It 's all the return that we can make to him and that which he is pleas'd to accept though his Name be above all thanks-giving Neh. 9.6 Psal 50. last Therefore as we have the sweet of any mercy still remember to give him his glory Thirdly To see that your Persons be fit for it to be godly and righteous Persons Psal 33.1 Ungodly and unrighteous ones are altogether unfit Psal 50.18 Prov. 17.7 Jam. 3.10.11 Fourthly To present all your praises and thanksgiving in the Name of Christ to beg your acceptance of it in and through his Mediation and Worthiness 1 Thes 5.10 Eph. 5.20 Heb. 13.15 Rev. 8.34 Secondly In the time of thanksgiving First To see that it be with the soul and the heart Ps 57.74 and with every faculty of our Souls as our understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 with our Judgment prizing it according to it's worth Psal 31.19 the memory treasuring up God's mercies there to think upon them Psal 103. My Soul forget not all his benefits With our affections especially these two 1. Love Psal 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and Joy Psal 33.1 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous for it becomes the just to be thankful and Psal 92.4 Secondly As inwardly with the Heart so outwardly with the Tongue Psal 63.7 Psal 66.16 Whence the tongue is call'd our glory because we are to glorifie him with the tongue Psal 108. And to do it with our tongues thus First By acknowledging God is worthy to receive all praise Rev. 5. about the end Secondly By lifting up of God's Name and speaking of those glorious Attributes which shine forth in God's mercies as Revel 11.16 17. Thirdly By telling it to others what God hath done for us and ours Psal 22.22 and Psal 66.16 17. Fourthly By exciting and stirring up others to praise God as
will teach you sayes Job to trust in God for a livelyhood Mat. 6.26 and to know your times and seasons for every work Jer. 8.7 The Dove will teach you Innocency and Sympathy the little Birds to sound forth praises to God every morning and evening Cantat a lauda Deo laudes gratissima summo Hinc vos in gratâ—s gratu lacessit avis 3. Ask the Fishes of the Sea and they will teach you sayes Job The Sea by her continual fluctuating and foaming will mind you of the continual unquietness and resâ—lesness of wicked men Isa 5â— 20 They are like the troubled Sea c. The Fish of the Sea they will shew you the misery of want of Government they being every one without a Ruler so as the lesser are still devoured of the greater Hab. 1. Why hast thou made mâ—n like the Fishes of the Sea c. XX. When you are to go to wait an God in the use of his Ordinance think what a mercy it is to have the Doors of God's Sanctuary open when they are shut to others to see Souls flock to the Ordinances as the Doves to the Windows that some Souls might still be added to the Church and brought into Christ and built up further in Grace and gracious practices When you are to hear the Word remember you are not only to hear a Man but God who speaks in and by Man who hath said His Word shall not return in vain but surely prosper to the end he sends it Isa 55. last And if it be not the savour of Life it will of Death 2 Cor. 1. end When the Sermon is ended remember though the Minister have done the Sermon is not done until you have done and practised it if it be not practised it will be preached over with more terror another day when you will not be able to hear it XXI When you are walking abroad and meet with any Christian Friend think if it be sweet with a dear Christian Friend upon Earth Oh how sweet will it be to meet with all in Heaven When you hear of any good news from them then think Oh what good news hath Christ brought from Heaven and did the Angel sing at the time of his Birth and hath the Spirit of God brought home and spoken unto my heart if it be bad news that you have heard yet think and comfort your hearts with this However you have sad expectations from Earth yet you have comfortable expectations from Heaven God and Christ and the Spirit is yours and will be for ever yours 1 Cor. 3. last Psal 112.7 When you hear of any Prodigies or dreadful appearances of God in the Heaven or the Earth or the Sea then think and say How terrible O Lord art thou in all thy wayes Who knows the power of thy anger what mean these dreadful tokens of thy displeasure make me and all to fear and tremble before thee When you see or hear the corruption of men to break out into Drunkenness Uncleanness Blasphemy Persecution c. then think and say as Bradford the Martyr Lord what a wicked heart have I what cause have I to give glory to Grace that keeps under corruption in me that does not break out in me as in others When any cross or affliction befals you on the day in Body Soul Name Estate think say Lord what sin is it that thou correctest shew me my sin sanctifie this affliction and do me good by it When any mercy is renewed upon you and yours think and say Oh how great is that goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou workest daily for the Children of men Psal 31. XXII When the day draweth towards an end remember you are nearer to your end by one day then you were in the morning as the night approacheth towards you so do you to the Grave and for ought you know may be your last day When you look up and see the Stars appear in the Heaven think thus Though your life here be hid with Christ in God yet when he shall appear you shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 and then your bodies shall shine as the Stars Dan. 12. When you see the dark night to come upon you and you begin to light Candles then think if outward darkness be so uncomfortable how much more is the inward darkness of the Soul and utter darkness in Hell if the light of a Candle be so comfortable how comfortable is the Life of Grace here and will be the Life of Glory hereafter When you are about to put off your Cloaths think thus It will not be long ere I must be uncloathed of this body of Sin and Death and if I be so willing to the one why not to the other that I might be cloathed with my House from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 And if I be so willing to go into Bed to take my rest that I may have renewed strength for Body and Spirit to fit me for the service of the next day why should I not be as willing and more willing at God's call to lay down my body in the Grave there to rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering and to be raised up at the last day with renewed and perfect strength both in Soul and Body to be still serving and glorifying God to all Eternity Remember still O my Soul thy sleep is but the Image of Death the Bed the Image of thy Grave and the Sheets of thy Winding Sheets the biting of the Fleas but the gnawing of the Worms on the Body the crowing of the Cock in the morning the sounding of the Trump of God at the last day by the Voice of the Arch-Angel Awake ye dead and come to Judgment Isa 57.2 1 Thess 4.16 Lastly When you are about to sleep labour to sleep with precious thoughts of God for such as your thoughts are when you are about to sleep such will your thoughts be when you awake When we rake up fire in the Ashes at night so we usually find it in the morning and such I say as our thoughts are of God when we sleep will be when we awake In a word Think of your sleeping in Jesus and your awaking and appearing with him in glory in the morning of the Resurrection And thus I have as briefly as I could with any profit to you directed you how to make a Spiritual use of whatsoever presents it self to your senses from morning to evening at home and abroad What remains but that we put in practice what we see to be our duty motives to iâ— and directions for it you have had before I need not add any more onely this consideration there 's a double use God expects we should make of every Creature a natural and a spiritual and if we should content our selves only with the natural use without the Spiritual we should lose the one half and the best half of that comfort in the Creature which God gave it for and we shall do no more then natural carnal sensual men yea the very Beasts do and therefore if we will evidence our selves to be Christians indeed that mind the wellfare of our Souls as well as our Bodies then to apply our selves more then ever we have done to the practice of this sweet weighty and profitable duty of Meditation both Solemn and Occasional Which that we may blessed Lord thou who hast put it into the heart of thy weak and unworthy Servant to study and write these things for the good and comfort of thy People be thou graciously pleased by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit to make them useful to all into whose hands they shall come for the promoting and carrying on the Work of Grace in their hearts and lives and the furthering of their everlasting Salvation Oh Lord I pray thee let it not be in vain that this or any other help is afforded them but do thou give success to the weak endeavours of thy unworthy Servant so as there may be glory to thee profit to them and comfort to him who hath found that grace in thy sight to be accepted and enabled to be any way instrumental for their help and comfort in the way homeward to everlasting life This is and shall be the Prayer of Your Affectionate and Antient Pastor J. B. FINIS
Christ and never leave you until it hath crown'd you with Glory Col. 3.4 Ninthly To meditate on and make use of the means God hath revealed and commands you to â—se to get out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace What are they Mark a few 1. You must be willing to see and be sensible of and humbled under your want of Grace as they Acts 2.37 and the Jaylor Acts 16.30 2. You must labour to be united unto Christ the Fountain of Spiritual Life and Grace for the Son quickneth whom he will John 5.21 and John 1.16 from his fulness we receive Grace for Grace and 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life 3. You must prize and value it hunger and thirst after it above all other things in the World Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 4. You must go to the Covenant for it and beg the Lord to remember his Covenant and glorifie his Grace in giving in that Grace to you which he promiseth in the Covenant Psal 84.11 and tells him this Grace is as free for you as for others and will be as glorious on you as on others and you shall give him the glory of it here and to all eternity Read and ponder well that excellent place 2 Cor. 9.8 A sufficiency of Grace in him for you 5. You must wait constantly on the Ministry of the Word which is the only ordinary means of getting it James 1.21 1 Pet. 1.23 when ever you come to hear the Word remember to beg the Spirit of God to quicken his Word that it may quicken your dead Souls whereby you may be enabled to stand up from the dead and act as new Creatures in a state of Regeneration to God and for God It is the Spirit alone that quickens John 16. and him that God hath promised to such as ask him Luke 11. And therefore I say still remember to beg the Spirit of God and wait upon him in the ministry of the Word till he come to breath into this Spirit Life a Life of Grace that may fit you for and entitle you to a Life of Glory to quicken and encourage you Sect. 4. Take notice of the happy estate of Man by Glorification and what those things are you are to meditate on in and about that are these 1. What this Glory is and wherein it consists 2. The Properties of it 3. The certainty of it 4. Who they are that shall partake of it 1. What this glory is In the general it is no other then the lustre or beauty of a person or thing that draws admiration after it and it is either External Internal or Eternal 1. External is that state and pomp men have in the World and drawes the eyes of others after it of which you may read Gen. 45.13 You shall shew my Father of my glory in Egypt that is of the pomp state and honour I am exalted to 2. Internal Glory is that within in the Soul in the excellent Gifts and Graces that it is endowed withal Psal 45. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within and Numb 6.27 where God said to Moses He should bring Joshua before the Priest and put some of his Glory and Spirit upon him 3. Temporal Glory Is that which he promiseth to his in this life Prov. 22.4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is Riches and Glory 4. Eternal Glory Is that which God will confer upon the Saints in Heaven If you ask what that is we must answer in the words of Austin Facilius est excogitare quid non sit quam quid sit It cannot be conceived much less expressed yet as they guessed at the fruitfulness of the Land of Canaan by the mighty clusters of Grapes they brought thence so may we at the glory of Heaven by that glymps the Scripture holds forth of it That you may have the clearer sight of it we will consider it comparatively with that which is in the World and then absolutely as it is in it self First If we compare it with that glory which is visible in the World we may guess somewhat at the transcendent excellency of it You may see abundance of glory in all the Works of God especially in those Celestial Bodies above the Sun the Moon and the Stars but alas what is this to the Glory of Heaven And If in Heav'ns outward Court such glory be What is the Glory which the Saints do see Du. Bartas 2. Consider it absolutely in it self And here take notice of the Glorious Place and Glorious Company and Glorious Endowments of Soul and Body the Glorious Employments of both and the Glorious Priviledges the Saints shall enjoy there 1. For the Glotious Place that is the highest Heaven that which the Apostle calls the Third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. and this place is Verus totus Olimgus wholly Light not only bespangled here and there with glittering Stars but as one great Sun and that which is increased by the admirable splendor of the glorified Body of Jesus Christ and those millions of glorified Saints whose Bodies there shall shine not onely as the Stars Dan. 12. but as the Sun Mat. 13.43 2. For the Glorious Company There you shall have the society not only of all your Christian Alliance Friends and Acquaintance that have liv'd and dyed in the Lord but of all the Holy Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Saints not only of the Glorious Angels but the ever blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost and if the company of a few humble upright chearful Christians be so sweet here how sweet must communion be with all these 3. For the Glorious Endowments 1. Of the Soul As soon as the Soul is separated from the Body it goes to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. It is perfected in all its Faculties Understanding Will Memory Affections 1. For the Understanding It is perfected in the knowledge of God and all that 's good 1 Cor. 13.10 11 12. Here we are but as in the Grammer School there we shall be in the University here the knowledge most have is but the least part of that they shall know there of God and the Creatures of the Mysteries of Religion and the Secrets of Nature 2. For the Will there shall be in it a perfect conformity to the Will of God we shall will all that is good and that more freely and with more alacrity then here we ever willed any pleasure of this life 3. For the Memory It shall be so perfected as to remember all that is good and nothing that is evil so as to be troubled for it but rejoyce rather in this that we are freed from it 4. For the Affections These shall be wholly taken up with and rest upon God and all that is good the measure of our love and delight in him shall be to love and delight in him without measure 2. For the glory of the Body you may reade it 1 Cor. 15.42 43.