and Condemnation of Men at the last than this That they have known so much and practised so little Luke 12.48 Math. 10.14 15. Heathens at the last day will wring their Hands that they have known no more of God by the means vouchsafed them but Christians will rend their Hearts that they have known so much of God to no better purpose So as all Practical Treatises or Treatises quickening unto Practice are few enough to awaken men to their Duties And as for those that treat of Meditation as many Worthies have done whose Books I am not worthy to carry after them yet I find none that have Collected all necessary Practical Truths and Duties into such a way of Meditation but either are too large or too streight and therefore I hope this may through the Blessing of God conduce much to the benefit of those to whom God shall give Hearts to make use of it which is the Unfeigned Desire and Earnest Prayer of Your Faithful but Vnworthy Servant in the Work of the Lord J. B. THE CONTENTS Cap. 1. OF Meditation in general wherein the Doctrine Reasons Vses and there What it is the Kinds Motives Hinderances Helps and Directions Page 1. Cap. 2. Contains the first Head of Meditation viz. God and the things to be meditated on in him where 1. You have three Cautions 2. What those things are as Page 28 Sect. 1. 1. His Nature what that is and that he only is Jehovah Page 29 Sect. 2. 2. His Attributes and here on four things 1. What they are Page 32 2. Kinds of them 3. The benefit of Meditation on them Page 33 4. The evidences of an Interest in them Page 38 Sect. 3. 3. His Word Page 39 1. In general What it is the excellent Properties of it the Precepts Promises Threatnings and Examples in it Page 40 2. The Covenant of Grace in particular and here of Page 42 10. things what and why so called wherein the Old and New Covenant agree and differ c. Page 43 Sect. 4. 4. His Works 1 Before time viz. His Decree Page 50 2. In Time as Page 52 1. Creation and 2. Providence Page 52 And in the providences of God to meditate Page 53 1. On the kinds of Providences which are two as 1. Of Mercy where of the properties Page 54 The Branches of it sc His Converting Page 56 Protecting Providing Disposing Assisting Correcting Supporting and refreshing Providence Page 58 2. Of Justice and there of six things Page 66 2. The parts of Providence which are three 3. The extent of it 4. The Ends of it 5. The Experiences we have had of it 6. How to carry our selves under glad and sad Providences Page 73 Sect. 5. 5. His Worship where 1. What it is 2. Where 3. When 4. How 5. Why he is to be worshipped 82 Cap. 3. Of Christ and twelve things in and about him as Page 76 Sect. 1. 1. Who he is Page 100 2. What he is Page 100 3. The infinite Love of God in giving him Page 101 4. Of Christ in undertaking the Great Work of Redemption Page 101 5. The Loveliness of this Redeemer Page 101 6. The Greatness of his Work Page 105 7. The Ways and Means of his effecting our Redemption Page 111 8. The Priviledges that come by Him Page 112 9. The Evidences of our Interest in Him Page 1 10. The means of getting an Interest in Him Page 13 11. The Motives to labour after it Page 116 12. How to walk worthy of and suitable to such a Redeemer Page 118 Cap. 4. Of the Spirit of God and here of five things 1. Who he is Page 121 2. What his Office 3. Evidences of our Interest in him Page 123 4. Motives to seek it and 5. Means to procure it Page 127 Cap. 5. Of Man and in and about him 1. Of the four-fold state of Man 2. The Four last ends of Man Page 133 3. Such things about the Soul and Body Tongue Tallents Time and Eternity of Man as may most conduce to the Enabling Man to the Answering God and Christ and the Spirit in what they have done for Man Page 206 Sect. 1. Of the Blessed state of Man by Creation and here on three thinge Page 133 2. The cursed state of Man by Transgression and here of two things the Causes and Consequents Page 135 3. His Gracious state by Regeneration and here of Four things Page 137 1. What 2. Signes 3. Motives and 4. Means for it Page 159 4. The Happy state of Man by Glorification and here of five things 1. what 2. properties 3. certainty 4. who they are that shall partake in it Page 165 5. Of Death and here on two things 1. Such things as may fit us for it 2. Such things as may make us willing to it Page 173 6. Of Judgment and here on ten things as the Certainty Vncertainty the neer approach of it c. Page 185 7. Hell and here on ten things What and the Hideousness of the place c. Page 195 8. Of Heaven and here on four thing as what it is the excellent Titles given to it c. Page 201 Sect. 9. 9. Of the Soul and here of five things especially of the right ordering of our Conversation in order to the Salvation of our Souls Page 206 Sect. 10. Of the Body and here of two things 1. The Admirable structure of it and 2. The excellent use of it Page 234 11. Of the Tongue and here on two things 1. The ends wherefore God gave it 2. The Great need we have to imploy it to those ends Page 235 12. Of our Talents Corporal and Spiritual and what need we have to imploy them well Page 236 13. Of our Time wherein you have five or six things to be seriously thought on Page 237 14. Of Eternity and therein of four things Page 241 Cap. 7. Of the World and therein to Meditate on three things as 1. Those things in the Creature that engage us to Love God 2. Those things that disengage us from the inordinate Love of the Creature 3. The Duties we owe to God for the Creatures and What the Creatures teach us Page 243 Cap. 8. Of the Good and Evil Angels by which God governs the World Page 264 Sect. 1. Of the Good Angels and here of three things 1. What they are 2. Their Office 3. Our Duties in reference to them Page 265 Sect. 2. Of Evil Angels and here on these things 1. That there are such 2. What they are 3. How they became such 4. What their Office 5. What their Properties 6. What our Duties are in respect of them Page 274 Cap. 9. Of Occasional Meditation from Morning to Evening at Home and Abroad Page 301 The Reader is desired to mind these following Mistakes which have escaped the Press by reason of the Author's absence PAge 8. for 2 Kings 8. read 2 Kings 6. ult P. 9. for connected r. converted P. 11. The six first lines should come in after
the blood of Martyrs Oh what wonderful condescention of the great God is this to his poor worthless Creatures that when he might have left us still in our contracted blindness and suffered us to grope through inward to outward and eternal darkness He should cause the light to shine forth once more upon us and reveal his mind and will how he would have us to walk and to worship him so as to enjoy him in grace here and in glory to all Eternity hereafter How should the consideration of it affect our hearts make us to prize and to value this blessed Book to love and delight in reading of our Father's Letters and the rather because it 's the great Charter of our Peace our evidence for a better life and our Eternal Inheritance 1 Ep. John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know you have Eternal Life 2. To meditate on the excellent properties of it as 1. The Divinity of it that it 's all and every part of it divinely inspir'd 2 Pet. 1. last 2 The infallibility of it that it never did or can deceive any being the word of him that is truth it self and hath said Heaven and Earth shall pass before one Iota or title of it go unfulfilled Luk 16.17 3. The All-sufficiency of it that it contains all things necessary to be known believed and practised to salvation 2 Tim. 3.16 17. 4 The Authority and Efficacy of it on the Conscience to humble and comfort when Men and Angels cannot by all they can say or do one word of God dropt into the Conscience by the Spirit of God is able to humble the proudest sinner and raise up the most dejected Soul so as to make him to acknowledge God is in it of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. 3. To meditate on the Precepts Promises Examples in the Word First First The Precepts that they are good and just and holy Rom. 7.12 as you may find David did Psalm 119.15.23 And when you meditate on the Precept to remember that there is no Precept but is backt with a promise of acceptance assistance and a reward Secondly Meditate on the Promises in the Word that they are many for number exceeding great for quantity and precious for quality 2 Pet. 1.4 All the godly man's called therefore the Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 Promises of all things concerning life and godliness this and a better that he will give grace and glory and with-hold no good thing Psalm 84. the end That they are all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus 2 Pet. 1.20 Still to go to them as the Bee to the Flower and suck sweetness out of them and when you meditate on them remember still God is as faithful in performing as gracious in promising 1 Thes 5.33 Thirdly On the threatnings of the Word that they are infinitely more dreadful than the threatnings of men the threatnings of men can reach only to the Body but the threatnings of God unto the Soul Men's threatnings only to this life but God's to all Eternity Math. 10 28 Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell and here remember God is as righteous in making good his Threatnings as his Promises there 's only this difference he promiseth that he may fulfill but threatens that he may not fulfill Fourthly On the Examples in the word of mercy and goodness to the obedient and Justice and Severity to the disobedient and when you meditate on them to take notice There is no Example in it but is for our instruction and hath a promise or a threatning in the Bowels and Bosom of it Rom. 15.4 1 Cor. 10.11 Secondly Above all to meditate on the Gospel or the new-New-Covenant of Grace and in and about that to meditate on these 8. things 1. What it is 2. Why call'd the Covenant of grace 3. Why a new Covenant 4. Wherein the old Covenant and new agree and differ 5. What those special spiritual things are contain'd in the Covenant 6. What Signs there are of a Person 's being actually in Covenant 7. The Means for it and the Motives to it 1. What it is viz. That Second Contract or Agreement which God the Father made with Christ and in Him with all his Elect To give them Christ and all that is Christ's even all things that pertain to life and godliness upon their believing in Him Psal 84.11 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Secondly Q. Why is this call'd a Covenant of Grace A. In opposition to the Covenant of Works which God made with Adam in the state of Innocency That promised Life and Salvation upon condition of doing the whole will of God this only upon condition of believing and giving God the glory of his grace in it Eph. 2.8 9. 3dly Why is it call'd the new Covenant In opposition to the old Covenant of grace made with the Jews under the Law The old Covenant is the revelation and dispensation of the Covenant before the coming of Christ the new Covenant the Revelation and Dispensation of it since the coming of Christ 4ly Wherin do the old and new Covenant agree A. In two things First In the substance which is one and the same in both viz. Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3. Revel 13.8 Heb. 13.8 Secondly In the way of receiving Life and Salvation to wit by Faith in Christ Act. 15.10 11. Heb. 4.2 Then Fifthly Q Wherein they differ A. In three things the clearness easiness and efficaciousness of it First In the Clearness in the new Covenant Christ and the benefits that come by him are more clearly revealed unto us than to them under the old they had it under types and shaddows and Ceremonies which things are now done away by Christ Heb 8. last Secondly In the Easiness the service of the old Covenant was a Service they were not able to bear Act. 15.10 But Christ's Yoke is easie and his Burden is light Math 11. last Because he hath freed us from those heavy Yokes and Burdens that lay on them as of many costly Sacrifices long and tedious Journeys prohibition of many Meats observation of many Days Rites and Ceremonies from all which we are freed by Christ Thirdly In the Efficaciousness oâ— Power of it there was less of the influence of the Spirit of grace given to ordinary believers under the Law than to those under the Gospel this plentiful Effusion of the Spirit being reserved unto the time of Christ's Ascension John 7.39 Eph 4.7 8. Heb. 7 18 19. Sixthly What those special spiritual blessings are which are promised in the Covenant which are first in general That God will be a God to them Gen. 17.7 and a Father 2 Cor. 6. last that is He will do all God and a Father can as he can do all things and is as
willing as he is able Psal 84.11 1 Tim. 4.8 More particularly First That he will give them his Spirit to work all in them and for them Ezek. 36.26 Luke the 11. Secondly That he will give them the sanctifying knowledge of himself and his will Ezek. 36.26 Thirdly That he will pardon all their sins and look upon them as righteous in his Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Fourthly That he will sanctifie their natures to the mortifying of their corruptions and the quickning of their graces Rom. 6.4 5. 8. the 13. Jer. 31.33 Ephes 2.1 Fifthly That he will take away their heart of Stone and give a heart of Flesh the double Spirit and give a single Spirit the froward Spirit and give a teachable Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and chap. 36. Sixthly He will not only give grace but growth in grace Malach. 4.2 Lastly That he will never leave the work of his grace until he hath perfected grace in glory Jer. 32.39 40. Phil. 1.6 Seventhly To meditate of the Signs of being actually in Covenant as First a lively faith working by love to God and all that is God's John 3.16 Gal. 5.5 Secondly A Reciprocation of promises as God promised to be our God so we to be his People Deut. 26.16 17. as he promised to give Christ and grace and glory so we promise faith and love and new obedience Thirdly The Counterpane or Copy of the Covenant they that enter into Covenant one with the other you know each Party hath a Counterpane or Copy of it so is it between God and the Soul as the Covenant is reciprocal so the Copy of the Covenant is drawn on the heart Jeremy 31.34 Fourthly They have the Spirit of God to reveal and make known this Covenant to them Jeremy 31.34 and to enable them to do what is required in the Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Fifthly Such as are in Covenant they have the fruits and effects of of it as First Softness of heart Ezek. 11.19 Secondly Sincerity of obedience Ezek. 11.19 20. Thirdly Growth in grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Fourthly Perseverance in grace Jer. 32.39 Fifthly A conscionable care to renew their Covenant with God upon every breach of it Jer. 50.5 Eighthly To meditate on the means of getting an interest in the Covenant if you do not yet find your selves actually in Covenant as First To humble your selves under the abuse of his grace in the first Covenant Secondly To give him the glory of his grace in vouchsafing to enter into another and a better Covenant not only to give grace but perseverance in grace Thirdly To be willing to Covenant with God as he with you Deut. 26.16 17. This Day the Lord thy God hath c. Fourthly To close with the great design of God in saving of poor lost sinners in making such a Covenant with them in Christ and in order to it to renounce the former Covenant of works all your own righteousness and desire with the Apostle to be found only in Christ having his righteousness that is by faith the righteousness of God Phil. 3.9 Because by the works of the Law no Flesh living can be justified Rom. 3. The Jews going about to establish their own righteousness made void to them the righteousness of Christ Rom. 10.3 Yea and you are to renounce all other Covenants with Sin Satan and the World for God will never enter into Covenant with those that are in Covenant with his Enemies Isai 28.15 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end Fifthly To go unto God by servent and constant Prayer and entreat him to remember his Covenant and glorifie his grace in it upon you by giving his Spirit for the enabling you to close with his great Design in the Covenant That he would put his Law in your heart and write it in your inward parts and give you that new Spirit which may cause you to walk in his Statutes and keep his Commandments and do them Ezek. 36. Ninthly To meditate on the many and weighty motives there are to quicken every one to get an interest in this Covenant of Grace as First The sad and miserable condition of all such as are without Covenant They are without God in the World and without hope viz. of a better life After this Eph. 2.12 They must look to be judged by a Covenant of works and if Men be not able to yield obedience to any one command of God as they ought and yet bound to yield obedience unto all the whole Law or no life do they must all or die eternally for the breach of the least Commandment Deut. 27. last The consideration of this should make every wicked man tremble to continue a moment in his natural unregenerate state and speedily to come unto Christ Yet further consider the miserable condition of men in this so long as they are without Covenant they cannot expect any blessing or mercy from God either corporal or spiritual outward or inward for all blessings and mercies they are conveyed to a People in and by virtue of the Covenant Zach. 9.11 Whatsoever men have and enjoy being out of Covenant they have it in wrath and not in mercy as a curse and not a blessing Mol. 2.2 Secondly Meditate on the happy and blessed estate of such as are actually in Covenant they have an interest in God and Christ his Spirit and all that is theirs 1 Cor. 3. two last Hos 2.18 to the end And as all that is good in God and Christ is yours so all that evil that is yours in Christ's Your sins 2 Cor. 5 last and your sufferings Isaiah 63. He is afflicted in all your afflictions Secondly You may go boldly to the Throne of Grace for the supply of all your wants Heb. 4. last and with assurance to be accepted and answer'd in whatsoever you shall ask according to his will 1 Ioh 5.14 Thirdly It 's that will bring you comfort in the saddest condition you are or can be in When they spake of stoning David He encouraged himself in the Lord his God 2 Sam. 23.5 Again To meditate on the excellent properties of this Covenant How that it is the most free sweet full and unchangeable Covenant First For the Freeness of it there was nothing in Us to move him to it but his own grace therefore call'd a Covenant of grace nothing requir'd on our part but only faith Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16 31. Secondly For the Sweetness of it you may see it in these three things First He requires no more of us than he promiseth to work in us by his Spirit Ezek. 36.27 Secondly He promiseth to overlook all our unwilling trespasses faultings and failings where they are bewail'd by us and to accept the will for the deed the endeavour for the work 2 Cor. 8.12 our imperfect obedience for perfect Heb. 11.17 Thirdly He will look upon accept of the perfect Obedience the full satisfaction of Jesus Christ for us as if we had yielded
iâ— in our own Persons 1 Epist Iohn 2.1 Thirdly To meditate on the fulness of this Covenant that iâ— contains promises of all things concerning life and godliness this life and a better 2 Peter 1. 1 Timothy 4.8 That he will be a Sun and a Shield give grace and glory and will with-hold no good thing Psal 84.11 Fourthly On the unchange ableness of this Covenant that it is an everlasting Covenant Jer. 17.7 Jer. 32.39 40. Mal. 3.6 Heb. 13.6 Tenthly To meditate on the duties you owe to God in respect of this new Covenant of grace as First To be still admiring and adoring the free and rich grace of God in making such a Covenant with you notwithstanding you had abused this grace in the first Covenant and that he should bring you forth under the dispensations of the new Covenant that so far excels the old as you have seen in the clearness easiness and efficaciousness of it and further should so manifest and magnifie his grace towards you as to make his Word and Rod effectual to bring you within the Bonds of the Covenant Secondly Study well this Covenant of grace and acquaint your selves more and more with the many and precious promises contained in it Especially those that most concern your present wants and necessities and labour to suck out the sweet and comfort of all by Meditation Faith and Prayer Thirdly Let it be your care to walk worthy of and suitable to the grace of the new Covenant remembring you are under a better Covenâ—nt than that made with them under the old Testament and therefore you ought to have better lives seeing you have a better Mediator and better Promises and better Means than they had and therefore should have better Conversations The mysteries of the Gospel are more clearly reveal'd to you Christ's Yoke is an easie Yoke and his Burden a light Burden in comparison what they were under his Spirit poured out more plentifully than heretofore upon ordinary Believers therefore all these should be as so many Engagements so many encouragements to a morehumble holy spiritual and Heavenly walking before the Lord and a more thankful chearful faithful and fruitful service of the Lord Luke 1.74 75. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Pet. 1.4 to the 12. 1 Cor. 15. last Fourthly Having at any time relapsed into sin especially gross and scandalous sin to renew as our humiliation under it so our Covenant of more circumspection and watchfulness against it after that Example Jer. 50.5 And the rather because there is a great proneness in us as well as others unto back-sliding and there are continual out-goings of corruption in us as well as others to deal falsly with God in our Covenant as they in Ps 78.36 37. And therefore our duty is that who are in Covenant with God upon our breach of Covenant to renew our Covenant of more circumspection for the future especially in times of Affliction and on Days of Humiliation and when we are to draw neer to God in that great Ordinance of the Lord's Supper but still remember we go out of our selves and fetch strength from God's Covenant to inable us to it Eph. 6.10 And thus much of the Covenant of Grace Now Fourthly the Works of God Sect. 4. And the Works of God are either his Works before time or in time First His Work before Time is his Decree now the Decree of God is his unchangable purpose with himself from all Eternity concerning the making of the World and all the Creatures in it especially Men and Angels their ends and the means to bring them to those ends for the manifestation of his glory Eph. 1.11 And in and about this Decree we may profitably meditate on these things First The infinite goodness of God in having us in his heart for so much good not only before we were but before the World was even from all Eternity Secondly The distinguishing love of God in this that we being all in his hands as the Clay in the hands of the Potter to make either Vessels of Mercy or Vessels of Wrath he should not appoint us unto Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.9 Thirdly The infinite wisdom of God in appointing not only the ends of all his Creatures but the means to bring them to those ends Hosea 2.21 22. Fourthly On the unchangeableness of this Decree Mal. 3.6 I am Jehovah that changeth not 2 Tim. 2.19 All these should make us cry out with the Apostle Rom. 11. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the wisdom of God! Secondly For his Works in time they are Creation and Providence First Creation and herein 1. Take notice what it is sc that first outward act of God whereby according to his Eternal purpose of nothing by his very Word he made the World and every Creature in it very good Gen. 1. last Secondly To look into and study this Voluminous Book of the Creation wherein every Page will afford you fresh matter of Meditation and every Creature have a Tongue to tell you of those glorious Attributes of God that shine forth in all especially in that curious Master-piece of Man Psal 139.14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made c. and here to meditate on these five things the Eternity of God the Almighty Power of God the infinite wisdom of God the unsearchable goodness of God and the excellent end wherefore he did all this First The Eternity of God he must needs be an Eternal Beeing seeing he was before all Beeings he that made Time and all things must needs be before Time and all things and so Eternal without beginning and without end Psal 102.25 26. Secondly The Almighty Power of God in that He was able to make so great and glorious a Fabrick and all things in it of nothing by his very Word Psal 89.11 12 13. Thirdly The infinite wisdom of God in makeing all things in such an excellent Order harmony and beauty appointing every Creature its proper place and use making all serviceable one to another and all to the good of the Universe Psal 104.24 Fourthly The unsearchable Goodness of God in that notwithstanding he was infinitely good and blessed in Himself without a Creature yet should communicate his goodness and blessedness to the Creature Acts 17.24 25 26. His goodness also appear'd in making every Creature good and providing all things for the good of the Creature but above all in making the World and all things in it for Man and man for Himself What should the Meditation hereof but cause all of us to be still singing and saying with David Psal 18 1. Oh Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth Oh Lord what is man thou should'st take such notice of him and make such account of him Fifthly To meditate on the excellent end of his doing all this viz. that he might have his glory from us Revel 4. last He did not make any thing for any need
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
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
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
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.
all pains and miseries and calamities and all sin which is the cause of them as sin brought Death into our bodies so Death carries sin out of the body and however these vile bodies be dissolved into dust yet they shall be raised up again at the last day and be made like unto Christ's Glorious Body Phil. 3. last 2. For the Soul It shall be no loser but a great gainer by Death and that three wayes 1. In the place it goes unto viz. from Earth unto Heaven 2. In the excellent qualities it shall be endowed withall viz. perfection in all the faculties of it as it goes to the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 3. In the excellent company it goes to enjoy leaving the company of sinners here and going to enjoy the company of Saints and Angels and the ever blessed Unity in Trinity 2dly In that it cannot hurt us appears in that it can never dissolve the Union between Christ and a believing Soul but brings it to a nearer sweeter and fuller Union of a Gracious makes it a Glorious Union however it separates Soul and Body one from the other yet it cannot separate either from Jesus Christ the Soul upon Death goes immediately unto Christ in Paradise and Christ goes down with the Body into the Grave where it sweetly rests as in its Bed in the Arms of Jesus Christ until the morning of the Resurrection of the Just Isa 57.2 1. It can never break the Covenant of Grace between God and the Soul for it 's an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17. And he hath not only promised to be their God unto Death but after Death and to all eternity 2. It can never untie the Marriage-Knot between Christ and his Spouse for he hath betrothed her unto himself for ever Hos 2. And whom he loves he loves to the end John 13.1 even with an everlasting love Jeremiah 31.3 3. It can never reverse those grants of Grace that God hath vouchsafed his as the grants of Reconciliation Justification Adoption Sanctification Salvation for the Gifts and Callings of God are without repentance Rev. 11.29 3dly As it is no way able to hurt you so it will every way do you good Though it be the last enemy that shall be destroyed yet of an enemy it shall be made a friend and the best friend that ever you had How so Why because Jesus Christ by undergoing Death and lying in the Grave he hath altered the nature both of Death and the Grave Death of a King of Terrors it made a Prince of Peace of a passage to eternal Death made a passage to eternal Life unto all that do believe the Grave that is a loathsome Dungeon to the wicked is made a sweet resting-place to the Saints That you may the more clearly and fully see the good will come to you by Death and so be made the more willing to it and chearfully resign your Spirit into the hands of God when he calls for it take serious notice of these ten following Particulars 1. Death is no Death to a true Believer It 's not his last day but the beginning of an everlasting day 2. Your dying day will not be your worst day but your best day better is the day of a mans Death then the day of his Birth saith Solomon Eccles 7.1 it being the egress of all misery and the ingress of eternal felicity 3. A Christians dying day it will be his enlarging day when he shall be set at liberty out of the Prison of the Body and brought home to his Fathers House 2 Cor. 5.8 It is but as Christ stiles it His departing and going to the Father John 13.1 4. A Christians dying day will be his resting day wherein he shall rest from all sinning sorrowing suffering from all temptations corruptions vexations Job 3.17 And who desires not rest 5. His dying day will be his reaping day having sown here in Tears he shall reap in Joy reap the fruit of all the Sermons they have heard all the Prayers they have made all the Tears they have shed all the Sighs and Groans they have uttered all the good Thoughts they have had all the good Words they have spoken all the good Works they have done all the Evils they have suffered and all they have forgotten to do and suffer Mat. 25.34 When saw we thee an hungry and fed thee not c. Then Christ will remember them and say In that you did it unto them ye did it unto me Yea there is not the least good work that any have done for any of his but it shall be remembred and rewarded even to a cup of cold Water Mat. 10. last 6. A Christians dying day will be his conquering and tryumphing day over all his Enemies Sin Satan and the World Death and Hell here we are in a continual warfare there 's not a day hour or moment wherein we can rest either from corruption within or temptation without but then there shall be an end of all then we shall tryumph over all in the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where 's now thy sting c. 7. A Christians dying day will be his transplanting day from Earth to Heaven from Misery to Glory from a Valley of Tears to a Valley of blessed Visions from a howling Wilderness to a heavenly Paradise It is no other then a straight Gate to a Pallace of Glory a dark Entry to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light And oh Who would not be willing to exchange a Sodom for Sion an Egypt for Canaan Misery for Glory 8. A Christians dying day it 's his uncloathing day of a body of Sin and Death and the cloathing him with his House from Heaven his putting off his old Rags of Sin and Corruption and his putting on of the White Robe of Christ's Righteousness and with it the Robe of Glory 9. A Christians dying day it 's his marriage day with the Lamb the King of Saints and if the day of a Believers espousals be so sweet how sweet will the marriage day be Rev. 19.7 10. A Christians dying day will be his corronation day wherein Christ will crown all those that love his appearance with the Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 where they shall be still following the Lamb with Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their Hands and tryumphant Songs in their Mouths Rev. 5.11 12 13. Mix these Meditations with Faith and Prayer and you will find them mighty through God not only to make you willing but even long with the Apostle to be dissolv'd and be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 1.23 Amen and Amen Secondly That which follows DEATH is JUDGMENT Sect. 6. In and about the Judgment Day to take notice of and meditate seriously on these things 1. The Certainty 2. The Uncertainty 3. The near approach of it 4. The great solemnity of it 5. The universality of the Persons to be judged 6. The impartiality of it