Temporal Glory why should we to our prejudice embrace it What availeth the Praises of Men if the Voice within accuseth us Or what signifies a Bed of Gold to one in a burning Fever unless the State or Pomp could abate the Torment It is only the Testimony of a good Conscience that admits of any Duration But why do'st thou chase so much after Riches He is too covetous unto whom the Almighty is not sufficient This Life is the Path to our Eternal Countrey What doth transitory things profit us They do but rather overload the Traveller as too much Burthen doth a Ship IV. THE Majesty of Heaven is the Riches of his Servants then why should'st thou not seek after that which will compleat thy Happiness Temporal Riches produce Labour and Toil in the getting Fear in the possessing and Grief in the losing and which is most deplorable the Labour of the Covetous not only perisheth but it brings them also to the same Destiny Lot's Wife which was turn'd into a Pillar of Salt yet preaches unto us this Doctrine Not to look back on the Splendour of the World but with speed to hasten to our heavenly Countrey And why do'st thou so eagerly pursue after Pleasures They are but Vanity and in the end Vexation of Spirit V. O THEN let the remembrance of a Crucified Saviour banish from thee all Pleasures and let the remembrance of a Fire Unquenchable extinguish all inordinate Concupiscence Compare but the short Moments of Pleasure with Eternal Punishments and thou wilt relinquish one to evade the other Worldly Pleasures if really considered are brutish and they that are involved in those Allurements assume the shape of wild Salvages The Sweetness of Heavens Kingdom pleases not that Appetite which daily feeds upon Husk with Swine Let us then prepare with the Patriarch Abraham and offer up to the Almighty as an Oblation this our beloved Son even our darling Sins which have so long invaded us VI. LET us consider the Way to Eternal Mansions is not strewed with fragrant Roses but with Thorns and Thistles The External Man indeed is surrounded with Pleasures but the Internal must press through many Tribulations Let the Fear of Omnipotency then macerate thy Flesh that the Affections thereof may not delude thee Retain always in mind the approach of the great Audit that the perverse Judgment of thy sensual Appetite may no way enslave thee Be not allured by the flattering Face of the Serpent but remember the Sting he craftily conceals Always invoke the Almighty to strengthen thee with his Grace that at the last thou may'st receive a Crown of Glory MED IX Iacob's Ladder Gen. xxviii 12. And he dreamed and behold a ladder set upon the earth and the top of it reached unto heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it THE Patriarch Iacob had no sooner fixed upon a Stone for his Pillow but a splendid Vision accosts his sight That filial Obedience which attended him from his Father on a Journey to Syria became a nobler Conduct and directed him the Way to Heaven Those Angelical Travellers ascending and descending before him Happy Solitariness and glorious Entertainment with such Celestial Company The Uneasiness of his Lodging was highly recompenc'd by this Beatifical Prospect when the God of Heaven the Lord and Governour of the World appeared unto him refreshing him with the graciousness of his Promises and Providence II. WHEN I view the Figure of this humble Sleeper I cannot forbear wondring at the folly of those that expect Visions from Above upon their soft Beds and seek for Revelation in the plenitude of their Pleasures Their wanton Spirits would wax sick and be out of humour with Piety should it molest or oppose their Quiet How apt would their Devotion be to contract an Ague should they with the Psalmist rise up at Midnight to invoke the Almighty God distills not his Miracles into the Lap of the Wanton nor communicats the Excellency of his Glory but to those who resign themselves to Him III. St. IOHN must be exil'd to Patmos before he can be admitted a Divine and have converse with none but Angels if he would be a fit Pen-man for Heaven Those devout Men who were retir'd from all Company but Solitude and their Devotions could not have merchandized so unspotted with Heaven had they not renounc'd all Correspondence with the World and unvesting themselves of all Temporal Felicities obtained an higher degree of Grace and became living Monuments of Celestial Grandeur IV. OUR devout Patriarch enjoyed here no-Canopy but the serene Air no other Tapers to illuminate his Apartment but the Lamps celestial and the vigilant Angels move to and fro as it were to guard and preserve him Oh how securely doth he rest that lays down his Head in the Bosom of Providence and makes that his Soul's Receptacle Repose thus Beatifical denotes a Sanctuary Nor need he fear any Disturbance in his Rest that has the Almighty for his Keeper or that his pious nocturnal Thoughts shall be molested with frightful Dreams V. IACOB had no sooner prepared to sleep but those holy Messengers unlock the Heavens and invite him to ascend But 't is by a Ladder Heaven is not to be clim'd up to in a moment The Path to Happiness is trod by degrees and as our Saviour informs us 't is very narrow Every Vertue is a step to Eternity and he is so much onward of his Journey that daily tramples upon his Vices We cannot prove too good Proficients in a Life of Sanctity or imagine that in the least Acts of Piety we have enough to conduct us to Happiness 'T is not a few Paces but a constant Progress that conveys us thither Oh how bad then is he that thinks himself too good to be made better VI. O LORD the Promises of Thy Glory are immensible and yet how negligently do we embrace 'em Thou hast directed us the Way unto Thy Self and yet we are not only reluctant but even weary of walking to Thee Alas Is the Magnificence of Thy Kingdom not worth approaching to Can we propose to ascend Thy Throne by a feeble and dronish Devotion How actively do we run after the Vanities of the World but in Thy Service pretend faintness We can chase after the fading Pleasures of this Temporal Life but neglect our progress in the Way Thou prescribest us to walk in VII QUICKEN us O Lord we beseech Thee and make us more ardous and zealous in Thy Service and as Thou hast sent Thy dearly beloved Son and our Redeemer to summon us to Thy Self so do Thou likewise send Thy Holy Spirit to sanctifie us for Thy Self that we may by Thy heavenly Grace become a peculiar People zealous of Good Works And we who of our selves are unworthy to approach Thy Altar will by Thy Divine Assistance run the ways of Thy Commandments so that at last we may attain our End even the Saivation of our own Souls and appear with Joy
thy Folly thou be cast headlong into the deep abyss of Sin and Misery And now having consider'd the Detestableness of this Sin of Pride and the Amiableness of this Virtue of Humility let us earnestly endeavour to abandon the one and embrace the other and with all Sanctity invoke the God of all Spirits to infuse into us his heavenly Grace that this Tumour of Pride may be asswag'd in us that his Meekness and Humility may be our perfect Pattern to guide us in this Life and conduct us to the Life to come MED XIII The Proud Pharisee Luk. xviii 11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this publican SEE how Ingratitude is radicated in this proud Pharisee that he so imperiously thanks Heaven How prodigiously hath Pride metamorphos'd him He that accustom'd himself to prolix Prayers intends now to use brevity His devoutest Posture is Standing and he comes not to Pray but to Boast not to Worship his Creator but to Extoll himself He is not qualify'd to be highly Pious being so opinionated and transported with his own Virtues that he is destitute of either Time or Patience to remember the sole Author whose Benignity he would pretendedly seem to acknowledge but 't is so luke-warmly 't were better he were ungrateful still II. TRUTH had a lucky chance to proceed from such graceless Lips He did indeed far excell others even to the Superlative degree of Audaciousness But had he been acquainted with himself better he would have proved more Grateful and not so Arrogant How amply doth he disturb the Ear of Heaven with these Ostentations of his singular Value but for his Pride and Arrogancy makes not the least Apology Indeed he Thanks the Almighty but 't is after a modish Carelessness and rather an airy Complement than a solid Prayer III. HE may plead Ignorance but be found guilty of the breach of the Second Commandment in the First Table For he knows he is forbid to Worship Idols or Images yet thinks it no Sin to Idolize himself and therefore dares presume to offer to the Almighty a Schedule of his own Merits How many apt Scholars is there in the World that hath perfectly learn'd this Lesson and imprinted it in their Memory See how the Roman Pharisees charm and puff up themselves with Pride by their sanctimonious Acts of Supererogation and think to scale Heaven by a Ladder of their own forming magnifying a superabundant Piety and triumphing in a meritotious superfluity of performing more than their appointed Task IV. WITH how much Agility do our trembling Enthusiasts follow their Generals Path in a sanctimonious Pride by a supercillious Purity of Intention presuming it their Prerogative to reform the Universe and create it again a-new That Canonize themselves according to their mode and with the proud Pharisee not only thank the Almighty but tell him positively they far excell other Men That outragiously and loudly proclaim themselves the great Luminary of the World and in a devout lunacy wou'd croud in new Notions extravagantly decrying all Religions but their own These malecontented Pretenders immure themselves a-part from others and by a morose Piety are become so prodigiously Divine that they have always extinguish'd their Humanity V. NOW if the Pharisee were not as other Men yet these resemble him having been such exact Proficients in his Nature and Religion So apt and prone O Lord are we to be seduced even in our best Performances and whil'st we vainly imagine our selves not only to excell others but so meritorious in Thy sight as to be elevated into Presumption T is Humility must Crown all our Graces and put a Lustre on our Requests whil'st the presuming Assurance of our own Merits does not only deface but seclude us from Thee VI. TEACH us therefore O Lord with such Expressions of Gratitude to use Thy Gifts that we may not be stupified so as to be forgetful of our selves or Thee Whil'st others arrogantly boast themselves in meritorious Acts of Supererogation let us earnestly endeavour humbly to acknowledge confess and bewail our many Imperfections Let not a sanctimonious Pride seize upon our Immortal Souls that may any ways hinder us from being innocent from the great Offence MED XIV The Soul's Delight Psal. xciv 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. GOD the bountiful Provider of all the World hath prepared a great Feast Mat. 22. 4. And those which hunger and thirst after Righteousness are freely invited He that tasteth not is not sensible of the Sweetness of this Divine Banquet and he that has lost his Appetite is not expected a Guest at this Table If thou believest on the Lord Jesus obey the first Summons and approach with chearfulness to this Royal Repast None can acquire a Credulity unless with Contrition he confess his Sins and repent of the same in Dust and Ashes And as Contrition is the spiritual Hunger of a Soul surrounded with Sin so Faith is the spiritual Food that revives and nourishes it to Everlasting Life II. GOD gave the Israelites in the Wilderness Manna the Food of Angels Exod. 16. 15. And in this Entertainment of the New-Testament the Almighty exhibits to us the Celestial Manna yea he is there present himself who is that spiritual bread which came down from heaven to give life unto the world Joh. 6. 51. He which had a desire to see his Field refused to come Luk. 14. 18. From whence we may inferr That they which set their Affections on the Pleasures of this Life cannot approach to this Holy Table When the rich Gallant in the Gospel heard that he must forsake all his Goods of Fortune for Eternal Life he went away sorrowful Mat. 19. 22. III. CHRIST the Celestial Elisha infuses not the Oyl of his Loving-kindness but into Vessels which are empty 2 King 4. 4. And his Divine Love never inspires any Soul except the Love of the World be extracted from it whereby it may become a fit Receptacle for so Divine a Guest For where our treasure is there will our heart be also Mat. 6. 21. Temporal Enjoyments hath its attrrctive Allurements but Divine Love hath that Energy to unite us to the Deity Terrestrial Treasures consists in the Goods of Fortune but in these the Soul can acquire no Satisfaction for it is beyond what this World can afford and therefore seeks for far greater Excellencies than transitory things IV. DID we but seriously consider the Duration of all Temporalities we would not fix our Hearts so fervently upon them For upon our Bed of Mortality no Relief can be expected from 'em and what an absurdity is it for us to place our Affections on those things which are so frail and inconstant Our First Parents when they rebelled against the Most High would have attempted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but before they could
Darkness for my Sin that would not lay hold on the Means of Grace IV. NEXT The Four Elements in their order accuse me And First The Heavens acquaint me they have supplied me with Light to my Joy and Comfort The Air whispers me I have given thee all manner of Fowl my Region affords to be at thy Command The Water violently speaks I have given thee all manner of Fish to eat And the Earth opens her Mouth saying I have given thee Corn Wine and Oyl to nourish thee but how hast thou abused these Mercies to the Contempt and Dishonour of our Creation Therefore let our Benefits redound to thy Punishment let the Fire consume thee the Water overwhelm thee the Air fann and winnow thee the Earth swallow thee up and Hell devour thee V. THE Holy Angels which were appointed by the Almighty to minister unto me in this Life and to be my Comforts in the Life to come they accuse me for by my Sins I have deprived my self of their Ministry in this Life and Hope of their Fellowship in the World to come the Voice of God's Divine Law accuses me either I must fulfil it or perish to perform the one is impossible and to undergo the other is intollerable VI. GOD the most severe Judge and potentest Executer of his Eternal Law accuses me Him I cannot deceive who is Wisdom it self from him I cannot fly who is Power it self and reigns every where Whither then shall I fly Psal. 139. 7. Even to thee O Blessed Jesu my alone Redeemer and Saviour I hear a Voice which bids me hide my self in the clifts of the rock Cant. 2. 14. Thou art that Rock and thy Wounds are the Clefts in them will I hide my self against the Accusations of all the Creatures VII My Sins cry aloud even unto Heaven but thy blood which was poured forth for my sins cryes louder Heb. 12. 2â— My Sins are potent to Accuse me but thy Passion is effectual to Defend me the Unrighteousness of my Life is powerful to Condemn me but thy most perfect Righteousness is powerfuller to Save me I appeal therefore from the Throne of thy Justice to thy Mercy-Seat but I dare not appear before thy great Tribunal unless thy holy Merits interpose betwixt me and thy Judgment MED II. That the Cross of the Holy Jesus should excite us to Repentance Rom. v. 8. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us BEHOLD my Soul thy Saviour's Sufferings the Wounds of him that was crucified and the Torments of him that expired on the Cross That sacred Head at which Angels tremble is platted with a Crown of Thorns That Face which in Beauty exceeded all Mankind's is spit upon by the Ungodly Those Eyes brighter than the Sun in his Meridian are obscured in Death Those Ears which were accustomed to hear Angelical Anthems are infested now with arrogant Speeches and scornful Reproaches That Mouth from whence proceeded Divine Oracles and dictated to Angels their Celestial Lessons receives nothing but Gaul and Vinegar Those Feet which the devout Magdalen kissed and wiped with the Hairs of her Head are fastened with Nails Those Hands which stretched out the Heavens like a Curtain are now extended on the Tree of Shame II. THAT Body the Deity 's Temple is scourged and wounded with a Spear Nothing escap'd the malicious Jews but his Tongue and that was meekly exercised in Praying for his Persecutors And he who now Reigns in the highest Heavens underwent all this for lost Mankind He felt the Pains of Hell and cry'd out My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27. 46. So great was his Agony and Anguish that he which comforteth Angels stood now in need of one to comfort him III. IF this happens to the Just what shall become of wretched Sinners What measure shall the Almighty take with us for our Offences who is so wrathfully displeased with his well-beloved Son for the Sins of the whole World O God of infinite Mercy take from us these stony Hearts of ours and give us Hearts of Flesh that we may tremble at thy Word and melt at thy Judgments Lord let us not forget thy Acclamations and Tears Thou cryedst from the Cross Behold O ye Sons and Daughters of Men what I suffer for you Was ever Grief so great or any Sorrow like unto my Sorrow But O Thou whose Property it is to have Mercy convert our stubborn Hearts unto Thee MED III. Of the Fruits of Repentance Mat. iii. 8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance THE Foundation of a Holy Life is True Repentance and where that is acquired Remission of Sins and Eternal Life succeeds Why then do we deferr our Repentance and procrastinate it from day to day To Morrow is not in our possession and to Repent sincerely is not in our power but when the Judgment-Day is approach'd we must render an Account not only for one Day but for our whole Lives II. ACKNOWLEDGE and bewail thy Sins so shalt thou find God in Christ appeased towards thee I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions saith the Lord Isa. 43. 25. inferring our Sins are enrolled in the Court of Heaven Turn away thy face from my sins begs the Royal Prophet Psal. 51. 9. Demonstating that our Iniquities are in God's sight Be converted unto us O God prayeth Moses therefore our sins do separate us from God Isa. 59. 2. Our sins have answered us complaineth Isaiah ver 12. and do accuse us before God's Tribunal Cleanse me from my sins is the Psalmist's Petition Psal. 51. 2. Concluding our Sins in appearance are sordid in the Eye of the Almighty III. SIN is the Distemper of the Soul which moved David to cry out Heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Psal. 41. 4. It is for Sin that we are blotted out of the Book of Life So said the Eternal Whosoever shall sin against me I will blot him out of my book Exod. 32. 32. We are cast off by the Almighty for our Sins which made David deprecate Cast me not away from thy presence Psal. 51. 11. Sin torments the Mind and dries up the Moisture as the Psalmist experienc'd Restore me to the joy of thy salvation Psal. 47. 12. IV. Sin is infectious says the ProPrphet Isa. 24. 5. The earth is defiled by the inhabitants thereof which have transgressed the law Our Sins press us down to Hell else the Psalmist had not broke out saying Out of the deep have I cried to thee O Lord Lord hear my voice 130. 1. Sin is the spiritual Death of the Soul So says the Apostle We were sometimes dead in our sins Ephes. 2. 1. By mortal Sin Man loseth his Creator who is the infinite and Incomprehensible Good therefore to be deprived of him is an infinite and incomprehensible Evil. And as the Almighty is the chiefest Good so Sin is the chiefest Evil. V. CALAMITIES and Punishments are not absolutely Evil for many times from them Good is
and Gladness in the Day of the Lord Jesus MED X. Of a Good Conscience Act. xxiv 16. And herein do I exercise my self to have always a conscience void of offence towards Ged and towards men WHATEVER thou undertakest consult thy Conscience and if Satan excites thee to any Evil stand in awe of the Checks within thee for the Internal Testimony is of more Efficacy than the External Thy Conscience that Angel-Guardian which Divine Omnipotence hath fixed within thee shall be register'd in those Books which will be opened at the Great Day as is testified by St. Iohn Rev. 20. 22. II. THE First is the Book of God's Omniscience wherein thy Thoughts Words and Actions shall be demonstrated The Second is the Book of Life Rev. 13. 8. wherein those that are found written by Verity and Faith shall be safely conducted by the Angels into Heaven's Imperial Court The Third is the Book of Holy Writ according to which Golden Rule our Faith and Good Works shall be measured The Fourth contains the Testimony of the Indigent whom we have defrauded or relieved The Last Book contains the Internal Testimony of the Voice of Conscience wherein all Offences are noted and indeed the Volume must be large and exactly written by the Finger of Truth III. SINNERS in that Day will be fully convinced by the Terrour within 'em and they can no ways shun so just an Accusation A Mind undefiled is the Crystal-Glass of the Soul and is so transparent that she evidently by the Opticks of Faith beholds the Idea of the Almighty for a sordid Eye cannot view the Splendor of a true Luminary As a well Complexion'd and good Featur'd Countenance is esteem'd in the Eye of the World so an unspotted Conscience is acceptable in the sight of the Almighty But that Conscience which abounds with Putrefaction generates that Worm which continually Vulture like corrodes but never dies IV. O THEN let us while it is Day with a true Remorse have a sense and feeling of this never-dying Worm and diligently labour to use all Arts to destroy it and let us not indulge it by any means lest it abide with us to all Eternity VVhat can it advantage thee if thou wer 't a Proficient in all the Arts and Sciences in this Microcosm nay though thy Skill did extend so far as to number the Stars and to trace out the ways of the Planets and did'st enjoy no Peace within to comfort thee Let it be thy care to square the Actions of thy Life according to that Rule prescrib'd by the Holy Jesus Let Purity reign in the Centre of thy Heart Verity possess thy Tongue and embrace Justice that it may attend thee in all thy Proceedings All which will evidently demonstrate whether thy Life be Good or Evil. V. ALL the Applause and Breath of the VVorld is insignificant if thy Bosom Friend thy Conscience accuse thee And what can all their Detraction prejudice thee if she defend thee This potent â—udge thou carriest about thee is sufficient to Accuse Testifie and to Condemn thee This Justice holds the Balance even and will not be bribed with unjust Rewards never will she be mollified with fruitless Prayers but she indefatigably follows thee whithersoever thou goest and will attend thee where-ever thou art carrying about her that Charge which thou hast committed to her custody whether it be good or whether it be evil VI. AND as the Testimony of thy Conscience evidences against thee such Judgment must thou expect from the Judge of all Men. Sinners themselves at last shall become their own Accusers though no other Testimony appeared against them For Instance The Drunkard when he is overwhelm'd with VVine or Strong-drink hath no sense of the Prejudice he hath receiv'd by his Intemperance but having slept away his Drunkenness the charm of sensuality is fractur'd and he feels the smart of his own Imbecillity VII So Sin that Diabolical Treasure whil'st it is agitating darkens the Mind and like a condense Cloud obscures the Lustre of perspicuous Judgment but at length the Voice within is rouzed up like a Lion and rendeth more vehemently than any other Accuser Oh let us all betimes mortifie this Worm by the fervour of our Devotion that it may not gnaw upon us to our Destruction and lead us to Eternal Horrour Extinguish this internal Fire by thy Prayers and Tears that so thou may'st enjoy Heaven in the Cool of the Day VVhich God of his infinite Goodness grant that we may attain by fighting a good fight finishing our course and keeping the faith 2 Tim 47. MED XI Of a Wounded Spirit Prov. xviii 14. But a wounded spirit who can bear NONE on this side Eternity not the vastest Heap the Universe it self that Theatre of Humane Frailty cannot for it groans and travels in Pains it self to be delivered Celestial Mansions was no longer a Residence for those ambitious rebellious Spirits who forfeited their Glory for those infernal Flames which Torment is not equivolent to that infinite Despair which for ever secludes and interdicts them from it It is no surprizing wonder that many imagine there is no Infernal Place like this for its Torments are not to be parallell'd II. FIERY Furnaces Stakes Gridirons or Phalarus's Bull are but Trifles to this greedy Vulture Tortures of the modernest Invention are delightful Penalties compar'd to this Crulty Those inhumane dying Miseries do but inrage and stupifie Sense whil'st this vital Death this destroying Life exercises its Malice on a more Celestial Object and contending to demolish and ruine an Immortal Part makes Death it self a Principal and gentle Murtherer to it III. CROAKS of Ravens Shrieks of Owls and Houls of Wolfs that adds Obscurity to the dismal Night Groans of departing Souls that invade the Ear and fill the Apartment with trembling Epitaphs transcribed in Characters mournful as the Grave and Silence are well-tuned Harmonies to the dying Elegiacks of a wounded Spirit that vents nothing but bloody Satyrs against it self Behold how with the disconsolate Psalmist it goes mourning all the Day and Night inviron'd with Sorrows and surrounded with dismal and fatal Idea's and inverts his Bed into a Bath which those weeping Fountains of Tears his Eyes have distilled and instead of splendid and gentle Airs evaporates nothing but dark and trembling Accents which busie Satan labours to retort in doleful and despairing Eccho's IV. HOW contritely doth it expostulate with Heaven My dearest Redeemer is that amiable Attribute of thy Mercy lost Is the Fountain of it dried up from a poor and wretched Sinner And wilt thou be a Jesus of Mercy to the whole Universe and become none to me Oh let me descend from the loftiest Precipice and for ever dwell in noisom Dungeons inhabited by none but loathsom Toads Snakes and Serpents beyond the reach and sight of all the World so I may but enjoy the Light of thy Countenance Let me live more poor and despicable than patient Iob upon his Dunghill perplex'd
lxxxvii 2 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God BUT all the most exalted Encomiums are infinitely below thy deserved Lauds and Praises For What Humane Understanding What created Tongue can be able to comprehend or express thy ineffable Excellencies If this Inferior Orb the Place of our Exilement and a Theatre of inevitable Miseries be so wonderfully delightful that our Eyes are entranced with the Variety of its Objects and can never sufficiently admire the Marvels they behold if the Firmament which is but a Foot-cloth for the Saints to tread on be enamell'd with so many Starry Jewels and imbellish'd with such radient Planets and glittering Constellations How transcendent how superlatively Magnificent are the Inner Appartments and Chambers of that Emperial Palace where the Adorable Deity does vouchsafe to communicate his Essential and Ecstatick Glories II. O DESIRABLE Mansion One Minute's Residence in thy Celestial Courts will make us more than Recompence for all the Afflictions we can possibly suffer in this Valley of Tears And And how conceivably will our Reward be when by a Miracle of Divine Mercy we shall be admitted to an Everlasting Participation of thy Immense and Inexpressible Felicities It was the certain Hope of thy Enjoyment which animated the Primitive Martyrs to sustain the most fiercest Tortures with an undaunted Constancy and to triumph in the mid'st of their Conflagration III. THE comfortable Expectation of thy Fruition was the Grand Motive which induced the Magnanimous Ignatius when threatned by his Persecutors with Extremity of Torments to make this Heroick Replication Fire Gallows Beasts Breaking of my Bones Quartering of my Members Crushing of my Body all the Torments of the Devil together let them come upon me so I may enjoy my Lord Iesus Christ. IV. IT is an undeniable Axiom That all Secular Felicitities are built upon brittle Foundations The most sublime Terrestrial Pleasures even in their greatest Complacencies are but transcient Vanities and conclude in Vexation but the Objects of the Celestial Habitations are refined to such an extraordinary degree of Perfection that they will be able to satiate the most extended Desires of our capacious Souls There we shall possess in lieu of a living Mortality which moves us towards the Grave a Vitality glorious beyond Imagination durable as the Ages of Eternity and whose Enjoyment will entitle us to excessive and inexplicable Satisfactions V. IF we admire Beauty Our ravish'd Eyes in lieu of Corporeal Objects shall behold those Immaterial Glories which flow from the Fountain of Uncreated Light and shall be permitted to contemplate that wonderful Clearness which proceeds from the Beatifical Visage of the Supreme Creator If Riches be the Center of our Affections Gold Pearls Diamonds Rubies Jewels and whatever we account most precious and estimable in the Universe are but faint Metaphors to describe the Inestimable Treasures of the Supernal World VI. IF Honour be the Subject of our Ambition What are Scepters and Crowns but Illustrious Miseries What are the Grandeurs upon Earth but gaudy Shadows in comparison of those Incorruptible Diadems those permanent and Substantial Dignities which flourish Above If we delight in Musick There we shall hear the Panegyrical Anthems of the Seraphick Choir and shall bear a part in the solemn Celebration of that Almighty Being whose only Presence will be sufficient to replenish us with immeasurable Felicity VII TO Conclude Nothing can be ded to that Immensity of Beatitude which we shall there enjoy but we shall be as perfectly Happy as the immediate Vision of the Incomprehensibly Glorious Trinity the Society of Angels the Conversation of Triumphant Spirits and the inexpressible Accommodations of a blissful Heaven can possibly make us And to consummate our Felicity all our Enjoyments shall be invested with Eternal Glory THE CONTENTS SECT I. What Meditation is Page 1 SECT II. That it is a Duty Page 5 SECT III. Rules and Directions for Meditation Page 10 SECT IV. Of the Subject and Method of Meditation Page 14 SECT V. Of being Affected with the Divine Presence Page 17 SECT VI. Of Preparatory Prayer Before Meditation Page 21 SECT VII Of Consideration Page 25 SECT VIII Affections and Resolutions Page 29 SECT IX Of Vows Page 33 SECT X. How to Conclude your Meditations Page 35 Collects to be said Before and After Meditations Page 36 Meditations on Several Occasions MED I. COnfession of Sins Page 38 MED II. That the Cross of the Holy Iesus should excite us to Repentance Page 42 MED III. Of the Fruits of Repentance Page 45 MED IV. Of Man's Salvation Page 50 MED V. The Youth's Memento Page 53 MED VI. General Rules of a Godly Life Page 58 MED VII The Whole Duty of Man Page 63 MED VIII The Vanity of the World Page 67 MED IX Jacob ' s Ladder Page 72 MED X. Of a Good Conscience Page 76 MED XI Of a Wounded Spirit Page 81 MED XII Of Humility Page 86 MED XIII The Proud Pharisee Page 91 MED XIV The Soul's Delight Page 95 MED XV. True Contentment Page 10â— MED XVI Of Divine Faith Page 105 MED XVII The Canaanitish Woman's Faith Page 109 MED XVIII Of Love and Charity Page 114 MED XIX An Act of Divine Love Page 120 MED XX. Of Chastity Page 126 MED XXI Purity of Heart Page 133 MED XXII Against Covetousness Page 137 MED XXIII A Bad Exchange Page 142 MED XXIV In Time of Sickness Page 148 MED XXV Vpon Death Page 153 MED XXVI Vpon Iudgment Page 160 MED XXVII Vpon Hell Page 171 MED XXVIII Vpon Heaven Page 177 FINIS