day and was glad How busie was Holy Job about the Thoughts of his Redeemer of his standing upon the Earth and his seeing of him with those very eyes of his at the last day And gracious Elihu about the way of Gods dealing with penitent Sinners on the account of a Saviour Deliver him from going down into the Pit Job 23.24 â—gur I have found a RANSOM When Agur was discoursing with Ithiel and Ucal you may see where his Thoughts were by his Question Prov. 30.4 What is his Name and what is his SONS Name if thou canst tell Of David especially Psalms a little New Testament And as for David to whom as to a special Favorite so large and glorious discoveries were made O how enlarged and affectionate were his Meditations So that David and the Book of the Psalms is quoted by Christ himself as most clear and copious concerning Him Luke 24.44 Acts 1.16 and 20.25.29.34 4.25 c. and 13 33. All things saith he must be fulfilled that were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the PSALMS concerning ME And so in the Acts and elsewhere as if the PSALMS were a little New Testament in the middle of the Old Davids thoughts busied about Christs Name Psal 110. compared with Math. 22.43 Psalm 2.2 Psalm 45.7 John 4.29 2 Sâ—m 22.3 Psal 118.14 and 21. Luke 1.47 Phil. 3 3. Psalm 3.5 9. How full were Davids Thoughts of this great and glorious Name the LORD JESUS CHRIST He calls him LORD in spirit when he saith The Lord said unto my LORD sit thou on my right hand c. He calls him Gods Anointed which in the Greek Tongue is CHRIST Yea the Anointed of God above his Fellows which is as much as THE CHRIST as she asked Is not this THE CHRIST that is Christ above all Christs for though there were many Christs they were taught to expect ONE Christ above All And he calls him his Saviour and his Salvation most frequently which in the Hebrew Tongue is JESUS So that that saying of the Blessed Virgin My Spirit rejoyceth in God MY SAVIOUR and that of the Apostle We rejoyce in JESUS seem clearly to be taken from that of David My Soul shall be joyful in the Lord it shall Rejoyce in his Salvation or as it may be read to the letter in the Hebrew Text My Soul shall Rejoyce in his JESUS Person Psalm 2.12 Verse 7. Concerning his Person his Thoughts were clear He exhorts the Kings of the Earth to kiss the SON and tells you plainly that he means the only BEGOTTEN of God when he saith the LORD hath said thou are MY SON Psal 89.26 compared with Heb. 1.5 this day have I BEGOTTEN Thee and again I will be to him a Father and He shall be to me a Son So also concerning his distinct Natures Natures in one Subsistence He calls him LORD in Spirit because he knew him to be GOD who he knew was to be his SON after the Flesh as MAN Psalm 45.67 yet saith expresly to him Thy Throne O GOD is for ever and ever c. Thou lovest Righteousnesse c. therefore GOD thy GOD hath Anointed Thee c. He knew that Christ the anointed of God was GOD Hebr. 1.8 for saith the Apostle It is unto the SON that he saith thy Throne O GOD is for ever and ever c. Yet He also distinctly and certainly knew that God had sworn that of the fruit of his Loins He would raise up Christ as concerning the Flesh to sit upon his Throne as the Apostle speaks Acts 2.30 So that he may be thought to mean this when he saith Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Psal 85.11 He might well call him TRUTH as he was the Promised Messiah for in this respect he was to spring out of the Earth to be born of a Woman in the City of David And he might call him RIGHTEOUSNESS who is called elsewhere Jehovah Tzidkenu Jer. 33.16 Mal. 4.2 The LORD Our Righteousness and the SUN of Righteousness as another Prophet calls him now 't is proper for the SUN to look down from Heaven Concerning his Incarnation and Birth Incarnation Psal 142.17 Luke 1.69 which he calls the budding of the Horn of David or which is all one the raising up a mighty Salvation or a Horn of Salvation for his people in the house of his Servant David he brings in Christ plainly thus speaking Sacrifice and Offering and burnt Offerings thou wouldest not Psal 20.6 7 8. Hebr. 10.5 but a Body hast thou prepared me So the Holy Ghost in the Hebrews renders that of the Psalmist Mine ears hast thou opened or pierced through and applies it to Christs Coming into the World in the Flesh Then said I Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of Me I delight to do thy will O my God c. He had also most clear conceptions concerning Christs bitter Sufferings Passion 〈…〉 Psal 2.1 2. Acts 4.26 In the Raging Combination of the Heathen that is the Gentiles and the People that is the Jews and Consultation of the Kings of the Earth and the Rulers that is Herod and Pontius Pilate against the Lord and his CHRIST as it is expounded in the Acts. Psal 118.22 1 Pet. 2.7 By the Malice of the Priests and Elders that should have been Builders of the People in the Faith and acceptation of this Promised Messiah Refusing that stone which God hath designed to be the Head of the Corner By the Treason of Judas that did eat of his Bread yet lifted up his heel against him Psalm 41.9 Job 13.18 21. Psâ—â— 22.7 8. Mat. 27.43 By the scoffs of Spectators and cruel mocking of passers by wagging their heads at him and saying He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him if he will have him and let him save him seeing he delighted in him Psal 31.11 Mat. 26.56 By the faintheartedness of his Followers and Cowardise of his Friends I was a Reproach among mine Enemies and a fear to mine Acquaintance they that saw me without sled from me All this was done saith the Evangelist that the Scriptures might be fulfilled then all his Disciples forsook him and sled Psal 69.21 Mat. 27.48 By the cruelty of his Inhumane Persecutors that in his thirst gave him Vinegar to drink and Gall in his Meat Psal 22.16 17 18. Mat. 27.35 By the Savage Souldiers that parted his Garments and cast lots upon his Vesture and Bloody Executioners that pierced his Hands and â—his Feet and so distended his Body upon the cruel Cross that one might tell all his Bones Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.46 And most of all by Divine Dereliction which made him to cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And yet in all this not casting away his Confidence Psalm 31.5 Luke 23.46 or loosing
have come of it or else I would never have engaged in it so in all cases where we have the Highest assurances from Religion and Reason that the understanding of a man is capable of 1 Cor. 15.58 that our labour shal not be in vain in the Lord stultum est dicere putaram 't is a foolish thing to say I thought to have repented and I thought to have believed and to stick there and go no farther What doth it profit my Brethren saith the Apostle If a man say he have faith James 2.14 and hath not works can faith save him So I may say if a man say he have Thoughts and hath not works can Thoughts save him If a man think over night to be so far onwards of his journey by such an hour in the morning and sleep out the time he should go it in can Thoughts carry him If a Prince command his Servant in the morning on pain of Death to do such a thing of most high importance to his Crown and Dignity and that must be done that day or not at all and promise him withall a munificent Reward in case of performance suppose this servant goes forth of his Princes Presence full of many busie Thoughts and present purposes of going about the business but by the way falls into evil Company or into some other business trivial vain in respect of his Great Masters but more pleasing to the wicked sloathful Servant but returns at night Mat. 25.26 with Confidence shall I say or Impudence sues for his reward shall the Princes bounty reward this mans vain purpose or his just severity punish his inexcusable neglect of performance Reader what thinkest thou Even so saith God Verse 30. Cast ye he unprofitable Servant into utter darkness there shall be â—eeping and gnashing of teeth He saith not the Servant that never purposed but the Servant that never did what he should have done and so never profited And on the other hand it is not said well thought or well meant or well purposed or well intended but WELL DONE thou good and faithful Servant Verse 21. thus David describing the Blessed man saith not only that He meditates in the Law day and night but also brings forth his fruit in his season But saith he Psal 1.2 3.4 the ungodly is not so Sect. IV. THis then is a sure Rule Thoughts no wayes right when wayes alw y grievous Psalm 10 5. Isaiah 32.8 His Thoughts are no wayes Right and Good whose wayes are alwayes grievous as the Scripture speaks There is no such thing as GOOD MEANINGS a Delusion that damns thousands where there is no GOOD LIFE as before explained The libeâ—al saith the Prophet deviseth liberal things and by the liberal thinâ—s he shall stand 'T is well when THOUGHTS and THINGS go together otherwise the very Thoughts of GOOD or of doing GOOD or of becoming GOOD are not GOOD because they are vain and Scripture reckons all VAIN THOUGHTS to be wickedness of heart and such a One as the continuance whereof excludes from Salvation Jerem. 4.14 Wash thine Heart from wickedness that Thou mayst be saved how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee Thoughts not only vain when set upon vain objects but upon the best objects in vain How purposes may be said to be to no purpose Now Thoughts are VAIN not only when set upon vain Objects but if they be placed upon the best objects in vain or to no purpose as our Phrase is when a thing doth not reach its real or practical end we say such a thing is to no purpose and so purposes themselves may be said to be to no purpose They say in Philosophy Frustra fit potentia quae nunquam producitur in Actum that power is vain that is never produced into Act so may I say in Divinity Those Thoughts are vain that are never produced into Exercise or Operation as the Drunkard who often thinks of amendment but still turns like a Dog to his vomit 2 Pet. 2.24 or the unclean Whoremonger or Harlot in the Proverbs that after her Vows and her Peace-Offerings Prov. 7.14 returns with the Swine that was washed to her wallowing in the mire or as those in Malachy Maâ— 2.15 of whom the Holy Ghost thus complains and against whom he thus witnesseth And this have ye DONE AGAIN Covering the Altar of the Lord with Tears with weeping and with crying out insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more or receiveth it with good will at your hands Not that we are therefore not to purpose much less to purpose against purposing that which is good but to take care to fulfil our purposes for if they perish that go so far as this Text mentioneth what shall be the end of those that come so far short of them that come short of Heaven And so we come to The IV. and Last Tryal WOuldst thou Lastly know whether thy Thoughts be Right 4. Tryal of Right thoughts by the Rule Remember that RIGHT is a Relative word and refers to proportion and Rule As in THINGS so in THOUGHTS Est modus in rebus sunt certi denique fines Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere RECTUM THOUGHTS have their Measures SHORT or OVER-LONG cannot be RIGHT but both extremely WRONG Thy Thoughts are Right if Regular and conformed to Right measures And here are two things 〈◊〉 be presupposed to thy Right judging of thy Thoughts First that thou think there is a Rule for Thoughts Two things prerequired a Rule for Right thoughts Secondly that thou have Right Thoughts of the Rule Sect. I. AS to the First 2. Right thoughts of the Rule It was a sore spiritual Plague and Judgment A black Vail upon the heart upon the Jewish Rabbines and Expounders of the Law that they did not extend Its Rule to the Thoughts but taught for Doctrine what we have in the Proverb that Thoughts were FREE even in that sence Mans Thoughts from Gods Laws Some of them are observed to have given that cursed gloss upon that Text If I regard Iniquity in my heart Psal 66.18 Rabbi Kimchim loc God will not â—â—ar God will not hear that is say they If it go no further then my Thoughts God will not mind he will take no notice thereof nor call to any account for it And this made them think so well of themselves because they thought no worse of their thoughts Blessed Paul Acts 22.3 Paul brought up at Gamaliels feet Ignorant of thoughts Rom. 7.7 Verse 9. Till the Commandment came to him Christs own teaching Christs exposition of the Law spiritual teaching thoughts Matth. 5.3 Verse 8. Verse 22 28. Chap. 6.25 28 31. Last Commandment Rom. 7.7 Against evil Thoughts Rom 7.14 1 Cor. 4.6 Gods writing is Rule for mans thinking Reasonable sence Rom. 12.1 what Chap. 7.21 though brought up at the feet of Gamaliel a Doctor of Law
Issue never so foul Mat 9.20 and 14.36 Mat. 5.25 Verse 17. Zach. 9 1â— Mar. 9.27 so shameful so inveterate If thy desires be creeping towards him while that Issue of thine continues Running Break then O prisoner of hope through the throng of all thy contradicting Thoughts and steal 〈◊〉 â—he least one blessed touch till thou find virtue going one of him Come Come Chap. 9.30 The Spirit saith Come and the Bride saith Come and lâ—t him that heareth say Come And let him that is athiâ—st come and whosoever will let him take of the water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 Heb. 12.27 Now see that thou refuse not him that speaks from Heaven But alas thinks my Soul after all this I sadly fear that if Christ would indeed accept me I should never be able to accept Christ I find now 't is a hard thing to be a Christian Acts 26.38 Numb 13 28 31 33. I thought I had been almost perswaded but O the sons of Anak The walled Towns in the way the Cross the Yoke not a Lust not a Thought not a Word not a Look in all the remainder of my life but by Law Alas who can beaâ— it I dread to begin to draw least I should draw back and better then I had never known the way of truth Heb 10.38 Isaiah 38.14 I know thy Soul hath no pleasure in such O Lord I am now oppressed undertake for one I would believe my God but cannot help thou my unbelief I would take thy yoke upon me Mark 9.24 but I dare not for I have been a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke But turn thou me and I shall be turned Jer. 31.18 and thou shalt be the Lord my God I see O Lord I must have my yoke which way soever I turn my self Sins and Satans I have too long born And should I die under thine I cannot bear the thought of going back to theirs For I am sure to die under theirs I am indeed in a great straight 2 Sam. 24.14 let me now fall into the hand of the Lord for with the Lord there are mercies but as for Satan and Sin the mercies of these are cruel Prov. 12.10 Sect. IX CAst out then the Shete Anchor of thy hope O thou afflicted Isaiah 54.11 tossed with tempest and not comforted and cast it O my soul as near as thou canst into that within the Vail Heb. 11.19 If thou venture not on Jesus Christ thou perishest And if thou dost thou canst but perish 2 King 7 4. If he save thee alive thou shalt live And if he kill thee thou canst but die There hath been high and hainous and in their own eyes the very chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 1 Cor. 6.11 washed â—ustified sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God yea that hath been set forth even for a PATTERN to all that should afterward believe of him 1 Tim. 1.16 Isaiah 26.12 who not onely ORDAINETH peace for us but also worketh all our Works in us Wherefore O thou blessed Jesus with fear and with trembling I cast and â—oul my self upon thee Hester 4.16 And if I perish I will perish at those feet that were therefore pâ—â—â—ced that whilst I put my fingers into the print of the Nailes John 20.27 the weak hand of my Faith may have the better hold Sect. X. LO here the Restless Mind of Man toucht with the Load-stone of Divine Grace tremblingly wavering Numb 24.17 seeking rest but finding none till the thoughts fix upon the Star out of Jacob the Lord Jesus Christ Lo here the Heavenly conduct of Divine light newly arisen in the mind of man bringing his Thoughts from a far Country Matthew 2. Verse 5. and never leaving them till it leave them in the very place where the Holy Child lies The sweet bosom of the Fathers love Lo here the Celestial Call Isaiah 41.2 raising up the Righteous man from the East his Native Countrey or if you will natural condition Acts 11.23 Heb. 11.15 And bringing him to Gods foot with full purpose and fixed Thought of Heart should opportunity of returning into the old Countrey The old state The other Gods on the other side of the Flood serve never so fair yet never by the Grace of God to return unto them more cleaving to Christ for fear of leaving of him or being left by him Leaning on its beloved that it may not be lost any more in the old Wilderness Cant. 8.5 the perplexing maze of its old unbelieving thoughts fastening it self upon him that it may by no means be shaken off by him with such mental speakings as these Intreat me not to leave thee Ruth 2.14 or to return from following after thee neither say thou to me let me go Ah my Jesus I will let all go rather then let thee go for I should let infinitely more than the Worlds All go in letting thee go I should loose my self in loosing thee and be cast away Luke 9.25 and that too in the very sight of Harbour No mo my heart is fixed O Christ my heart is fixed whither thou goest I will go be it to thy Crown or to thy Cross and where thou lodgest I will lodge Ruth 2.16 17. be it a Paradise or a Prison Thy people shall be my people though the world hate them And thy God shall be my God notwithstanding all the ungodliness that is in the world and the world of ungodliness that is in my heart where thou dyest I will die Rom. 6.4 Verse 6. and there will I be buryed thy death shall mortifie my members that are upon earth My Lusts shall thy Cross kill and thy Grave bury Nay God forbid that death should part Col. 3.3 but more closely yea unseperably eternally unite thee and me And so shall I ever be with the Lord. And thus have you seen the returning Shulamite Cant. 6.16 and what will you see in the Shulamite but as it were the company of two Armies On the one hand the struglings of unbelief on the other the work of Faith with power till at length the house of Dav d grows stronger and stronger 2 Thes 1.1 Isaiah 23.33 Gen. 32.25 28. Isaiah 40.1 2. and the house of Saul grows weaker and weaker Old thoughts pass away and new prevail the lame divides the spoil the halting Jacob becomes a Prince with God the mourner is comforted the warfare accomplished the sin pardoned the bruised Reed lifts up its hanging head Chapter 42.3 the smoaking slax breaks out into a flame In one word â—n the multitude of the thoughts within Psalm 94.19 Gods comforts they delight the Soul And thus the soul falling into a place where all this while Acts 27.41 Psalm 143.10 two contrary Seas have met runs at length a ground on the and of uprightness where the sore-part the Thought
him better and the better thou lovest him thou mayest think of him more for there the Bread of life is broken that it may be Eaten and this Eaten Bread is never to be forgotten there the Blood of Christ is broached that it may be drunk and being drunk Cant. 1.4 Gal. 3.1 that his love may be remembred more then wine for there is Christ before mine eyes evidently set forth even as if he were crucified among us Thâ—â— the King both sits at his Table Cant. 1.12 and is set upon the Table for Christ is both the Master of the Feast and the Matter of the Feast both my Entertainer and Entertainment and whilst I thus see him and feel him and tast him How can I but think of him and whilst the Bread that strengtheneth mine heart strengtheneth also my Faith and so Christ steals into my Soul as it were by my Sense and becomes the very nourishment thereof as the Outward Elements Bread and Wine are of the Outward man How can I forget my Saviour whilst I Remember my self or shut him out of the thoughts of mine Heart Psalm 73 26. John 6.5 who is the strength of mine heart whose Flesh is my meat indeed and whose Blood is my drink indeed whose Death is my life and my Reconciliation and whose life is my Glory and my Salvation who by his continual Intercession Hebr. 9.28 Exod. 28.29 ever bears me upon his heart before his Father in Heaven even as Aaron was to bear the Names of the Tribes of Israel upon his Brest-plate into the most holy place till He appear the second time unto Salvation John 12.20 and come again to take me to himself that where my Lord is there may also his Servant be Sect. XXXVIII Holy Thoughts of Christ ANd as we must away with all souâ—re thoughts of Christ and All low thoughts of Christ so much more with all unsavory and loose thoughts of Christ Our Thoughts of Him must be Holy as well as High Rom. 6.1 2. and Fearful as well as Chearful The Apostle puts an absit upon the least Thoughts as if the coming of Grace were for the countenancing of Sin What saith Moses concerning Christ Beware of him and obey his voice Exod. 23.21 provoke him not for he will not pardon your Transgressions for my Name is in Him What saith David Psalm 2.12 Kiss the SON least he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little The Prophet Isaiah tells us that he comes to give Law as well as Liberty the Isles shall wait for his Isaiah 42.4 Law the Prophecy of our Conversion who are Islanders in the Sea and that this Branch out of the Root of Jesse shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth Isaiah 11.1 2. and with the breath of his Lips he shall slay the wicked The Angel saith of Christ that his Name shall be called JESUS Mal. 1.21 Acts 2.27 Mal. 5.17 because He was to save his people not IN their Sins but FROM their Sins Christ when he was a Child was the Holy Child JESUS and when he was a Man He tells us that He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it And as John Baptist told the People that his Fan was in his hand Mat. 3 12. and he would throughly purge his Floor they found it so for He went into the Temple Chap. 21.21 and scourged out the Buyers and Sellers c. in token that no unclean or prophane thing must expect admittance by Him into the Kingdom of God No no Mat. 3.11 John 16.8 Hebr. 10.1 Mat. 16.24 John 17.17 Acts 15.9 Philip. 4.7 Col. 3.25 Gal. 6.16 The Baptisme of Christ is a Baptisme with Fire and the Spirit of Christ is a Reprover of Sin the example of Christ a pattern of Obedience and the Doctrine of Christ is a Doctrine of Self-denyal the Truth of Christ a Sanctifying Truth and the Faith of Christ an heart purifying Faith and the Peace of Christ is a War with Sin for it keeps the heart and rules in the heart and 't is onely unto them that walk according to Rule that the Gospel of Christ saith Peace be upon them but Tribulation and Anguish Rom. 2.8 9. Indignation and Wrath upon every Soul of Man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Take We heed then of thinking basely of Christ Mat. 11.19 as the friend of Sinners in their vile sense who indeed thought him to be altogether such an one as themselves Psal 50.21 Psal 35.7 but Davids Thoughts were otherwise thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy fellows A Friend indeed of Sinners for he Dyed to save them yea the chief of them 1 Tim. 1.15 but yet an Enemy to Sin for He came to make an end of Sin saith the Apostle St. John to redeem us from our vain Conversation saith S. Peter and to purifie to himself a peculiar 1 John 3.8 1 Pet. 1.18 people Titus 2.14 zealous of good works to sanctifie and cleanse us with the washing of water by the World that we might be holy Eph. 5.26 27. and without blemish saith S. Paul And now tell me O Reader is there any shelter for Sin or license for Lust in all this O be not deceived Gal. 6.7 8. God is not mocked for whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting For the GRACE of God that hath appeared bringing SALVATION 2 Tit. 11.12 teacheth to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts c. Psalm 45.6 For Christ is KING as well as PRIEST and LORD as well as JESUS and the Scepter of his Kingdome is a RIGHT SCEPTER and We cannot THINK RIGHTLY of it except we think it so And O how terrible is this THOUGHT that if We slight this way Hebr. 2.36 Chap. 10.26 neglecting so great Salvation by sinning wilfully against this Sacrifice there remains no other SACRIFICE for Sin for there is no other Name given but the Name JESUS Acts 4.12 Heb. 10.28 29. And if He that sinned against Moses 's Law dyed without Mercy how much sorer must his punishment be that trampleth under foot the SON of GOD Then think this of Christ that if he be not thy Foundation-Stone 1 Pet. 2.6 Mat. 21.14 Rev. 5.5.6 John 5.22 Elect and precious to thee if thou be not built upon him he will fall upon thee and grinde thee to powder for the Lamb of God is a LYON too and God hath committed all Judgment to the SON and the WRATH of the LAMB shall one day be found intolerable to the proudest of Men when the Kings of the Earth
saith the Text they thought upon his Name And as for Love And Love Levit. 2.7 Cacabus ◠Rad. Hebr. ebullivit Psalm 45.1 as the Holy Fire under the Frying-pan made the Oyl of the Oblation to bubble and boyl up which is the Psalmists very word Holy Love is this Fire that makes Thoughts boil up for the very first word of that Psalm which is entituled a Song of Love is this My heart boileth up with a good matter Experience tells us Animus est non ubi animat sed ubi amat that the affectionate and tender Mother can leave her thoughts behind her at home with her sucking Child when she goes abroad Thus worldly Love will have worldly Thoughts and Gracious Love will have Gracious Thoughts O how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the day Psalm 19.97 And 't is a sign Holy Love is but weak and feeble when holy thoughts are but faint and few Deut. 6.5 And here let the Reader most carefully observe that where Moses layes down the First and great Commandment thou shalt Love the Lord thy God only in three words with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Might or strength Mat. 22.37 Mark 17.30 Luke 10.27 Our Saviour repeating the Law adds a Fourth viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex omni Cogitatione so Bez. vulg c. with all thy Thought or Mind plainly enough suggesting unto us that the Strength of the Heart cannot be reckoned as engaged to the Love of God where the Thoughts of the Heart are not drawn Out by it And therefore labour to ascertain and to clear up thine Interest in God and Christ Mark 12.30 and Heavenly things daily more and more for Christ saith not where Anothers but where your treasure is Luke 10.27 there will your heart be also for as Interest raiseth Love Love hath power to levy Thoughts and to keep them in readiness for its use and service so that if thy Treasure be in Heaven there will thine heart be also Luke 12.34 IV. Last Practical Rule 4. Practical Rule Begin thy Days and thy Weeks with Right thoughts Exod. 12.1 John 20.2 Coloss 3.1 Revel 1.10 LAstly As the Israelites were to reckon their Beginning of Moneths from the time of their Deliverance so let the Thoughts of thy DELIVERER still begin both thy Weeks and thy Dayes for it was both upon the First of the Week and of the Day that our Blessed Lord Rose again from the Dead and We must imp our Thoughts if we would help their flight upon the wing of Our Saviours Resurrection S. John was in the Spirit on the LORDS-DAY that is on the First of the Week for it is generally confest that the First day of the Week was as well known by the Primitive Christians in the Apostolical Age by the Name of the Lords-day as any other day was or is by Jews or Gentiles known and distinguished by any other Name Thus did the dear Disciple begin the Week and thus did Holy David still begin the day whose constant course was to take his slight for Heaven on the wings of the Morning Psal 139.18 when I was awake saith he to God I am still with thee And thus should the First-lings of the flock of our Thoughts be for God still Gen 4.4 Matth. 6.33 still First seek the Kingdom of God that is not onely above All but also every Week and every Day first of All. Of all the Ten there is but One Commandment that begins with a REMEMBER O forget not that Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is the standing Law commanding one Day or Seventh part of the Week blessed of God above all the rest to be set apart for God for so also the Commandment ends Verse 11. Hookers Ecclesiastical Policy the Lord Blessed the Sabbath Day and hallowed it The Perpetual obligatoriness of which Law is strongly asserted by the Learned Hooker and declaredly owned by the Church of England there being subjoyned to the publick reading of this fourth Commandment as well as of the rest a Lord have mercy upon us See also the Hom. of the Place and Time c. Titus 1.16 John 1.3 and encline our Hearts to keep this Law And if in Words we confess this Law O let not our Works deny it Now as the SON of God being Maker both of the First Creation and Sabbath for by Him were All things made and without Him was nothing made that was made as we have already seen First blessed that Day wherein He first Rested for the Commemoration of that First and Glorious work of his So after that He became the SON MAN Mark 2.28 being still LORD of the SABBATH He hath dignified the First Day of the Week with the glorious Title of the LORDS-DAY having Rested therein from a greater Work viz. the Suffering and state of Death which was the last and Finishing Work of his state of Humiliation and therein blessed and hallowed it for our Commemoration of the more glorious work of Redemption For as the glory of the later Temple Hag. 2.9 was greater then that of the former because Christ was more manifestly to appear in it it may be as truly and for the same reason said of Gods Workmanship Eph. 2.10 created in CHRIST JESUS unto good works that the glory of the New Creature excels that of the Old for the more manifestation of Christ still the more Glory till at last He shall come to be perfectly glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 For herein hath he obsignated and given an undubitable pledge of that REST or SABBATISM that remains for the People of God Hebr. 4.9 when upon the general Resurrection of their Bodies they shall Eternally rest from Sin and Death 1 Cor. 15.20 for Christ is risen as the First Fruits of them that sleep and therefore saith He thy Dead Men shall live Isaiah 26.19 John 14.19 together with my Dead Body shall they arise for because I LIVE Ye shall live also To allude then to that Word of our Saviour John 12.31 When I am lifted up I will draw all men to me and indeed when the King is up and gone 't is not for the Courtiers to loyter and lag behind O me-thinks this Resurrection of Christ should DRAW All our Hearts and Thoughts to him Colos 3.1 If we then be Risen with Christ saith the Apostle Let us seek those things that are above Psalm 24.7 Psalm 110.7 and then especially when He arose Then Lift up your heads O ye Gates and be ye lift up ye Everlasting Doors for this Day did your dearest Lord lift up that head from the Conquered Grave John 19.30 which He bowed before upon that bitter Cross that as his Death was the Death of our Sins so his Resurrection might be the life of our Souls Psal 118 24. This this is the day that Our Lord hath made We will Rejoyce and be glad in it Every other Sun-Rising can make another Day Mal. 4.1 but it is onely the Rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings that made the Day we stile the LORDS-DAY and therefore when the Burthen of the Week for sufficient to every day is the Evil thereof hath made our Shoulders shrink Mat. 6.34 and gall'd our back this blessed Day takes off the Burthen and layes on the Balm heals the aking Heart Relieves the weary Thoughts and in a word it brings Heaven half down to us and takes us half up to Heaven Wherefore good Reader let thine Early Thoughts and Spicie Meditations begin every morning of this blessed Day as the good Women in the Gospel with a gracious and holy visit of thy Saviours Sepulchre Luke 24.1 6. till the Heavenly Ordinances of that Day proclaim to thee as the Angels to them He is not here but is risen John 14.2 3. and is gone before thee to prepare a place for thee that he may come again and receive thee that where He is there mayest thou be also And as the First day of each Week thus employed will sanctifie unto thee the rest of the Week so will the First of each Day the rest of the Day when by a Sun-beam thou canst climb to God Herber◠in Temple Close thy dayes with good thoughts as Divine Herbert most sweetly expresseth it And now having found thee with Him and Holy David in the Morning I would chuse to leave thee with Isaac in the Evening who was wont at that time to go out to MEDITATE That as God is Alpha and Omega of all things He may be the Beginning and the End of thy Thoughts for with Him it is that this little Book both designs and desires to leave Thee Amen Amen FINIS